CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavaliers have some clarity with one of their free agent forwards.No, not that one.While waiting to see if they're in LeBron James' plans, the Cavaliers intend to extend a $3.4 million qualifying offer to Rodney Hood, making him a restricted free agent and protecting the club if he receives any offers.The team will make the offer to Hood before Friday's deadline, said a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the club is not publicly discussing its plans ahead of free agency starting Sunday.Cleveland.com first reported the Cavaliers' intentions with Hood.Meanwhile, James has until 11:59 p.m. Friday to pick up his $35.6 million contract option for next season or he will become a free agent. The 33-year-old is expected to decline the option, but it's also possible he could exercise it and be traded if Cleveland works out a deal in order to acquire assets for the three-time champion.At this point, days away from free agency... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James sprung to his feet and screamed along with thousands of delirious Cleveland fans.When Indians outfielder Rajai Davis connected off Chicago Cubs reliever Aroldis Chapman for a tying home run in the eighth inning of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, James came unglued and reacted the way he might after a monstrous dunk or back-breaking 3-pointer in the NBA Finals.And while his fanatical response said a lot about James and his allegiance to the Indians, so did the tight, black T-shirt he wore on that unseasonably warm November night.It said: "Cleveland Or Nowhere."As the sports world waits to see where the three-time champion intends to play next season and beyond, there remains the real possibility that James could choose to stay in Cleveland, his hoops home for 11 of the past 15 years and where this Northeast Ohio son shares a unique and profound connection with fans who have followed him since his teens.James has other options: Los Angeles (salary-cap space... [More]

LeBron James sprung to his feet and screamed along with thousands of delirious Cleveland fans.When Indians outfielder Rajai Davis connected off Chicago Cubs reliever Aroldis Chapman for a tying home run in the eighth inning of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, James came unglued and reacted the way he might after a monstrous dunk or back-breaking 3-pointer in the NBA Finals.And while his fanatical response said a lot about James and his allegiance to the Indians, so did the tight, black T-shirt he wore on that unseasonably warm November night.It said: "Cleveland Or Nowhere."As the sports world waits to see where the three-time champion intends to play next season and beyond, there remains the real possibility that James could choose to stay in Cleveland, his hoops home for 11 of the past 15 years and where this Northeast Ohio son shares a unique and profound connection with fans who have followed him since his teens.James has other options: Los Angeles (salary-cap space for another star,... [More]

LeBron James sprung to his feet and screamed along with thousands of delirious Cleveland fans.When Indians outfielder Rajai Davis connected off Chicago Cubs reliever Aroldis Chapman for a tying home run in the eighth inning of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, James came unglued and reacted the way he might after a monstrous dunk or back-breaking 3-pointer in the NBA Finals.And while his fanatical response said a lot about James and his allegiance to the Indians, so did the tight, black T-shirt he wore on that unseasonably warm November night.It said: "Cleveland Or Nowhere."As the sports world waits to see where the three-time champion intends to play next season and beyond, there remains the real possibility that James could choose to stay in Cleveland, his hoops home for 11 of the past 15 years and where this Northeast Ohio son shares a unique and profound connection with fans who have followed him since his teens.James has other options: Los Angeles (salary-cap space for another star,... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie Irving doesn't have to worry about free agency until next summer, though he's got plenty to keep him busy for now.There's a movie to promote and a knee to mend. He hopes he's good on screen, but wants to be better than ever on the court."Now becomes the real climb to Mount Everest, back to the top," Irving said Monday. "So I'm just taking my time."The Boston Celtics All-Star is hoping he can start playing again in a couple weeks. But he's staying patient in his rehab from late-season surgery because of an infection in his knee, figuring the extra time can only help after he played deep into June the previous two years with the Cleveland Cavaliers.He was traded to the Celtics last summer while filming "Uncle Drew." The movie, in which he plays an old playground basketball legend who started as a character in Pepsi commercials, premieres in New York on Tuesday and opens nationwide Friday.The Cavaliers gave Irving's former jersey number to Collin Sexton, drafted last... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Kyrie Irving doesn't have to worry about free agency until next summer, though he's got plenty to keep him busy for now.There's a movie to promote and a knee to mend. He hopes he's good on screen, but wants to be better than ever on the court."Now becomes the real climb to Mount Everest, back to the top," Irving said Monday. "So I'm just taking my time."The Boston Celtics All-Star is hoping he can start playing again in a couple weeks. But he's staying patient in his rehab from late-season surgery because of an infection in his knee, figuring the extra time can only help after he played deep into June the previous two years with the Cleveland Cavaliers.He was traded to the Celtics last summer while filming "Uncle Drew." The movie, in which he plays an old playground basketball legend who started as a character in Pepsi commercials, premieres in New York on Tuesday and opens nationwide Friday.The Cavaliers gave Irving's former jersey number to Collin Sexton, drafted last... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks expect to enter NBA free agency next week with about $20 million in salary cap space and three open spots on their roster.General manager Travis Schlenk says the team will be in no rush to spend that money."We will not be quickly out of the gate looking to sign guys," Schlenk said Monday, when the Hawks introduced their three first-round draft picks, guards Trae Young and Kevin Huerter and forward Omari Spellman."We'll kind of sit back and see what the market dictates. ... We'll kind of play a waiting game and see how the market plays out."The market is expected to generate stiff competition for top free agents LeBron James, Paul George and Chris Paul. The Hawks are expected to be observers in those bidding wars.The Hawks may have had more interest in bargain shopping for affordable help on their front line before veterans Dewayne Dedmon and Mike Muscala exercised their contract options to return next season.Guards Malcolm Delaney and Damion Lee are eligible... [More]

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — Collin Sexton endeared himself to the Cavaliers with his competitive streak, speed and attitude long before they picked him in the NBA draft.His jersey number showed them something else: He's fearless.Sexton made quite a first impression by deciding to take No. 2, his college number but also the one previously worn in Cleveland by All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving. After showing off his jersey at a news conference Friday, Sexton said he doesn't feel pressure to live up to Irving's high standards."Not at all," he said. "Coming in, I'm going to set goals for myself and then as well there's going to be team goals set. But I feel like I'm not going to have to live up to anybody's shoes, but I'm going to come in and learn and be the best player I can be on the court as well as off the court."Some Cleveland fans feel No. 2 should be retired. After all, Irving made the biggest shot in franchise history in Game 7 of the 2016 Finals before asking to be traded last summer... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown had an A-list comparison for 1-B first-round pick Zhaire Smith: Disgruntled San Antonio forward Kawhi Leonard."I think that when you look at just where I believe Zhaire can be, there are some common denominators that Kawhi had when we first brought him to San Antonio," Brown said.High praise for the Texas Tech guard.But why settle for a rookie who may never develop into a franchise player when the Sixers can try and aquire the real deal?The 76ers are open for business this summer and an organization that has long preached patience is now in the market for marquee talent to team with blossoming stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons."We are star hunting or star developing," Brown said Friday. "You're not going to win a championship any other way."Brown hit on the "star hunter" phrase at Thursday's draft and again when he introduced Smith, acquired from Phoenix in a swap of first-rounders, and Wichita State guard Landry Shamet at the team's... [More]

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — With one deadline looming on his future in Cleveland, LeBron James has been in contact with the Cavaliers through his representatives.Following the NBA draft on Thursday night, Cavs general manager Koby Altman said he has had positive discussions with the three-time champion's group. James has until June 29 to tell the team if he will pick up his $35.6 million option for next season or become a free agent."We continue to have good dialogue with his management team," Altman said. "I think LeBron has more than earned the right to approach his contracts the way he does. He's done that before, so this is nothing new for us. We want to respect his space during this process and I continue to have really good dialogue with his management team as he goes through that process."That's probably all I can say at this point regarding him, but we don't take him for granted. We love him, this city loves him. He means the world to us and this franchise."James led the Cavs to their... