National Basketball Association roundup

[June 29, 2015]  June 28 (The Sports Xchange) - LeBron James, as expected, will bypass his $21.6 million player option with the Cleveland Cavaliers and become a free agent on Wednesday.

ESPN.com reported Sunday that the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player has elected to decline the player option he holds for the 2015-16 season and re-enter unrestricted free agency that starts on July 1.

But most everyone in Cleveland and around the NBA believes James isn't going anywhere as this is just a formality. James intends to re-sign with his current team, according to multiple reports.

The opt-out move is the third time in the past six years that James will be an unrestricted free agent.

Cavs general manager David Griffin said last week the team had been in regular contact with James since the end of the NBA Finals.

James returned to Northeast Ohio in July 2014, leaving the Miami Heat four years -- and two NBA championships -- after bolting Cleveland in an excruciating public departure.

The level of fear that James might take his talents elsewhere is minimized this time by the passionate letter in Sports Illustrated that trumpeted a triumphant comeback to Cleveland last summer.

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Forward Paul Pierce will not exercise the final year of his contract with the Washington Wizards and will become a free agent, general manager Ernie Grunfeld confirmed to the Washington Post.

Pierce was due to make 5.5 million next season. By opting out, Pierce can either sign a new deal with the Wizards or explore opportunities with other teams.

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Kobe Bryant has talked with Los Angeles Lakers' first-round draft pick Larry Nance Jr. about a 2012 tweet that referred to a sexual-assault case involving Bryant.

Bryant, speaking at the BET Experience held at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles on Saturday night during an interview with ESPN's Jemele Hill, said "there's no need" for any further discussion about the matter.

Nance's tweet posted in 2012, which was deleted within minutes of his selection by the Lakers with the 27th overall pick Thursday night, read: "Gee I sure hope Kobe can keep his hands to himself in Denver this time." It also included the hashtag "#rapist."

Bryant was involved in a 2003 sexual-assault case in Colorado when a woman accused him of raping her in his hotel room. All charges were dropped after she refused to testify, but a civil suit was later settled and Bryant publicly apologized. Bryant admitted no guilt in the case.

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The Philadelphia 76ers were forced to pay $3 million to the New Orleans Pelicans last season for failing to fully disclose guard Jrue Holiday's leg injury before the 2013 NBA Draft, according to a report.

The Sixers did not reveal the extent of the injuries before dealing Holiday to the Pelicans for the rights to sixth overall pick Nerlens Noel, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Saturday. (Editinb by Andrew Both)

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