MIAMI -- LeBron James has had "preliminary talks" with David Beckham about possibly bringing an MLS team to Miami.
The talks were first reported in the British media and confirmed by James after the Miami Heat's practice Monday.
"There's some interest on both sides," said James, the four-time NBA MVP who already has a small ownership stake in the English club Liverpool through his involvement with Fenway Sports Management. "David has become a good friend of mine over the last few years. And I think it would be great for this city to have a football club for sure. So there's interest on both sides but it's preliminary talks. But there (is) some open dialogue."
The Associated Press first reported last month that Beckham decided to start an MLS expansion team in Miami. Several matters, however, must first be taken care of, including league approval (see full story).
Cavaliers: Waiters denies involvement in fight
CLEVELAND -- Cavaliers starting guard Dion Waiters returned to practice and denied reports he was involved in a fight during a players' meeting.
Waiters, who missed the past two games with flu-like symptoms, said Monday that he did not get into a physical confrontation with anyone last week when the Cavaliers had a meeting following a 29-point road loss in Minnesota.
Reports of a possible altercation surfaced over the weekend. They were fueled by Waiters' absence from games against Charlotte and Washington as well as All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving's black eye and broken nose.
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Waiters said the Cavs "got everything off our chests" during the meeting. He said he'd rather "fight somebody else on the other team than one of my teammates."
Cavs coach Mike Brown expects Waiters to play in Wednesday's home game against Washington (see full story).
Warriors: O'Neal has knee bruise, groin strain
OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Golden State Warriors say an MRI exam shows backup center Jermaine O'Neal has a bruised right knee and a strained right groin.
O'Neal didn't travel with the team for Monday night's game at the Utah Jazz and is considered day to day. He was injured early in the fourth quarter of Golden State's 102-88 victory over the Jazz on Saturday night in Oakland when he slipped along the baseline.
O'Neal is in his 18th season in the NBA. He has battled numerous knee injuries throughout his career, though the most serious have been to his left knee.
Reserve center Ognjen Kuzmic will likely be counted on more in O'Neal's absence. The Warriors also could play power forwards David Lee and Marreese Speights at center (see full story).