LDN - Sports

National Basketball Association roundup

[July 04, 2017] July 3 (The Sports Xchange) - Golden State Warriors star forward Kevin Durant will agree to a two-year deal worth approximately $53 million, ESPN reported Monday.

Durant, who is an unrestricted free agent, will have a player option on the second year, according to the report.

The 2017 NBA Finals MVP would be taking a pay cut of approximately $9 million had he elected to secure a max deal of $34 million.

He declined his 2017-18 player option of $27.7 million to become a free agent with the intended purpose of allowing Golden State to retain the rights to Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston.

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The Los Angeles Lakers officially signed No. 2 overall pick Lonzo Ball to a four-year rookie contract.

Terms of the deal were not released, but the 19-year-old point guard is expected to receive $33.4 million, assuming the Lakers offered him the full 120 percent of the league's slot value for the No. 2 pick as the maximum allowable.

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Free agent guard George Hill met with Lakers officials about a possible deal.

The Lakers and Hill have significant mutual interest on pursuing a short-term deal that would allow Hill, 31, and Ball to play together, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne.

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New York Knicks All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony may now be open to waiving his no-trade clause to join the Houston Rockets or Cleveland Cavaliers.

The arrival of All-Star Chris Paul to team up with James Harden jumped Houston into contention for Anthony and established his interest in joining the Rockets, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Cavaliers continue to remain a preferred destination for Anthony because of the presence of LeBron James.

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Derrick Rose could be on the move in a reported sign-and-trade deal that would send him to the Milwaukee Bucks and kick-start a rebuild for the New York Knicks.

Rose, 28, met with the Bucks on Wednesday, when ESPN reported a deal for the former MVP point guard could be imminent.

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The Bucks are looking for a backup to pair with NBA rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon.

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Chauncey Billups said he was no longer under consideration for a front-office position with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Billups, a five-time All-Star who played 17 seasons in the NBA, discussed the position with the team twice since what was described as a mutual parting with general manager David Griffin.

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The Phoenix Suns waived guard Leandro Barbosa.

The release of the 14-year Brazilian veteran saves the Suns $3.5 million and pushes Phoenix's cap space to nearly $12 million.

Barbosa, 34, averaged 6.3 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 67 games last season with the Suns.

Phoenix is collecting a young group of talent that includes Devin Booker, T.J. Warren, Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender. The Suns selected forward Josh Jackson as the fourth overall pick of last month's draft.

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Restricted free agent forward Otto Porter from the Washington Wizards was offered a maximum salary contract from the Sacramento Kings. The four-year deal would net Porter more than $20 million per season worth a total of approximately $106.5 million.

Porter, the third overall pick in 2013, averaged 13.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 43.4 percent from 3-point range last season.

Porter is scheduled to meet with two other teams.

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Shooting guard Ben McLemore agreed to a two-year, $10.7 million deal with the Memphis Grizzlies.

McLemore became a free agent last month when the Sacramento Kings declined his fifth-year option worth more than $5 million. ))

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