Isaiah Thomas headed to Suns in sign-and-trade deal

Here’s ESPN.com reporting that a pretty talented guard is finding a new home:

Isaiah Thomas headed to Suns in sign-and-trade deal

The Sacramento Kings will send restricted free agent Isaiah Thomas to the Phoenix Suns in a sign-and-trade deal after reaching a new four-year, $28 million contract, sources confirmed to ESPN.com’s Brian Windhorst.

In return, the Kings will acquire a $7 million trade exception and the rights to forward Alex Oriakhi, the 57th overall pick in 2013.

Yahoo! Sports first reported the deal.

Thomas averaged 20.3 points and 6.3 assists per game last season, both career-highs.

Cavs season tickets selling fast

Here’s ESPN.com reporting good news from Cleveland:

Cavs season tickets sell out

Cleveland embraced the return of the “King” as expected, as the Cavaliers had all but sold out of season tickets less than eight hours after LeBron James announced he would come back to accomplish some unfinished business with the team.

A Cavaliers source confirmed to ESPN.com that the team capped season-ticket sales at slightly more than 12,000 tickets Friday, leaving roughly 8,000 tickets per game to be used for group sales and ticket plans.

Shortly before 12:30 p.m. ET, when James’ decision was revealed, the Cavaliers’ ticket phone lines were so jammed that the team began rerouting lines in the office to be used for ticket sales. The Cavaliers sell season tickets only over the phone.

Chris Bosh will reportedly re-sign with Heat

Chris Bosh will reportedly re-sign with Heat

Bosh is staying in Miami, agreeing Friday to a five-year contract that will be worth about $118 million, said two people familiar with the deal. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither side had confirmed it publicly.

Keeping Bosh addresses one of the Miami’s top priorities after getting the news earlier in the day that James was leaving the Heat and returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

There’s still plenty of work for Heat President Pat Riley to do, however. But first, he and the team lauded what James meant to them over the last four seasons.

— Associated Press

Pat Riley statement on LeBron James decision to leave the Heat

The following statement was released today by Pat Riley of the Heat, on the decision by LeBron James to leave Miami and once again become a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers:

“While I am disappointed by LeBron’s decision to leave Miami, no one can fault another person for wanting to return home. The last four years have been an incredible run for South Florida, HEAT fans, our organization and for all of the players who were a part of it. LeBron is a fantastic leader, athlete, teammate and person, and we are all sorry to see him go.”

“Over the last 19 years, since Micky and I teamed together, The Miami HEAT has always been a championship organization; we’ve won multiple championships and competed for many others. Micky, Erik and I remain committed to doing whatever it takes to win and compete for championships for many years to come. We’ve proven that we can do it and we’ll do it again.”

Knicks waive Lamar Odom

New York Knicks President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has waived forward Lamar Odom.

Odom, 6-10, 221-pounds, was originally signed as a free agent on Apr. 16, 2014. The team really only signed him to see if he could turn his life and career in a positive direction and be worth keeping. But from the Knicks point of view, apparently this did not happen.

Knicks re-sign Cole Aldrich

New York Knicks President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has re-signed center Cole Aldrich to a contract.

Aldrich, 6-11, 245-pounds, averaged 2.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 46 games for the Knicks this past season after originally signing as a free agent on Sep. 24, 2013. The four-year NBA professional is currently playing for New York’s entry at the 2014 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, NV.

Cavs trade Alonzo Gee to Pelicans

The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired the Los Angeles Clippers 2016 Second Round Draft Pick from the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for forward Alonzo Gee, General Manager David Griffin announced today.

The pick is 1-55 protected in the 2016 Draft. In the event the pick is not conveyed in 2016, the Pelicans obligation to convey the pick will be extinguished. New Orleans acquired the pick from Los Angeles as part of 2009 trade.

Gee appeared in 65 games (24 starts) for the Cavs in 2013-14 with averages of 4.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game. In 277 career games (173 starts) for Cleveland, Washington and San Antonio, Gee has averaged 7.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 24.1 minutes per game.

Jazz sign first round draft picks Dante Exum and Rodney Hood

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed 2014 first-round draft picks guard Danté Exum (fifth overall) and forward Rodney Hood (23rd overall). All first round draft picks are guaranteed to receive a contract, so these signings are standard.  Both players are expected to be available for the Jazz’s entry in NBA Summer League 2014, which begins play in Las Vegas on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. MT vs. Philadelphia (TV: KJZZ 14, Radio: 1280 AM/97.5 FM).

A native of Melbourne, Australia, Exum (6-6, 188, Australian Institute of Sport) averaged 18.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists with the Australian National Team at the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship in Prague.  The 18-year-old led his team to the semifinals and was named to the 2013 U19 World Championship All-Tournament team.  In 2013, Exum guided his high school, Lake Ginninderra College, to the Australian School Championship.  In addition, he participated in the 2013 Nike Hoop Summit for the World Select Team.

Exum becomes the third international player on the current Jazz roster, joining centers Rudy Gobert and Enes Kanter, and is the sixth active Australian born player in the NBA.

Hood (6-8, 215, Duke) spent two seasons at Duke after starting his collegiate career at Mississippi State.  A 2014 All-ACC Second Team selection, the Meridian, Miss., native averaged 16.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting .464 percent from the field and .420 (72-169) from three-point range in 35 games as a redshirt sophomore.  He also earned a spot on the conference’s All-Academic Team.

Duke’s team captain in 2013-14, Hood redshirted the 2012-13 season after transferring from Mississippi State.  While at Mississippi State, he was selected to the 2012 All-SEC Freshman Team.

The 21-year-old Hood became the first former Duke player ever to be drafted by the Jazz.

LeBron James decision: Back to Cavs

This time, when the phone rang, Dan Gilbert was the one celebrating.

Moments before LeBron James’ essay announced his homecoming to the Cleveland Cavaliers, his agent phoned Gilbert to congratulate the once-scorned owner.

In a 26-word statement posted via Twitter seconds after James words reached the masses, Gilbert rolled out the welcome mat for the four-time MVP on behalf of the franchise’s fan base.

“Welcome Home @kingjames. I am excited for the fans and people of Cleveland and Ohio. No fans and people deserve a winner more than them.”

Gilbert’s 8-year-old rushed to his side to ask if he could pull his James jersey out of the closet.

— Sports Xchange