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Cedric Coward Aims to Improve Ball-Handling Ability
Memphis Grizzlies guard/forward Cedric Coward is focused on improving his ball-handling ability. "The biggest thing is my handle and showing that I'm a primary ball handler," Coward told Mark Medina of R.org in an interview. "I have it. But we had a lot of point guards last year. So I wasn't able to show quite as much. But at the end of the day, that is something that I've been working on." The 22-year-old averaged 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists during his first year in the Association, earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team. As Coward develops his playmaking abilities, his assist numbers should naturally rise, increasing his fantasy value.
Source: Mark Medina
Source: Mark Medina
Jonas Valanciunas Attracting Interest From Europe
Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valanciunas appears to have his sights set on Europe if the Nuggets don't exercise a $10 million option on his contract for next season. "I received attention," Valanciunas said during a podcast appearance in his native Lithuania. "Yes, there were talks with one team, another team, and the Lithuanian club. There are discussions, and we are deciding. But the final word belongs to Denver. First of all, it depends on whether they trade me, keep me, or not. That's their decision. Right now, I think the bigger question for them is what they will do with the roster overall: who stays and who goes. As I understand it, only Nikola [Jokic] is untouchable, and everyone else can be moved." Valanciunas noted that his future will be clear in the first week of July, or maybe even earlier. As a backup in Denver this season, Valanciunas averaged 8.7 points and 5.1 rebounds in 13.4 minutes per game.
Source: BasketNews
Source: BasketNews
Celtics Reportedly Not Interested in Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is not expected to join the Boston Celtics for next season, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reports. "I know some people are linking him to Boston, but I have not heard that Giannis, Boston, and Milwaukee are serious about it. That's out there, but I haven't heard it," Windhorst said Wednesday on ESPN Cleveland. While Antetokounmpo's move to Boston appears unlikely, it's widely believed he has played his final game for the Bucks and will move on this offseason. With the 2026 draft just weeks away, a deal may be close.
Source: Brian Windhorst
Source: Brian Windhorst
LeBron James Reportedly Waiting for Lakers Approach
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James is waiting for the team to approach him with its offseason plans, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reports. "The LeBron side, from what I am told, would like the Lakers to come and say, 'LeBron, here's our plan for you,' or 'here's what we were offering,' and if they're offering less than the max, here's why. Because we're going to use this cap space to sign these players, and this is where you slide in," Windhorst said on Wednesday's episode of The Hoop Collective podcast. James will be an unrestricted free agent this summer after earning $52.7 million in 2025-26. If he agrees to take a pay cut, the Lakers would have a chance to build a better roster around him. Recently, James suggested he isn't in a rush to make a decision on his future.
Source: Brian Windhorst
Source: Brian Windhorst
NBA Upgrades Mason Plumlee's Foul to a Flagrant 1
The NBA has upgraded San Antonio Spurs center Mason Plumlee's late-game foul on Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain to a Flagrant 1 after league review, the NBA Officials account announced Wednesday. With 1:39 left in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's 127-114 Thunder win, Plumlee stepped up to show on a screen and drove an elbow into McCain's back as the second-year guard trailed ball-handler Alex Caruso on an offensive set. The foul was called common on the floor. No suspension was issued. McCain, who was making his first playoff start with Jalen Williams (hamstring) and Ajay Mitchell (calf) sidelined, finished with 20 points, three rebounds, and a 7-for-19 mark from the field, with 18 of those points coming in the second half. Bismack Biyombo also delivered a hard foul on McCain with 46 seconds remaining, though that one was not upgraded. With the Thunder up 3-2 in the series, McCain is expected to keep the starting role in Game 6 on Thursday in San Antonio, and the chippiness of Game 5's closing minutes adds an extra layer to a road closeout attempt.
