Curry, Warriors finalize $201M deal
Stephen Curry has delivered his share of success already to a franchise that desperately needed it. Now, he’s being paid for all he has done, and certainly will do.
Curry finalized his new contract yesterday, signing a $201 million, five-year deal with the champion Golden State Warriors that initially was the richest ever, until James Harden topped it with a $228 million extension from the Rockets.
Considered overlooked and undersized when he arrived on the NBA scene after being drafted seventh overall out of Davidson College in 2009, Curry silenced the doubters with every spot-on heave from half-court.
The two-time NBA MVP, who earned $12 million this season as one of the league’s biggest bargains, averaged 28.1 points in the playoffs while also contributing 6.7 assists and 6.2 rebounds. Now, he will earn $40 million per season.
NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant also signed his new contract worth approximately $53 million over the next two years as Golden State announced its deals with returning free agents.
Nets nab Crabbe
The Portland Trail Blazers traded Allen Crabbe to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for forward Andrew Nicholson.
The deal, first reported by ESPN, comes a year after the Nets offered Crabbe a fouryear, $75 million deal as a restricted free agent. The Trail Blazers matched that offer.
A 6-foot-6 wing, Crabbe averaged 10.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists last season in Portland. He hit 44.4 percent of his 3-pointers. . . .
A person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press that the Orlando Magic have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with veteran guard Arron Afflalo.
The Magic and Afflalo came to agreement yesterday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the deal. . . .
The Atlanta Hawks resigned power forward Mike Muscala to a two-year, $10 million deal. The 6-foot-11 Muscala, who was an unrestricted free agent, could play a bigger role as he returns for his fifth season following the departures of Paul Millsap and Dwight Howard.
Rangers sign Zibanejad
The New York Rangers avoided arbitration and signed center Mika Zibanejad to a fiveyear, $26.75 million deal that carries a salary cap hit of $5.35 million through 2021-22. . . .
Canada has taken the first steps toward trying to win a third consecutive Olympic gold medal, only this time without NHL players.
Hockey Canada named Sean Burke as its general manager and Willie Desjardins as its coach for the 2018 Olympics, the first that will be played without NHL players since 1994. . . .
Team Penske has locked up 2012 NASCAR Cup champion Brad Keselowski with a multiyear extension. Terms were not disclosed.
Spain suspends soccer prez
Spain’s highest sports authority has suspended the president of the Spanish Football Federation a week after his arrest in an anti-corruption investigation.
The Higher Council of Sport removed Angel Maria Villar from the federation presidency, pending the outcome of the investigation which has landed him in prison without bail and rocked Spanish soccer. . . .
Sporting Kansas City forward Dom Dwyer has been traded to Orlando City for what could be a Major League Soccer-record $1.6 million.
Orlando traded $900,000 in guaranteed allocation money plus more based on performance in the deal for Dwyer, who recently got his first call-up for the U.S. national team after becoming a citizen.