Tony Parker went to San Antonio as a teenager nearly two decades ago Omar Vizquel Jersey , quickly became part of the Spurs’ legendary Big Three and celebrated four championships while wearing silver and black.
He’s not done playing.
He’s just done in San Antonio.
Parker agreed to a two-year, $10 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, ending a 17-year run with the Spurs. And he’s not the only veteran on the move, with Oklahoma City and Carmelo Anthony having mutually agreed they will part ways and Dwight Howard set to sign with the Washington Wizards once he clears waivers.
All of those deals were confirmed Friday to The Associated Press by people involved in the negotiations. Each of the people spoke on condition of anonymity because none of the moves were finalized – but the Parker move was confirmed by Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who thanked his now-former point guard in a statement released by the team.
”It’s difficult to put into words how important Tony Parker has been to the Spurs franchise over the past two decades,” Popovich said. ”From his first game in 2001 at age 19, TP has impressed and inspired us – day-after-day, game-after-game, season-after-season – with his passion, dedication and desire. We are grateful to Tony for 17 years of truly amazing memories.”
The move reunites Parker with new Charlotte coach James Borrego, who most recently was an assistant in San Antonio. And Parker is close friends with Charlotte’s Nicolas Batum, who predictably was thrilled by the news.
Parker averaged career lows of 7.7 points and 19.5 minutes last season, when he lost his starting job. He was part of 137 playoff wins with Popovich, the second most by any coach and player in NBA history. Popovich and Spurs star Tim Duncan combined for 157 playoff wins.
Parker told ESPN that it was a difficult decision, ”but I had to move on.”
Parker was part of the Spurs’ Big Three with Duncan and Manu Ginobili. Duncan has retired, Parker is now gone and Ginobili’s status for next season is unknown.
”The biggest joy for me has been to have the pleasure of watching TP grow up before our eyes,” Popovich said. ”All of us in the Spurs organization will miss having Tony in our program and wish him and his family the best as he continues his remarkable career in Charlotte.”
Parker has also appeared in 17 consecutive postseasons; only Karl Malone and John Stockton’s run of 19 straight playoff trips are longer.
He has his rings.
Anthony and Howard will be on the move, seeking theirs.
Anthony has likely played his last game for the Oklahoma City Thunder – with the sides having mutually decided that he will not be on the team next season. It remains unclear how that departure will actually happen, as in whether it will be through a buyout, the Thunder waiving him or a trade.
Anthony is due to make $28 million this season, his last in a five-year, $125 million contract he signed with New York before getting moved to Oklahoma City. He has said he will not accept a reserve role, and by parting with him – somehow – the Thunder could save more than $90 million in luxury tax payments.
Anthony averaged 16.2 points on 40 percent shooting last season, both career lows. But there will be suitors for him Buffalo Bills Jerseys Womens , with the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets and Miami Heat all believed to have interest.
Howard started Friday on Charlotte’s roster, then was traded to Brooklyn – a deal agreed to days ago, but one that couldn’t be completed until Friday when the league’s offseason moratorium on player movement ended. The Nets will buy him out, which will pave the way for Howard to eventually sign with the Wizards.
A person familiar with the terms told AP that Howard would play on a one-year, $5.3 million deal. Later Friday, ESPN reported that Howard will actually be signing a two-year deal in Washington – with the second year at his option.
Buyout terms with Howard, who was due to make $24 million this season, were progressing Friday and Nets general manager Sean Marks said they should be wrapped up quickly.
”This is something that we mutually want,” Marks said. ”Neither one of us is trying to have this drawn out. I think we’re going to leave on good terms. It’ll hopefully work out for both sides.”
The lifting of the moratorium meant a slew of moves that have been agreed to in recent days could be finalized, such as Paul George’s four-year deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Rajon Rondo’s signing to play with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Rondo agreed to join the Lakers earlier in the week, but couldn’t sign until Friday.
”I love shake-ups in the summertime, as far guys switching teams or the NBA looking a little bit different Jeremiah Attaochu Color Rush Jersey ,” Rondo said not long after putting his signature on his one-year, $9 million deal to join the Lakers – a team he faced twice in the NBA Finals when he played for Boston. ”It’s going to be very interesting this year and I look forward to a lot of exciting basketball.”
