Rare is the negotiation where both parties walk away feeling pleased with the outcome, but such is the case with Thursday's announcement of a new collective bargaining agreement between MLS and the MLS Players Association. The good vibes don't appear to be simply due to the release of tension that comes with reaching an agreement, either. The deal was struck with over three weeks to go until the start of the regular season, speaking to the general satisfaction of both parties. The fact that discussions started two years ago helped lay the foundation for agreeing on a deal.

"This agreement addresses key strategic priorities for the league and our players while also retaining the basic player compensation structure that has been the foundation for the growth and stability of Major League Soccer," said MLS commissioner Don Garber.

"We got a deal that's going to significantly change what it means to be an MLS player, and lead us into the future," added MLSPA executive director Bob Foose. "We're thrilled with that."

That's a far cry from the mood five years ago during the last negotiations. Back then, the two sides hashed out their last CBA just days before the start of the campaign with the help of a mediator. At the time, the MLSPA received huge criticism (even from its own players) for not extracting a better deal. That sentiment was rammed home when the league unilaterally imposed new salary restrictions that same year and introduced Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) in a bid to attract players with salaries just under the Designated Player threshold.

The MLSPA and the rank and file seemed to have learned from that experience. The preparation, from more sustained outreach toward the league's foreign players to better communication regarding the MLSPA's objectives, was more thorough. MLS seemed to learn some lessons as well in terms of working with the union, perhaps seeing that there was little to be gained from simply imposing its will. The relationship between the MLSPA and the league seems less adversarial now, more of a partnership than in years past.

"We were able to iron things out things that were important to players that maybe we didn't get in 2015," said MLSPA executive board member and Minnesota United midfielder Ethan Finlay. "This agreement represents broad progress for all players, and that's something that wasn't quite solved in 2015."

The MLSPA appeared to get much, though not all, of what it wanted. Not only is there more money for the players, but their ability to compete for it has increased. There are now two main salary budget buckets of Guaranteed Spend (salary budget and General Allocation Money, with TAM converted into the latter) and Discretionary Spend (Designated Players, discretionary TAM, and investment in a still-to-be-hashed-out U-22 player initiative). What this means is that players will be able to compete for a greater share of the salary pie that had previously gone only to TAM players making between roughly $540,000 and $1.5 million.

There's good news for young players, too. Players at the bottom end of the pay scale -- those on what are called "senior minimum" and "reserve minimum" contracts -- saw their wages improve, with senior minimum contracts escalating from $70,250 in 2019 to $109,200 in 2024 and reserve minimum contracts increasing from $56,250 to $85,502. Senior minimum players are also eligible for performance-based bonuses (capped at $35,000) where they hadn't been previously.

"We are getting to the point where even in our very expensive cities, every player is able to make enough money to live well," said Foose.

The improved bonus structure in particular makes for more of a meritocracy among the players, where performance matters more for those lower wage-earners than it did in the past. This had been a fundamental plank of the MLSPA's platform and was one of the last aspects of this CBA to be negotiated.

- LA Galaxy offering $500 Chicharito meet-and-greet
- Marshall: Why more players are leaving Liga MX for MLS

Perhaps more critically, the league will no longer be able to impose future mechanisms like TAM unilaterally; instead, they must consult the MLSPA first. Also, players received guarantees from the league that it will add additional money to the salary budget and GAM based on the next media rights deal, which begins in 2023. Getting 25% of the difference between the new and old deals, plus $100m, ensures players will benefit from MLS growth.

The fact that the CBA terms ends before the 2026 World Cup, which is being co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the U.S., is an underrated boost for the players, as it should position the MLSPA to take advantage of what is expected to be an acceleration of revenues ahead of that tournament.

Freedom of movement also received a boost, with relaxed eligibility requirements that have gone from 28 years of age and eight years of service to 24 and five. Designated players, who previously hadn't been able to take part in free agency, now can.

