Jul 1, 2019 4 min read

In the NBA

All-Star guard Klay Thompson is staying put with the Golden State Warriors.

Thompson announced his decision on his Instagram account Monday, using a clip of Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie “The Wolf of Wall Street” with the line “I’m not leavin!'” Thompson’s agent, Greg Lawrence, said later his client will sign a five-year max contract for $190 million when the NBA free agent moratorium period ends.

He was scheduled for surgery last week for a torn ACL in his left knee after he was injured during a Game 6 loss to the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Finals.

• Jimmy Butler finally has a new home in Miami. And the wait continues for Kawhi Leonard.

There’s still plenty of doubt about Leonard’s next stop. The first 24 hours of free agency have come and gone without a peep from the NBA Finals MVP, who is expected to meet with the Toronto Raptors – the team he led to this past season’s NBA title – as early as today. The Los Angeles Lakers also appear to remain squarely in the race to land him to play alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

But there is no more doubt about Butler’s future.

The Heat completed agreements on what will become a four-team trade Monday to land Butler from the Philadelphia 76ers, with the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers also involved. Miami gets Butler and Meyers Leonard, the Blazers get Hassan Whiteside, the Clippers get Harkless and a future first-round pick and the 76ers get Josh Richardson.

Kyrie Irving made his move to the Brooklyn Nets on a four-year deal believed to be worth $141 million official, with the New York native saying the lure of going home was too strong to ignore.

In the NHL

The much-anticipated breakup of the Columbus Blue Jackets’ star-laden core came quickly.

Once Artemi Panarin completed the exodus of talent leaving Columbus by signing with the New York Rangers a little over an hour into the NHL’s free agent signing period Monday, the real intrigue began.

The Montreal Canadiens made the boldest move of the day by signing Carolina restricted free agent Sebastien Aho to a five-year, $42.27 million offer sheet. That leaves the Hurricanes seven days to match the offer or elect to receive Montreal’s first-, second- and third-round picks as compensation.

The NHL’s new year began in hectic fashion highlighted by Columbus’ three top free agents each signing lucrative seven-year contracts.

Panarin is headed to the Big Apple after signing a seven-year, $81.5 million contract with the Rangers. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky left Columbus for South Beach after signing a seven-year, $70 million contract with the Florida Panthers, where he will take over the starting duties after Roberto Luongo retired last month.

And center Matt Duchene acknowledged he considered re-signing with the Blue Jackets before choosing Music City by signing a seven-year, $56 million contract with the Nashville Predators.

Former Super Bowl MVP pleads not guilty

Former Super Bowl hero Mark Rypien, who announced last year that he believes he suffered brain damage while playing in the NFL that caused him to behave violently at times, pleaded not guilty Monday to a charge of domestic violence against his wife, Danielle.

Rypien was taken to the Spokane (Wash.) County Jail on Sunday afternoon after his arrest near a bank on the north side of the city. A witness who saw the couple called police and said Rypien’s wife said he had struck her. She was evaluated and did not need medical treatment, police said.

Rypien, 56, was released without bail; his next court appearance was scheduled for July 31.

Prosecutors initially asked for a no-contact order between Rypien and his wife at the brief hearing, but she argued against that.