Kristaps Porzingis may not be long for New York as Knicks president Phil Jackson is considering trading the 7-foot-3 Latvian and has been fielding trade calls ahead of Thursday's NBA Draft, according to multiple reports.Porzingis, 21, has not been in contact with anybody within the Knicks' front office since the end of the season. He skipped exit meetings with Jackson and the team due to his frustration with the Knicks' dysfunction.The former fourth-overall draft pick in 2015 has averaged 16.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks over 138 games in his first two seasons with the Knicks. Last season, Porzingis averaged a career-high 18.1 points, 7.2 boards and two blocks in 66 contests.New York missed the playoffs after going 31-51 and finishing 12th in the Eastern Conference.Porzingis' brother, Janis, who works for Porzingis' primary agent Andy Miller, reiterated last week the forward's desire to remain in New York."Despite how the Knicks are treating their players, Kris wants to stay in New York," Janis Porzingis said via ESPN. "He loves the city and he loves the fans and he wants to win with this team."If he's going to be traded, he's going to play out his contact and decide his future on his own."If Jackson decides to trade Porzingis, he is eyeing Arizona forward Lauri Markkanen as a possible replacement. Jackson had dinner with Markkanen on Monday night in New York and is considering drafting him with the Knicks' No. 8 overall pick on Thursday, The Vertical reports.

Pau Gasol will decline a $16.2 million contract option for next season and become a free agent, but he is expected to re-sign with the San Antonio Spurs on a long-term deal, according to multiple reports.The 36-year-old center intends to negotiate a lower annual salary so that the Spurs are able to offer free agents more money this offseason, according to the San Antonio Express-News.The Vertical first reported Gasol's decision to opt out.Gasol averaged a career-low 12.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks over 64 games (39 starts) in his first season with the Spurs last season.The 16-year Spanish veteran has career averages of 17.9 points, 9.4 boards and 1.7 blocks in 1,119 games with the Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies.Gasol is a six-time All-Star and a two-time NBA champion.Former All-Star David Lee is also expected to opt out of his deal with San Antonio. Lee's option for next season is worth $1.6 million. The 34-year-old averaged 7.3 points and 5.6 rebounds in 79 games last season.

C Dirk Nowitzki will be one of the captains for the NBA's Africa Game on Aug. 5. The NBA and National Basketball Players Association announced that Nowitzki, who is from Germany, will be a co-captain of Team World along with Charlotte Hornets All-Star Kemba Walker.Team Africa will be captained by the Los Angeles Lakers' Luol Deng, a two-time NBA All-Star who is from the South Sudan, and the Atlanta Hawks' Thabo Sefolosha, an 11-year NBA veteran whose father was born in South Africa.Nowitzki is a 13-time NBA All-Star and 2011 NBA champion. Last season, he became the first international player with 30,000 career points.

F Kevin Durant will opt out of his contract but re-sign with the Golden State Warriors in a move to save the team money. Durant plans to decline his player option for 2017-18 and become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 before re-upping with the Warriors, according to multiple reports on Monday. The 10-year NBA veteran was scheduled to receive approximately $28 million in salary next season, but he will take about $4 million less than the max contract he is eligible to receive. One of the reasons is to give the Warriors more salary cap space and negotiating room in their attempt to keep forward Andre Iguodala, ESPN reported.In addition to Iguodala, the Warriors are trying to retain free agents Shaun Livingston, Zaza Pachulia and other bench players.Durant's new deal apparently will be similar to his current one, which is for one year plus a player option.The 6-foot-11 forward left the Oklahoma City Thunder last summer to sign with the Warriors. He played a big role this season in leading Golden State to its second NBA championship in three years over the Cleveland Cavaliers.In this year's Finals, Durant averaged 35.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists as the Warriors wrapped up the series in five games.Warriors guard Steph Curry also will become a free agent, but he is expected to sign a "super" max five-year, $205 million deal. He made $12.1 million this past season.

Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki will be one of the captains for the NBA's Africa Game on Aug. 5.The NBA and National Basketball Players Association announced Monday that Nowitzki, who is from Germany, will be a co-captain of Team World along with Charlotte Hornets All-Star Kemba Walker.Team Africa will be captained by the Los Angeles Lakers' Luol Deng, a two-time NBA All-Star who is from the South Sudan, and the Atlanta Hawks' Thabo Sefolosha, an 11-year NBA veteran whose father was born in South Africa.Nowitzki is a 13-time NBA All-Star and 2011 NBA champion. Last season, he became the first international player with 30,000 career points.NBA Africa Game 2017, which will take place in Johannesburg, will once again feature a Team Africa vs. Team World format and will be played in support of UNICEF, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and SOS Children's Villages South Africa. In February, the NBA and NBPA announced that Bismack Biyombo (Orlando Magic, Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Emmanuel... [More]

F Paul George informed the Indiana Pacers he won't re-sign with the franchise and plans to become a free agent after next season, according to multiple reports on Sunday.George can opt out of his contract following the 2017-18 season and become a free agent and is targeting the Los Angeles Lakers as his next club.George reportedly had his agent relay the news now to Indiana president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard so he was upfront with his plans as well as giving the franchise the opportunity to prepare for its future.The Pacers are already shopping George, according to The Vertical. While the four-time All-Star would prefer to be shipped to the Lakers, Indiana reportedly has discussed a potential deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

