Michelle Jarboe McFee of The Plain Dealer: LeBron James isn't just coming back to The Q. He also could return to the intersection of Prospect Avenue and Ontario Street in downtown Cleveland, where Gigantic Media and the Sherwin-Williams Co. are seeking approval for a banner dedicated to Northeast Ohio's favorite prodigal son. Images submitted to the Cleveland City Planning Commission on Tuesday show James with his arms stretched, once again, across the eastern face of the Landmark Office Towers, the Sherwin-Williams headquarters complex at the back of Tower City. The LeBron banner would replace a brightly toned sign depicting Cleveland landmarks and bearing the paint company's logo. The new image harkens back, of course, to the iconic Nike Inc. banner of James that greeted drivers entering downtown until mid-2010.

Scott Agness of VigilantSports.com: When the Pacers lost out on Lance Stephenson in free agency, they had to go to Plan C. They signed Rodney Stuckey, C.J. Miles, Damjan Rudez, and Shayne Whittington. A few weeks later, Paul George went down — changing the team’s outlook for the upcoming season. From contender to fringe playoff team. There is no plan to replace George’s contributions. Heading into the 2014-15 campaign, Frank Vogel and his entire staff are back for their second full season together. Media day will be held on Monday, Sept. 29th with camp opening the following day. For the record, I’m officially calling this season “The Year of Discovery.” ... Frank Vogel is on the last year of his second deal. Almost two years (Jan. 7, 2013) after becoming the interim head coach (and taking over for his mentor Jim O’Brien) on Jan. 30, 2011, team officials extended his deal through the 2014-15 season. This upcoming season, without George and Stephenson, will be his toughest test yet. Should he receive an extension prior to the season or will management let the year play out?

Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News: Brandon Jennings emerged from the informal workouts at The Palace practice facility, looking somewhat similar to the figure who departed to California after last season’s disappointing, playoff-less finish. Playful swagger? Check.Rare introspection? Check. Twenty-five extra pounds? Check…wait, that wasn’t here last season. “I’m about 185, 190 on my good days,” said Jennings, noticeably thicker but still wiry. Training camp doesn’t begin until the first day of October but Jennings and his other 14 teammates have all been at The Palace for a few weeks, per new coach/president Stan Van Gundy’s request. “Usually guys come in and you don’t see them until media day,” Jennings said. “It’s good, we’ve been together for three weeks strong, preparing for the season.” He said Van Gundy reminds him of his first coach in Milwaukee, Scott Skiles (Michigan State). ... He admits buying in is easy, but what he doesn’t want to experience again is the lack of accountability within the locker room that occurred at the slightest hint of adversity. “This year will definitely be different. But I feel like as players, I’ll be the first one to say, ‘I (bleeped) up. I missed up,’ ” Jennings said.

Jenny Dial Creech of the Houston Chronicle: "Houston is like my second home," Ariza said, "and I liked what was happening here - the pieces that are here, the big goals they had set. "Plus I love this city. I love the people. I love the weather. I love it here. I'm so happy to be back." Ariza spent the 2009-10 season with the Rockets and had the highest scoring average of his career with 14.9 points per game. He also averaged 5.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists that season. ... Within a short time, Ariza has established himself as a leader. After his time in Washington, it's a role he is comfortable with. "I noticed that I could have a positive effect on people during my time in Washington," he said. "I watched the younger players around me grow, and it was a satisfying thing to see and a great feeling to know that I had something to do with it."

Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune: The Wolves have agreed to contract terms with one of the last unfinished pieces to a remade roster: A source with knowledge of the situation confirms a Yahoo!Sports report this afternoon that Robinson has agreed to a guaranteed contract. Once considered a first-round pick, Robinson was drafted 40th overall by the Wolves in the June draft and played for their Vegas Summer League team without being signed until now. His signing to a contract that is at least partially guaranteed means the Wolves they'll have to make a personnel move by opening night Oct. 29 to get to a 15-man roster, either by waiving Robinson if he doesn't win a spot in camp or, probably more likely by trading or buying out reserve guard J.J Barea by the start of training camp on Sept. 30 or by the season opener at Memphis.

