Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis Part One - 7/13/16

-  Tim Duncan Departs, Brilliantly, Without Fanfare  (from Jason Gay, Wall Street Journal):

Read it here:  http://www.wsj.com/articles/tim-duncan-departs-brilliantly-without-vanity-1468259177?mod=e2fb

-  Pete Newell, The Basketball Guru Who Dared To Compare Duncan To Michael Jordan - in 1999  (from Mitch Lawrence, Forbes.com):

Read it here:  http://www.forbes.com/sites/mitchlawrence/2016/07/11/the-basketball-guru-who-dared-to-compare-tim-duncan-to-michael-jordan-way-back-in-1999/#26eb42c571d9

-  Tim Duncan's Influence  (from Kevin Arnovitz, ESPN):

Read it here:  http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/16989399/why-tim-duncan-most-influential-player

-  Pop On Duncan  (from ESPN):

Read it here:  http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/17024510/nba-popovich-duncan-retirement-transcript

-  Brad Stevens Is Happy With Celtics' Offseason  (from Mark Murphy, Boston Herald);

Read it here:  http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/celtics/2016/07/celtics_coach_brad_stevens_happy_with_how_offseason_playing_out

-  Dwight Howard Interview  (from Marc Stein, ESPN):

Read it here:  http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/17033534/dwight-howard-atlanta-hawks-looking-forward-new-beginning-hometown-team

-  Pacers Expect To Defend Well Despite Small Backcourt  (from Nate Taylor,  indystar.com):

Read it here:  http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2016/07/12/pacers-expect-defend-well-despite-small-backcourt/86996042/

-  Al Horford Q & A  (from Chris Vivlamore,  myajc.com):

Read it here:  http://www.myajc.com/news/sports/basketball/al-horford-opens-up-about-his-decision-to-leave-at/nrw3N/

-  Free Agency Winners And Losers  (from Zach Lowe,  ESPN):

Read it here:  http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/16992129/rating-won-lost-nba-free-agency-period

-  The NBA Needed To Kill Intentional Fouling But It Didn't Do It  (from Tom Ziller,  SBNation):

Read it here:  http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/7/13/12171616/nba-intentional-fouling-reform-new-rules   and from Jesus Gomez, SBNation:  http://www.sbnation.com/2016/7/12/12167836/nba-rule-change-hack-a-away-from-ball-intentional-fouling

-  Jazz Ready To Make The Leap  (from Jonathan Tjarks, The Ringer):

Read it here:  https://theringer.com/utah-jazz-next-thunder-gordon-hayward-52b0879ed3b2#.tcwc97k9q

Summer League:

-  DeAndre' Bembry  (from Chris Vivamore,  myajc.com):

Read it here:  http://www.myajc.com/news/sports/basketball/bembry-has-been-hawks-best-player-at-summer-league/nrxLL/

-  D'Angelo Russell  (from Mark Medina,  LA Daily News):

Read it here:  http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20160712/lakers-dangelo-russell-hope-for-better-balance-between-scoring-playmaking

- Kyle Kuric  (from Paul Coro, USA Today):

Read it here:  http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2016/07/12/kyle-kuric-brain-tumor-phoenix-suns-nba-summer-league/86985586/

-  Thon Maker  (from Mike Prada,  SBNation):

Read it here:  http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/7/12/12155694/thon-maker-milwaukee-bucks-summer-league-las-vegas

-  T.J. McConnell  (from Bob Cooney, philly.com):

Read it here:  http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20160713_Sixers__McConnell_scoring_points_with_his_passing_game.html

-  Norman Powell (from Ryan Wolstat, Toronto Sun):

Read it here:  http://www.torontosun.com/2016/07/12/raptors-powell-proving-to-be-big-bargain

- Jaylen Brown  (from Chris Forsberg,  ESPN):

Read it here:  http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4723578/jaylen-brown-finding-success-at-the-line-above-the-rim

-  Bobby Portis  (from K. C. Johnson,  Chicago Tribune):;

Read it here:  http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/ct-bobby-portis-dwyane-wade-bulls-spt-0712-20160711-story.html

-  Andrew Harrison/Wade Baldwin  (from Ronald Tillery, Commercial Appeal):

