MIAMI (AP) — Each of the last nine NBA Finals have included either the Miami Heat or Andre Iguodala.They’d like to go there together now.Iguodala is about to get back on the floor, and the Heat are hoping that they’re closer to becoming legitimate contenders again. The trade sending Iguodala to Miami is official, finally getting completed on Thursday with league approval one day after the Heat struck a deal with the Memphis Grizzlies to land the 2015 NBA Finals MVP.“He won, what, three championship rings?” Heat guard Goran Dragic said in Los Angeles after the deal was agreed upon. “Happy to have him. Can't wait to pick his brain. He's going to do great things for us.”It ended up as a three-team deal: Miami sent Justise Winslow, James Johnson and Dion Waiters to Memphis, with the Grizzlies sending Iguodala, Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill to the Heat. The Grizzlies then flipped Johnson to Minnesota for Gorgui Dieng. The Grizzlies were also working on either waiving or buying out Waiters.Before... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Most of the top NBA playoff contenders stayed out of the down-to-the-wire frenzy at the trade deadline.Miami and the Los Angeles Clippers beefed up instead.And a slew of other teams — including the Golden State Warriors — made moves with short-term finances and long-term ramifications in mind.The NBA’s 3 p.m. EST deadline Thursday for trades to be consummated did not arrive quietly, with a flurry of deals getting struck in the final hour and at least one other notable move falling apart before reaching the finish line. Deals that included at least 41 players and 15 future draft picks were struck on either Wednesday or Thursday — the biggest move likely being the one Thursday that saw Andrew Wiggins going from Minnesota to the Warriors so D’Angelo Russell could leave Golden State finally be paired with his good friend Karl-Anthony Towns with the Timberwolves.Marcus Morris leaves New York for Los Angeles, going from the woebegone Knicks to the title-hoping Clippers — who added... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — Andre Iguodala's trade to Miami was getting closer to the finish line Thursday after the Heat and Memphis Grizzlies agreed to terms on a six-player trade, according to two people with direct knowledge of the terms.The portion of the trade involving Iguodala was agreed upon Wednesday night, as was the 2015 NBA Finals MVP agreeing to a two-year extension with Miami that will be formalized when the totality of the deal actually gets approved by the league sometime Thursday.Justise Winslow knew he was leaving Miami for Memphis on Wednesday night, as evidenced by some social-media posts and a late-night visit to his now-former locker room to pack up his belongings and wish a security guard well. Also in the deal: Dion Waiters and James Johnson leaving Miami for Memphis, with Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill leaving the Grizzlies for the Heat.Miami and Memphis were also working on a third component, that being adding Oklahoma City in what could have brought Danilo Gallinari to the Heat.... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations says Andre Iguodala is headed to Miami after the Heat and Memphis Grizzlies agreed Wednesday night on his long-awaited trade.As part of the deal, Iguodala agreed to a two-year extension, with the second of those years being a team option, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade has not been finalized.The person also said Miami and Memphis were still working to complete terms of what the Heat are giving up in the deal, and that a third team — Oklahoma City, in a package that would include Danilo Gallinari potentially headed to the Heat — was still in play. Oft-injured forward Justise Winslow said he was part of the deal and was headed to Memphis, the former Heat starter reaching out to fellow former Duke players Tyus Jones and Grayson Allen with a message.Jones and Allen are both members of the Grizzlies. Winslow has missed much of this season with a bone bruise in his back.Iguodala,... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations says Andre Iguodala is headed to Miami after the Heat and Memphis Grizzlies agreed Wednesday night on his long-awaited trade.As part of the deal, Iguodala agreed to a two-year extension, with the second of those years being a team option, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade has not been finalized.The person also said Miami and Memphis were still working to complete terms of what the Heat are giving up in the deal, and that a third team — Oklahoma City, in a package that would include Danilo Gallinari potentially headed to the Heat — was still in play. Oft-injured forward Justise Winslow said he was part of the deal and was headed to Memphis, the former Heat starter reaching out to fellow former Duke players Tyus Jones and Grayson Allen with a message.Jones and Allen are both members of the Grizzlies. Winslow has missed much of this season with a bone bruise in his back.Iguodala,... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — A person with knowledge of the situation says the Atlanta Hawks have acquired veteran forward Chandler Parsons in a trade which sent Miles Plumlee and Solomon Hill to Memphis.The person spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the trade can't be finalized before Saturday.The 30-year-old Parsons averaged 7.5 points and 2.8 rebounds in 25 games, including three starts, for Memphis last season.The Hawks acquired Hill from New Orleans in a trade during the NBA draft.Parsons will make $25.1 million in the upcoming final year of his contract. Hill and Plumlee will make a combined $25.3 million on their expiring contracts.A left knee injury limited the 30-year-old Plumlee, a 6-foot-11 center, to 18 games last season.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Pelicans have decided to fire ninth-year general manager Dell Demps and start the process of finding someone to deal with the fallout of All-Star Anthony Davis' recent trade demand.Demps' dismissal comes after Davis said in late January that he would not sign an extension with New Orleans and wants to be traded to a contending team."As difficult as these decisions are, my responsibility is to provide the leadership and resources necessary to deliver a winning team to our fans and community," Pelicans owner Gayle Benson said Friday in a written statement. "I take that responsibility seriously and would like to assure our fans that I am prepared to provide any, and all, resources required to compete for championships."Davis has another season remaining on his contract after this one and this season's trade deadline has passed, meaning no trade will happen until summer under the new front office regime.Davis, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft out... [More]

