June 16, 2025
Indiana Pacers power forward
Jarace Walker (ankle) will remain sidelined for Monday's Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Walker has yet to suit up in the series due to a sprained right ankle. According to Dan Devine of Yahoo Sports, head coach Rick Carlisle said Sunday that it's "very unlikely" he'll play during the Finals despite making progress in his recovery. Walker has averaged 3.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in 9.8 minutes this postseason. While his absence isn't a significant loss for the Pacers, Walker would be an additional frontcourt option on the bench for Carlisle if he were available.
--Andrew LennoxSource: Dan Devine
June 15, 2025
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Orlando Magic are trading guard
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the deal for guard
Desmond Bane. The Grizzlies will also receive guard
Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks, and a first-round pick swap. The 32-year-old has bounced around the league since entering it in 2013, suiting up for the Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, and Washington Wizards. However, his stock rose after he helped the Denver Nuggets win a championship in 2023. KCP would go on to sign with the Magic last offseason. Unfortunately, he wasn't as productive, averaging 8.7 points. He also shot 34.2% from behind the arc, a significant decline from his final season in Denver. With that in mind, Caldwell-Pope could get more scoring opportunities in Memphis. His durability is also a plus for fantasy managers. Still, he isn't a consistent fantasy producer, although he'll likely have some solid showings throughout the 2025-26 campaign, regardless of his role.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
June 15, 2025
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Memphis Grizzlies are acquiring guard
Cole Anthony from the Orlando Magic in exchange for guard
Desmond Bane. The Grizzlies will also receive guard
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, four unprotected first-round picks, and a first-round pick swap. The 2020 No. 15 overall pick has spent his entire career in Orlando. His best season was in 2021-22, when he averaged 16.3 points per contest. However, Anthony amassed only 9.4 points in 67 games during the 2024-25 campaign, a substantial dip. Anthony could struggle to find a consistent role in Memphis, especially with
Ja Morant,
Scotty Pippen Jr., and Caldwell-Pope on the roster. Still, he may get an opportunity to get involved, considering Morant has had issues staying on the court over the years.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
June
15,
2025
According
to
ESPN's
Shams
Charania,
the
Memphis
Grizzlies
are
trading
guard
Desmond
Bane
to
the
Orlando
Magic.
In
exchange,
Memphis
will
receive
guards
Kentavious
Caldwell-Pope,
Cole
Anthony,
four
unprotected
read more...
June 15, 2025
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Houston Rockets center
Steven Adams agreed to a three-year, $39 million contract extension. The 31-year-old spent most of his career in Oklahoma City before making a stop in Memphis for two seasons. After missing the 2023-24 campaign due to knee surgery, he suited up for the Rockets last season. However, Adams averaged only 3.9 points and 5.6 rebounds in 58 regular-season appearances. He played a more prominent role in the postseason, amassing 5.7 points and 6.6 boards in 22.1 minutes (seven games). With
Alperen Sengun on the roster, Adams' fantasy potential is significantly capped. Still, his leadership will go a long way in helping develop the young talent on the Rockets' roster.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
June 14, 2025
Indiana Pacers guard
Tyrese Haliburton struggled in Friday's loss to OKC. He had 18 points, his second-highest mark of the NBA Finals. However, after going 4-for-8 from downtown in Game 3, the 25-year-old made just one of his seven tries from behind the arc in Game 4. Haliburton is now averaging 17.8 points, 7.5 assists, and 6.0 rebounds throughout the series. He has also improved on the defensive end. Unfortunately, Haliburton hasn't been consistent offensively. In addition, he has amassed at least four turnovers in the last three contests, making him a somewhat risky DFS option for Game 5 on Monday evening.
--Dennis ClausenSource: ESPN
June 14, 2025
Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center
Chet Holmgren had another double-double in Friday's win over the Indiana Pacers. The 2022 No. 2 overall pick had 14 points, a dip from the 20 he had in Game 3, but he made up for it by amassing a game-high 15 boards, his highest rebounding total of the series.
Isaiah Hartenstein got the start for Game 4 on Friday evening. If Hartenstein gets another run with the first five on Monday in Oklahoma City, the door could be open for another solid rebounding night from Holmgren, giving him more than enough upside for DFS managers.
--Dennis ClausenSource: ESPN
June 14, 2025
Oklahoma City Thunder guard
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 35 points in Friday's win over the Indiana Pacers. He added three steals and a block. OKC had trouble keeping up with Indiana throughout the night. However, SGA put the Thunder on his back by scoring 15 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter while sinking six free-throws in the final minute of the contest. With the series knotted at two games each, both clubs will head back to Oklahoma City for Game 5 on Monday. Gilgeous-Alexander is now averaging 32.8 points during the NBA Finals, so Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle will need to make adjustments. With that said, until the 26-year-old shows signs of regression, he remains a top option for DFS managers.
--Dennis ClausenSource: ESPN
June 14, 2025
Oklahoma City Thunder forward
Jalen Williams scored 27 points in Friday's win over the Indiana Pacers. He added seven rebounds and three assists.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way by finishing with a game-high 35 points. However, despite failing to drain a three-point shot, the 24-year-old still had his best showing of the NBA Finals on Friday night. Williams' usage has steadily increased throughout the series. Assuming Indiana continues to focus its defensive efforts on SGA moving ahead, which is certainly possible, Williams' usage should continue to trend up, giving him plenty of upside for DFS managers for Game 5 on Monday evening.
--Dennis ClausenSource: ESPN
June 13, 2025
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, guard
Russell Westbrook will decline his $3.47 million player option with the Denver Nuggets, making him an unrestricted free agent. The 36-year-old averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, 1.4 steals, and 32.3% shooting from behind the arc with Denver last season, an increase from the marks he had with the Clippers during the 2023-24 campaign. There's a chance Westbrook will remain with the Nuggets. He'll likely also entertain offers from other clubs around the National Basketball Association. Where he ultimately signs will determine how things will look from a fantasy standpoint. However, it's safe to assume his MVP and All-Star days are likely well behind him, regardless of what team he suits up for come October.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Marc Stein
June 13, 2025
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, there is "some serious traction" regarding a trade for Phoenix Suns forward
Kevin Durant. There are several teams who have expressed interest in the 2014 MVP. However, Charania indicated that the Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, and Minnesota Timberwolves are the three clubs who appear to have the best chance of landing Durant, at least as of right now, with a deal potentially happening "in the next few days." Durant continues to produce at an exceptional level despite being in the National Basketball Association for nearly two decades, most recently averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 62 games with the Suns in 2024-25. No matter where he ends up, he'll probably remain a top-25 fantasy option heading into next season. The 36-year-old is also expected to remain in the All-Star conversation for at least a few more seasons, although his inability to stay healthy at times has been a deterrent for fantasy managers.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
June 13, 2025
Indiana Pacers center
Myles Turner is battling cold symptoms but continues to contribute as much as possible to his team's NBA Finals run. He played 30 minutes in Game 3 and had a few critical defensive plays does the stretch while finishing with nine points, two rebounds, five blocks, a steal, and an assist. It was the most minutes he has played in five games, but Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said, "Myles is under the weather... He just hasn't been feeling well the last couple of days. It was affecting his wind. He won't bring it up, but I think it's just appropriate to mention that he's working through something." Turner is not on the injury report, so he doesn't seem in danger of missing Game 4, but he may be at less than 100% once again.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Joel A. Erickson
June 13, 2025
Houston Rockets guard
Reed Sheppard will be part of the team's roster for the upcoming summer league in Las Vegas, as the team looks to create a bigger role for him next year. Sheppard was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, but he only played 12.6 minutes per game in 52 games during his rookie season. He averaged 4.4 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists with a 17.8% usage rate. He earned All-Summer League First Team honors last year after producing 20.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.8 steals in four games. This year, he'll look to claim a larger role in the Rockets' rotation for his sophomore season with another strong showing. The summer league will take place from July 10-20 in Las Vegas.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Danielle Lerner
June 13, 2025
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Phoenix Suns are focused on trading forward
Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks, and Miami Heat. The insider said that there is traction towards getting a deal done soon, and that the deal could get done ahead of the NBA Draft in a few weeks. Durant is on an expiring contract and could either be viewed as a one-year "rental" player or be given a longer-term deal. If he is traded, Durant will be eligible to sign a two-year, $112 million extension with his new team in July. Knicks' and Spurs' reporters have downplayed the likelihood of Durant landing with those teams, but the Heat seem to be legitimately interested, according to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Shams Charania
June
12,
2025
According
to
ESPN's
Dave
McMenamin,
Los
Angeles
Lakers
forward
Dorian
Finney-Smith
(ankle)
underwent
surgery
on
his
left
ankle.
He
is
expected
to
be
ready
to
go
by
training
camp.
The
veteran
has
been
burdened
by
a
"lingering
read more...
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