Page 12 - Florida Sentinel 7-11-17

Sports
Colin Kaepernick Travels 'Home' To Ghana To Find 'Personal Independence'
Mike Evans On DeSean
Jackson: We Could Be One
Of The Best Tandems In NFL
The Tampa Bay Bucca- neers enter the 2017 NFL sea- son with high expectations. A team on the rise, it welcomed DeSean Jackson to the fold this past March. Fellow re- ceiver Mike Evans has high hopes about joining forces with one of the best deep threats in the NFL for the past decade.
“This is going to be awe- some,” Evans said, via Aaron Wilson of the Hous- ton Chronicle. “Obviously, I think we could be one of the best tandems in the league. DeSean is an explosive re- ceiver. I think we can do great things together.
“As soon as he got signed, we had dinner and we con- nected right away. We knew each other already. I’ve always
DESEAN JACKSON AND MIKE EVANS
been a fan of his game and the swagger he brings. Having him on the team will be very helpful.”
Bucs fans should be ex- cited about this pairing. Though we have no idea what the future holds, it’s worth pointing out that Evans and Jackson combined to catch 152 passes for 2,326 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.
On Independence Day in the United States, free-agent quarterback Colin Kaeper- nick posted a video on social media of his trip to Ghana, where he traveled to find his "personal independence."
He posted the video on Twitter with a message ask- ing, "How can we truly cele- brate independence on a day that intentionally robbed our
Boston Celtics Trade Avery Bradley To Detroit Pistons For Marcus Morris
AVERY BRADLEY
The Boston Celtics an- nounced Friday that they have acquired forward Marcus Morris from the Detroit Pis- tons in exchange for Avery Bradley and a 2019 second- round draft pick.
“It's no secret that Avery had been one of my favorite players, and on behalf of our entire organization, I'd like to thank him and Ashley for all of their contributions on and off the court,” said Celtics pres- ident of basketball operations Danny Ainge. “Avery did a lot of the dirty work and often didn't get the recognition that he deserved, but our coaches, staff, his teammates, and our fans who watched him play every night appreciated what a special player and person he is.”
Continued Ainge: “We are excited to add a high quality player with the versatile skillset that Marcus pos- sesses. He will be a great fit for our team.”
A six-year NBA veteran, Morris, 27, has averaged 10.8 points (42.8% FG, 35.5% 3-PT, 71.7% FT), 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 26.2 minutes over 416 career games (218 starts) with Houston, Phoenix and Detroit. He is one of 20 NBA players to have averaged at least 13.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and shot at least 33.0% from beyond the arc in each of the last two seasons.
COLIN KAEPERNICK
ancestors of theirs?"
He posted a longer mes-
sage on Instagram with the video, explaining why he was interested in traveling to Ghana.
In order to find his per- sonal independence, he "had to find out where my ances- tors came from," and tracing his ancestral roots led him to Ghana.
New York Knicks Sign Tim Hardaway, Jr.
Rockets Sign James
The New York Knicks have signed free-agent guard Tim Hardaway, Jr. to a four- year, $71 million contract.
The team announced the deal Saturday.
The 6-foot-5 Hardaway returned to the Knicks after two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks.
Last season, he had career highs in scoring (14.5), assists (2.3), rebounds (2.8), minutes (27.3) and field-goal percent- age (.455). He has career aver- ages of 11.0 points and 23.4 minutes.
Harden To Reportedly
Record Contract Extension
TIM HARDAWAY, JR.
His father, five-time All- Star Tim Hardaway, is an assistant coach for Detroit.
The Houston Rockets have signed star guard James Harden to a four-year con- tract extension that's report- edly worth $228 million, the richest contract in NBA his- tory.
With Harden under con- tract on his existing deal for another two seasons, the ex- tension will not affect Hous- ton's aggressive pursuit of free agents this summer as the Rockets try to make a run at the Golden State Warriors.
''Since he arrived in Hous- ton, James has exhibited the incredible work ethic, desire to win, and passion to be the best that has made him one of the most unique and talented superstars in the history of the game,'' Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said in a state- ment issued by the team. ''Ad- ditionally, the commitment he has shown to our organiza-
JAMES HARDEN
tion, the city of Houston, and Rockets fans all over the world makes him a perfect leader in our pursuit of another cham- pionship.''
Harden is coming off of his finest season. Moving to point guard for new coach Mike D'Antoni, Harden averaged 29.1 points, an NBA- leading 11.2 assists and 8.1 re- bounds and finished second in the MVP race to former Okla- homa City teammate Russell Westbrook.
Knicks Expected To Intensify Efforts To Move Carmelo Anthony
CARMELO ANTHONY
Chris Bosh Thanks Miami For Being 'A Constant During A Period Of Change'
Now that the Knicks have been able to welcome Tim Hardaway, Jr. back to New York with a $71-million free agent contract, they are ex- pected to increase their ef- forts to move Carmelo Anthony.
The Knicks do not want to play Anthony and Hard- away, Jr. together in the same lineup and so may be more motivated to pursue a deal with the Rockets:
The Knicks' acquisition of Hardaway, Jr. to the stag- gering deal is expected to trig- ger a renewed willingness to work with the Houston Rock- ets on trade scenarios to un- load Carmelo Anthony.
The Rockets have been
persistent in their pursuit of Anthony, who is willing to waive his no-trade clause to join Chris Paul and James Harden in Houston, league sources told ESPN, and the Knicks do not imagine a sce- nario where Hardaway, Jr. is sharing the floor with An- thony to start the season.
Houston G.M. Daryl Morey recently said his phi- losophy is: “Get more USA Basketball team members.”
The biggest snag to a deal between the Knicks and Rockets is to make it work under the salary cap, New York would have to take back the last three years of forward Ryan Anderson’s contract that is worth $61 million.
Chris Bosh has written an open letter to Miami, thank- ing the city for supporting him for the past seven years.
Bosh published the letter on his website Sunday, with- out any mention of his current health or plans for his future. Waived by the Heat last week, he hasn't been able to play in an NBA game since February 2016.
CHRIS BOSH
PAGE 12 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JULY 11, 2017