Knicks’ top roles go to Mills, Perry
The New York Knicks promoted Steve Mills to president and hired Scott Perry as general manager, a person with knowledge of the details told the AP.
Mills takes over the position left vacant by Phil Jackson’s departure last month, the person told the AP on Thursday. The person was granted anonymity because no announcement had been made.
Perry was the executive vice president of operations for the Sacramento Kings and previously held front- office roles for other organizations.
Mills returns to the role he held briefly before Jackson was hired in March 2014, and Mills was made his general manager.
Warriors fall in summer league
The Boston Celtics (40) led from start to finish and simply ran the Warriors off the court with a 20-5 first quarter in a 9369 victory in Las Vegas.
Jabari Bird, a 2017 second-round pick from Cal, took advantage of the opening with 17 points on 8-for-10 shooting. Ante Zizic, the 2016 No. 23 overall pick, has gained steam as the summer league has progressed. He had a double- double with 14 points, 10 rebounds to go with three blocks. Rosco Allen scored 18 off the bench.
The Warriors (1- 4) have focused on getting extra court time for second-year player Patrick McCaw, who earned rotation minutes with the champs during his rookie season. He scored 20 points on 6-for13 shooting.
Wizards match Nets’ offer for Porter
The Washington Wizards matched the Brooklyn Nets’ $106 million, four-year offer sheet to keep forward Otto Porter, making him the team’s highest paid player.
Team president Ernie Grunfeld announced the move Thursday. The Wizards had two days to match Brooklyn’s offer sheet for the 24-year- old restricted free agent.
Porter’s new deal puts his salary ahead of guards Bradley Beal and John Wall. He set career highs with 13.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals and shooting and 3-point percentages of .516 and .434 last season, his fourth as a professional. Porter finished fourth in the league in 3-point shooting last season and had 14 games of 20-plus points.
Nuggets get Millsap
The Denver Nuggets an- nounced the acquisition of four-time All-Star Paul Millsap.
A highly coveted free agent, the former Atlanta forward agreed to a threeyear deal worth $90 million.
Millsap, 32, gives the Nuggets a proven veteran to pair with budding star Nikola Jokic. Millsap averaged a career-high 18.1 points last season with 7.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists.
Jazz notes
The Utah Jazz reached agreements to sign free agents Thabo Sefolosha, Jonas Jerebko and Ekpe Udoh, a person with direct knowledge of the deals told the AP.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the moves had not been officially announced.
The Jazz also released Boris Diaw, whose 201718 salary would have been guaranteed Saturday.
Diaw was a valued big man in his lone season with the Jazz but his exit was expected after the team tried to trade his expiring contract.
None of the three additions will offset Gordon Hayward’s signing with the Celtics, but Sefolosha and Udoh should help a defense that already gave up the fewest points per game (96.8) in the league last season.
Anthony deal issues
The Knicks and Houston Rockets are still trying to work out a deal involving Carmelo Anthony, though it may take some time if it happens.
The teams continue to talk about a trade but no deal is imminent, a person familiar with the situation told the AP.
The person said Anthony has told the Knicks he would accept a move to the Rockets but the teams are still trying to find a trade that works for both sides.
Anthony has a no-trade clause and would have to agree to any deal. He has told the Knicks he would waive it to go to Houston or Cleveland.
The Knicks have been trying to trade the All-Star forward but finding a deal is difficult. Anthony is 33 and still has two years and $54 million remaining on his contract.
German signs with Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks signed another big forward from Dirk Nowitzki’s hometown in Germany.
The team signed 6-foot11 Maxi Kleber, 25, from Wurzburg, who played professionally in Europe the past eight seasons.