Kevin Durant to sign with Warriors

Kevin Durant to sign with Warriors
10:42 AM CT
ESPN.com news services
Kevin Durant will sign with the Golden State Warriors.

Durant announced his decision in a post on The Players' Tribune.

He will sign a two-year, $54 million contract, sources told ESPN's Marc Stein. The deal includes a player option after the first year.

The biggest catch on the free-agent market, Durant met with six teams the past three days: Oklahoma City, Golden State, San Antonio, Boston, Miami and the Los Angeles Clippers.

The 27-year-old Durant has spent all nine seasons of his career with the Thunder organization. He won the MVP in 2014, has been named first-­team All-­NBA five times and has made seven All-­Star teams. He has appeared in four Western Conference finals and one NBA Finals, losing in five games to the Heat in 2012.

Durant bounced back last season to earn second­-team All-NBA honors after undergoing three surgeries on his right foot to repair a Jones fracture suffered prior to the 2014-­15 season, when he was limited to 27 games before undergoing a season-­ending bone graft procedure in March. Without Durant, the Thunder missed the postseason.

With him back for 72 games last season, the Thunder improved to 55-27 and finished third in the West. The Thunder beat the Dallas Mavericks in five games in the opening round, upset the 67-­win Spurs in six games in the second round and pushed the Warriors to seven games in the Western Conference finals.

Durant averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists last season, and he scored at least 20 points in 67 straight games.

In nine seasons, Durant is averaging 27.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.

Al Horford agrees to 4-year, $113M deal with Celtics!!

ESPN.com news services
Free-agent big man Al Horford has announced that he is heading to the Boston Celtics.

Horford and the Boston Celtics agreed to terms on a four-year, $113 million deal, league sources told ESPN's Brian Windhorst.

The Atlanta Hawks had offered Horford five years, $136 million, which was less than the max, the sources said.

Horford also revealed the news on his Twitter account on Saturday, posting "Celtics pride."

Horford, an unrestricted free agent, has played his entire nine-year career in Atlanta, which drafted him third overall in 2007. The four-time All-Star averaged 15.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists this past season.

After the Hawks were swept by the Cavaliers for the second straight year, Horford stressed just how much he has enjoyed playing in Atlanta and that the team still can win with some improvements to its current core.

"There are a lot of things that we need to address," Horford said of talking to his family and advisers. "But the biggest thing for me is I feel good here. I have a great relationship with coach (Mike Budenholzer). That is important to me. And my teammates.

"Atlanta is a city that welcomed me from the first day... I'm very grateful for people that have always been real positive toward me and my family. I feel good. I feel like the way the team is going, I feel like we can win here."

Horford was the topic of trade rumors at the deadline, with the Boston Celtics reportedly being among those interested.

The 6-foot-10 center, who turned 30 in June, was expected to draw interest on the free agent market for his ability to shoot from the perimeter.

Last season, Horford shot a career-high 256 3-pointers after taking a total of 65 attempts in his previous eight seasons.

"I probably got a little away from the post this year trying to expand my game and do different things," Horford said. "That is a point of emphasis that I will try to be better in the post and be able to put the ball down a little more on the floor. Being able to drive a little more. Even though I had some strides in that area this year, I think I can be even better at that."

NHL Approves Las Vegas Expansion

NHL approves expansion to Las Vegas with team to begin in 2017-18.

Craig Custance
ESPN Senior Writer

LAS VEGAS -- The NHL is now officially the first major professional sports league to gamble on Las Vegas.

On Wednesday, the NHL's board of governors approved expanding to this city, making the franchise the 31st team in the league.

The team will start play during the 2017-18 season.

Businessman Bill Foley, a West Point graduate, paid the $500 million expansion fee to bring NHL hockey to Las Vegas and the announcement is the culmination of two years of hard work for him that included a successful season ticket drive to prove local interest.

