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Report: Cavs bringing back C Tristan Thompson

Report: Cavs bringing back C Tristan Thompson

The Cleveland Cavaliers are re-signing free agent center Tristan Thompson to a one-year deal, ESPN reported Friday.

Thompson, 33, averaged 3.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 11.2 minutes in 49 games off Cleveland's bench last season.

He has played 10 of his 13 seasons with the Cavaliers (2011-20, 2023-24), who drafted him fourth overall in 2011 out of Texas.

Thompson has career averages of 8.7 points and 8.1 rebounds in 779 games (478 starts) with the Cavaliers, Boston Celtics (2020-21), Sacramento Kings (2021-22), Indiana Pacers (2022) and Chicago Bulls (2022).

He made the All-Rookie second team in 2011-12 and helped the Cavaliers win the NBA championship in 2015-16. He ranks third in Cleveland history in rebounds (5,567) and fifth in blocks (461).

Grizzlies F GG Jackson II (foot) out at least 3 months

Grizzlies F GG Jackson II (foot) out at least 3 months

Memphis Grizzlies second-year forward GG Jackson II is expected to miss at least three months after undergoing surgery on Wednesday to repair a fracture in his right foot.

Jackson, 19, sustained the injury to his fifth metatarsal last week. The team said he's expected to make a full recovery.

"While playing basketball outside of Dallas on Aug. 27, after attempting a contested layup, Jackson II experienced an unstable landing on his right foot," the Grizzlies said in a statement Friday.

Jackson earned second-team honors on the NBA All-Rookie team after averaging 14.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in 48 games (18 starts) for the Grizzlies in 2023-24. The 6-foot-9 Jackson played 25.7 minutes per game.

The Grizzlies selected Jackson in the second round of the 2023 draft.

Report: NBA veteran Evan Fournier to play in Europe

Report: NBA veteran Evan Fournier to play in Europe

Evan Fournier is continuing his pro basketball career in Europe after 12 NBA seasons.

The Athletic reported Monday that Fournier, 31, is signing a two-year, $4 million deal to play for Greece-based Olympiacos. It's a return to European soil for the guard, who played for his native France in the Paris Olympics. He averaged 9.8 points and 2.2 assists for the silver-medal winners.

The Nuggets selected Fournier with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, and he spent two seasons in Denver, followed by six-plus seasons with the Orlando Magic and stints with the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons.

He averaged 6.9 points in 32 games last season between the Knicks and Pistons.

Fournier has played in 704 career games (504 starts) and averaged 13.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

Report: Clippers, C Ivica Zubac agree on 3-year, $58.6M extension

Report: Clippers, C Ivica Zubac agree on 3-year, $58.6M extension

The Los Angeles Clippers and center Ivica Zubac agreed on a three-year, $58.6 million extension, ESPN reported Friday.

With the extension, Zubac is guaranteed $70 million over the next four years. The veteran big man scored a career-high 11.7 points on 64.9 percent shooting from the floor last season. He also averaged 9.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 68 games.

The Clippers, who will begin playing in the Intuit Dome -- their new arena -- this coming season, are in the midst of a makeover after nine-time All-Star guard Paul George joined the Philadelphia 76ers on a four-year, $212 million deal. Los Angeles also lost veteran guard Russell Westbrook, who was dealt to the Utah Jazz last month in a sign-and-trade agreement.

Zubac, 27, spent his first two-plus seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers after they selected him with the 32nd pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. The Lakers traded Zubac and forward Michael Beasley to the Clippers for center Mike Muscala in 2019.

Zubac, who is entering his ninth season, has averaged 9.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 504 games (371 starts).

Grizzlies F GG Jackson II breaks foot, will undergo surgery

Grizzlies F GG Jackson II breaks foot, will undergo surgery

Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson II sustained a broken right foot earlier this week and will undergo surgery, the team announced Friday.

Jackson will have the surgery on Wednesday. The team said it will provide an update after the procedure.

"While playing basketball outside of Dallas on August 27, after attempting a contested layup, Jackson II experienced an unstable landing on his right foot," the Grizzlies said in a statement. "Subsequent imaging revealed a broken fifth metatarsal in his right foot, which will require surgery to repair."

