CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert didn't trash LeBron James on his way out of town this time.Instead, he promised to retire his jersey.Eight years after he famously criticized James for leaving as a free agent in a letter, Gilbert thanked the superstar for coming back to Cleveland and ending the city's half-century championship drought. James announced on Sunday night that he's agreed to join the Los Angeles Lakers, a decision that dredged up bad memories for some Cavs fans.Although James is leaving Cleveland again, Gilbert used the occasion to wish James well, opening his statement by recalling the night in 2016 when James led the Cavs to a Game 7 win in the NBA Finals over Golden State. That victory gave Cleveland its first professional sports title since 1964."A championship that united generations of Clevelanders, both living and passed," Gilbert said. "Virtually anyone with roots in Northeast Ohio paused and felt the memories of the past and the utter joy that the burden... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James is leaving home for Hollywood and an iconic team.The Los Angeles Lakers have a new superstar — L.A.-Bron.The four-time NBA MVP announced Sunday night that he has agreed to a four-year, $154 million contract with the Lakers, joining one of the league's most storied franchises and switching conferences to try and dethrone the Golden State Warriors and grow his own legacy.For the second time in his career, James is saying goodbye to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who drafted the teenage sensation from Akron in 2003 and have to be satisfied with winning just one title in the 11 years they had him.Unlike his two previous forays in free agency, James did not drag out his decision and made the announcement less than 24 hours after NBA free agency opened.This Summer of LeBron was barely a fling.His management agency, Klutch Sports Group, announced his agreement with the Lakers with a simple, short release. It was a stark contrast from eight years ago, when a poorly conceived... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James is leaving home for Hollywood and an iconic team.The Los Angeles Lakers have a new superstar — L.A.-Bron.The four-time NBA MVP announced Sunday night that he has agreed to a four-year, $154 million contract with the Lakers, joining one of the league's most storied franchises and switching conferences to try and dethrone the Golden State Warriors and grow his own legacy.For the second time in his career, James is saying goodbye to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who drafted the teenage sensation from Akron in 2003 and have to be satisfied with winning just one title in the 11 years they had him.Unlike his two previous forays in free agency, James did not drag out his decision and made the announcement less than 24 hours after NBA free agency opened.This Summer of LeBron was barely a fling.His management agency, Klutch Sports Group, announced his agreement with the Lakers with a simple, short release. It was a stark contrast from eight years ago, when a poorly conceived... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James is leaving home for Hollywood and an iconic team.The Los Angeles Lakers have a new superstar — L.A.-Bron.The four-time NBA MVP announced Sunday night that he has agreed to a four-year, $154 million contract with the Lakers, joining one of the league's most storied franchises and switching conferences to try and dethrone the Golden State Warriors and grow his own legacy.For the second time in his career, James is saying goodbye to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who drafted the teenage sensation from Akron in 2003 and have to be satisfied with winning just one title in the 11 years they had him.Unlike his two previous forays in free agency, James did not drag out his decision and made the announcement less than 24 hours after NBA free agency opened.This Summer of LeBron was barely a fling.His management agency, Klutch Sports Group, announced his agreement with the Lakers with a simple, short release. It was a stark contrast from eight years ago, when a poorly conceived... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James is leaving home for Hollywood and an iconic team.The Los Angeles Lakers have a new superstar — L.A.-Bron.The four-time NBA MVP announced Sunday night that he has agreed to a four-year, $154 million contract with the Lakers, joining one of the league's most storied franchises and switching conferences to try and dethrone the Golden State Warriors and grow his own legacy.For the second time in his career, James is saying goodbye to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who drafted the teenage sensation from Akron in 2003 and have to be satisfied with winning just one title in the 11 years they had him.Unlike his two previous forays in free agency, James did not drag out his decision and made the announcement less than 24 hours after NBA free agency opened.This Summer of LeBron was barely a fling.His management agency, Klutch Sports Group, announced his agreement with the Lakers in a release. It was a stark contrast from eight years ago, when a poorly conceived TV special... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James is leaving home for Hollywood and an iconic team.The Los Angeles Lakers have a new superstar — L.A.-Bron.The NBA's best player announced Sunday night that he has agreed to a four-year, $154 million contract with the Lakers, joining one of the league's most storied franchises and switching conferences to try and dethrone the Golden State Warriors and grow his own legacy.For the second time in his career, James is saying goodbye to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who drafted the teenage sensation from Akron in 2003 and have to be satisfied with winning just one title in the 11 years they had him.Unlike his two previous forays in free agency, James did not drag out his decision and made the announcement less than 24 hours after NBA free agency opened.This Summer of LeBron was barely a fling.His agency announced his agreement with the Lakers in a release. It was a stark contrast from eight years ago, when a poorly conceived TV special to announce his departure from Cleveland... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James is signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time to join one of the NBA's most iconic franchises.James' agency made the announcement Sunday in a release, saying he has agreed to a four-year, $154 million contract. The game's best all-around player and biggest star will now lead a young Lakers team that has been overmatched in recent years while rebuilding but will instantly rise with James.Los Angeles also provides James with a larger platform for his business interests and social activism.This is the third time in eight years James has changed teams. He returned to the Cavs in 2014 after four seasons in Miami.The 33-year-old had previously said he wanted to finish his career in Ohio, and although he's leaving home again, Cleveland fans are more forgiving after he ended the city's 52-year sports championship drought in 2016.___More AP NBA: apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

