The latest episode of "Survivor: NBA" was quite a cliffhanger.All kinds of intrigue. A hefty dose of griping. Some thoroughly unexpected plot twists.Now that's a reality show worth watching."They always catch me by surprise," said Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse, whose team had a major role in the plotline. "There's so much going on all the time."Despite complaints from the likes of Kevin Durant and LeBron James, the league's off-the-court drama leading up to Thursday's trade deadline was a welcome respite from the long, sometimes dreary regular season — enhancing all the compelling story lines (and there are plenty) while highlighting a system that really works well for everyone.KD may choose to rip the media for its infatuation with what the future holds for him, but we're guessing the Golden State star doesn't mind cashing those checks (worth $30 million this year) or that he'll be too upset this summer when he can opt out of his contract and decide where he wants to play for a deal... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Rodney Hood made minimal impact on the Cavaliers' postseason run last season. He'll get a chance to do more with Portland.Hood was traded Monday by the Cavaliers, who acquired guards Nik Stauskas and Wade Baldwin — and their expiring contracts — along with second-round picks in 2021 and 2023 from the Trail Blazers.Before the trade could be completed, the Cavaliers needed Hood to agree to the deal because he signed a one-year $3.4 million qualifying offer this summer. The 26-year-old waived his no-trade clause to join the Blazers, who are 32-20 and have the fourth best record in the Western Conference.Hood will give Portland some more scoring punch and can take some pressure off guards Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. He is averaging 12.2 points and 2.5 rebounds this season.The Cavaliers acquired Hood at the trade deadline from Utah last season, and they envisioned him being another scoring option to complement LeBron James and Kevin Love. However, the 6-foot-8 forward never... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavaliers have traded forward Rodney Hood to the Portland Trail Blazers.Cleveland is rebuilding and received guards Nik Stauskas and Wade Baldwin and a second-round pick in 2021 and 2023. The teams agreed to the deal Sunday and completed a conference call with the NBA on Monday.Hood was in his second season with the Cavs, who acquired him at the deadline in 2018. He signed a one-year, $3.4 million qualifying offer last summer.He'll give more scoring punch to the Trail Blazers, who are 32-20 and have the fourth-best record in the Western Conference. Hood is averaging 12.2 points and 2.5 rebounds.The Cavs are collecting draft assets following a four-year run to the Finals. It's possible they'll deal Alec Burks or J.R. Smith before Thursday's deadline. Stauskas and Baldwin have expiring contracts.To make roster room, the Cavs released guard Kobi Simmons from his second 10-day contract.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Call it Midsummer Madness.The NBA Summer League tournament is shaping up to be the most unpredictable bet in Las Vegas. The 30th and final seed advanced Thursday along with a No. 26 and a No. 27, after the Nos. 24, 25 and 29 seeds all won a day earlier.The 30 teams in the Summer League all played three preliminary round games and then were seeded for the tournament. It didn't take long to determine those seedings were meaningless.That was especially the case when the 30th-seeded Philadelphia 76ers won for the first time in Las Vegas by knocking off Deandre Ayton and the Phoenix Suns, who had won their first three games to earn the No. 3 seed.The top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers were able to avoid the chaos. The defending Summer League champions defeated their Staples Center rivals, the 17th-seeded Clippers, in their opener.Teams that lost Thursday play a consolation game Friday before the winning games return to action.Thursday's results:76ERS 88, SUNS 86Isaiah Miles scored... [More]