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Leading the Bills to their first playoff appearance in 18 years wasn’t enough for Tyrod Taylor to secure his long-term future in Buffalo.
The Bills are starting over at quarterback after agreeing to trade their three-year starter to the Cleveland Browns on Friday, according to two people with direct knowledge of the trade. Cleveland is sending its first pick in the third round to Buffalo.
They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because NFL rules prohibit trades from being announced until next week when free agency opens and the league’s new calendar year begins.
The Browns added a proven starter in Taylor a year after going 0-16 on a day they also traded quarterback DeShone Kizer to the Green Bay Packers.
The Bills, by comparison, elected to move on from a quarterback who didn’t fit their long-term plans.
The Bills were preparing to release Taylor a year ago, before he agreed to restructure his contract by reducing it from a five-year to a two-year term.
General manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott provided no assurances over the past two months that Taylor would remain the team’s starter entering next season.
The trade was made a week before the Bills were due to pay Taylor a $6 million roster bonus.
Taylor’s departure leaves the Bills with a significant hole at the position with Nathan Peterman – a fifth-round draft pick last year – the only quarterback left on their roster.
One option is adding one of the many experienced quarterbacks expected to be available once the free agency period opens.
And then there’s the growing possibility of the Bills selecting one in the draft in April. With the addition of Cleveland’s third-round selection, Buffalo now has two picks in each of the first three rounds, including the 21st and 22nd overall.
The large haul of draft picks provides Beane plenty of assets to use in trades in the event he elects to move up higher in the draft order.
Beane said at the NFL’s rookie combine in Indianapolis 10 days ago that he planned to meet with every quarterback prospect available to be drafted.
The Browns were expected to target a quarterback in free agency, but instead have landed the dynamic Taylor. Cleveland is still expected to take a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft.
Earlier, the Browns worked out a trade with Miami for three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Jarvis Landry.
Though noted for his mobility, Taylor was never able to overcome questions about his deficiencies as a passer and performing in the clutch in posting a 23-21 record in Buffalo.
Following two consecutive losses that dropped Buffalo’s record to 5-4 last season, McDermott made what he called a ”calculated risk” to bench Taylor in favor of the raw and untested Peterman. The decision backfired immediately after Peterman threw five interceptions in the first half of a 54-24 loss at the Los Angeles Chargers.
Taylor regained the starting job the following week and finished the season winning three of his final five starts, with both losses coming against New England. He then went 17 of 37 for 134 yards passing and an interception before being sidelined by a concussion in the final minutes of Buffalo’s 10-3 loss to Jacksonville in an AFC wild-card playoff game.
McDermott said that while cutting Taylor was not part of the team’s current plans, he wouldn’t rule out trading the quarterback.
Taylor’s mobility was his strength. He set Bills records for yards rushing among quarterbacks in each of his first two seasons.
He was, however, inconsistent in the passing attack in drawing criticism for being hesitant in the pocket and failing to find open receivers downfield. Including his one playoff start, Taylor was 2-14 when attempting 30 or more passes.
Taylor was at least an efficient quarterback by throwing 51 touchdowns versus just 14 interceptions in 44 games with Buffalo.
The Bills finished last season 29th in total yards and 31st in yards passing.
Not all of Buffalo’s offensive struggles could be blamed entirely on Taylor given the Bills’ patchwork and injury-depleted group of receivers. Jordan Matthews and Kelvin Benjamin, both acquired in trades, missed significant stretches because of injuries.
The quarterback change comes at a time McDermott has shuffled his offensive coaching staff. Rick Dennison was fired after just one season as coordinator and replaced by Brian Daboll, who spent last season overseeing national champion Alabama’s offense. Daboll also has extensive NFL experience, including offensive coordinator jobs with the Browns, Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins.
Taylor signed with Buffalo as a free agent in 2015 after spending his first four NFL seasons serving as Joe Flacco’s backup in Baltimore. He then emerged as the Bills season-opening starter after winning a three-way competition between Matt Cassel and returning starter EJ Manuel.
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AP Sports Writer Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed to this report.