"More so than then free agents changing teams, what we will see is a significant change in how players interact with their current teams when they re-sign deals, and how they are able to negotiate those deals," said Foose.

The improvements perhaps cast that 2015 CBA in a different light. While considerable money was left on the table, the ability to crack open the free-agency door proved to be a significant shift. Over a quarter of the league's players will now be able to take part in free agency when their contracts expire, as opposed to just 11.5% before this CBA.

So is there any vindication for those who negotiated that deal?

"I do feel like when you step back and you look at this deal now, and how it relates to the last deal, I think they go hand in hand," said MLSPA executive board member and Atlanta United midfielder Jeff Larentowicz. "I think we feel like maybe the heat that we took ... we weren't going to see the fruits of our labor until now. I think that we see it here. Obviously, it's not perfect, but I think that where we are now is a much better spot because of 2015."

So where did the players lose out? The free-agency terms could always be better, and the continued presence of TAM still rankles. "We would have loved to have gotten rid of [TAM] entirely," said Foose. "I would say, the complexity and the transparency of the league, that's probably one of the areas where we came up a little shorter than we would have hoped. We will keep fighting that fight."

It's worth noting MLS got some wins of their own. The league still has control over where a large chunk of its salary budget gets spent. By and large, bidding wars over players will still be avoided in most cases.

One big question is the extent to which the deal might force those owners who have been reluctant to spend in the past to open up the checkbook more. The fact that the teams are allowed to book eight charter flights (but no more than eight) in 2020 hints that there remains some reluctance to spend more in order to improve the league. But there also appear to be enough owners now willing to push the financial envelope -- from Atlanta to LAFC to Seattle to Portland -- and those teams recognize that capturing a bigger audience depends on continuing to increase spending.

So what's next? The players must still ratify the agreement. The same is true for the MLS Board of Governors, though both processes are expected to be drama-free. For once, the same could be said of the negotiations.

Nasir Jamshed, the former Pakistan batsman, has been sentenced to 17 months in prison at Manchester Crown Court, after pleading guilty in December to a conspiracy to bribe fellow cricketers in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Jamshed, 33, was given a ten-year ban by the PCB in August 2018, and had been anticipating a custodial sentence after changing his plea on the opening day of his trial.

That followed the admission of his two co-defendants, Yousef Anwar, 36, and Mohammed Ijaz, 34, that they had offered financial inducements to PSL players with a view to them under-performing during matches in the tournament. Anwar was sentenced to 40 months in prison and Ijaz 30 months.

In December, the case for the prosecution had told how an undercover police officer had infiltrated the trio's spot-fixing network by posing as a member of a corrupt betting syndicate. That investigation identified an attempted fix during the Bangladesh Premier League in 2016 and an actual fix in the PSL fixture between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi in Dubai on February 9.

Jamshed, acting as the go-between for the PSL game, persuaded Sharjeel Khan to play out two made-to-order dot-balls off the first two balls of Islamabad's second over. Sharjeel was later banned for five years by the PCB, as was Khalid Latif, another player whom Jamshed had recruited for a subsequent fix.

The court also heard how Jamshed himself had been the intended fixer during the BPL contests, when he and Sharjeel were both playing for Rangpur Riders.

However, the first attempt was called off when Jamshed did not give all the pre-arranged signals - which included the use of certain coloured batting grips. And a second attempt against Barisal Bulls was cancelled after he was dropped for what was the final match of the season.

In a statement issued after the sentence was handed down, Jamshed's wife, Samara Afzal, told of the "pain and humiliation" that her husband's actions had caused to their family, and warned other cricketers not to be tempted by corruption in a sport where, she wrote, an international player can earn more than she does as a doctor.

"Nasir could have had a bright future had he worked hard and been committed to the sport than gave him so much, but he took a short cut and lost everything, his career, status, respect and freedom," she wrote. "He would have got UK nationality and played county cricket, and he threw his chance away.

