(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Brooklyn Nets didn’t wait long when the NBA’s free-agency period began on Sunday

Even though agreements can’t become official signings until July 6, the verbal agreements are changing the face of the league, no more so than in Brooklyn. The Nets, who made the playoffs for the first time last season since 2015, are preparing to challenge for primacy in the Eastern Conference.

They agreed to terms with guard Kyrie Irving and the injured Kevin Durant, depriving the Los Angeles Lakers of a shot at the former and the New York Knicks a chance to bring in the latter. Durant (torn Achilles tendon) won’t likely play at all in the season ahead.
The Boston Celtics, having planned on losing Irving, agreed to terms with Kemba Walker (Charlotte Hornets).

Two big deals involving the Miami Heat are on pause. They agreed to a sign-and-trade deal with the Philadelphia 76ers that would bring them to guard Jimmy Butler, but the other part of it – a complex trade with the Dallas Mavericks – is holding that up.

Golf:
Nate Ashley, who entered the Rocket Mortgage Classic as an alternate, led the tournament wire to wire and posted a 6-stroke victory on Sunday for his first win on the PGA Tour. Lashley, who was ranked 353rd in the world, was the last player admitted to the field on Wednesday.

Steve Stricker set a record in winning the U.S. Senior Open. He finished 19-under best ever in the tournament, to win the event by 6 strokes.

Sung Hyun Park birdied the final hole to win the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship on Sunday.

Baseball:
The New York Yankees scored nine runs in the seventh inning to beat the Boston Red Sox 12-8 and sweep the two-game series that marked baseball’s debut in London.

The Los Angeles Dodgers scored six times in the sixth inning to beat the Colorado Rockies 10-5. Max Scherzer struck out 14 as the Washington Nationals topped the Detroit Tigers 2-1.

Auto racing:
Alex Bowman earned his first NASCAR Monster Cup Series win on Sunday, holding off Kyle Larson in the Camping World 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. The race was delayed by rain for nearly three hours.

Elsewhere:
The NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes acquired winger Phil Kessel from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a trade. Jermall Charlo won a lopsided decision over Brandon Adams to retain his WBC middleweight title.

 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman