Sam Amick

Senior Writer

Sam Amick is a senior NBA writer for The Athletic. He has covered the Association for the better part of two decades while at USA Today, Sports Illustrated, AOL FanHouse and the Sacramento Bee.

What's holding up the Clippers' Kawhi Leonard trade with the Toronto Raptors?

The Clippers and Raptors initially agreed to a trade in June, but Toronto paused the trade until an NBA investigation was completed.

Sam Amick and Law Murray Comments count 47

Why not punish Kawhi Leonard more? Why no arbitration? Answering key Clippers questions

David Aldridge, Sam Amick and more Comments count 309

Ben Simmons returns to NBA by agreeing to sign with Sacramento Kings

Sam Amick Comments count 206

Amen Thompson agrees to 5-year rookie-scale extension with Rockets: Source

William Guillory and Sam Amick Comments count 44

NBA punishment concludes Kawhi Leonard, Uncle Dennis saga that began in 2019

Sam Amick Comments count 47

Timberwolves land Jonathan Kuminga in rare free agency win over the Lakers

Kuminga, 23, fills an immediate hole for a young Timberwolves roster aiming to contend.

Jon Krawczynski and Sam Amick Comments count 621

Jeanie Buss petitions court to block 'devious' siblings from selling Lakers stake

The Lakers governor is citing 'devious' behavior as the Buss family fight over its stake in the Lakers continues.

Sam Amick and Melody Gutierrez Comments count 154

Bennedict Mathurin agrees to sign with Pelicans for 2 years, $16 million: Sources

Bennedict Mathurin will join his third team after agreeing to the deal with the Pelicans. The second year is a player option.

Sam Amick, William Guillory and more Comments count 99

Klay Thompson officially signs with Heat after clearing waivers

Thompson, 36, will join forces with Giannis Antetokounmpo on the revamped Heat.

Sam Amick and Darnell Mayberry Comments count 38

DeMar DeRozan, Nuggets agree to 1-year, $3.9 million deal: Sources

DeRozan, 37, started 77 games for the Kings in 2025-26 but was waived earlier in the offseason.

Sam Amick and Law Murray Comments count 81

Klay Thompson, Mavericks reach buyout agreement; veteran expected to join Heat: Source

Thompson, 36, is on the move after two seasons with the Dallas Mavericks and 13 with Golden State Warriors.

Christian Clark and Sam Amick Comments count 132

James Harden to re-sign with Cavaliers for 3 years, $97 million: Sources

The 11-time All-Star was waiting to sign a new contract to give the Cavs more flexibility to pursue other players like Peyton Watson.

Joe Vardon and Sam Amick Comments count 271

Nuggets trade Peyton Watson to Cavaliers in multi-team deal; Max Strus to Clippers

The Nuggets receive two draft picks in the trade, including an unprotected 2031 first-rounder.

Dan Woike, Tony Jones and more Comments count 189

What we're hearing about the Buss family battle and Jeanie's Lakers future

The Lakers' sale remains on track. What's less certain is Jeanie Buss' future as Lakers' governor.

Sam Amick and Dan Woike Comments count 174

Jeanie Buss contests vote to sell Lakers stake, calls family strategy 'breach of trust'

Buss' lawyer sends letter in effort to maintain Lakers governorship. Here is the latest on the ownership saga.

Sam Amick Comments count 191

NBA disputes report detailing potential findings in Clippers' cap circumvention probe

The league cited "numerous inaccuracies" in a report that detailed some of the findings in the Clippers' salary-cap circumvention probe.

Mike Vorkunov, Sam Amick, and Law Murray Comments count 384

Cavaliers trade Dennis Schröder to Hornets for Tre Mann, cash: Sources

This will be the 12th team Schröder has played for in his soon-to-be 14-year NBA career.

Joe Vardon and Sam Amick Comments count 92

Veteran Bradley Beal returning to Clippers on 2-year deal

Beal declined his player option to explore other opportunities, but mutual interest remained between the 33-year-old and the Clippers.

Law Murray and Sam Amick Comments count 32

What we know so far about Lakers' surprising sale to Joshua Kushner, Bob Iger

The Lakers are being sold again. Why is Mark Walter selling, who are the new owners and what comes next?

Dan Woike, Sam Amick, and Mike Vorkunov Comments count 298

Lakers to be sold to Bob Iger, Joshua Kushner 1 year after Mark Walter bought team

A little more than a year after agreeing to purchase a majority share of the Lakers, Mark Walter is selling the team.

Dan Woike, Mike Vorkunov, and Sam Amick Comments count 1279

As Nuggets and Peyton Watson negotiate, will Cavaliers, Bucks, Clippers swoop in?

The Nuggets are at an impasse for contention in the NBA. How will their contract situations with Peyton Watson and Nikola Jokić amend that?

Sam Amick Comments count 50

Don Nelson, 5-time NBA champion and pioneer of 'Nellie Ball' as coach, dies at 86

Nelson's 1,335 regular-season wins are second all-time in NBA history, behind only Gregg Popovich.

James Jackson, Sam Amick and more Comments count 196

Dillon Brooks, Suns agree to 3-year, $73 million extension: Sources

Brooks played 56 games for the Suns last season, averaging a career-high 20.2 points per game.

Devon Henderson, Doug Haller and more Comments count 40

NBA 'continuing to look into' Bucks' Gary Trent Jr. contract for possible cap circumvention

The Bucks re-signed Gary Trent Jr. to a four-year, $64 million contract despite a down season that didn't align with his free-agent market.

Joe Vardon, Sam Amick, and Eric Nehm Comments count 200

Frank Vogel joins Steve Kerr's staff as Warriors associate head coach: Source

The 53-year-old Vogel spent last season with the Mavericks as associate head coach. He led the Lakers to the 2019-20 NBA title.

Sam Amick and James Jackson Comments count 60