NBA notebook: Colangelo resigns in wake of Twitter scandal

The Philadelphia 76ers announced Thursday that they have accepted the immediate resignation of president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo following an investigation into alleged Twitter activity by Colangelo and his wife.

Head coach Brett Brown will oversee basketball operations through the 2018 NBA Draft and thereafter until a new general manager is found.

The investigation, conducted by the outside firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, concluded that Colangelo’s wife, Barbara Bottini, was responsible for the existence of four anonymous Twitter accounts that had leaked information about the 76ers and been critical of the team’s coach and some players. The accounts also tweeted favorable opinions about Colangelo while denigrating Philadelphia’s former GM, Sam Hinkie.

“We find the situation to be disappointing for our entire organization,” Sixers managing partner Josh Harris said in a statement. “We are determined to continue the tremendous progress we have made over the last two seasons in our quest to win an NBA Championship.”

–Kevin Durant confirmed to ESPN’s Rachel Nichols that he will re-sign with the Golden State Warriors this summer.

The two-year, $51 million deal Durant agreed to last year included an opt-out clause for the 2018-19 season, which he reportedly intends to exercise in order to negotiate a new deal with the Warriors.

Durant was an All-Star for the Warriors yet again this season, averaging 26.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 68 games. He has stepped up his play in the playoffs, averaging 29.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists as Golden State is one win away from its third NBA Finals championship in four years.

–James Harden’s NBA peers voted the Houston Rockets guard MVP for the second time, the National Basketball Players Association announced.

Harden also received the honor during the NBPA’s inaugural awards in 2015. He is one of three finalists for the league’s MVP award, along with the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James and New Orleans Pelicans’ Anthony Davis.

Harden, 28, averaged a career-high and league-leading 30.4 points per game in the regular season. He also contributed 8.8 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game while leading Houston to the league’s best record.

–The New Orleans Pelicans and head coach Alvin Gentry agreed to a two-year contract extension through the 2020-21 season, the team announced.

According to an ESPN report, the new deal will give Gentry a raise next season, guarantee him a contract for 2019-20 and add 2020-21 based on performance.

The Pelicans are 112-134 in three seasons under Gentry’s guide. New Orleans went 48-34 this season on its way to its first playoff appearance in the 63-year-old’s coaching tenure.

–Field Level Media