Rookie forward Andre Blatche, just 19, recovered incredibly fast after taking a bullet in the chest just over a week before training camp commenced. Blatche spent just three days in the hospital recovering from the bullet, which he took during an attempted car jacking in Alexandria, VA. However, he will not participate in training camp.

PROJECTED ROTATION
Starters -- Point guard Gilbert Arenas; Shooting guard Antonio Daniels; Small forward Caron Butler; Power forward Antawn Jamison; Center Brendan Haywood. Bench -- Guard Chucky Atkins; Forward Jared Jeffries; Forward Jarvis Hayes; Center Etan Thomas; Center Calvin Booth.

PLAYER NOTES

--Center Etan Thomas, who suffered an abdominal strain in training camp and missed the first 32 games of the season, said that he is in great shape and fully recovered from the injury, which he re-aggravated in the playoffs.

--Forward Jared Jeffries, the team's starting small forward for most of last season, said he fully expected to have to battle for the starting position in camp. Jordan has made it clear that the position is up for grabs with Jeffries, Butler and Hayes all vying for it.

--Guard Antonio Daniels said that when he was in San Antonio, where he won a championship, defense was always stressed. "If you didn't play defense, you didn't get on the floor. That was all the motivation you needed," Daniels said.

UPDATING THE NEWCOMERS

--Forward Andre Blatche (Rd. 2/49), South Kent Prep (Conn.), 6-11, 250 -- Recovering from gunshot wound. Might begin the season with NBDL team.

--Guard Chucky Atkins (Trade-Lakers), 5-11, 160 -- Started all 82 games with the Lakers last season. He's small, but he knows how to play. Viewed as a step up from Juan Dixon and Steve Blake.

--Forward Caron Butler (Trade-Lakers), 6-7, 217 -- Has shot the ball better than advertised. He averaged almost 22 points in his final 15 games with the Lakers and will help to pick up the void left by Hughes' departure.

--Guard Antonio Daniels (free agent-Seattle), 6-4, 205 -- Most likely candidate to start at shooting guard. Jordan believes he will provide the defense with a huge lift.

--Center Calvin Booth (free agent-Milwaukee), 6-11, 231 -- The one-time second-round pick of the Wizards returns to give the real depth at center.

INJURY UPDATE
Everyone is healthy with the exception being Blatche, who is expected to be ready to play by the start of the regular season.

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