LDN - Sports

National Basketball Association roundup

[July 21, 2017] July 20 (The Sports Xchange) - The Minnesota Timberwolves and young star Andrew Wiggins are closing in on a five-year, $148 million contract extension.

Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau confirmed the discussions with the Canadian during a press conference to introduce new acquisition Jamal Crawford.

Wiggins has one season remaining on his rookie deal. The extension would begin in 2018-19 and he would make $25.5 million that season, according to published reports.

The base salary would increase to $30.6 million if Wiggins were to make an All-NBA team or named Defensive Player of the Year in 2017-18.

The 22-year-old Wiggins averaged a career-best 23.6 points per game last season.

--

Free-agent point guard Derrick Rose and the Cleveland Cavaliers are in serious talks on a potential one-year contract, ESPN reported.

However, ESPN later reported Rose met with the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, and they are trying to sell Rose on the idea that he will get more playing time and more money with the Lakers.

Rose, 28, averaged 18 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists on 47 percent shooting in 64 games for the New York Knicks last season.

--

The Golden State Warriors are bringing the personal seat license to the NBA, and fans interested in purchasing them will be asked for a 30-year commitment.

[to top of second column]

While pricing of the licenses has not been revealed, ESPN cited a team official as saying that a number of seats dedicated for season-ticket holders will decrease from 14,500 at Oracle Arena in Oakland to approximately 12,000 at Chase Center in San Francisco.

The privately financed $1 billion Chase Center is scheduled to open in 2019.

Half of the tickets will come with a per-seat cost of $15,000 or less, while the other half will cost more than that, according to ESPN. The Warriors, in turn, will return the money paid for the right to purchase tickets after 30 years.

--

The Boston Celtics announced the signing of three players who played overseas this past season.

The Celtics reached agreement on a one-year contract with free-agent point guard Shane Larkin and also signed their 2016 first-round draft choice Guerschon Yabusele and Daniel Theis.

Larkin was the 18th overall selection in 2013 NBA draft, and this past season he played 72 games with Saski Baskonia in Spain and averaged 13.8 points and 5.4 assists.

Yabusele was the No. 16 pick in the 2016 draft, so he will receive rookie scale, with the first two years guaranteed. He played last season in the Chinese Basketball Association.

The 6-foot-9 Theis, 25, has played professionally in Germany since 2010. ))

Back to top