Kinderwunsch » was his fourth this season and eighth of his career.MO

With Kobe Bryant gone and the team in desperate need of mature leadership, the Los Angeles Lakers are turning to Luol Deng for help on the court and in the locker room.The Lakers and Deng agreed to a four-year, $72 million contract Saturday, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot be signed until Thursday.The 31-year-old Deng averaged 12.3 points and 6.0 rebounds for Miami last season. The high-energy forward has made the playoffs seven times, with the Bulls and Heat, and commands immediate respect with his work ethic and ability to relate to teammates.Thats exactly what Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak sought to help shape an impressionable roster of intriguing young talent for first-year coach Luke Walton. Those youngsters went wayward last season while Bryant concluded his farewell tour. Deng will now join fellow new signee Timofey Mozgov and holdover Lou Williams to provide veteran stability.The Lakers finished at 17-65, the worst record in the franchises proud history, and were plagued by salacious headlines and speculation over how the players responded to the old-school leadership from Bryant and former coach Byron Scott.And the core of the team -- DAngelo Russell, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. -- got only younger last month when the Lakers drafted 19-year-old Duke forward Brandon Ingram with the second overall pick. Deng is a fellow Blue Devil, and both players are 6-foot-9.Kupchak entered free agency with a huge amount of salary cap room, but little hope of attracting top free agents determined to win championships now. Instead, the Lakers hoped to place an experienced supporting cast around Russell, Ingram, Randle and Clarkson. Clarkson agreed to a four-year, $50 million deal Friday to stay with the team as a restricted free agent.I think history tells you that a bunch of young guys on a team is probably not a good thing, Kupchak said last month. They look around for leadership and advice from somebody whos been through this a couple of times, and if theres nobody to talk to, then they really dont know how to handle the situation. So I think we will look to add some veteran leadership, and hopefully not only leadership, but guys who can help us win games.A few minutes after free agency opened, the Lakers committed $64 million over the next four years to Mozgov, the 7-1 Russian who mostly sat on Clevelands bench during the Cavaliers championship run this summer. Mozgov doesnt seem an obvious fit for Waltons up-tempo approach, but the Lakers value his size, defense and experience.Although Deng finished last season with his lowest scoring average since his rookie year in Chicago in 2004-05, he is a hard-nosed defensive forward who can play multiple positions and deliver solid offense. He is also known for his diligence in practice, a quality that can only help this team.For the third straight summer, the glitzy Lakers have been on the outside looking in as the biggest names on the free-agent market have taken meetings and agreed to deals.They never got a meeting with Kevin Durant, while Los Angeles native DeMar DeRozan chose to stay in Toronto. Al Horford appears to be headed elsewhere, and the Lakers failed to attract Nicolas Batum or former Lakers forward Kent Bazemore before closing their pursuit of Deng.Thats why the Lakers didnt hesitate to go to a fourth year on the big contract for Deng. He will be entering his 13th season, but has proved durable during his career with the Bulls, Cavaliers and Heat. And he had several other suitors lining up for a crack at him, including Tom Thibodeau, the former Bulls coach now with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Fake NHL Jerseys . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard. NHL Jerseys Sale . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. https://www.chinanhljerseys.us/ . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. Wholesale NHL Jerseys China . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. BALTIMORE -- Aaron Sanchez is playing a vital role in Torontos march to the postseason.Nonetheless, the organization has made the extra effort to keep their young pitcher fresh. Sanchez took full advantage of that strategy with another dominant performance Wednesday night.Jose Bautista homered on the games first pitch and Russell Martin went deep four batters later in support of Sanchez, leading the Blue Jays to a 5-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.Toronto took two of the three games in the pivotal American League East series. The fading Orioles are four games behind the first-place Blue Jays and are tied with Detroit for the second wild card spot.Its never easy when you play these guys, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. This time of year, I mean this is a team were locked in it with. Its always big to beat them.Sanchez (13-2) was recalled from Class-A Dunedin to make the start. He spent 10 days in the minors to limit his innings and he took advantage of the extra rest. Sanchez allowed an unearned run and five hits with two strikeouts over six innings and a season-high 112 pitches.I felt like my body had been bouncing back pretty well all year, Sanchez said. I think it was just one of those things where it had to be done. I went down to Florida and I took it very serious. My season is not done and I knew that so it was go down there, get work in, understand what Im trying to accomplish and come back in a big game.Michael Saunders hit his 23rd homer, a solo shot in the eighth that made it 5-1.Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop had three hits, including a two-run homer in the ninth off Roberto Osuna, his 21st.The game was delayed for about 15 minutes when home plate umpire Jerry Layne was hit in the mask on a pitch by Sanchez. Layne had to leave and was replaced by second base umpire Alan Porter.After Bautista drilled Yovani Gallardos first pitch over the wall in center field, Martin followed with a two-run shot. The Orioles pulled within 3-1 in the fifth when third baseman Josh Donaldson couldnt handlle a sharp grounder by Manny Machado.ddddddddddddI feel like Im still seeing the ball well, said Martin, who had nine homers and 22 RBI in August. Sometimes you get a mistake and you hit it and sometimes the pitcher makes pitches and you get out. For the most part, I just feel like Im having good at-bats.After allowing the two homers, Gallardo (4-7) settled down and retired the final 10 batters he faced. He allowed three runs and five hits with three strikeouts over six innings.He pitched well I thought for the most part, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. He gave us a chance to win. Really, he got better as the game went on.A double by Devon Travis off Mychal Givens in the seventh increased the lead to 4-1.EARLY SPARKBautistas leadoff homer was his fourth this season and eighth of his career.MOVESBlue Jays: RHP Bo Schultz was optioned to Buffalo to make room for Sanchez.Orioles: OF Drew Stubbs was claimed off release waivers from Texas. To make room, Baltimore cut Kyle Lobstein just two hours after getting the left-handed pitcher in a trade with Pittsburgh. ... The Orioles acquired another outfielder, Michael Bourn, from the Diamondbacks for minor league outfielder Jason Heinrich.TRAINERS ROOMBlue Jays: INF Darwin Barney was placed on the Family Medical Emergency List. Gibbons did not disclose further details. INF Ryan Goins was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo.Orioles: RHP Darren ODay (right shoulder rotator cuff strain) is progressing well but there is still no timetable for his return to the bullpen, Showalter said.UP NEXTBlue Jays: Gibbons has not named a starter for the game Friday in Tampa Bay.Orioles: Dylan Bundy (7-5. 3.71 ERA) pitches the series opener against the New York Yankees on Friday in another battle of playoff contenders. Bundy has struggled in three appearances against New York this season, going 0-1 with 9.39 ERA over three appearances (8 runs in 7 2/3 innings). ' ' '