NEW YORK (AP) — Enes Kanter is sticking with the New York Knicks.Kanter informed the Knicks on Friday he was opting into his contract for next season, rather than becoming a free agent. He teased his decision on Twitter with a picture of himself speaking at a podium that read "Make Knicks Great Again."The center from Turkey will make $18.6 million in 2018-19.Kanter was acquired in September from Oklahoma City as part of the trade for Carmelo Anthony. He averaged 14.1 points and 11 rebounds in 71 games, all starts, and shot a career-best 59 percent from the field.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have released veteran guard Tyler Ennis.The Lakers made the move Thursday night.Ennis joined the Lakers in a trade in February 2017 and appeared in 76 games for the club, including 22 starts last season. The Canadian point guard averaged 4.1 points and 1.9 assists in 54 games last year.Ennis also has played for Houston, Milwaukee and Phoenix in his four-year NBA career.The Lakers had a team option on Ennis for next season at roughly $1.65 million, but they released him instead.Los Angeles has spent the past year clearing salary cap space in hopes of signing two elite free agents to maximum contracts next month.___More AP NBA: www.apnews.com/tags/NBAbasketball

PHOENIX (AP) — A person with knowledge of the situation says the Phoenix Suns have decided not to re-sign center Alex Len and point guard Elfrid Payton, clearing some $10 million in salary cap space as the team prepares to make a run at free agents.The person asked to remain anonymous because those intentions have not been made public. Free agency begins in the NBA on Sunday.The moves were expected.The 7-foot-1 Len, who comes from the Ukraine, was the fifth overall pick in the 2013 draft after one season at Maryland. He played in 335 games over four seasons with Phoenix, averaging 7.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, never becoming the dominant big man the Suns had hoped he would be. Last season, Len appeared in 69 games, averaging 8.5 points and 7.5 rebounds.Acquired from Orlando for a second-round pick at last season's trade deadline, Payton averaged 11.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 19 games with Phoenix but shot 44 percent from the field, 20 percent from 3-point range.The Suns' decision not to re-sign the players first was reported by azcentral (The Arizona Republic).

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavaliers have some clarity with one of their free agent forwards.No, not that one.While waiting to see if they're in LeBron James' plans, the Cavaliers intend to extend a $3.4 million qualifying offer to Rodney Hood, making him a restricted free agent and protecting the club if he receives any offers.The team will make the offer to Hood before Friday's deadline, said a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the club is not publicly discussing its plans ahead of free agency starting Sunday.Cleveland.com first reported the Cavaliers' intentions with Hood.Also, the Cavs intend to pick up center Kendrick Perkins' $2.5 million non-guaranteed contract for next season, the person said. The move with Perkins, who signed at the end of the regular season but did not appear in any playoff games, is so the team can potentially use his salary slot in a trade.Perkins has had two stints with Cleveland.Meanwhile, James has until 11:59... [More]

