Sixers intent on keeping Kelly Oubre Jr.; Suns receive positive Jalen Green MRI; Poeltl injury influences Raptors’ trade posture
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The Philadelphia 76ers have no plans to move Kelly Oubre Jr. before the trade deadline, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Despite holding an expiring contract, the 28-year-old wing has become indispensable to head coach Nick Nurse thanks to his ability to defend multiple positions and shoot 38 percent from three-point range. Team officials believe his two-way production is too difficult to replace while the club pushes for postseason positioning, making salary-cap flexibility a matter to revisit after the season.
In Phoenix, an MRI showed no additional damage to Jalen Green’s hamstring after the guard left Friday’s game early, Duane Rankin of AZ Central reported. Interim coach Jordan Ott called the test results “encouraging,” adding that Green is listed day-to-day and will attempt workouts this week. The 21-year-old has twice returned from the same injury only to exit shortly after tip-off, leaving the Suns cautious about his next appearance.
The Toronto Raptors’ approach to the Feb. 8 deadline is being shaped by Jakob Poeltl’s lower-back strain, wrote Josh Lewenberg of TSN. Poeltl is out indefinitely, and the lack of a clear recovery timeline has complicated front-office deliberations. While Toronto has explored adding a high-impact center—names such as Domantas Sabonis have surfaced—executives must weigh Poeltl’s long-term contract, which runs through 2029-30, against the uncertainty surrounding his health.
Source: Hoops Wire
