|
 Silver acknowledged the potential for a lagging resolution to the
planned sale to Steve Ballmer because of litigious hurdles that are
becoming unpredictable.
"I'm not sure," Silver said. "Because we're not actually a party to
those proceedings, and while I'm following the litigation and we
have a lawyer in the courtroom who's giving us regular reports on
it, they're in recess right now."
The NBA Board of Governors cannot approve the sale to Ballmer, a
former CEO at Microsoft who made a $2 billion bid and signed a
binding agreement with Shelly Sterling, while it is being contested
in court.
Silver also said the league is considering an in-season,
neutral-site tournament.
"Very early days in the discussion of that, but we're looking at
other opportunities in the league to create excitement," Silver said
at a Board of Governors meeting press conference in Las Vegas.
 "As one of our general managers said at the meeting, there's very
few things that you can win in the NBA. I mean, when you think about
European soccer, for example, they have the FA Cup and they have
other tournaments throughout the season, so I could imagine if we
were to look at some sort of midseason tournament I would imagine
doing something in Vegas. This would be a terrific neutral site
location."
The tournament would require approval of the NBA players
association, which means it likely cannot be introduced until a new
collective bargaining agreement is established.
The Charlotte Hornets are on the verge of landing Indiana Pacers
guard Lance Stephenson.
ESPN reported owner Michael Jordan, general manager Rich Cho, head
coach Steve Clifford and assistant coach Patrick Ewing met with
Stephenson in Las Vegas on Tuesday and worked out a three-year deal
that could pay him up to $27 million.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra is happy for LeBron James, he said in his
first public comments since the Miami Heat lost the four-time MVP in
free agency.
 "He seemed at peace with the decision," Spoelstra said in Las Vegas
at the Heat's summer league appearance. "We don't have any regrets.
He shouldn't have any regrets. It was a historic four-year run."
The Golden State Warriors agreed to a two-year deal worth $2.5
million with guard Brandon Rush, according to reports.
Yahoo Sports reported that Rush will have a player option after the
first year. It will be Rush's second stint in Golden State, where he
played from 2011-13.
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The Oklahoma City Thunder announced the signing of free agent guard
Anthony Morrow.
Morrow has averaged 10.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game through
six NBA seasons. He played for New Orleans in 2013-14.
The Washington Wizards were finalizing a sign-and-trade deal with
the Dallas Mavericks to acquire forward DeJuan Blair, according to
multiple reports.
Blair averaged 6.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in a reserve
role for the Mavericks last season.
The Phoenix Suns agreed to a two-year deal with free agent forward
Anthony Tolliver worth a reported $6 million.
Tolliver, 29, has averaged 6.1 points and 3.7 rebounds in six NBA
seasons, and is expected to help fill the void created by the
free-agent departure of Channing Frye.
Former Miami Heat forward James Jones signed a one-year deal worth
the league minimum to reunite with LeBron James as a member of the
Cleveland Cavaliers.
Jones, 6-foot-8, 215, is an 11-year veteran and 40 percent career
three-point shooter.
Veteran forward Rashard Lewis signed a one-year veteran's minimum
contract with the Mavericks.
Lewis started eight games in the 2014 playoffs with the Miami Heat,
but averaged a career-low 4.5 points in the regular season.
(Editing by Andrew Both)
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