The Cleveland Cavaliers signed guard/forward John Holland to a two-way contract on Friday.The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Holland was the NBA G League Impact Player of the Year last season after appearing in 37 games (all starts) for the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers' exclusively owned team.Holland, 28, averaged 22.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals in a league-high 38.9 minutes per contest. He shot 48.1 percent from the field, 34.6 from beyond the arc and 88.1 from the foul line, while helping the Charge reach the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.Before rejoining the Charge in 2016-17, Holland was in training camp with the Cavaliers where he played in three preseason games and averaged 10.7 points and 18.8 minutes.Holland received a call-up from the Boston Celtics before the 2016 NBA playoffs and made his debut in the first round against the Atlanta Hawks. The Boston University product played professionally in France, Spain and Turkey, and also represented the Puerto Rican national team in 2011.Holland becomes the first player to sign a two-way contract with the Cavs. Per NBA rules starting this season, teams are permitted to have two two-way players on their roster at any given time, in addition to their 15-man regular-season roster. A two-way player for the Cavs will provide services to the team's G League affiliate in Canton but can spend up to 45 days with Cleveland.

Chicago Bulls guard Cameron Payne underwent successful foot surgery and will be sidelined three to four months, the team announced Friday.Payne's surgery on his right foot (fifth metatarsal) was performed Wednesday by Dr. Johnny Lin of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush performed the surgery.The Bulls said Payne will remain in a splint for the next 7-to-10 days followed by a boot for 6-to-8 weeks, and he is expected to make a full return.Payne is no stranger to issues with his right foot, as he sustained an acute fracture last September and had surgery in July 2016 to fix a Jones fracture in the same foot.The 23-year-old Payne was acquired by the Bulls, along with Anthony Morrow and Joffrey Lauvergne, in a February deal that sent Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott and a future second-round selection to the Oklahoma City Thunder.The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Payne averaged 4.9 points in 11 games with Chicago last season.Payne was a first-round draft pick (14th overall) of the Thunder in 2015. He owns averages of 5.0 and 1.9 assists in 88 career games.

PG Isaiah Thomas was introduced during a Thursday news conference, but the team went to great lengths to avoid shedding much light on the All-Star guard's injured right hip. "To be fair to Isaiah, we're not going to address any specifics on his hip injury," Altman said of Thomas, who joined Jae Crowder and Ante Zizic in being introduced as the newest members of the Cavaliers on the heels of the summer's blockbuster trade that sent Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics. "We're also not going to put a timetable on it," Altman said. "... We're not going to rush it, at all." Thomas said that he is "just getting treatment each and every day" and working in the weight room. The 28-year-old Thomas suffered the injury during this year's playoffs while playing for the Celtics. He finished third in the NBA with an average of 28.9 points in 2016-17.

The Cleveland Cavaliers put the spotlight on newly acquired Isaiah Thomas during Thursday's news conference, but the team went to great lengths to avoid shedding much light on the All-Star guard's injured right hip.General manager Koby Altman implored reporters to avoid asking questions about Thomas' hip, but they asked anyway."To be fair to Isaiah, we're not going to address any specifics on his hip injury," Altman said of Thomas, who joined Jae Crowder and Ante Zizic in being introduced as the newest members of the Cavaliers on the heels of the summer's blockbuster trade with the Boston Celtics."We're also not going to put a timetable on it," Altman said. "... We're not going to rush it, at all."Altman reiterated versions of that statement numerous times with Thomas sitting nearby.Questions following Thomas' physical examination and his recovery from a postseason hip injury served as a significant hiccup to completing the deal that sent fellow All-Star guard Kyrie Irving to the Celtics.... [More]

The Milwaukee Bucks signed shooting guard James Young to a training camp contract on Wednesday.Young, 22, was the No. 17 overall pick by the Boston Celtics in 2014 after spending one season at Kentucky. Young averaged 2.3 points and 1.1 rebounds in 89 games for the Celtics.Young averaged 18.7 points for the Maine Red Claws of the NBA G League while bouncing back and forth over the last few seasons. He will fight for a roster spot on a Milwaukee team that already has Khris Middleton, Jason Terry and Rashad Vaughn on the roster at the shooting guard spot.The Bucks also added rookie guards Sterling Brown and Bronson Koenig earlier in the offseason and return reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon in the backcourt.

The Atlanta Hawks signed guard Josh Magette to a two-way contract on Wednesday and signed undrafted rookie forward Tyler Cavanaugh.The 6-foot-1, 160-pound Magette, 27, spent time during the 2016 preseason with the Hawks and was part of the team's NBA Summer League roster in 2017.Last season, Magette started 50 games for the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA G League, averaging 15.8 points, 9.4 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 35.3 minutes per contest. He led the G League in assists per game for the second straight season and was named second team All-G League.The 2017-18 season will mark the first year of two-way contracts in the NBA. Only players with four or fewer years of NBA experience are permitted to sign two-way contracts. A two-way player for the Hawks will primarily play for the team's NBA G League affiliate, the Erie BayHawks, but can spend up to 45 days with Atlanta, not including any time prior to the start of Erie's training camp and at the conclusion of their season.The 6-9, 238-pound Cavanaugh, 23, also was a member of the Hawks' Summer League team in Las Vegas.Cavanaugh spent his first two college seasons at Wake Forest before transferring to George Washington. As a graduate student at GW last season, he appeared in 35 games (all starts), leading the team in points (18.3), rebounds (8.4), free throws made (173) and attempted (204) in 32.2 minutes per contest.

G Kyrie Irving admitted he has not spoken with LeBron James since being traded to the Boston Celtics but he praised his former superstar teammate with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 25-year-old Irving called playing three seasons with James as "awesome" and told reporters at his introductory press conference in Boston that "I learned so much from that guy." The Celtics formally introduced Irving on Friday at TD Garden after the blockbuster trade sent Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first-round pick and the Miami Heat's 2020 second-round pick in exchange for the four-time All-Star point guard. Irving, who had requested a trade in July, was asked about his decision to leave Cleveland and the status of his relationship with James. "I haven't spoken to (James) and my intent (in asking for a trade), like I said, was for my best intentions," Irving said. "To look back at the amount of ground we covered in the last three-year span ... to really realize how special that was and how much stuff happened in that amount of time, I'd be sitting up here and telling you guys a lie if I didn't tell you I learned so much from that guy."

Kyrie Irving admitted he has not spoken with LeBron James since being traded to the Boston Celtics but he praised his former superstar teammate with the Cleveland Cavaliers.The 25-year-old Irving called playing three seasons with James as "awesome" and told reporters at his introductory press conference in Boston that "I learned so much from that guy."The Celtics formally introduced Irving on Friday at TD Garden after the blockbuster trade sent Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first-round pick and the Miami Heat's 2020 second-round pick in exchange for the four-time All-Star point guard.Gordon Hayward also was introduced to the Boston media after the former Utah Jazz forward signed a four-year, $128 million free agent contract with the Celtics in July.Irving, who had requested a trade in July, was asked about his decision to leave Cleveland and the status of his relationship with James."I haven't spoken to (James) and my intent (in asking for a trade), like... [More]

The Milwaukee Bucks waived forward/center Spencer Hawes on Friday in order to move beneath the luxury-tax threshold.The Bucks will use the stretch provision to spread the balance of the Hawes' $6.2 million salary this season over three years, sparing the franchise the full salary-cap hit this year, according to ESPN. The team is now $2.5 million under the tax threshold with 13 guaranteed contracts.Once the 7-foot-1, 245-pound Hawes clears waivers, he will become an unrestricted free agent.Hawes, 29, appeared in 19 games for the Bucks last season and averaged 4.4 points and 2.4 rebounds. He was acquired from the Charlotte Hornets on Feb. 2.Hawes owns career averages of 8.7 points and 5.7 rebounds in 10 NBA seasons, including stops with Sacramento, Philadelphia, Cleveland, the Los Angeles Clippers, Charlotte and Milwaukee.

