Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard and National Basketball Players Association president Chris Paul doesn't know when the NBA will return from its COVID-19 hiatus, but he's less concerned with that timeline than getting the pandemic under control.

"To tell the truth, I don't know," he said when asked if the NBA might cancel its season altogether, per Jabari Young of CNBC. "We're all playing the sit-and-wait game, and most of all, trying to get this virus contained. That's the top priority."

One major storyline of a canceled season—or even an abbreviated season with canceled games if the league ends its hiatus—is the financial implications for players. If games are canceled, it will automatically trigger a force majeure provision, with players giving up one percent of their salary per game lost. 

The NBA and NBPA have also been negotiating a pay cut for the players while the league is suspended: 

Young also reported Tuesday that the NBA owners will seek to recoup some salary already paid to players in those negotiations, namely players paid on a six-month schedule. 

"As long as we have the conversations about it and try to make sure that guys are prepared as possible, I think we'll be fine," Paul said. "I'm happy guys want to know what's going on, and guys want to be informed. I can't say it enough: I think we've got the best body of players in our league."

The NBA suspended its season on March 11 after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus before a game with the Thunder. Paul was in the arena that night as the game was initially delayed and eventually postponed altogether and applauded the league for its handling of the situation. 

"I give a big credit to our league," he told CNBC. "Some people might have just said, 'Let's figure that out after the game.' We realized it wasn't a basketball crisis or problem, it was about everybody's safety, not just us as players."

The Oklahoma City Thunder were one of the first NBA teams to undergo club-wide testing for the coronavirus after Utah Jazz big man Rudy Gobert tested positive while preparing to play in OKC.

Thunder forward Danilo Gallinari is now paying those tests forward and then some. The 31-year-old has provided funding for 400 COVID-19 test kits and hospital supplies including face shields, N95 masks and gowns, according to ESPN's Royce Young. 

"There is a need, and so people in my position, if we can help, if I can help, it's something that I feel that I want to do and I need to do," Gallinari told Young. "It was a great to collaborate with the local institutions and be able to set this up. Since I'm here, I'm leading the quarantine here, this is where I am, so it feels even better to be able to help the situation here."

Gallinari has seen two of the countries hit hardest by the pandemic in up-close and personal ways. The native of Italy has been away from his homeland while the country deals with one of the biggest outbreaks in the world. Italy has 80,539 positive cases of the coronavirus with 8,165 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. In the United States, things aren't much better. 

CNN notes America now has 101,242 cases with all 50 states having been hit by the pathogen. That number includes 322 cases in Oklahoma with eight deaths. 

"Knowing what's going on in my country and what my family has been through both in France and Italy, if I can help mitigating or at least avoiding some of the troubles we had early on in Italy, and we can do better here in OKC, and the States in general, that's good," Gallinari said. 

While the NBA remains on hiatus, Gallinari is self-isolating at his home in OKC. Both Gobert and Utah's Donovan Mitchell, who also tested positive, have made full recoveries. 

Gallinari's hope is that the public at large remains vigilant in fighting the virus and continues to flatten the curve.

"I think there is still time to contain the situation," Gallinari said. "It's very important the citizens understand how to behave and this is not something that will go by tomorrow or is gonna go away in a few days or a week or two weeks. It's something that's going to take months and so with a little help other like people like me can do all over the States in their local communities, hopefully we'll be able to contain the numbers."

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced the staff members and players who were tested for the coronavirus following their scheduled March 11 game against the Utah Jazz all tested negative.

"The Oklahoma City Thunder consulted with infectious disease experts for a recommendation on the players and staff who needed COVID-19 testing based on their exposure at the game on March 11," the announcement read. "All results have come back negative."

The game was postponed shortly before tip-off, and it was eventually revealed that Utah center Rudy Gobert and guard Donovan Mitchell tested positive for the coronavirus. 

OKC also noted, "Recognizing the stress on the state of Oklahoma's medical system, the Thunder did not use state resources and chose an alternative path for testing of its personnel."

Since then, Gobert has donated $500,000 to those impacted by the coronavirus and the NBA's decision to suspend its season during the pandemic.

He donated $200,000 to part-time employees of Vivint Smart Home Arena, $100,000 each to support coronavirus-related social services in Utah and Oklahoma City and around $111,000 to France, where he is from.

While those with the Thunder tested negative, NBA players testing positive have made a number of headlines while the league is on hiatus. 

According to Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press, four Brooklyn Nets players tested positive. Kevin Durant revealed he was one of those players to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

The World Health Organization confirmed there have been more than 207,000 people infected by the coronavirus worldwide as of Wednesday. It has also led to more than 8,600 deaths.

NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said he hopes news of NBA players testing positive will help spread awareness of the coronavirus and the proper steps needed to fight it across the globe, per Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Danilo Gallinari has spoken about what it was like being at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Wednesday before Rudy Gobert's positive diagnosis for the coronavirus was made public. The game that night between the Thunder and Utah Jazz was delayed and then postponed.

"We couldn't really understand what was going on," Gallinari told Marc Stein of the New York Times in an interview Sunday. "We were all shocked. Maybe I was a little less shocked than anybody else knowing what's going in on my country."

Stein reported that Thunder players "were asked to stay in the locker room after the game against Utah was canceled so they could be checked for fevers."

Additionally, Stein reported that "Thunder players were subsequently tested for the coronavirus after the team secured test kits through 'alternative' means so as not to further deplete the supply in Oklahoma, but results had not yet been announced as of Sunday night."

Gallinari, who is Italian, told Stein his family has been "quarantined for some weeks now."

Gallinari said Italy erred in not taking more aggressive measures to self-quarantine and address the coronavirus threat, and he is worried the United States could follow suit.

"It was a mistake that we did as Italian citizens, and I put myself in, too, because I'm Italian even if I live in the States. Of course we did a mistake not taking it seriously in Italy and now we are the second- or third-worst country in the world for this virus," he said. "Hopefully we're not going to make the same mistake in the States."

Gallinari also said he misses basketball but understands the importance of the 30-day hiatus the NBA has undertaken to protect fans and players from the potential spread of COVID-19.

"I want to get back on the court, of course, for many reasons," he told Stein. "But right now this is not a simple and easy situation to solve. This is bigger than basketball, bigger than anything. It's a worldwide problem. So I do want to play basketball, but at the same time I want to know everybody is safe."

It remains unclear when the NBA might resume playing. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday that the league is "bracing for the possibility of mid-to-late June as a best-case scenario for the league's return."

Even then, playing in empty arenas without spectators or canceling games altogether remains a possibility.

The coronavirus has infected over 164,000 people worldwide, leading to 6,470 confirmed deaths, per CNN.com.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Boston Celtics because of a right hip contusion, according to Erik Horne of The Athletic.

Gilgeous-Alexander suffered the injury during Friday's 126-103 victory over the New York Knicks, a contest in which he recorded 18 points in 22 minutes of action.

Injuries are not something Gilgeous-Alexander has had to deal with early in his career. Not only did he appear in all 82 games as a rookie a season ago, but he had yet to miss a game this season:

Gilgeous-Alexander exceeded expectations as a rookie, averaging 10.8 points and 3.3 assists. He also shot 36.7 percent from three-point range. The 21-year-old didn't look overmatched, either, in the Los Angeles Clippers' first-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors. He averaged 13.7 points and 3.2 assists over the six games.

Gilgeous-Alexander's success proved to be a double-edged sword for the Clippers, though. He played well enough for the Thunder to demand him as part of the trade package in return for Paul George.

With Chris Paul running the point in Oklahoma City, Gilgeous-Alexander has been a scorer first and a playmaker second for the Thunder. As a result, his scoring average has nearly doubled to 19.3.

The Thunder have been one of the season's biggest surprises, with the arrivals of Paul and Danilo Gallinari helping them stay in the playoff race despite the departures of George and Russell Westbrook. Gilgeous-Alexander's continued progression is one reason for the team's success, so his absence will leave a void in the backcourt.

Chris Paul made history late in the first half of the Oklahoma City Thunder's 131-103 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday evening. 

The 34-year-old point guard surpassed Clyde Drexler for seventh place on the NBA's all-time steals list, a category in which he leads all active players:

The record-breaking swipe came with one minute, 28 seconds remaining in the second quarter when the 10-time All-Star stole the ball from DeMar DeRozan.

Paul's first season in Oklahoma City has exceeded all expectations, especially considering the offseason buzz that the team wanted to move him. He is perhaps the main reason the Thunder are surprisingly in playoff contention to start the second half of the season. 

Paul entered Sunday averaging 17.6 points, 6.6 assists and 1.5 steals across 55 starts.

He recorded 12 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds and one steal against the Spurs.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will replace Derrick Rose in the 2020 Skills Challenge, the league announced Thursday.  

Rose, who had been scheduled to compete in his hometown of Chicago, withdrew due to an adductor strain. Patrick Beverley, Spencer Dinwiddie, Khris Middleton, Bam Adebayo, Pascal Siakam, Jayson Tatum and Domantas Sabonis are also slated to compete in the event.

In his second NBA season, Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as one of the best young guards in basketball. He's averaging 19.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists while playing off the ball next to Chris Paul. He will also participate in the Rising Stars Challenge. 

The Thunder have spent a lot of time this season running three-guard lineups, which has limited his opportunities to show out as a passer. But Gilgeous-Alexander has shown improvement in all other areas next to Paul and should be a formidable opponent making his way through the guard side of the bracket.