A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com: But having that family connection won't do Tyler Zeller any good unless he delivers on the court. The 24-year-old big man makes no secret about his goal this season is to be the Celtics' starting center. "I hope so," said Zeller, who is 6-foot-11. "That's the goal anywhere you go and that's my goal this year. But I have a lot of work to be able to earn that spot. I expect to have to earn it. It is a great opportunity and I'm going to do everything I can for that." Just like the Cavaliers were in a rebuilding process when he arrived there in 2012, he understands that the Celtics are in a similar situation which is why he knows as well as anyone the importance of being patient throughout the course of what will be a long season. "It helps a lot," Zeller said of his experience from Cleveland.

Garrett Thornton for CSNNW.com: The medal wasn’t the only accomplishment Nicolas Batum took home from Spain. Batum was also named to the All-Tournament All-Star team. Alongside Kyrie Irving, Milos Teodosic, Kenneth Faried, and Pau Gasol, Batum shared the pleasure of being recognized as being the best players in the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not a bad was to end the summer for Batum. If NBA fans haven’t started to notice Batum, international fans certainly have. What’s next for Batum? He will join his Trail Blazer teammates in Portland for the start of training camp in a couple weeks. The expectations continue to rise for this team. A lot of the success of the Blazers may be dependent on whether or not Batum can elevate his game and become a better-rounded and consistent basketball player. Let’s hope to see that Batum’s international coming-out party can translate to a banner year in the NBA.

Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune: Last Saturday night, Booker watched the Floyd Mayweather fight with new Jazzmen Carrick Felix and Rodney Hood. The goal is simply to develop a chemistry before the season starts, instead of trying to do so on the fly. "He’s worked diligently at doing the little things that we want our players to do," Jazz General Manager Dennis Lindsey said. "He’s really brought into what we want to do, and we are really excited at how he’s embraced the community and the team." Before free agency began, Lindsey spoke of adding what he called a young veteran, meaning someone on their second contract, but a few years away from entering his prime. The 26 year old Booker certainly qualifies as that. He’s expected to come in and be one of the first front court substitutes off the bench, someone who can even play major minutes when called upon. For a Jazz team that’s one of the youngest in the league, Booker provides a guy who has playoff experience, having been a cog in the Washington Wizards’ engine that last spring advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Dan McCarney of the San Antonio Express-News: Tim Duncan, after all those championships and individual awards, has finally made it. The Spurs’ resident comic book geek will be featured on a special batch of variant covers for an upcoming issue of Marvel Comics’ The Punisher, whose trademark death’s head logo adorns one of Duncan’s knee braces. (Duncan is also a fan of another Marvel character, Deadpool, a wise-cracking mutant mercenary.) The cover was rendered by Mike Choi, a Judson and University of Texas graduate who, according to his biography, spent three years as an IT consultant before quitting to pursue a career in art. He’s since done prominent work for both DC and Marvel, including the upcoming cover featuring his hometown’s biggest athletic hero as a grease monkey. (Notice that Choi took care to give Duncan’s championship ring prominent placement.)

Ben Standig of CSN Washington: If you're like me, the idea of Paul Pierce wearing a Wizards jersey remains odd. That's even though the future Hall of Famer and Boston Celtics legend signed with Washington two months ago and has since been show in the red, white and blue gear in real life and animated form. At some point reality will kick in especially with the start of training camp less than two weeks away. Rather than wait, perhaps we should overdose on the latest pics of Pierce from a photo shoot this week for Spalding on the campus of Western Kentucky.

Andrew Joseph of The Arizona Republic: Back in August, Suns forwards Marcus and Markieff Morris gave fans an opportunity to vote on their next tattoo on Twitter. And a winner has been chosen. In a video released by ESPN The Magazine, the Morris twins can be seen getting their fan-selected ink. As many know, the twins have all the same tattoos, and it appears that the winning tattoo was the #GMA option, honoring their grandma. I personally thought that the #FOE option would win, but I can't fault the twins' fans for going with different family-inspired ink.

Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Dominique Wilkins will get his statue. The Basketball Hall of Famer and Hawks legend will have a statue of his likeness erected outside Philips Arena next year. A group has contracted Hall of Fame sculptor Brian Hanlon to do the art work many believe long over due. Hanlon worked with Wilkins when he created the bust for his 2006 enshrinement. The sculpture will be unveiled on March 6, the day the Hawks host LeBron James and the Cavaliers. “The first thing that comes to mind is that it immortalizes you,” Wilkins told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Tuesday. “There is no better feeling in the world to know that you will be recognized for the rest of your life and even after you are gone it’s still going to be there. “One of most important things, not just for me but for the city of Atlanta, is it’s a sign of appreciation for what they’ve done for me. This city made me who I am.”