3 days agoDenver Nuggets guard
Jamal Murray (calf) is good to go for Monday's postseason matchup with Minnesota. Most had assumed he'd be out there. However, Murray struggled in the Game 1 loss on Saturday night, scoring only 17 points and shooting 6-for-14 from the field, so DFS managers have reservations about putting him in their lineups. But the Timberwolves won't have
Rudy Gobert (personal), which puts Murray and the rest of the starters in an excellent position to turn things around in Game 2.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Myck Miller
3 days agoMinnesota Timberwolves center
Rudy Gobert (personal) won't play on Monday against the Nuggets. The multi-time Defensive Player of the Year became a father, so he'll take the night off. He finished Game 1 on Saturday night with 13 boards and three blocks while limiting
Nikola Jokic to an 11-for-25 shooting performance. But now that Gobert won't be out there, Jokic's DFS stock just increased significantly. His absence also should mean more work and offensive opportunities for guys like
Naz Reid and
Nickeil Alexander-Walker behind
Jaden McDaniels,
Mike Conley,
Karl-Anthony Towns, and
Anthony Edwards.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania
3 days agoDallas Mavericks guard
Luka Doncic (knee) is probable for Tuesday's matchup against the Thunder. The 2018 No. 3 overall pick had trouble shooting during the previous series versus the Los Angeles Clippers. However, he still averaged nearly a triple-double despite spraining his knee. With that said, Doncic should be out there for Game 1, barring any setbacks. Of course, he's a must-start in DFS contests for those willing to pay his hefty rostering cost.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 days agoCleveland Cavaliers center
Jarrett Allen (rib) is questionable for Tuesday's postseason matchup with Boston. The 26-year-old averaged 17.0 points, 13.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.0 blocks in the four games he was available during the previous series against Orlando. Unfortunately, he missed the last three contests because of a rib injury. Nonetheless, Allen is progressing, so there's still hope he'll be out there for the series opener. The Cavs could certainly use him versus the best team in the league. However, if Allen misses another contest,
Isaac Okoro and
Caris LeVert should get plenty of work, although neither man is a consistent DFS performer.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
3 days agoIndiana Pacers point guard
Tyrese Haliburton (back) will play in Game 1 against the Knicks on Monday. The team has once again upgraded him from questionable to available after listing him on the injury report with lower back spasms. Indiana needs to see Haliburton outduel New York's star guard
Jalen Brunson to have a chance in the series. He had a good time against the Knicks during the regular season, averaging 19.7 points and 13.3 assists with 51.2 percent shooting in three games. Haliburton's work in the matchup included an extraordinary 20-20 double-double with a career-high 23 assists on Dec. 30.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Dustin Dopirak
3 days agoLos Angeles Clippers guard/forward
Paul George looks set to enter unrestricted free agency this offseason. According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, George has received multiple contract offers below the max, which he will not accept. The nine-time All-Star has a $48.8 million player option for next season and can become a free agent if he can't agree on an extension with the Clippers before June 30. He is eligible to sign up to a four-year, $221 million contract. If the Clippers can't strike a deal with George, who's likely looking to get his final big contract after turning 34 at the start of May, he would instantly become one of the top available free agents on the market.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania
3 days agoAccording to Shams Charania of The Athletic, there is mutual interest between the Orlando Magic and
Klay Thompson. The five-time All-Star will become an unrestricted free agent, and Orlando can open up an excess of $60 million in cap space this offseason. Thompson was paid $43.2 million in 2023-24, and the Warriors reportedly offered him a two-year, $48 million extension before the season started. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has indicated that he wants Thompson back for the 2024-25 campaign, but a change of scenery might benefit him. The Magic seem like a great fit for Thompson, as the team badly needs to add some three-point shooting to the squad after ranking last in the league in threes made during the 2023-24 regular season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania
3 days agoBrooklyn Nets center
Nicolas Claxton appears set to remain with the team. The 25-year-old is hitting unrestricted free agency this offseason, but sources have indicated to Lucas Kaplan of NetsDaily that the team is "very confident" in its ability to re-sign Claxton. Nets general manager Sean Marks said a couple of weeks back that extending Claxton will be Brooklyn's "No. 1 priority" in the offseason. Claxton, who's reportedly set to fetch a contract with a yearly salary of around $25 million, was among the top shot-blockers in the league in 2023-24 with 2.1 swats and averaged a career-high 9.9 rebounds, along with 11.8 points in 29.8 minutes. The team seems to have big plans for him, and at 25 years old, Claxton should have plenty of room to develop.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Lucas Kaplan
