NBA Essentials ranks our six favorite stories of the day.1. Deadspin: Photos of Charles Oakley getting his shirtless party on.
2. The Sporting Blog: The Celtics aren't a realistic model for success.
3. Chad Ford, ESPN: Draft approaching, rumors flying: Anderson Varejao, Leandro Barbosa, Linas Kleiza are some of the names in play.
4. Mike Bresnahan, L.A. Times: Lakers are in no hurry to sign Andrew Bynum to a contract extension.
5. OC Register: Clippers secretly worked out O.J. Mayo.
6. Paul Coro, AZ Republic: Amare Stoudemire declines an invitation to play in the Olympics.




