Dream ownership on arena situation in open letter to Atlanta: "Two months ago, when the WNBA finalized playoff dates and times, we raised concerns that the W Finals schedule conflicted with NBA games at State Farm Arena ... Our concerns did not receive the attention, nor the urgency that they deserved."

Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero has sustained a low-grade right high ankle sprain, sources tell ESPN. This injury diagnosis typically carries a timetable of 4-to-6 weeks.

New PFP 👀

You thought you knew how petty James Dolan was. You were wrong. “Seven league sources, all speaking on condition of anonymity so they could talk freely about a sensitive matter, said the Knicks assistant coaches did not get rings on banner night. Two of those sources told The Athletic that the assistants learned earlier Tuesday that they would not be getting their rings that evening, which came as no surprise because they had not yet been fitted for one and that boxes without their rings were a late addition to the ceremony.” “Team sources described the assistants’ reactions to not getting rings ranging from genuine anger to annoyance.” “The Athletic received conflicting information about whether head coach Mike Brown received his ring on Tuesday and could not immediately verify if he got one.” “NBA commissioner Adam Silver was seated in a chair on the court, but at the opposite end from Breen and far from the table where the rings were kept. Silver typically addresses the home crowd on ring night and either assists in handing out rings or at least shakes the hand of each player immediately after he gets a ring. But on Tuesday, Silver did not speak. His administration has long been at odds with Knicks and Madison Square Garden owner James Dolan.“ “Typically, most employees for NBA teams receive rings, even if they are not as fancy and expensive as the ones the players receive. Those Madison Square Garden employees got their hopes up at the end of September when the Knicks sent an email to a long list of employees, which gave recipients a first glimpse at their would-be championship rings. Atop the email, a copy of which The Athletic has obtained, was a graphic of two differently styled rings….But the email was a fake-out, a phishing test Madison Square Garden sent to see if those employees would click, multiple team sources said. Those who did click the link at the bottom of the message did not get to choose any jewelry; instead, they were forced to attend a mandatory cybersecurity class to help satisfy some of Dolan’s growing cybersecurity concerns.”

The Los Angeles Lakers are waiving 2024 No. 17 pick Dalton Knecht, sources tell ESPN.

Just in: Oklahoma City Thunder All-Defensive guard Cason Wallace has agreed to a five-year, $139 million rookie-scale contract extension, agents Jeff Schwartz, Max Lipsett and Marcus Monk of Excel Sports Management tell ESPN.