Griner goes on trial in Russia for drug possession

American basketball star Brittney Griner went on trial Friday, 4 ½ months after her arrest on charges of possessing cannabis oil while returning to play for a Russian team, in a case that has unfolded amid tense relations between Moscow and Washington.

The initial session of the trial, which was adjourned until July 7, offered the most extensive public interaction between Griner and reporters since the Phoenix Mercury center and two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist was arrested in February at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport.

Griner, 31, was escorted into the courtroom in the capital’s suburb of Khimki while handcuffed, carrying a water bottle and what appeared to be a magazine, and wearing a Jimi Hendrix T-shirt.

Police have said she was carrying vape canisters with cannabis oil when detained at the airport. She could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of large-scale transportation of drugs.

The state-owned Tass news agency quoted Griner as saying in court that she understood the charges against her. Asked by the judge if she wanted to enter a plea, Griner responded, “At this moment, no, your honor. At a later date,” according to Mediazona, an independent news site known for its extensive coverage of high-profile court cases.

Fewer than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, and unlike in U.S. courts, acquittals can be overturned.

Two witnesses were questioned by the prosecution: an airport customs official, who spoke in open court, and an unidentified witness in a closed session. according to the state news agency Ria-novosti. The trial was then adjourned, it said, when two other witnesses did not show up.

Alexander Boykov, an attorney for Griner, said outside court that he did not want to comment “on the specifics of the case and on the charges” because it was too early to do so.

Boykov also told Ria-novosti that she has been exercising and taking walks in the detention area. The Russian website Business FM said that Griner, who smiled at times at reporters, said she wishes she could work out more and that she was struggling because she doesn’t understand Russian. Besides the WNBA’S Mercury, she played in Russia for UMMC Ekaterinburg.

Elizabeth Rood, deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, was in court and said she spoke with Griner, who “is doing as well as can be expected in these difficult circumstances.”

“The Russian Federation has wrongfully detained Brittney Griner,” Rood said. “The practice of wrongful detention is unacceptable wherever it occurs and is a threat to the safety of everyone traveling, working, and living abroad.”

She said the U.S. government, from its highest levels, “is working hard to bring Brittney and all wrongfully detained U.S. nationals home safely.”

BASKETBALL Gobert traded to Timberwolves

Timberwolves president Tim Connelly has been on the job for less than two months, but he made one of the most seismic trades in recent franchise history Friday.

The Wolves dealt multiple players and multiple firstround picks to land one of the NBA’S most effective defensive players in Rudy Gobert, a source with knowledge of the trade confirmed.

As part of the massive deal, the Wolves are sending Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro, recent firstround pick Walker Kessler and four future first-round picks (unprotected 2023, 2025, 2027 picks, and a topfive protected pick in 2029) along with a pick swap in 2026.

• Zach Lavine will remain a Bull after inking a five-year, $215.2 million deal to return to Chicago after his first summer as an unrestricted free agent.

The deal, announced Friday by agency Klutch Sports Group, includes a player option in the fifth year.

Lavine’s contract is the largest in Bulls history. Before this season, the team had never signed a player to more than $100 million at once.

Despite hearing offers throughout the league, Lavine wasn’t featured much in the NBA rumor mill as free agency opened Thursday evening. The guard emphasized his loyalty — sticking with losing programs in Minnesota and Chicago to lead long-term rebuilds — during his media exit interview in April.

Lavine has been the heartbeat of the Bulls roster since he was acquired in a 2017 trade with the Timberwolves.

• The Kings made yet another move to address their need for shooting Friday, acquiring Kevin Huerter in a trade with the Atlanta

Hawks.

The Kings traded Maurice Harkless, Justin Holiday and a protected future first-round draft pick to the Hawks in exchange for Huerter, league sources said.

• The NBA Finals ended on June 16. And on Friday, half a day into free agency and 14 days after that numbing Game 6 loss and admitting he needed shooting, playmaking and depth, Brad Stevens addressed the lion’s share of his needs during an extremely busy morning.

The Celtics bolstered their bench by reaching agreement with Danilo Gallinari, the 33-year-old Italian veteran and a so-called stretch four, and then sent a large trade package to Indiana for point guard Malcom Brogdon.

The Celtics are sending Daniel Theis, Aaron Nesmith, and their 2023 firstround pick, in addition to Nic Stauskas, Juwan Morgan, and Malik Fitts. Stevens was able to land Brogdon, who has three years and $67.6 left on his contract.

Gallinari agreed to a two-year, roughly $13 million contract, via the Celtics’ $6.5 taxpayer mid-level exception.

CYCLING Lampaert wins first stage of Tour de France

Although Belgian rider Yves Lampaert caused a surprise by winning the Tour de France opening stage, two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar wouldn’t have been bothered at finishing third on Friday.

His priority was testing his race legs.

The Quick-step Alpha Vinyl rider was five seconds ahead of countryman Wout van Aert and seven ahead of Pogacar.

HOCKEY Boughner fired as coach of Sharks

San Jose Sharks coach Bob Boughner and his staff were fired two months after the regular season ended, a move the team said it made to clear the decks for the next general manager to pick new leadership behind the bench.

Interim general manager Joe Will informed Boughner, assistants John Maclean and John Madden and video coach Dan Darrow on Thursday night they were being let go. The team announced the changes Friday, with Will linking the decision to the lengthy GM search getting down to a handful of potential candidates.

“We just came to the conclusion that, amongst everything else, we just want this fresh start moving forward with a general manger and a head coach,” Will said during a video news conference. “That will also create the opportunity for the general manager to find their head coach and partner up with them moving forward.”

The organization is still in the middle of a lengthy search for a GM after Doug Wilson stepped down after nearly two decades on the job.

• The Boston Bruins have hired Jim Montgomery as their new coach, giving the hockey lifer another chance at an NHL head-coaching job less than three years since he lost his first one.

Recently extended general manager Don Sweeney announced the hire Friday.

• Flyers goaltender Ivan Fedotov has been detained in Saint Petersburg, Russia, for an alleged evasion of military service, according to a report from Russian news outlet Fontanka.

Fedotov, 25, signed an entry-level contract with the Flyers on May 7 after leading CSKA Moscow to the Gagarin Cup last season, and the Russian Olympic Committee to a silver medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

GOLF Poston has four-shot lead at Deere Classic

J.T. Poston took a fourstroke lead into the weekend in the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic, following an opening 9-under 62 with a 65 on Friday at TPC Deere Run. Poston got to 15 under with a birdie on the par-4 13th and parred the final six holes in the afternoon round.

Denny Mccarthy was second at 11 under after a 65. Christopher Gotterup had a 67 to match Matthias Schwab (65), Emiliano Grillo (64) and Chris Naegel (66) at 10 under.

• The outcry that marked the start of the Saudi Arabia-funded LIV Golf series’ first American stop quieted a bit on Friday, putting the focus on the play at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.

Modest crowds and mild temperatures in the mid70s greeted the players on the upstart series — bankrolled by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund — which is trying to shake up the PGA Tour.

Dustin Johnson, the 2020 Masters winner, shared the lead with Carlos Ortiz of Mexico going into the final round of the 54-hole tournament today. Johnson shot a 4-under 68 to reach 8 under.