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Traffic report for July 9

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Top-ranked Inbee Park focusing on run at 3rd US Women’s Open title

<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>Associated Press</p></bylineMeta></div><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Boston Celtics&#8217; Jonathan Holmes (68) defends against Philadelphia 76ers&#8217; Jahlil Okafor (8) during the first half of an NBA summer league game Tuesday in Salt Lake City. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_Celtics-76ers-Basketb_Erza.jpg</photo0><caption0>Boston Celtics&#8217; Jonathan Holmes (68) defends against Philadelphia 76ers&#8217; Jahlil Okafor (8) during the first half of an NBA summer league game Tuesday in Salt Lake City. </caption0></div></div>
<p>DALLAS &#8212; The Los Angeles Clippers made a last-ditch push Wednesday to keep DeAndre Jordan after the free agent center had second thoughts about his agreement to join the Dallas Mavericks, people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday.</p><p>Jordan and the Mavericks agreed to terms on a four-year, $80 million contract last Friday. The Clippers can offer a five-year deal worth even more once contracts can be signed starting Thursday &#8212; and Los Angeles put together a full-court press to keep Jordan with the only team he has ever played for over seven NBA seasons.</p><p>The Clippers sent a contingent to Houston to make a personal pitch to Jordan, a group that includes Blake Griffin and Paul Pierce, according to a person with knowledge of the plan. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the details.</p><p>Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was already in Houston to try to persuade Jordan to stick with his commitment to the Mavericks, according to a second person who spoke to AP also on condition of anonymity because of the secrecy of the team&#8217;s plans. Jordan is a Houston native who played at Texas A&amp;M.</p><p>Losing Jordan could be a blow to the Mavericks&#8217; hopes of winning their first playoff series since taking the franchise&#8217;s first championship four years ago. It could also lead to a debate about the effectiveness of the NBA&#8217;s moratorium in free agency.</p><p><strong>Okafor off to good summer league start</strong></p><p>SALT LAKE CITY &#8212; Former Duke center Jahlil Okafor had a mentor parked next to him during his first two NBA games at the Utah Jazz Summer League &#8212; albeit one not much older than he is.</p><p>Center Nerlens Noel was all in Okafor&#8217;s ear, allaying any concerns that there may be some friction between the two highly drafted players at the same position.</p><p>The 76ers rebuilding process that has led to 127 losses in the last two years has also left the 76ers with a stockpile of young big men.</p><p>Still, when Okafor was surprisingly available when Philadelphia was on the clock with the No. 3 pick during the NBA draft, the 76ers didn&#8217;t hesitate to take him.</p><p>He is considered the most offensively skilled big to come out of college in years. The presence of 21-year-old Noel, the No. 6 overall pick of the 2013 draft, and 21-year-old center Joel Embiid, No. 3 in 2014, wasn&#8217;t a deterrent for Philly.</p><p>&#8220;I think he&#8217;s been great,&#8221; Noel said of Okafor during an interview with The Associated Press. &#8220;He&#8217;s getting better and better, more comfortable and more comfortable. He&#8217;s only going to get better from this point.</p><p>&#8220;I think we&#8217;ll be able to do a lot of great things on the court &#8212; we all have different abilities and do different things &#8212; as we get more acquainted with each other.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Salary cap rises to all-time high of $70 million</strong></p><p>NEW YORK &#8212; The NBA salary cap has been set for next season at $70 million, a higher-than-expected number that paves the way for free agent contracts to be signed.</p><p>The league said Wednesday the cap increased by 11 percent and the 2015-16 cap will be the highest ever. It had been projected to come in closer to $67 million until recently.</p><p>With the cap set, the league&#8217;s moratorium lifted at midnight, and deals and trades that were agreed to since free agency opened on July 1 can become official.</p><p><strong>Suns reach deals with Weems, Price</strong></p><p>PHOENIX &#8212; A person with knowledge of the situation says the Phoenix Suns have reached contract agreements with shooting guard Sonny Weems and point guard Ronnie Price.</p><p>Weems, an all-Euroleague first-team selection in 2013-14, gets a two-year, $5.8 million deal with the second year a team option. He will make just over $2.8 million this coming season.</p><p>Price agreed Wednesday to a one-year deal at the veteran&#8217;s minimum of $1.5 million.</p>

Clippers making push to keep DeAndre Jordan