2 hours agoDallas Mavericks guard
Kyrie Irving managed only 15 points on 5-for-16 shooting in Monday's 106-88 Game 5 loss against Boston. The Mavericks offense struggled right from the off, and Irving was forced to watch his former team celebrate the championship in the end. He was 3-for-9 with the three-ball and picked up three rebounds, nine assists, and one steal. Irving was fantastic in the Conference Finals against Minnesota, but very little went his way in his fourth NBA Finals series. The veteran star, who is now 1-3 in the Finals, averaged 19.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists with 27.8 shooting from behind the arc against Boston.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 hours agoDallas Mavericks point guard
Luka Doncic recorded 28 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and three steals as his squad failed to extend the NBA Finals against Boston on Monday. Doncic received very little support from his teammates in a 106-88 defeat. It was a disappointing finish to an otherwise outstanding campaign for Doncic, who led the NBA in scoring in 2023-24 and produced 21 triple-doubles. He was also the top scorer in the Finals with 29.2 points per game and became the first player in history to average at least 25 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals in the Finals.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 hours agoBoston Celtics forward/center
Al Horford had a special night on Monday as the team finished off Dallas in the 2024 NBA Finals with a 106-88 win. He shook off an unwanted status as the active player with the most playoff appearances without winning an NBA championship. Horford, who made his debut with Atlanta in 2007-08, played in his 186th career playoff game on Monday. He had a good all-around outing with nine points, nine rebounds, two assists, and two steals. The 38-year-old, who also became the first Dominican-born player to win an NBA championship, filled in admirably for
Kristaps Porzingis as the starting center throughout the postseason.
James Harden is now the record-holder among active players with 166 playoff contests without winning a ring, while Karl Malone has the all-time mark with 193 games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 hours agoBoston Celtics forward/center
Kristaps Porzingis (leg) returned to the court in Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals against Dallas on Monday. Despite carrying a leg injury, he contributed six points in 16 minutes off the bench as the team earned banner No. 18 with a 106-88 win. Porzingis, who became the first Latvia native to win an NBA championship, has been diagnosed with a torn medial retinaculum, allowing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon. The 28-year-old told ESPN that he will require surgery and have a recovery process of a "few months." Porzingis had another injury-riddled campaign in 2023-24, and his health status is definitely something fantasy managers must consider when planning for the new season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 hours agoBoston Celtics forward
Jayson Tatum closed out the 2024 NBA Finals in style, going close to a 30-point triple-double in Monday's title-clincher against Dallas. He led all scorers with 31 points and registered eight rebounds and 11 assists with two steals. The Boston star had two 30-point efforts in the five-game series and ended up as the team leader in points, rebounds, and assists. However, the 2024 Finals MVP award went to Tatum's partner in crime,
Jaylen Brown. Tatum's scoring numbers dropped in 2023-24, but he recorded a career-high 4.9 assists and had another good fantasy year overall.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 hours agoBoston Celtics guard/forward
Jaylen Brown was named the 2024 Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP after the team closed out Dallas with a 106-86 victory on Monday. Brown, who was also voted the Eastern Conference Finals MVP during Boston's successful playoff campaign, had 21 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and two steals in the title-clincher. He averaged 20.8 points in the Finals with 5.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.6 steals. The 27-year-old is the seventh Celtics player to be named the Finals MVP, the first since Paul Pierce in 2008. Brown has just entered his prime and should remain a valuable fantasy piece for a long time.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA.com
18 hours agoAccording to Shams Charania of The Athletic, impending free-agent guard
Klay Thompson is open to all "external options" in free agency this summer. The Warriors want him back. However, it remains to be seen how much Golden State is willing to bid for his services. But considering teams like the Orlando Magic could make Thompson a lucrative offer, his future with the Warriors is all but guaranteed. The 34-year-old averaged 17.9 points last season, his fewest since the 2012-13 campaign. He also started in just 63 of his 77 appearances after getting pulled briefly from the first five during the year. While Thompson's production is frustrating for fantasy managers, he could benefit from a change of scenery, especially if he remains in the starting lineup.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania