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Anthony Davis swatted away the notion that his decision to hire new representation meant he was setting the stage for a change of scenery.With three seasons left on his contract and five All-Star nods to his name, Davis' leverage to control where he plays is growing. So when he recently left the Wasserman agency that negotiated his current contract and joined Klutch Sports, which also represents Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, it begged questions about the reasons for the switch.The move also stoked paranoia in New Orleans, the city Chris Paul left in his prime shortly after he changed agents.But Davis said the move was aimed primarily at helping him become the "the most dominant player in the league.""It was just for where I am right now in my career — what I'm trying to do — I thought the change was necessary," Davis said Monday, when the Pelicans held media day on the eve of training camp. "That's all it was."Increasingly, agencies representing athletes are... [More]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Pelicans' penchant for pushing the pace looks more and more like a quixotic mission to out-Warrior the Warriors.That's been the dilemma for Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry as New Orleans has slid into a 3-1 hole in its Western Conference semifinal playoff series against defending champion Golden State.Although there'd be logic to slowing the game down to limit shooting opportunities for Golden State's prolific perimeter players, Gentry never saw that option as practical enough to pull off in the playoffs."We're going to play at a fast pace," Gentry says. "I know some would say, 'You're kind of playing into Golden State's hands. But this is the way we've played the whole season, so we're not going to all of a sudden try to adjust and do something completely different, because the success we've had has been based on playing at a fast pace and being a team that has played the fastest pace in the league."We don't have the ability to all of a sudden change that and become... [More]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Rajon Rondo and Draymond Green have won NBA titles and never have been known to shy away from conflict on the court.Now their combustible convergence in the playoffs is providing a spicy subplot to the Western Conference semifinal series between New Orleans and Golden State."We're here to fight," Rondo said following New Orleans' lopsided Game 3 victory that trimmed the Warriors' series lead to 2-1. "With my guys on the court, I'm going to fight as hard as I can ... and do whatever it takes."Green and Rondo had to be separated after whistles twice in the first three games — never mind some other antics in the flow of the game — and they'll be back at it again in one of two pivotal Game 4s to be played on Sunday. The other pits Houston against Utah in a series that the Rockets lead 2-1.The Rondo-Green sideshow is compelling because of what both players mean to their teams. They are not the type of trash-talking, loud-mouths who otherwise play marginal roles. They are accomplished... [More]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Rajon Rondo and Draymond Green have won NBA titles and never have been known to shy away from conflict on the court.Now their combustible convergence in the playoffs is providing spicy subplot to the Western Conference semifinal series between New Orleans and Golden State."We're here to fight," Rondo said following New Orleans' lopsided Game 3 victory that trimmed the Warriors' series lead to 2-1. "With my guys on the court, I'm going to fight as hard as I can ... and do whatever it takes."Green and Rondo had to be separated after whistles twice in the first three games — never mind some other antics in the flow of the game — and they'll be back at it again in one of two pivotal Game 4s to be played on Sunday. The other pits Houston against Utah in a series that the Rockets lead 2-1.The Rondo-Green sideshow is compelling because of what both players mean to their teams. They are not the type of trash-talking, loud-mouths who otherwise play marginal roles. They are accomplished... [More]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — With every Anthony Davis put-back dunk, reverse alley-oop jam, step-back 3-pointer or game-sealing block in the playoffs, the New Orleans Pelicans take a step closer to becoming the NBA's next small-market success story.That didn't quite happen with Chris Paul, who essentially forced a trade after his sixth season in the Big Easy amid concerns about uncertain ownership.The 25-year-old Davis is now in his sixth season in New Orleans. And the five-time All-Star is not only playing historically good basketball, but seems to see no need for moving vans in order to go ring hunting.Davis, after all, was a young fan when Reggie Miller was in the twilight of an 18-year career with Indiana that transformed the Pacers into playoff regulars — and while Tim Duncan was embarking on a long career in San Antonio highlighted by five NBA titles."There's always, you know, 'You can't win in a small market or you can't get noticed in a small market,' but then you look at those guys and they've... [More]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry says guard Jrue Holiday has recovered enough from flu symptoms to play Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers.Gentry says the Pelicans are fortunate that Holiday, who missed Tuesday night's victory over Dallas, was able to get better so quickly. The combo guard is averaging 19.1 points and 5.9 assists per game. He has been New Orleans' second-leading scorer, behind only All-Star forward Anthony Davis, since DeMarcus Cousins went out for the season with a torn Achilles in late January.Meanwhile, Gentry says small forward Solomon Hill will get the night off to rest so he can return against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, which will be New Orleans third game in three consecutive nights.Hill is just two games into his comeback from hamstring surgery last August.___More NBA basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry says Jrue Holiday has the flu and is not in the lineup for Tuesday night's game against Dallas.The resulting lineup shuffle means small forward Solomon Hill, who had played in only one game this season after coming back from a hamstring tear, will make his first start of the campaign.Guard E'Twaun Moore, who has often started on the wing this season, was moved to shooting guard against the Mavericks.Gentry says the club instructed Holiday to stay home rather than risk having him around teammates.The game against Dallas marked the first of three games in three consecutive nights for the Pelicans.Holiday is averaging 19 points per game.___More AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Pelicans say forward Solomon Hill is available to play for the first time this season against the Boston Celtics on Sunday night.Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry says he intends to play Hill, a former starter, in a reserve role and that his playing time in his initial games back from his hamstring tear will be "obviously very, very limited."Hill tore his left hamstring last summer. The injury has required surgery in August.Last season was the 27-year-old Hill's fourth in the NBA and first in New Orleans. He averaged 7 points and 3.8 rebounds in a starting role. While his statistical production was not exceptional, Gentry and Pelicans general manager Alvin Gentry have both been very complimentary Hill's talent as a wing defender.Now Hill returns as the Pelicans try to cling to one of the Western Conference's final playoff spots.___More NBA basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — The New Orleans Pelicans held the first practice of their new, more challenging reality Saturday — less than 24 hours after losing All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins for the rest of the season because of his Achilles tear.The question now is: What happens to a team that has won seven of eight and was coalescing around its somewhat unconventional lineup featuring Cousins and fellow All-Star big man Anthony Davis?"It changes for everyone, but that doesn't mean we can't accomplish what we set out to do," coach Alvin Gentry said after practice. "And that's to be a playoff team."The Pelicans' offense has largely run through Cousins, who'll miss his first game this season Sunday afternoon, when New Orleans hosts the Los Angeles Clippers."We have to obviously realign some things and rethink some things that we've done and probably add a few things and take away a few things," Gentry said. "We have to adjust and figure out how we can best work with what we have now."Cousins,... [More]

