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Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune/TNS

As Billy Donovan nears extension with Bulls, will their patience with coach and front office pan out?

Sports / Basketball /

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls aren’t making major changes anytime soon.

The roster might see some mild overturn this summer as the Bulls add a rookie with the No. 12 draft pick next Wednesday and shop several players in potential trades. But team leadership is expected to stay the same from top to bottom as the Bulls prepare to rebuild — ...Read more

AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post/TNS

Sean Keeler: Nuggets don't have GM days before NBA draft? Josh Kroenke better have cleanser, not Tenzer.

Sports / Basketball /

DENVER — It better be a cleanser, not a Tenzer.

A franchise with peak Nikola Jokic deserves a Jokic-level general manager. ESPN analyst Bob Myers, who built a dynasty at Golden State. Miami’s Andy Elisburg. Monte McNair. David Griffin. Heck, even a Tim Connelly reunion would feel like a shot in the arm right about now.

Lord help Josh ...Read more

Michael Reaves/Getty Images North America/TNS

Scouts and NBA players rave about Ace Bailey. Could his red flags still scare off the Sixers?

Sports / Basketball /

PHILADELPHIA — Ace Bailey failed to lead his team to the NCAA tournament.

The Rutgers star makes the game more complicated than it needs to be, the type of player who will wow you one play and frustrate you the next.

Sources even say he interviewed poorly with NBA executives at last month’s draft combine.

He has the potential to become a ...Read more

Keith Birmingham/Pasadena Star-News/TNS

Jim Alexander: Lakers and Dodgers now just one big happy family

Sports / Basketball /

Really, when you think about it, the Lakers and the Dodgers – or, if you prefer, Dodgers and Lakers – maybe should have been corporate siblings all along.

They are the dominant teams in North America’s most diverse sports market, the biggest dogs in an awfully competitive kennel. And this might not be 100% accurate, but it would be my ...Read more

Keith Birmingham/Pasadena Star-News/TNS

Bill Plaschke: Lakers had a great ride with Buss family, but Dodgers owner will give team new life

Sports / Basketball /

LOS ANGELES — For 46 years it’s been a wonderful ride, the sweetest of sagas, the Buss family treating the Lakers like their precocious child, nurturing, embracing, empowering, transforming them into arguably this country’s most celebrated sports franchise.

But it’s time.

It’s time to give their baby to somebody who won’t be ...Read more

Keith Birmingham/Pasadena Star-News/TNS

Lakers selling majority ownership of franchise to Dodgers owner

Sports / Basketball /

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers, a family-run business since Jerry Buss purchased the franchise in 1979, will be sold to Dodgers controlling owner Mark Walter and TWG Global, according to multiple people briefed on the deal.

The deal is expected to occur with the Lakers' valuation being about $10 billion — a record for a professional ...Read more

Kristian Winfield: Pacers, Thunder showing Knicks how to build championship roster

Sports / Basketball /

NEW YORK — If the Knicks front office is watching the NBA Finals — and they are — they’re seeing more than just two teams chasing a title. They’re seeing the new blueprint.

The Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder aren’t just deep, young and fearless — they’re built for the long haul, structured to survive the wear and tear ...Read more

Keith Birmingham/Pasadena Star-News/TNS

Lakers sell majority ownership of franchise to Mark Walter

Sports / Basketball /

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers, a family-run business since Dr. Jerry Buss purchased the franchise in 1979, will be sold to Dodgers controlling owner Mark Walter and TWG Global, according to multiple people briefed on the deal.

The deal is expected to occur with the Lakers’ valuation being approximately $10 billion.

Walter will now ...Read more

Dylan Buell/Getty Images North America/TNS

Caitlin Clark pushed to ground, and does some shoving of her own, during testy win over Sun

Sports / Basketball /

LOS ANGELES — Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark got hit in the eye and knocked to the ground, while also doing some shoving of her own, during a testy and physical game against the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night in Indianapolis.

The Fever emerged with an 88-71 win after a game that featured a pair of skirmishes, including a fight in the ...Read more

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America/TNS

Mac Engel: Why the NBA's best coach had to leave the Mavericks and return to Indiana

Sports / Basketball /

FORT WORTH, Texas — The following is not an intended dig, shot or knock of a man who was forced to retire from a job he loved because of an unfortunate illness that finally stopped him from working.

Former San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is a Hall of Fame coach who maximized the considerable power, and talent, he was blessed to possess...Read more

Candice Ward/Getty Images North America/TNS

Mike Sielski: Sorry, Dylan Harper. Too bad, Ace Bailey. If I were the Sixers, I'd pass on Rutgers' two stars.

