The last 16 months for Andy Murray have not been too bad at all.
From
getting married in April 2015 to winning his second Wimbledon title
yesterday, he's also led Great Britain to a Davis Cup triumph, won BBC
Sport's Personality of the Year, oh and he became a father too.
Free-agent guard D.J. Augustin has agreed to a four-year deal with the Orlando Magic, a league source told The Vertical.
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D.J. Augustin (Getty Images)
Augustin, 28, has established himself as one of the best backup point guards in the league, a player who can handle stretches as a starter.
He’ll play behind starting point guard, Elfrid Peyton.
Augustin, 28, finished the season with the Denver Nuggets after a deadline trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder. In 28 games for the Nuggets, Augustin averaged 11.6 points and 4.7 assists.
In nine NBA seasons, Augustin has had stops in Charlotte, Indiana, Toronto, Chicago, Detroit, Oklahoma City and Denver.
A person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press that the Orlando Magic have agreed on a contract with veteran point guard D.J. Augustin.
Terms of the deal agreed to early Friday morning were not immediately available. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract cannot be signed until July 7.
Adding Augustin gives new Magic coach Frank Vogel an experienced guard to play behind young starter Elfrid Payton.
The 28-year-old Augustin played 62 games with Oklahoma City and Denver last season. He averaged 7.5 points and 3.2 assists in 19. minutes per game.
Augustin was teammates for a time with new Magic forward Serge Ibaka in Oklahoma City.
The Vertical's Shams Charania reports that the small forward, who was supposed to be meeting with the Mavs sometime Friday, struck a deal to stay with the Hornets.
Why? According to the ESPN report, Chandler Parsons is expected to leave the Mavericks during the free agency period as they decline to offer him a max contract and focus on other free-agent targets. Among those targets, as reported by SportsDay's Eddie Sefko, are Memphis point guard Mike Conley and Miami center Hassan Whiteside.But Parsons' likely exit shouldn't be surprising.
During a recent Q&A on Twitter, Parsons made it clear he believes he remains a max-contract player. But the Mavericks,as a source told Sefko last week, want to keep Parsons only at the right price. He can earn nearly $100 million over four seasons with a maximum deal. The source said the Mavericks would be more inclined to offer something around $80 million
Batum averaged 14.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists for the Hornets last season after being traded from Portland to Charlotte over the summer.
According to the ESPN report, Charlotte is widely considered to be the front-runner to secure Batum's services -- especially if it offers him a fifth year on a new contract, which only Charlotte can do during the free agency period.
Nicolas Batum returns to Charlotte for $120 million
The Charlotte Hornets were facing a free-agency crisis this summer after making it back to the playoffs. Not only were multiple members of their team up for free agency, but most crucially, Nicolas Batum, whom the Hornets traded multiple assets for in a contract year, was available to depart. The risk of losing Batum in free agency was significant and could have damaged their franchise for several seasons.
Instead, things have worked out great. Batum reportedly has agreed to a five-year, $120 million offer from Charlotte in the wee first hours of free agency.
Here are five things to know as Batum returns to Charlotte.
1. He telegraphed this. Batum has said early and often how much he likes it in Charlotte, and it's very similar to the town he grew up in in France. He wanted to reward the Hornets' faith in him as a player and he fits perfectly in Steve Clifford's offense. Batum never really expressed interest in any other team despite widespread interest in him.
2. He gave Charlotte a discount. The big impact here is that Batum signed for roughly $30 million less than his max contract. That gives the Hornets wiggle room to retain some other free agents or pick up replacement options. Batum re-signing in Charlotte was not a surprise. Doing so for the max when he was one of the best free agents on the market? That's a shock.
3. It keeps the Hornets' most important combination together. Batum helped Kemba Walker become a greatly improved player this season, and Walker's efficiency and effectiveness waned when Batum was off the floor. Keeping Batum isn't just about his athleticism, skill, and versatility -- it's what he unlocks for the rest of the Hornets roster.
4. This drastically affects the wing market. If the Warriors don't sign Kevin Durant, they're likely to keep Harrison Barnes now because Batum is off the table. For teams like the Lakers, they are likely to turn to players like Evan Turner as a replacement. The drop-off from Batum in terms of value for investment is steep, and this hurts the market that he's off the board already.
5. This likely means Courtney Lee goes elsewhere. Batum's deal leaves money for the Hornets to throw around, but with the Knicks reportedly pursuing him with aplomb, there's a good chance Lee receives an offer the Hornets won't have room for in the big picture. Still, they kept their best free agent, and everything else is secondary. This is a big win for the Hornets in a crucial summer.
