Devin Booker has established himself as one of the game's elite players, and now he is going to be paid like one.
Booker and the Phoenix Suns have agreed to terms on a four-year, $214million supermax contract extension, according to multiple reports.
The extension will begin after the two years and $70m Booker has remaining on his current deal signed in 2019.
Among the NBA's most consistent scorers, Booker has been an All-Star each of the last three seasons and finished fourth in the MVP race in 2021-22.
He was selected to the All-NBA First Team this past year after averaging a career-high 26.8 points to go with 5.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He was joined on the first team by Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic.
Booker, who was entering the final year of a five-year, $158m deal, was drafted 13th overall by the Suns in 2015 out of Kentucky.
He improved his scoring average each of his first four seasons and is one of only three players to average at least 25 points in the past four seasons, along with Antetokounmpo and LeBron James.
Booker will also be the cover athlete for the NBA 2K23, per sources. Booker will be among an exclusive group to appear on the cover that includes Doncic, James, Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant.
As the Suns worked on the Booker deal on Thursday, the team were also reported to be near the front of the queue for Durant, who has requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets.
The San Antonio Spurs appear committed to their rebuild after it was announced they plan to waive newly acquired forward Danilo Gallinari and withdraw their qualifying offer for Lonnie Walker IV.
Gallinari was brought over to the Spurs in this week's blockbuster trade, which sent Dejounte Murray to the Atlanta Hawks for Gallinari and three first-round draft picks.
The move to trade Murray – their 25-year-old point guard who was named an All-Star for the first time in 2022 – indicated a shift towards the future and a commitment to not being competitive for at least a season or two in order to maximise their draft equity.
Gallinari, at 33 years old, does not fit in with the Spurs' timeline and may not have had enough value to command any draft picks back as a trade chip, so the team have instead opted to buy out his contract – which had one more season and $21.5million remaining.
The move makes Gallinari an unrestricted free agent, meaning he can come to an agreement with any team who have cap space.
Walker, who was a first-round pick by the Spurs in 2018, averaged a career-high in points (12.2) and assists (2.2) this past season, but with plenty of young guard options remaining on the roster, San Antonio opted to withdraw their qualifying offer.
The qualifying offer meant Walker was a restricted free agent, giving the Spurs the option to match any offer tendered to him, which also restricts how many teams view it as a chase worth their time, as the expectation is often that the team will match them.
By withdrawing their qualifying offer, Walker is now an unrestricted free agent, able to choose his own path forward.
Walker is still only 23, so to allow him to walk indicates that he had no trade value at all and that the organisation have decided he is not part of their plans as they prepare for a couple of years near the bottom of the Western Conference.
Bradley Beal agreed his return to the Washington Wizards for a huge five-year, $251million contract as free agency began on Thursday.
Beal had declined his $36.4m player option for the 2022-23 season, becoming an unrestricted free agent.
That move allowed Beal to seek a maximum contract extension as he re-signed with the team.
The agreement was first reported to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski by Beal's agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports.
Wizards president and general manager Tommy Sheppard confirmed: "The Wizards intend to enter into a player contract with Bradley Beal once the moratorium period ends."
While Washington could scarcely afford not to reward their key man, it is a huge commitment to a player who was limited to 40 games in 2021-22 due to injury.
The Wizards have won only three playoff series in Beal's 10-year NBA career. They have made the postseason just once in four seasons.
Grenadian Javelin World Champion Anderson Peters is convinced the upcoming edition of the tournament in Eugene, Oregon will be an open affair with several men capable of winning the title.
On Thursday, Peters threw 90.31 to win the event at the Stockholm Diamond League meet, ahead of Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra of India who recorded 89.94 for a new personal best and national record. Germany’s Julian Weber was third with 89.08 and The Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch, who has thrown the second-longest distance this season, was fourth.
It is Peters who has put together the most impressive resume this season, however, holding the world lead of 93.07 and winning 8 of 11 events he has taken part in so far. The thrower, however, believes he is yet to discover his best form and admits he is not yet fully fit.
“I am not really in a great shape - I have suffered a back injury. It is still getting better but I hope to be back in really good shape soon,” Anderson said following the meet.
“Getting the 90m throw was really good, I was very much motivated by Neeraj to get a 90m throw because he started the competition with a PB and a NR and that was pretty good for the start,” he added.
Ahead of the event in Oregon, the thrower is hoping to be in top shape.
“I am thinking about it - not having the minor injuries and I hope when I am like 100 percent fit, I want to see what the result would be. When I am able to get the technique, to get the rhythm, and my body would be 100 percent ready, I really want to see the result,” Peters said.
“The more I compete, the better I become…In Eugene, it will be anybody´s game”
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. has undergone foot surgery and could be out for six months.