Jackson, 19, earned second-team honors on the NBA All-Rookie team after averaging 14.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in 48 games (18 starts) last season. He made 102 3-pointers.

Jackson was a second-round pick (45th overall) in the 2023 NBA Draft. He played one college season at South Carolina.

Pacers G T.J. McConnell agrees to 4-year, $45M deal

Pacers G T.J. McConnell agrees to 4-year, $45M deal

Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell agreed to a four-year, $45 million contract extension through 2028-29, his representation Priority Sports told ESPN on Friday.

McConnell had been under contract for $9.3 million for the 2024-25 season. He is now linked to the Pacers for the next five seasons at $54 million.

McConnell, 32, recorded a career-best average with 10.2 points game last season. He also chipped in 5.5 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 71 games (four starts) in 2023-24.

He has averaged 7.5 points, 5.1 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 627 career games (96 starts) with the Philadelphia 76ers (2015-19) and Pacers.

Report: Warriors' Stephen Curry agrees to 1-year, $62.6M extension

Report: Warriors' Stephen Curry agrees to 1-year, $62.6M extension

Warriors star Stephen Curry has agreed to a one-year, $62.6 million extension that keeps him with Golden State through the 2026-27 season.

ESPN reported Thursday that Curry's agent, Jeff Austin, had confirmed the numbers for the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player.

Curry, 36, had two years remaining on the four-year, $215.4 million deal he signed in August 2021. Based on the "over-38 rule" in the collective bargaining agreement, he was only eligible for a one-year extension this offseason because he will turn 38 during the life of the contract (March 14, 2026).

A 10-time All-Star, four-time NBA champion and two-time scoring king, Curry averaged 26.4 points, 5.1 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 74 games in his 15th season with Golden State in 2023-24.

Curry is the NBA's all-time leader in 3-point field goals (3,747) and the franchise's career leader in points (23,668), assists (6,119), steals (1,473) and games played (956).

Report: Celtics, G Lonnie Walker IV agree to 1-year deal

Report: Celtics, G Lonnie Walker IV agree to 1-year deal

The Boston Celtics and free agent guard Lonnie Walker IV agreed on a one-year contract, ESPN reported on Wednesday.

Walker, 25, will receive an Exhibit 10 training camp contract, per The Athletic. If Walker is waived after camp and plays for the team's G League affiliate in Maine, he would be eligible for a bonus worth up to $77,500.

Walker will be competing for the defending NBA champion Celtics' final roster spot.

In 58 games last season with the Brooklyn Nets, Walker averaged 9.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 17.4 minutes per game.

Selected in the first round (No. 18 overall) in the 2018 draft by the San Antonio Spurs, the six-year veteran has averaged 9.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 322 games (88 starts) with the Spurs (2018-22), Los Angeles Lakers (2022-23) and Nets.

Diamond Sports Group reaches NBA, NHL broadcast deals

Diamond Sports Group reaches NBA, NHL broadcast deals

Diamond Sports Group will continue to carry local game broadcasts for 20 NBA and NHL teams in the 2024-25 season.

Diamond reached agreements with the NBA and NHL that were disclosed Friday in filings with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.

The subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group had been operating the Bally-branded regional sports networks that carried NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball games in many markets around the country. Diamond filed for Chapter 1 bankruptcy in March 2023 and were ordered that spring to pay four MLB teams 50 percent of unpaid media rights fees that were owed to them.

The behind-the-scenes business troubles at Diamond led to uncertainty about where teams would be able to broadcast their games when not on national television.

In the NBA, Diamond will continue to carry local broadcasts for the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.

In the NHL, the group will keep broadcasting the Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Diamond will no longer go forward with the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans, the latter of whom recently reached a deal with New Orleans' local Fox affiliate to air games. The Mavericks were long considered likely to part with Bally, and Dallas' NHL team, the Stars, previously split from Diamond in favor of starting their own streaming platform.

