Basketball Page 405 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Report: LeBron James opting out to seek new deal with Lakers
LeBron James plans to opt out of the final season of his contract with the Los Angeles prior to Saturday's deadline, ESPN reported.,The Lakers and James would then work out a new three-year deal. James is eligible for a three-year, $162 million package.,James would receive $51.4 million next season ...

Dream takes momentum into challenging test vs. Liberty
An inconsistent team that is fresh off a big win meets the league leader that is coming off a tough loss when the Atlanta Dream visit the New York Liberty on Sunday afternoon.,The Dream (7-9) had lost seven of nine games before they marched into Uncasville, Conn., and knocked off second-place Connec...

Report: Russell Westbrook picking up $4M option with Clippers
Guard Russell Westbook plans to pick up his $4 million option and return to the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2024-25 season, ESPN reported Saturday.,Westbrook, a former league MVP and two-time scoring champion, was a key contributor off the bench for the Clippers last season. He averaged 11.1 points,...

Report: Heat's Kevin Love to decline $4M player option
Veteran forward Kevin Love reportedly is declining his $4 million player option for the 2024-25 season, but Love and the Miami Heat are expected to negotiate toward a new deal, according to a report Saturday from ESPN.,The free agent signing period begins July 6.,The five-time All-Star averaged 8.8 ...

Report: Magic to decline Joe Ingles' $11M contract option
The Orlando Magic intend to decline the $11 million contract option of forward Joe Ingles but could bring him back in free agency, ESPN reported Saturday.,Ingles, 36, and the team are expected to talk about a free-agent deal, per the report.,In his first season with the Magic in 2023-24, Ingles play...
Top 2024 NBA Free Agents: Potential Suitors, Landing Spots For Paul George, Demar DeRozan, and More
Top NBA free agents in 2024 include players like Paul George and Demar DeRozan, but which teams could be suitors for these All-Stars?...

Reports: D'Angelo Russell to opt in, stay with Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell plans to exercise his $18.7 million option to remain with the team, according to multiple reports.,Russell was acquired at the 2023 trade deadline and put up two strong regular seasons -- including setting a franchise record last season with 226 3-pointers i...

Mercury extend Sparks' road skid to seven in row
Kahleah Copper scored 24 points, Brittney Griner had 18 points and 11 rebounds for her first double-double of the season, and the Phoenix Mercury extended the struggling Los Angeles Sparks' woes thanks to a dominant second half in Friday's 92-78 decision in Phoenix. ,Phoenix (9-8) went on a 13-4 run...

Jewell Loyd hopes scoring surge continues as Storm face Wings
Jewell Loyd looks to follow up her highest-scoring output of the season when the Seattle Storm host the Dallas Wings on Saturday night in the first of a two-game set between the teams.,Loyd scored 34 points in Seattle's 89-77 home victory over the Indiana Fever on Thursday. It was the second 30-poin...

Dream fend off Sun to end slide
Allisha Gray scored 17 points and Tina Charles added 14 Friday night as the visiting Atlanta Dream surprised the Connecticut Sun 78-74 in Uncasville, Conn.,Winning for just the third time in 10 games, Atlanta (7-9) was able to outfight Connecticut (14-4) in the final five minutes. It took the lead f...

Reports: Hawks deal G Dejounte Murray to Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans acquired star guard Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, ESPN and The Athletic reported.,The Pelicans will send Atlanta veteran big man Larry Nance Jr., guard Dyson Daniels and first-round draft picks in 2025 and 2027 to land Murray, the reports said.,The 2025 f...

Youth highlights USA Select roster in advance of Olympics
Youth will be served on the USA Select Team roster, with the collection of the NBA's future stars set to challenge the U.S. Olympic men's team that is headed to Paris for the Summer Olympics.,Three members of the NBA All-Rookie first team will be on the USA Select roster: Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Mia...

2024 NBA Free Agency Primer
When the green flag drops on NBA free agency on Sunday, the queue of general managers ready to spend will depend on which players actually reach the open market. ,Changes in the Collective Bargaining Agreement permitted players to re-sign with their current teams and a number of coveted potential fr...

Cavs announce Kenny Atkinson as new head coach
The Cleveland Cavaliers formally named Kenny Atkinson as their new head coach on Friday, awarding a five-year deal to the former Golden State Warriors assistant.,Atkinson, 57, will replace J.B. Bickerstaff, fired by the Cavs last month after three straight winning seasons.,"Kenny brings a wealth of ...

Reports: Warriors, Chris Paul to push back $30M deadline
Friday's deadline to guarantee Chris Paul's $30 million contract for next season with the Golden State Warriors will come and go, multiple outlets reported, with both sides in agreement to push the deadline back to the start of free agency on Sunday.,According to ESPN, the two-day delay will give th...

Aces to test improved defense vs. short-handed Mystics
The Las Vegas Aces' quest for a three-peat so far has not featured the same early dominance that the 2022 and 2023 championship teams displayed.,Las Vegas (9-6) already has lost as many games this year as it did in 40 regular-season contests last summer. The Aces were 14-1 at this point last season ...

Report: Raptors G Immanuel Quickley signing $175M deal
The Toronto Raptors are re-signing guard Immanuel Quickley to a five-year, $175 million contract, ESPN reported on Friday.,Quickley, 25, joined the Raptors with R.J. Barrett in the Dec. 30, 2023, trade that sent forward OG Anunoby and two others to the New York Knicks.,Quickley averaged 18.6 points,...
Bronny James Forced His Way To Los Angeles Lakers By Threatening to Play in Australia
Bronny James and Rich Paul reached a new low, threatening NBA teams to not draft Bronny in order to get him to Los Angeles....

Report: Mavs trading Tim Hardaway Jr. to Pistons
The Dallas Mavericks are trading Tim Hardaway Jr. and three second-round draft picks to the Detroit Pistons for fellow guard Quentin Grimes, ESPN reported Friday.,The Mavericks get younger and gain more financial flexibility with the move.,Hardaway, 32, is due $16.2 million in 2024-25 in the final y...

Dream aim to take advantage of extra rest vs. Sun
The Connecticut Sun are 14-3 and a half-game behind the New York Liberty for the best record in the WNBA. The Atlanta Dream are 6-9, losers of five of their past six games, and playing without leading scorer Rhyne Howard (ankle).,But Atlanta will have one big advantage going into its Friday night tr...