Basketball Page 129 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Rockets retain Jabari Smith on $122M extension
Houston is buying into Jabari Smith playing a key role for the Rockets in more ways than one.,Smith, the No. 3 pick in the 2022 draft, is set to sign a five-year, $122 million extension with the revamped Rockets, who also put together a new deal with point guard Fred VanVleet in a remodeled rotation...
LeBron James Opts In With Lakers, But Trade Speculation Swirls as Title Hopes Fade
LeBron James is back with the Lakers on a one-year, $52 million deal—but his agent Rich Paul signals openness to a trade if a contender emerges. We explore potential landing spots like the Warriors, Bulls and Sixers....
WNBA expands to 18 teams, adds Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia
Three WNBA franchises are set to join the league by 2030, with Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia confirmed as the new teams on Monday. ,The expansion will push the WNBA to 18 total teams. Cleveland (2028) will be the first franchise to play in the WNBA among the latest additions. Detroit is schedu...
Report: Ziaire Williams to return to Nets on 2-year, $12M deal
Forward Ziaire Williams plans to sign a two-year, $12 million contract with the Brooklyn Nets, ESPN reported Monday.,The second season is a team option, per the report. Williams, 23, would have become a free agent.,Williams, the No. 10 overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft, played his first three seaso...
Blazers C Deandre Ayton to be free agent after buyout
The Portland Trail Blazers have reached an agreement to buy out the final year of Deandre Ayton's contract and have requested waivers on him, making the center a free agent, the team announced late Sunday night.,Ayton, 26, is owed $35 million for the coming season to complete a four-year, $132 milli...
Reports: Blazers C Deandre Ayton to be free agent after buyout
The Portland Trail Blazers will buy out the final year of center Deandre Ayton's contract and make him a free agent, multiple media outlets reported on Sunday night.,Ayton, 26, is owed $35 million for the coming season to complete a four-year, $132 million contract that he had signed while with the ...
Valkyries rout Storm to close impressive homestand
Tiffany Hayes connected on three 3-pointers en route to a season-high 21 points and the Golden State Valkyries, rooted on by local favorites Stephen Curry and Megan Rapinoe, rolled past the visiting Seattle Storm 84-57 on Sunday night in San Francisco.,Laeticia Amihere snatched a game-high eight reb...
Valkyriess rout Storm to close impressive homestand
Tiffany Hayes connected on three 3-pointers en route to a season-high 21 points and the Golden State Valkyries, rooted on by local favorites Stephen Curry and Megan Rapinoe, rolled past the visiting Seattle Storm 84-57 on Sunday night in San Francisco.,Laeticia Amihere snatched a game-high eight reb...
WNBA-leading Lynx dominate as Sun lose 9th straight
MVP candidate Napheesa Collier poured in 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Minnesota Lynx posted a season-high point total in a 102-63 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Sunday in Minneapolis.,Collier scored 15 points in the third quarter as she recorded her 10th game of the season of 20-p...
Reports: Rockets reward Jabari Smith Jr. with 5-year, $122M extension
The Houston Rockets and forward Jabari Smith Jr. agreed to a five-year, $122 million extension of his rookie contract, ESPN and The Athletic reported Sunday.,Smith, 22, has averaged 13.0 points and 7.5 rebounds across three NBA seasons since the Rockets selected him third overall in the 2022 draft. ...
A’ja Wilson, Aces halt Mercury's winning streak at 6
The Las Vegas Aces ended the host Phoenix Mercury's six-game winning streak behind A'ja Wilson's 26 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists in an 84-81 victory Sunday.,Las Vegas (8-8) avenged a loss at home to Phoenix (12-5) on June 15, the second game of the Mercury's six-game winning streak.,Wilson'...
Thunder reach deals with Jaylin Williams, Ajay Mitchell
The NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder have taken the first step toward keeping their roster together, agreeing with center/forward Jaylin Williams on a multi-year contract extension on the big man's 23rd birthday.,The team did not announce terms or other specifics of the deal, but it is a three-yea...
Reports: Bucks F Bobby Portis agrees to 3-year, $44M contract
Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis has declined his player option and will sign a three-year, $44 million contract to stay with the team, multiple media outlets reported on Sunday.,Portis, 30, had until Sunday to decide on the player option worth $13.4 million. The new deal includes a player optio...
Big fourth quarter helps Sky beat Sparks again
Angel Reese had an emphatic double-double Sunday, and the visiting Chicago Sky spoiled the Los Angeles Sparks' jersey retirement day for Candace Parker, recording a 92-85 win.,Reese dominated inside with 24 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists, clinching the outcome with a 3-point play on an assist...
Dream score key, one-sided win against Liberty
Atlanta dominated the paint and didn't let a big lead slip away this time in a 90-81 win over visiting New York Sunday afternoon.,The Dream outscored New York 62-36 in the paint, shot 52.9 percent from the floor and never trailed after the first quarter. Five different Dream players hit double figur...
Report: James Harden gets new 2-year, $81.5M deal with Clippers
James Harden declined his player option in order to sign a new two-year contract with the Los Angeles Clippers worth $81.5 million, ESPN reported Sunday.,The 11-time All-Star guard will return to the Clippers after spending the past two seasons there. The second year of the new pact reportedly has a...
NBA Rookie of the Year Race: Can Anyone Catch Cooper Flagg?
Cooper Flagg is the clear betting favorite for NBA Rookie of the Year, but Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey and Tre Johnson offer real value at plus odds....
LeBron to Cleveland Cavaliers Again? Sounds Right, So It Probably Won’t Happen
LeBron James picked up his $52.6 million option, but it sure doesn’t sound like he’s locked in with the Lakers. Could a final run with the Cavaliers really be in play?...
Report: Jazz land C Jusuf Nurkic in trade with Hornets
The Utah Jazz are set to acquire center Jusuf Nurkic from the Charlotte Hornets for Collin Sexton and a 2030 second-round draft pick, ESPN reported Sunday.,Nurkic, 30, averaged 8.9 points and 7.8 rebounds in 51 games last season with the Phoenix Suns and Hornets. He was traded to Charlotte in Februa...
Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier selected by fans as All-Star captains
The Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark and the Minnesota Lynx's Napheesa Collier have been named as team captains for the WNBA All-Star Game on July 19 in Indianapolis.,Clark and Collier earned their captain status as the players who received the most votes from fans, players and media. They will draft t...