NBA Notes: Chris Bosh, Heat Reach Agreement to Part Ways

MIAMI -- Chris Bosh's time on the Miami Heat roster is finally nearing an end.

A complicated end, at that.

The blood clots that Bosh has dealt with over parts of the last three seasons have been declared a career-ending injury situation and the Heat will soon remove the 11-time All-Star forward from their roster and salary cap going forward, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the agreement has not been announced publicly.

Bosh will never be able to play again for the Heat, said the person, adding that Bosh could play again if another club gives him medical clearance.

If that happens -- and it's unclear if that's a possibility because the specifics of Bosh's current health situation are unknown -- the Heat will face no risk of having any of the $52 million Bosh is owed over the next two seasons returning to their salary cap.

"I'm still a basketball player at heart," Bosh told AP in March. "I can't help it" (see full story).

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Warriors: Curry urges teammates to be themselves
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Stephen Curry spoke up, just in case his Golden State Warriors needed another reminder from their MVP and leader. His message as the NBA Finals began: be yourselves.

Forget the juicy story lines, or avenging something that happened last June, that championship that got away. Set aside the hyped-up Cavs-Dubs rivalry, constant talk of the trilogy, Part III.

Just go play. And it worked splendidly for the two-time reigning MVP and Kevin Durant in their first Finals together.

Durant was utterly dominant 11 months after leaving Oklahoma City last July to join the Warriors, while Curry found a groove once he removed the black sleeve from his shooting arm protecting his tender right elbow. It just didn't feel right.

They combined for 66 points and 18 assists in a 113-91 Game 1 thumping Thursday night against LeBron James and the defending champion Cavaliers, who must find a way to defend the high-flying Durant when the best-of-seven series resumes Sunday at Oracle Arena.

"We were really, really good in that department at just being ourselves, playing Warriors basketball, knowing that there's a lot of talent out on the floor," said Curry, who had 28 points and 10 assists. "And that's our best effort to win this championship, is just be ourselves" (see full story).

Cavaliers: Team must slow Warriors at the rim
The first-half list of baskets for Golden State's Kevin Durant in Game 1 of the NBA Finals went like this: layup, dunk, jumper, dunk, dunk, dunk, dunk, layup, dunk, layup.

Most were easy.

And easy isn't supposed to happen, especially not at the rim in the NBA Finals.

Forget all the things that Cleveland did wrong offensively in Game 1, the poor shooting and the 20 turnovers and how the bench basically contributed nothing and how Rihanna got -- and merited -- more commentary from ABC's Jeff Van Gundy than J.R. Smith and Tristan Thompson did.

The Cavs can score. They'll likely be better on Sunday night in Game 2. That isn't the issue.

The issue is this: If the reigning NBA champions don't show some toughness -- especially at the rim -- soon, they won't be reigning NBA champions much longer.

"I think that's how Cleveland is going to approach it, make it a physical game," Michael Cooper, now the coach of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream who went through some epic Lakers-Celtics battles as a player in the 1980s, said before the series began. "Golden State wants a finesse game" (see full story).

Thunder: Kanter's father reportedly detained in Turkey
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Thunder center Enes Kanter's father has been detained in Turkey, the country's official news agency reported Friday.

Mehmet Kanter was detained in his Istanbul home for an investigation undertaken by a prosecutor's office in northwestern Turkey, according to the Anadolu news agency. He is being sent to Tekirdag province for questioning. In Turkey, people are detained, then prosecutors may seek an arrest pending trial or release the detainee.

Anadolu does not specify the scope of the investigation, but Dogan news agency says it is part of an investigation into connections to U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.

The father had disowned Kanter for his public support of Gulen, who the Turkish government blames for last summer's failed coup attempt when nearly 270 people were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded while trying to overthrow Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Turkish government considers Gulen's movement a terror organization. Gulen has denied all allegations of involvement in the coup attempt.

Enes Kanter tweeted on Friday about the incident . He called Erdogan the "Hitler of our century," and warned that his father "is potentially to get tortured as thousand others."

The Kanters have become bigger targets than usual lately as Enes Kanter has continued to be a vocal supporter of Gulen's movement and critic of Erdogan (see full story).

Knicks: Oakley headed to trial over arena fracas
NEW YORK -- Former New York Knicks player Charles Oakley has chosen to go to trial in August on charges he struck a security guard at Madison Square Garden.

Oakley appeared briefly before a Manhattan judge on Friday. He rejected a conditional dismissal that would have left him with a clean record after six months of good behavior.

Oakley became a fan favorite when he played for the Knicks from 1988 to 1998. But he's had a falling out with the organization in recent years.

On Feb. 8, he sat a few rows from Knicks owner James Dolan at a game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Security approached Oakley early in the game and a fracas ensued. Oakley was removed from the building and handcuffed.

Oakley says he didn't do anything wrong.

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