Greg Oden gets qualifying offer from Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers offered Greg Oden, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft, an $8.8-million qualifying offer to remain with the team.

The offer means the often-injured 7-foot center becomes a restricted free agent. The Blazers can match any other offer made for him. Oden, 23, did not play last season after microfracture surgery on his left knee. He sat out his rookie season in 2007-08 after microfracture surgery on his right knee. Two seasons ago he broke his left kneecap.

Because of his injuries, the former Ohio State star has played in only 82 games over parts of two seasons, averaging 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds.

“We’ve stood behind Greg Oden every day since he became a Trail Blazer and that continues with today’s announcement,” Trail Blazers President Larry Miller said in a statement. “Despite the setbacks he’s experienced, he continues to be resilient in working tirelessly on his rehabilitation. We’re all very encouraged with not only his progress, but with his commitment and determination to return to the basketball court.”

The Lakers announced that former Detroit Pistons coach John Kuester was hired as an assistant on Coach Mike Brown’s staff. Kuester and Brown worked together with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2007 to 2009. During that time, Kuester was Brown’s defensive coordinator. He probably will serve in the same role with the Lakers. Kuester was fired as coach of the Pistons last season.

— Broderick Turner

Charlie Bell of the Golden State Warriors and Jarrett Jack of the New Orleans Hornets were each suspended one game without pay for violating the league’s conduct code. The NBA said Bell was suspended for pleading no contest to reckless driving in California. Jack was suspended for pleading no contest to reckless driving in Georgia.

ETC.

Notre Dame’s Floyd pleads guilty to DWI

Suspended Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd pleaded guilty to misdemeanor drunken driving and was sentenced to a year of probation. Whether he plays next season remains unclear.

St. Joseph County (Ind.) Magistrate Brian Steinke gave Floyd a one-year jail sentence that was suspended as part of a plea agreement. He also said Floyd cannot drive for 90 days and once when he does, he must have an ignition device installed on his vehicle for six months that won’t allow the vehicle to start if his blood-alcohol level is too high.

Coach Brian Kelly said Floyd still had steps he must take to be reinstated to the team but didn’t specify what those steps were.

The Pittsburgh Penguins offered former NHL most valuable player Jaromir Jagr a one-year contract. Jagr, 39, was a Pittsburgh draft pick in 1990 and helped lead the Penguins to two Stanley Cup championships. The deal reportedly is worth $2 million. … The New York Rangers bought out the final year of captain Chris Drury’s contract, making the veteran forward an unrestricted free agent after four seasons in New York. … The Montreal Canadiens traded the rights to defenseman James Wisniewski to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a conditional draft pick. … The Colorado Avalanche signed forward David Jones to a one-year contract. Jones is coming off his most productive season, setting career highs in points (45), goals (27), assists (18) and games (77).

Qualifying medallist Cheyenne Woods, the niece of Tiger Woods, advanced to the second round of match play in the Women’s U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at Bandon, Ore, beating Ashley Edwards, four and three, at Bandon Dunes’ Old Macdonald course. Woods will face 14-year-old Bethany Wu of Diamond Bar in the second round.

Defending champion Emily Tubert of Burbank trailed early in her match with Mandi Morrow, then rallied for a four-and-two victory. Angel Yin of Arcadia, at 12 the youngest player in the field, overcame a four-hole deficit to beat Dree Fausnaugh, two and one.

Louisiana State women’s basketball Coach Nikki Caldwell, who is entering her first season with the Tigers after coaching UCLA for the last three seasons, said she signed Sheila Boykin of Long Beach Poly. The 6-foot-2 forward was one of Caldwell’s recruits at UCLA, which granted Boykin a release from her letter of intent, allowing her to enroll instead at LSU.

The Seattle Storm’s Lauren Jackson, the reigining WNBA most valuable player, will have surgery on the torn labrum in her left hip and is expected to be out for eight to 12 weeks.

Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom has a more serious leg injury that will require surgery, and the colt will not race again this year.