After a surprisingly strong season from the Charlotte Hornets, they took one step toward securing their short-term future by signing Nicolas Batum to a five-year extension, per Shams Charania of The Vertical.
harlotte surprised quite a few NBA followers when it acquired Batum from the Portland Trail Blazers for Gerald Henderson and Noah Vonleh. However, most of the optimism surrounding his arrival was offset by Michael Kidd-Gilchrist's shoulder surgery.
His signing will be a big boost for the Hornets, and it is a relative bargain of a deal, per the Washington Post's Tim Bontemps:
Batum was eligible for a maximum contract of $153 million over five years from Charlotte, per ESPN.com's MacMahon and Marc J. Spears.
Injuries and poor shooting plagued the versatile Frenchman in 2015-16, but he was an upgrade for Charlotte's rotation. He became one of the Hornets' most valuable members of the backcourt, helping to bring some three-point shooting that was sorely lacking in the past.
According to Basketball-Reference.com, Batum's usage rate climbed to 21.4 percent, a somewhat significant increase over the majority of his time with the Trail Blazers. As a result, he posted a career-high 14.9 points, in addition to 6.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game.
Batum didn't have quite the expected impact on the defensive end, with the Hornets giving up 26.2 fewer points with him off the court, perNBA.com.
Still, most fans will be more than satisfied with his overall contributions, and he has been a hit with his teammates.
"He's got an incredible basketball IQ," said Marvin Williams of Batum in November, per Sports Illustrated's Kenny Ducey. "He knows where guys are supposed to be, he knows where guys like the ball, which is why I think he makes his teammates better. He's a hell of a player. I've competed against him for a lot of years now, so it's kind of fun to play with him."
Batum has also built a strong rapport with head coach Steve Clifford, going so far as to say Clifford's extension would likely play a role in his decision about whether to stay in Charlotte, per Rick Bonnell of theCharlotte Observer: "He trusts me. He believes in me. So that could be a big factor."
Not only are the Hornets keeping around one of their better players, they're also hedging their bets at 2-guard with Jeremy Lamb on the bench.
Lamb may earn $7 million annually over the next three years, but that will be the going rate for a rotational wing player once the salary cap explodes. Charlotte likely doesn't plan on building around Lamb at the 2. As a result, losing Batum would have meant needing to find another shooting guard either via free agency or in the NBA draft.
The timing of this move is also helpful for Charlotte since it can focus more of its efforts on re-signing Al Jefferson. Keeping their core players together, along with a healthy Kidd-Gilchrist, for the start of next year will make the Hornets a possible top-four seed in the Eastern Conference.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Russian center Timofey Mozgov has agreed to a four-year, $64 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday night because the deal can't be signed until July 7.
The Lakers moved swiftly in the opening minutes of the NBA's free agent signing period to use a big portion of their roughly $55 million in cap room on the 7-foot-1 Mozgov, a six-year NBA veteran.
He won a ring with the Cleveland Cavaliers last month despite barely playing in the postseason, averaging 5.8 minutes in 13 appearances. He started 48 games for the Cavs during the regular season after returning from offseason knee surgery, averaging 6.3 points and 4.4 rebounds while making 56.5 percent of his shots.
The Lakers paid an eye-popping price for a soon-to-be 30-year-old center who made $4.95 million last year and has never averaged 11 points or eight rebounds per game in an NBA season.
Yet the deal represents both the inflated realities of the NBA's increased salary cap and the necessity of overpayment by Los Angeles.
The Lakers aren't the most attractive free-agent destination in the wake of the worst season in franchise history and Kobe Bryant's retirement. After going 17-65 last season, they realize they're unlikely to land Kevin Durant or other top players eager to win championships now.
Instead, they're hoping to add veteran leaders and role players around their intriguing young core, which includes D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, restricted free agent Jordan Clarkson and No. 2 pick Brandon Ingram.
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Mozgov began his NBA career with New York in 2010, but was traded to Denver at midseason. He spent the next four years with the Nuggets, playing under Lakers lead assistant coach Brian Shaw, before a trade to Cleveland in January 2015.
Mozgov averaged a career-best 10.6 points in that abbreviated season with the Cavaliers. He became the first Russian to play in the NBA Finals that summer, giving impressive performances as the Cavs' starting center.
But he struggled to recapture that excellent form after offseason surgery to remove a cyst from his knee. Heading into his free-agent contract season, Mozgov perhaps pushed too aggressively to return from injury, and Tristan Thompson became the Cavs' starting center in the postseason.