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Ongoing roster turnover from one season to the next forced Grayson Allen to become a basketball chameleon at Duke. He adapted to changes as they occurred and took on a new role each season.Those experiences helped Allen get ready for whatever role is required of him as he embarks on his rookie season with the Utah Jazz."I've never been just a single focal point of an offense since I've been in college," Allen said during his introductory news conference Wednesday. "I know how to play with other talented guys. I know how to play with other really good guys and that's what you're going to have to do in the NBA, especially coming in as a rookie and coming into a team who's already a playoff team."Allen had to adapt his game over four seasons with the Blue Devils as he adjusted to the influx of one-and-done prospects. Nine different teammates were first round NBA draft picks and four others were second-rounders.The turnover opened the door for Allen to go from being a... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavaliers have some clarity with one of their free agent forwards.No, not that one.While waiting to see if they're in LeBron James' plans, the Cavaliers intend to extend a $3.4 million qualifying offer to Rodney Hood, making him a restricted free agent and protecting the club if he receives any offers.The team will make the offer to Hood before Friday's deadline, said a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the club is not publicly discussing its plans ahead of free agency starting Sunday.Cleveland.com first reported the Cavaliers' intentions with Hood.Meanwhile, James has until 11:59 p.m. Friday to pick up his $35.6 million contract option for next season or he will become a free agent. The 33-year-old is expected to decline the option, but it's also possible he could exercise it and be traded if Cleveland works out a deal in order to acquire assets for the three-time champion.At this point, days away from free agency... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — A person familiar with the decision says the Cleveland Cavaliers will extend a $3.4 million qualifying offer to restricted free agent forward Rodney Hood.The person says the team will make the offer ahead of Friday's midnight deadline. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the team is not discussing publicly discussing its plans ahead of free agency starting.Cleveland.com first reported the team's plans.The 25-year-old Hood came to Cleveland from Utah in that flurry of trades executed at the Feb. 8 deadline by general manager Koby Altman. Hood struggled to blend into Cleveland's rotation, but he's young, inexpensive and the team believes he can get better.Hood started Cleveland's first playoff game before losing coach Tyronn Lue's trust. He re-emerged in the Finals and scored 15 points in the Game 3 loss to Golden State.He averaged 10.8 points in 21 regular-season games with the Cavs.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have extended a $5.6 million qualifying offer to forward Julius Randle, making him a restricted free agent.The Lakers made the move Wednesday, ensuring they can match any offer sheet from another team signed by Randle starting on July 8.The 23-year-old Randle is coming off his best season with the Lakers, who chose him with the seventh overall pick in 2014. He averaged a career-high 16.1 points with 8.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists while playing in all 82 games.But the Lakers hope to be a major player in free agency next month, so it's unclear whether they will retain Randle. They might need to renounce Randle's rights or otherwise move him to clear salary cap space for two superstars.___More AP NBA: www.apnews.com/tags/NBAbasketball

An NBA free-agent class with a little something for everyone hits the market on July 1. The group includes an array of superstars, big men, glue guys and sharp-shooters.Here's a look at some of the players to follow when the action begins:THE SUPERSTARS— Kevin Durant (player option): Has expressed his desire to remain with the Warriors. He's in the middle of his prime as one of the game's premier players.— Paul George (player option): He has one of the best all-around games in the league and is still fairly young at 28.— LeBron James (player option): Still the free-agent grand prize at age 33, James has shown few signs of wear and tear despite 15 stellar seasons in the league.— Chris Paul (unrestricted): Among the league's best point guards even at 33, but he's struggled some with injuries over the years, including a hamstring issue in last year's playoffs.BIG MEN— Clint Capela (restricted): He's emerged as one of the league's top young big men after averaging 13.9 points, 10.8 rebounds... [More]

An NBA free-agent class with a little something for everyone hits the market on July 1. The group includes an array of superstars, big men, glue guys and sharp-shooters.Here's a look at some of the players to follow when the action begins:THE SUPERSTARS— Kevin Durant (player option): Has expressed his desire to remain with the Warriors. He's in the middle of his prime as one of the game's premier players.— Paul George (player option): He has one of the best all-around games in the league and is still fairly young at 28.— LeBron James (player option): Still the free-agent grand prize at age 33, James has shown few signs of wear and tear despite 15 stellar seasons in the league.— Chris Paul (unrestricted): Among the league's best point guards even at 33, but he's struggled some with injuries over the years, including a hamstring issue in last year's playoffs.BIG MEN— Clint Capela (restricted): He's emerged as one of the league's top young big men after averaging 13.9 points, 10.8 rebounds... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James sprung to his feet and screamed along with thousands of delirious Cleveland fans.When Indians outfielder Rajai Davis connected off Chicago Cubs reliever Aroldis Chapman for a tying home run in the eighth inning of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, James came unglued and reacted the way he might after a monstrous dunk or back-breaking 3-pointer in the NBA Finals.And while his fanatical response said a lot about James and his allegiance to the Indians, so did the tight, black T-shirt he wore on that unseasonably warm November night.It said: "Cleveland Or Nowhere."As the sports world waits to see where the three-time champion intends to play next season and beyond, there remains the real possibility that James could choose to stay in Cleveland, his hoops home for 11 of the past 15 years and where this Northeast Ohio son shares a unique and profound connection with fans who have followed him since his teens.James has other options: Los Angeles (salary-cap space... [More]