"I know there's a lot of work to do now," Foley told ESPN's Scott Burnside in an interview shortly before the board of governors agreed to expand to Las Vegas.

"It's taken a long time. It's been a long process. And I say that as a compliment to Gary Bettman and the league and other owners. They've all been great. But it has been a process."

The T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip will be the home of the NHL's newest expansion team in 2017-18. Ethan Miller/Getty Images for MGM Resorts International
Las Vegas will play its home games on the Vegas strip at T-Mobile Arena, an arena with a hockey capacity of 17,500 and compete in the Western Conference, which now has 15 teams compared to 16 in the East.

It's the first expansion in the NHL since the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild started play during the 2000-01 season.

The move to Las Vegas completes a longtime relationship with the city and the NHL. The NHL's postseason awards show, which will be held on Wednesday evening, have been hosted in Las Vegas since 2009. The Los Angeles Kings have played in several exhibition games in Las Vegas, including a 1991 outdoor game against the New York Rangers in the Caesars Palace parking lot.

The approval of Las Vegas temporarily puts Quebec City's hopes of landing an NHL team on hold. Quebec City was the other city to go through the NHL's formal expansion process but ultimately the league decided to settle on just one franchise for now, keeping open the option of Quebec as a relocation destination for a current NHL team.

Derrick Rose to The Knicks!

Derrick Rose set to join Knicks after trade from Bulls.

Marc SteinIan Begley
The Knicks and Bulls have agreed to a deal that will send point guard Derrick Rose to New York, sources told ESPN.

The Knicks are sending Robin Lopez, Jose Calderon and Jerian Grant to the Bulls, who are shipping Justin Holiday, Rose and a 2017 second-round pick back to New York, sources said.

The Chicago Tribune first reported the deal.

Sources: Kevin Durant will be Warriors top target in free agency.

Marc Stein
ESPN Senior 

Writer

The Golden State Warriors, after their NBA Finals defeat, are going ahead with their long-held plans to pursue Kevin Durant in free agency, according to league sources.

Sources told ESPN that Durant is by no means Golden State's lone target in free agency but stressed that he'll indeed be the Warriors' top target when the offseason marketplace opens July 1.

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Warriors start picking up pieces, shift sights to Durant Sweepstakes
Dealing with the pain of losing in the Finals, Golden State now turns its attention to winning in free agency.

Durant on free agency: 'It's a basketball decision'
Kevin Durant, less than two weeks from free agency, says the decision on where he signs won't necessarily be about the spotlight or the money.

Durant offered cabinet post to stay with Thunder
Kevin Durant, a free agent come July 1, could launch a political career by returning to the Thunder, as Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin says she'll add him to her Cabinet if he stays in Oklahoma City.
Warriors owner Joe Lacob, without addressing Durant specifically so as not to violate league rules that prohibit such discussion before July 1, said Sunday night on his way out of Oracle Arena: "All I can say is that I will be very aggressive."

The Warriors and San Antonio Spurs are widely regarded as the league's two top threats to the Oklahoma City Thunder's attempts to keep Durant this summer.

Sources say that the Warriors and Spurs are on the short list of teams expected to secure a face-to-face meeting with Durant when he allows a select number of teams to court him once free agency starts.

ESPN reported earlier this month that the most likely scenario for Durant, at this juncture, remains signing a two-year deal to stay with Oklahoma City that includes a player option to return to free agency in the summer of 2017 alongside Thunder teammate Russell Westbrook.

But Golden State's unexpected loss to Cleveland in the Finals -- in which the Warriors became the first team in history to fail to win the championship after seizing a 3-1 series lead -- could enhance the Warriors' chances of convincing Durant to join them.

The Warriors have eight unrestricted free agents of their own, including swingman Harrison Barnes and center Festus Ezeli, both of whom are expected to attract significant attention from rival teams this summer.

Durant addressed his pending free agency Monday, acknowledging that "it's a little bit complicated right now" but also stressing that he ultimately is "worried about basketball."

