Al Horford Opts Out of Contract

Al Horford is officially a free agent.

The Boston Celtics center will not exercise his $30.1 million option for the 2019-20 season and will become an unrestricted free agent, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Boston Celtics center Al Horford will not exercise the $30.1M option on his 2019-20 contract and become an unrestricted free agent, league sources tell ESPN. Horford and the Celtics both have interest in working toward a new deal in July, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 18, 2019

Horford has spent the last three seasons with the Celtics after signing with the franchise in 2016. He earned an All-Star nod in his second season with the Celtics and played a critical role in their consecutive runs to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017 and 2018.

Horford declined his $30.1 million player option. (AP Photo)

Before joining Boston, Horford played the first nine years of his career with the Atlanta Hawks, attaining four All-Star selections.

Reports initially claimed that the 33-year-old five-time All-Star was interested in returning to Boston on a new contract. Horford could help Boston's salary-cap flexibility by inking a new, less expensive deal. However, according to Wojnarowski, the two sides could not come to an agreement and Horford is now expected to leave the Celtics and find a new home in free agency. 

Horford averaged 13.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.3 blocks in 29 minutes per contest last season.

Pelicans Set High Asking Price for Anthony Davis

The New Orleans Pelicans have set forth their desires for a trade for six-time All-Star Anthony Davis. Pelicans’ executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin is looking to acquire a current All-Star, a future one and two first-round picks in exchange for Davis, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Griffin told teams he prefers to make the trade before the NBA Draft on June 20. To this point, the teams who have inquired about Davis (since the end of the regular season) include the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers.

Davis wants out of New Orleans after spending the first seven seasons of his career with the franchise (Seth Wenig/AP)

The only team, however, that could deliver a trade package to fit the Pelicans’ massive asking price is the Boston Celtics. They could offer Gordon Hayward or Al Horford (assuming he opts into the final year of his contract), Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum and two of the three first-round selections they own for the upcoming draft in a potential deal. Problem is, the Celtics will be hesitant to give away all these assets for Davis—an unrestricted free agent after next season—unless they can agree on a long-term extension with All-Star Guard Kyrie Irving, who could leave Boston in free agency.

Given the unlikelihood that one team can fulfill the Pelicans’ needs, Griffin has made it known he is open to multi-team trade scenarios that could redirect assets for players or draft selections, according to Wojnarowski.

The Pelicans plan to build around a nucleus of Jrue Holiday, Zion Williamson (who they plan on selecting with the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft) and the assets they acquire in the Davis trade.

Lopez, Bucks Rally Past Raptors in Game 1

The Milwaukee Bucks pulled out a 108-100 win over the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals at the Fiserv Forum. Brook Lopez scored a team-high 29 points for Milwaukee, which trailed 83-76 entering the fourth quarter but opened the period on a 20-8 run and never looked back.

Lopez grabbed 11 rebounds, blocked four shots and added two assists in the victory. He scored 13 in the fourth quarter to spearhead the Bucks' comeback.  

Brook Lopez is making $3 million this season. Tonight, he was incredible for the Bucks in their Game 1 win over the Raptors.

29 points
12-21 FG
4 3PT
11 rebounds

His resurgence this season has been unbelievable. #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/JfSsgdhwLB

— Tony Dombrowski (@tonydombrowski) May 16, 2019

He hit three 3's in the final period, the biggest coming with under two minutes to play to give the Bucks a four-point advantage.

Brook Lopez scored a playoff career-high 29 points in Game 1. (Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images)

Despite going 6-for-35 from three-point range in the first three quarters, the Bucks managed to sustain homecourt advantage in the series. They connected on five of nine treys in the final frame. They also withstood a 30-point effort from Kyle Lowry, who drained 7-of-9 shots from three-point territory. Kawhi Leonard posted a game-high 31 points, while Pascal Siakam added 15 points with six rebounds.

MVP favorite Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 24 points and a game-best 14 rebounds. Khris Middleton corralled 11 rebounds and registered 11 points.

The Bucks got a spark off their bench from guard Malcolm Brogdon, the 2017 Rookie of the Year. Brogdon, 26, suffered a foot injury last month and did not return until the final game of the Bucks’ conference semifinal series against the Boston Celtics.

Brogdon accumulated 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting, while grabbing three rebounds and dishing three assists in 27 minutes. 

The Bucks are clicking 🤯🔨#FearTheDeer | #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Ta5wiScE69

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 16, 2019

The Bucks closed the contest on a 10-0 run. Game 2 is Friday night in Milwaukee.

Jokic, Murray Lead Nuggets to Series-Tying Win

Less than 48 hours removed from a heartbreaking four-overtime loss, the Denver Nuggets secured a gusty 116-112 road victory over the Portland Trail Blazers to even the Western Conference Semifinals series at two games apiece.

Nikola Jokic registered his fourth triple-double of the postseason with a 21-point, 12-rebound, 11-assist performance. Jokic fought through fatigue and posted his second consecutive triple-double, having played 65 minutes in Friday's 4-OT loss.

Nuggets even their series by def. Trail Blazers 116-112 in Game 4.

Nikola Jokic is now the 7th player with 4 triple-doubles in a single postseason in NBA history, joining Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, LeBron James, Rajon Rondo & Jason Kidd. (h/t @EliasSports) pic.twitter.com/oX4jltr6qm

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 6, 2019

Jamal Murray scored a game-best 34 points in the win.  The Nuggets outscored the Trail Blazers 27-14 in the third quarter, before holding on in the final frame behind some clutch free throw shooting. Murray knocked down all 11 of his free throw attempts, including six in the waning minutes of action. He has scored over 30 points in back-to-back games, the first Nuggets player to accomplish this feat in the postseason since Carmelo Anthony did so in 2010.