1 day agoDetroit Pistons head coach Monty Williams is expected to remain at the helm for another season. Williams, who led the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals in 2021, signed a massive six-year, $78.5 million deal with the Pistons last offseason but had a miserable campaign with the team. Detroit finished bottom of the league for a second consecutive year, posting a new single-season record with 28 consecutive defeats. Williams' future has been in doubt after the season finished, but according to NBA insider Marc Stein, he is "likely" to return as the team's head coach in 2024-25.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Marc Stein
1 day agoUtah Jazz guard
Collin Sexton could be involved in another trade only two seasons after arriving from Cleveland. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, there is a "belief" among rival executives that Sexton could be on the trade market this summer, along with
Jordan Clarkson, who has already previously been linked with a move elsewhere. Sexton has played well with the Jazz, averaging 18.7 points and a career-high 4.9 assists in 2023-24. But he could welcome a change of scenery as well after finding himself as a member of the second unit for large parts of his stay in Salt Lake City. The 25-year-old has two more seasons to go on his contract and will be paid $18.35 million in 2024-25.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Michael Scotto
1 day agoDenver Nuggets guard/forward
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has had two solid years with the team but might land elsewhere for the 2024-25 campaign. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Nuggets are "concerned" that Caldwell-Pope will decline his $15.44 million player option and enter unrestricted free agency. It is believed that the two-time NBA champion could attract a similar deal to the one
Bruce Brown signed with Indiana last summer when he left Denver on a two-year, $45 million contract. Caldwell-Pope, who turned 31 in February, posted 10.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists with 40.6 percent three-point shooting in 2023-24.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Michael Scotto
1 day agoSacramento Kings duo
Kevin Huerter and
Harrison Barnes are reportedly available on the trade market, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Both players had disappointing campaigns in 2023-24, and it looks like the Kings will try to shake up the roster after failing to qualify for the playoffs. Barnes could be moving on just 12 months after signing a three-year, $54 million extension with the Kings. The 32-year-old has been a one-dimensional player throughout his career but has performed well in suitable situations. Huerter has proven himself to be a solid starter and could definitely do a good job for a number of teams if he isn't wanted in Sacramento anymore.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Michael Scotto
1 day agoFormer top-five draft pick Mario Hezonja has been linked with a return to the NBA. The 29-year-old has been playing in Europe since 2020. However, NBA insider Marc Stein has noted in his Substack that Hezonja is "increasingly coming up as a free agent to watch this offseason when it comes to an NBA return." Suiting up for Orlando, New York, and Portland, the Croatian wing never lived up to his high draft status in the NBA, averaging 6.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 18.5 minutes. He would add quality to a team's second unit but unlikely won't make a big impact in fantasy basketball.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Marc Stein
1 day agoChicago Bulls center
Andre Drummond appears ready to move on from the Windy City in the summer. According to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times, Drummond is looking for a new team. The veteran big man will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason after completing a two-year, $6.56 million deal in Chicago. Drummond has been a serviceable backup big for the Bulls, averaging 7.3 points and 7.9 rebounds in 15.1 minutes during his stay. The best days are behind Drummond, but he remains a strong rebounder and should help fantasy managers again in the department wherever he lands for the upcoming campaign.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Joe Cowley
2 days agoThe New Orleans Pelicans are expected to move on from center
Jonas Valanciunas this offseason. The 32-year-old will officially be an unrestricted free agent this summer, with the Pelicans planning to construct the roster to complement the skillset of
Zion Williamson better. But Valanciunas, averaging 12.2 points and 8.8 rebounds during the 2023-24 campaign, will draw interest from at least a handful of teams. Although his production was down last season, he's among the most durable big men in the National Basketball Association. With that in mind, if Valanciunas finds a stable role for a new team, he could continue to provide double-double upside for fantasy managers.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Christian Clark
2 days agoCleveland Cavaliers center
Jarrett Allen is reportedly on the Pelicans' radar.
Jonas Valanciunas isn't expected back next season, and
Brandon Ingram could be on the move, so adding Allen would undoubtedly lessen the blow caused by the potential departures. The 26-year-old finished last season by averaging a career-high 16.5 points with 10.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. He also shot 63.4% from the field. Of course, Cleveland's primary focus this offseason is on extending
Donovan Mitchell. However, the Cavs could keep their core intact, considering
Evan Mobley wasn't the healthiest during the 2023-24 campaign.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Christian Clark
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