*The NBA*

[blackfoot NAP]

The NBA​

San Antonio Spurs forward Rudy Gay is declining his 2018-19 player option to become a unrestricted free agent this summer.

Gay is turning down a salary of $8.8 million in order to free agency.

He appeared in 57 games during the 2017-18 campaign, averaging 11.5 points and 5.1 rebounds in a career-low 21.6 minutes per game.

 

[blackfoot NAP]

Cabs won't renew 2 assistant deal, Jim Boylan and Phil Handy.

This bench shuffle comes on the heels of big-man coach Vitaly Potapenko leaving Cleveland to join the Memphis Grizzlies staff last week.

 

[blackfoot NAP]

The Charlotte Hornets agree to trade Dwight Howard to the Brooklyn Nets for Timofey Mozgov, two second-round picks and cash.

Charlotte was determined to move Howard, who has a $23.8 million expiring contract.

Mozgov has two years and $32.7 million left on his contract. Mitch Kupchak signed Mozgov to a four-year, $64 million with the Lakers two years ago.

The deal can't be completed until July-6.

 

[blackfoot NAP]

Kawhi Leonard wants to leave San Antonio, eyes Los Angeles--preferably the Lakers. If Leonard does become available in trade talks, the Boston Celtics will be interested.

Leonard is eligible to receive a 5-year, $219 million contract extension from the Spurs this summer.

What can the Celtics trade for Kawhi Leonard?

The Boston Celtics have three highly paid All-Stars, (Al Horford, Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving) cheap young talent (Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Terry Rozier) and valuable draft picks.The Celtics could have four first-round picks next June.

Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said Thursday night that the franchise's desire is to keep disgruntled All-star forward Kawhi Leonard in the fold but that the club "will explore all of our options."

The San Antonio Spurs acknowledge relationship with Leonard is fractured.

 

[blackfoot NAP]

Ex-Jets QB Christian Hackenberg drawing interest from CFL Edmonton Eskimos.

The Eskimos added Hackenberg to their "negotiation list" Hackenberg floundered with the New York Jets after being taken in the 2nd round of the 2016 NFL draft, and never played a down for Gang Green.

The Jets traded him to the Raiders, but lasted 20 days before being cut. he also visited the Patriots but was not offered a contract.

 

[blackfoot NAP]

Carmelo Anthony returning to the Oklahoma Thunder, he will earn $27.9 million in 2018-19 to complete the five-year $120 contract he signed with the New York Knicks in 2014.

 

[blackfoot NAP]

Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler will exercise his player option for the 2018-19 season, at $12.8 million instead of entertaining free agency this summer.

The 10-year veteran average 10.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in 74 games as the Nuggets starting small forward last season.

 

[blackfoot NAP]

Spurs engage with Lakers, Celtics Kawhi Leonard trade talks.

 

[blackfoot NAP]

Oklahoma City Thunder star Paul George has informed franchise official that he will not be opting in for the final year of his contract and will become an unrestricted free agent.

George, will decline a $20.7 million salary for the 2018-19 season. Several teams, including Philadelphia and Houston are interested in pursuing George too.

George is eligible to sign a five-year, $176 million contract extension.

 

[blackfoot NAP]

The Dallas Mavericks have made center Deandre Jordan their primary target as free agency nears. Jordan, who infamously spurned the Mavs in 2015 free agency after making an oral commitment to come to Dallas has a deadline of 11:59 p.m. ET Friday to make a decision about the player option that would pay him $24.1 million next season.

 

[blackfoot NAP]

Indiana Pacers forward Thaddeus Young is exercising his $13.7 million player option for the 2018-19 season.

Young, average 11.8 points and 6.3 rebounds this year.

For his career, which spans a decade with Philadelphia, Minnesota, Brooklyn and Indiana, Young has average 13.4 points and 5.9 rebounds.

 

[blackfoot NAP]

The Dallas Mavericks has declined Dirk Nowitzki's $5 million team option. The MAV plan to re-sign him in July.

Nowitzki, 40, is poised to set an NBA record for the longest career spent with only one team as he enters his 21st season with Dallas.

Dirk and Kobe Bryant are the only players in league history to play with one team for 20 years.

 

[blackfoot NAP]

The Dallas Mavericks have made center Deandre Jordan their primary target as free agency nears. Jordan, who infamously spurned the Mavs in 2015 free agency after making an oral commitment to come to Dallas has a deadline of 11:59 p.m. ET Friday to make a decision about the player option that would pay him $24.1 million next season.

LA Clippers center Deandre Jordan has opted out of the $24.1 million player option on his contract for next season, clearing the way for him to likely sign a free-agent deal with the Dallas Mavericks.

Dallas has $27 million in salary-cap space--and the ability to create more--to sign Jordan and possibly add more in free-agency.

Jordan, who will turn 30 on July 21, has spent all his 10 of his seasons with the Clippers.

He average 12 points and a career-high 15.2 rebounds per game this season

 

[blackfoot NAP]

Steve Kerr new deal with Golden State to be among richest for NBA coach.

Kerr has a 265-63 regular-season record and is 63-20 in the playoffs, and has led the Warriors to four straight NBA Finals and three Championships, including two straight.

He won five Championships in his playing career, including three with the Chicago Bulls and two with the San Antonio Spurs.

 

[blackfoot NAP]

LeBron James did not pick up the players option on the final year of his contract with Cleveland and became an unrestricted free agent.

Cleveland can offer James a more lucrative deal than any other team--a five-year max contract in the neighborhood of $205 million.

Any other suitor can offer a four-year pact worth $152 million.

James, 33, in his 15th season average 27.5 points (his most since 2009-10), tied a career high with 8.6 rebounds per game and set a career high 9.1 assist. Finished second in MVP voting (738 points).

 

[blackfoot NAP]

Oklahoma City Thunder star Paul George has informed franchise official that he will not be opting in for the final year of his contract and will become an unrestricted free agent.

George, will decline a $20.7 million salary for the 2018-19 season. Several teams, including Philadelphia and Houston are interested in pursuing George too.

George is eligible to sign a five-year, $176 million contract extension.

Paul George has agreed to a four-year, $137 million max contract to stay with Oklahoma City Thunder. The deal includes a player option on the fourth year.

 

[blackfoot NAP]

Chris Paul has reached agreement on a four-year, $160 million maximum contract to stay with the Houston Rockets. Paul, a nine is a nine-time All-Star.

 

[blackfoot NAP]

Nikola Jokic to get five-year, $148 million max deal from Nuggets.

Jokic has developed into Denver's franchise star, averaging 18.5 points 10.7 rebounds and 6.1 assist.

Denver Nuggets (46-36) missed the playoffs on the final game of the regular season.

 

[blackfoot NAP]

The Phoenix Suns have agreed to sign swing man Trevor Ariza to a one-year, $15 million contract.

Ariza, 33, played 67 games for the Houston Rockets last season, averaging nearly 34 minutes a game and scoring 11.7 points.

 

[blackfoot NAP]

Aron Baynes is staying with the Boston Celtics.​

The Australian center has agreed to a two-year, $US11million NBA deal with the Celtics.