ESPN: Budenholzer is set to take over Bucks
Mike Budenholzer was out of work for 20 days. The former Atlanta Hawks coach reached an agreement to become the next coach of the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, according to a report by ESPN. The Hawks and Budenholzer mutually agreed to part ways on April 26 after the former NBA coach of the year interviewed with the Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks despite having two years and $14 million remaining on his contract in Atlanta. Although the financial details of their departure agreement are not known, the Hawks are expected to recoup some of the money owed to Budenholzer now that he has another job. The Hawks hired Budenholzer in May 2013. In his five seasons with the Hawks, he compiled a 213-197 record, leading the team to 60 wins and a berth in the Eastern Conference finals in the 2014-15 season. On Monday, the Hawks introduced former Philadelphia 76ers assistant Lloyd Pierce as their coach. The Hawks are in the midst of a rebuild with a stripped-down roster that went 24-58 last season.
BASKETBALL
› NEW YORK — James Harden (Houston Rockets), LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) and defensive standout Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans) are the finalists for the NBA’s season MVP award. Harden, who led the league in scoring during the regular season, has twice been a runner-up for the award, including last year, when Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook won. James has won the MVP award four times. The three finalists for the individual awards were announced Wednesday. The winner will be announced June 25.
FOOTBALL
› NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms with veteran wide receiver Nick Williams. The team announced the deal Wednesday. The 5-foot-10, 184-pound Williams has played 22 games in his NFL career, spending the past three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons after playing for the Washington Redskins in 2013. He has 28 catches for 263 yards and two touchdowns. His best season (17 catches, 159 yards, two touchdowns) came in 2015, when current Titans offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur was Atlanta’s quarterbacks coach. LaFleur was also Washington’s quarterbacks coach when Williams was signed as a free agent. Williams had 43 catches for 588 yards in 42 games at the University of Connecticut, where he also returned kicks and punts, scoring four touchdowns.
› CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers are off the market. Officials announced Wednesday they have signed a “definitive agreement” to sell the team to David Tepper, the founder and president of global hedge fund Appaloosa Management. The deal is subject to NFL approval, and league owners will meet next week in Atlanta, where they are expected to vote on the purchase. Since Tepper already has been vetted by the league as a minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the approval process is not expected to run into any snags. The transaction is expected to close in July, the team announced. Tepper said Wednesday in a release that he’s thrilled to become the next owner of the Panthers. Tepper has a net worth of more than $11 billion, according to Forbes. He is paying an NFL-record $2.2 billion to purchase the team, according to two people familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the team didn’t release the selling price of the franchise. The release didn’t mention if Tepper plans to move the team or keep it in Charlotte.