"That's what it is for me," he said. "It's a basketball decision."

Asked what he meant by a "basketball decision," Durant said it's not necessarily about the spotlight or the money.

ESPN's Royce Young contributed to this report

Dwight Howard declines player option, will become free agent.

Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard has informed the team that he is opting out of his contract and will become a free agent on July 1.

Howard, 30, averaged just 13.7 points and attempted just 8.5 field goals per game in 2015-16, his lowest numbers since his rookie season with Orlando in 2004-05.

Howard had an opportunity to remain with Houston, but declined a player option that would have paid him $23.2 million.

Dwight Howard will become a free agent this summer after declining his $23.2 million player option with the Rockets. Scott Halleran/Getty Images
Rockets general manager Daryl Morey and newly hired coach Mike D'Antoni praised Howard's efforts and welcomed him back if he was willing to play a different style. That style wouldn't allow him to become a focal point of the offense, particularly in the post, or in some cases the second-option. With D'Antoni in charge, the Rockets will continue their presence as a 3-point-shooting team, use more pick-and-roll plays and have a desire to go younger at center, using Clint Capela, a 22-year old who played in a career-high 77 games last season.

Howard, who didn't play well in his one season with the Los Angeles Lakers when D'Antoni was the coach, didn't seem excited to play in that system again.

Health was an issue at the start of last season with Howard as he couldn't participate in back-to-back games due to a sore back. As the season progressed, Howard played in back-to-back games and didn't have any limitations, but the Rockets went in a different direction offensively, leaving him seeking more opportunities.

Howard said he spoke with Morey about increasing his involvement in the offense but was told things weren't changing.

So now Howard is officially gone from the Rockets and starts a new journey with his fourth NBA team.

Information from ESPN.com's Calvin Watkins was used in this report.

Dirk Nowitzki opts out of deal with Mavs, will be free agent on July 1.

Marc Stein
ESPN Senior Writer

Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki opted out of his contract Tuesday, which will make him an unrestricted free agent July 1, according to league sources.

Sources told ESPN that Nowitzki, who faced a Wednesday deadline to either become a free agent or lock himself into an $8.7 million next season, formally notified the club of his intentions with one day to spare.

After premature reports in May that he had already come to a decision, Nowitzki weighed whether to opt in or opt out for much of the past month before ultimately deciding to return to the open market for the first time since the summer of 2014.

Yet the overwhelming expectation, ‎both in Dallas and league-wide, is that Nowitzki intends to stay with the Mavericks, who acquired him on draft night in 1998 and have made him the focal point of their franchise ever since.

Dirk Nowitzki will become a free agent on July 1 after opting out of his deal with the Mavericks, but he is expected to return to Dallas. AP Photo/Rick Bowmer
"Dirk gets to do what Dirk wants," Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said during a recent public appearance. "Period, end of story.

"I told him the other day: If Dirk wants to be the head coach, we'll move Rick (Carlisle) over a little bit. Dirk's done so much for this franchise, he's earned that opportunity."

In his last public comments on the matter before leaving the country to see his brother-in-law Martin Olsson play for the Sweden, Nowitzki said earlier this month: "Since I felt great, played decent, I might opt out and sign a two- or three-year deal. That's probably the plan for now."

Nowitzki, who turned 38 on Sunday, has spent his entire 18-year career with the Mavericks, earning an MVP award, one NBA Finals MVP trophy and 13 All-Star selections. He is sixth on the NBA's all-time scoring list with 29,491 career points and is on pace to surpass Wilt Chamberlain to move into the top five at some point in the 2017-18 season as long as Nowitzki avoids significant injury.

Tuesday's decision takes Nowitzki out of the final season of his three-year, $25 million contract, which represented a steep hometown discount to provide the Mavs the salary-cap flexibility to construct a contender during Nowitzki's twilight years. The Mavs, however, have failed to get out of the first round since their 2011 title run, though Nowitzki led them in scoring again this past season.