Mozgov is moving to the town where his last name became an unfortunate verb in November 2010 when the Clippers' Blake Griffin threw down an astonishing rebound dunk on Mozgov's head at Staples Center. Ever since, a player who gets dunked on in such an outrageous fashion has been "Mozgoved."
Mozgov's arrival with the Lakers certainly means the departure of Roy Hibbert, who averaged a career-low 5.9 points in his only season with the Lakers. Los Angeles had only six players under contract heading into the weekend, although Ingram will sign along with the likely return of three restricted free agents: Clarkson, Tarik Black and Marcelo Huertas.
Mozgov also could be a mentor to Ivica Zubac, the 7-foot Croatian teenager drafted by the Lakers with the 32nd overall pick last week. Zubac wants to play in the NBA next season, and his draft stock apparently slipped because he was unwilling to be stashed in Europe for another year.
With the NBA salary cap making a huge leap this year, and a relatively weak free agent class to take advantage of it, we knew that there would be some insane contracts handed out. But soon after the clock struck midnight Thursday, changing the calendar to July 1 and the official opening of the market, we got a doozy: a four-year, $64 million contract for Timofey Mozgov from the Lakers. hat would be $64 million over four years. For Timofey Mozgov.
You know the guy who just helped the Cavaliers win an NBA title. By playing a total of 25 minutes in the Finals. The guy who’ll turn 30 in less than a month and has career averages of 6.9 points and 5.0 rebounds.
Okay, Mozgov has shown he can be effective in the right situation, and he fills a need for Los Angeles. But the deal he received inspired quite the incredulous reaction on the Internet. Here is a sampling:
Timofey Mozgov agrees to 4 year contract with Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers, spurned by Kevin Durant and every other top free agent, have moved quickly to sign former Cavaliers center Timofey Mozgovto a four-year, $64 million contract, according to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski. Mozgov should slide into the Lakers' starting center slot likely vacated byRoy Hibbert, who is expected to leave in free agency.
Still, even in these strange salary-cap times, the decision to give Mozgov $16 million a year is surprising. Mozgov had an excellent year and fantastic NBA Finals performance in 2015 after being acquired by Cleveland that January. However, he's coming off a nightmare 2015-2016 season that saw him lose his starting job and even a spot in the Cavaliers' rotation as they marched to a championship. He played in just 23 minutes in this year's Finals and sat out seven Cleveland playoff games entirely.
Nevertheless, he still cashed in this summer for a contract worth about 17 percent of the salary cap, the equivalent of a $12 million deal annually under this past year's system.
The Lakers are hoping Mozgov can return to the form he showed in 2014-15, when he averaged 11 points and seven rebounds starting in the middle after Cleveland acquired him from Denver. At the time, Mozgov's rebounding and rim protection was a boon to a Cleveland team that struggled in both areas prior to acquiring him. But his 2015-16 season got off to a bad start after he underwent offseason knee surgery and he never recovered. Cleveland instead shifted to smaller lineups, which left Mozgov as the odd man out.
Now, he'll play alongside the Lakers' young trio of D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle andBrandon Ingram, as well as possibly restricted free agent Jordan Clarkson if the Lakers can retain him. However, the combination of Randle and Mozgov may struggle to guard quicker players defensively and will definitely have issues spacing the floor. We'll see how new coach Luke Walton navigates those problems next year.
Ryan Giggs to end 29-year association with Manchester United
Ryan Giggs' representatives are in talks with United over a pay-off
The 42-year-old joined the Old Trafford club on his 14th birthday in 1987
He worked as a coach under both David Moyes and Louis van Gaal
Manchester United figures have advised Giggs to leave the club
Manchester United boss Mourinho offered Giggs a reduced role and the Welshman has rejected it
Ryan Giggs is set to call time on his Manchester United career after 29 years.
The Welshman has rejected the offer of a reduced coaching role under new manager Jose Mourinho, believing United have gone back on an agreement to give him the top job after he served under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.
Giggs’s representatives are now in negotiations with United over a pay-off for the final year of his contract.
Giggs (left, pictured with Gary Neville) won 13 Premier League medals during his playing days at United
The 42-year-old will start a brief role as an ITV pundit at Euro 2016 on Thursday night but wants to move into club management.
Giggs made a club-record 963 appearances for United after joining the club on his 14th birthday in 1987, and went on to win the Champions League twice, 13 Premier League titles and the FA Cup four times.
