Newsmakers

Traded American forward Eddie Johnson is returning to Major League Soccer. Johnson signed with MLS and was selected by Montreal on Friday with the top pick in the league’s allocation process. The expansion Impact then traded Johnson to Seattle for forward Mike Fucito and midfielder Lamar Neagle. Johnson, who turns 28 next month, played in MLS for Dallas (2001-06) and Kansas City (2007-08) before signing in England.

Hired Former Oakland Raiders coach Hue Jackson has been hired as an assistant with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals. On the staff at Cincinnati from 2004-06, Jackson will help with the secondary and special teams, and work with the position coaches for both slots. Jackson was fired after the Raiders missed the AFC playoffs with an 8-8 record last season.

Signed The New York Knicks signed J.R. Smith, who is returning to the NBA after playing in China. The Knicks announced the deal before their game against New Orleans. Smith is a streaky shooter and has averaged 12.5 points in the NBA since he was the No. 18 pick by the Hornets in the 2004 draft. He spent the last five seasons with the Nuggets, twice scoring more than 15 points per game. The Knicks waived forward Renaldo Balkman.

Traded The grandson of Montreal Canadiens legend Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion, Blake Geoffrion, is on his way to Montreal from Nashville along with a second-round draft pick for defenseman Hal Gill and a conditional fifth-round NHL pick. The 23-year-old Geoffrion appeared in 22 games for Nashville this season and had three assists.

Suspended Georgia Tech basketball coach Brian Gregory suspended junior guard Glen Rice Jr. indefinitely. No reason was disclosed. Rice averages 10.4 points per game and eight rebounds per game.

Dismissed Purdue kicked guard Kelsey Barlow off the men’s basketball team and suspended D.J. Byrd for a game following an incident at a bar early Friday. Byrd will miss Sunday’s game against Michigan State.