2 days agoLos Angeles Lakers forward
LeBron James has reportedly not been involved in the team's search for a new head coach. It has been suggested that he has a major influence on the franchise's decisions. However, according to NBA insider Shams Charania, James is "staying clear" of the coaching search. The Lakers appeared to have found their man last week, but UConn's head coach, Dan Hurley, rejected the job. A recent report for Charania noted that the team is "zeroing" in on James' podcast partner and player-turned-analyst JJ Redick, while James Borrego, the current associate head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans, also remains an option.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania
2 days agoDallas Mavericks point guard
Luka Doncic is playing through multiple ailments in the 2024 NBA Playoffs and reportedly received a pain-killing injection to get through Game 2 of the Finals against Boston. The injection was made so he could cope with his latest injury, a thoracic contusion. Doncic has also battled through ankle and knee issues in the postseason. Sources have told ESPN's Tim MacMahon that Doncic will receive another pain-killing injection before Wednesday's Game 3. The Mavericks star will enter the contest on the back of three consecutive 30-point performances.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 days agoPhiladelphia 76ers point guard
Kyle Lowry was tracked by the New York Knicks before his move to the City of Brotherly Love. Lowry was traded by the Miami Heat to the Charlotte Hornets on Jan. 23, and his contract was bought out two weeks later without the veteran making a single appearance for the team. League sources have told The Athletic's Fred Katz that Lowry was on the Knicks' "list" following the buyout before he signed a deal until the end of the season with his hometown team. The 38-year-old might be on the move again this offseason as a free agent and could be back on New York's radar after some strong performances against the Knicks in this year's playoffs.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Fred Katz
2 days agoAccording to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, the trade market for Cleveland Cavaliers point guard
Darius Garland has cooled off. "There are now teams that are sort of backing off, saying well, maybe Garland is not gonna be available," Windhorst said during an appearance on ESPN Cleveland's The Really Big Show. The statement comes after Cavaliers president Koby Altman recently suggested that the team isn't desperate to break up the duo of Garland and
Donovan Mitchell. It has been reported that Garland will seek a trade if the Cavaliers sign Mitchell to an extension this offseason.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Brian Windhorst
2 days agoMiami Heat forward
Jimmy Butler is reportedly eager to stay with the team. "My sense is Jimmy Butler does not want to be anywhere but Miami," said NBA insider Shams Charania on the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday. "Sense is that he loves it in Miami. But again, he is extension-eligible this year. There are multiple teams out there that would give him an extension." There have been reports of Butler's former team, the Philadelphia 76ers, being ready to offer him a maximum extension to lure him back to the City of Brotherly Love. A move elsewhere could have a negative impact on Butler's fantasy value because he might be forced to play a lesser role next to another superstar or two.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania
2 days agoBrooklyn Nets guard
Dennis Schroder hopes to remain with the team in 2024-25 and beyond. "Brooklyn is a really cool, great organization, quite family-oriented," Said Schroder during an interview. "I'd definitely like to stick around for the long haul." Understandably, the 30-year-old, who has one year left on his current deal, would want to stay in Brooklyn, considering he averaged 14.6 points, 6.0 assists, and 3.5 rebounds in 29 games with the Nets during the 2023-24 campaign. He also shot a career-high 41.2% from behind the arc. With that said, Schroder's best days are likely behind him. But he could continue to hold a stable role with the Nets, which isn't bad for his fantasy potential.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Braunchweig Zeitung
2 days agoDallas Mavericks guard
Luka Doncic (back) is probable for Game 3 of the NBA Finals versus Boston. In addition to the thoracic contusion, Doncic has appeared on the injury report thoughout the postseason because of knee and ankle soreness. However, no matter what is ailing him, it's unlikely he'll miss time for the rest of the playoffs, assuming he doesn't suffer a more severe injury. The 25-year-old has played well during the series against the Celtics, averaging 31.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 3.0 steals, making him worthy of being included in any DFS lineup on Wednesday night.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
2 days agoBoston Celtics center
Kristaps Porzingis (leg) is questionable for Game 3 of the NBA Finals versus Dallas. The team declared him "day-to-day." However, many believe he won't return for the remainder of the postseason because of the left posterior Tibialis discloation he sustained during Game 2 on Sunday night. Of course, Porzingis will likely do all he can to be out there on Wednesday. But if he can't suit up,
