PHILADELPHIA (AP) The Philadelphia 76ers and star guard Ben Simmons have agreed to a $170 million, five-year contract extension, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The max deal is the latest big commitment by a team expected to make a serious push at its first NBA championship since 1983.

Simmons, 22, will make about $8.1 million this season, the last of his four-year rookie deal. His salary for the next season will jump to about $29.3 million and rise to nearly $39 million in 2024-25, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Monday because the contract is not official.

The deal solidifies the 76ers' core for the next few seasons. All-Star Joel Embiid and Al Horford are under contract though 2023, Tobias Harris through 2024 and now Simmons through 2025. Horford got a $109 million, four-year deal and Embiid agreed last season to a $147 million, five-year deal.

Read More...

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Bob Myers has accepted Kevin Durant's departure for the Brooklyn Nets with an appreciation for all the superstar forward accomplished with the franchise, even if the Golden State general manager would have loved to keep KD around a little longer.

"I have a peace about it," Myers said Monday as he discussed the Warriors' flurry of moves in free agency.

They'll hand out T-shirts to the Summer League winners following the championship game between Memphis and Minnesota in Las Vegas on Monday night, and then things will finally slow down a bit in the NBA.

Maybe.

NEW YORK (AP) Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving gave the Brooklyn Nets two big victories in one night.

"They hit the Mega Millions and the Powerball," former NBA star Charles Oakley said.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) Anthony Davis' year of uncertainty finally felt finished when he stood in the Los Angeles Lakers' training complex and proudly held up his new gold jersey while LeBron James looked on approvingly.

After months of upheaval around his departure from New Orleans, the superstar forward is looking forward to years of success and stability on the West Coast.

LAS VEGAS (AP) Russell Westbrook and James Harden are together again, and Chris Paul is leaving Houston to make that reunion happen.

A person with knowledge of the situation says the Oklahoma City Thunder have traded Westbrook to the Houston Rockets for Paul in a swapping of top point guards. The Thunder also are getting first-round picks in 2024 and 2026, plus the right to swap first-rounders in two other seasons, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because the trade has not been announced.

WEST HAVEN, Conn. (AP) Police in Connecticut say the father of Boston Celtics rookie Tremont Waters has been found dead in a motel room and the death has been ruled a suicide.

West Haven police say 49-year-old Ed Waters was found dead at a Super 8 Motel just after noon on Thursday. The medical examiner's office on Friday ruled the death a suicide.

CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) Al Horford took a seat at one of the three tables needed to fit six players, an owner and a general manager and admired the Philadelphia skyline in the distance.

"This view gets me excited," Horford said . "This view back there of the city."

DALLAS (AP) The Dallas Mavericks have officially re-signed Kristaps Porzingis, the 7-foot-3 All-Star selection who still hasn't played a game for them since being acquired in a big deal before the trade deadline last season.

The Mavericks announced Friday that the deal was done.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed forward/center Jordan Bell, who left Golden State during the Warriors' offseason transformation.

Bell spent two seasons with the Warriors and was their starter at center in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. But he was one of a number of Warriors who won't be returning after Golden State's loss to Toronto.