All-Star forward Paul George informed the Indiana Pacers he won't resign with the franchise and plans to become a free agent after next season, according to multiple reports on Sunday.George can opt out of his contract following the 2017-18 season and become a free agent and is targeting the Los Angeles Lakers as his next club.The 27-year-old George is from Palmdale, Calif., a desert town about 60 miles north of Los Angeles.George reportedly had his agent relay the news now to Indiana president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard so he was upfront with his plans as well as giving the franchise the opportunity to prepare for its future.The Pacers are already shopping George, according to The Vertical. While the four-time All-Star would prefer to be shipped to the Lakers, Indiana reportedly has discussed a potential deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers.One report said the Pacers are requesting a "substantial package of talent and draft picks" in exchange for George, who averaged a career-best... [More]

G Monta Ellis of the Pacers was suspended five games without pay for violating the NBA's anti-drug policy, the league announced Friday. The suspension begins during the 2017-18 regular season. Ellis, 31, averaged 8.5 points last season, his lowest output since his rookie season (2005-06).

The assumption has been that the Boston Celtics would take Washington point guard Markelle Fultz with the No. 1 pick in next week's NBA draft, but a report on Friday suggests the Philadelphia 76ers are attempting to acquire that pick.The Celtics are having serious discussions with the 76ers about a trade for that would give Philadelphia the top pick, ESPN reported Friday.The most recent offer on the table would have the Sixers sending Boston several draft picks, including the No. 3 overall selection, in exchange for the top pick, which presumably would be Fultz. The most likely scenario is for Boston to receive three draft picks to give up one.Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reported the Sixers might send the Celtics the No. 3 pick this year as a well as two future first-round picks to acquire the top pick this year.If the 76ers could pull off the deal, they could put Fultz in the backcourt with last year's No. 1 overall pick, Ben Simmons, who has yet to play an NBA game but could play... [More]

Indiana Pacers guard Monta Ellis and Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Bullock were each suspended five games without pay for violating the NBA's anti-drug policy, the league announced Friday.The suspensions begin during the 2017-18 regular season.Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard was disappointed in Ellis' suspension."Monta's suspension is a very serious matter to our franchise and it will be dealt with accordingly," Pritchard said in a statement.Ellis, 31, averaged 8.5 points last season, his lowest output since his rookie season (2005-06).Bullock, 26, averaged 4.5 points in 31 games for Detroit last season.

F Robert Covington's contract for the 2017-18 season was exercised by the 76ers, the team announced Wednesday. Covington, 26, will make $1.57 million next season, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Sixers had until June 24 to pick up the final year of Covington's deal before he became a restricted free agent.The 76ers could extend Covington for a projected four-year, $39-deal and also could re-negotiate his salary after Nov. 15, according to The Vertical. He will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2017-18 season if the 76ers don't extend his contract.Covington is undergoing rehab after undergoing successful surgery on April 18 to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee.

The Philadelphia 76ers exercised the contract option on forward Robert Covington for the 2017-18 season, the team announced Wednesday. Covington, 26, will make $1.57 million next season, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Sixers had until June 24 to pick up the final year of Covington's deal before he became a restricted free agent.The 76ers could extend Covington for a projected four-year, $39-deal and also could re-negotiate his salary after Nov. 15, according to The Vertical. He will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2017-18 season if the 76ers don't extend his contract.Covington is undergoing rehab after undergoing successful surgery on April 18 to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee.In 204 games (165 starts) over three seasons with the Sixers, the 6-foot-9, 215-pound Covington holds averages of 12.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 35 percent from 3-point range and 81 percent from the free-throw line. His 170 made 3-pointers... [More]

F Draymond Green had a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double in Game 5 on Monday.

F LeBron James had a game-high 41 points Monday. He also collected a game-high 13 rebounds, eight assists and two steals. He is the first player ever to average a triple-double in the Finals. "I have no reason to put my head down," said James, who finished with averages of 33.6 points, 12.0 rebounds and 10.0 assists in the five-game series.Draymond Green had a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double for the Warriors,

G Stephen Curry scored 34 points in Game 5 on Monday. He shot 10 of 20, converted 12 of his 15 free throw attempts, and added six rebounds and 10 assists.

F Kevin Durant, the MVP of the Finals, had 39 points in Monday's victory in Game 5. Durant shot 14 of 20 overall and 5 of 8 on 3-pointers, hitting three of his threes during the critical 28-4 second-quarter run that turned a 41-33 deficit into a 61-45 advantage.

G Stephen Curry was 4 of 13 for 14 points in a loss on Friday to the Cavaliers. "Just one of those games," Curry said. "Not going to overreact to one."

F Kevin Durant led the Warriors with 35 points in a loss on Friday.

F Draymond Green added 16 points and 14 rebounds in a loss on Friday.

F LeBron James finished with 31 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists for his ninth triple-double, passing Magic Johnson for first place in Finals history. The loss ended the Warriors' bid for a perfect 16-0 run through the playoffs, which had never been done. Golden State leads 3-1 in the series as it shifts back to Oakland, Calif., for Game 5 on Monday night. "I didn't hear it, but some of the other guys heard it and told me that that they wanted to celebrate on our floor once again and they wanted to spray champagne in our locker rooms, and I think it came from Draymond (Green), which is OK, that's Dray anyway," James said. "So I just told guys, I didn't stress anything besides just live in the moment. Live in the moment." James passed Michael Jordan for third place in NBA Finals scoring history with his first basket and for first in free throws in the Finals. Jordan scored 1,176 points and connected on 1,463 free throws in six Finals.