Al Horford, who will likely continue to start regardless of Porzingis' availability, should see even more minutes, automatically increasing his DFS value.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 days agoThe Boston Celtics announced that forward/center
Kristaps Porzingis (leg) is listed as day-to-day for the rest of the NBA Finals after suffering a rare injury in the third quarter of Game 2 on Sunday versus Dallas. According to Marc D'Amico of the Celtics' official site, the injury is a torn medial retinaculum that allowed dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon in his left leg. The current setback for Porzingis is unrelated to his previous right-calf injury. He has suited up for just six games this postseason and has averaged 24.5 minutes, 13.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.8 blocks per contest.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: Marc D'Amico
3 days agoThe Phoenix Suns are aiming to add three players to the roster this offseason. According to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM in Phoenix, the team is prioritizing a true point guard, an athletic wing, and a backup center. The team worked without a natural point guard in 2023-24 and had
Drew Eubanks backing up
Jusuf Nurkic. Phoenix needs to be creative in its roster construction, as the team has $150.7 million committed to the Big Three of
Kevin Durant,
Devin Booker, and
Bradley Beal.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: John Gambadoro
3 days agoMemphis Grizzlies forward
Yuta Watanabe appears to be on his way out of the NBA. According to Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews, the Japanese forward will move back to his homeland and is close to joining the Chiba Jets. Watanabe started the 2023-24 campaign with the Phoenix Suns before getting traded to Memphis in February. He made 34 appearances this season, averaging 3.4 points and 1.6 rebounds in 13.6 minutes. Watanabe has career averages of 4.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in 213 games. The 29-year-old has struggled to make an impact in the Association and will decline a $2.6 million player option to move back to Japan.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Donatas Urbonas
3 days agoMiami Heat forward
Nikola Jovic is hoping to take another step forward in 2024-25. "There's not one thing that I can focus on, I have to focus on so many of them, like from shooting to dribbling, passing, basically everything," Jovic told Cyro Asseo de Choch of HoopsHype, "I feel like there's so much room and space where I can improve, and I feel like I'll show it at least a little more next season." Jovic, who turned 20 at the weekend, averaged 7.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 19.5 minutes this season. He finished the campaign as a starter and could be someone to keep an eye on next season in fantasy basketball.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Cyro Asseo de Choch
3 days agoAccording to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Orlando Magic are seen as a "natural suitor" for
Paul George and
Klay Thompson. Both players could hit the open market this summer and would fit in well with the Magic. Thompson could prove the team much-needed three-point shooting, while George's addition would boost Orlando at both ends. After having his worst campaign in nine years, a change of surroundings should improve Thompson's fantasy stock. George's numbers might get better as well with bigger usage on a team that doesn't have as many star names as the Los Angeles Clippers.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Marc Stein
3 days agoGolden State Warriors center
Kevon Looney could become a free agent this summer. "I think the likeliest situation is that he's cut, and he makes $3 million from them, and he's off looking for another spot," said Tim Kawakami of The Athletic on a recent episode of the Warriors Plus Minus podcast. Looney has a $8 million deal in place for next season, but only $3 million of it is guaranteed. The salary will be fully guaranteed on June 24. Looney had a career year in 2022-23, but the emergence of
Trayce Jackson-Davis has made him surplus to requirements in San Francisco. However, as an experienced veteran who is an outstanding rebounder, Looney should have no problems finding a new team.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Tim Kawakami
3 days agoNew York Knicks center
Isaiah Hartenstein has been strongly linked with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Sources have told Stefan Pondy of The New York Post that the Thunder are the "top threat" to pry Hartenstein away from New York. The 26-year-old is heading toward unrestricted free agency and is expected to get a big contract. A recent report suggested that teams are willing to offer as much as $80-100 million for his services. Meanwhile, the Knicks are limited to a maximum offer of four years, $72.5 million. Hartenstein would provide a big boost to the Thunder's rebounding ability after the team posted the fourth-lowest rebounding rate in the league this season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Stefan Bondy
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