Carmelo Anthony has been ruled of Friday's game at the Los Angeles Lakers for personal reasons.

Anthony is not playing "because of his continued grieving and emotions over the loss of Kobe Bryant," reports Shams Charania on Stadium.

Anthony and Bryant were scheduled to have dinner together in Los Angeles on Thursday. Bryant was also expected to attend Friday's game between the Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers.

Anthony and Bryant were close friends for many years. 

The Portland Trail Blazers are prepared to listen to trade offers for Hassan Whiteside leading to the deadline. Whiteside is on an expiring contract.

"I don’t believe (Neil) Olshey is robo-calling each team trying to unload Whiteside," writes Jason Quick of The Athletic. "But he will certainly entertain offers. I would put Whiteside’s chances of staying in Portland at 50/50 right now."

One reason why Whiteside may remain with the Blazers beyond the deadline is the lack of options available to them. Quick writes that logical fits like Otto Porter Jr. and Blake Griffin are injured, while Kevin Love and Thaddeus Young have undesirable contracts.

Pascal Siakam and Damian Lillard have been named the NBA's Players of the Week for Week 14.

Siakam averaged 23.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists as the Toronto Raptors went 4-0.

Lillard averaged 52.7 points, 9.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds as the Portland Trail Blazers went 2-1.

The Portland Trail Blazers traded Kent Bazemore, Anthony Tolliver, and 2 second-round picks to the Sacramento Kings for Trevor Ariza, Wendell Gabriel, and Caleb Swanigan, reported Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The Blazers save $12.3 million on the deal, cutting their luxury tax bill in half. 

CJ McCollum will miss the Portland Trail Blazers' game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday with a sprained ankle.

McCollum hurt his ankle on Friday night against the Mavs.

"Usually the second day's the worst, so see how it feels tomorrow," said McCollum after the game. 

CJ McCollum suffered a sprained ankle during the second quarter of the Portland Trail Blazers' 120-112 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

McCollum, who landed on Maxi Kleber's foot, did not return to the game. 

The Blazers play the second half of a back-to-back against the Thunder on Saturday.

Skal Labissiere has been diagnosed with a left knee articular cartilage lesion.

The injury occurred at the 10:20 mark of the first quarter on December 28.

Labissiere will continue his rehabilitation protocol and be re-evaluated in four weeks.

Carmelo Anthony admitted that he envisioned the New York Knicks retiring his No. 7 jersey following the Portland Trail Blazers' 117-93 loss at Madison Square Garden.

Anthony, who said last month that the Nuggets should retire his No. 15 jersey, scored a season-high 26 points.

"I did glance up at the rafters today during the national anthem. You know, they say in life you've got to envision, so I was envisioning seeing Anthony hanging up there," said Anthony after the loss.

Anthony added that he appreciated the cheers from the New York crowd throughout the game.

"The love was definitely felt tonight. From the fans that were here, just the city as a whole, just being back. ... for me to kind of get that ovation, I think I've always had the love from the city like that. But to be back in this building where I spent so many years, that love felt extremely good tonight."