Cavaliers executives sign extensions

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman has signed a contract extension through the 2029-30 season.

The Cavaliers also announced Monday night general manager Mike Gansey, assistant GM Brandon Weems, vice president of basketball operations/general counsel Jason Hillman and vice president of basketball strategy and personnel Jon Nichols received extensions.

“Koby Altman has demonstrated that he is the right person to lead this franchise. He is not only an outstanding team-builder, but he has also created an exceptional culture that transcends the basketball side of our business and serves as a positive foundation and philosophy for the entire franchise,” Cavaliers chairman Dan Gilbert said in a statement. “Koby not only has a great nose for basketball talent, but he has recruited and developed extraordinary front office talent as well. This unique combination has positioned our franchise to compete for championships for years to come. The decision to extend Koby and his team is not solely based on recent success, but rather the entire body of work since he took over the role in 2018.”

Altman has been with Cleveland since 2012. He has been in his current position since January 2022 after being named general manager in July 2017.

The Cavaliers won 64 games this past season and finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2016, when they won their only NBA championship.

Cleveland swept Miami in the first round but was eliminated by eventual Eastern Conference champion Indiana in five games in the conference semifinals.

Altman rebuilt the roster after four straight trips to the NBA Finals (2015-18) and a 2016 NBA title during LeBron James’ second stint.

Altman drafted Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, the franchise’s first NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He also acquired Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen in trades.

His boldest move though came at the end of the 2023-24 season when he fired J.B. Bickerstaff as coach and replaced him with Kenny Atkinson.

With Atkinson in charge, Cleveland got off to a fast start this past season, becoming the fourth team in NBA history to win at least its first 15 games. It is the third team in league history to have at least three streaks of 12 wins in a season, including a 16-game run from Feb. 3 to March 14.

Atkinson was named NBA Coach of the Year.

The Cavaliers are above both aprons of the salary cap, but they acquired veteran point guard Lonzo Ball from Chicago for forward Isaac Okoro and signed forward/center Larry Nance Jr.

British Open stays the course on prize money

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — The British Open is leaving the total prize money at $17 million, the first time since 2012 the R&A has chosen not to increase the purse.

The U.S. Open also did not boost its purse this year at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh.

The winner this week at Royal Portrush will receive $3.1 million, the same amount Xander Schauffele earned last year at Royal Troon.

The four majors had been gradually increasing their prize money in recent years. The Masters increased its prize fund by $1 million to $21 million. The PGA Championship went up $500,000 to $19 million.

The U.S. Open left its purse at $21.5 million, still the highest of the four majors.

It’s an example that the biggest championships are not about prize money, but green jackets and claret jugs. The Players Championship on the PGA Tour has a $25 million purse. PGA Tour signature events and Saudi-funded LIV Golf events have $20 million prize funds.

Bieber to make a rehab start

CHICAGO (AP) — Cleveland Guardians pitcher Shane Bieber is slated to make a rehab start in the Arizona Complex League on Tuesday.

Bieber is coming back from Tommy John surgery in April 2024. He had a setback when he experienced soreness during a bullpen session on June 3.

The 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner had a bullpen session in Cleveland on Sunday.

Bieber made two starts for the Guardians last year, going 2-0 and striking out 20 in 12 scoreless innings. The right-hander agreed to a $14 million, one-year contract in December that includes a $16 million player option for 2026.

Raleigh will play in World Baseball Classic

ATLANTA (AP) — Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh agreed to play for the U.S. team at next year’s World Baseball Classic, joining captain Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes and Bobby Witt Jr.

USA Baseball announced the decision Monday before Raleigh participated in the All-Star Home Run Derby. The 28-year-old entered the All-Star break leading the major leagues with 38 homers and 82 RBIs.

The 20-nation WBC will be played from March 5-17. Japan is defending champion.

Also Monday, the World Baseball Softball Confederation said the baseball tournament at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will be played from July 15-20 at Dodger Stadium. MLB is considering whether it can interrupt its 2028 season to allow major leagues to participate.

There will be two groups of three teams during a preliminary round over three days, with two games per day. The group winners advance to the semifinals, while the other teams compete in a pair of quarterfinals. Semifinals will be played July 19, and gold and bronze medal games the next day.

The softball tournament will be played from July 23-29 at OKC Softball Park in Oklahoma City. A five-day round-robin will be played on July 28 followed by the gold medal game the next day.

Jets receiver gets $130 million contract

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Jets and wide receiver Garrett Wilson have agreed on a four-year, $130 million contract extension, a person familiar with the situation said Monday.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced.

Wilson, drafted 10th overall in 2022 out of Ohio State, was the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year that season and has more than 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first three years — the first player in franchise history to do so.

In all, Wilson has caught 279 passes for 3,249 yards and 14 touchdowns.

The extension represents a significant commitment from general manager Darren Mougey and new coach Aaron Glenn, who have focused on making the roster younger in their first offseason together in New York.

They picked up the fifth-year options on Wilson, Sauce Gardner and Jermaine Johnson during this past offseason, setting the stage for Wilson’s new extension, which runs through the 2030 season.

“I’m hopeful I’m a Jet for life,” Wilson said in May. “And that we get this thing rolling and that all of our best days are ahead of us.”

Wilson had two years and $20.3 million remaining on his rookie deal. With the extension, he’s now under contract for six seasons at $150.3 million.