3 days agoMinnesota Timberwolves center
Rudy Gobert (personal) has landed on the injury report as questionable ahead of Game 2 against Denver on Monday. He became a father for the first time Monday morning. It's unclear if Gobert manages to travel to Denver in time for tip-off. His absence would push
Naz Reid to a more prominent role. The 2023-24 Sixth Man of the Year had a nice start to the second-round series, producing 16 points in a 106-99 victory with four rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 days agoNew Orleans Pelicans guard/forward
Brandon Ingram isn't expected to be extended by the team this offseason. The 2020 All-Star is eligible to sign a four-year, $208 million deal. However, it looks like the Pelicans are ready to move on from Ingram, who has one year left to go on his current contract. Ingram, who will be making around $36 million in 2024-25, has enjoyed a solid career in New Orleans, averaging 23.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists across five seasons. But the 26-year-old has battled various injuries, with 64 regular-season appearances in 2023-24 being the most he has managed across a single campaign, and he was a major letdown for the team in the 2024 playoffs.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Evan Sidery
3 days agoLos Angeles Clippers forward
P.J. Tucker is expected to exercise his $11.54 million player option for the 2024-25 season. Tucker had a miserable time in L.A., making only 30 appearances across the regular season and playoffs. He even requested a trade publically midseason, resulting in a $75k fine from the NBA. However, Tucker is unlikely to fetch a similar salary on the open market, making this a no-brainer decision for the veteran. Considering how things have worked out for him with the Clippers since Tucker arrived in town in the
James Harden trade, it would probably suit both sides if they parted ways at the first opportunity.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Michael Scotto
3 days agoBoston Celtics forward/center
Kristaps Porzingis (calf) has told The Athletic he expects to recover at a "historic rate." The Latvian big man suffered a right soleus strain in Game 4 of the first-round matchup against Miami on April 29. There isn't a specific timeline set for Porzingis' return, and he also said at the weekend that he isn't "super close yet," but Boston is hoping to see him again in the Conference Finals. With Porzingis out,
Al Horford is set to play a huge role against Cleveland's well-equipped frontcourt in the second round. The series kicks off on Tuesday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Jared Weiss
3 days agoDallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd has signed a multi-year extension with the team. "We are excited to have Coach Kidd continue to lead our team throughout the coming years with this well-earned contract extension," said Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont. "Kidd led our team to two playoff appearances in three seasons, and we are looking forward to his leadership in continuing to build and grow this already great franchise." Kidd has compiled a 140-106 regular-season record with the Mavericks. Dallas announced the extension just a few days after Kidd had been strongly linked with the freshly vacant Los Angeles Lakers coaching position. Before joining the Mavericks in 2021, Kidd worked in Los Angeles for two years as an assistant, helping the Lakers to the 2020 championship. He has also held head coaching positions in Brooklyn and Milwaukee, posting a 323-296 career record.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 days agoOrlando Magic guard
Markelle Fultz had an efficient 4-for-6 shooting performance while providing eight points off the bench in Sunday's Game 7 loss to the Cavaliers. He finished with eight points across 13 minutes of action, completing his line with one rebound and one steal. Fultz started the season well, but he quickly landed on the shelf with a knee problem, which ended up ruining his campaign. The former first-overall pick was limited to only 48 appearances in the regular season, averaging 7.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. After being a regular starter throughout his career, the Magic had Fultz in the first unit only 18 times in 2023-24. Fultz had a career year just a season ago, but the 2023-24 campaign leaves quite a few question marks hanging over his head. The 25-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 days agoOrlando Magic forward
Jonathan Isaac couldn't provide a spark off the bench as the team's season ended with a Game 7 loss to Cleveland on Sunday. Isaac was back in the second unit following
Gary Harris' return to action. He contributed only two points in 18 minutes and had two rebounds with one assist. It was an awful finish to the series from Isaac, who was held scoreless in Game 6. However, he showed his full potential through the first five games of the matchup. The 26-year-old averaged 8.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 1.0 steals in 21.4 minutes. Isaac is an outstanding defensive presence when he's healthy. In 2023-24, he once again had some injury problems but managed to play in 58 regular-season games, his most since 2018-19.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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