"He would do anything to turn the clock back and not lose everything, especially his daughter who he is very close to, but it's too late for him. I hope all cricketers look at his example as a deterrent against corruption."

Outfielder Joc Pederson has lost his arbitration case, giving teams a 3-0 record in hearings this year.

Pederson will receive $7.75 million this season, not the $9.5 million he was seeking.

The 27-year-old hit .249 with 36 home runs and 74 RBIs last year for the Los Angeles Dodgers while making $5 million.

Pederson, a free agent after this season, was traded from the Dodgers to the Los Angeles Angels, ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Tuesday, though the trade has not yet been announced.

The Dodgers went to their first arbitration case since defeating reliever Joe Beimel in 2007. The hearing was held before Elizabeth Neumeier, Walt De Treux and Howard Edelman.

Earlier this week, Minnesota Twins pitcher Jose Berrios and Atlanta Braves reliever Shane Greene lost their cases. Twelve players remain scheduled for hearings, which run through Feb. 21.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

First baseman/designated hitter Kendrys Morales is retiring from baseball, he told ESPN's Marly Rivera on Friday, after a career that spanned 13 seasons and seven teams.

Morales, 36, posted a combined .194 average with two home runs in 201 plate appearances between the Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees last season. New York released him in July.

"Making the decision was difficult, right? But all things in life come to an end," Morales told Rivera. "I spent many years, since Cuba, playing baseball, and I gave up a lot of time I would have spent with my family. That is the one of the reasons I have decided to retire, to see if I can recover some of that lost time. Also, Major League Baseball has changed, and maybe veteran ballplayers such as myself are not valued, so this is the right time to make this decision.

"It is hard, but it is the right decision for both me and my family."

Morales defected from Cuba in 2004 -- his eighth attempt to leave the country, he said -- and signed a six-year, $3 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels that year.

In 2009, his first full season in the majors, Morales hit 34 home runs with 108 RBIs and a .569 slugging average.

He may be best remembered for an incident in 2010, when he hit a walk-off grand slam against the Seattle Mariners on May 29. As he neared home plate to celebrate with his teammates, he jumped in the air and landed awkwardly, breaking his lower right leg. He missed the rest of that season as well as the next while recovering from the injury and dealing with complications in his rehab.

Morales also played for the Mariners, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays. He won a World Series title with Kansas City in 2015.

He finishes his career with 213 home runs, 740 RBIs and a .265 batting average.

In 2019, Jon Jones accomplished something he never had before: He flew under the radar.

Even in a year in which the UFC's biggest star, Conor McGregor, failed to make a single appearance, 2019 was by all measures one of the quietest years of Jones' career. He defended his light heavyweight championship twice, against Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos, and he went home.

He stayed mostly out of trouble. No drug testing controversies to speak of. Even from a competitive standpoint, Jones didn't talk a lot of trash. He did what he said he was going to in 2019. He kept his head down and continued to extend the gap between himself and the rest of the 205-pound division.

Jones, 32, will look to stay that course on Saturday when he meets Dominick Reyes in the main event of UFC 247 in Houston (10 p.m. ET, order here on pay-per-view).

There's a second championship fight in the co-main event, with Valentina Shevchenko defending her flyweight belt against Katlyn Chookagian. If successful, it would be the third defense for Shevchenko. She is a long way behind Jones in terms of accolades, but no one doubts she has a chance to ultimately hold her title just as long as he has.

Still, this night will be about Jones. Should he win, he would move ahead of Georges St-Pierre for most title wins in UFC history -- it would be his 14th -- and would tie Demetrious Johnson's record of most title defenses (12).

It's an interesting tug of war for Jones. In recent years, he has clearly taken measures to step out of the public eye. But as he enters 2020, his career is at a point that he should absolutely be one of the biggest stories of the year.

