LeBron thought big trade was ‘hoax’

LeBron James says he spent two days in disbelief after the Lakers traded away Anthony Davis, his close friend and teammate for 5 1/2 years. The top scorer in NBA history is finally coming to grips with the idea of forming a new partnership with Luka Doncic, who also holds a special place in James’ esteem. “Luka has been my favorite player in the NBA for a while now,” James said Tuesday night. “I’ve always just tried to play the game the right way and inspire the next generation, and Luka happens to be one of them, and now we’re teammates. So it’ll be a very seamless transition.” Like the rest of the world, James initially assumed the trade was a joke when he learned about it Saturday. “My emotions were all over the place,” James said. “The first time I heard it, I thought it was for sure fake. I thought it was a hoax. ... But AD FaceTimed me, and I talked to him for quite a while. Even when I got off the phone with him, it still didn’t seem real. Pretty much didn’t seem real until I saw Luka today, and then I saw the clip of AD at the Dallas shootaround. That’s when it finally hit me, like, ‘This is real.’ ”

NFLPA: No one wants 18th game

An 18-game NFL regular season isn’t a slam dunk. NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell pushed back on it Wednesday even though NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has openly talked about it as if it’s inevitable. The two sides haven’t had formal discussions about expanding the season, which would require renegotiating the collective bargaining agreement. “Their side hasn’t raised it, we certainly haven’t raised it,” Howell said. “It’s a players’ decision as to what they will agree to do or not. Right now when I have talked to players over the last two seasons, no one wants to play an 18th game. No one. Seventeen games, for many of the guys, is too long.” Of course, the players’ union would want the league to make several concessions in order to agree to an 18th game. Players are expected to want more money, another week off, amendments to the offseason calendar, improvement of playing surfaces, a larger roster and much more. Time off between games, especially international games, is another issue. Distribution of revenue will be a major point.

Astros will retire Wagner’s No. 13

Astros all-time saves leader Billy Wagner will have his jersey number retired, an honor that coincides with his induction into the Hall of Fame, the team announced Tuesday. Wagner’s No. 13 will be the 10th number retired by the Astros during a ceremony Aug. 16. He’ll be inducted July 27 in Cooperstown with Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, Dave Parker and Dick Allen. Wagner, a three-time All-Star, saved 225 games for the Astros from 1995-2003. The hard-throwing lefty finished fourth in 1999 NL Cy Young Award voting after recording 39 saves in 42 opportunities and recording a 1.57 ERA with 124 strikeouts and 35 hits allowed in 74 2/3 innings. Opponents batted just .135 against him that year. Wagner was traded to the Phillies in 2003, and he went on to save 197 games for the Phillies, Mets, Red Sox and Braves before he retired in 2010. The 53-year-old Wagner made it to the Hall of Fame on his 10th and final try, receiving 29 more votes than needed. Christian Walker, who signed with the Astros in December and had planned to wear No. 13, will switch to No. 8. —AP