LeBron James has ended speculation about his future after agreeing a two-year deal which will see him remain with the Cleveland Cavaliers next season, multiple reports said Thursday.
The NBA superstar has reportedly agreed a contract worth nearly $50 million (Dh183.7m) after opting out of a two-year deal on June 29 to reach free agency.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported on its website that the deal comprised a $23m contract for next season followed by a $24.7 million option for the 2016-2017 season.
James’s opt out decision was widely interpreted as a gambit designed to ensure the Cavaliers sign more top talent for next season after losing this year’s NBA finals.
Earlier this week point guard Mo Williams said he had agreed a deal with the Cavs which would see him reunite with James.
Williams played with James for two seasons between 2008-2010.
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The Cavs have also handed lucrative contracts to forward Kevin Love and point guard Kyrie Irving, further enticing James to stay.
Cleveland is also close to agreeing a new deal with restricted free agent Tristan Thompson, who shares an agent with James, according to reports.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer said Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert had splurged around $330 million on contracts to surround James with a team capable of challenging for the title.
James averaged around 25.3 points and six rebounds per game during the regular season in 2014-15, but sharply improved his numbers during the Cavs playoff challenge.
He averaged 30.1 points per game in the playoffs, which ultimately ended with a 4-2 loss in the Finals to Golden State Warriors.
San Antonio Spurs veteran Tim Duncan agreed to a paycut before re-signing with the team Thursday at $5 million for one year.
The 39-year-old Duncan’s contract also includes and option for the 2016-17 season.
Duncan has played his entire career with the Spurs who made him the first overall pick in the 1997 entry draft.
The Chicago Bulls also made it official by announcing they had re-signed their leading scorer Jimmy Butler for a reported five years and $93 million.
Butler, who was named the league’s Most Improved Player last season, led the Bulls in scoring, averaging 20.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 65 games.
The Los Angeles Lakers were one of the busier teams Thursday, signing three players and trading for centre Roy Hibbert from the Indiana Pacers.
Los Angeles acquired two-time all-star Hibbert for a second-round draft pick. Hibbert spent the past seven seasons with Indiana where he averaged 10.6 points in 76 contests last year.
The Lakers also signed forward Brandon Bass, NBA Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams and second-round draft pick Anthony Brown to multiyear contracts.
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If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Funchal via Lisbon, with a connecting flight with Air Portugal. Economy class returns cost from Dh3,845 return including taxes.
The trip
The WalkMe app can be downloaded from the usual sources. If you don’t fancy doing the trip yourself, then Explore offers an eight-day levada trails tour from Dh3,050, not including flights.
The hotel
There isn’t another hotel anywhere in Madeira that matches the history and luxury of the Belmond Reid's Palace in Funchal. Doubles from Dh1,400 per night including taxes.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The specs: 2018 Kia Picanto
Price: From Dh39,500
Engine: 1.2L inline four-cylinder
Transmission: Four-speed auto
Power: 86hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 122Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0L / 100km
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
Soldier F
“I was in complete disgust at the fact that only one person was to be charged for Bloody Sunday.
“Somebody later said to me, 'you just watch - they'll drop the charge against him'. And sure enough, the charges against Soldier F would go on to be dropped.
“It's pretty hard to think that 50 years on, the State is still covering up for what happened on Bloody Sunday.”
Jimmy Duddy, nephew of John Johnson
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