"We are appreciative of the ongoing collaboration and long-term partnerships with the NBA and NHL," Diamond Sports CEO David Preschlack said in a statement. "Having completed negotiations with key partners that provide certainty around our content and distribution, Diamond is well positioned for the future. With the support of our creditors, we are focused on finalizing our reorganization plan to support our emergence and presenting that plan to the court in due course."

Diamond's next bankruptcy hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3.

Report: Pelicans set to waive F Matt Ryan

Report: Pelicans set to waive F Matt Ryan

The New Orleans Pelicans are expected to waive forward Matt Ryan, The Athletic reported Friday.

Ryan, 27, played in 28 games (one start) with the Pelicans last season and averaged 5.4 points with 1.4 rebounds while shooting 45.1 percent from 3-point range. He was claimed off waivers in October and signed to a two-way contract.

Ryan has played for the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Pelicans over the last three seasons. He has averaged 4.4 points per game with 1.0 rebounds while shooting 41.1 percent from distance.

Cavaliers founder Nick Mileti dies at 93

Cavaliers founder Nick Mileti dies at 93

Nick Mileti, the founder of the Cleveland Cavaliers and former owner of the city's MLB franchise, died Wednesday at the age of 93.

"The Cleveland Guardians are saddened by the loss of former owner Nick Mileti," the team posted on X. "A native Clevelander, Mileti was a staple of the 1970s sports world. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends."

Mileti paid $3.7 million to bring an NBA expansion team to Cleveland in 1970. He remained part of the Cavaliers' ownership group until 1980.

In 1972, Mileti headed a group of investors that purchased Cleveland's major league baseball franchise, then known as the Indians. Ownership passed to his business partner Ted Bonda in 1975.

Al Attles, former Warriors star, coach and GM, dies at 87

Al Attles, former Warriors star, coach and GM, dies at 87

Hall of Fame member Al Attles, a physical point guard known as "The Destroyer" who later became an NBA champion coach and general manager of the Golden State Warriors, died Tuesday at 87.

The team announced Wednesday that Attles passed away at his home in East Bay, Calif., surrounded by family.

"Alvin leaves behind a profound legacy within the game of basketball and the Bay Area community, but especially as a family man and humanitarian," the Warriors said in a statement. "We mourn his loss alongside his wife, Wilhelmina, son Alvin, and all who knew and loved him."

Attles began his NBA career as a fifth-round pick of the then-Philadelphia Warriors in 1960. On March 2, 1962, in Hershey, Pa., he had 17 points against the New York Knicks on a night where teammate Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points.

He moved with the franchise to San Francisco later in 1962 and remained a player through the 1970-71 season, finishing with career averages of 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 711 games.

Attles served as the Warriors' player-coach during his final season and remained the head coach through 1983, leading them to the NBA championship in 1974-75. They swept the then-Washington Bullets in the NBA Finals, making Attles the second Black coach to win a title after Bill Russell.

Attles compiled a 557-518 record as the Warriors' head coach. He later served as the team's general manager for three seasons, returned as an assistant coach in 1994-95 and also worked in the front office as a vice president and consultant, ultimately spending more than six decades with the organization.

"Alvin Attles had a huge, positive influence on me and my career, not just drafting me in 1985 and bringing me to the Bay Area but guiding me through my journey as a player and a young man, both in good and difficult times," former Warriors star Chris Mullin said. "He was a dear friend, mentor and role model and someone I admired tremendously and tried to emulate. He set the standard for all of us when it comes to integrity and humility and was truly a champion both on and off the court.

Attles was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019. His jersey No. 16 was retired by the Warriors.

Raptors sign free agent G Jared Rhoden

Raptors sign free agent G Jared Rhoden

The Toronto Raptors signed free agent guard Jared Rhoden on Monday. Terms were not disclosed.

Rhoden, who turns 25 on Aug. 27, averaged 4.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and 14.4 minutes in 17 games off the Detroit Pistons' bench in 2023-24.

He compiled career averages of 4.1 points, 2.3 boards and 14.3 minutes in 31 games (no starts) in two seasons with the Pistons.

Rhoden was undrafted in 2022 following four seasons at Seton Hall, where he was a first-team All-Big East honoree as a 2021-22 senior.

