If you missed any of this past week’s biggest headlines from around the NBA, we’ve got you covered with our Week in Review. Here are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days:
The NBA was devastated this week by the death of one of its greatest stars. Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash Sunday in Calabasas, California, that also took the life of his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven other people. Tributes to the 41-year-old star have been pouring in from players, league dignitaries and others who knew him, and the NBA elected to change the format of its All-Star Game as a way to honor Bryant.
Reserves were announced to fill out the rosters for the Feb. 16 All-Star Game in Chicago. The Wizards‘ Bradley Beal, the Suns‘ Devin Booker and the Bulls‘ Zach LaVine were among this year’s most notable snubs.
The NBA revised its salary cap and tax line projections for next season, making both a little lower than originally anticipated. Current revenue figures project the cap to be at $115MM, down from an expected $116MM, while the tax line will fall from $141MM to $139MM. The final numbers will be determined in July.
Knicks guard Elfrid Payton and two Grizzlies players were suspended after a scuffle late in Wednesday’s game. Payton’s suspension was for pushing Jae Crowder, while Jaren Jackson Jr. and Marko Guduric were each docked one game for leaving the bench.
Mavericks guard Luka Doncic has been diagnosed with a moderate ankle sprain for the second time this season. He is expected to miss six games, and his availability for the All-Star Game is in question.
Here are 10 more noteworthy headlines from around the basketball world this week:
- Carmelo Anthony expressed a desire to finish his career with the Trail Blazers. He will be a free agent this summer after signing a one-year deal with the team.
- Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday has told management that he doesn’t want to be traded. Holiday would draw a lot of interest on the trade market, but he prefers to be part of the long-term picture in New Orleans.
- Derrick Rose expressed the same sentiment to the Pistons, telling the front office that his first choice is to remain in Detroit. The organization is reportedly seeking a lottery pick from teams that are interested in Rose.
- The Hawks are among several teams that called the Rockets about Clint Capela. It would reportedly take an “overwhelming” offer for Houston to trade its starting center.
- LaMelo Ball, who is in contention for the top pick in the 2020 draft, left his Australian team. He has been sidelined with a foot injury for several weeks.
- The Magic were denied a disabled player exception for Jonathan Isaac. The decision may mean Isaac is expected to recover from his injuries before June 15.
- Pacers guard Victor Oladipo returned to action after missing more than a year with a ruptured quad tendon in his right knee.
- Raptors guard Norman Powell is sidelined indefinitely with a fracture in his left hand.
- The Kings may try to fix their relationship with Dewayne Dedmon rather than trade him. Dedmon was fined in December for going public with a trade request.
- Several teams reportedly have interest in signing 32-year-old forward Trevor Booker, who hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2017/18 season.
LaVine is not a snub. There are literally 50 players better than him.
He’s not that much less of a snub than either Booker or Beal. Beal is 6th in scoring, while Booker is 8th and LaVine is 12th.
He is for a Chicago-set game, but for his sake, there was a 1 in 30 chance of that.