NBA Notes: Bucks trade Michael Carter-Williams to Bulls for Tony Snell

Share

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bulls traded Tony Snell to Milwaukee on Monday in exchange for Michael Carter-Williams as the two Central Division foes swapped two guards going into their fourth NBA seasons.

The 6-foot-6 Carter-Williams was the 11th overall selection by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2013 draft and he was traded to Milwaukee during the 2014-15 season. He has averaged 14.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 190 games, including 170 starts.

Bulls general manager Gar Forman said the team was excited to add Carter-Williams -- "a two-way player who adds versatility and depth."

The 6-foot-7 Snell was selected 20th overall that same draft year by the Bulls. In three seasons, he has averaged 5.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 18.5 minutes over 213 games, including 67 starts.

Cavaliers: LeBron banner gets championship upgrade
CLEVELAND -- The colossal LeBron James banner soaring over downtown is getting a small -- but significant -- upgrade.

The iconic, 10-stories-tall mural is being removed this week and replaced with a new one that includes a gold patch of the Larry O'Brien Trophy on the back of James' uniform to represent the Cavaliers winning the NBA title last season, ending Cleveland's 52-year championship drought.

The new banner is expected to be installed by Friday. The Cavs open their season against the New York Knicks on Oct. 25, when the players will receive their championship rings and a title banner will be unveiled in the rafters of Quicken Loans Arena.

James' likeness towers over the city, and the black-and-white image of the superstar, his muscular arms outstretched, has become a tourist stop and symbol of civic pride.

Sherwin-Williams considered temporarily removing the giant James banner this summer during the Republican National Convention but changed its mind after a public backlash. The company ended up making a $150,000 donation to the LeBron James Family Foundation.

An original banner of James was taken down after he signed with the Miami Heat in 2010. The new one was installed in October 2014, a few months after the three-time champion re-signed with Cleveland.

The golden upgrade comes as the Indians, who play at Progressive Field next door to the Cavs' arena, are leading the AL Championship Series 2-0 over the Toronto Blue Jays. The Indians are trying to end a World Series drought dating to 1948.

Heat: Whiteside accepts challenge to lead
MIAMI -- Hassan Whiteside's talents are apparently not limited to the dunks and defense that convinced the Miami Heat he was worthy of a $98 million contract this offseason.

Turns out, he also does a very respectable Shaquille O'Neal impression.

"When I met him, he was just, `Big fella, you've got to dunk everything,'" Whiteside said, perfectly mimicking O'Neal's oft-imitated tone. "`I like how you play. Dunk everything.'"

Sounding like O'Neal, that's the easy part.

Playing like O'Neal, that's now the challenge.

The Heat guaranteed Whiteside a fortune, and he's now starting to realize that the team's fortunes -- with Dwyane Wade now in Chicago and questions surrounding Chris Bosh' health -- are on his copious shoulders. It's a challenge he says that he'll embrace, insisting he's still fueled by so many teams passing on him.

"Each month he's been with us, he's gotten better," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "And I think that's a great statement to make. For two straight years, he's gotten better. Seems like each week, each game that he's played, he's understanding his role. He's playing with a great motor right now."

Contact Us