Rose was the winner of the 2011 Skills Challenge, and many in Chicago were hoping to see him compete in an event on All-Star Saturday. That said, it's hard to find a more exciting young replacement than Gilgeous-Alexander.

The Miami Heat's attempt to construct a blockbuster three-team deal that would land them Danilo Gallinari from the Oklahoma City Thunder has reportedly stalled. 

Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Heat and Thunder have been unable to agree on terms, but talks remain fluid leading up to the 3 p.m. ET trade deadline. 

Wojnarowski reported the Heat and Memphis Grizzlies have agreed to a deal sending Andre Iguodala, Solomon Hill and Jae Crowder to Miami for Justise Winslow, Dion Waiters and James Johnson. 

Earlier in the day, Wojnarowski noted the Heat and Gallinari's representatives worked overnight to figure out a contract extension that would have helped finalize a three-team trade. 

Per Wojnarowski, even though there's still time before the trade deadline to get all three teams involved, the talks between the Heat and Thunder are "fully stalled." 

Iguodala has been one of the most talked-about trade candidates all season. The former All-Star hasn't played since the NBA Finals last June with the Golden State Warriors, who traded him to Memphis during the offseason. 

Gallinari is having an excellent season for a Thunder team that sits sixth in the Western Conference. The 31-year-old ranks third on the team with 19.1 points per game and is shooting 41.0 percent from three-point range on 7.3 attempts per game. 

The Thunder are operating from a position of strength. They don't need to trade Gallinari given their spot in the playoff race, but his being in the final season of his contract affords them the opportunity to at least explore the market.

Oklahoma City Thunder big man Nerlens Noel has been ruled out of Saturday night's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves after he underwent surgery to repair a facial fracture in his left check, the team announced.

Noel will be re-evaluated next week. The 25-year-old has also missed seven total games with an ankle injury in January. 

Injuries have become a common occurrence for Noel, who played just 30 games during the 2017-18 season as a member of the Dallas Mavericks after thumb surgery and missed the 2013-14 campaign because of knee surgery.

He also suffered a concussion in a January 2019 contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves while with the Thunder when he fell to the floor in a frightening manner. He was carried from the floor on a stretcher after the fall and missed the next three games.

When healthy, the Kentucky product gives the Thunder frontcourt depth, as well as control on the boards and occasional scoring while playing off primary ball-handlers. He is averaging 8.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.6 blocks across 38 games (six starts) this season after posting 4.9 points and 4.2 boards per night in 2018-19.

He appeared well on his way to developing into a double-double threat after averaging 11.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in 2015-16 for the Philadelphia 76ers, but injuries have held him back in part.

Fortunately for the Thunder, they still have the combination of Steven Adams, Danilo Gallinari, Darius Bazley and Mike Muscala to anchor the frontcourt while Noel is sidelined. 

As he's enjoying a productive season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Danilo Gallinari is garnering interest throughout the NBA as the Feb. 6 trade deadline nears.

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor reported the Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks are among the teams with postseason ambitions that have Gallinari on their radar.

The Thunder sit seventh in the Western Conference, five games ahead of the eighth-seeded San Antonio Spurs, so they may not be looking to offload Gallinari.

The 31-year-old is in the final year of his contract, though, and Oklahoma City may not be looking to re-sign him as it looks toward the future. The Paul George and Russell Westbrook trades seemingly foreshadowed a total rebuild based on the draft picks OKC received from the moves.

Gallinari also laid out his priorities this summer as the 2019-20 season neared.

"Next summer, when I will become free agent, I will privilege a team that can fight for the [NBA] Finals," he said to Italian newspaper Il Foglio (h/t Sportando). "I won't chase money, but the chance to play for the title. NBA taught me to be a more selfish player on the court but I have not really succeeded yet."

The Thunder are unlikely to be in that position for 2020-21.

Assuming he gets moved in the next few weeks, Gallinari would be a great fit on the Sixers or Mavericks.

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He's averaging 19.0 points while shooting 40.8 percent from three-point range. His floor-spacing is sorely needed for Philadelphia, which is 23rd in made three-pointers (10.8 per game) and 17th in three-point percentage (35.4).

From a cap perspective, the Sixers would also have Gallinari's Bird rights, an important distinction for a team that's projected to have the league's highest payroll ($149.8 million), per Spotrac.

The Mavericks, meanwhile, could use Gallinari even more after Dwight Powell ruptured his Achilles tendon. The two players have different skill sets, but adding a proven power forward would allow Dallas to move Maxi Kleber back to the bench.

O'Conner also reported the Mavs remain interested in Andre Iguodala and have discussed a Robert Covington trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves.