PHILADELPHIA — The 76ers’ blockbuster trade for All-NBA forward Jaylen Brown, along with the free-agency signings of defensive forward Dean Wade, scoring guard Anfernee Simons and reserve big man Ariel Hukporti became official Monday when the NBA’s moratorium period was lifted.

Brown was acquired in exchange for Paul George and four draft...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Once again, Walker Kessler sat hunched forward, ears and eyes intently locked onto the person whose words would change his life.

This wasn't his bewildering 2022 NBA draft day experience captured on video that began with him hearing commissioner Adam Silver announce he had been chosen by the Memphis Grizzlies only to learn ...Read more

DENVER — Nikola Jokic plans to wait one more year to sign his next contract with the Denver Nuggets, he told reporters in Serbia on Monday, the first day he was eligible to sign a new supermax extension this offseason.

That deal would have extended him four years at an estimated $278 million, through the 2031 offseason. By delaying contract ...Read more

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — DeMar DeRozan is finally free to pursue other opportunities following two tumultuous seasons with the Sacramento Kings.

The Kings are waiving DeRozan in a move that has been expected for weeks, sources told The Sacramento Bee on Monday, making the six-time All-Star an unrestricted free agent.

DeRozan, 36, could have a ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Rui Hachimura became the latest Lakers player to move on, agreeing to a two-year, $28-million deal with the Clippers on Monday, people familiar with the deal but not authorized to speak publicly on the matter confirmed to The Los Angeles Times.

Hachimura played at a high level for the Lakers in the playoffs, averaging 17.5 ...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — A federal indictment charges former Kentucky basketball player Kerr Kriisa with five counts of wire fraud.

Kriisa, 25, was indicted June 2 with the counts of wire fraud totalling nearly $2.2 million over the span of four years, according to court documents.

Kriisa is accused of fraudulently trying to obtain money through ...Read more

MIAMI — Two weeks ago, the concerns for the Miami Heat were about a potential extended waiting game with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Those concerns were allayed in the late hours on July 23, with the Milwaukee Bucks agreeing to move their All-Star forward to the Heat.

Now, the patience being tested moves to another front, as the Heat, and several ...Read more

BOSTON — In a lengthy Facebook post Sunday morning, new Boston Celtics center Mitchell Robinson revealed how he suffered the fractured hand he played through during the 2026 NBA Finals.

According to the former New York Knicks big man, the injury occurred when Robinson “banged (his) hand on (his) truck” after learning that his youngest ...Read more

HARTFORD, Conn. — Hounded and harried as the stars usually are in the pro league, Paige Bueckers fought her way left to right, stepped back up from 18 feet away and as she was knocked to the floor, flipped up a prayer. For the great players, prayers of this nature are often answered. The shot went in, the whistle blew and she ended up sitting ...Read more

MIAMI — A week that started with the Miami Heat as the talk of the East somehow ended with Pat Riley’s team shuffled to secondary (if that) story.

Such has been such a dramatic overhaul in the conference that the Heat at one moment can be viewed as contenders for the NBA Finals and at another the perception quite reasonably can be … right...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Jaylen Brown loves attention, which is why he went on Twitch to talk — about his feelings just hours after releasing a statement on social media expressing his feelings about being traded from the Boston Celtics to the Philadelphia 76ers for a PED cheat and four speculative draft picks.

While Twitch-ing, or whatever it’s ...Read more

NEW YORK — Big Apple, welcome back The Big Penguin.

Free-agent center and Mount Vernon native Andre Drummond struck a deal to join the Knicks and provide much-needed support at center, the New York Daily News has confirmed.

ESPN was first to report Drummond agreeing to a one-year, $3.9 million deal in New York on July 3.

The deal came just ...Read more

NEW YORK — If the Knicks wouldn’t have won the 2026 NBA Finals, LeBron James would be headed to New York City.

But the Knicks did win the title — emphatically, in a five-game gentleman’s sweep of Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. As a result, according to Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, James’ 2026 free agency is more ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — LeBron James’ agent Rich Paul gave his perspective on his client possibly joining the Warriors.

On the latest episode of his video podcast “Game Over,” the Klutch Sports CEO wrote on a whiteboard the 10 teams that have a realistic shot to sign James as an unrestricted free agent.

The primary reason for Golden State’s ...Read more

DENVER — The chase is on for LeBron James, and Denver appears to be in the inner circle.

At least, that’s what Rich Paul’s visual aid suggests.

James is indeed considering the Nuggets as a potential free-agency destination, his longtime friend and agent said on “Game Over,” a podcast that Paul hosts with Max Kellerman.

As a ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — The Lakers have traded center Deandre Ayton to the Washington Wizards for guard Jaden Hardy and two second-round draft picks, in 2031 and 2032, people not authorized to speak publicly on the matter confirmed to The Los Angeles Times on Friday.

Ayton picked up his player option for $8.1 million on Sunday.

But it became obvious ...Read more

BOSTON — Days after agreeing to terms with one center, the Celtics locked up another to a long-term extension.

Boston is signing big man Neemias Queta to a new four-year, $56 million contract, according to a report Friday from ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Between Queta and free agent pickup Mitchell Robinson, whose deal is worth $47.4 million ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — We of the United States are one of the world’s top seven or eight countries, there’s not much question about that, but there’s an admission to make for those of us of a certain age in the male division of the population.

That would be the fact it has taken long-term therapy for us to gain a proper appreciation for the ...Read more