With McGregor wanting to stay active, and other stars like Jorge Masvidal, Nate Diaz, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Israel Adesanya all on the rise, it will be interesting to see if Jones -- and his all-time greatness -- will capture the imagination and attention of the MMA world in 2020 as much as it used to.

A dominant performance on Saturday, reminiscent of the Jones who stormed through the division before other issues veered him off course, might do the trick.

Light heavyweight championship: Jones vs. Reyes

By the numbers

17: Consecutive UFC fights in which Jones is unbeaten, a record for the promotion. Since March 2010, he is 16-0 with one no contest.

95: Percent of opponents' takedown attempts successfully defended by Jones, second-highest all time in the UFC, behind Jimmie Rivera's 95.5%. Reyes' 84% is fifth-best among light heavyweights.

2.03: Strikes absorbed per minute by Jones, the fewest among active UFC light heavyweights. Reyes is third, at 2.24.

2.79: Strikes landed for every one absorbed by Reyes, the best differential among active UFC 205-pounders (and ninth-best among all active fighters). Jones (2.28) is fourth among light heavyweights.

6: Consecutive UFC victories by Reyes, giving him the longest active win streak among 205-pounders.

Sources: ESPN Stats & Information and UFC Stats

A look back

Five vs. five

Jon Jones' most recent results
Win: Thiago Santos (SD, July 6, 2019; Watch on ESPN+)
Win: Anthony Smith (UD, March 2, 2019; Watch on ESPN+)
Win: Alexander Gustafsson (TKO3, Dec. 29, 2018)
NC: Daniel Cormier (Win overturned, July 29, 2017)
Win: Ovince Saint Preux (UD, April 23, 2016; Watch on ESPN+)

Dominick Reyes' most recent results
Win: Chris Weidman (KO1, Oct. 18, 2019; Watch on ESPN+)
Win: Volkan Oezdemir (SD, March 16, 2019, Watch on ESPN+)
Win: Ovince Saint Preux (UD, Oct. 6, 2018)
Win: Jared Cannonier (TKO1, May 19, 2018)
Win: Jeremy Kimball (SUB1, Dec. 2, 2017)

Fighting words

"Beating up on cans has got him convinced he's a better athlete than most of the world. If he was so badass he would've won the California state wrestling championships, he would've went division one, He would have at least made a practice squad for the NFL. This man is delusional." -- Jones, tweeting about Reyes

"That's why he's not ever going to be on the Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali level. No matter how many wins he gets, no matter how many titles he wins, he can't get out of his own way. He's just not a good person." -- Reyes, speaking on Ariel Helwani's MMA Show about Jones

Dom & Gil's film study

Dominick Cruz and Gilbert Melendez assess Jones' attacks:

Cruz and Melendez on how Reyes can pull the upset:

Brett Okamoto's prediction

It's always the same problem when you're trying to look for an upset of Jones. Where? Where does it happen? Reyes is very good but still relatively young in his career. Jones has advantages in experience, size and versatility. Reyes is composed, holds power in his left hand and is difficult to keep on the floor. All of those are great attributes, but they're nothing Jones hasn't seen (and dominated) before. Until someone does it, I don't anticipate ever picking against Jones. Jones by submission, third round.

Women's flyweight championship:
Valentina Shevchenko vs. Katlyn Chookagian

By the numbers

12: Stoppages by Shevchenko among her 18 wins. She has seven submissions and five KO/TKOs.

10: Decision victories by Chookagian among her 13 overall wins. She is one of just four fighters who have had their first eight UFC bouts go to the judges.

4.35: Significant strikes landed per minute by Chookagian. Shevchenko lands 3.02.

234-100: Significant strike differential in favor of Shevchenko in her four UFC flyweight fights.

6-0: Shevchenko's record in UFC fights when earning multiple takedowns. When she doesn't: 1-2.

