Lillard and DeRozan withdraw from Team USA roster

Portland guard Damian Lillard and San Antonio guard DeMar DeRozan became the seventh and eighth players to withdraw from the Team USA roster ahead of this summer’s FIBA World Cup, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.Philadelphia forward Tobias Harris and Washington guard Bradley Beal both pulled out on Monday, joining Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum and Houston guards James Harden and Eric Gordon.Lillard, 29, made his fourth All-Star team in 2018-19 and averaged 25.8 points, a career-high 6.9 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game. DeRozan, 29, is a four-time All-Star who averaged 21.2 points and set career highs in assists (6.2) and rebounds (6.0) in his first season with the Spurs in 2018-19.The Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown and the New York Knicks’ Julius Randle have been added to Team USA’s training camp roster, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.Team USA managing director Jerry Colangelo said Monday he isn’t overly concerned with the high-profile departures. “History would indicate this is nothing new, this is part of our process,” Colangelo told reporters. “We’re blessed with a lot of talents, and we’re very deep. We’ll take the cards that we are dealt.”Training camp begins August 5 in Las Vegas, and the official 12-man roster is slated to be announced on August 17. The competition runs from August 31-Septeber 15, with Team USA playing its first game on September 1 against the Czech Republic.Mavs, Marjanovic make 2-year deal officialA deal that was in the works since the first week of July became official Tuesday when the Dallas Mavericks signed free agent center Boban Marjanovic to a two-year, $7mn contract.On Tuesday, the Mavericks wrote on Twitter: “Ink. Dry. Let’s all officially welcome @BobanMarjanovic to Dallas! Everything IS bigger in Texas”The 7-foot-3 Marjanovic began the 2018-19 season with the Los Angeles Clippers and was traded to Philadelphia in February as part of the deal that also sent guard Tobias Harris to the 76ers. He was traded to the Clippers in January 2018 by the Pistons, who ended up with Blake Griffin.In 13.9 minutes per game with Philadelphia, Marjanovic averaged 8.2 points and 5.1 rebounds over 22 contests (three starts).In 58 total games on the season, Marjanovic averaged 7.3 points and 4.6 rebounds. In four NBA seasons with four teams, he has played in 186 games, averaging 9.8 minutes, 6.2 points and 3.9 rebounds. After playing professional basketball in Serbia, Russia and Lithuania, Marjanovic started his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs in the 2015-16 season, averaging 5.5 points and 3.6 rebounds over 54 games (four starts). The Serbia native will turn 31 in August.Spurs elevate Buford to CEO, Wright to GMThe San Antonio Spurs promoted general manager R.C. Buford to CEO of Spurs Sports & Entertainment and assistant general manager Brian Wright to GM, the team announced Tuesday.“RC Buford is one of the most highly-respected leaders in professional sports,” SS&E Chairman Peter J. Holt said in a statement. “His vision, innovation and drive have helped shape our values and culture. We are thrilled to have RC leading the organisation into the future.”A two-time NBA Executive of the Year (2014 and 2016), Buford first became a member of the Spurs organisation in 1988, when he was hired as an assistant coach on Larry Brown’s staff. After stints with the Los Angeles Clippers and Florida, he returned to the Spurs in 1994, when Gregg Popovich was the GM.