NBA players get letter covering mental health

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts sent a letter to players around the league reminding them that help with their mental wellness is available.

The letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press after it was distributed Tuesday, also tells players that the NBA and NBPA will continue supporting any efforts to spur positive change off the court.

Several players including All-stars Kevin Love and Demar Derozan last season revealed and detailed their struggles with mental health. Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue also said during the NBA Finals that he was treated for anxiety last season.

Silver and Roberts said that it’s critical to know “that it’s a sign of strength, not weakness, to ask for help.”

76ers: Philadelphia made Elton Brand their new general manager, replacing Bryan Colangelo, according to The Associated Press.

Colangelo resigned in June as the 76ers’ president of basketball operations after what an investigation concluded was “careless and in some instances reckless” sharing of sensitive team information on Twitter. Brand had worked for the Sixers as vice president of operations and also served as the general manager of the Delaware Blue Coats, the 76ers’ G League affiliate.

Raptors: Kawhi Leonard has yet to address the media in Toronto since his trade to the Raptors, but team president

Masai Ujiri said his star acquisition is happy and healthy.

“He is determined and seems in the right frame of mind,” Ujiri said. “You will be hearing from him shortly. I think there is a fire inside of him and we are all excited about that.”

Heat: Miami guard Dion Waiters will begin this season as he finished last season — unable to play.

The team announced Waiters has not recovered sufficiently enough from left ankle surgery to be ready for the start of training camp next week. Heat President Pat Riley said it’s unlikely that