THE HOT CORNER

1 PRO BASKETBALL: The Dallas Mavericks released J. J. Barea on Thursday, turning loose the last piece of the franchise’s 2011 championship team to give the veteran guard a chance to continue his playing career. Barea, 36, didn’t rule out a return to the Mavericks based on the uncertainty of the upcoming season over COVID- 19 issues. Barea said he had heard from other organizations since news of his release broke.

2 PRO BASEBALL: Infielder Nate Lowe was traded from the AL champion Tampa Bay Rays to the Texas Rangers on Thursday for minor league catcher and outfielder Heriberto Hernandez. Tampa Bay also acquired minor league infielder Osleivis Basabe and minor league outfielder Alexander Ovalles, and Texas obtained minor league first baseman Jake Guenther and a player to be named.

3 PRO FOOTBALL: The Buffalo Bills signed general manager Brandon Beane to a contract extension on Thursday, locking up the architect of a team in position to secure its third playoff berth in four years. The length of the contract was not announced, though it’s likely to coincide with coach Sean Mcdermott, who was signed to a four- year extension that runs through the 2025 season.

4 PRO FOOTBALL: Christian Mccaffrey seems likely to spend another week watching from the sideline. The 2019 All- Pro running back did not practice Thursday and Panthers coach Matt Rhule said “at this point, I do not expect him to play” on Sunday against the Denver Broncos. The fourth- year running back tweaked his thigh while working out last week and hasn’t been right since.

5 TENNIS: Alex Olmedo, who won the Wimbledon and Australian Championships singles titles in 1959 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987, has died. He was 84. The Hall of Fame said Olmedo died of brain cancer on Wednesday.