Chicago Bulls guard Cameron Payne will undergo surgery for a fractured right foot next week, the team announced Thursday.The Bulls issued a statement saying Payne fractured the fifth metatarsal of his right foot during a workout on July 18. Payne spent six weeks in a boot, but the team said the fracture hadn't healed properly and will require surgery.While Chicago did not divulge a timetable for his absence, ESPN reported that Payne will likely miss at least a couple of months.Payne is no stranger to issues with his right foot, as he sustained an acute fracture last September and had surgery in July 2016 to fix a Jones fracture in the same foot.The 23-year-old Payne was acquired by the Bulls, along with Anthony Morrow and Joffrey Lauvergne, in a February deal that sent Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott and a future second-round selection to the Oklahoma City Thunder.Payne averaged 4.9 points in 11 games with Chicago last season.The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Payne was a first-round draft pick (14th overall) of the Thunder in 2015.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been fined $500,000 for violating the anti-tampering rule, the NBA announced Thursday.The league said the fine was a result of communication between Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and representatives for Paul George, while the All-Star forward was still under contract with the Indiana Pacers.The Pacers filed formal tampering charges and Thursday's fine followed an investigation conducted by the independent law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.The fine also reflected a previous warning issued by the NBA to the Lakers regarding tampering, following comments made during an April 20 national television appearance by Earvin "Magic" Johnson, the team's president of basketball operations.The investigation did not reveal evidence of an agreement or understanding that the Lakers would sign or acquire George."We respect and accept the NBA's decision regarding this matter," Pelinka said. "On behalf of the Los Angeles Lakers, I want to express our regret over... [More]

F James Michael McAdoo signed a two-way contract with the 76ers on Wednesday. A three-year pro, McAdoo originally signed with Golden State in September 2014 following three seasons at the University of North Carolina. In 108 NBA games (three starts), he owns averages of 3.0 points and 1.7 rebounds.The 6-foot-9, 240-pound McAdoo, a member of two championship-winning teams with the Warriors, has seen action in 26 career playoff games.

The Boston Celtics sent the Cleveland Cavaliers a 2020 second-round draft pick to complete the blockbuster trade that sent four-time All-Star guard Kyrie Irving to the Celtics, the Cavaliers confirmed Wednesday night.The key player headed to Cleveland in the deal, guard Isaiah Thomas, has a hip injury that prompted the Cavaliers to seek additional compensation. Cleveland also got Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and an unprotected 2018 first-round draft pick via the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Irving.The Celtics resisted the Cavs' attempt to get another first-round pick or a young star to compensate Cleveland for its reluctance to sign off on Thomas' injury, which Boston said it was transparent about.The 2020 pick that Cleveland will receive originally belonged to Miami before the Heat sent to Boston in the Zoran Dragic deal in July 2015.Prior to the Wednesday agreement, the teams risked walking away from the deal that had been announced on Aug. 22. The options included voiding the trade completely... [More]

F/C Nerlens Noel, who was a restricted free gent, signed a one-year qualifying offer of $4.1 million to return to the Dallas Mavericks for the 2017-18 season, according to multiple reports Saturday. The signing comes less than a week after Noel replaced his agent with Klutch Sports Group's Rich Paul, who also represents LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Noel, 23, will become an unrestricted free agent next offseason. The 6-foot-11, 228-pound Noel averaged 8.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 22 minutes in 22 games for the Mavericks after arriving in Dallas at the trade deadline from the Philadelphia 76ers.

