The Milwaukee Bucks now have a firm timetable on the succession plan that will have general manager John Hammond passing the torch to assistant GM Justin Zanik.Hammond signed a contract extension on Thursday that carries him through the end of the 2017-18 season, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. After that time, Hammond will serve as a consultant to the team as Zanik is elevated to the GM role.The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Bucks have not announced the extension.Zanik was hired away from the Utah Jazz in June to be groomed as Hammonds successor.The 61-year-old Hammond has been the Bucks GM since 2008. He has forged a reputation over the years for having a keen eye for talent in the middle of draft and his role in bringing in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jabari Parker has helped give the Bucks a promising young roster.With coach Jason Kidd signing a three-year contract extension this summer and Zanik waiting in the wings to assume the main front office duties, the Bucks are set up to have consistent leadership at the top for the immediate future.Owners Wesley Edens and Marc Lasry have emphasized continuity in their early years at the helm in Milwaukee, where the Bucks are building a new arena to help breathe more life into a franchise considered to be on the rise.Yahoo Sports first reported the extension.While completing his work as a top executive, Hammond will serve as a mentor to Zanik, imparting his experience in the role of general manager to help Zanik prepare to take over in the spring of 2018.After going a surprising 41-41 and making the playoffs two years ago, Hammond and the Bucks made a big splash in free agency by landing big man Greg Monroe. But the assumed jump in the standings never came, and the Bucks stumbled to a 33-49 finish last year to miss the postseason.Now its up to Hammond, Zanik and Kidd to reclaim the momentum of two years ago. Philip Rivers Jersey .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. Kellen Winslow Jersey .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later. http://www.prochargersteamstore.com/Youth-Nasir-Adderley-Elite-Jersey/ . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Junior Seau Womens Jersey . - Chris Tierney snapped a tie with a power-play goal late in the third period as the London Knights rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Erie Otters 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action on Wednesday. Derwin James Chargers Jersey . -- Mike Smith never saw his first NHL goal go in. Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin was born in 1975. Of that were reasonably sure.But on Kiffins Twitter page?-- aside from a wealth of inspirational memes, pro-Bama graphics and, yes, at least one article jabbing his old school the University of Tennessee -- the coach has his birthdate listed as May 9, 1980.That would make Kiffin five years younger, putting him in his teens when he embarked on his coaching career at Fresno State in 1997.Why Kiffin has listed it this way is unclear, but the NCAAs recently expanded rules regardiing the role of social media in recruiting do allow coaches more leeway engaging with potential recruits on Twitter.ddddddddddddMaybe its an inside joke. Considering how few users choose to display their birthdays on Twitter, it seems unlikely to be an accident. One things clear: Lane Kiffin continues to be one of college footballs most endearingly unique characters.H/T Sporting News & Outkick The Coverage ' ' '