The Toronto Raptors waived Armoni Brooks, whose deal was set to be guaranteed on August 1.

Brooks averaged 5.3 points for the Rockets and Raptors last season. 

Bill Russell passed away peacefully on Sunday. He was 88 years old.

Russell won 11 NBA Titles as a player, with the last two coming as a player-coach.

Russell won countless individual awards throughout his career, including 5 MVPs.

In 2009, the league renamed the NBA Finals MVP to the "Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award."

Russell was inducted into the Hall of Fame both as a player and a coach. 

Russell also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. 

The Brooklyn Nets have not given up a situation where Kevin Durant retracts his trade request, sources told Zach Lowe of ESPN.

Lowe adds that Durant's trade value is "impossible" to gauge partly due to the years remaining on his contract, and that the Nets are hoping Durant's camp comes to the same realization.

Teams around the league are waiting to see if the Nets lower their trade demands in order to move on from Durant.

Durant could also accelerate a potential trade by explaining his trade request. 

Denver Nuggets guard Collin Gillespie will be out indefinitely after undergoing surgery on his fractured left leg.

Gillespie, who signed a two-way deal with the team, averaged 11.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in summer league. 

Trade discussions between the New York Knicks and the Utah Jazz over Donovan Mitchell have "stalled out," sources told Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Charania adds that both sides haven't talked in "roughly" two weeks. 

The Jazz are having discussions over Mitchell with other teams, including the Hornets and the Wizards.

The Knicks will continue to be the focus of trade talks surrounding Mitchell due to having potentially eight first-round picks plus young players available for a deal. 

Charles Barkley ended contract talks with LIV Golf to stay at Turner "for the rest of my TV career," he told Andrew Marchand of the New York Post on Friday.

“I want to thank Greg Norman and LIV for their interest in me,” Barkley told the Post. “I wish those guys great success and nothing but the best. But, in my best interest, and being fair to Turner — because Turner and basketball have given me every single thing in my life. It is best for me to move on and I’m staying with Turner for the rest of my TV career.” 

LIV Golf has yet to pick up a TV deal in the United States.

Barkley currently has 3 years and $30 million left on his Turner deal, while also revealing that he makes an additional $10 million yearly in endorsements.

Turner has not attempted to renegotiate Barkley's current deal or offer an extension. Barkley's contract ends at the same time as Turner's contract with the NBA.

Barkley has said in the past that he wants to retire at the end of his current contract. 

The Denver Nuggets have agreed to sign Gabe Brown to an Exhibit 10 training camp deal.

Brown went undrafted out of Michigan State this year.

In five Summer League games with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Brown averaged 8.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in 18.4 minutes.

The NBA has opened an investigation into a possible tampering violation committed by the Philadelphia 76ers centered on their signings of James Harden, P.J. Tucker and Danuel House.

Harden declined his $47 million player option to sign a one-plus-one contract with the 76ers at $33 million in Year 1 to give the team flexibility to sign Tucker and House.

Some have wondered if another deal with Harden is in place for the future, which would be a violation of league rules.

Tucker joined the Sixers from the Miami Heat on a three-year, $33.2 million deal.

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