Payton, Cassell, Caffey Face Upgraded Charge

Police at Toronto have upgraded an assault charge against former Milwaukee Buck teammates Gary Payton, Sam Cassell and Jason Caffey stemming from a fight, a prosecutor and the men’s lawyer said Friday.

Payton, Cassell and Caffey are charged in connection with an altercation outside a bar April 11. They were charged with common assault, but police upgraded it to assault causing bodily harm, prosecutor Calvin Barry said.

Barry said further investigation found that one of the participants in the altercation was injured.

Payton is now with the Lakers and Cassell with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

They are accused of assaulting two men and two women outside a club after closing time while the Bucks were in Toronto to play the Raptors.

According to Edward Greenspan, the players’ lawyer, prosecutors have indicated they will proceed with summary charges in the case, rather than more serious indictable charges.

The maximum sentences for summary charges are 18 months for assault causing bodily harm and six months for common assault, Greenspan said.

Under the revised charges, Payton now faces two counts of common assault and one count of assault causing bodily harm.

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Point guard Tyronn Lue agreed to a two-year, $3 million deal with the Orlando Magic. The five-year veteran, who played last season for the Washington Wizards, will join the team next week.

The Magic also signed guard Reece Gaines, a first-round draft choice, to a three-year, $3.15 million contract. Gaines, from Louisville, was the 15th overall pick.

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Seven-time NBA rebounding champion Dennis Rodman wants to make another comeback.

“It has been two years going nuts, partying, and in the last four months I’ve lost 18 pounds and I am getting mentally prepared to return to the NBA,” Rodman said.

The 42-year-old Rodman was a key member of three championship teams with the Bulls from 1996 to ’98. He also played for two championship teams with Detroit earlier in his career.

“My choice would be to play for the Kings or Lakers because I want to live in California, but if the Nets are interested, I would go there,” Rodman said.

Rodman hasn’t played since being released by the Dallas Mavericks after a 13-game stint late in the 1999-2000 season.

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LeBron James had a slow start in Cleveland’s summer league game against Atlanta at Boston, but he scored 15 points and had nine rebounds in Cleveland’s 77-69 win.