Davis gets huge Lakers deal day after LeBron
All-Star forward Anthony Davis, who pushed his way toward Los Angeles in a trade last offseason, will cap this one by signing a five-year deal to stay with the Lakers.
Davis’ contract will be worth $190 million and will have an early termination option after the fourth year, according to Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul on Thursday. The contract could be signed as early as today.
The deal comes less than 24 hours after the Lakers and LeBron James agreed on a two-year extension to keep him with the team through the 2022-23 season.
Davis helped the Lakers win the franchise’s 17th NBA championship last season, his first with the team. He opted out of the final year of his contract, which would have paid him $28.7 million next season.
The 27-year-old averaged 26.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists after leveraging a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans. He averaged 27.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.4 blocks in the playoffs.
GORDON REINSTATED
Josh Gordon was conditionally reinstated by the NFL on Thursday and can begin the process of joining the Seattle Seahawks roster as early as Friday.
Commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated Gordon after nearly a one-year suspension following his latest off-field transgression for violations of the league’s substance abuse policies. Gordon was suspended in December 2019 for violating the league’s drug policy. He tested positive for performance enhancers and “substances of abuse,” the league said in a statement at the time.
It was the eighth time overall Gordon had been suspended by either his team or the NFL, including six times since 2013, mostly for violating the league’s policies on banned substances.
But his time in Seattle last season was mostly positive and the Seahawks signed Gordon in September knowing there would be no guarantee that Gordon would be reinstated during the 2020 season.
The league said Gordon can begin COVID-19 testing on Friday and may begin attending team and individual meetings next Wednesday should his COVID tests come back negative. He can also begin individual workouts and strength and conditioning.
Gordon cannot practice with the team until Dec. 21 following Seattle’s Week 15 game at Washington. Gordon will be eligible to play in Seattle’s final two regular-season games.
ARSENAL ALLOWS FANS
Sitting apart but united in melody, Arsenal supporters restored a semblance of normality to an English stadium.
Even the customary chanting against its north London rival — “Stand up if you hate Tottenham” — was back.
The fans had waited 271 days to return to the Emirates Stadium, and to see Alexandre Lacazette run over to celebrate in front of them. Just as he did against West Ham in
March, Lacazette scored first in a 4-1 win against Rapid Vienna in the Europa League.
The lucky 2,000 fans inside Emirates Stadium on Thursday were the first spectators allowed into a top-level competitive game in England since March 11 — the day the coronavirus was declared a pandemic by the W.H.O. Sports then shut down and stadiums were closed to spectators once competitions eventually resumed.
U. ALBANY PAUSES HOOPS
The University at Albany men’s and women’s basketball programs on Thursday temporarily paused team activities due to presumptive positive COVID-19 tests among Tier 1 individuals associated with both programs.
Tier 1 includes coaches, athletes, team managers, athletic trainers, and support staff. They are tested three times a week in accordance with NCAA protocols.
The school says further testing and contact tracing are being conducted to determine the length of the pause and whether any additional measures are necessary.