The Charlotte Hornets have hired Charles Lee as their new head coach. Lee is currently an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics.

Lee reportedly signed a four-year deal to coach the Hornets. Lee will finish the Celtics playoff run before joining the Hornets.

Lee began his NBA coaching career in 2014 with the Atlanta Hawks as part of Mike Budenholzer's staff. Lee then moved to the Milwaukee Bucks with Budenholzer in 2018. This season, Lee joined Joe Mazzulla's staff in Boston.

The 39-year-old has been a well-regarded assistant for several years. He started his coaching career at Bucknell University, where he played college basketball, in 2012 before moving to the NBA. Lee is replacing Steve Clifford, who is moving into a front office advisory role with the Hornets.

Nikola Jokic has been named the 23-24 NBA Most Valuable Player, winning the award for the third time in his career.

Jokic is the ninth player to win the award three or more times in his career.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished second ahead of Luka Doncic at third. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jalen Brunson rounded out the top-5.

Jokic received 79 first place votes, 18 second place votes and two third place votes.

Gilgeous-Alexander received 15 first place votes, 40 second place votes, 40 third place votes, three fourth place votes and one fifth place votes.

Doncic received four first place votes, 36 second place votes, 50 third place votes and eight fourth place votes. 

Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, Domantas Sabonis and Kevin Durant also received votes.

The NBA's new media rights deals could surpass $7 billion per season, which would represent an increase of nearly 170 percent from its current $2.6 billion per deals with ESPN and TNT. According to reported figures, the combined rights fees from ESPN, Amazon and NBC (or TNT) are at $6.9 billion per season.

Amazon will pay approximately $1.8 billion per season, according to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic. The deal will include the Conference Finals every other year as they will alternate with whoever wins the third rights between NBC and TNT. It also will include the NBA Cup and In-Season Tournament. 

TNT can match NBC's offer of $2.5 billion per season and talks are ongoing.

ESPN's deal with the NBA, which includes the Finals and Conference Finals on an annual basis, will cost $2.6 billion per year.

A report in 2021 indicated that the NBA was seeking anywhere between $7 billion and $8 billion per year on its next deal. After a 2023 report cooled those expectations with a doubling of the current deal a more probable target, the NBA appears to be close to reaching its goal.

Brandon Ingram and Willie Green had a "minor exchange" during Game 2 of the New Orleans Pelicans' playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to Zach Harper and Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Ingram reportedly wanted the ball more during the game.

Ingram is heading into the final year of his contract next season.

The Pelicans' forward has been linked as a possible trade candidate for the Sixers.

The Los Angeles Lakers are holding internal meetings to establish their criteria for the next head coach, sources told Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

After firing Darvin Ham last week, the team has yet to request permission to interview assistant coaches thus far.

Stein reported last week that the team does not anticipate being able to hire Ty Lue.

ESPN is also reportedly "increasingly concerned" about losing JJ Redick from its NBA Finals broadcast team.

Rick Carlisle was upset during the fourth quarter of the Indiana Pacers Game 2 loss at the New York Knicks. So much so, that Carlisle got ejected from the game.

Following the game, Carlisle said small market teams deserve an equal shot in. Beyond those comments, the Pacers are doubling down on their efforts to prove that the officiating favored the Knicks in the first two games of the series.

Indiana has sent the NBA league office tape of 78 plays that they feel were calls or non-calls in favor of New York. The Pacers had considered sending the NBA a tape after Game 1, but chose not to. After Game 2, Carlisle said Indiana reversed that decision. The plays in question include 49 instances from Game 2 and 29 plays from Game 1.

"I can promise you that we're going to submit these tonight," Carlisle said after being ejected in the final minute when he was given two technical fouls. "New York can get ready. They'll see 'em too. I'm always talking to our guys about not making it about the officials, but we deserve a fair shot."

Rick Carlisle was ejected at the end of the Indiana Pacers' Game 2 loss at the New York Knicks. Carlisle plans on submitting video of missed calls to the league office on Thursday ahead of Game 3 back in Indiana.

"I'm always talking to our guys about not making it about the officials," said Carlisle. "But we deserve a fair shot. And there's not a consistent balance. And that's disappointing."

Carlisle also talked about the possibility of the size of the two teams markets making a difference in how the game is officiated. 

"Small-market teams deserve an equal shot,” Carlisle added. “They deserve a fair shot no matter where they are playing.

Carlisle was also disappointed by the officiating in Game 1, but took a more magnanimous approach with his comments to the media. 

Candace Parker was named the president of Adidas women's basketball on Wednesday.

“From high school to college to playing pro to now, this appointment by Adidas symbolizes a shared commitment to making impactful change and setting new benchmarks for the future of women’s sports. It’s not just about products; it’s about fostering a movement focused on innovation, representation and access," said Parker in a statement.

Parker wore Adidas sneakers in high school, college, and her 16 years in the WNBA.

She also became the first women to receive a signature sneaker from the brand in 2010.

Parker will “collaborate with the brand to create a powerful platform aimed at influencing and elevating the future of women’s sports," according to Adidas. 

Opposing NBA teams are monitoring head coach Chauncey Billups' situation with the Portland Trail Blazers, according to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.

Billups is entering the final year of his guaranteed four-year deal.

The team announced that they would not renew assistants Scott Brooks and Rodney Billups' contracts. 

OG Anunoby  left the New York Knicks' Game 2 win over the Indiana Pacers with a sore left hamstring.

Anunoby exited the game and did not return in the second half after scoring 28 points in 28 minutes. 

The Knicks are already without Julius Randle, Bojan Bogdanovic and Mitchell Robinson for the rest of the season.