No tweets allowed during games

NEW YORK -- The NBA is instituting a policy regarding Twitter and other social media sites, banning players from using them during games.

The league sent a memo to teams on Wednesday telling them that cell phones and other communication devices can't be used from 45 minutes before game time until after players have finished their responsibilities after games. That includes halftime.

The rule applies to "coaches, players and other team basketball operations personnel." NBA spokesman Tim Frank confirmed the memo and its contents.

The memo does not specify penalties for violation of the rule, and says teams are free to create their own policies for practices and other team events.

The NBA has more than 1.4 million followers on Twitter, and many players are active on it.

Around the league

CHICAGO: Kirk Hinrich needed just one syllable to answer whether he thought the Bulls ever played well defensively last season.

"No," Hinrich said.

Former Vanderbilt guard Derrick Byars is wearing Ben Gordon's vacated No. 7 in training camp, but the Bulls aren't as concerned about replacing their four-time leading scorer as one might think.

Not only do they think they have enough primary scoring options - Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, John Salmons - to offset the loss of Gordon, but offense isn't the primary focus of camp.

"We must get better defensively," general manager Gar Forman said. "We have to get stops at the right time."

CLEVELAND: LeBron James says the Cavaliers will welcome back Delonte West, whenever he comes back.

West was absent from training camp for the second straight day Wednesday while he deals with personal issues. Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry has spoken at length with West, coach Mike Brown said, adding that the absence is unexcused and that West will be fined.

James said he called West but didn't get an answer.

West, who has battled depression and mood disorders for years, also could face suspension by the league after he was recently arrested for gun possession in Maryland. Police pulled over his three-wheel motorcycle for a traffic violation and found he was carrying three loaded weapons - two handguns and a shotgun in a guitar case he had on his back.

MINNESOTA: A slimmer, trimmer Al Jefferson returned to full practice Tuesday for the first time in nearly eight months following surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee. He has lost 31 pounds in an effort to reduce the stress on his knees and get ready to run in the new up-tempo offense that coach Kurt Rambis plans to install.

Jefferson's season was derailed last season just as he was asserting himself as one of the league's dominant low post players. He crumpled to the court in New Orleans shortly before the All-Star break in February, and the young Timberwolves went right down with him.

OKLAHOMA CITY: Rookie James Harden's first training camp is off to a rough start.

The No. 3 overall pick in this year's draft got poked in the eye on his first day of training camp. On Wednesday, he had to leave practice again after rolling his ankle.

"Those things happen when you play hard and compete. That's the game," coach Scott Brooks said. "You can't go a game or a season without being nicked up sometime. Hopefully he gets his out of the way early."

Brooks said Harden's injury isn't severe.

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