Jackson was a key man for the Grizzlies in the 2021-22 season, his fourth in the league.
Bouncing back after playing only 11 games (four starts) due to injury the previous year, the former Michigan State man averaged 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.
He averaged 15.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in the playoffs.
But Jackson has sustained another setback, this time a stress fracture in his right foot, as the team revealed on Thursday.
He underwent surgery on Wednesday – "a successful procedure," the Grizzlies reported – and is expected to miss four to six months. He is expected to make a full recovery.
Jackson suffered a torn meniscus in August 2020, not returning until April 2021. A thigh bruise had previously curtailed his rookie season.
Free agent guard Jalen Brunson is headed back to Madison Square Garden.
Brunson, one of the breakout stars in the Dallas Mavericks’ run to the Western Conference final last season, intends to sign a four-year, $110 million contract with the New York Knicks, The Athletic reported Thursday.
The NBA’s free agency negotiating period began at 6 p.m. ET Thursday. No deals will be official until the beginning of the league year on July 6.
Brunson, who spent his early childhood in New Jersey and was a part of two NCAA title teams at Villanova, had been widely linked to the Knicks after he and the Mavericks failed to agree to a contract extension last season.
The Athletic’s report said that Dallas never had the opportunity to make Brunson an offer, further evidence that his relationship with the Mavericks’ front office had been fractured.
Brunson was chosen by Dallas in the second round of the 2018 draft and played 277 games for the Mavs, starting in 127.
Last season, Brunson registered career highs by averaging 16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists.
He scored 21.6 points per game last postseason, including an average of 32.0 points during the first three games of the first round against the Utah Jazz with Luka Doncic sidelined by injury.
Paolo Maldini is glad that Milan can now "plan for the future" after confirming he has reached an agreement with the Serie A champions to stay on as technical director.
Club legend Maldini was considered one of the main architects behind Milan's first Scudetto success in 11 years last season thanks to his work behind the scenes.
He has held a boardroom position for the past four years, three of those in his current role, and helped sign the likes of Theo Hernandez, Rafael Leao and Mike Maignan.
The 54-year-old was due to be out of contract come the end of Thursday, but he announced shortly ahead of that deal expiring that he will remain in the job.
"Everything is sorted. We renewed at the last minute, but we did it," Maldini told reporters outside Milan's headquarters.
"I am very happy to be here and ready to plan for the future, with even more victories. There's still time [this transfer window]. We started a bit late, but we'll recover lost time."
Director of football Frederic Massara is also reported to have signed an extension to the contract that was due to expire on Thursday.
According to reports from Italy, the delay in reaching an agreement with the pair was down to the lack of funds being made available for transfers this window.
Milan have already missed out on Sven Botman to Newcastle United, while Paris Saint-Germain appear to have pipped the Rossoneri to fellow Lille player Renato Sanches.
Stefano Pioli's men begin their 2022-23 Serie A campaign with a home match against Udinese on August 13.
Fernandinho has penned a poetic farewell to Manchester City supporters on social media following his move to Athletico Paranaense.
Brazilian side Paranaense confirmed on Monday that an agreement is in place to re-sign Fernandinho, who previously spent three years with the club.
The 53-cap former Brazil international left Paranaense in 2005 to join Shakhtar Donetsk, before spending nine seasons with City, the last two of those as captain.
After making 383 appearances for City and winning 12 major honours, including five Premier League titles, Fernandinho bowed out at the end of the 2021-22 campaign.
And on the day his contract at the Etihad Stadium officially expired, Fernandinho took to Twitter to pay an emotional tribute to everyone connected with City.
"I saw. I saw my family proud. I saw supporters that never forgot where they came from," he posted in an open letter.
"I saw the beauty of being part of a winning team. I saw titles, superstars and geniuses. I saw an opportunity to fulfil my dream.
"And then I realised. I realised the importance of all reading this letter. I realised that I made the right choice, the best choice of my entire life.
"I hope one day when you remember me, you feel the same way that I'm feeling when I'm writing this."
He added: "Athletes, coaches/trainers, laundry staff, kit managers, cleaners, concierge, security team, door staff, advisors, executives, cooks, directors, doctors, masseuses, physiotherapists, sports psychologists, media team, analysts, youth teams, charity teams…
"Apologies if I missed anyone, but you know who you are. Today is the last day of my contract with Manchester City.
"I can only say that I gave my very best and I would do it all over again. The story continues and after playing for nine years, I will become an avid Cityzen supporter for many more titles and victories.
"I am certain that many more will come judging by the quality of all your daily work."
Fernandinho signed off the letter: "My memories will last forever. Many thanks, your eternal captain."
