Lakers trade center Gasol
They send veteran to Memphis, clearing room in frontcourt and saving millions in cap space.
The Lakers traded center Marc Gasol to Memphis on Friday, a move that will save them significant money and help clear the logjam created at center with the signings of Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan.
Gasol, 36, joined the Lakers in free agency before last season but struggled to fully integrate. He averaged five points and 4.1 rebounds, eventually losing his starting spot.
The Lakers traded a 2024 second-round pick with Gasol to Memphis for the draft rights to Wang Zhelin, according to a person with knowledge of the deal not authorized to speak publicly. The move saves the Lakers more than $10 million in luxury-tax penalties and creates a roster spot.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Gasol will work with the Grizzlies on a release allowing him to remain in Spain with his family.
Zhelin, a 27-year-old center from China, was a 2016 second-round pick.
Big 12 gets four new members
The Big 12 didn’t even wait for Oklahoma and Texas to leave before expanding and the league may not be done growing after adding Brigham Young, Central Florida, Cincinnati and Houston.
“This was a very clear and relatively easy decision for the eight continuing members of the Big 12,” Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec said after they unanimously approved applications from the four schools that sought membership when the league learned the Sooners and Longhorns will leave for the Southeastern Conference no later than July 2025.
Within hours of the Big 12 vote, all four formally accepted the invitations.
BYU said its sports will begin Big 12 schedules in the 2023-24 season. Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said American Athletic Conference teams UCF, Cincinnati and Houston will join no later than July 1, 2024, but could come a year earlier with BYU.
Reese White ran for three scores, Grayson McCall threw for two more and ran for a third, and No. 17 Coastal Carolina beat Kansas 49-22.
Churchill Downs’ quest to make an example of trainer Bob Baffert for medication infractions escalated when it announced that any points earned by horses “directly or indirectly employed, supervised, or advised by a suspended trainer” in the lead-up to the Kentucky Derby would not be counted. Baffert, suspended two years from running at the Louisville track, is the only trainer who fits that description. Baffert was suspended by Churchill Downs on June 2 despite not being formally charged with any violation in this year’s Kentucky Derby. On May 9, Baffert announced he had been advised that Medina Spirit, this year’s winner, tested positive for betamethasone, a medicine that is legal except on race day. Baffert has been involved in legal fights over the testing of the remaining samples, which has resulted in a delay in filing charges.
— John Cherwa
The NFL suspended Dallas right tackle La’el Collins five games for violating the substance abuse policy . ... Washington receiver Curtis Samuel will miss at least three games after going on injured reserve . ... Other players missing their openers: Minnesota linebacker Anthony Barr (knee); New York Jets receiver Jamison Crowder (COVID-19); Buffalo defensive tackle Star Lotulelei (calf ); and Baltimore running back Gus Edwards and cornerback Marcus Peters, both going on IR with knee injuries. ... Baltimore signed Latavius Murray to the roster and fellow running back Devonta Freeman to the practice squad . ... Cleveland defensive end Jadeveon Clowney returned to practice after an illness and is expected to play Sunday’s opener at Kansas City . ... San Francisco rookie quarterback Trey Lance (finger) was cleared to play the opener at Detroit . ... Tennessee signed ex-Chargers kicker Michael Badgley to the practice squad after adding Sam Ficken (groin) to the injury report.
Cindy Parlow Cone, president of the U.S. Soccer Federation, asked the unions of the women’s and men’s national teams to agree to equal World Cup prize money.
Paul Goydos, Doug Barron and Marco Dawson each shot five-under 66 to share the first-round lead in the PGA Tour Champions’ inaugural Ascension Charity Classic.
Brittany Force broke the speed record at Maple Grove Raceway to lead top fuel qualifying in the Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals.