BOSTON — Six weeks after being bounced by Boston in the opening round of the playoffs, the Orlando Magic pulled off the first major move of the NBA offseason.

The Magic gave up a haul Sunday to add Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane to their young and talented core. In return for the 26-year-old, Memphis received four first-round draft picks, a ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — The decision to trade guards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and multiple future first-round picks to acquire Desmond Bane from the Grizzlies was one Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman described as easy to make.

Speaking with the media Monday inside the AdventHealth Training Center for the first time ...Read more

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Connecticut Sun veteran Tina Charles and Chicago Sky phenom Angel Reese had to be separated by multiple teammates and referees after a heated shoving match in Sunday’s game at Mohegan Sun Arena, resulting in double technical fouls for the star forwards.

The scuffle involved all three UConn alumni on the Sun’s roster, ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — Hallelujah, the rebuild is over.

No, seriously, this time, it’s really over.

It’s finally, officially, historically, euphorically, dramatically, emphatically over.

After a dozen years of painful rebuilding and an endless pursuit of acquiring draft capital, cap flexibility and other future assets, Orlando Magic president ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Where these 76ers end up will depend on the health of a player who had two left knee surgeries in 14 months and three in nine years.

This was always the case.

What has changed is the level of intrigue regarding what the team will do in the June 25-26 NBA draft.

Right now, the Sixers are garnering headlines for exploring every...Read more

MIAMI — You start here: It didn’t matter what Damian Lillard wanted.

But you also start here: It did matter what Jimmy Butler wanted.

Because here the Pat Riley and the Miami Heat stand again, at a crossroads of desire and destination, this time with Kevin Durant.

Once again, a player who wants out, but also wants out to a preferred ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The latest twist in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes seems to have the Timberwolves on the outside looking in as teams are assembling their best offers to entice the Suns to deal the 36-year-old former MVP.

On Saturday night, ESPN Senior NBA Insider Shams Charania reported Durant has a list of teams he would prefer to go to that ...Read more

ORLANDO, Fla. — Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman made his first move Sunday looking through Orlando’s “win-now” lens that he described the organization entering after a second straight first-round playoff exit.

The Magic will acquire guard-forward Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for guard Cole ...Read more

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Despite standout performances from the star duo of Tina Charles and Marina Mabrey, the Connecticut Sun fell to last place in the Eastern Conference Commissioner’s Cup standings with a 78-66 loss to the Chicago Sky at Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday.

Mabrey led the Sun with 22 points, shooting 7 for 17 from the field and ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — This was more than 90 minutes before the Lynx and the Los Angeles Sparks would have a noon tipoff at Target Center. The WNBA game was scheduled to be televised nationally on CBS.

There were 15 girls, maybe ages 10 to 13, ready to make a left turn from the skyway to the arena entry. The youngsters were wearing T-shirts saluting ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Saturday afternoon at Target Center was supposed to be a celebration of Seimone Augustus’ Hall of Fame career, the legacy of four WNBA titles, the joy of success past and a bright future.

But Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve sat down 90 minutes before her team’s nationally televised game with the Los Angeles Sparks, in a quiet room, ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The more I watch VJ Edgecombe, the more I think that the Sixers shouldn’t be looking to trade down.

Trade up? Sure. But that’s probably not going to happen. Not with a prospect like Dylan Harper on the board. Most years, he’d be the unquestioned No. 1 overall pick. He isn’t a surefire generational talent like Cooper ...Read more

SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors’ brand of basketball, once revolutionary, appears downright antiquated compared to the breathtaking hoops being played in the NBA Finals.

The Pacers and Thunder look light years ahead of Golden State as young, flexible and tactically modern rosters zoom up and down the court.

Athleticism, overt defensive ...Read more

DENVER — Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook is expected to decline his $3.5 million player option and enter unrestricted free agency this offseason, a league source told The Denver Post on Friday, confirming a report by league insider Marc Stein.

Westbrook, 36, signed with Denver last summer at the veteran minimum for two years, with a player ...Read more