National Basketball Association roundup

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[July 29, 2015]  July 28 (The Sports Xchange) - The Milwaukee Bucks are closer to a new arena after the Wisconsin State Assembly passed a bill Tuesday to allow for $250 million in taxpayer funding for the project.

After a 52-34 vote, the bill moves to Gov. Scott Walker for approval. Walker has been working with lawmakers to secure a deal that calls for the Bucks to contribute at least $250 million toward the arena.

Once Walker signs off on the bill, the next steps would be for the county to authorize buying the land and a city vote to negotiate the lease and to approve financing.

Bucks coach Jason Kidd was on hand in the Assembly gallery watching the debate.

The NBA had said it would buy the Bucks and move the team if a new arena were not in place by October 2017. The lease at BMO Harris Bradley Center ends in 2017.

The new arena would replace the 27-year-old BMO Harris Bradley Center as part of an estimated $1 billion development in downtown Milwaukee.

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The Denver Nuggets signed 20-year-old Serbian center Nikola Jokic to a multiyear contract on Tuesday.

The 6-foot-10 Jokic started five games for the Nuggets in the 2015 Summer League in Las Vegas and averaged 8.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 blocked shots.

Jokic was drafted in the second round in 2014 by the Nuggets but has spent the past three years playing in the Adriatic League in Europe. In 37 games last season for KK Mega Vizura, he averaged 16.6 points, 7.0 rebounds. 3.2 assists and 1.0 blocked shot and was named the league's top prospect.

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The Charlotte Hornets signed free agent guard Elliot Williams to a contract with undisclosed terms on Tuesday.

Last season, Williams played in 13 combined games for the Utah Jazz and the New Orleans Pelicans, averaging 2.8 points. He signed a 10-day contract with the Hornets in February but was released six days later without seeing action.

The 6-foot-5 Williams also played in 29 games for San Cruz in the NBA Development League last season and averaged 21.3 points, 7.4 assists and 4.8 rebounds.

(Editing by Andrew Both)

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