12:10 PM ET When the NBA’s board of governors convened earlier this month in Las Vegas, the owners’ heads were spinning from a league-shaking flurry of deals that reshaped their realities in a matter of days. The powerful men and women, some through clenched teeth and others with open arms, asked themselves two basic but

9:19 AM ET Kawhi Leonard nudging Paul George out of Oklahoma City with two years remaining on George’s contract will go down as a watershed moment in the NBA — for the teams it built and tore apart; for the bounty the Thunder received; but mostly for what it signified about the degree to which

5:28 PM ET Tim Duncan has returned to the San Antonio Spurs as an assistant on coach Gregg Popovich’s staff, the team announced Monday. “It is only fitting, that after I served loyally for 19 years as Tim Duncan’s assistant, that he returns the favor,” Popovich said in a statement. Duncan, 43, played his entire

3:18 PM ET ESPN News Services EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Lakers have been awarded the rights to Kostas Antetokounmpo on a waiver claim. The Lakers announced the move Monday to acquire the 21-year-old brother of 24-year-old Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Kostas Antetokounmpo played in two games last season for Dallas. The

2:20 PM ET This summer, NBA stars — well, some of them — are taking on the world in China. With players such as James Harden, Anthony Davis and Bradley Beal withdrawing from Team USA participation, who remains on the roster to challenge powerhouses Spain, France and Serbia? Team USA also is looking to pull

2:43 PM ET James Harden has decided to withdraw from playing with the U.S. National Team at this summer’s FIBA World Cup in China. Harden is the second top player to pull out of a previous commitment to Team USA in the last week, joining Anthony Davis. Harden told the Houston Chronicle on Friday that

12:08 PM ET Free-agent guard Kyle Korver has agreed to a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, his agent Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports told ESPN. Korver had a tough decision between the Philadelphia 76ers and Bucks, but his relationship and history with coach Mike Budenholzer played a major factor in the decision. The most

9:08 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN The Washington Wizards have made Tommy Sheppard their permanent general manger, league sources confirmed to ESPN on Friday. Sheppard has held the job on an interim basis for the past three and a half months, after his longtime predecessor, Ernie Grunfeld, was fired in early April. Sheppard has been with

7:54 PM ET James Harden says he tries to come up with something innovative every offseason, something more creative than his latest move. Two years ago, Harden perfected the step-back. Last summer, the Houston Rockets guard then perfected the side step-back. In a Q&A session Friday with young fans at a promotional event attended by

3:52 PM ET The Sacramento Kings have hired former Duke and WNBA star Lindsey Harding as an assistant coach. “Lindsey is a rising star and I’m so excited to have her join our incredibly experienced team of coaches,” Kings coach Luke Walton said. “Her basketball IQ and proven success on the court will be a