NBA-National Basketball Association roundup

Oct 23 (The Sports Xchange) - San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will succeed Mike Krzyzewski as head coach of the U.S. men's basketball team after the 2016 Olympics. USA Basketball announced on Friday that Popovich, who has led the Spurs to five NBA titles, will take over starting with 2017 training camp and lead the Americans into the 2019 Basketball World Cup in China and 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, assuming U.S. qualification. Krzyzewski, who is Duke's head coach, is planning to step down after the Rio 2016 Games. Coach K led the USA to Olympic gold medals in 2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London. Popovich, 66, was the choice of USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo. Krzyzewski will stay on as a special adviser to Colangelo for the 2017-2020 period. Popovich was a U.S. assistant in the 2002 world championships and 2004 Olympics. Popovich owns a 1,022-470 all-time regular-season coaching record. He has been the NBA's Coach of the Year three times (2003, 2012, 2014). Krzyzewski, who won his fifth NCAA national title with Duke in April, also won the 2010 world championship and the 2014 World Cup. He has a 75-1 record since he was hired by Colangelo in 2005. - - - Cleveland forward LeBron James remains idle due to a sore back and there are doubts he will be ready when the Cavaliers open the NBA season on Tuesday against the Chicago Bulls. James has not practiced since Oct. 13, when he received an anti-inflammatory injection in his back but the four-time MVP remains hopeful he will be on the court for the opener despite the fact he has not been cleared by the team's medical staff. "If everything goes right," James told reporters in reference to whether he will play. "We feel like we're progressing really well and if we can continue to do that, then I'm optimistic that I'll be able to go." Cleveland trimmed its roster to 16 by waiving forward Austin Daye, guard/forward D.J. Stephens, guard Dionte Christmas and forward Jack Cooley. - - - The Golden State Warriors waived guard Chris Babb, guards/forwards Jarell Eddie and Xavier Henry and forward Chris Udofia. - - - The Detroit Pistons waived forward Cartier Martin, guard/forward Adonis Thomas and center Jordan Bachynski. - - - The Los Angeles Lakers waived forward Jonathan Holmes. Holmes, an undrafted rookie out of the University of Texas, was originally signed by the Lakers on Aug. 13. He appeared in two preseason games, averaging two points and three rebounds in 7.5 minutes. - - - The Charlotte Hornets waived forward Sam Thompson, center Jason Washburn, guard/forward Damien Wilkins and guard Elliot Williams. - - - (Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)