The Sixers now have competition in the Andrew Wiggins sweepstakes.
According to ESPN's Marc Stein (via ProBasketballTalk), the Suns on Friday acquired Emeka Okafor and a 2014 first-round pick from the Washington Wizards for Marcin Gortat, Shannon Brown and Kendall Marshall. Phoenix now has four first-round picks in next year’s draft.
In September, the Wizards announced Okafor, the second overall pick in 2004, would be out indefinitely after tests showed a herniated disc in his neck. He was looking to return to game action in 2013-14, and not considering retirement.
This is another step in the road to rebuilding for the Suns, as they are one of several NBA teams with their eye on prized college prospect Wiggins in 2014.
Celtics/Lakers: Hall of Famer Sharman dies at 87
LOS ANGELES -- Bill Sharman, the Hall of Famer who won NBA titles as a player for the Boston Celtics and a coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, has died. He was 87.
Sharman died Friday at his home in Redondo Beach, the Lakers announced.
Sharman's unique basketball career spanned both sides of the Celtics-Lakers rivalry over a half-century in the sport as a smooth shooting guard, a championship-winning coach and a successful executive.
"Bill Sharman was, without a doubt, one of the greatest human beings I have ever met, and one of my all-time favorite individuals, both as a competitor and as a friend," said Jerry West, who played for Sharman and worked alongside him in the Lakers' front office. "He was the epitome of class and dignity and, I can assure you, we find few men of his character in this world."
Sharman won four NBA titles during an 11-season career as a shooting guard in Boston, teaming with Bob Cousy in one of the most potent backcourts in league history. He was widely considered one of the greatest shooters of his era, and he's still ranked as one of the NBA's best free-throw shooters.
Sharman then spent the past four decades with Los Angeles as a coach and executive. In his first season in charge, he coached the 1971-72 Lakers to a championship with 69 victories -- then an NBA record -- and a 33-game winning streak, the longest in pro sports history (see full story).
Knicks: Stoudemire, Smith to play Friday
NEW YORK -- Amare Stoudemire and J.R. Smith are scheduled to play for the New York Knicks on Friday night in their final preseason game after working their way back from knee surgeries.
Coach Mike Woodson says his top two reserves will each play about 10 minutes against the Charlotte Bobcats.
NBA
Smith had patella tendon surgery and an arthroscopy on his left knee in July, the Knicks saying at the time he would miss 12 to 16 weeks. Stoudemire's summer surgery was said to be minor, but it was his third in the last year.
However, he says he is the "hardest worker in this league" and felt like that got his body ready (see full story).