Jamal Murray outplayed Damian Lillard in Denver's Game 4 victory. (Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

CJ McCollum recorded 29 points and Damian Lillard scored 28 for the Trail Blazers, who lost at home for the first time this postseason. Seth Curry scored 16 off the bench—14 coming in the second quarter in which he hit four 3's.

Paul Millsap logged his third straight double-double, producing 21 points and corralling 10 rebounds in the Game 4 win.

The Nuggets received a major scare when Jokic limped off the court in the final minutes with a leg injury, but he returned on the next possession. 

Head coach Michael Malone dismissed the ailment afterward, saying, "He just got kneed, nothing serious." 

The Nuggets return home for Game 5 on Tuesday.

Patriots Draft Arizona State WR N'Keal Harry

The New England Patriots selected Arizona State wide receiver N'Keal Harry with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Harry (6’3/228) is a physical 21-year-old wideout who maximizes his size and athleticism.

Harry addresses a major need for the Patriots, who lost Rob Gronkowski (retirement) and Chris Hogan (free agency) in the offseason. With WR Josh Gordon suspended indefinitely, Harry has the opportunity to make an immediate impact in his rookie season in New England.

The Patriots selected ASU's N'Keal Harry with their first pick of the 2019 NFL Draft. (Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)

In three years with the Sun Devils, Harry, a two-time All-Pac-12 selection, logged 2,889 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns. He averaged 13.6 yards per reception and caught 85% of his targets. Harry recorded an impressive 7.1 yards-after-catch (YAC) this past season.

#ArizonaState WR N'Keal Harry is a unique player. He's built like a downfield threat as a jump ball guy but he might be the best YAC receiver in the class. He's impossible to bring down because of his frame/strength and his moves and vision in the open field are superb. pic.twitter.com/0TIs8gYPj4

— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) February 9, 2019

A versatile player, Harry can line up as an outside receiver and in the slot. He is an elite route runner who has great hands.

Good night.@NkealHarry15 | #PatsDraft
pic.twitter.com/jKPKkabsRb

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 26, 2019

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will love throwing to Harry. According to Pro Football Focus, Harry had the third-most contested catches in the NCAAF over the past two seasons and ranked first with a 57.5 contested catch percentage.

Harry is the first wide receiver taken in the first round in the Bill Belichick era. The last time the Patriots picked a wideout in the first round was 1996, when they drafted Terry Glenn with the 7th overall pick. Harry was one of just two receivers selected in the opening round of the 2019 NFL Draft, as the Baltimore Ravens nabbed Oklahoma WR Marquise Brown with the 25^th overall pick.

Panthers Sign Chris Hogan

The Carolina Panthers have signed veteran free-agent receiver Chris Hogan to a one-year deal, according to multiple reports. Hogan spent the previous three years with the New England Patriots, reaching the Super Bowl in each season and winning the Lombardi Trophy twice.

Hogan struggled as the Patriots' featured wideout in 2018 when Julian Edelman was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances. Having trouble breaking through the Patriots' undermanned receiver corps all year, Hogan caught just 35 passes and three TDs. He did turn those catches into 532 yards (15.2 yards per reception) and remained a deep-threat option because of his physical frame. The 6'1"/215 lb wideout could provide a red zone option for Panthers QB Cam Newton.

Turning 32 in October, Hogan will be the oldest wide receiver on Carolina's roster. D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel are the featured wideouts for the Panthers, while Hogan and 30-year-old Torrey Smith will play complementary roles.

Hogan accumulated 107 receptions for 1,651 yards and 12 touchdowns in 40 regular-season games for the Patriots from 2016-18 . 

Hogan will be best remembered for his incredible performance in the 2016 AFC Championship against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the Patriots' victory over the Steelers, Hogan registered nine receptions for 180 yards—a single-game playoff franchise record for receiving yards—with two touchdowns.

Kings Fire Dave Joerger

The Sacramento Kings fired head coach Dave Joerger on Thursday, less than 24 hours after the conclusion of the NBA's 2018-19 season. The Kings exceeded expectations, compiling a 39-43 record—their best mark since 2005-06—but Joerger was still let go with just one year remaining on his contract.

Joerger was fired after three seasons as Sacramento's head coach. (Gary A. Vasquez/USA Today Sports)

General manager Vlade Divac fired Joerger, who coached the Kings to a 98-148 record across three seasons. Sacramento was in the playoff hunt for much of the season, but stumbled down the stretch and won just nine of its final 25 games after the All-Star break.

"This year was a good season, but I think we could do more, especially after All-Star break," Divac said.

"After the All-Star break, I felt very confident we'd be in the race, and we were in the race," he said. "Unfortunately, we fell short."

Axing Joerger took many by surprise, especially with the franchise seemingly trending in the right direction. They have built a strong, young nucleus led by rising star De'Aaron Fox, leading scorer Buddy Hield and Marvin Bagley III, who had a terrific rookie campaign. 

With Fox spearheading the offense, the Kings upped their tempo dramatically from a season ago. The Kings averaged 114.2 points per contest, the ninth-best mark in the NBA. It was an increase of 15.4 points from last year when they finished last in the league at 98.8 points per game.

A rejuvenated offensive attack, a 12-win increase from the year prior and the franchise's best overall season in 13 years was evidently not enough to save Joerger's job.

Before his stint in Sacramento, Joerger previously coached the Memphis Grizzlies for three years, reaching the playoffs in each season. Joerger holds an overall record of 245-247 as an NBA head coach.