PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Elton Brand is in charge of the Philadelphia 76ers.A person familiar with the situation says the Sixers have made Brand their new general manager, replacing Bryan Colangelo. Colangelo resigned in June as the 76ers' president of basketball operations after what an investigation concluded was "careless and in some instances reckless" sharing of sensitive team information on Twitter.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the move had not been officially announced. Brand is expected to be introduced at a news conference on Thursday.Brand had worked for the Sixers as vice president of operations and also served as the general manager of the Delaware Blue Coats, the 76ers' G League affiliate.Brand was the No. 1 pick of the 1999 draft by the Chicago Bulls and played two stints with the Sixers.Sixers coach Brett Brown had served as Philadelphia's interim GM and said earlier Tuesday he wasn't interested in holding both jobs. Brown pledged... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Elton Brand is in charge of the Philadelphia 76ers.A person familiar with the situation says the Sixers have made Brand their new general manager, replacing Bryan Colangelo. Colangelo resigned in June as the 76ers' president of basketball operations after what an investigation concluded was "careless and in some instances reckless" sharing of sensitive team information on Twitter.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the move had not been officially announced. Brand is expected to be introduced at a news conference on Thursday.Brand had worked for the Sixers as vice president of operations and also served as the general manager of the Delaware Blue Coats, the 76ers' G League affiliate.Brand was the No. 1 pick of the 1999 draft by the Chicago Bulls and played two stints with the Sixers.Sixers coach Brett Brown had served as Philadelphia's interim GM and said earlier Tuesday he wasn't interested in holding both jobs.

TORONTO (AP) — Kawhi Leonard has yet to address the media in Toronto since his trade to the Raptors, but team president Masai Ujiri said Tuesday that his star acquisition is happy and healthy."He is determined and seems in the right frame of mind," Ujiri said. "You will be hearing from him shortly. I think there is a fire inside of him and we are all excited about that."Leonard was the centerpiece of one of the NBA's biggest off-season trades. The Raptors acquired the two-time Defensive Player of the Year from the San Antonio Spurs along with Danny Green in exchange for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a draft pick. Ujiri swung the deal while in Kenya working with his nonprofit, Giants of Africa.While Leonard has remained mum on the move, Ujiri said he's not concerned about the 27-year-old's commitment to the franchise, saying Leonard worked out with Raptors coaches in Los Angeles, and has visited Toronto a couple of times."Basketball person. Just loves the game," he said. "Wants to play... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz are expected this season to join Philadelphia's Big Three.No, not as franchise cornerstones — the No. 1 draft picks were already part of that trio with All-Star center Joel Embiid.But as long-distance shooters, Simmons and Fultz went 0 for the season on 3s; Simmons, the NBA rookie of the year, missed all 11 attempts and Fultz went 0 for 1 from 3-point range.Sixers coach Brett Brown said both players have put in the work needed on their jumpers, though neither player will ever become defined by his work beyond the arc. Brown said Fultz took about 150,000 shots this summer under the tutelage of trainer Drew Hanlen. Simmons has worked with his brother, Liam, a former college basketball assistant coach, at 3s and shooting from the elbow.Simmons attempted just one 3 in the postseason and he'll have to establish some sort of long-range jumper to become a serious all-around threat in the NBA."His jump shot's not going to define him," Brown said... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz are expected this season to join Philadelphia's Big Three.No, not as franchise cornerstones — the No. 1 draft picks were already part of that trio with All-Star center Joel Embiid.But as long-distance shooters, Simmons and Fultz went 0 for the season on 3s; Simmons, the NBA rookie of the year, missed all 11 attempts and Fultz went 0 for 1 from 3-point range.Sixers coach Brett Brown said both players have put in the work needed on their jumpers, though neither player will ever become defined by his work beyond the arc. Brown said Fultz took about 150,000 shots this summer under the tutelage of trainer Drew Hanlen. Simmons has worked with his brother, Liam, a former college basketball assistant coach, at 3s and shooting from the elbow.Simmons attempted just one 3 in the postseason and he'll have to establish some sort of long-range jumper to become a serious all-around threat in the NBA."His jump shot's not going to define him," Brown said... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Miami Heat guard Dion Waiters will begin this season as he finished last season — unable to play.Waiters has not recovered sufficiently enough from left ankle surgery to be ready for the start of training camp next week, the team announced Tuesday. Heat President Pat Riley said it's unlikely that Waiters will be ready for the start of the regular season as well.The announcement wasn't a total surprise because Waiters was told when he had the procedure in mid-January that he could be sidelined for up to 10 months."Dion will not be returning to the court until the Heat medical team and training staff deem him healed, rehabbed and physically conditioned for all basketball activities," Riley said.Heat point guard Goran Dragic was taken aback by the news."This is kind of out of the blue for me," Dragic said. "At the end of the day, he knows what is best for him. I'm hoping he's going to be ready when we need him."Waiters is due to make about $11.5 million this season, the second... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves center Justin Patton has had surgery for a broken foot for the second straight year and is out indefinitely.The team said Tuesday that Patton's operation on his right foot in New York went as planned.Patton sustained the same injury, a fractured fifth metatarsal, on his left loot last year after he was drafted 16th overall out of Creighton. He was acquired by the Timberwolves in the draft-night trade with Chicago for Jimmy Butler.As a result of his surgery, Patton appeared in only one game as a rookie last season. He averaged 12.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 38 games for Minnesota's G-League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves. Behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Gorgui Dieng, playing time for Patton was already going to be hard to come by.___More AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A person familiar with the situation says the New Orleans Pelicans have agreed to terms on a one-year, veteran-minimum contract with guard Jarrett Jack.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the roster move and contract terms have not been announced.Jack, who turns 35 next month, has played 13 years in the NBA, including two stints with New Orleans. He also has played for Portland, Indiana, Toronto, Golden State, Cleveland, Brooklyn and New York.He has averaged nearly 11 points per game throughout his career and averaged a career-best 15.6 points in the 2011-12 season with New Orleans.Jack's contract is not guaranteed, meaning he'll have to compete for a roster spot in training camp, which begins next week.___For more AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves center Justin Patton is sidelined indefinitely after injuring his right foot during a workout.The Timberwolves said Sunday that Patton will undergo surgery.The 6-foot-11 center played in one game for Minnesota last season, scoring two points and recording one steal in about four minutes on April 1 against Utah.Patton appeared in 38 games for the Iowa Wolves, averaging 12.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks for Minnesota's G League affiliate.Patton was selected 16th overall in the 2017 NBA draft. The Timberwolves acquired Patton's draft rights, along with Jimmy Butler, in June 2017 from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and the draft rights to Lauri Markkanen.___For more AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Manu Ginobili walked into the San Antonio Spurs practice facility and saw the intense efforts of his young teammates in preseason workouts.Ginobili had put himself through those same workouts for 16 seasons. But this August morning, the 41-year-old realized he couldn't. For a player who has literally thrown himself into his basketball career, the realization his body and spirit were no longer willing cemented the decision to walk away from the NBA."I couldn't see my body going through that kind of grind again," Ginobili said Saturday during a press conference at the Spurs practice facility. "I felt that I had a good season, that I left everything that I had in the previous season both physically and mentally."Ginobili was thoughtful, self-effacing and funny in his first interview since announcing his retirement Aug. 27 on social media. He steps away after helping San Antonio win four of its five NBA titles, the last coming in 2014.His retirement, along with Tony Parker's... [More]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Prosecutors are reviewing allegations that Houston Rockets star James Harden took a woman's cellphone outside a Scottsdale nightclub last month.Police told The Arizona Republic that a city prosecutor is looking at their investigation.The 42-year-old woman reported that she was recording a fight Aug. 11 when Harden grabbed her by the wrist.She says he then grabbed her cellphone and threw it onto the roof.According to the police report, Harden and someone in his entourage gave her $500 to pay for a replacement.The woman was treated at a hospital for a wrist injury.Harden, who played at Arizona State University, was voted the NBA's Most Valuable Player in June.A representative for the Houston Rockets did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A Milwaukee officer involved in the stun gun arrest of Bucks' player Sterling Brown has been fired because of social media posts mocking the incident, the city's police chief said Thursday.Police Chief Alfonso Morales said the firing decision was not tied to anything Erik Andrade did when Brown was arrested, but explained that the social media posts compromised the officer's ability to testify in other cases. Morales spoke about the case at a Marquette University event.Brown sued the police department in June and accused officers of using excessive force and targeting him because he's black. A group of officers swarmed on him at a Walgreens parking lot because he didn't immediately remove his hands from his pockets. Brown was standing with the officers waiting for a citation for parking in a disabled spot early on Jan. 26, but never appeared to threaten police before or during his arrest, according to police body camera videos.Andrade later mocked Brown on Facebook for... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — The Celtics were in sunny Los Angeles, it was another sub-zero winter day back in Boston, and Gordon Hayward was stuck in rehab, shooting baskets from a chair and picking up marbles with his toes to work his surgically repaired ankle back into shape."The hardest part of the whole process has been the mental challenge," Hayward said Thursday, reporting that he is 100 percent healthy and preparing to be on the court for the Oct. 16 opener against the Philadelphia 76ers. "I think you find the fight within yourself."The Celtics' top free-agent acquisition of the 2017 summer, Hayward was injured in the first quarter of the first game of the season when he landed awkwardly on his left leg, breaking his tibia and dislocating his ankle. He may have been able to return before the end of the season, but then he needed more surgery in May.Other players did their best to keep up his spirits: One time, Aron Baynes brought back some Krispy Kreme doughnuts from a road trip and drove them... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A Milwaukee officer involved in the stun gun arrest of Bucks' player Sterling Brown has been fired because of social media posts mocking the incident, the city's police chief said Thursday.Police Chief Alfonso Morales said the firing decision was not tied to anything Erik Andrade did when Brown was arrested, but explained that the social media posts compromised the officer's ability to testify in other cases. Morales spoke about the case at a Marquette University event.Brown sued the police department in June and accused officers of using excessive force and targeting him because he's black. A group of officers swarmed on him at a Walgreens parking lot because he didn't immediately remove his hands from his pockets. Brown was standing with the officers waiting for a citation for parking in a disabled spot early on Jan. 26, but never appeared to threaten police before or during his arrest, according to police body camera videos.Andrade later mocked Brown on Facebook for... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A Milwaukee police officer involved in the stun gun arrest of Bucks' player Sterling Brown has been fired because of social media posts.Police Chief Erik Morales disclosed the firing during a speech at Marquette University on Thursday, but he did not name the officer.Brown sued the police department in June and accused officers of using excessive force and targeting him because he's black. A group of officers swarmed on him at a Walgreens parking lot because he didn't immediately remove his hands from his pockets. Brown was standing with the officers waiting for a citation for parking in a disabled spot early on Jan. 26.One officer later mocked Brown on Facebook for his arrest . A total of 11 officers involved in the arrest were disciplined or retrained.

