Kevin Durant withdrawing from Team USA has dominated the basketball headlines for Thursday. But what else went down around the basketball world?
LOVE TO CLEVELAND? IT WILL HAPPEN
Cleveland Cavaliers will acquire Kevin Love from Minnesota Timberwolves after both parties reached an agreement according to Yahoo Sports.
In return, the Timberwolves will get this year’s first draft pick Andrew Wiggins, last year’s first pick Anthony Bennett and a first round pick in 2015.
A great move all round. Cleveland get their man; Wiggins can be a leader in Minnesota along with Ricky Rubio and Anthony Bennett can start his NBA career fresh. Forget about the nightmare rookie season and concentrate on being the best player he can be for the Timberwolves.
The deal cannot be finalized until August 23, because Wiggins, cannot be traded until one month following the signing of his rookie contract. No third team is involved in the Cavaliers-Timberwolves trade agreement.
ODEN ARRESTED FOR BATTERY
Free agent Greg Oden was finally getting his NBA career back on track and then this happens.
Oden was booked into Marion County Jail at 5am for two counts of misdemeanor battery. Another setback for Oden, only he has done this himself.
METTA WORLD PEACE TO CHANGE HIS NAME … AGAIN!
Metta World Peace is planning to change his name to “Panda Friend” while out in China. He has recently signed a deal with CBA side Sichuan Blue Whales.
Via China Daily:
New high-profile import playing for Chinese basketball Association club Sichuan Blue Whales is known as Ron Artest but intends to change his name to “Panda Friend” in honor of his move to China.
World Peace, who is known in China as “Ci Shiping”, a literal translation of “Metta World Peace,” now plans to name himself after China’s giant panda, a precious animal based in Southwest China’s Sichuan province, where his new team is also based.
Apparently excited by his China trip, the “Panda Friend” tweeted he would be visiting the pandas with his daughter, while also adding that he would be changing his name in honor of his move.
“New Chinese name coming soon. You guys are going to love it! ” He posted on his Chinese twitter-like social media Sina Weibo.
SCARIOLO AND LABORAL KUTXA PART WAYS; CRESPI TAKES OVER
Former Spain coach Sergio Scariolo has left Liga Endesa side Laboral Kutxa, the club’s website has confirmed.
Marco Crespi will take over from Scariolo for this upcoming season.
RED STAR INTERESTED IN DARIUS MORRIS?
Red Star Belgrade are reportedly interested in former NBA player Darius Morris.
The Serbians have managed to figure out all the financial details of the contract, securing the ex-Lakers, Memphis and Clippers player, who would get around $450.000 for the season.