Sources: ESPN Stats & Information and UFC Stats

A look back

Five vs. five

Valentina Shevchenko's most recent results
Win: Liz Carmouche (UD, Aug. 10, 2019; Watch on ESPN+)
Win: Jessica Eye (KO2, June 8, 2019; Watch on ESPN+)
Win: Joanna Jędrzejczyk (UD, Dec. 8, 2018; Watch on ESPN+)
Win: Priscila Cachoeira (SUB2, Feb. 3, 2018)
Loss: Amanda Nunes (SD, Sept. 9, 2017; Watch on ESPN+)

Katlyn Chookagian's most recent results
Win: Jennifer Maia (UD, Nov. 2, 2019; Watch on ESPN+)
Win: Joanne Calderwood (UD, June 8, 2019; Watch on ESPN+)
Loss: Jessica Eye (SD, Dec. 8, 2018)
Win: Alexis Davis (UD, July 28, 2018)
Win: Mara Romero Borella (UD, Jan. 27, 2018)

Fighting words

"She hasn't faced anyone with my style. I move, I don't just stand there and go running forward, like the last few opponents. I utilize a lot of footwork and head movement, and I keep that pace up for five rounds." -- Chookagian, speaking of Shevchenko at a UFC news conference in December

"No offense to Katlyn, but all of my opponents -- every one -- were thinking before facing me that I didn't face no one with the same style." -- Shevchenko at the same news conference

Dom & Gil's film study

Cruz and Melendez break down the flyweights:

Brett Okamoto's prediction

Chookagian is a technical stand-up fighter who does what she does well. But she lacks finishing ability, and Shevchenko seems to have the skills to beat her anywhere, in her area of strength on the feet or on the ground. Shevchenko via TKO, fourth round.

What else to look for ... beyond the title fights

The rest of the card:

PPV (via ESPN+), 10 p.m. ET
Juan Adams vs. Justin Tafa | Heavyweight
Mirsad Bektić vs. Dan Ige | Men's featherweight
Derrick Lewis vs. Ilir Latifi | Heavyweight
ESPN, 8 p.m.
Trevin Giles vs. Antonio Arroyo | Middleweight
Lauren Murphy vs. Andrea Lee | Women's flyweight
Alex Morono vs. Kalinn Williams | Welterweight
Miles Johns vs. Mario Bautista | Men's bantamweight
ESPN+, 6:30 p.m.
Journey Newson vs. Domingo Pilarte | Men's bantamweight
Andre Ewell vs. Jonathan Martinez | Men's bantamweight
Austin Lingo vs. Youssef Zalal | Men's featherweight

Facing Lewis is a big step up for Latifi

It sure looks like the UFC is giving Derrick Lewis a showcase fight in his adopted hometown of Houston.

The big heavyweight opens the main card with a bout against Ilir Latifi, who comes in on a two-fight losing streak -- at light heavyweight.

Lewis (22-7, 1 NC), who is No. 6 in the ESPN heavyweight rankings, is 6-foot-3 and typically weighs in near the heavyweight limit of 265 pounds.

The 5-10 Latifi did start his career as a heavyweight, making his pro debut in 2008 against current UFC fighter Blagoy Ivanov, who coincidentally happens to be Lewis' most recent opponent (Lewis won a split decision in November). But two fights later, Latifi moved down to 205 pounds and has remained there ever since.

Latifi is known as "The Sledgehammer," and he might need one in the cage on Saturday.

Odds 'n' ends

Some undercard tidbits from ESPN Stats & Information:

• When heavyweight prospects Juan Adams (5-2) and Justin Tafa (3-1) meet, the only logical conclusion is a knockout. Neither man has won a fight by any other means.

• Dan Ige (12-2), who meets Mirsad Bektic (13-2) at featherweight, is on a four-fight win streak after losing his UFC debut. Ige's 50.6% significant strike accuracy is fourth-highest among active featherweights, according to UFC Stats.