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins figure they've proved they can co-exist to spectacular and prolific effect.Both big men have been named All-Star starters, giving them hope they'll be paired together beyond this season, which is Cousins' last under contract."First time I've ever been in an All-Star game with a teammate," the 6-foot-11 Cousins noted after practice on Friday, one day after All-Star starters were announced. "This is big for the entire city, the organization and just our team moving forward. It kind of shows what this combo has the potential to have."The 6-10 Davis, who was the Pelicans' lone All-Star last season, sounded equally pleased by the results a decision by New Orleans to counter the trend of guard-heavy "small ball" by pairing dynamic big men who can dominate inside, handle the ball and shoot with range."The biggest question was, was it going to work? I think we just proved that it is and it can work," Davis said. "We feel like we complement... [More]

F Solomon Hill had an out-of-body experience Friday, exploding for a career-high 30 points and dishing out seven assists to power the Pelicans to a 128-112 victory.For most of the season, Hill was dreadful from the 3-point range, making only 33 percent of his attempts. Against the Rockets, Hill turned the 3-point arc into his friend, converting 6 of 9."Solomon Hill killed us," Houston coach Mike D'Antoni said.In his 58 games as a starter, his scoring average of 6.5 points per game perfectly describes a player living in the shadows, hustling on defense but offensively challenged, waiting for an offensive rebound or a loose ball to fall into his lap.

F Solomon Hill scored 16 points Saturday.

F Solomon Hill led the scoring for New Orleans (23-34) with a season-high 23 points.