LeBron James sprung to his feet and screamed along with thousands of delirious Cleveland fans.When Indians outfielder Rajai Davis connected off Chicago Cubs reliever Aroldis Chapman for a tying home run in the eighth inning of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, James came unglued and reacted the way he might after a monstrous dunk or back-breaking 3-pointer in the NBA Finals.And while his fanatical response said a lot about James and his allegiance to the Indians, so did the tight, black T-shirt he wore on that unseasonably warm November night.It said: "Cleveland Or Nowhere."As the sports world waits to see where the three-time champion intends to play next season and beyond, there remains the real possibility that James could choose to stay in Cleveland, his hoops home for 11 of the past 15 years and where this Northeast Ohio son shares a unique and profound connection with fans who have followed him since his teens.James has other options: Los Angeles (salary-cap space for another star,... [More]

LeBron James sprung to his feet and screamed along with thousands of delirious Cleveland fans.When Indians outfielder Rajai Davis connected off Chicago Cubs reliever Aroldis Chapman for a tying home run in the eighth inning of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, James came unglued and reacted the way he might after a monstrous dunk or back-breaking 3-pointer in the NBA Finals.And while his fanatical response said a lot about James and his allegiance to the Indians, so did the tight, black T-shirt he wore on that unseasonably warm November night.It said: "Cleveland Or Nowhere."As the sports world waits to see where the three-time champion intends to play next season and beyond, there remains the real possibility that James could choose to stay in Cleveland, his hoops home for 11 of the past 15 years and where this Northeast Ohio son shares a unique and profound connection with fans who have followed him since his teens.James has other options: Los Angeles (salary-cap space for another star,... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Seemed fairly clear that Marcin Gortat and the Washington Wizards were ready to part ways. Now they will.The Wizards traded Gortat, their starting center, to the Los Angeles Clippers for guard Austin Rivers on Tuesday night. Both players are entering the final season of their contracts and are set to earn similar salaries, making a straight-up exchange work under NBA rules.The 34-year-old Gortat is a durable, screen-setting big man who has played 12 years in the league, the past five with Washington. He averaged 8.4 points and 7.6 rebounds last season, his lowest numbers since 2009-10, when he was with the Orlando Magic, but could fill a need in Los Angeles if DeAndre Jordan departs.After the Wizards finished eighth in the Eastern Conference and lost in the first round of the playoffs to No. 1 seed Toronto, Gortat was adamant that he had no interest in changing his style of play at this late stage of his career.Asked about the possibility of working on his outside shot,... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Seemed fairly clear that Marcin Gortat and the Washington Wizards were ready to part ways. Now they will.The Wizards have agreed to trade Gortat, their starting center, to the Los Angeles Clippers for guard Austin Rivers, according to a person familiar with the deal.The 1-for-1 swap was described to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Tuesday night because neither team had announced the move. Both players are entering the final season of their contracts and are set to earn similar salaries, making a straight-up exchange work under NBA rules.The 34-year-old Gortat is a durable, screen-setting big man who has played 12 years in the league, the past five with Washington. He averaged 8.4 points and 7.6 rebounds last season, his lowest numbers since 2009-10, when he was with the Orlando Magic, but could fill a need in Los Angeles if DeAndre Jordan departs.After the Wizards finished eighth in the Eastern Conference and lost in the first round of the playoffs to... [More]

