LeBron James opts our of contract with Cavaliers, will become free agent on July 1

"Pro Court Report" Staff Report

CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James on Wednesday opted out of the year of his contract and will become a free agent on July 1.

Since James returned to Cleveland in 2014, he has signed two contracts, opting out after the first season of each one to take advantage of an escalating salary cap.

James could sign a two-year deal worth $64.2 million and opt after next season to again take advantage of the increasing salary cap.

If James opts out following the 2016-17 season, Cleveland will have full Bird rights and can sign James to a long-term deal approaching $160 million.

2016 NBA Draft Pick and Trade Results

PICK RESULTS:

Round 1

Philadelphia 76ers: Ben Simmons, F (LSU)
Los Angeles Lakers: Brandon Ingram, SF (Duke)
Boston Celtics (via Nets): Jaylen Brown, SF (California)
Phoenix Suns: Dragan Bender, PF (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
Minnesota Timberwolves: Kris Dunn, PG (Providence)
New Orleans Pelicans: Buddy Hield, SG (Oklahoma)
Denver Nuggets (via Knicks): Jamal Murray, G (Kentucky)
Phoenix Suns (via Kings): Marquese Chriss, PF (Washington)
Toronto Raptors (via Nuggets): Jakob Poeltl, C (Utah)
Milwaukee Bucks: Thon Maker, PF (HS)
Oklahoma City Thunder (via Magic): Domantas Sabonis, PF/C (Gonzaga)
Atlanta Hawks (via Jazz): Taurean Prince, SF (Baylor)
Sacramento Kings (via Wizards and Suns): Georgios Papagiannis, C (Panathinaikos)
Chicago Bulls: Denzel Valentine, SG (Michigan State)
Denver Nuggets (via Rockets): Juan Hernangomez, F (Estudiantes)
Boston Celtics (via Mavericks): Guerschon Yabusele, PF (Rouen)
Memphis Grizzlies: Wade Baldwin, G (Vanderbilt)
Detroit Pistons: Henry Ellenson, PF (Marquette)
Denver Nuggets (via Trail Blazers): Malik Beasley, SG (Florida State)
Brooklyn Nets (via Pacers): Caris LeVert, G (Michigan)
Atlanta Hawks: DeAndre’ Bembry, SF (St. Joseph’s)
Sacramento Kings (via Hornets): Malachi Richardson, G/F (Syracuse)
Boston Celtics: Ante Zizic, C (Cibona Zagreb)
Philadelphia 76ers (via Heat): Timothe Luwawu, G/F (Mega Leks)
Los Angeles Clippers: Brice Johnson, PF (North Carolina)
Philadelphia 76ers (via Thunder): Furkan Korkmaz, SG (Anadolu Efes)
Toronto Raptors: Pascal Siakam, PF (New Mexico State)
Sacramento Kings (via Cavaliers and Suns): Skal Labissiere, PF/C (Kentucky)
San Antonio Spurs: Dejounte Murray, G (Washington)
Golden State Warriors: Damian Jones, C (Vanderbilt)

Round 2

Memphis Grizzlies (via 76ers and Celtics): Deyonta Davis, PF/C (Michigan State)
Los Angeles Lakers: Ivica Zubac, C (Mega Leks)
New Orleans Pelicans (via Nets and Clippers): Cheick Diallo, PF/C (Kansas)
Phoenix Suns: Tyler Ulis, PG (Kentucky)
Memphis Grizzlies (via Timberwolves and Celtics): Rade Zagorac, SF (Mega Leks)
Milwaukee Bucks (via Pelicans): Malcolm Brogdon, SG (Virginia)
Houston Rockets (via Knicks): Chinanu Onuaku, C (Louisville)
Golden State Warriors (from Bucks): Patrick McCaw, SG (UNLV)
Los Angeles Clippers (via Nuggets and Pelicans): David Michineau, PG (Chalon)
Los Angeles Clippers (via Kings and Pelicans): Diamond Stone, C (Maryland)
Orlando Magic: Stephen Zimmerman, C (UNLV)
Brooklyn Nets (via Jazz): Isaiah Whitehead, SG (Seton Hall)
Houston Rockets: Zhou Qi, C (Xinjiang)
Atlanta Hawks (via Wizards): Isaia Cordinier, SG (Denain)
Boston Celtics (via Grizzlies): Demetrius Jackson, PG (Notre Dame)
Dallas Mavericks: A.J. Hammons, C (Purdue)
Portland Trail Blazers (via Bulls and Magic): Jake Layman, SF (Maryland)
Chicago Bulls (via Trail Blazers): Paul Zipser, SF (Bayern Muenchen)
Detroit Pistons: Michael Gbinije, G/F (Syracuse)
Indiana Pacers: Georges Niang, F (Iowa State)
Boston Celtics (via Heat): Ben Bentil, PF (Providence)
Utah Jazz (via Celtics): Joel Bolomboy, PF (Weber State)
Denver Nuggets (via Hornets): Petr Cornelie, PF (Le Mans)
Cleveland Cavaliers (via Hawks): Kay Felder, PG (Oakland)
Utah Jazz (via Clippers and Nets): Marcus Paige, PG (North Carolina)
Oklahoma City Thunder (via Thunder and Nuggets): Daniel Hamilton, SG (UConn)
Memphis Grizzlies (via Raptors): Wang Zhelin, C (Fujian)
Boston Celtics (via Cavaliers): Abdel Nader, F (Iowa State)
Sacramento Kings (via Spurs): Isaiah Cousins, SG (Oklahoma)
Utah Jazz (via Warriors): Tyrone Wallace, PG (California)