It is believed that Giggs has yet to speak directly with Mourinho, who starts work at Carrington with his backroom team on Monday, and a last-ditch attempt to keep the United legend at his only professional club cannot be ruled out.
But Giggs appears to have made up his mind to go after growing disillusioned by how the club has been run in recent years. He accepts that it will be seen as a gamble, but even prominent figures at United are said to have advised him to leave Old Trafford and further his ambitions elsewhere.
The former Wales midfielder feels the club have gone back on an agreement to give him the manager’s job after he served on the coaching staff under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.
When United agreed to let Mourinho bring in his own team, including trusted No 2 Rui Faria, Giggs was offered a lesser role aimed at bridging the gap between the senior squad and academy following talks with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.
He was also given the opportunity to suggest other positions he could fill within the club but told that a first-team role was no longer one of the options.
The surprising lack of contact with Mourinho also suggests there is little appetite on the new manager’s behalf to keep a fans’ favourite who made a club record 963 appearances for United.
Giggs joined the club on his 14th birthday in 1987 and went on to win the Champions League twice, 13 Premier League titles and the FA Cup four times.
Giggs spent a fortnight in Dubai last month considering his future and has kept a low profile since then.
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Giggs (left) during his first year in United's senior side and his most memorable celebration of his career
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Giggs lifts the prestigious Champions League trophy in 2008 (left) and poses with the Premier League
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Giggs was part of David Moyes' coaching staff during the Scotsman's troubled reign at Old Trafford
However, his decision to work for ITV in France is an indication that he is ready to put himself forward for new opportunities and he is not expected to be at Carrington on Monday morning when Mourinho and his staff arrive.
Although Mourinho and his staff officially take over then, the Portuguese coach has been active for some time lining up transfer targets.
United have already signed defender Eric Bailly for £30million, with free agent Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan expected to follow in the next two weeks as Mourinho sets about rebuilding the squad.
Some of the United players who have not been in action for their countries this summer will return to Carrington on Thursday, but those involved in Euro 2016 and the Copa America will be given three weeks off once they have finished international duty.
Meanwhile, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is expected to seal his move to Old Trafford on Friday. The Swede, 34, will sign a one-year deal after his contract at Paris Saint-Germain expires.
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Mourinho will link back up with his assistant Rui Faria (left), a move that has paved the way for Giggs to depart
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Manchester United are expected to conclude deals for Zlatan Ibrahimovic (left) and Henrikh Mkhitaryan
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Villarreal and Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly became Mourinho's first signing of his Old Trafford tenure
RYAN GIGGS' MANCHESTER UNITED EXIT IS SAD... HE DESERVES BETTER
Ryan Giggs’ rather untidy exit from Old Trafford is sad but perhaps not surprising given the direction Manchester United have taken in recent years.
The most decorated player in the history of English football deserves a better send-off from the club he has served exclusively for nearly 30 years than to disappear quietly through the back door following months of speculation with his advisors haggling over a pay-off.
No-one is suggesting that Giggs has a divine right to become United manager, and you could understand why new manager Jose Mourinho does not want a potential rival sat alongside him in the dugout.
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United have been on the decline since Sir Alex Ferguson and former chief executive David Gill stepped down
But there are ways and means of handling a situation like this and, once again, United appear to have got it wrong.
Unfortunately, the club’s decline off the pitch since the departures of manager Sir Alex Ferguson and chief executive David Gill in 2013 have been matched by an equally sharp fall in standards off it.
Once a club that conducted its business swiftly and with dignity behind closed doors – not least with Ferguson’s own exit – United have allowed too much to be played out in the public eye.
Speculation over Louis van Gaal’s future dragged on for too long before he was unceremoniously dumped a day after lifting the FA Cup, having learned the news from website reports that emerged minutes after the final whistle.
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Louis van Gaal (right) named Giggs as one of his assistants but the Dutchman was sacked in May
It was a similar story with David Moyes who discovered that he was being fired through the media despite repeated assurances from the board that he had a long-term contract and retained their support.
Now Giggs, who worked under both men at the end of a glittering playing career, is leaving with little fanfare after turning down what amounted to a demotion.
There is no questioning the job Ed Woodward has done to enhance United’s commercial brand around the world. He and his executive team are highly valued by the Glazer family. But it has been a steep learning curve.
United have appointed three managers in as many years, and their transfer policy has descended into a scattergun approach too often ending in failure or paying over the odds for targets.
Many fans remain unconvinced by the decision to turn to Mourinho, regardless of the success he may bring. They yearn for the old days more than ever – as one of United’s favourite sons heads for the exit.