WASHINGTON (AP) — A person familiar with the deal says that the Washington Wizards have agreed to trade center Marcin Gortat to the Los Angeles Clippers for guard Austin Rivers.The 1-for-1 deal was described to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Tuesday because neither team had announced the swap.Both players are entering the final season of their contracts.The 34-year-old Gortat is a durable, screen-setting big man who has played 12 years in the NBA, the past five with Washington. He averaged 8.4 points and 7.6 rebounds last season, his lowest numbers since 2009-10, when he was with the Orlando Magic. The Wizards finished eighth in the Eastern Conference and lost in the first round of the playoffs to No. 1 seed Toronto.Rivers, who turns 26 in August, averaged a career-best 15.1 points and four assists last season while playing for his father, Doc, the Clippers' coach.The deal was first reported by ESPN.___More AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves used the draft to add a pair of players possessing the skills they want for the wing positions.Even if Josh Okogie and Keita Bates-Diop prove they are capable right away of a place in the rotation, though, there is a question about how much they will actually play as rookies. This is, after all, the team run by Tom Thibodeau, who is as likely to prefer experience over potential as any head coach in the NBA."Practices are important. Playing time is based on performance. You earn that," Thibodeau said. "That's not just something that is given to you."Okogie and Bates-Diop, during their introduction at a news conference Tuesday, sounded like they understand the climb they face. All five starters for the Wolves last season averaged 33 minutes per game or more and ranked among the top 36 most-used players in the league, with Jimmy Butler third and Andrew Wiggins ninth."Everybody wants to play a lot as a rookie, but that comes with trust and learning... [More]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Magic Johnson is betting his job on his free-agent recruiting skills for the Los Angeles Lakers.Johnson declared Monday that he will step down as the Lakers' president of basketball operations if he can't persuade an elite free agent to sign with the 16-time NBA champions within the next two summers."Next summer, if nobody comes and I'm still sitting here like this, then it's a failure," Johnson said after a news conference to introduce draft picks Moe Wagner and Svi Mykhailiuk.Johnson was put in charge of the Lakers' front office by owner Jeanie Buss in February 2017, and the former superstar point guard immediately announced his plans to revive the struggling franchise by enticing the game's best players to join as free agents.With Paul George and potentially LeBron James headlining the market this summer, Johnson is leading the Lakers' efforts to land both players this weekend. If they sign elsewhere, Johnson and the Lakers will pursue the large crop of 2019... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie Irving doesn't have to worry about free agency until next summer, though he's got plenty to keep him busy for now.There's a movie to promote and a knee to mend. He hopes he's good on screen, but wants to be better than ever on the court."Now becomes the real climb to Mount Everest, back to the top," Irving said Monday. "So I'm just taking my time."The Boston Celtics All-Star is hoping he can start playing again in a couple weeks. But he's staying patient in his rehab from late-season surgery because of an infection in his knee, figuring the extra time can only help after he played deep into June the previous two years with the Cleveland Cavaliers.He was traded to the Celtics last summer while filming "Uncle Drew." The movie, in which he plays an old playground basketball legend who started as a character in Pepsi commercials, premieres in New York on Tuesday and opens nationwide Friday.The Cavaliers gave Irving's former jersey number to Collin Sexton, drafted last... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie Irving doesn't have to worry about free agency until next summer, though he's got plenty to keep him busy for now.There's a movie to promote and a knee to mend. He hopes he's good on screen, but wants to be better than ever on the court."Now becomes the real climb to Mount Everest, back to the top," Irving said Monday. "So I'm just taking my time."The Boston Celtics All-Star is hoping he can start playing again in a couple weeks. But he's staying patient in his rehab from late-season surgery because of an infection in his knee, figuring the extra time can only help after he played deep into June the previous two years with the Cleveland Cavaliers.He was traded to the Celtics last summer while filming "Uncle Drew." The movie, in which he plays an old playground basketball legend who started as a character in Pepsi commercials, premieres in New York on Tuesday and opens nationwide Friday.The Cavaliers gave Irving's former jersey number to Collin Sexton, drafted last... [More]