Read it here:  http://www.commercialappeal.com/sports/grizzlies/fizdales-early-challenge-is-sorting-out-backup-point-guard-spot-3763434a-cf22-2942-e053-0100007f78a1-386380131.html

-  Willie Cauley-Stein (from Jason Jones, Sacramento Bee):

Read it here:  http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/kings-blog/article89007622.html

-  Cheick Diallo  (from John Reid,  NOLA.com):

Read it here:  http://www.nola.com/pelicans/index.ssf/2016/07/cheick_diallo.html

-  Gary Payton II  (from Calvin Watkins,  ESPN):

Read it here:  http://espn.go.com/blog/houston-rockets/post/_/id/2729/gary-payton-ii-tries-to-fit-like-a-glove

-  Isaia Cordinier  (from Chris Vivlamore,  myajc.com):

Read it here:  http://www.myajc.com/news/sports/basketball/basketball-not-handball-has-cordinier-chasing-drea/nrwhp/

- Tyler Ulis  (from Dave King, Bright Side Of The Sun):

Read it here:  http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2016/7/12/12142458/phoenix-suns-rookie-point-guard-tyler-ulis-kentucky-wildcats

-  Pat Connaughton  (from Mike Richman, Oregon Live):

Read it here:  http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2016/07/trail_blazers_pat_connaughton_wants_to_prove_he_is.html

-  Jake Layman  (from Mike Richman, Oregon Live):

Read it here:  http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2016/07/portland_trail_blazers_rookie_jake_layman_gains_co.html

- Timothe Luwawu  (from Keith Pompey, Philly.com):

Read it here:  http://www.forbes.com/sites/mitchlawrence/2016/07/11/the-basketball-guru-who-dared-to-compare-tim-duncan-to-michael-jordan-way-back-in-1999/#26eb42c571d9

-  Kay Felder  (from Jamyson Frierson, Hoops Habit):

Read it here:  http://hoopshabit.com/2016/07/12/cleveland-cavaliers-kay-felder-still-developing/  and from Quenton Albertie, King James Gospel:  http://kingjamesgospel.com/2016/07/11/cleveland-cavaliers-kay-felder-first-round-pick/

-  3 Things We've Learned From Grizzlies' Summer League  (from Ronald Tillery, Commercial Appeal):

Read it here:  http://www.commercialappeal.com/sports/grizzlies/Grizzlies-in-Las-Vegas-Three-things-weve-learned-from-Summer-League-386476501.html

-  Cavs' Summer League Grades So Far  (from Trevor Magnotti, Fear The Sword):

Read it here:  http://www.fearthesword.com/2016/7/12/12160146/cavs-summer-league-grades-after-first-three-games

Additional Player Notes, Updates, Profiles:

-  Marvin Williams  (from Rick Bonnell, Charlotte Observer):

Read it here:  http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nba/charlotte-hornets/article88976057.html

-  Jared Sullinger  (from Steve Bulpett, Boston Herald):  http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/celtics/2016/07/ex_coach_jared_sullinger_must_give_teams_more_reasons_to_trust_him

-  Mirza Teletovic  (from Charles F. Gardner, jsonline.com):  http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2016/07/12/mirza-teletovic-bucks-three-pointers/86986382/

-  Ersan Ilyasova  (from Erik Horne,  newsok.com):  http://newsok.com/why-ersan-ilyasova-could-come-in-and-potentially-start-for-the-thunder/article/5509147

- Jason Smith  (from Gene Wang, Washington Post):  https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wizards-insider/wp/2016/07/11/jason-smith-beyond-ecstatic-to-be-on-court-with-john-wall/

NOTE:  Today's BI is in two parts because we are playing catch-up.  We did not publish yesterday - we were in Las Vegas for Pro Scout School  and NBA Summer League.  Part Two will be published this afternoon and should bring us fully up to date.

A word about Pro Scout School.  Pete Philo, Fran Fraschilla and the rest of the folks at TPG once again delivered a wonderful experience.  This was my 3rd annual attendance - I always learn something and the networking is great.  The quality of the NBA scouts, team execs and coaches on the panels is consistently outstanding as is Fran's MC work.  I recommend PSS to all of you unqualifiedly, whether you have any intention or desire to get into scouting or not.