



Three-time All-Star guard Bradley Beal and the Phoenix Suns agreed to a buyout on the two years remaining on his contract.
The move paves the way for Beal to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers that includes a player option after he clears waivers, ESPN reported.
The 32-year-old Beal would join a veteran Clippers roster that includes James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. Beal averaged 17.6 points over two disappointing, injury-filled seasons with the Suns.
Beal averaged a career-high 31.3 points per game during the 2020-21 season for the Washington Wizards, but his production has slowly declined since that point as injuries have taken a toll. He’s missed at least 29 regular-season games with various ailments in each of the past four seasons.
Colleges
NCAA fines Memphis $30K, places it on probation >> The University of Memphis’ athletic department has been put on probation for two years and fined $30,000 by the NCAA after an investigation found an academic counselor paid two softball players to help a men’s basketball player with schoolwork.
The NCAA announced the mutually-agreed-to punishment, saying in a report that former Memphis academic counselor Leslie Brooks paid two unidentified softball players a total of $550 to provide test answers and complete assignments for an unidentified basketball player during a period from Jan. 25-Feb. 18, 2024.
In addition to the fine, Memphis was docked 1% of the combined budget of the men’s basketball and softball programs for violating seven NCAA bylaws. The NCAA said the three players involved competed in 20 games while ineligible, and the probationary period begins immediately and runs through July 15, 2027.
NFL
AP writers voted Kittle as top TE >> Perhaps no position requires a wider range of skills to succeed in the NFL than tight ends, who are asked to thrive as receivers in the middle of the field as well as being key parts to the run and pass games with their blocking.
George Kittle’s ability to do it all for the San Francisco 49ers as one of the most efficient receivers and top blockers helped him score the honor of being voted the top tight end in the league by The Associated Press.
Las Vegas’ Brock Bowers was the only other player selected on all eight ballots and came in second with two first-place votes, five seconds and one fifth.
Kansas City’s Travis Kelce got the other first-place vote and finished third, followed by Arizona’s Trey McBride and Baltimore’s Mark Andrews.
AP writers voted Hamilton as top Safety >> Kyle Hamilton has quickly proved that he can be a jack of all trades on Baltimore’s stellar defense, thriving in the slot, the box or as a deep safety.
But it was the decision to move Hamilton to free safety midway through last season that helped eliminate the big plays and boost the Ravens’ defense.
Hamilton’s talent and versatility helped him earn the honor of being voted the top safety in the league by The Associated Press.
Detroit’s Kerby Joseph got three first-place votes and finished second.
Green Bay’s Xavier McKinney, Detroit’s Brian Branch and Derwin James of the Los Angeles Chargers rounded out the top five.
MLB
Pirates trade Frazier to Royals >> The Kansas City Royals reacquired veteran utility player Adam Frazier in an All-Star break trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Kansas City sent minor league infielder Cam Devanney to Pittsburgh.
Frazier, 33, has played in 78 games this season split between second base, left field and right field, hitting .255 with 21 RBIs. He spent last season with KC after bouncing around the majors following his start with the Pirates and has played every position except catcher and pitcher during his career since debuting in 2016.
Tennis
Sabalenka withdraws from Montreal tournament >> Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka has withdrawn from the National Bank Open, opting for additional rest before beginning preparations for her U.S. Open title defense.
Sabalenka is coming off a semifinal appearance at Wimbledon, where she lost to Amanda Anisimova.
The National Bank Open begins July 27. Sabalenka could instead return for the Cincinnati Open in early August, with the first round of the U.S. Open set to begin on Aug. 24. Sabalenka won that title for the first time in 2024.
Bouchard announces Retirement >> Genie Bouchard, who reached the Wimbledon final and two other Grand Slam semifinals in 2014, is retiring from tennis.
The Canadian will play in the National Bank Open in Montreal later this month before ending her career.
Bouchard reached No. 5 in the WTA rankings and in 2014 won her lone singles title.
Soccer
Real Madrid’s Bellingham has shoulder surgery >> Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham underwent shoulder surgery and was expected to miss the start of the upcoming season.
The club said in a brief statement that the England international needed surgery “to address recurrent dislocation of his left shoulder.” The procedure was “successful,” it added.
Madrid did not say for how long Bellingham will be sidelined, but Spanish media reported he could be out two to three months.