The 7-footer from Germany has consistently maintained that he fully intends to finish his career with the Mavs, saying he'd be particularly proud to play 20 seasons with only one team. Kobe Bryant, who retired at the end of this past season after 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, is the only player in league history to spend an entire two-decade career with only one franchise.

Tim Duncan can become the second member of that club if he returns to the San Antonio Spurs next season.

Nowitzki has acknowledged that his decision to stay in Dallas would be much more difficult if the Mavs hadn't broken through to win the title in 2011. With a championship ring in his possession, Nowitzki has repeatedly said the only reason he would consider playing for another franchise is if the Mavs opted for a full-fledged rebuilding plan, which doesn't interest Cuban in the least.

Penguins To Celebrate Cup Championship at Home Opener.

Pittsburgh plays Washington on Oct. 13; League announces first 2016-17 home game for all 30 teams
NHL.com @NHL
12:00 PM  Share

The Pittsburgh Penguins will celebrate their Stanley Cup championship at their first home game of the 2016-17 season on Oct. 13 against the Washington Capitals. 

The League released the home openers for all 30 teams Monday. The full 2016-17 schedule will be released Tuesday.

The Penguins defeated the Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals in the Eastern Conference Second Round in six games en route to beating the San Jose Sharks in six games to win the Cup for the fourth time.

The Sharks, who played in the Cup Final for the first time in franchise history, play their home opener against the Los Angeles Kings at SAP Center on Oct. 12. The Sharks defeated the Kings in the Western Conference First Round in five games.

The 2016-17 season also marks the 50th anniversary season for the Penguins, Kings, Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues.

The Kings' home opener is Oct. 14 against the Flyers; Philadelphia plays its first home game Oct. 20 against the Anaheim Ducks; the Blues' home opener is against the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 13.

The Detroit Red Wings have their final home opener at Joe Louis Arena on Oct. 17 against the Ottawa Senators. The Red Wings move into Little Caesars Arena for the 2017-18 season.

The Edmonton Oilers play their first game at Rogers Place against the Calgary Flames on Oct. 12. The 2015-16 season was the Oilers final season at Rexall Place.

What Does GOD Have to do with Sports??

What does Jesus have to do with sports?
March 02, 2015

Since the beginning of our brand being in existence, there has been one particular question that seems to always come up: What does Jesus have to do with sports? This question often leads to others like, "Does God care about who wins games?" and "How does praying help an athlete during a game?".

As a Christian sports apparel brand people often ask us these questions through social networks like twitter, facebook and instagram. These questions were also at the forefront during "Tebow Mania" and "Linsanity" where Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin were at the height of pop culture because of the unbelievable accomplishments of their athletic careers but chose to use that platform to express their faith and love for Jesus Christ. The sight of Tim Tebow on one knee praying before, during and after games became a phenomenon in itself being dubbed "Tebowing".

Jeremy Lin's sudden rise to super stardom coincided with the launch of Active Faith as he wore his In Jesus' Name I Play bands on his wrists while taking the NBA and the world by storm.It seemed in every interview or any chance they got, Tebow and Lin would make it a point to thank Jesus and give God the glory and praise.

Today you will see NBA Superstar Stephen Curry write bible verses on his shoes before games and point up after every made shot. In fact, Stephen's new signature shoe, the CURRY ONE by Under Armour, features his favorite verse, I Can Do All Things Through Christ... Philippians 4:13, within the actual shoe design. Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson is often seen leading prayer on the football field.

Then and now, the question of what does Jesus have to do with sports continues to arise. At Active Faith Sports we have an unexpected answer to that question:

NOTHING.