TRADES:
Official:

Magic acquire Serge Ibaka from Thunder

Magic acquire F/C Serge Ibaka.
Thunder acquire G Victor Oladipo, F Ersan Ilyasova, and draft rights to F/C Domantas Sabonis (No. 11 pick).
Suns acquire draft rights to Marquese Chriss from Kings

Suns acquire draft rights to F Marquese Chriss (No. 8 pick).
Kings acquire draft rights to C Georgios Papagiannis (No. 13 pick) and F/C Skal Labissiere (No. 28 pick), rights to Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Pistons’ 2020 second-round pick.
Grizzlies acquire draft rights to Deyonta Davis from Celtics

Grizzlies acquire draft rights to F/C Deyonta Davis (No. 31 pick) and F Rade Zagorac (No. 35 pick).
Celtics acquire Clippers’ 2019 first-round pick (includes protections).
Pelicans acquire draft rights to Cheick Diallo from Clippers

Pelicans acquire draft rights to F/C Cheick Diallo (No. 33 pick).
Clippers acquire draft rights to G David Michineau (No. 39 pick) and C Diamond Stone (No. 40 pick).
Warriors acquire draft rights to Patrick McCaw from Bucks

Warriors acquire draft rights to G Patrick McCaw (No. 38 pick).
Bucks receive $2.4MM in cash.
Nets acquire draft rights to Isaiah Whitehead from Jazz

Nets acquire draft rights to G Isaiah Whitehead (No. 42 pick).
Jazz acquire draft rights to G Marcus Paige (No. 55 pick) and cash.
Trail Blazers acquire draft rights to Jake Layman from Magic

Trail Blazers acquire draft rights to F Jake Layman (No. 47 pick).
Magic acquires a 2019 second-round pick and $1.2MM in cash.
Cavaliers acquire draft rights to Kay Felder from Hawks

Cavaliers acquire draft rights to G Kay Felder (No. 54 pick)
Hawks acquire $2.4MM in cash.
Thunder acquire draft rights to Daniel Hamilton from Nuggets

Thunder acquire draft rights to G Daniel Hamilton (No. 56 pick).
Nuggets acquire cash.

Not yet official:

Pacers to acquire Thaddeus Young from Nets

Pacers acquire F Thaddeus Young.
Nets acquire No. 20 overall pick (used to select G Caris LeVert).
Hornets to acquire Marco Belinelli from Kings

Hornets acquire G Marco Belinelli.
Kings acquire No. 22 overall pick (used to select G/F Malachi Richardson).

Thunder, Magic trade during NBA Draft

BROOKLYN, NY – The Orlando Magic on Thursday with the 11th-overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft selected Domantas Sabonis.

But the big news of the night with the Magic was the Oklahoma City Thunder have traded Serge Ibaka to the Orlando Magic, league sources told Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski. 

Orlando will send Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova and rights to Sabonis to the Thunder.

Ibaka, 26, was the 24th pick of the 2008 NBA draft. He averaged 12.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks this season.

Jaylen Brown selected by Celtics at No. 3

BROOKLYN, NY – On Thursday, with the third-overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics selected Jaylen Brown.

"I'm glad I ended up where I am," says Brown. "I'm still a kid. I'm only 19 and sometimes we forget that. Just be a kid, just be yourself."

Lakers select Brandon Ingram at No. 2 overall

BROOKLYN, NY – The Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday with the No. 2 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft selected Brandon Ingram.

 "Going into Duke I was shy, not very vocal," says Ingram. "I'll try to do my best."

76ers take Ben Simmons first overall

BROOKLYN, NY – The Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday selected Ben Simmons with the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

"I'm happy the Sixers chose me," Simmons said after he was selected. "I've been working so hard."

"I'm comfortable with the (Sixers') system, great coaches, great people."

Knicks acquire Derrick Rose from Bulls

"Pro Court Report" Staff Report

The New York Knicks on Wednesday acquired Derrick Rose from the Chicago Bulls, according to reports.

“Derrick is one of the top point guards in the NBA who is playoff-battle-tested,” Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek said on Wednesday.


"He adds a whole new dynamic to our roster and immediately elevates our backcourt.”

The Bulls are receiving Robin Lopez, Jerian Grant and Jose Calderon, according to the report.

The Knicks are also getting Justin Holiday and a 2017 second-round pick.