Report: 76ers sign French Olympian Guerschon Yabusele

Report: 76ers sign French Olympian Guerschon Yabusele

Forward Guerschon Yabusele agreed to a one-year, $2.1 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, ESPN reported on Sunday.

Yabusele, a 6-foot-8, 260-pound power forward, helped host France capture the silver medal at the Olympics earlier this month. He scored 20 points in the gold-medal match against the United States. He averaged 14.0 points and 3.3 rebounds for his team.

Yabusele, 28, initially was selected by the Boston Celtics with the 16th overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft. He averaged 2.3 points and 1.4 rebounds in 74 games (five starts) over two seasons with the Celtics before he was waived in the summer of 2019.

He played one season in China and two in France before spending the last three with Real Madrid.

Report: Bulls to sign F Kenneth Lofton Jr.

Report: Bulls to sign F Kenneth Lofton Jr.

Free agent forward Kenneth Lofton Jr. is signing a one-year contract with the Chicago Bulls, The Athletic reported Friday.

Lofton, 22, played for three teams -- the Memphis Grizzlies, Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz -- last season and averaged a combined 4.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 9.5 minutes in 21 games.

In four games with the Jazz, Lofton averaged 13.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 22.8 minutes. Utah waived him on July 24.

The undrafted free agent out of Louisiana Tech also played in Memphis in 2022-23, and for his career averages 4.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 8.3 minutes in 45 games (one start).

NBA schedule release: Champion Celtics open vs. Knicks

NBA schedule release: Champion Celtics open vs. Knicks

The Boston Celtics will raise their 18th championship banner on Oct. 22 before hosting the rival New York Knicks for the first game of the 2024-25 NBA season.

The NBA released the complete schedule for the regular season on Thursday after revealing the Emirates NBA Cup (in-season tournament) schedule earlier this week.

A doubleheader on the card the first night of the season opens with Boston-New York followed by the Los Angeles Lakers hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Lakers are a main dish for Christmas Day for the 26th consecutive season -- visiting the Golden State Warriors -- and a star attraction in primetime again this season, appearing on national television 39 times with 11 games on TNT, 10 games on ESPN, six games on ABC and 12 games on NBA TV.

The Philadelphia 76ers will debut their new Big Three -- with Paul George in the mix alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey -- on Oct. 23 against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks.

That same night, the Los Angeles Clippers will christen their new home arena against the Phoenix Suns. George will visit the Clippers, his old team, just two weeks later when the Sixers play at Los Angeles on Nov. 6.

The Dallas Mavericks also have a new Big Three to show off after they landed Klay Thompson to hoop with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Their season debut comes Oct. 24 at home against the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama.

As revealed earlier this week, Thompson will meet his old team, the Warriors, on Nov. 12 in San Francisco to kick off the group stage of the NBA Cup.

In addition to Lakers at Warriors, the NBA stacked its usual five-game, nationally televised slate with these matchups: Spurs at Knicks, Timberwolves at Mavericks, 76ers at Celtics and Denver Nuggets at Suns, which follows the Steph Curry-LeBron James duel.

All-Star Weekend is slated for Feb. 14-16 in San Francisco, shortly after the Feb. 6 trade deadline. The regular season will wrap up April 13.

Report: Joe Harris retires from NBA after 10 seasons

Report: Joe Harris retires from NBA after 10 seasons

Sharpshooter Joe Harris is retiring after 10 NBA seasons, The Athletic reported Thursday.

The Cavaliers selected Harris with the No. 33 overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft, and he averaged 10.3 points over 504 games (283 starts) with Cleveland (2014-16), the Brooklyn Nets (2016-23) and Detroit Pistons (2023-24).

He led the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage twice and retires with a career average of 43.6 percent from long distance -- fifth on the all-time list.

Harris, 32, also shot 47.9 percent overall and averaged 3.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists over his career.

Report: Jazz sign G Patty Mills to 1-year, $3.3M deal

Report: Jazz sign G Patty Mills to 1-year, $3.3M deal

The Utah Jazz are signing free agent guard Patty Mills to a one-year, $3.3 million deal, ESPN reported Wednesday.

