NBA roundup: Bryant getting $24 million advance
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was scheduled to receive a salary advance of more than $24 million Friday, according to multiple reports.
Bryant is owed $30.5 million this season. The NBA's collective bargaining agreement allows players to receive up to 80 percent of their salary upfront. Bryant's amount of $24,363,044 is 79.7 percent.
Robert Raiola, a certified public accountant who heads the sports and entertainment group at FMRTL in Cranford, N.J., told ESPN.com that as much as 55 percent of Bryant's $24.3 million advance is subject to taxes. That equates to a take-home pay of about $11 million.
Bryant's salary is the second-largest in NBA history behind Michael Jordan's $33.1 million in the 1997-98 season.
Bryant's return from an Achilles tendon tear is still unknown, but his salary is guaranteed.
---San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan was not scheduled to play in Friday night's game against the Los Angeles Lakers because of a chest contusion, coach Gregg Popovich said at the team's shootaround.
Duncan was injured Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Duncan is considered day-to-day, but Popovich said he was not sure when he would return.
---Jeremy Lin returns to the Houston Rockets' starting lineup Friday night against the Dallas Mavericks because of a rib injury to point guard Patrick Beverley.
Beverley is out 10 to 14 days after sustaining the injury during the Rockets' season opener Wednesday against the Charlotte Bobcats, according to the Houston Chronicle.
---Orlando Magic forward/center Solomon Jones has a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee, the team announced.
Jones will have surgery and is out indefinitely. He was injured during Wednesday night's overtime loss at the Minnesota Timberwolves.
---The Philadelphia 76ers announced they exercised the third-year team options on forward Arnett Moultrie and guard Tony Wroten.
