4:55 PM ET Associated Press DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons signed Luka Garza and Chris Smith to two-way contracts on Tuesday. Detroit selected Garza, the AP national player of the year, with the No. 52 overall pick in the draft. The 6-foot-11, 235-pound center played well for the Pistons during the NBA Summer League, averaging
NBA
5:50 PM ET On Tuesday, the NBA released its slate of nationally televised games for opening week and Christmas Day. The defending champion Milwaukee Bucks will kick off the 2021-22 season on Oct. 19, hosting the Brooklyn Nets, who they sent home in a Game 7 overtime thriller to advance to the NBA Finals. Russell
11:28 AM ET A showdown between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers will highlight the NBA’s Christmas Day schedule, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. In addition to the star-studded, cross-country clash, the Atlanta Hawks will travel to take on the New York Knicks. That game will be a rematch of a first-round playoff series
7:26 AM ET Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid is finalizing a four-year, $196 million supermax contract extension, sources told ESPN. The extension keeps Embiid under contract with the Sixers through the 2026-27 season for a total of $261 million. The four-time All-Star already was set to make $65 million over the final two years
11:17 AM ET The Memphis Grizzlies are trading guard Patrick Beverley to the Minnesota Timberwolves for guard Jarrett Culver and forward Juancho Hernangomez, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. With the trade, Minnesota gets the toughness and leadership of Beverley for its young, developing roster. Timberwolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas is familiar with Beverley
2:29 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN NEW YORK — Kemba Walker is a guy who is known for having a constant smile on his face. But, even for him, Walker was downright giddy Tuesday morning — and understandably so — as he was introduced as the new starting point guard for his hometown New York Knicks
7:15 AM ET Tuesday’s Las Vegas Summer League championship game (9 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN App) will feature the Boston Celtics and the Sacramento Kings — both undefeated coming into the finale. Boston’s run has been fueled by a pair of second-year players in Payton Pritchard and Aaron Nesmith, a backcourt duo that has shined
7:59 PM ET Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart has agreed to a four-year, $77 million contract extension, sources told ESPN. The extension — which begins with the 2022-23 season — is the maximum allowable off Smart’s $14.3 million salary for 2021-22. The deal does not include a player option. Smart has developed into one of
5:19 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN The New Orleans Pelicans and restricted free agent Josh Hart is closing in on a three-year, $38 million agreement to stay with the team, his agents Aaron Mintz, Steven Heumann and Dave Spahn told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday. Hart, 26, played his first two seasons with the Los Angeles
10:11 PM ET Associated Press MIAMI — Udonis Haslem is officially back with the Miami Heat. Haslem signed another contract — the 10th of his career — with the Heat on Sunday, assuring that he will return for a 19th season with Miami. It is a one-year deal worth about $2.8 million. The 41-year-old would