PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns on Wednesday traded Shaquille O’Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, a second-round draft pick and cash, sources told The Associated Press.
O’Neal, 37, had one year left on his contract with the Suns. He averaged 17.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game last season.
• The Portland Trail Blazers acquired the 22nd pick in tonight’s NBA draft from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for No. 24 and two second-rounders.
BYU’s Rose appears free of cancer
PROVO, Utah — Just weeks after learning he had a form of pancreatic cancer, BYU basketball coach Dave Rose said doctors appeared to have gotten all the cancerous tumor during emergency surgery to remove his spleen.
Because there are no signs of cancer remaining, Rose, 51, said he won’t have to go through chemotherapy this summer.
• Jeff Jordan is leaving Illinois after two seasons. A son of NBA great Michael Jordan, the former walk- on guard announced he plans to focus on his studies, just a few months after Illinois coach Bruce Weber said he had a chance to earn more playing time and even a leadership role during his junior year.
• Guard Elliot Williams, whose move into the starting lineup provided Duke with a late-season spark, is leaving the Blue Devils after one season because of unspecified family medical reasons.
• University of Oklahoma regents approved bonus-laden contracts that would keep football coach Bob Stoops and basketball coach Jeff Capel in charge of the Sooners for seven more seasons. Stoops’ new package would pay him more than $30 million through 2015, while Capel will receive $13.28 million through June 2016.
• Bowl Championship Series presidents rejected the Mountain West Conference’s eight-team playoff system that would allow greater access to the national championship game to teams outside the six most powerful leagues.
Peppers signs franchise tender
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Julius Peppers‘ stalemate with the Carolina Panthers is over after the defensive end signed his one-year, $16.7 million tender five months after he announced he wanted to play elsewhere next season.
• New York Giants linebacker Michael Boley had hip surgery and almost certainly will miss the start of training camp.
• Green Bay Packers receiver Greg Jennings received a three- year, $27 million contract extension through 2012.
Footnotes.
Chris Chelios, a 47-year-old defenseman released by the Detroit Red Wings, said he wants to play next season and will start contacting teams July 1, when he officially becomes a free agent.
• Dwayne De Rosario and Pablo Vitti scored to give Toronto FC a 2-0 victory over the Red Bulls, extending New York’s road winless streak to 21 regular-season games.
• A breakaway Formula One series was averted when Max Mosley ceded to the rebel teams’ demand that a planned budget cap be scrapped and the FIA president said he won’t seek re-election when his 16-year reign ends in October.
The Associated Press