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri hasn't forgotten the first time he met Nick Nurse.It was 1995 and Ujiri, now president of the Toronto Raptors, was playing for the Derby Storm of the British Basketball League. Nurse was coach of the rival Birmingham Bullets. Not yet 30, Nurse had already been on the bench for six years, quickly establishing himself as a coach on the rise."His teams were tough," Ujiri said Thursday as the Raptors officially introduced Nurse as their coach. "There was always something about the Birmingham team that was different from the whole league. People talked about them that way."More than two decades on from that initial introduction, Ujiri is hoping Nurse has what it takes to turn Toronto into the talk of the NBA.The ninth head coach in Raptors history, Nurse replaces his former boss, Dwane Casey — under whom he spent the past five seasons as a Toronto assistant. Casey was fired after the Raptors were swept out of the second round of this year's... [More]

TORONTO (AP) — Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri hasn't forgotten the first time he met Nick Nurse.It was 1995 and Ujiri, now president of the Toronto Raptors, was playing for the Derby Storm of the British Basketball League. Nurse was coach of the rival Birmingham Bullets. Not yet 30, Nurse had already been on the bench for six years, quickly establishing himself as a coach on the rise."His teams were tough," Ujiri said Wednesday as the Raptors officially introduced Nurse as their coach. "There was always something about the Birmingham team that was different from the whole league. People talked about them that way."More than two decades on from that initial introduction, Ujiri is hoping Nurse has what it takes to turn Toronto into the talk of the NBA.The ninth head coach in Raptors history, Nurse replaces his former boss, Dwane Casey — under whom he spent the past five seasons as a Toronto assistant. Casey was fired after the Raptors were swept out of the second round of this year's... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — For the second straight year, throngs of Golden State Warriors fans turned out for a victory parade to celebrate a team some are calling an NBA dynasty and got a treat when several players got off their buses to mingle with the crowd.Hundreds of thousands of fans in gold and blue and holding signs that read "Dynasty" and "Back to Back Champions" waved from behind barriers set up along the route in downtown Oakland, California, as the Warriors rode by in the open, double-decker buses Tuesday.Stephen Curry, NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant and the rest of the Warriors, who won their third title in four years last week, took turns raising the Larry O'Brien Trophy for the roaring crowd, which officials said could reach up to 1 million fans.Officials had promised an "interactive" parade with some fans able to ask the players questions and giant TV screens for the crowd to see them and hear their answers as the moved along the route. But there were no screens and when Klay Thompson... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — For the second straight year, throngs of Golden State Warriors fans turned out for a victory parade to celebrate a team some are calling an NBA dynasty and got a treat when several players got off their buses to mingle with the crowd.Hundreds of thousands of fans in gold and blue and holding signs that read "Dynasty" and "Back to Back Champions" waved from behind barriers set up along the route in downtown Oakland, California, as the Warriors rode by in the open, double-decker buses Tuesday.Stephen Curry, NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant and the rest of the Warriors, who won their third title in four years last week, took turns raising the Larry O'Brien Trophy for the roaring crowd, which officials said could reach up to 1 million fans.Officials had promised an "interactive" parade with some fans able to ask the players questions and giant TV screens for the crowd to see them and hear their answers as the moved along the route. But there were no screens and when Klay Thompson... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — For the second straight year, throngs of Golden State Warriors fans turned out for a victory parade to celebrate a team some are calling an NBA dynasty and got a treat when several players got off their buses to mingle with the crowd.Hundreds of thousands of fans in gold and blue and holding signs that read "Dynasty" and "Back to Back Champions" waved from behind barriers set up along the route in downtown Oakland, California, as the Warriors rode by in the open, double-decker buses Tuesday.Stephen Curry, NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant and the rest of the Warriors, who won their third title in four years last week, took turns raising the Larry O'Brien Trophy for the roaring crowd, which officials said could reach up to 1 million fans.Officials had promised an "interactive" parade with some fans able to ask the players questions and giant TV screens for the crowd to see them and hear their answers as the moved along the route. But there were no screens and when Klay Thompson... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on the parade for the Golden State Warriors (all times local):1:20 p.m.Golden State Warriors players got off their buses to sign autographs and high-five fans and even posed for photographs holding brooms during their championship parade in Oakland.JaVale McGee, Nick Young and Jordan Bell ran along the barriers holding the crowd back and mingled with fans and even hugged some of them.Even coach Steve Kerr joined in on the fun and walked up to crowd to sign autographs during the team's victory parade Tuesday.McGee, who was wearing only shorts, said, "I'm just excited to be here with these guys. Our fans are amazing! All the love that they show is just beautiful."Young, also just in shorts during a very warm afternoon, swept the ground with a broom as dozens of fans held up their phones to take his picture.___12:15 p.m.Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry has gotten off the double-decker bus to the cheers of the crowd.Curry is holding the Larry O'Brien... [More]

BOSTON (AP) — Kyrie Irving is playing coy about the possibility of reuniting with his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate LeBron James next season in Boston.The Celtics guard on Tuesday deferred when asked about the prospect of the team pursuing James this summer. The 33-year-old James has a player option to remain in Cleveland next season but could opt for free agency."In this business, I've kind of experienced it all and I've seen a lot, so we'll see what management decides," Irving said when asked if he would be open to playing alongside James again.Irving was drafted No. 1 overall by the Cavaliers in 2011 and played three seasons with James, from 2014-17. The duo made three straight trips to the NBA Finals, winning a championship in 2016."Obviously, it's a business at the end of the day," Irving said. "Ownership and management, they're going to feel what's best for our future and I'm fully supportive of (them). We'll see what happens."Irving was traded to Boston last August and averaged... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — For the second straight year, throngs of Golden State Warriors fans turned out for a victory parade to celebrate a team some are calling an NBA dynasty.Hundreds of thousands of fans in gold and blue and holding signs that read "Dynasty" and "Back to Back Champions" waved from behind barriers set up along the route in downtown Oakland, California, as the Warriors rode by in an open, double-decker bus.Stephen Curry, NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant and the rest of the Warriors, who won their third title in four years last week, took turns raising the Larry O'Brien Trophy for the roaring crowd, which officials said could reach up to 1 million fans.Officials had promised an "interactive" parade with some fans able to ask the players questions and giant TV screens for the crowd to see them and hear their answers as the moved along the route. But there were no screens and when Klay Thompson used a megaphone to say hello, his greeting was drowned out by the cheering crowd.Curry... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on the parade for the Golden State Warriors (all times local):12:15 p.m.Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry has gotten off the double-decker bus to the cheers of the crowd.Curry is holding the Larry O'Brien Trophy up in the air as dozens of cameras surround him.Officials had promised a more interactive parade this year for the team that has won three championships in four years.Klay Thompson used a megaphone from the bus to say hello to the crowd but his greeting was drowned out.Teenager Adriana Carnecer of San Francisco says she is a lifelong fan and is excited the team will be closer to home.The back-to-back champions plan to move to San Francisco next year.The 15-year-old says the team, which has won three championships in four years, has started "something that's going to be greater than it already is."___11:25 a.m.Gold and blue confetti is raining down in downtown Oakland, California, as a parade to celebrate the Golden State Warriors' third NBA... [More]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on the parade for the Golden State Warriors (all times local):11:25 a.m.Gold and blue confetti is raining down in downtown Oakland, California, as a parade to celebrate the Golden State Warriors' third NBA title in four years gets underway.Warriors guard Klay Thompson is throwing T-shirts to fans and waving from the top of an open, double-decker bus.Fans arrived hours before the start of the parade Tuesday to get a prime spot along the route.The NBA champions have gone back-to-back, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-85 on Friday night to finish off a sweep of the NBA Finals in the fourth consecutive meeting between the clubs.___10:40 a.m.Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is promising fans the team will "get greedy" and win more championships.Curry says he never imagined the team would have a parade "let alone two and now three."Curry spoke during a short interview Tuesday with the team that was broadcast live before the start of the parade through... [More]