Patriots trade Cooks to Rams

Sports shorts

The New England Patriots have traded deep threat receiver Brandin Cooks to the Rams for Los Angeles’ first-round draft pick, 23rd overall.

In the deal Tuesday, New England also sends a fourth-round choice to the Rams, who give the Patriots a sixth-rounder.

Cooks, 24, was New Orleans’ first-round selection in 2014 and played three seasons for the Saints. He was acquired 13 months ago by New England for a firstrounder and other picks, and made 65 receptions for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns in his lone season with the Patriots.

Cooks is entering the fifth year of his rookie contract and could become a free agent after the 2018 season.

New England also lost wide receiver Danny Amendola to Miami in free agency.

RAIDERS TO VEGAS? » Officials in Nevada’s Clark County have approved the sale of bonds for the construction of the Oakland Raiders’ stadium in Las Vegas.

Clark County commissioners voted 6-1 Tuesday in favor of the ordinance authorizing the sale of $750 million in general obligation revenue bonds.

The Raiders want to start 2020 season at the $1.8 billion, 65,000seat stadium being built across the freeway from the Las Vegas Strip. The team has agreed to a 30year lease. Guests of hotels and other lodging in the Las Vegas area are paying a room tax that over time will contribute $750 million for the project.

College basketball

SPALDING MOVES ON» Louisville junior forward Ray Spalding says on his Instagram account that he will hire an agent and stay in the NBA draft pool, leaving a third roster opening to fill for new Cardinals coach Chris Mack.

Spalding said after the Cardinals’ NIT quarterfinal loss to Mississippi State that he planned to test the draft waters before deciding whether to return for his senior season. The 6-foot-10, 215-pound Louisville native averaged career bests of 12.3 points and 8.7 rebounds last season with 11 double-doubles.

NBA

NOEL, SEFOLOSHA SUSPENDED » Dallas Mavericks center Nerlens Noel and Utah Jazz forward Thabo Sefolosha have been suspended five games for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program.

The league announced the suspensions Tuesday. Noel’s ban will cover the final five games of the season for the lottery-bound Mavericks, starting Tuesday night against Portland.

Sefolosha had surgery on the MCL in his right knee in January and hasn’t returned. His suspension will begin in the next regular-season or playoff game when he is eligible and physically able to play.

College football

‘BAMA NOT BUDGING» Alabama coach Nick Saban isn’t scrapping a program that drew a complaint from LeBron James.

The Cavaliers’ superstar says the Crimson Tide’s “Shop Talk” trailer uses “ideas, concepts and format” from a program on the digital media platform James co-founded. Last year, “Uninterrupted” aired “The Shop,” where James, Golden State forward Draymond Green and others talk in a barber shop.

Alabama released a trailer on Twitter for “Shop Talk” showing Saban and NFL receiver Julio Jones in a barber shop setting. “Uninterrupted” sent a letter to Alabama, citing concerns over copyright infringement and intellectual property. Saban said he didn’t know about James’ show. He says, “I’m sorry that anybody could be offended by something that we were just having fun with, and I enjoyed it and we’re going to continue to do it.”