NBA Roundup: Wade settles with ex-wife
Dwyane Wade and his ex-wife ended six years of divorce litigation with a $5 million settlement on Monday.
Wade, who married Siohvaughn Funches-Wade in 2002 and separated from the mother of his two children in 2007, will retain custody of sons Zion and Zaire. He will not be required to make the $25,000 monthly spousal support payments ordered in 2010 but does give up the couple's mansion in South Holland, Ill., the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
"Dwyane Wade has made several requests over the years to settle this matter, despite Ms. Funches having 16 different attorneys and 2 arrests throughout this process," James Prtikin, Wade's attorney, said. "Mr. Wade has provided a very generous settlement to Ms. Funches to continue to live a wonderful lifestyle for the rest of her life. Despite false allegations by Ms. Funches claiming to be ‘homeless' and ‘destitute,' Dwyane Wade has maintained over the years financial support to his ex-wife by providing her with income over $25,000 on a monthly basis, timely paid for her home mortgage, maintenance and security at the house, four cars, insurance, taxes and all of her attorney fees throughout this process."
---The Dallas Mavericks announced Tuesday the signing of free agent guard Monta Ellis.
Ellis is an eight-year veteran with career averages of 19.4 points, 4.7 assists and 1.7 steals in 516 games with Golden State and Milwaukee. In 2007, he was named the NBA's Most Improved Player and has since averaged 19 points or more in each of the past six seasons. Last season, Ellis started all 82 games for Milwaukee and averaged 19.2 points, 6.0 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 steals.
-The Mavs also reached agreement with Brandan Wright on a two-year, $10 million contract, NBA.com reported. The 6-foot-10 Wright, an unrestricted free agent, averaged a career-high 8.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots per game and shot 59.7 percent from the field last season for the Mavericks.
---Commissioner David Stern remains hopeful that the NBA will have extensive testing for human growth hormone implemented for the start of the 2013-14 season.
The goal isn't without significant challenges, including the lack of an executive director of the players' association since Billy Hunter was fired by the NBPA, according to Stern. Blood tests for HGH have been labeled intrusive by NFL players, who are working toward a deal for a testing policy that includes a "population study" requiring a blood sample in training camps this week.
"It's more difficult to make decisions," Stern told CBS Sports of the challenges of working with an interim heirarchy in Hunter's stead.
---The Golden State Warriors signed veteran free agent center Jermaine O'Neal, the team announced Tuesday.
According to multiple reports earlier this month, the deal was to be for one year, but the team did not release terms of the contract. The 34-year-old O'Neal played in 55 games -- and started four -- for the Phoenix Suns last season after bouncing back from knee problems that plagued him in recent years. He averaged 8.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.42 blocks per game,
---Gary Neal can become an unrestricted free agent if the San Antonio Spurs withdraw their one-year qualifying offer as expected.
Multiple reports indicate the Spurs intend to take the $1.1 million deal off the table, freeing Neal to shop his services in the free agent market.
Neal, an excellent shooter who can provide scoring and solid defense off the bench, started 17 games and played in 68 with the Spurs last season, averaging 9.5 points in 22 minutes per game.