• The headline fight of the ESPN prelims pits Trevin Giles (11-2) against middleweight Antonio Arroyo (9-3). Giles lands 61.2% of his significant strikes, which would be third-highest among active fighters if he qualified (he has four UFC fights but needs five). Arroyo has been to a decision only twice in his career, and seven of his eight finishes have come in Round 1.

• Andrea Lee (11-3) has landed 53.3% of her significant strike attempts in the flyweight division, the fourth-best rate among the 27 women with at least three UFC fights at 125 pounds. Her opponent, Lauren Murphy (11-4), lands at a 29.7% clip, the worst rate among those 27 flyweights.

• In the welterweight prelim between Alex Morono (17-5) and Kalinn Williams (9-1), someone's run of success will end. Morono is on a three-fight win streak, and Williams, who is making his UFC debut, has won six straight.

• There are a couple of undefeated men in the prelims: bantamweight Miles Johns (10-0), who faces Mario Bautista, and featherweight Austin Lingo (7-0), who takes on Youssef Zalal.

• Domingo Pilarte is 8-2 and his bantamweight opponent, Journey Newson, is 9-2. But both are 0-1 in the UFC and looking to break through.

• Andre Ewell (15-6) has two UFC wins, both by decision. But he has something to aim for: His opponent, Jonathan Martinez (11-2), has never been finished.

MIAMI -- In deciding whether to pursue a trade for Andre Iguodala, the Miami Heat went all-in on research. They talked to people who knew Iguodala. They watched what he did last season. They took a deep dive into the analytics.

And they came to a determination.

"He's elite," Heat president Pat Riley said.

Simple as that. That's why Iguodala is now in Heat colors, and a team that wasn't even good enough to make the playoffs last season is thinking big as it gears up for a run at the 2020 postseason. Iguodala, Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill all joined the team for a game-day shootaround practice in Sacramento on Friday to get their first taste of what life with the Heat is like.

"He's an elite defender, an elite team defender, elite assist-to-turnover percentage, he ranks up into the top of those areas that are real tangible," Riley said. "You don't lose that in seven months. And probably it was a blessing in disguise that he didn't play for seven months.

Iguodala last played an NBA game in June, when he scored 22 points in the last game of last season's NBA Finals. He was traded by Golden State to Memphis in early July, and never played for the Grizzlies while waiting to be moved elsewhere -- that start of what became a seven-month process.

"I still like I feel like I still have a lot of time left," the 36-year-old Iguodala told reporters in Sacramento after the shootaround. "I surprised myself just taking the time off and seeing how bouncy my legs got to be. Once the body started recovering a little bit better. Now it's just about finding NBA game shape. It's hard to really practice that. It shouldn't take too much time."

Iguodala was the 2015 NBA Finals MVP and went to each of the last five title series as part of the Golden State Warriors. The Heat haven't been to the finals since 2014, missed the playoffs in three of the last five years and went into this past offseason without a retired Dwyane Wade and with no cap space to sign free agents.

That didn't stop them. They landed Jimmy Butler in a sign-and-trade with Philadelphia, hit on their assessments of rookies Kendrick Nunn and Tyler Herro, watched Bam Adebayo develop into an All-Star, are getting Sixth Man of the Year-level contributions from Goran Dragic in his new off-the-bench role, and saw immense improvement from Derrick Jones Jr. and Duncan Robinson -- beneficiaries of the team's constant commitment to development.

And now they add Iguodala to a team that's already off to a 34-16 start, firmly in the race for home-court in the first round of the playoffs.

"I think what it says is that we really feel that this group has earned the right to really make this all about now," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "And we're bringing in three veteran players that have a lot of experience. Andre obviously bringing championship pedigree, somebody who has played in so many big moments ... that championship experience is invaluable. You can't put a price on it."

Crowder said he noticed how the Heat were playing on opening night, when Memphis lost to Miami. He didn't like the outcome so much, though liked what he saw.

