CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) — Ben Simmons is set to turn the 76ers into must-see TV.But he hopes to have another smash hit off the court. NBC has given a script commitment to "Brotherly Love," loosely based on the life of the Aussie-born NBA rookie of the year.Deadline described the pitch like this:"Brotherly Love is inspired by the life of Ben Simmons and centers on a unique sibling relationship within a multi-ethnic family. Together, they pursue their dreams while navigating life in the spotlight in Philadelphia, a passionate city where sports is in your blood, and your blood is always boiling."Don't touch that dial — well, unless the 76ers are on."It's just funny because a lot of people probably pitch their lives and think everything should be a TV show," Simmons said Friday. "We brought it to life. (My brother) wrote something up, pitched it to a few different people. NBC loved it and went with it. It's really going to be about our relationship and how things just happen. It's more of a comedy-sitcom... [More]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Magic Johnson can already see LeBron James' impact on the young Los Angeles Lakers before they've even had a regular practice together.After just a few weeks of unusually competitive offseason scrimmages, the Lakers' basketball boss can't wait to see how James' leadership will translate into real success.Magic and general manager Rob Pelinka on Thursday pronounced themselves thrilled with the offseason progress made by their revamped roster and James, their prize free-agent acquisition. The Lakers have been working out together informally at the club's training complex ahead of the start of training camp Tuesday, and Johnson likes what he sees so far."Just to see all of them together playing a pickup game, oh my goodness," Johnson said. "It's something to watch. I've watched LeBron from afar. I've been at many of his games. But to watch him in the gym is a whole different thing. How much he makes everybody better, but also how he raises everybody's level of play.... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler knows that NBA players can force their way into trades.Forcing their way into a trade that suits the player, that's an entirely different story.Butler has told the Minnesota Timberwolves that he has no intentions of re-signing with the club next summer, his way of saying "trade me now" or "lose me for nothing later." The Athletic first reported Butler's decision.It's a power move that players can make.Thing is, it comes with risk — because what happens next is not up to Butler.This was the lesson learned from the Kawhi Leonard situation, from the Kyrie Irving situation, from the Paul George situation. Leonard supposedly was hoping for a trade from San Antonio to the Los Angeles Clippers. Irving wanted to be sent by Cleveland to either San Antonio and Miami. George was widely assumed to leave Indiana for the Los Angeles Lakers.Leonard is in Toronto , at least for one season.Irving got sent to Boston , and is a free agent next summer.George landed in Oklahoma City,... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Elton Brand is in charge of the Philadelphia 76ers.A person familiar with the situation says the Sixers have made Brand their new general manager, replacing Bryan Colangelo. Colangelo resigned in June as the 76ers' president of basketball operations after what an investigation concluded was "careless and in some instances reckless" sharing of sensitive team information on Twitter.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the move had not been officially announced. Brand is expected to be introduced at a news conference on Thursday.Brand had worked for the Sixers as vice president of operations and also served as the general manager of the Delaware Blue Coats, the 76ers' G League affiliate.Brand was the No. 1 pick of the 1999 draft by the Chicago Bulls and played two stints with the Sixers.Sixers coach Brett Brown had served as Philadelphia's interim GM and said earlier Tuesday he wasn't interested in holding both jobs. Brown pledged... [More]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Elton Brand is in charge of the Philadelphia 76ers.A person familiar with the situation says the Sixers have made Brand their new general manager, replacing Bryan Colangelo. Colangelo resigned in June as the 76ers' president of basketball operations after what an investigation concluded was "careless and in some instances reckless" sharing of sensitive team information on Twitter.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the move had not been officially announced. Brand is expected to be introduced at a news conference on Thursday.Brand had worked for the Sixers as vice president of operations and also served as the general manager of the Delaware Blue Coats, the 76ers' G League affiliate.Brand was the No. 1 pick of the 1999 draft by the Chicago Bulls and played two stints with the Sixers.Sixers coach Brett Brown had served as Philadelphia's interim GM and said earlier Tuesday he wasn't interested in holding both jobs.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers will hire a general manager to replace Bryan Colangelo before the start of the season, coach Brett Brown said Tuesday.Colangelo resigned in June as the 76ers' president of basketball operations after what an investigation concluded was "careless and in some instances reckless" sharing of sensitive team information on Twitter.Brown took the GM role on an interim basis, and the search for a new general manager has only recently heated up. Brown, entering his sixth season, said he had no interest in holding both jobs."That is my expectation, that we will have a general manager before the season starts," Brown said. "This is not something that interests me. I do not believe in the role that I have as a head coach that it's tenable. ... We will have, to the best of my knowledge, a general manager appointed, announced by the start of the season. And it's not me. It was never going to be."The Sixers have reportedly interviewed Utah Jazz assistant general... