Quick hits
Warriors to offer Thompson max contract, report says
In nothing of a surprise, the Golden State Warriors will present Klay Thompson a max contract offer of $190 million when NBA free agency begins on Sunday, ESPN reported Friday afternoon.
Sources told Adrian Wojnarowski the Warriors are expected to quickly sign Thompson to a five-year deal right after 3 p.m. Sunday to finish the easy part of their two-part plan to retain their two All-Star free agents.
Both Thompson and the Warriors have long talked about their desire to reach a deal and both sides will stick to the plan, despite the five-time All-Star set to miss at least half of next season with a torn ACL suffered in the NBA Finals.
There were reports if Golden State offered anything less than a max deal to Thompson that he and his agent, Greg Lawrence, would have exploratory talks with perhaps both the Clippers and Lakers. But even other interested teams saw little chance of Thompson getting away from the Warriors. In fact, over the past few days several teams had given up hope of signing Thompson, Wojnarowski reported.
With Thompson reportedly all but signed, the Warriors will turn their focus to convincing Kevin Durant and, to a lesser extent, Kevon Looney, to stick around. The Warriors are expected to offer Durant a supermax contract of five years and $220 million on Sunday. His choices are reportedly re-signing with the Warriors or joining the New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks or, perhaps the Los Angeles Clippers.
Looney, who was the Warriors' most consistent big man and an organization favorite, isn't expected to command huge money in free agency. However, the Warriors retain his Bird Rights and can offer him whatever amount they're comfortable spending with only luxury tax implications in their way.
NFL speed competition 40 Yards of Gold, hosted by Johnson, features $1M prize
SUNRISE, Fla. — Imagine some of the fastest NFL players racing each other sideby-side in a bracket-format speed competition, trying to run the fastest 40-yard dash.
There’s no need to imagine it. You can go to BB&T Center in Sunrise tooday and see for yourself.
With former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson as host, Miami-based rapper Rick Ross performing and 16 of the fastest pro football players competing, the inaugural “40 Yards of Gold” event starts at 7 p.m.
“The opportunity came to me. It presented itself. So I jumped on board right away,” said Johnson, formerly known as Ochocinco. “This is something that I’ve been doing — what — my entire life since I was 4 years old? Running. At some point in life, it became competitive.”
The tournament will feature some very recognizable NFL names, such as New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara and receiver Ted Ginn Jr., San Francisco 49ers wideout Marquise Goodwin, Washington Redskins cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Carolina Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson and New York Jets receiver and South Plantation grad Robby Anderson. Former running back Chris Johnson, most known for his time with the Tennessee Titans, will be on hand with Chad Johnson, who is also expecting a potential appearance from Hall of Fame receiver Terrell Owens.
Both Chad Johnson and Ginn played for the Miami Dolphins.
In addition to Anderson, competition will feature another South Plant grad in John Franklin III, who also played at FAU. Blanche Ely product Rashard Robinson and Cardinal Newman alum Jacoby Ford are other South Florida locals competing.