"It just feels like they're having fun with it," Crowder said in Sacramento. "They're playing very hard, a very competitive group. I just want to add on to that. I'm a competitor. I like to win. I like to do whatever it takes to win. I'm here to have fun and get some wins."

Hill said it's no secret what the Heat are shooting at.

"They have championship inspirations," Hill said. "You're talking about a prestigious franchise that has done it. And the leadership of this ship has done it multiple times."

The leader of that ship is Riley, a nine-time champion overall and a three-time titlist with the Heat. He makes no secret about it: the trade was done with eyes on getting closer to contending for yet another ring. The Heat got some cap room in this trade as well, which opens up the buyout market this season. They'll have more money than expected this coming summer, then enough to add a max player to the mix in 2021.

They are trending the right way again.

"A lot of good things have happened," Riley said. "And we hope they continue to happen."

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Friday that the trade that sent D'Angelo Russell to the Minnesota Timberwolves and bought Andrew Wiggins to the Warriors came down to fit.

"We know that Andrew is a better positional fit for us than what D'Angelo was, just given that Steph (Curry) and Klay (Thompson) will be back by next season -- hopefully before than in Steph's case, " Kerr said. "So he's a good positional fit, athletically -- now it's a matter of catching Andrew up to speed with what we like to do here and really trying to make an impact on him regarding our process and how we like to do our business and how we can help him get better and how he can help our team get better.

"That's gonna be what these next couple months are about from a team process, along with helping grow and develop the younger players."

Kerr acknowledged there were questions about how Russell would fit in from the outset.

"To be perfectly blunt, the fit was questionable when we signed him. Nobody questioned that," Kerr said. "When you already have Steph and Klay and you add a ball-dominant guard you can rightfully question the fit. That was one of those reasons the trade rumors started before the season even began and I think D'Angelo understood that before he signed the contract."

Wiggins' game is a better fit in Kerr's eyes.

"Just the pace and the speed that he possesses at the 3 spot. We've always liked to play fast and we like to throw the ball ahead," Kerr said. "The first thing we're going to ask him is to run the wing and run the wing hard. We've got guys who will throw the ball up. I think that will be something that he'll enjoy.

"Defensively, we will ask him to take on the challenge of what that position entails -- guarding some of the best players in the league, adapting to our schemes and terminology. And so I think it's important that we have a couple of months here to get a head start into next season.

"To get a valuable wing player is not easy. There's very few of them in the draft, according to our scouts , and very few of them available in free agency. Wings are hard to come by. Just by bringing in a positional fit, a guy who's got a lot of talent, the move makes a lot of sense."

Wiggins is flying into San Francisco Friday night, Kerr said, and still has to clear his physical.

Kerr said, however, that Wiggins has a 'chance' to play Saturday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

LOS ANGELES -- Wreckage from the helicopter that crashed last month and killed Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others did not show any outward evidence of engine failure, the National Transportation Safety Board said Friday.

Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and the others died in the Jan. 26 crash in Calabasas, California. The group was flying to a girls' basketball tournament at his Mamba Sports Academy. Gianna's team was coached by Bryant and was playing in the tournament.

The NTSB is investigating the accident, including any role that heavy fog played, and a final report isn't expected for at least a year.

A witness told the NTSB the hillside where the crash occurred was shrouded in mist when he heard the helicopter approaching. It sounded normal, and he then saw the blue-and-white aircraft emerge from the fog moving forward and down. Within two seconds, it slammed into the hillside just below him.

Investigators said the twin-engine Sikorsky S-76B was traveling at more than 180 mph and 4,000 feet per minute when it crashed. The helicopter's instrument panel was destroyed in the crash and most of the devices were displaced, according to the NTSB's investigative update. The flight controls were broken and suffered fire damage.

Investigators believe that since a tree branch at the crash site was cut, it appears the engines were working and rotors turning at the time of impact. All four of the helicopter's blades had similar damage, the report said.