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Restricted free agent forward Rodney Hood has re-signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers.Hood joined the Cavaliers at the trade deadline last season, coming over from Utah. The 6-foot-8 Hood was offered a $3.4 million qualifying offer from Cleveland in June and agreed to sign it over the weekend.He'll be an unrestricted free agent next summer.Hood made 11 starts and played in 21 regular-season games for Cleveland, averaging 10.8 points and 2.6 rebounds. In 17 playoff games, he averaged 5.4 points and 1.8 rebounds as the Cavaliers made it to the Finals for the fourth year in a row.He began the postseason in coach Tyronn Lue's starting lineup but lost playing time and then caused some drama when he refused to enter a blowout win.Hood could have a larger role this season following LeBron James' departure as a free agent.___For more AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavaliers made another move in their post-LeBron James makeover, signing free-agent guard David Nwaba to a one-year contract.The deal is for the veteran's minimum of $1.5 million.The 25-year-old Nwaba played for Chicago last season, averaging 7.9 points and 4.7 rebounds in 70 games. The 6-foot-4 guard made 21 starts.A solid defender, he'll give the Cavs backcourt depth and provide coach Tyronn Lue with more help as the team rebuilds following James' departure this summer as a free agent.Nwaba will be reunited in Cleveland with former Los Angeles Lakers teammates Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson, who came to the Cavs in a trade last season.Nwaba agreed to sign with the Cavs last month, but the sides needed time to complete the deal.___For more AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavaliers made another move in their post-LeBron James makeover, signing free-agent guard David Nwaba to a one-year contract.The deal is for the veteran's minimum of $1.5 million.The 25-year-old Nwaba played for Chicago last season, averaging 7.9 points and 4.7 rebounds in 70 games. The 6-foot-4 guard made 21 starts.A solid defender, he'll give the Cavs backcourt depth and provide coach Tyronn Lue with more help as the team rebuilds following James' departure this summer as a free agent.Nwaba will be reunited in Cleveland with former Los Angeles Lakers teammates Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson, who came to the Cavs in a trade last season.Nwaba agreed to sign with the Cavs last month, but the sides needed time to complete the deal.___For more AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers waived forward Luol Deng on Saturday, just over two years after signing him to a four-year, $72 million free-agent contract.The Lakers didn't disclose the details of a probable buyout with Deng, but they announced the move on the first day in which the final season of Deng's mammoth deal could be stretched over a three-season span of the Lakers' cap limit."We made this move to further our future salary cap and roster flexibility as we continue to build this Lakers team according to our current overall vision," Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said in a statement.The 33-year-old Deng's deal is a remnant of the administration of former Lakers basketball boss Jim Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak. The duo handed a pair of generous free-agent deals in 2016 to Deng and center Timofey Mozgov, who got a four-year, $64 million contract.Buss and Kupchak were dismissed seven months later, and Magic Johnson's administration went to work ridding... [More]

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Pacers will open the 2018-19 season Oct. 17 at home against Memphis and will appear on national television 12 times.League officials announced the regular season schedule Friday afternoon.Other big home games include Feb. 5 against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers and March 14 against Paul George and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Defending champion Golden State visits Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Jan. 28, and San Antonio makes its only appearance in Indianapolis on Nov. 23 — the traditional night after Thanksgiving game.Indiana also will make three four-game road trips and one five-game road trip during the season.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James will make his Los Angeles Lakers debut at Portland on Oct. 18 and play before home fans for the first time two days later.The Lakers will host Houston on Oct. 20 at Staples Center.The NBA released its complete regular season schedule Friday, and the Lakers will play on national TV 35 times.For the 20th straight year, the Lakers will play on Christmas Day, traveling to face the defending champion Golden State Warriors.James returns to Cleveland for his lone game against the Cavaliers on Nov. 21.The Lakers' longest road trip of the season is a five-game, 12-day stretch from Feb. 1-12 when the Grammy Awards return to Staples Center.They'll play 13 back-to-back sets, and two don't require any travel.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired forward Sam Dekker in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.Dekker, a first-round pick by Houston in 2015, averaged 4.2 points and 2.4 rebounds as a reserve in 73 games last season for the Clippers. The 6-foot-9 Dekker figures to get more minutes with the Cavaliers, who are revamping their roster following superstar LeBron James' departure as a free agent.Dekker starred at Wisconsin before he was taken with the No. 15 overall pick by the Rockets three years ago. He played in four postseason games for Houston in 2017, averaging 2.3 points and 2.5 rebounds.The 24-year-old will earn $2.76 million this season and will be a restricted free agent next summer.As part of the trade, the Cavaliers will send the draft rights to Vladimir Veremeenko to the Clippers. The Cavaliers will also receive the rights to Renaldas Seibutis and cash considerations.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (AP) — Stephen Curry can only imagine the intensity level of the Lakers-Warriors rivalry now that LeBron James has landed in L.A.After four straight NBA Finals against James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, two-time defending champion Golden State will get four matchups against James during the regular season."And a whole new-look Laker team with some of the young kids. It should be fun, the Bay Area and L.A. and the whole thing," Curry said Monday in a sit-down with The Associated Press while hosting his annual elite camp at Ultimate Fieldhouse. "When I first got into the league Oracle would be buzzing any time the Lakers came in. There probably will be a revolution of Laker fans that are going to try to creep in but I hope Bay Area and Dub Nation we keep control of that competition because we're on top right now."The schedule is set to be released later this week.Curry is eager to have new teammate and dominant big man DeMarcus Cousins healthy and recovered from surgery... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations says free agent guard David Nwaba has agreed to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers.Nwaba, who played for the Chicago Bulls last season, will join the Cavs once contract terms are finalized, said the person who spoke Wednesday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because negotiations between the sides is are ongoing.Yahoo Sports first reported Nwaba's agreement.The 25-year-old Nwaba averaged 7.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 23.5 minutes in 70 games — 21 starts — for the Bulls. Chicago revoked its qualifying off to Nwaba, who received interest from Indiana as a free agent.At 6-foot-4, Nwaba is a solid defender and better-than-average shooter who will likely join Cleveland's rotation and give coach Tyronn Lue depth as the Cavs try to stay competitive following LeBron James' exit as a free agent.Nwaba previously played with the Los Angeles Lakers and in Cleveland will be reunited with former teammates Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr.___For more AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — LeBron James stood on a stage near one of the streets he walked as a troubled kid and looked out at thousands of faces. He felt connected to every one of them.While his 3-year-old daughter, Zhuri, played at his feet, James watched as his mother, Gloria, raised a flag in front of a school that is perhaps his greatest triumph.His incredible life. Full circle.Before leaving for Los Angeles, James gave his hometown quite a gift.James, who ended his second stint with Cleveland earlier this month by signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, on Monday opened his I Promise School, a year-around learning center devoted to some of the city's most challenged youngsters — ones just like him.For James, who recalled missing 82 days of school as a fourth grader while he and his mom "looked for stability," the opening culminated years of planning by his family foundation."This means everything," James told The Associated Press in an interview before the public event. "I think this is the... [More]

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — LeBron James stood on a stage near one of the streets he walked as a troubled kid and looked out at thousands of faces. He felt connected to every one of them.While his 3-year-old daughter, Zhuri, played at his feet, James watched as his mother, Gloria, raised a flag in front of a school that is perhaps his greatest triumph.His incredible life. Full circle.Before leaving for Los Angeles, James gave his hometown quite a gift.James, who ended his second stint with Cleveland earlier this month by signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, on Monday opened his I Promise School, a year-around learning center devoted to some of the city's most challenged youngsters — ones just like him.For James, who recalled missing 82 days of school as a fourth grader while he and his mom "looked for stability," the opening culminated years of planning by his family foundation."This means everything," James told The Associated Press in an interview before the public event. "I think this is the... [More]

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — LeBron James won't rule out a second homecoming in Cleveland.The NBA superstar, who earlier this month ended his second stint with the Cavaliers by signing a four-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, told The Associated Press on Monday there could be a day when he plays in his home state again.Asked if he could end his career in Cleveland, James says he doesn't "close the chapter on anything or close the book on anything."When James announced he was leaving the Cavs, Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert said the team would retire "the famous #23 Cavs jersey one day down the line."James says he didn't know about Gilbert's comment. But he says it's awesome.___More AP basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — LeBron James is leaving home again and leaving behind something he says is more meaningful than any of his NBA championships.James, who this month ended his second stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers by signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, has opened a public school for challenged children in his hometown.The NBA great admitted to having "jitters" before the opening, an event he said is "going to be one of the greatest moments — if not the greatest — of my life."The I Promise School initially will house 240 third- and fourth-graders. The Akron school will expand each year, adding second and fifth grades next year and will have students from grades 1-8 by 2022.James was to be at the school Monday to welcome students and make his first public comments since deciding to join the Lakers.James spent 11 seasons with the Cavs, winning a title in 2016 to end Cleveland's 52-year drought without a pro sports championship. His departure ended a four-year run with the Cavs after he... [More]

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — Kevin Love signed his new contract and proudly put on a hard hat.The Cleveland Cavaliers will rebuild around him.The All-Star forward made a long-term commitment to the franchise on Tuesday by signing a four-year, $120 million extension with the Cavaliers, who believe Love can help them stay competitive following LeBron James' departure.The 29-year-old Love, who was nearly traded twice by Cleveland, signed the extension in front of dozens of construction workers inside Quicken Loans Arena, the team's downtown home, which is undergoing a $140 million renovation not unlike the makeover taking place with the four-time defending Eastern Conference champions.The symbolic moment wasn't lost on Love, who came to Cleveland four years ago to join James and Kyrie Irving and form the Cavs' "Big 3."It's now his team."I look back, everything happens for a reason," Love said. "My best friend from back home said, 'It always works out.' This is where I wanted to be. I've said... [More]