6 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
6 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
6 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
6 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
6 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
6 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
6 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
6 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
7 days agoAccording to NBA insider Marc Stein, Boston Celtics guard
Derrick White will look for a contract extension from the team this offseason. The 29-year-old arguably had the best season of his career in 2023-24, averaging 15.2 points, 5.2 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, and 1.0 steals. He also shot 39.6% from deep. White is currently playing on a four-year, $70 million contract he signed while still with the San Antonio Spurs. But the Celtics will likely do all they can to stop him from reaching free agency next offseason, so fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised to see him ink a new deal with Boston over the summer.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Marc Stein
7 days agoDallas Mavericks center
Dereck Lively II finished Sunday's 105-98 loss to Boston with two points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes. He shot 1-for-3 from the field and recorded two turnovers. Lively II, who has had an outstanding playoff campaign as a rookie, hasn't been able to make an impact in the Finals. After averaging 9.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks versus Minnesota in the Western Conference Finals, the 20-year-old has been limited to 2.0 points and 6.0 rebounds with zero swats registered.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
7 days agoDallas Mavericks forward/center
P.J. Washington continued to struggle from downtown in Game 2 against Boston on Sunday, but he still ended up as the team's second-best scorer behind
Luka Doncic. The versatile big man finished a 105-98 loss with 17 points on 6-for-13 shooting. He was 1-for-5 with the three-ball and has now hit 9-for-40 overall from behind the arc since the start of the Western Conference Finals. The Mavericks could really use Washington's three-point bombs right now, having averaged only 93.5 points in the Finals. In Sunday's Game 2, the former Hornet also recorded seven rebounds with one assist and one block in 40 minutes.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 week agoDallas Mavericks center
Daniel Gafford was very close to his second postseason double-double of the year in Sunday's Game 2 defeat to Boston, finishing the contest with 13 points and nine rebounds. Gafford, who is an extremely efficient scorer, was once again sharp from the field, hitting 6-for-9. He registered one block at the other end, logging 23 minutes of action after being limited to only 14 minutes in Game 1. Following an underwhelming performance in the Finals opener, Gafford was back in form on Sunday. But it looks like the Mavericks need even more from him, with Boston now 2-0 up in the series.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 week agoBoston Celtics forward/center
Kristaps Porzingis said he will be "good" for Game 3 against Dallas despite appearing to suffer a new injury blow in Sunday's Game 2. After missing 10 games with a calf problem, Porzingis appeared to have sustained another leg injury late in the game when he tried to contest a shot from
P.J. Washington. He was moving gingerly following the incident and didn't see the court in the final 4:40. Porzingis added postgame that the ailment wasn't related to his right calf injury, which forced him to sit out over a month of postseason action. With Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla saying he has "zero" concern about Porzingis ' health moving forward, it looks like we will see the Latvian big man back on the court Wednesday night. Porzingis has posted 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks with superb 60 percent shooting from a bench role in the Finals.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Conor Ryan
1 week agoBoston Celtics guard
Derrick White had a good two-way performance as the team grabbed a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals against Dallas with a 105-98 win on Sunday. White posted 18 points with five rebounds, two assists, three steals, and two blocks. His second swat came late in the game against
P.J. Washington at the rim to stop Dallas' comeback effort. The two-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team member struggled a bit with his shooting, going 6-for-15 from the field, but he nailed four of his 10 attempts from behind the arc. White's three-point shooting provided a big boost to the Celtics, who otherwise had a miserable night from downtown with a 10-for-39 record. We should see White get involved in everything again on Wednesday as Boston tries to take a 3-0 lead in the series.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 week agoBoston Celtics guard
Jrue Holiday enjoyed a big night in Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals against Dallas on Sunday, scoring a team-high 28 points on near-perfect 11-for-14 shooting. It's his second-highest scoring effort of the season following a 28-point effort in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals versus Indiana. Holiday got there mostly with nifty finishes around the rim, but he also shot the three-ball well, finishing 2-for-4 from downtown. The 2021 NBA champion also led Boston with 11 rebounds and registered three assists with one steal and one block. It's been a good start to the Finals for Holiday, who averages 19.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists with 44.4 percent three-point shooting through the first couple of games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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