nba news and notes

Golden State Warriors: Veteran guard Nick Young is getting a new start with Golden State, agreeing to a $5.2 million, one-year contract Wednesday with the champion Warriors Young’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, confirmed the deal in a message to The Associated Press. Warriors general manager Bob Myers also said the team would finalize a contract with Young once the free agency moratorium period concludes Thursday. In addition, forward Omri Casspi is joining the Warriors on a $2,106,470, one-year contract, a person with direct knowledge of the deal said Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity because it hadn’t been announced. This will be the 29-year-old Casspi’s sixth team as he enters his ninth NBA season, including two separate stints in Northern California with the Sacramento Kings. He played for Sacramento, New Orleans and Minnesota last season, averaging 5.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 17.9 minutes. Golden State’s familiar-looking roster is taking shape. Two-time MVP Stephen Curry is back on a record $201 million, five-year contract; NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant agreed Monday to a deal for approximately $53 million over the next two years; 2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala got a three-year contract with $48 million guaranteed; fellow key reserves Shaun Livingston for $24 million and three years, and David West on a one-year deal for the veteran minimum $2.3 million.

New York Knicks: The team has signed first-round draft pick Frank Ntilikina. The Knicks announced the deal Thursday with the No. 8 overall selection. The 6-foot-5 French guard is playing for New York’s summer league team in Orlando, Florida. Born in Belgium, the 18-year-old Ntilikina averaged 5.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 18.5 minutes in 31 games last season for Strasbourg in the French Pro A league.

Dallas Mavericks: The team has signed first-round pick Dennis Smith Jr. to his rookie contract. The deal announced Wednesday came as Smith prepared to join Dallas’ summer league team in Las Vegas. The Mavericks drafted the North Carolina State freshman at No. 9 overall, their highest choice going into the draft since ending up with Dirk Nowitzki from the same spot in 1998. Dallas missed the playoffs for just the second time in 17 seasons. Smith was the Atlantic Coast Conference freshman of the year before declaring for the draft. He reported to N.C. State early in January 2016 after tearing a knee ligament during his senior year in high school. The 19-year-old Smith averaged 18.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 6.2 assists at NC State.

Miami Heat: A person with knowledge of the situation says Dion Waiters is staying in Miami and has agreed on a new four-year, $52 million contract with the Heat. The person spoke to The Associated Press Wednesday on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot be finalized before Thursday, under league rules. Waiters averaged 15.8 points in 46 games last season for the Heat. He was a significant part of how Miami turned its season around after an 11-30 start, going 30-11 in the second half. The Heat were 27-19 when Waiters played, 14-22 when he did not. Waiters missed Miami’s last 13 games with a badly sprained ankle, and the Heat wound up losing a tiebreaker for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. He played for $2.9 million last season.

Brooklyn Nets: Following his best NBA season, Otto Porter Jr. has a big offer to join the Brooklyn Nets. It appears he’ll be staying right where he is in Washington.Porter has agreed to sign an offer sheet with the Nets, a person with knowledge of the details told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The Wizards plan to match the offer and keep Porter, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because contracts can’t be signed until Thursday. The Vertical first reported that Porter had agreed to sign a four-year, $106 million offer sheet with the Nets.

Associated Press