» PACERS SHIP GEORGE TO OKLAHOMA CITY
Paul George has a new home, and Russell Westbrook has a new star teammate.
The Indiana Pacers have agreed to trade George to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis, said two people with knowledge of the details. The stunning deal gives Westbrook, the newly crowned NBA MVP, some serious help next season.
Teams came together on the trade Friday just hours before the free agent market was set to open, said the people who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade was not official.
George told the Pacers recently that he planned to leave as a free agent next summer, forcing the team to find a trade before losing him for nothing.
The trade was first reported by ESPN.
George could have been in line for the so-called “Supermax” extension — a five-year pact worth about $205 million — with Indiana this summer, had he been voted onto the All-NBA team this offseason.
Blake Griffin returning to the Clippers
A person with knowledge of the situation says Blake Griffin has agreed to a five-year deal worth approximately $175 million to remain with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Griffin and the Clippers agreed Friday night on a new deal, one that will be signed when the league’s moratorium on offseason moves ends on July 6. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been signed.
Griffin opted out last week from the final year of his contract, one that would have paid him $21.4 million.
Griffin has spent his entire career with the Clippers, averaging 21.5 points and 9.4 rebounds on 52 percent shooting in seven seasons. He’s staying with a Clippers team that lost Chris Paul to Houston this week.
Knicks waive Ndour before salary guarantee deadline
NEW YORK — The New York Knicks have waived forward Maurice Ndour before his 201718 contract would have become guaranteed.
Ndour would have been due $1.3 million if he was still on the roster after Friday, so the Knicks saved some money ahead of free agency.
A native of Senegal, Ndour averaged 3.1 points and 2.0 rebounds in 32 games, including four starts, last season.
Bulls waive veteran point guard Rajon Rondo
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls have waived veteran point guard Rajon Rondo.
The Bulls bought out Rondo for $3 million Friday rather than exercise a $13.4 million option for next season. He signed a twoyear deal to come to Chicago last summer.
The 31-year-old Rondo was in and out of the rotation, chided Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade for criticizing the team’s effort and finished the season on a strong note before missing the final four playoff games against Boston because of a broken right thumb.
The four-time All-Star averaged 7.8 points and 6.7 assists. The Bulls had said Rondo would probably be back, but he became expendable when they acquired Kris Dunn from Minnesota in the Butler trade on draft night.
Chicago also waived guard Isaiah Canaan.
PG Ricky Rubio going from Wolves to Jazz
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves have reached an agreement to send point guard Ricky Rubio to the Utah Jazz to clear salary cap space for a big run in free agency.
A person with direct knowledge of the deal says the two sides agreed to the move on Friday, hours before free agency opened. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because neither team had announced the move. The Jazz needed to make the deal before July 1 or would have lost the salary cap room necessary to pull it off.