Newsmakers

Signed Basketball phenom Jeremy Tyler, an 18-year-old who is skipping his senior year at San Diego High, has signed a one-year contract with Maccabi Haifa of the Israeli Premier League. Tyler is the first American-born player to leave high school early to play basketball professionally overseas. The contract is worth $140,000. Tyler is expected to return to the United States when he becomes eligible for the 2011 NBA draft.

•The Edmonton Oilers signed defenseman Ladislav Smid to a two-year contract and agreed to one-year, two-way deals with forwards Gilbert Brule and Ryan Stone. Smid, 23, set career highs in assists and points with 11 last season. •The Cleveland Cavaliers signed free-agent forward Leon Powe, who as a youth played with LeBron James on several AAU teams, to a two-year contract. Powe, who averaged 7.7 points in 70 games with the Boston Celtics last season, tore the ACL in his left knee during the playoffs and had reconstructive surgery on May 5. It was the third major medical procedure Powe has endured on the knee. He isn’t expected to be ready to play for the Cavaliers until February.

Waived The Denver Broncos have waived oft-injured running back Ryan Torain, who was diagnosed with a strained knee ligament. A fifth-round pick last season after an injury-plagued career at Arizona State, Torain missed almost all of last season. Torain was having a decent training camp but was stuck in a crowded backfield that includes top draft pick Knowshon Moreno, free agents Correll Buckhalter and LaMont Jordan and holdover Peyton Hillis. The Broncos signed running back Marcus Thomas to take his spot on the 80-man roster.

Agreed The New Orleans Hornets have agreed to trade starting shooting guard Rasual Butler to the Los Angeles Clippers for a future second-round draft choice. The move opens opportunities for competition at the spot between Julian Wright, veteran Morris Peterson and rookie Marcus Thornton.