What unfolded over the past year in Denver – the dysfunctional management structure – troubled (Chauncey Billups) and leaves him with some anxiety. Former GM Mark Warkentien made the trade for Billups with Detroit in 2008, was voted the NBA’s Executive of the Year and then was forced out this summer in that Nuggets cesspool.

Along the way, Warkentien sometimes had the power in the organization. Sometimes, it was executive Rex Chapman. Another adviser, Bret Bearup, has outgoing owner Stan Kroenke’s ear. Mostly, it was a cat-fighting mess that took its toll on the organization.

“I’ll just say this: I’ve never seen nothing like that before,” Billups said. “Nobody knew who was what there. Nobody knew who to ask a question. I’ve never seen uncertainty upstairs like that in this league. Never. …I know this: It had to come to a conclusion.”

It did, and the Nuggets are now left with this: a 30-year-old owner, Josh Kroenke, and a young GM, Masai Ujiri, who has mostly been an international scout. Billups has a strong relationship with Josh Kroenke, says they share a vision and he met with Ujiri on the new GM’s visit to Istanbul this week. Billups found Ujiri sincere, compelling and left the meeting with a respect for the man. “But with that being said,” Billups allowed, “there’s a lot of inexperience there. There’s not a track record there.”

The Jazz told Lance Young that his client was a top priority, just after Carlos Boozer. Wesley Matthews assumed he’d be slotted in the $4 million a year range, nine times what he made as a rookie. Lottery money. But before the Jazz and Young started negotiating, the suits in Portland, impressed with Matthews’ postseason effort, faxed Young this offer: Five years, $32 million. Matthews heard this and said, “Get out of here!”

It was a front-loaded deal worth $10.3 million this season, with 90% to be paid before training camp. Too rich for Northwest Division rival Utah. This wasn’t just lottery money; it is almost double what 2010′s No. 1 overall pick, John Wall, will make this season. “Nobody thought I’d do anything last year and look what happened,” says Matthews. “It is just surreal.”

Amazing. Secure. Comfortable. Those are the words Matthews uses to describe what it feels like to sign an eight-figure contract. So far, his only impulse buy has been a $50 Samurai sword that hangs in its sheath below the wall-mounted flat-screen in his Madison apartment. He plans on buying a house for his mom and grandmother, a car for each, plus a house and car for himself. First-time homeowners, all three. Most important, his mother has gone from three jobs to zero. “Retired her just last week,” he says, gesticulating with his right hand.

Like a litany of his players who’ve echoed the same mantra over the summer, John Kuester is eager to get going and put last season further behind him, confident that a healthy roster will position the Pistons for results that will catch casual observers by surprise.

“There’s no question that we’re an outstanding basketball team if things stay right,” he said, “and we’re expecting it to stay right this season. The thing about it is our goals have not changed at all. We can be as good as anybody, in my mind. On any given night, we can put up big numbers on offense. Defensively, we’ve got to show our staples and understand what needs to be done, but I’m real excited about our group.”

It seemed like this summer the Denver Nuggets should have gotten the bulk shopping discount on knee surgeries.

Chris “Birdman” Andersen had his partially torn patella tendon repaired after playing through the pain of it most of last season. He says he may be back from his sooner than expected — possibly even the start of the season. That’s what he told the official Nuggets site.

“I’m optimistic, but I’m not going to say I’m going to be ready for opening night (Oct. 27),” he said. “I don’t want to get too anxious with it. Just keep my pace and stay on the right path.

“It’s still in the back of my mind, that fear of busting it up again. I don’t want to tear it again. I just want to get in that position where I can keep strengthening it.” Sometimes that mental hurdle of trusting the knee again is a lot harder one than the physical hurdles.

Andersen is attacking the hurdles, though. In addition to the usual weight and cardio rehab, the Birdman is out on the court again, shooting free throws and spot up jumpers. Which is not his game. It’s going to take a while for him to be back to the high-flying, shot blocking hustle guy that has made his reputation. But if Boston taught one lesson to the league last year, it’s to be patient bringing guys around during the season, what matters is being healthy in the playoffs.

Former All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year D.J. White recently completed his second year in the National Basketball Association with the Oklahoma City Thunder. While injuries have slowed the start of his career, he has been able to fully recover over the summer and is now ready to contribute to an already dangerous Thunder squad in the 2010-11 season.

IUHoosiers.com recently caught up with White and here’s what he had to say:

How has your rehab been going? Are you looking good for the start of the season?

“Recovery has been fine; just take it day by day. As of right now, I’m one hundred percent. Yes, I’m looking good for the season. I’ve been working out twice a day all summer in preparation and I’m looking forward to it.”

How have you avoided getting frustrated by your injuries?

“I just try to stay positive and not get down on myself. Things happen for a reason and it’s a part of basketball.”

CBSSports.com spoke with Boozer today about what stands in the way of that goal, going from small market Salt Lake City to big city Chicago, his time with Jerry Sloan, and the one game he wants back.

