A handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your T-Giving leftovers ...

Frank Isola, NY Daily News: LeBron James' future will be debated and analyzed for the next 20 months. There are already whispers that the Knicks are the early leaders to land the potential free-agent-to-be in 2010. One person who may have intimate knowledge about LeBron's next move is William Wesley, a close friend and adviser to the Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star. Wesley is regarded as a powerful insider among the NBA's top players and executives, with connections to everyone from Michael Jordan to James. When asked during Wednesday's Knicks-Pistons game at Auburn Hills if he feels the Knicks are the favorite to sign LeBron in two years, Wesley smiled and said: 'Barack Obama could use Donnie Walsh to clear salary-cap space for the country.'"

Mike Ganter, Toronto Sun: "Chris Bosh has a secret he has been keeping from his fans. He wants to be the league MVP. Not in three seasons. Not next season. This season. When he revealed this before three or four cameras and as many notepads and microphones following yesterday's morning practice, no one was 100% sure he was being completely serious. Bosh made himself perfectly clear when he answered the follow up 'Realistic?' query with his best, 'Do I look like I'm kidding?' stare. 'Very realistic. I wouldn't talk about it if it wasn't real,' he said. According to Bosh, he first starting thinking seriously about this goal in the pre- season."

Chris Lau, Detroit Free Press: "Pistons coach Michael Curry held practice on Thanksgiving because his newest player, Allen Iverson, wasn’t part of the team during training camp and has had less than a month to get familiar with the system and develop chemistry with the rest of the players. 'Some things you have to do,' Curry said, 'to pay the price to get to where we need to be.' But Iverson skipped the Thursday morning session. And there will be consequences. Iverson will not start on Friday night when the Milwaukee Bucks visit the Palace, and the coaches will decide during the game whether he plays at all. He also will be fined. Curry wouldn’t disclose the amount, but said it would be 'heavy.' Rodney Stuckey, a second-year guard, will start instead."

Dave D'Alessandro, The Star-Ledger: "It's hard to remember that there was a time — as recently as two seasons back — that Devin Harris would beat himself up after a bad quarter or two, incapable of doing anything but broadcasting his 'introverted, poor-me attitude' to the world, as Avery Johnson used to describe it. So he was given a choice Wednesday night against the Kings: He could either revisit those days, when mental toughness was his only barrier to stardom; or he could face the music and start dancing. He chose the latter, after recognizing that he had no choice at all. [...] 'Early on in my career, I would have just totally let down in that fourth quarter. But I can't afford that here,' Harris said. 'Guys are depending on me and I've got to deliver.'"

Paul Coro, Arizona Republic: "Shawn Marion, who never felt that the level of recognition he received was on par with the amount of perspiration he gave the Suns, might find out tonight just how appreciated he was over 8 1/2 seasons with the team as the uniquely gifted Matrix. Marion, who on Friday returns to US Airways Center for the first time since the Suns traded him and Marcus Banks on Feb. 6 to the Miami Heat for Shaquille O'Neal, statistically was perhaps the most productive player in franchise history after Alvan Adams. Marion is second in Suns history to Adams in games, rebounds and steals and fourth to Walter Davis, Kevin Johnson and Adams in points. [...] Marion is expected to play tonight but has been away from the Heat because of his great uncle's death. Before departing, he told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that he left Phoenix on good terms."

Jody Genessy, Deseret News: "He is a power forward, emphasis on the power part. Comes from Louisiana Tech, emphasized the rebounding part. Plays in a Utah Jazz uniform, emphatically insists on the punching-the-time-clock-every-day part. And the catchy nickname? Well, Paul Millsap is missing that part of the inconsequential-but-interesting-nonetheless Karl Malone comparison. Despite the fact he plays the same position, shares multiple old stomping grounds and displays similar durability, Millsap is no Mailman. Ironman, as he's been called on occasion, will work on several levels until somebody gives him a new moniker. [...] The third-year player, who is expected to start again tonight against the Kings at EnergySolutions, has yet to call in sick, sprained or strained during his NBA career."

Marc Berman, NY Post: "In an exclusive, hour-long interview with The Post following his latest collision with controversy, Stephon Marbury yesterday said he does not want to play for a coach he can't trust — and pleaded with Knicks brass to set him free. Marbury might get his wish very soon, as Knicks president Donnie Walsh is investigating whether to discipline Marbury, seek a quick buyout or simply release the embattled player. The final straw came Wednesday night in Auburn Hills, when the Knicks' lightning rod chose not to accept coach Mike D'Antoni's offer to become the starting shooting guard the rest of the season. Walsh made no decisions yesterday, spending the holiday with his family in Indiana."

Paul Willis, Rocky Mountain News: "Nuggets coach George Karl promised less leniency this season, and when he benched guard J.R. Smith for Wednesday night's game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Karl showed his words weren't hollow. Smith, below, was late to practice Monday and never removed his warm-ups during the Clippers game. And that is merely a publicized example of Karl's tightened reins. 'He's been keeping his word,' Nuggets guard Anthony Carter said. 'He's been fining people and telling people if they're late, he's going to take their minutes. It started in training camp, and I think he's made a conscious effort to change and make sure he's running a tight ship around here.'"

K.C. Johnson, Chicago Tribune: "The Bulls would be interested in [Chris] Kaman and will be monitoring that situation. As of now, word around the league is the Clippers want to see how it works with Kaman, Zach Randolph and Marcus Camby. Here's a prediction: Badly. So I personally believe Kaman might be made available at some point. Whether or not the Bulls have anything to interest the Clippers is another story."

Jeff Eisenberg, The Press-Enterprise: "Lakers center Andrew Bynum is questionable for tonight's game against Dallas after injuring his right foot Tuesday night during a victory over New Jersey. He is being listed as day-to-day. An MRI exam and a CT scan showed that a small bone spur had chipped off Bynum's foot, resulting in pain and inflammation. The Lakers will update the 7-footer's status before tonight's game."

Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle: "There was a moment Steve Francis let himself wonder and worry. He had played in 10 games last season and none since February. But that did not make him question his ability to excel in the NBA. He underwent surgery to repair a torn quadriceps tendon in his right knee Feb. 26, sending him on a long, tedious rehabilitation. Still, he did not worry. It had been years since he left the Rockets as Stevie Franchise to return as a free agent whose contract was bought out by Portland after two disappointing seasons with the New York Knicks. But his faith in his abilities remained. Then, at about the time in the preseason he expected to practice and compete for playing time, he was sent for more rehabilitation, and finally, for the first time, Francis’ confidence was hit and the doubts began to win. [...] But Francis, 31, said he had made so much progress he is convinced again he will make it all the way back."

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