Former Warriors assistant Collins joins Pelicans
Former Warriors assistant coach Jarron Collins is joining the New Orleans Pelicans as their lead assistant coach, the club announced Wednesday.
The 42-year-old Collins, who left the Warriors two months ago to pursue a head coaching job or lead assistant’s role, is rejoining new Pelicans head coach Willie Green, another former Warriors assistant.
In addition, the Pelicans hired veteran former NBA coach Mike D’Antoni as a coaching adviser. 76ERS SIGN CENTER ANDRE DRUMMOND >> The Philadelphia 76ers have signed nine-year veteran center Andre Drummond. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Drummond joins Philadelphia after splitting the 2020-21 season with Cleveland and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 6-foot-10, 279-pound Drummond, a two-time All-Star, appeared in 46 games (all starts) last season and averaged 14.9 points, 12.0 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks in 27.0 minutes per outing.
WALKER HEADED HOME TO PLAY FOR KNICKS >> Kemba Walker and the Oklahoma City Thunder have agreed to a buyout of the final two years of his contract, and once that is completed the four-time All-Star guard will sign with the New York Knicks, a person with knowledge of the situation said.
Walker — who was born in the Bronx — and the Thunder have been working on the buyout parameters in recent days.
Walker is owed nearly $74 million for the next two seasons, including a $37.6 million option that he held for 2022-23. He never played for the Thunder, who acquired him in a trade with Boston in June in the deal that sent Al Horford back to the Celtics.
Football
JETS SIGN OAKLAND’S JOSH JOHNSON AS QB BACKUP >> The New York Jets signed well-traveled veteran quarterback Josh Johnson of Oakland, giving them an experienced backup behind rookie Zach Wilson.
The 35-year-old Johnson has played for both the 49ers and Raiders and fills a void in the Jets’ quarterbacks room, which had Wilson, Mike White and James Morgan — none of whom has taken a regularseason snap in an NFL game.
Johnson has played in 33 games with eight starts. He has 1,632 yards passing with eight touchdowns and 14 interceptions while serving mostly as a backup throughout his career. RIVERS NOT RULING OUT LATE-SEASON RETURN TO NFL >> Philip Rivers is about to embark on his first season
as a high school head coach in Alabama but the eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback isn’t ruling out a return to the NFL later this season.
The 39-year-old Rivers retired seven months ago after 17 stellar NFL seasons, but he told the Los Angeles Times that he isn’t closing the door on playing this season.
“I’m just going to stay ready,” Rivers said. “I want to make sure I’m very clear: I’m not predicting I will play in December or January, for that matter. One, you’ve got to have somebody who wants you, and two, it’s got to be right.
“But I have not completely ruled that out.”
Tennis COLLINS, STEPHENS ADVANCE IN SAN JOSE >>
Seventh-seeded Danielle Collins and Sloane Stephens prevailed in all-U.S. matchups, advancing to the second round in San Jose.
Collins got past Shelby Rogers 6-4, 6-3 after Stephens topped Caty McNally 6-4, 6-2.
Collins is just a week removed from winning the first WTA Tour title of her career, when she captured a clay-court championship at Palermo, Italy. Stephens owns six career WTA crowns, but none since the 2018 Miami Open.
Also earning first-round wins were eighth-seeded Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan, France’s Kristina Mladenovic, the United States’ Claire Liu and Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic. KRUNIC UPSETS BOGDAN AT WINNERS OPEN >> Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia recorded a 6-3, 6-3 upset of thirdseeded Ana Bodgan of Romania in the second round of the Winners
Open in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Soccer
EARTHQUAKES STAR COWELL MAKES ALL-STAR ROSTER >> Cade Cowell, the San Jose Earthquakes’ emerging 17-year-old star forward, was named to the MLS All-Star team that will face Liga MX All-Stars on Aug. 25 in Los Angeles.
The MLS released its roster for the contest at Banc of California Stadium. The 28-player roster consists of 13 selections voted in by a combination of fans, players and media; 13 more by Los Angeles FC coach Bob Bradley; and two by MLS commissioner Don Garber.
Cowell was one of Garber’s two choices for the team. The Seattle Sounds are represented by a leaguehigh six players.
College sports
NCAA RECOMMENDS COVID TESTING ONLY FOR UNVACCINATED >> Unvaccinated college athletes should be tested weekly for COVID-19, wear masks in most situations and be quarantined if exposed to the virus, while vaccinated individuals should not be tested routinely, according to the NCAA’s latest health and safety recommendations released.
The updated guidance mostly follow CDC recommendations and come as football practice starts across the country.
The NCAA recommends fully vaccinated individuals not be subjected surveillance testing before or during the season unless they exhibit symptoms, or based on a risk assessment of a documented close contact with COVID-19.