LDN - Sports

National Basketball Association roundup

[July 19, 2016] July 18 (The Sports Xchange) - LeBron James, who has made it clear he does not intend to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers despite opting out of his contract, informed the NBA champions he will re-sign sometime this summer.

James still has no timetable for negotiating or signing a deal, sources told ESPN on Monday.

James, fresh off guiding the Cavaliers to their first NBA title, turned down a $24 million salary for the 2016-17 season at the June 29 deadline for his decision.

He is currently traveling and spending time with his family, will eventually meet with agent Rich Paul and go over his contract options, according to ESPN.

James can sign for up to $27.5 million for next season on a one-year contract or sign a multiyear deal that could make him the league's highest-paid player at $30.8 million for 2016-17.

James is one of several members of the Cavs from last season's championship team who remain unsigned, including J.R. Smith and head coach Tyronn Lue.

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Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor, who was previously cleared to resume on-court basketball activity following his arthroscopic knee surgery in March, will be limited in his participation with the USA Men's Select Team to non-contact activity and drills.

The 76ers made the announcement before the 20-year-old Okafor trains with the USA Basketball Men's National Team this week in Las Vegas.

"While the Sixers' medical and sports science team feel Jahlil is fully healed, due to the workload associated with full-contact basketball, it was deemed appropriate to limit his participation to non-contact activities and drills for the upcoming USA Basketball minicamp," the Sixers said in a press release.

The team said Okafor's recovery and return to play are on schedule. He has been continuing his rehabilitation and performing limited basketball activities while taking classes this offseason at Duke University.

He then resumed this practice regiment since joining Sixers coaches and staff last week in Las Vegas.

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Milwaukee and center Miles Plumlee have agreed to a four-year, $52 million deal that keeps the big man in a Bucks' uniform through the 2019-20 season.

Plumlee was a restricted free agent but was vocal in his desire to return to the Bucks.

The 6-foot-11 Plumlee averaged 5.1 points and 3.8 rebounds but really showed his value in the second half of the season.

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Oklahoma City and budding Spanish star Alex Abrines have agreed on a three-year deal worth a reported $18 million.

The 6-foot-6 small guard/shooting forward was the No. 32 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. He was acquired by Thunder as part of the trade that sent James Harden to the Houston Rockets.

Abrines averaged 9.6 points in 19.6 minutes per game in the Spanish ACB and in Euroleague this past year.

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The Toronto Raptors signed guard Fred VanVleet to a multiyear contract. Per team policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

VanVleet played four seasons at Wichita State (2012-16), averaging 10.2 points, 4.5 assists, 1.6 steals and 26.8 minutes in 141 career games. (Editing by Larry Fine) ))

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