PHOENIX (AP) — Trevor Ariza has agreed to a one-year, $15 million contract with the Phoenix Suns, a person with knowledge of the situation said Sunday.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement cannot be officially announced during the free agent moratorium.The 33-year-old Ariza brings a reputation for winning and veteran leadership that general manager Ryan McDonough said the team needed around its young core that features Devin Booker, Josh Jackson and No. 1 overall draft pick Deandre Ayton.It's a nice raise for the 14-year NBA veteran, who earned $7.4 million last season, his fourth with Houston.Ariza averaged 11.7 points last season for a Rockets team that compiled the best record in the NBA at 65-17 before losing to Golden State in a seven-game Western Conference finals. Phoenix had the league's worst record at 21-61 and has missed the playoffs eight years in a row.Ariza has averaged 10.5 points per game, shooting 42 percent from the field... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — A person with knowledge of the situation says forward Trevor Ariza has agreed to a one-year, $15 million contract with the Phoenix Suns.The person asked to remain anonymous because the agreement cannot be officially announced during the free agent moratorium.The 33-year-old Ariza, entering his 15th NBA season, brings a reputation for winning and veteran leadership that general manager Ryan McDonough said the team needed around its young core that features Devin Booker, Josh Jackson and No. 1 overall draft pick Deandre Ayton.Ariza averaged 11.7 points last season for a Houston team that compiled the best record in the NBA at 65-17 before losing to Golden State in a seven-game Western Conference finals. Phoenix had the league's worst record at 21-61.

Missed calls may see the light this summer.The NBA will experiment with a coaches' challenge for summer league games, one where teams will have the ability to seek a review of certain calls in the final 2 minutes of regulation and overtime. Coaches will have to call a time-out before live play resumes, and then trigger a blinking light on the scorer's table to initiate the challenge."We're going to try it in limited form," NBA executive vice president for basketball operations Kiki Vandeweghe said.The plan is consistent with what's long been the league's thinking when it comes to summer league, turning it into a testing laboratory of sorts for the NBA. The G League already has a challenge rule in place.Another new twist this summer is a rule that will see the shot clock reset to 14 seconds instead of 24 after offensive rebounds, similar to what's used in the G League and the WNBA.It's all part of a continued evolution of summer league, which will see a record 94 games played between the... [More]

DeAndre Jordan has committed to the Mavericks again, and the center offered an emoji to prove it three years after he backed out on a deal to join Dallas.The Mavericks and Jordan agreed quickly after free agency opened Sunday on a one-year contract at roughly the $24.1 million he was set to make with the Clippers next season, two people with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because contracts can't be signed until Friday. Jordan opted out of the final year of the deal he signed with Los Angeles when he jilted the Mavericks in 2015.The one-year deal gives both sides flexibility beyond next season, but is a sign the Mavericks are tired of rebuilding after consecutive losing seasons for the first time in nearly 20 years. Dallas (24-58) is coming off its first 50-loss season since the last of seven in eight years in 1997-98.If Jordan follows through on this agreement, he will leave the team that drafted him 10 years ago so he... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns have waived point guard Tyler Ulis.The Suns made the move Saturday, a day before his contract would have become guaranteed. He had a non-guaranteed $1.5 million deal for the upcoming season with a $1.6 million team option for 2019-20.The 5-foot-9 former Kentucky player averaged 7.8 points, 4.4 assists and 23.4 minutes in 71 games last season. As a rookie in 2016-17, he averaged 7.3 points, 3.7 assists and 18.4 minutes in 61 games.The Suns drafted French point guard Elie Okobo with the No. 31 pick and also have Brandon Knight returning from a knee injury.Ulis had minor surgery on his right ankle in May.___More AP NBA: www.apnews.com/tags/NBAbasketball

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have waived center Thomas Bryant.The Lakers made the roster move Saturday as the start of free agency neared.Bryant was a second-round pick in last year's draft. The Indiana University product excelled for the Lakers' G League affiliate but averaged 1.5 points and 1.1 rebounds in 15 appearances for Los Angeles.Bryant's $1.38 million contract for next season would have become fully guaranteed next week.The Lakers have spent the past year clearing salary cap room for their pursuit of elite free agents including LeBron James. Los Angeles currently has just six players under contract for next season for a total of roughly $36.1 million, along with a $5.5 million qualifying offer out to Julius Randle.___More AP NBA: www.apnews.com/tags/NBAbasketball

