Suns’ Kelly Oubre Jr. tweets he’s ‘wheels up,’ heading to Orlando

It looks like Kelly Oubre Jr. is joining his Phoenix Suns teammates for their trip to the bubble in Orlando.

Oubre on Tuesday tweeted that “Orlando is going to be so (nostalgic)” and that he was “wheels up.” It was rounded off with a plane emoji.

The Suns were scheduled to travel from Phoenix to the NBA bubble at Disney World in Florida on Tuesday, but it was unclear if Oubre would be joining them.

General manager James Jones, during a Monday Zoom call, wouldn’t say which Suns were going to be part of the initial traveling party, but he did admit some players were going to stay behind in Phoenix with the opportunity to join the club at a later date.

By the tweet, it appears Oubre is not one of those players.

Orlando is gonna be so nastalgic. Recording my whole experience! Wheels up 🛫 #Shhh

— t$unami (@KELLYOUBREJR) July 7, 2020

It is still possible Oubre is going to miss a 2019-20 return as he rehabs from March meniscus surgery. Jones said Monday that he hoped Oubre would still be able to play before the Suns’ eight-game regular season games — and any unlikely play-in game opportunities — in Orlando were over.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported June 17 that Oubre was expected to miss the restart that will conclude the 2019-20 regular season and seed teams for playoff competition.

Oubre going through coronavirus testing protocols and being with the team as the Suns’ bubble training camp begins at least sets him up to return as soon as his rehab allows.

Players who come later would be subject to being tested, quarantined and medically cleared before taking part in workouts or games.

Oubre has not played since a Feb. 24 game against the Utah Jazz in which he injured his meniscus. He would be wise to use a cautious approach to his health after not having the ability to properly rehab during the coronavirus shutdown and with his contract being up after the 2020-21 season.

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