Washington Wizards forward Kelly Oubre Jr. received platelet-rich plasma injections in his right knee Friday in Los Angeles, according to several people close to the situation. Oubre, a second-year player who played through pain during the Wizards’ playoff run, is not expected to undergo further injections and will sit out the next few weeks to rest his knee. Although Oubre could resume basketball activities later this month but will not play with the Wizards’ Summer League team in July.
Washington Wizards forward Kelly Oubre Jr. received pla…
January 26, 2021 | 3:30 pm EST Update
Lonzo Ball available?
Feb. 6: most players who signed free-agent contracts in the offseason can begin to be traded. A team that is expected to be prominent in the trade market picture, rival teams expect: The New Orleans Pelicans. The franchise is off to an uneven 5-10 start to the season. New Orleans has been receiving calls about the availability of Lonzo Ball and JJ Redick and has shown an openness to discussing trades around both with interested teams, sources tell The Athletic. A move would create a clearer pathway for young guards Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kira Lewis in the Pelicans’ rotation.
Knicks, Clippers interested in Derrick Rose
New York and the Clippers are among interested teams in Pistons guard Derrick Rose, sources said. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has a long history with Rose, coaching the former league MVP in Chicago and Minnesota.
The Warriors and Pelicans discussed a potential deal involving Kelly Oubre Jr., sources said. There isn’t traction as of yet. Like many conversations around this time, it is a scenario.
Stan Van Gundy safe
When the Pelicans hired Stan Van Gundy as the new head coach, Ingram and Williamson expressed strong desires to have the veteran coach come in and set the tone for accountability. It stings through defeat sometimes, but the Pelicans have so far been pleased with Van Gundy’s job early this season, sources said.
The two women have refereed countless games over the years. But this one — on a Monday night in late January — was different. For the first time in the NBA, when one woman officiating the game looked over at her partner on the court, she would see another woman. “Last night was not all business for us at all,” Schroeder told The Athletic on Tuesday morning. “That was a special night, a special game, and we appreciate that and are grateful for the moments we had throughout the entire day.”
Before the game started, the coaches chimed in on the significance as well. “I guess we all have a personal way to look at it,” Orlando’s Steve Clifford said. “For me, I have four nieces, and I have a goddaughter who I’m super close with. They’ll be watching … I think also just being around NBA officiating (I know) how difficult it is to break into the league, to be picked to be in the league. There’s obviously a huge number of people who want to be officials in our league. So there’s a lot of things that have to be done in order for anyone to be able to officiate at this level. I think it’s great for the league, but I just think it’s great for the country.”
January 26, 2021 | 2:56 pm EST Update
NBA agrees on framework for investment funds to own parts of teams
NBA owners have agreed on a framework allowing investment funds to own parts of franchises, according to two people with knowledge of the decision. The NBA’s Board of Governors has agreed that private equity and other types of institutional investors may own up to 20% equity in a single franchise, and funds may own stakes in a maximum of five teams.
No franchise can have more than 30% of its equity held by investment funds, no matter how many funds own a stake in the team, according to the people familiar with the owners’ decision. They asked not to be identified because they aren’t authorized to speak on behalf of the league. The NBA declined to comment through a spokesman. Sportico first reported owners were having discussions last week.
