Ex-Sonic Lewis latest shooter to join Heat
NBA: Rashard Lewis has decided to join the Miami Heat, becoming yet another shooting option for the reigning NBA champions.
Agent Tony Dutt said the free-agent forward and the Heat agreed to terms on Tuesday, and Lewis is expected to sign his contract today in Miami. Lewis’ decision comes just four days after Ray Allen agreed to accept an offer from Miami.
Allen and Lewis were Seattle teammates for five seasons, from 2003 through 2007 – and both figure to fit perfectly into Miami’s plan to surround LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh with even more shooters who can stretch defenses.
Allen’s 2,718 made 3-pointers are the most in NBA history, and Lewis ranks fifth among active players with 1,690 makes from beyond the arc.
Slowed by left knee problems this past season, Lewis averaged 7.8 points in 28 games for Washington. For his career, he’s averaged 16.1 points per game with Seattle, Orlando and Washington.
In other NBA news:
• Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Clippers officially agreed to a five-year contract extension that could be worth as much as $95 million, the Los Angeles Times confirmed.
• Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs reached three-year deal worth $36 million, according to Yahoo Sports!
• The Golden State Warriors agreed to trade Dorell Wright to the Philadelphia 76ers for the rights to Edin Bavcic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The move frees up about $4 million in salary cap space for Golden State.
• The Detroit Pistons signed first-round draft pick Andre Drummond, a 6-foot-10, 270-pounder from Connecticut, to a multiyear deal.
• The Minnesota Timberwolves added Russian guard Alexey Shved to a roster already brimming international flavor. Shved will join a team with Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio, Montenegrin center Nikola Pekovic and Puerto Rican guard J.J. Barea already on the roster.
Penn State report out on Thursday
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: A potentially explosive report into whether football coach Joe Paterno and other top Penn State officials took steps to conceal that former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was a child molester will be released Thursday – online for all to see, officials said.
Attorneys for the university’s deposed president, meanwhile, broke a monthslong silence and denied suggestions that Graham Spanier participated in a cover-up with the image of Penn State and its powerful and lucrative football program at stake.
The internal report by former FBI chief Louis Freeh is expected to reveal how the university treated Sandusky, Paterno’s one-time heir apparent, after top administrators fielded complaints about his encounters with young boys more than a decade ago. It is also expected to cast light on how the Hall of Fame coach, who died in January, exerted control over the football program while Sandusky worked under him and after Sandusky retired from coaching.
The report could also influence how Paterno is remembered while affecting an ongoing NCAA probe into the school’s conduct and the criminal cases against two Penn State administrators.
Freeh’s spokesman said the report will be published online at 9 a.m. Thursday. Investigators will hold a news conference at 10 a.m. in Philadelphia to discuss the findings and recommendations.
Baseball: An auction house says a baseball New York Yankees slugger Lou Gehrig hit for a home run in the 1928 World Series has sold for $62,617.
Hunt Auctions says the ball sold at the All-Star FanFest in Kansas City, Mo. The buyer’s name isn’t available.
Stamford, Conn., resident Elizabeth Gott said last week she decided to sell the ball on behalf of her 30-year-old son, Michael, so he could use the proceeds to pay off his medical school debt.
A circa-1920s bat used by Ty Cobb sold for $253,000.
Allmendinger asks for second urine test
NASCAR: Eager to resolve his suspension for a failed drug test, AJ Allmendinger said that he has formally asked NASCAR to test his second urine sample and insisted that he would never “knowingly” take a prohibited substance.
Allmendinger was informed hours before Saturday’s race at Daytona he had failed a random June 29 drug test. NASCAR does not disclose what sub- stance was found. Allmendinger and Penske Racing have not revealed details.
Parker powers Sparks to fourth straight win
WNBA: Candace Parker had 22 points and 14 rebounds to lead Los Angeles to its fourth straight win, a 90-71 decision over host Phoenix.
• Catchings hot for Fever: Tamika Catchings scored 23 points, including the winning free throws with 8.4 seconds left, to give the Indiana Fever an 84-82 victory over the New York Liberty at Indianapolis.
• Wiggins, Moore lead Minnesota: Candice Wiggins scored 25 points, Maya Moore had 24 and Minnesota used an 18-2 run to pull away in the fourth quarter to beat host Tulsa 107-86.