Thats right, a Christian sports apparel brand is saying that Jesus Christ and sports really don't have anything to specifically do with each other. To our knowledge there is no record or indication in the Bible that states that Jesus played any sports or had any interest in athletics at all. When you think of all of the issues the world faces and the interests that God has, we don't believe God really cares who wins or loses games and athletic competitions. In the last Super Bowl there were Christian players on both teams. Did the losing team's players not pray as much or as hard as the players on the victorious team? There are children starving in parts of the world right now. Do we think God is concerned with who the next NBA Champion will be? Our guess is probably not.

So if Jesus has nothing to do with sports and if God doesn't care about who wins or loses games, why do players and teams pray before games? Why do athletes thank God for winning Championships and awards and accolades? Why does Active Faith Sports even exist as a Christian sports apparel brand? We are glad you asked.

THE BIBLE SAYS IN COLOSSIANS 3:17, "AND WHATEVER YOU DO, WHETHER IN WORD OR DEED, DO IT ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, GIVING THANKS TO GOD THE FATHER THROUGH HIM."

That verse is the foundation that Active Faith Sports is built on. That verse is what our tagline "In Jesus' Name I Play" represents. See while we don't believe that Jesus has anything directly to do with sports or that God cares who wins or loses games, we do believe that God can use anybody in any position to bring Glory to His name. Based on that verse, as believers we are actually instructed to do whatever it is we do, in the name of Jesus. And in doing so, it gives thanks and reverence to the One who has blessed us with the ability to do so in the first place. This instruction says WHATEVER you do. So this concept of "In Jesus' Name I Play" is not limited to sports or athletics. In anything that you do, you can do it for the Glory of God versus for approval of man or your own glory. It doesn't matter if you are an athlete, a teacher, a janitor, a doctor, a lawyer, a garbage man, a full time parent... God can get the Glory by you performing your task to the best of your ability and doing it in a way that pleases Him.

All of us are blessed with some sort of talent or ability and we all have different platforms in which our talents and abilities are displayed. In our society, athletes have a platform that is unrivaled. People follow and admire athletes. Sports icons are trendsetters and are praised and treated as super heroes. It is the reason why companies and brands pay athletes millions of dollars to endorse their products and to use their platform to promote their businesses. So when an athlete thanks or praises Jesus, it is not saying that God cares about who won or that Jesus Himself has anything to do with sports. These athletes are just using the platform they have been blessed with to give thanks and spread the good news of the Gospel. When our Active Faith athletes thank and praise Jesus, they are simply thanking Him for the blessing of being able to do what they do. To reach the level of a Stephen Curry or a Russell Wilson, it takes years of hard work, discipline and skill. But without God blessing them with the specific talents they have been given, none of those other things would matter.

Here's the awesome thing about Jesus. You too can use whatever platform you have and whatever talents you have been blessed with to give Jesus the Glory and it will mean just as much to Him as any athlete. You may never play in the Super Bowl or have your own shoe. But you can still do whatever you do in the name of Jesus and give God praise for the ability to do what you do.

Do we think Jesus has anything to do with sports? No. But we can still use the platform it provides to spread His name and be witnesses. Jesus instructed his disciples to follow Him and become "Fishers of Men". At Active Faith Sports, we are fishing for men to win souls for Christ. We just happen to be using sports as our fishing net.

Cavs Win: Lebron says we gave it Everything.

LeBron: We gave it our all tonight and were able to come away with a victory .

CLEVELAND -- The Golden State Warriorslost 115-101 to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night, their second straight sound defeat. It’s difficult to know which Cleveland scene might haunt the Warriors more if they complete the collapse. Will it be Draymond Green’s suspension-worthy poke at LeBron James’ groin in the waning minutes of an already-decided Game 4? Or will it be the onslaught of missed 3-pointers to begin Game 6?

Golden State began this game moving the ball and getting open shots. One slight issue: As happened in the second half of Game 5, the shots kept missing. That issue was compounded when Stephen Currypicked up his second foul on a James drive and was pulled for the remainder of the first quarter. In retrospect, coach Steve Kerr likely erred in doing this, as the Cavs' lead ballooned beyond 20 points. But in retrospect, maybe nothing would have worked on a night when non-Curry Warriors started out 1-of-17 from distance.

