The New York Knicks have offered their coaching job to Mike Brown and are working to finalize a deal with the two-time NBA Coach of the Year.

Brown would replace Tom Thibodeau, who was fired last month despite leading the Knicks to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years.

Brown earned his second award as the NBA’s top coach after leading Sacramento to the playoffs in 2022-23 — ending what was the league’s longest postseason drought with its first appearance since 2006 — but the Kings fired him nearly halfway through last season.

He would take over a Knicks team that believes it can contend for the NBA title and made it clear that was the only goal when it made the surprising decision to fire Thibodeau, who like Brown is a two-time winner of the NBA’s Coach of the Year award.

Ayton signs with Lakers >> Center Deandre Ayton has agreed to join the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent.

The Portland Trail Blazers bought out Ayton’s contract last weekend, and he has agreed to join Doncic and LeBron James on a one-year deal with a player option for 2026-27. He will be paid more than $25 million by the Blazers while playing for the Lakers in the upcoming season.

Ayton’s arrival fills the Lakers’ most glaring offseason need. He will provide a lob target for James and Doncic while adding the defensive size in the middle that they have missed since trading Anthony Davis to Dallas for Doncic.

Grizzlies’ Jackson Jr. has surgery on toe >> Memphis Grizzlies All-Star big man Jaren Jackson Jr. is recovering from surgery for a turf toe injury and will be re-evaluated in about 12 weeks.

The team announced that Jackson’s surgery was complete, coming a day after saying the 25-year-old would need a procedure after hurting his right foot while participating in offseason basketball activities.

Memphis said Jackson is expected to recover fully.

The 6-foot-10 Jackson, a first-round draft pick in 2018, earned his second All-Star selection last season, when he averaged 22.2 points and 5.6 rebounds.

Mavericks sign No. 1 pick to rookie contract >> The Dallas Mavericks have signed No. 1 overall draft pick Cooper Flagg to his four-year rookie contract.

The team didn’t disclose details in announcing the deal. The total value of the contract for the top pick on the 2025-26 rookie wage scale is in the range of $62.7 million, with a first-year salary of about $13.8 million, according to Spotrac. Those numbers can fluctuate slightly.

There are team options in the third and fourth seasons of rookie deals.

NFL

Bills first round pick accused of assault >> Buffalo Bills first-round draft pick Maxwell Hairston was accused in a lawsuit of sexually assaulting a woman in 2021 at the University of Kentucky.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Kentucky by a woman who claims Hairston entered her dorm room without being invited, ignored her when she said didn’t want to have sexual intercourse, forcibly removed her bottoms and sexually assaulted her.

The Bills had no comment and referred to statements made by general manager Brandon Beane in April during the draft. Beane said at the time the team had “fully investigated” a sexual assault allegation from 2021 involving Hairston, who he called “an impeccable kid.”

NHL

Ehlers remains unsigned through day 2 of free agency >> Nikolaj Ehlers could choose his destination soon after letting the start of NHL free agency pass without signing a contract.

Ehlers became one of the rare top players available not to sign on the first day of free agency, opting instead to sit back and consider his options. Carolina, Tampa Bay and Washington were considered among the teams interested in pursuing the 29-year-old from Denmark who played his first nine seasons with Winnipeg.