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics guard Jabari Bird said he's taking a break from the team following charges that he choked and kicked his girlfriend and prevented her from leaving his apartment.In a statement Thursday, the 24-year-old Bird apologized to his teammates and fans for creating an "unnecessary distraction" and said he's taking time away to deal with "legal and medical issues.""I do not condone violence against women," he said. "I am hopeful that in due time and process, I will be able to regain everyone's trust."A management agency that represents Bird released the statement just hours after an arraignment hearing in which Bird was held on $50,000 bail. Not-guilty pleas to domestic violence-related charges were entered on his behalf.Police spoke with Bird's girlfriend, a student at a local college, at a city hospital after his arrest , prosecutor Khyati Short said during the hearing.Bird choked the woman unconscious, threw her against the wall and dragged her by the ankles when she... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — The Latest on Boston Celtics guard Jabari Bird (all times local):4:20 p.m.Boston Celtics guard Jabari Bird says he's taking some time off as he deals with his health and domestic violence charges involving an alleged assault of his girlfriend.Bird says in a statement issued Thursday that he's "taking some time away from the team as I deal with my legal and medical issues."He is apologizing to his family, the Celtics, his teammates, fans and the NBA "for the unnecessary distraction that I have caused."The 24-year-old player says he doesn't condone violence against women and hopes eventually to regain the public's trust.Bird was ordered held on $50,000 bail Thursday. Prosecutors say he choked his girlfriend, kicked her and prevented her from leaving his apartment before he collapsed in distress.___4 p.m.Prosecutors say Boston Celtics guard Jabari Bird choked his girlfriend multiple times, kicked her and prevented her from leaving his apartment before he collapsed in distress.The... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics guard Jabari Bird choked his girlfriend multiple times, kicked her and prevented her from leaving his apartment before he collapsed in distress, prosecutors said at his arraignment Thursday.Bird, 24, was held on $50,000 bail after not-guilty pleas to domestic violence-related charges were entered on his behalf.Police spoke with Bird's girlfriend, a student at a local college, at a city hospital after his arrest last Friday , prosecutor Khyati Short said during the hearing.Bird choked the woman unconscious, threw her against the wall and dragged her by the ankles when she tried to leave his apartment in the Brighton neighborhood, police said.The ordeal, sparked by what the woman called "trust issues," went on for several hours, she said, until Bird experienced "seizure-like" symptoms and fell. That's when the woman left.Bird spent several days in a hospital. The woman was released from the hospital without serious injury, according to a spokesman for prosecutors.Bird's... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics guard Jabari Bird choked his girlfriend multiple times, kicked her and prevented her from leaving his apartment before he collapsed in distress, prosecutors said at his arraignment Thursday.Bird, 24, was held on $50,000 bail after not-guilty pleas to domestic violence-related charges were entered on his behalf.Police spoke with Bird's girlfriend, a student at a local college, at a city hospital after his arrest last Friday , prosecutor Khyati Short said during the hearing.Bird choked the woman unconscious, threw her against the wall and dragged her by the ankles when she tried to leave his apartment in the Brighton neighborhood, police said.The ordeal, sparked by what the woman called "trust issues," went on for several hours, she said, until Bird experienced "seizure-like" symptoms and fell. That's when the woman left.Bird spent several days in a hospital.Bird's lawyer, former federal prosecutor Brian Kelly, said that his client "understands the seriousness... [More]

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Thunder All-Star guard Russell Westbrook underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee on Wednesday, putting his availability for the season opener against the Golden State Warriors in doubt.The team says Westbrook decided after suffering from inflammation in the knee this past weekend that he'd have the procedure. He'll be re-evaluated in approximately four weeks, close to the season opener at Golden State on Oct. 16.Westbrook was the league MVP in 2016-17 and averaged a triple-double last season for a second straight season. He averaged 25.4 points, a league-leading 10.3 assists and 10.1 rebounds last season.