Matt Moore: You got a lot of publicity for your comment about competing for a championship. What’s going to be the biggest challenge in pursuit of that goal you’re setting?

Carlos Boozer: That’s what we play for, every NBA player. I’m very vocal about it. I want a ring, and my teammates want a ring. I think the biggest challenge will be coming together with our team chemistry. We also need to work to be a good, consistent defensive team. Also, continuing to see how we respond when we have a couple losses or if we’re up and down. Can we fight back up and have that courage and confidence to keep going? In playoffs, we need to see how we fight back in a series. We’ll learn a lot about our team, but the goal has to be a championship. That’s what we all work for.

MM: Have you already noticed a huge change in going from a small market like Utah to Chicago?

CB: Oh, yeah, it’s a lot different. I think I’ve been able to work my butt off and become a good player. The media coverage is a lot more intense than Salt Lake City. It’s great, though, this is a great sports town, with the Blackhawks, the White Sox, the Cubs, the Bears, and obviously the Bulls. I’m looking forward to being a part of it.

MM: What’s the biggest thing you’ll take away from your time with Coach Sloan?

CB: Everything. He was phenomenal for me. He called and I talked to him just last week. He was able to turn our team into a contender, even without Karl Malone and Stockton. He really managed the transition of that team to the current one. I think after the Malone era, they were looking for an identity, and we came in and turned that into a contender. He really helped bridge the gap between the Karl Malone era to the early 2000′s and 2010′s. It’s a tribute to him and his coaching that his teams have that kind of consistent success.

MM: You’ve got Noah down low, Rose has been working on his three-point shot, and you added Kyle who you’ve played with. How do you like the balance on this team?

CB: We’ve got a lot of balance, a lot of depth. I think up front, I think Joakim and I have a chance of being a more dynamic frontcourt, along with Kurt Thomas. In the backcourt, Derrick Rose is one of the more dynamic scorers in the league. We’ve got Ronnie Brewer and Kyle Korver, who you mentioned for defense and shooting. I think we’ll be better than what a lot of people think. We have Luol Deng on the wing, which is great to have. But we have to go earn our respect. With the talent that we have, and the hunger we have, I think we’re ready to really push for a championship.

Andrew Bogut, whose breakout 09-10 season was interrupted by a gruesome injury to his arm and elbow, is still on the road to recovery.

Bogut, who is expected to miss the first month or so of the season due to his injuries, tweeted about making a visit to a hand specialist and getting an MRI on Wednesday. Hopefully he gets some good news this week and gets back out on the court at 100% capacity as soon as possible.

As for losing LeBron, Byron Scott admits the players were shocked at first. But now they’re tired of what’s being said about them.

“A lot of them first of all were stunned. I don’t think a lot of guys on this team saw that coming,” he said. “After that shock, the next reaction was mad and upset. After that you have to let it go and start thinking about what can you do to get better.”

The Cavaliers have been viewed as an organization that failed to surround James with acceptable talent during his seven years in Cleveland. Scott said all of the current players should take offense to that.

“I don’t think a lot of guys are happy about what’s being written and said. Things like ‘he had no help.’ That’s a slap in the face if you’re a true competitor,” Scott said, adding that the Cavaliers will be forced to move the ball more and work together offensively without the two-time MVP.

“It’s not gonna be one guy like LeBron, who can handle the ball and make plays, it’s gotta be four or five guys involved every single time,” he said. “You’ll probably see a whole lot more team basketball.”

A mural featuring Sacramento Kings small forward Omri Casspi was defaced with a swastika just before an important Jewish holiday.

The mural is near 16th and R streets in midtown Sacramento, about a half-block from Fremont Park.

Casspi, who is Jewish, was raised in Israel and is the only NBA player born in that country.

The vandalism was reported Wednesday morning; the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset Wednesday.

Based on a preliminary investigation, Sacramento police said the vandalism might be investigated as a hate crime.

Jewish leaders said the vandalism shouldn’t be taken lightly, calling whoever did it a “village idiot.”

“This kind of attacks on people on the basis of their religion or whatever doesn’t — it doesn’t belong in this country. It’s not what we do, it’s not our tradition,” said Barry Broad of the Jewish Community Relations Council.

He added that the swastika was backward, “so he’s a particularly dumb Nazi sympathizer, or whatever he is.”

Sacramento County authorities say Los Angeles Lakers guard Matt Barnes has been arrested on suspicion of domestic violence.

Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Tim Curran says deputies arrested Barnes after responding to what was termed an incomplete 911 call from a home around 4:16 p.m. Wednesday.

Deputies say both Barnes and the woman had visible injuries, but took Barnes into custody after determining he had been the primary aggressor.

The name of the woman was not released, but she was described by authorities as “a woman who lived with him and with whom he had a dating relationship.”

Barnes was booked into the Sacramento County Jail on suspicion of domestic violence and maliciously obstructing the use of a telephone line.

He posted a $50,000 bond and was released. He is scheduled to be arraigned in court Monday.