|
 ZagsBlog.com reported Monday that the promise had been made.
"It's done. He's going to Minnesota," the blog reported. "(Minnesota
coach) Flip Saunders was big on Jahlil Okafor for a minute there
and, after Karl came in (on Saturday), he decided to work out for
them. He only worked out for them and it's a wrap. It's a wrap. They
just told him they're going to take him No. 1."
Towns told The Associated Press and USA Today on Monday night that
he has been promised nothing.
"If I had a promise, I would go start eating ice cream and getting
fat," he joked to AP. "There is absolutely no promise at all. Right
now I'm just trying to see where I'll be playing. I have no idea."
---Paul Pierce will opt out of his contract with the Washington
Wizards and could land in Los Angeles to play with the Clippers and
former coach Doc Rivers, according to reports.
The Washington Post and ESPN reported that the opportunity to play
in Los Angeles with a chance to get back to the NBA Finals might be
a strong enough lure for the 37-year-old small forward to leave the
Wizards.
In his first season with the Wizards, Pierce logged career lows in
minutes, points and rebounds per game.
---Miami guard Dwyane Wade can opt out of his current deal and
become a free agent, and he reportedly is considering leaving the
Heat if a long-term deal cannot be reached.
While working the NBA Finals as an analyst, Wade referred to his
12-year career in the past tense.
A possible landing spot for Wade could be Los Angeles, where he
would play next to Kobe Bryant, the New York Post reported Monday.
The Lakers have the cap space to sign Wade to a maximum deal. Wade
is due $16.1 million this season if he opts in with the Heat.
---The Los Angeles Lakers are trying to acquire All-Star center
DeMarcus Cousins from the Sacramento Kings, ESPN reported Monday.
The Lakers have been trying for several weeks to forge a deal that
would be strong enough for the Kings to consider parting with
Cousins, sources told ESPN.
Kings vice president Vlade Divac told the Sacramento Bee on Sunday
that he will not trade Cousins, who averaged 24.1 points and 12.7
rebounds last season. Despite Divac's denial, ESPN reported that the
Lakers and Kings have discussed a deal involving the Orlando Magic
that would send Cousins to Los Angeles.
---Brooklyn forward Thaddeus Young will forgo his final year with
the Nets and become an unrestricted free agent.
The Nets acquired Young at the trade deadline from the Minnesota
Timberwolves in exchange for Kevin Garnett.
Young, who turned 27 on Sunday, averaged 13.8 points per game and
shot 49.5 percent for the Nets.
[to top of second column] |
---Portland forward Aaron Afflalo will opt out of his final season
with the Trail Blazers and become an unrestricted free agent.
TNT reported Afflalo will forgo a guaranteed $7.75 million deal to
test free agency.
He was acquired from Denver in a trade-deadline transaction as
Portland looked to strengthen its bench. But, a week later, the
Trail Blazers lost shooting guard Wesley Matthews with a
season-ending injury, thrusting Afflalo into the starting rotation.
---Forward Dario Saric, the 12th overall pick in last year's draft,
will not suit up for the Philadelphia 76ers next season.
Saric, a 6-foot-10, 230-pound forward acquired in a draft-night
trade last year, is under contract with Anadolu Efes in Turkey.
The Sixers were unable to reach a buyout with Anadolu earlier this
month, which leaves Saric in Turkey for at least the upcoming
season.
---The 2017 NBA All-Star Game will be played in Charlotte, N.C.
A formal announcement will be made Tuesday morning, with
commissioner Adam Silver and team owner Michael Jordan expected to
be on hand.
The team and the city made a formal bid last summer. Silver told the
Charlotte Observer he thought it was a sure thing that Charlotte
would be awarded the game after the city promised to renovate Time
Warner Cable Arena.
---Atlanta Hawks general manager Danny Ferry stepped down officially
Monday after being on indefinite leave for the past 10 months
following the disclosure of racially insensitive remarks he made
last June.
The Hawks announced the buyout on Monday -- the Atlanta Journal
Constitution reported the deal had been approved on Friday.
On Saturday, the newspaper obtained copies of letters written to
Ferry by the law firm Alston and Bird and from co-owner Todd Foreman
clearing him of racial bias. Copies of those letters were attached
to the formal announcement of the buyout.
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