The NBA preseason has tipped off, and the regular season is slated to start on October 19. That may all feel particularly early this year, and not just because the playoffs finished a month later than usual.

Despite being just a couple weeks away from action, some rosters are still finding their shape. The Philadelphia 76ers' Ben Simmons remains a coveted, acquirable talent. And, more recently, another name has also hit the marketplace: Trey Burke of the Dallas Mavericks. 

We'll break those two situations down in a rumor roundup, as well as some positive reports about Kawhi Leonard's ACL rehabilitation.

Pacers Sneak into Crowd of Simmons Suitors

When you think of superstar destinations, the Indiana Pacers don't typically spring to mind. Milwaukee didn't, either, until the Bucks drafted Giannis Antetokounmpo.

However, if the Pacers want their own unicorn combination of size and versatility under an extended contract, they can make a move to bring in Ben Simmons.

The Philadelphia Inquirer's Keith Pompey reported there were six suitors for Simmons: the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs and the Pacers. 

Now, ESPN's Brian Windhorst claims Indiana is the "sleeper team" in negotiations. And it's easy to see why. Although the Pacers lack the big names typically associated with trades for stars, they own all of their future first-round picks and possess some talented players who can fit the 76ers' win-now goals.

Malcolm Brogdon and Caris LeVert are the first obvious candidates for a move, as each can play a role in shooting-deprived Philadelphia while being easier for Indiana to part with than Domantas Sabonis. They, and draft capital, make the Pacers a more-than-reasonable sleeper in the Simmons sweepstakes.

Mavericks Intent on Moving Bullish Burke

After being projected as the principal backup to Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks now appear keen to part ways with Trey Burke. As reported by Sports Illustrated's Mike Fisher, following reluctance to follow team and NBA expectations, the Mavs "want to trade" the 28-year-old.

While the market might be fairly limited for a guard who may not be able to play in certain stadiums, the Dallas backup plan is an intriguing one. If Burke is dealt, the team would likely need to shift newcomer Frank Ntilikina up the depth chart.

A worse shooter than Burke, the French player is still a former No. 8 pick who has already proved his ability to defend at a top level at the age of just 23.

If the Mavs can't trade for another point guard, New York Knicks fans should begin preparing to watch yet another fan favorite play impact minutes for Dallas.

Leonard's ACL Return Is Ahead of Schedule

Nobody likes injuries, but we can get behind productive recoveries. And, according to Farbod Esnaashari of Sports Illustrated, there's good news coming out of the Los Angeles Clippers camp.

After suffering a partial ACL tear in his right knee, it seems Kawhi Leonard may not miss the entire season: "Multiple sources have revealed that as of right now, Kawhi Leonard is ahead of schedule with his ACL tear rehab."

This is great news for the Clippers and Paul George's shoulders, which are expected to bear the load of L.A.'s season until the 30-year-old returns.