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks have requested waivers on reserve guard Isaiah Taylor.Taylor, signed to a two-year contract last October, started nine of his 67 games last season. He averaged 6.6 points and 3.1 assists in 17.4 minutes.Taylor appeared to be in the Hawks' rebuilding plans. He sat alongside teammates Kent Bazemore, DeAndre Bembry and Mike Muscala at a news conference last month to announce the hiring of new coach Lloyd Pierce.But the Hawks decided Taylor was too expensive to keep. He was due $300,000 of his $1.5 million salary if still on the roster after Saturday.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The deadline for Kevin Durant to opt into his contract with the Warriors for next season passed Friday night without him doing so, making the two-time reigning NBA Finals MVP a free agent — yet his intention has always been to stay put and re-sign with Golden State.Much like a year ago, Durant declined to opt in for the second year of his deal, allowing him to work on a more lucrative contract once the signing period begins Saturday night.Durant only had to inform the Warriors if he planned to opt in, and the team had long been prepared for this move — merely a procedural decision — knowing his plans for months.The 29-year-old Durant could sign for as many as four years and about $160 million. He has made clear all along his commitment to the Warriors, especially after winning a pair of championships in his first two seasons with Golden State.A year ago, Durant declined to opt in for the second year of his contract to become an unrestricted free agent. That also was... [More]

DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas Mavericks are making another run at DeAndre Jordan, three years after the center jilted them in free agency to stay with the Los Angeles Clippers.Jordan has opted out of the final year of that contract he signed with LA in 2015, and the Mavericks intend to pursue him as an unrestricted free agent, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Friday.Dallas also intends to decline the $5 million club option on Dirk Nowitzki's contract and re-sign him once its salary structure is more settled, the person told the AP on condition of anonymity because the sides are not publicly commenting on moves ahead of free agency opening Sunday.The move on Nowitzki is designed to create more room under the salary cap, as were the decisions to rescind qualifying offers to shooting guard Doug McDermott and center Salah Mejri, making both unrestricted free agents.Jordan was set to make $24.1 million under the four-year, $87.6 million contract he signed to stay... [More]

DALLAS (AP) — A person with knowledge of the situation says the Dallas Mavericks are making another run at DeAndre Jordan, three years after the center jilted them in free agency to stay with the Los Angeles Clippers.Jordan has opted out of the final year of that contract he signed with the Clippers in 2015, and the Mavericks intend to pursue him as an unrestricted free agent, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because the sides are not publicly commenting on moves ahead of free agency opening Sunday.The Mavericks had an agreement from Jordan to sign with them as a free agent three years ago. The Houston native changed his mind, and the saga played out on social media the day before Jordan could sign. Former teammates Chris Paul and Blake Griffin and coach Doc Rivers went to his house and stayed with him until the deal was official.The reversal was a stunning setback for Dallas, which is coming off consecutive losing seasons for the first time in nearly 20 years.___More AP NBA: www.apnews.com/tags/NBAbasketball

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves made major strides this season in ending their 13-year absence from the NBA playoffs after a franchise-altering trade for All-Star Jimmy Butler.With cornerstones Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins in their early 20s and veterans Taj Gibson and Jeff Teague coming off productive debuts in Minnesota, there is a sturdy starting lineup in place around Butler to ideally take the Timberwolves deeper in the next postseason.Advancement is easier stated than consummated.The Wolves, even with coach Tom Thibodeau's preference to give his first-teamers heavy minutes, need to add depth this summer with defense and 3-point shooting atop the skill-set wish list. There is no clear way to acquire more of it, though, after making the logical first moves by drafting versatile wing players Josh Okogie and Keita Bates-Diop last week .Wiggins will begin playing on his maximum contract in 2018-19, with a $25 million-plus salary that will account for more than 20... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Between the LeBron James guessing games and the Kawhi Leonard trade talk, it seems NBA shopping season is well underway.It's actually just about to start.Terms like salary caps and contract options have been in the news for weeks, so fans might have an understanding of what they all mean. For those who don't, here's an attempt to explain how this all works.Q: When does free agency start?A: It begins at 12:01 a.m. EDT on July 1. So that's early Sunday morning for teams in the East, but Magic Johnson and the Lakers can actually start their recruiting on Saturday night.Q: When can deals start happening?A: Players and teams can agree to contracts immediately, but except for some limited exceptions, such as rookies inking their initial contracts, nothing can be signed until after the free agency moratorium period ends, which is noon EDT on July 6.Q: How is the salary cap determined?A: It's basically a formula based on basketball revenues. Last season's was $99.1 million, and... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics boss Danny Ainge was puzzled by all the talk about how Texas A&M forward Robert Williams didn't work hard enough to make it in the NBA."It's hard to have a 'low motor' and be the defensive player of the year two years in a row in a tough conference," Ainge said Friday after the news conference to introduce Williams.Williams was named the Southeastern Conference's co-defensive player of the year in 2018 after winning the award outright in 2017."That's pretty hard to do if you don't have the motor," Ainge said. "But if the motor can get better, that's an even bigger upside."A 6-foot-10, 237-pound native of Oil City, Louisiana, Williams had been considered a lottery pick after his freshman year but he returned to play another season in college. He was projected as an early first-rounder in this year's draft, but he fell to the Celtics at No. 27 overall.Williams said his mother believed he needed another year to mature in college. Asked if he regretted not coming... [More]