Day: March 28, 2024

Joel Embiid is likely to return to the Philadelphia 76ers lineup in the regular season, according to Nick Nurse.

“I think there’s a very good likelihood that he will return before the play-in, playoff,” said Nurse on Wednesday.

Nurse added that there is still no exact timetable for Embiid’s return.

“He’s on the court, as you guys know, and we still don’t have a timeline for his return,” added Nurse.

The Sixers are 10-16 since Embiid’s injury and are currently in the play-in tournament.

Glen Taylor will remain as controlling owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves after Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez did not close on their option by the March 27th deadline.

Lore and Rodriguez agreed to purchase the Wolves in 2021 at a valuation of $1.5 billion. The deal allowed them to purchase 20 percent of the team in July 2021, 20 percent more in 2022 and 40 percent more in 2023.

Lore and Rodriguez were expected to have Dyal Capital Partners finance the final purchase.

“I will continue to work with Marc, Alex and the rest of the ownership group to ensure our teams have the necessary resources to compete at the highest levels on and off the court,” said Taylor. “The Timberwolves and Lynx are no longer for sale.”

The Charlotte Hornets announced that guard LaMelo Ball will miss the remainder of the season to rehab his right ankle injury. Ball has been out since January 26 with right ankle tendinopathy.

This is the second straight season Ball has missed considerable time due to right ankle injuries. Last year, Ball’s season ended in late-February after he fractured his right ankle.

Overall, the All-Star guard has appeared in only 58 games over the last two seasons. Ball also missed considerable time in his rookie year due to a fractured wrist.

Next season will be the first year of the five-year, projected $204.5 million rookie scale extension Ball signed last summer. The Hornets star point guard will make 25% of the cap on that lucrative extension, which is fully guaranteed with no options.