In brief: NBA leaning toward no playoff guarantee for division winners
NBA: A division title might soon mean a banner but no assurance of a playoff spot in the NBA.
Commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday the league is leaning toward not guaranteeing a postseason berth to a team that wins its division, forcing clubs to finish in the top eight of their conference if they want a shot at the title.
Silver had already said he expected a change from the current format that guarantees division winners no worse than the No. 4 seed. But after discussions with both the competition committee and board of governors, he believes the change will go further than that.
“Where we are leaning right now is that we would not guarantee a spot for a division winner in part because it’s so unlikely to happen, and No. 2 if it does happen it would be potentially confusing to fans. No. 3, you would be displacing a team that did have a top-eight record,” Silver said
• Hornets sign Hansbrough: The Charlotte Hornets have signed free-agent power forward Tyler Hansbrough.
The 29-year-old Hansbrough spent the past two seasons with Toronto after four with Indiana.
• Silver predicts female head coach: Adam Silver says he “couldn’t be prouder” of Becky Hammon for leading the Spurs to the Summer League title and has “no doubt” the NBA could someday have a female head coach.
The NBA commissioner said he had texted and emailed with Hammon while they were in Las Vegas, where she coached the Spurs to the championship Monday night.
• Spurs sign Fredette: The San Antonio Spurs have signed guard Jimmer Fredette.
The former BYU player spent last season with the New Orleans Pelicans, averaging 3.6 points, 1.4 assists and 10.2 minutes. He has a career average of 6.1 points.
• Game scheduled for London: The NBA says the Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors will play a regular-season game in London on Jan. 14.
Bills WR wins silver
PAN AM GAMES: Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquise Goodwin won a silver medal in the long jump at the Pan Am Games, leaping 27 feet, 1 3/4 inches at Toronto.
Fellow American Jeffery Henderson won at 28-0 1/4.
Goodwin was a two-time NCAA champion in the long jump at the University of Texas and finished 10th three years ago at the London Olympics.
Goodwin took advantage of the location – Toronto is just across the border from Buffalo – and the date in July.
Fish hanging it up
Tennis: Former top-10 player Mardy Fish says the U.S. Open will be the last tennis tournament of his career.
The 33-year-old American has played just one competitive match since August 2013 as he’s dealt with anxiety issues.
He says he’ll play tournaments in Atlanta and Cincinnati before that.