Friday's report was merely informational and did not offer any specifics about what caused the crash. The victims' deaths have been ruled an accident by blunt trauma, according to the Los Angeles County coroner.

The deaths shook Los Angeles and the sporting world, with memorials spanning the city and tributes at the Super Bowl and other games. A public memorial for Bryant and the other victims is scheduled for Feb. 24 at Staples Center.

The arena is where Bryant starred for the Lakers for most of his two-decade career, and the date 2/24 corresponds with the No. 24 jersey he wore and the No. 2 worn by Gianna.

Ara Zobayan was the chief pilot for Island Express Helicopters and had more than 8,200 hours of flight time. He was certified to fly solely using instruments -- a more difficult rating to attain that allows pilots to fly at night and through clouds -- and was a pilot to other celebrities, including Kawhi Leonard and Kylie Jenner.

The aircraft did not have a device called the terrain awareness and warning system that signals when an aircraft is in danger of hitting the ground. The NTSB has recommended the system be mandatory for helicopters, but the Federal Aviation Administration requires it only for air ambulances. U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman, both California Democrats, have called for the FAA to mandate the devices in the wake of the tragedy.

It's not clear if the warning system would have averted the crash. The helicopter was also not required to have a black box.

A public memorial for Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and daughter Alyssa will be held Feb. 10 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Also killed in the crash were Bryant friends Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton.

LOS ANGELES -- Utility man Chris Taylor and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a two-year contract extension.

The sides avoided arbitration when they agreed to a $13.4 million contract that included salaries of $5.6 million this year and $7.8 million in 2021, according to multiple reports.

Taylor hit .262 last year after overcoming a slow start. He missed over a month with a fractured left forearm. The 29-year-old plays many positions and brings speed on the basepaths.

Taylor made $3.5 million last season. He had asked for $5.8 million in arbitration, and the team offered $5.25 million. He is eligible for free agency after the 2021 season.

Infielder Max Muncy agreed to a three-year, $26 million contract Thursday, and outfielder Joc Pederson lost his case Friday and will get $7.75 million instead of his request for $9.5 million. The Dodgers have agreed to trade Pederson to the Angels.

Reliever Pedro Baez ($4 million versus $3.5 million) remains on track for a hearing.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

The Major League Baseball Players Association had a strong message Friday for the three teams involved in the held-up Mookie Betts blockbuster: Resolve it quickly.

Those were the words of executive director Tony Clark, who in a statement told the teams to conclude talks or move on.

"The proposed trades between the Dodgers, Red Sox, Twins, and Angels need to be resolved without further delay," Clark said. "The events of this last week have unfairly put several Players' lives in a state of limbo. The unethical leaking of medical information as well as the perversion of the salary arbitration process serve as continued reminders that too often Players are treated as commodities by those running the game."

The blockbuster three-way trade, sources previously told ESPN, would send Red Sox right fielder Betts and starter David Price to the Dodgers; Dodgers outfielder Alex Verdugo and Twins pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol to the Red Sox; and Dodgers starter Kenta Maeda to the Twins.

The blockbuster was agreed upon Tuesday night, pending medical reviews. But the Red Sox, as first reported by The Athletic and confirmed by ESPN, were spooked by a medical review of Graterol, the hard-throwing 21-year-old right-hander who has undergone Tommy John surgery and missed time in 2019 with a shoulder injury.

While sources have told ESPN that the likelihood of the trade blowing up is slim, as medical-related impasses are typically worked around, the teams have been talking about alternative options to complete the deal.

The three-way trade is tied to another proposed deal in which the Dodgers would send outfielder Joc Pederson, starter Ross Stripling and prospect Andy Pages to the Los Angeles Angels for infielder Luis Rengifo and a prospect, according to sources. By offloading Pederson, the Dodgers would remain underneath the $208 million luxury-tax threshold even after taking on the hefty salaries of Betts and Price.