Restricted free agent forward/center Nerlens Noel signed a one-year qualifying offer of $4.1 million to return to the Dallas Mavericks for the 2017-18 season, according to multiple reports Saturday.The Dallas Morning News and Yahoo Sports confirmed an earlier report by ESPN. The offer sheet was signed in Los Angeles earlier this week, according to ESPN.The signing comes less than a week after Noel replaced his agent with Klutch Sports Group's Rich Paul, who also represents LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers.Noel, 23, will become an unrestricted free agent next offseason. He was unable to get an acceptable multiyear deal from the Mavs and did not agree to an offer sheet from another team.ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted that Noel and his former agent turned down a four-year, $70 million offer from Dallas at the start of free agency on July 1. The Mavs reportedly pulled the offer when Noel asked for a max deal.The 6-foot-11, 228-pound Noel averaged 8.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 22 minutes in 22 games for the Mavericks after arriving in Dallas at the trade deadline from the Philadelphia 76ers.The Mavs gave up 2015 first-round pick Justin Anderson, Andrew Bogut (who was then bought out) and a pair of second-round picks to acquire Noel, who was the sixth overall pick by the Sixers in the 2013 draft.Noel averaged 10.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.5 blocks in 171 career games for Philadelphia.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics plan to discuss the status of their blockbuster trade apparently because there are questions following Isaiah Thomas' physical examination and his recovery from a postseason hip injury.The deal sending Cleveland's four-time All-Star guard Kyrie Irving to the Celtics for Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and a 2018 first-round pick via Brooklyn now has uncertainty with medical questions surrounding Thomas' injured hip, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.The Cavs and Celtics are planning a telephone call on Saturday, according to the ESPN report. Thomas took the exam in Cleveland on Friday.There is a possibility that Cleveland could request further compensation from Boston before approving the trade, league sources told ESPN. The Cavs have until Thursday to make a final decision on approving the trade.Cleveland also can veto the deal based on a failed physical, sending players back to their respective teams.Thomas suffered the injury during this year's playoffs and is rehabbing the hip but reportedly has not begun running.Boston general manager Danny Ainge acknowledged Thomas' hip injury played a factor in the Celtics seeking the trade.Irving, who had requested a trade from Cleveland, is scheduled to take his physical with the Celtics on Saturday, according to ESPN.

G Isaiah Thomas was examined in Cleveland on Friday and apparently there are questions about his recovery from a postseason hip injury. Cavaliers officials are looking at the test results, ESPN.com reported, and how it might affect the trade that shipped Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics earlier this week. There is speculation that the condition of his injured hip could void the deal. Tuesday's trade included Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first-round draft pick going to the Cavaliers for Irving. There's also the possibility that rather than voiding the deal the Cavaliers could ask for additional compensation such as another draft pick. Thomas suffered the injury during the playoffs this year and is rehabbing the hip. ESPN reported that he has not begun running. Celtics general manager Danny Ainge acknowledged that the hip injury played a factor in the Celtics seeking the trade.

G Brandon Knight underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee on Friday, the team announced.

Phoenix Suns rookie guard Davon Reed underwent meniscus surgery on his left knee and will not resume full basketball activities for four to six months, the team announced Friday.The procedure was performed on Thursday by the team's head physician, Dr. Tom Carter, at Gateway Surgery Center in Phoenix.Reed, 22, was selected by the Suns with the 32nd overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. He averaged 14.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals while appearing in all six of the Suns' games at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.The 6-foot-6, 220-pound Reed completed a four-year career at the University of Miami, playing in 131 games and helping the Hurricanes to a 90-49 record and two NCAA Tournament appearances. As a senior in 2016-17, he averaged 14.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists.Reed earned ACC All-Defensive Team and All-ACC third team honors. He also received the ACC's Skip Prosser Award, presented annually to the conference's top scholar-athlete in men's basketball.

G Manu Ginobilli re-signed with the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday and it appears he will become the eighth player to spend his entire career with one team and play at least 16 seasons. The club did not announce terms of the deal but Ginobilli reportedly was re-signed to a two-year deal worth $5 million. The 40-year-old appeared in 69 games last season and averaged 7.5 points. He also shot 39 percent from the floor in 18.7 minutes per game. Since making his debut for the Spurs in 2002, Ginobilli has averages of 13.6 points, 3.9 assists and 3.6 rebounds in 992 games.