Report: Warriors tried to acquire LeBron
Draymond Green's longgestating bromance with LeBron James took a more direct turn in the hours before the NBA trade deadline.
Green pushed Warriors owner Joe Lacob to reach out to the Lakers about acquiring James, according to a Wednesday report from ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Adrian Wojnarowski that cited unnamed sources. Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and general manager Rob Pelinka both rebuffed the Warriors' advances, the report says, but Buss referred the Dubs to Rich Paul, James' client, for his thoughts.
Paul, the CEO of Klutch Sports, also happens to represent Green, who reached out to him directly, as did the Warriors. Klutch is known to engineer teamups of its clients, but in this instance, James reportedly declined the Warriors' advances via Paul.
SILVER SAYS VEGAS ON LIST OF EXPANSION CANDIDATES >> NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told ESPN that Las Vegas is “definitely on our list” of cities under consideration for expansion franchises.
The timetable for when the league will add new franchises to its existing group of 30 clubs is unclear. The NBA has another year after this season on its $24 billion, nine-year media rights deal.
KINGS 102, NUGGETS 98 >> De'Aaron Fox had 30 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, Domantas Sabonis had 20 points and 13 rebounds, and Sacramento rallied from a 16-point, second-half deficit to beat Denver
in the final game for both teams before the NBA All-Star break.
Harrison Barnes added 20 points for the Kings.
Baseball
A'S ADD ALEXANDER >> Free agent left-hander Scott Alexander reached agreement on a one-year contract with the A's at the start of spring training, filling a void in a bullpen needing lefties.
Alexander went 7-3 with a 4.66 ERA and one save for San Francisco last season, making eight starts among 55 appearances.