The 37-year-old previously revealed he turned down numerous offers to return to Paranaense, who are now managed by former Portugal and Brazil boss Luis Felipe Scolari.
Anderson Peters set a new meet record in the javelin while there were podium places for Rushell Clayton and Kyron McMaster at the Diamond League meeting in Stockholm, Sweden on Thursday.
YouTube and social media star Logan Paul has signed a deal with WWE.
The 27-year-old appeared at WrestleMania 37 last year and made his in-ring debut at this year's event in April.
Paul announced on his personal Twitter account on Thursday that he has signed with the wrestling organisation, with the contract reported to run through until next year.
Paul Levesque, WWE's head of Global Talent Strategy and Development, tweeted: "I think it’s safe to say Logan Paul shocked the world with his abilities as a guest at WrestleMania.
"Just imagine what he'll do as a WWE Superstar. Congratulations and welcome!"
Paul shared a boxing ring with Floyd Mayweather prior to his run in WWE and lasted the full eight rounds, with no winner announced.
His younger brother, Jake Paul, has found success in boxing and is scheduled to fight Tommy Fury on August 6.
Rafael Nadal fended off a second early test of his Wimbledon mettle as he took four sets to see off Ricardas Berankis on Thursday.
Just as in his opener against Francisco Cerundolo, Nadal dropped the third set of this match, but he regrouped, as he had two days earlier, to finish it in four.
A 6-4 6-4 4-6 6-3 victory for the 36-year-old will do the job for round two, but it was laboured at times on Centre Court from Nadal, a day after title favourite Novak Djokovic delivered a masterclass against Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Australian Open and French Open champion Nadal sealed it with an ace, his 16th consecutive win in a grand slam match, and the lack of polish at this early stage can be forgiven, given his lack of preparation on grass as he underwent treatment on his troublesome foot.
World number 106 Berankis forced breaks to lead early in the second and third sets, and although the Lithuanian was pegged back quickly enough by Nadal on the first occasion, he held his nerve to take the third set.
A rain delay came when Nadal was 3-0 clear in the fourth set, and that was only an inconvenience, Nadal wasting little time in finishing the job.
With Matteo Berrettini and Roberto Bautista Agut both pulling out of Nadal's half of the draw due to COVID-19, and Denis Shapovalov losing on Thursday to Brandon Nakashima after reaching the semi-finals last year, it is hard to see who might deny the Spanish two-time champion a place in the final, unless Nick Kyrgios or Stefanos Tsitsipas fancy the task. Italian Lorenzo Sonego will be the next to try.
Nadal said: "Every day is a challenge. That's the truth. I didn't play much on grass in the last three years. I need to improve, but I think the fourth set was much better. I think it was a good level of tennis in that set and the serve worked much better at the end of the match and I was able to play more aggressive, while at the beginning there were too many mistakes.
"It's important for me to accept things are not perfect and just keep working, be humble and accept the challenge."
Data slam: Going past Martina
Nadal took his total of singles grand slam wins to 307 with this victory, taking him one ahead of Martina Navratilova, the nine-time Wimbledon champion.
He moves up to fourth place on the all-time list for singles wins in the majors, behind only Roger Federer, who leads the way, Serena Williams and Djokovic.
Nadal of course leads the men's slam race with an unmatched 22 slams.
WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS
Nadal – 35/39
Berankis – 35/35
ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS
Nadal – 13/4
Berankis – 3/3
BREAK POINTS WON
Nadal – 4/16
Berankis – 2/5
Kevin Durant has requested a trade away from the Brooklyn Nets, according to widespread reports.
With free agency due to start later on Thursday, the day's biggest story is certain to centre around the former MVP.
Durant is under contract until 2026, but ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said Nets general manager Sean Marks was working with the player and his business manager Rich Kleiman to find a trade.
The 12-time All-Star forward is now 33 yet would command a huge trade package.
Wojnarowski described Durant as "one of the most valuable trade assets ever on the market". He added the Nets had taken calls and would expect "a historic return on players and draft picks".
The Phoenix Suns and the Miami Heat have been listed among potential destinations.
Murmurings of discontent around Durant, who joined the Nets from the Golden State Warriors in a 2019 sign-and-trade, had emerged in recent weeks.
Durant had sought to turn the Nets into a contender when he and close friend Kyrie Irving went to Brooklyn, where they were later joined by James Harden.
But the 'big three' did not deliver, and Harden was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers last season as Irving spent an extended period on the sideline after refusing a coronavirus vaccine.
Irving eventually returned to play and has opted in to his contract with the Nets, but Durant now appears determined to force his way out.
The two-time champion and two-time Finals MVP would likely make any suitors a major threat in the 2022-23 season.
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