Mills, 36, is entering his 16th season and playing for his sixth team. His deal is fully guaranteed, per the report.

He split last season with Atlanta and Miami, averaging 4.0 points and 13.0 minutes in 32 games (five starts).

Mills has career averages of 8.8 points, 2.2 assists and 1.6 rebounds in 892 games (112 starts) with the Portland Trail Blazers (2009-11), San Antonio Spurs (2011-21), Brooklyn Nets (2021-23), Hawks and Heat.

He reunites with Jazz head coach Will Hardy, who was an assistant coach under Gregg Popovich when Mills played for the Spurs.

Ex-NBA player Royce White wins GOP Senate primary

Ex-NBA player Royce White wins GOP Senate primary

Former NBA player Royce White won the Republican U.S. Senate primary in Minnesota on Tuesday.

He defeated Joe Fraser and will face incumbent Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar in the November election.

White, 33, previously lost in the 2022 GOP primary for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Drafted in the first round (16th overall) by Houston in 2012, the 6-foot-8 forward never played for the Rockets after disclosing mental health issues and indicating he would not fly to road games.

White appeared in only three NBA games with the Sacramento Kings in March 2014, recording no points, assists or rebounds in nine total minutes.

He also played in the NBA G League and NBL Canada, where he earned league MVP honors in 2017 and won two championships (2017, 2018) with the London Lightning.

White will be a major underdog against Klobuchar, who has been in the Senate since 2007. As a Black candidate, White has argued that he can broaden the Republican party's base by appealing to Minnesota voters of color.

He sparked controversy last year by saying "women have become too mouthy" during an appearance on former Donald Trump advisor Steve Bannon's "War Room" show.

Klay Thompson, Mavericks visit Warriors in NBA Cup opener

Klay Thompson, Mavericks visit Warriors in NBA Cup opener

The first night of the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup will feature guard Klay Thompson, now with the Dallas Mavericks, facing the host Golden State Warriors, with whom he spent the past 13 seasons and won four league championships.

The game is the second of a doubleheader on Nov. 12, when the league tips off the second year of its in-season tournament, now branded as the Emirates NBA Cup.

The NBA on Tuesday released its complete game schedule and national television slate for group play, with the full 2024-25 regular-season schedule to be announced on Thursday.

The first Cup Night (TNT) opens with the Philadelphia 76ers hosting the New York Knicks, followed by Mavericks at Warriors.

The defending NBA Cup champion Los Angeles Lakers visit the San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 15 (ESPN), followed that night by the Memphis Grizzlies at the Warriors.

As with last year's competition, teams were randomly drawn into six groups of five for a single round robin of two home and two road games. The seeding was based on win-loss records from the 2023-24 regular season.

Group play games will take place across four Tuesdays (Nov. 12, Nov. 19, Nov. 26 and Dec. 3) and three Fridays (Nov. 15, Nov. 22 and Nov. 29).

TNT and ESPN will combine to air 14 games and NBA TV will televise three games in this first stage of the Emirates NBA Cup.

The quarterfinals of the single-elimination knockout bracket will be played Dec. 10 and 11. Then the tournament will shift from NBA team markets to Las Vegas, where T-Mobile Arena (home of the NHL's Golden Knights) will host the semifinals on Dec. 14 and the championship game on Dec. 17.

The groups are below, with teams listed by seed number:

Western Conference

Group A: 1. Minnesota, 2. Los Angeles Clippers, 3. Sacramento, 4. Houston, 5 Portland

Group B: 1. Oklahoma City, 2. Phoenix, 3. Los Angeles Lakers, 4. Utah, 5. San Antonio

Group C: 1. Denver, 2. Dallas, 3. New Orleans, 4. Golden State, 5. Memphis

Eastern Conference

Group A: 1. New York, 2. Orlando, 3. Philadelphia, 4. Brooklyn, 5. Charlotte

Group B: 1. Milwaukee, 2. Indiana, 3. Miami, 4. Toronto, 5. Detroit

Group C: 1. Boston, 2. Cleveland, 3. Chicago, 4. Atlanta, 5. Washington