Meanwhile, the Cavs were humming, with James making incisive pass after incisive pass. Kyrie Irving again had success against the usually stout Klay Thompson.

The Warriors managed to make things interesting, insofar as LeBron would let them. A Thompson-powered run allowed Golden State into single-digit territory entering the fourth quarter. But in that last stanza, James proved too good. He finished with 41 points, 11 assists and 8 rebounds.

Houston standing out as Possible Choice as Baylor's, Tren'Davian Dickson Departs

Freshman wide receiver Tren'Davian Dickson is the latest to announce his intention to transfer from Baylor. The new front-runner for his services might be the Houston Cougars, reports Max Olson. Dickson told ESPN he has already returned home to Navasota, Texas, in the wake of Baylor's sexual assualt scandal.

Last November, Dickson flipped his commitment from Texas to Baylor. He then enrolled at Baylor in January and participated in spring practices. He is one of seven members of the Bears' 2016 class that has opted to leave. Dickson's situation is more complicated than others, notes Olson. Since Dickson has already joined the team, he must sit out the 2016 season, and Baylor has the right to restrict his transfer options.

"The former ESPN 300 recruit said he was told the staff will not permit him to transfer to another Big 12 program," writes Olson.

ESPN

The Baltimore Ravens Release (Marijuana) Monroe, Who Says Its Due to His Position on Marijuana

The Baltimore Ravens released starting left tackle Eugene Monroe on Wednesday, the team announced on its website.

Baltimore acknowledged earlier in the week it had been seeking to trade Monroe, who has been an outspoken advocate for the NFL to remove medical marijuana from its list of banned substances.

Monroe wrote on Twitter last Friday that he believed the organization had taken issue with his stance.

 Follow

Eugene Monroe 

✔@MrEugeneMonroe

@Ravens continue to distance themselves from me and my cause. I invite you all to do some research. I won't stop. This is for my brothers

10:33 AM - 10 Jun 2016

 Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY Sports4:20 p.m. EDT June 15, 20

Rockies Unload Reyes, Almost $40 Million to be Cherished More!!!

Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, as the club opted to eat almost $40 million in salary rather than reinstate its former shortstop who recently completed an 51-game suspension for violating the club's domestic violence policy.

PROOF: Rockies x Reyes

The club will likely release Reyes after he clears waivers as it hands the shortstop job permanently to rookie Trevor Story, who has flourished since Reyes' suspension opened up an opportunity. Reyes, 33, is due $22 million in 2017, and a $4 million buyout of a 2018 option. He's also due $13.3 million more in 2015 salary. Reyes was arrested by police in Maui in October and charged with abusing a family/household member after an incident with his wife at a resort.

Reyes' wife, Katherine, told police that he grabbed her by the throat and shoved her into a sliding glass door before hotel security called police. She was taken to an emergency room and treated for injuries to her side, neck and wrist.

Prosecutors in Maui dismissed charges after Reyes' wife didn't cooperate with investigators.

Reyes was placed on paid leave in February and then assessed a 51-game suspension by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, which cost him about $7 million in salary. Reyes was allowed to go on a rehab assignment at the conclusion of his suspension, and he batted .303 with two home runs in 33 at-bats over nine games with Class AAA Albuquerque. The club faced a Wednesday deadline of reinstating Reyes to the active major league roster or designating him for assignment.

Once Reyes clears waivers, the Rockies will likely release him and he'll be free to sign with any team; the new team would be responsible for just the pro-rated portion of the major league minimum salary, with the Rockies paying the rest.

He was acquired at the July 2015 trade deadline in exchange for fellow shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and a package of prospects. Reyes, a four-time All-Star, played in just 116 games last season due to injury. 

USA Today,