Sports / Basketball /

PHILADELPHIA — There is something inherently unfair about the next sentence I’m about to type, but here goes:

If I were the 76ers, if I were Daryl Morey and his scouting staff, and if I were given the opportunity to select either Dylan Harper or Ace Bailey in next week’s NBA draft, I would pick someone else.

I would not pick someone who ...Read more

Ron Jenkins/Getty Images North America/TNS

Lynx rally past Aces, will play for Commissioner's Cup

Sports / Basketball /

MINNEAPOLIS — Courtney Williams couldn’t buy a bucket in the first half Tuesday at Target Center. In the second half she cashed in. The Lynx offense was stuck in neutral for the first 20 minutes, in the second half it shifted into gear.

Once again, one half was enough.

With Napheesa Collier out of the game for most of the second half with ...Read more

Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Angel Reese and the 'mebounds' myth: How Sky star is turning an (inaccurate) insult into a brand

Sports / Basketball /

CHICAGO — Angel Reese is embracing the “mebounds” — at least as a businesswoman.

The Chicago Sky star filed a trademark application over the weekend for the term, which refers to a rebound a player secures off her own missed shot. Although the term is relatively new, the “mebound” concept has hounded Reese throughout her first two ...Read more

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America/TNS

knPacers star Tyrese Haliburton to undergo MRI for calf strain before Game 6 of NBA Finals

Sports / Basketball /

The status of Tyrese Haliburton’s calf now hangs over the NBA Finals.

The Indiana Pacers’ star point guard played through a right calf strain in Game 5 and was set to undergo an MRI on Tuesday, according to ESPN.

Haliburton managed only four points on 0-of-6 shooting in Monday night’s 120-109 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, which put ...Read more

Justin Ford/Getty Images North America/TNS

Jim Souhan: What is Rudy Gobert's future with the Timberwolves?

Sports / Basketball /

MINNEAPOLIS — Timberwolves boss Tim Connelly could do just about anything this summer, and one of the most surprising things he could do is nothing.

No one knows, at the moment, what the future holds for Julius Randle, Naz Reid, Nickeil Alexander-Walker or Mike Conley, not to mention younger players who could become trade chips.

One of the ...Read more

Michael Reaves/Getty Images North America/TNS

Kristian Winfield: Patient approach is right approach for Knicks' head coach search

Sports / Basketball /

NEW YORK — The Knicks don’t need to rush. They are a one-of-one — the only franchise in the NBA with an active head coaching vacancy. That means they can afford to take their time. And they should. Because the next move might be the most important yet under Leon Rose’s tenure.

This is their one shot to get it right.

The Knicks parted ...Read more

David Jensen/Getty Images North America/TNS

What Magic's trade for Desmond Bane could mean for Celtics

Sports / Basketball /

BOSTON — Six weeks after being bounced by Boston in the opening round of the playoffs, the Orlando Magic pulled off the first major move of the NBA offseason.

The Magic gave up a haul Sunday to add Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane to their young and talented core. In return for the 26-year-old, Memphis received four first-round draft picks, a ...Read more

Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS

Magic, Jeff Weltman 'valued' Desmond Bane, who became 'priority' for Orlando

Sports / Basketball /

ORLANDO, Fla. — The decision to trade guards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and multiple future first-round picks to acquire Desmond Bane from the Grizzlies was one Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman described as easy to make.

Speaking with the media Monday inside the AdventHealth Training Center for the first time ...Read more

Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images North America/TNS

After heated moment, Sun's Tina Charles, Sky's Angel Reese show mutual respect

Sports / Basketball /

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Connecticut Sun veteran Tina Charles and Chicago Sky phenom Angel Reese had to be separated by multiple teammates and referees after a heated shoving match in Sunday’s game at Mohegan Sun Arena, resulting in double technical fouls for the star forwards.

The scuffle involved all three UConn alumni on the Sun’s roster, ...Read more

David Jensen/Getty Images North America/TNS

Mike Bianchi: Blockbuster deal for Desmond Bane puts Magic in championship conversation

Sports / Basketball /

ORLANDO, Fla. — Hallelujah, the rebuild is over.

No, seriously, this time, it’s really over.

It’s finally, officially, historically, euphorically, dramatically, emphatically over.

After a dozen years of painful rebuilding and an endless pursuit of acquiring draft capital, cap flexibility and other future assets, Orlando Magic president ...Read more