Source: NBA Official
Source: NBA Official
Victor Wembanyama Receives Warning From NBA
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama received a warning from the NBA for violating media access rules after he did not speak with reporters following Tuesday's Game 5 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The league did not announce a fine or suspension, so there is no immediate fantasy fallout for Game 6. The 22-year-old struggled in the 127-114 defeat, finishing with 20 points on 4-for-15 shooting, six rebounds, one assist, two steals, and three blocks. Wembanyama still leads the Spurs this postseason in points, rebounds, and blocks, keeping him locked into a massive workload as San Antonio faces elimination Thursday.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Hawks Promote Onsi Saleh to President of Basketball Operations
The Atlanta Hawks have promoted general manager Onsi Saleh to president of basketball operations and signed him to a long-term extension, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. Saleh finished as the runner-up for 2026 Executive of the Year behind Boston's Brad Stevens after a first year at the helm in which the Hawks went 27-15 following a January trade of Trae Young to Washington for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. The 76ers reportedly sought permission to interview Saleh for their own basketball operations vacancy and were denied. Saleh built the current core around Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Dyson Daniels, who claimed back-to-back Most Improved Player awards in 2025 and 2026. The continuity matters for fantasy outlooks. McCollum and Jonathan Kuminga, acquired at the February deadline, are heading into a critical offseason with Saleh now empowered to set the direction.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Jalen Williams Listed as Questionable for Game 6
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (hamstring) is questionable for Thursday's Game 6 against the San Antonio Spurs. The All-NBA wing reaggravated his left hamstring in Game 2 after just seven minutes and has missed three straight contests. He was tagged questionable ahead of Games 4 and 5 before being ruled out at tip-off both times, so fantasy managers should expect a similar pre-game evaluation. With the Thunder up 3-2 and a chance to close out the series, Williams has motivation to push. If he sits again, Jared McCain holds the start after a 20-point Game 5, with Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso handling the bulk of the perimeter creation. Ajay Mitchell (calf) is also questionable, which would further thin the backcourt rotation.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Ajay Mitchell Ruled Out for Game 6
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell (calf) has been ruled out for Thursday's Game 6 against the San Antonio Spurs. Mitchell will miss another contest with a right soleus strain, leaving Oklahoma City without a guard who averaged 13.6 points, 3.6 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals during the regular season and 15.1 points with 4.3 assists through his first 11 playoff appearances. With Jalen Williams (hamstring) also sidelined, Jared McCain and Alex Caruso should continue handling extra rotation work after helping Oklahoma City take a 3-2 series lead in Game 5. McCain carries the cleaner short-term fantasy appeal after making his first playoff start and scoring 20 points Tuesday.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
De'Aaron Fox Limited to Nine Points in Game 5 Loss
San Antonio Spurs point guard De'Aaron Fox had a miserable time in Game 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, finishing a 127-114 loss with nine points on a 4-for-15 effort from the field. He missed all four attempts from three-point range. While he struggled to score, Fox did a good job in other areas, tallying four rebounds, nine assists, and three steals with only one turnover in 33 minutes. Fox is playing through an ankle injury in the playoffs, which could be why he has made only 32.1% of his field-goal attempts over the last two games. An improvement from Fox would significantly boost San Antonio's chances in Thursday's elimination game.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Julian Champagnie Notches 22 Points With Four Triples Tuesday
San Antonio Spurs guard/forward Julian Champagnie had the best postseason outing of his career on Tuesday night, racking up 22 points in a 127-114 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals. He came out red-hot, scoring 13 first-quarter points. Champagnie finished 4-for-8 from downtown and had an 8-for-15 overall record from the field. He was the team's second-leading scorer behind Stephon Castle and led the Spurs with eight rebounds. The 24-year-old also had active hands on the defensive end, snagging three steals. Following his two-point dud in Game 4, Champagnie will have renewed confidence after Tuesday night. But he has rarely strung together two strong performances in the playoffs, making him a risky fantasy option.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Stephon Castle Leads Spurs in Scoring Tuesday Night
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle put up a team-high 24 points in Tuesday's 127-114 Game 5 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, finishing 7-for-11 from the floor and 7-for-8 at the charity stripe. Castle, who was 3-for-5 with the three-ball, also notched five rebounds, six assists, and three steals. At times, Castle has struggled with turnovers during his first career playoff run, but his overall play has been solid. Through five outings in the Western Conference Finals, Castle has averaged 18.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1.4 steals. He will likely face a heavy workload on Thursday night as the Spurs try to extend the series to seven games.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Victor Wembanyama Struggles in Game 5 Loss to Thunder
San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama had a disappointing outing in Game 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night, settling for 20 points, six rebounds, one assist, two steals, and three blocks in a 127-114 road loss. He was perfect on 12 attempts at the line but finished only 4-for-15 from the field. Wembanyama's bad night at the office included a 0-for-5 effort from downtown. The 2026 Defensive Player of the Year will be the first to admit he wasn't at his best on Tuesday night and should be determined to rebound in Thursday's Game 6.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Alex Caruso a Difference-Maker Again in Game 5
Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Alex Caruso left his fingerprints all over Game 5 against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, recording 22 points, two rebounds, six assists, and three steals in a 127-114 win. This was a hugely impressive bounce-back performance from Caruso after he finished Game 4 with zero points. Caruso made all eight attempts at the line and went 5-for-10 from the field, including 4-for-8 from downtown. The 32-year-old has been superb in the Western Conference Finals. Leaving aside Game 4, Caruso has averaged 21.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.0 steals per game against San Antonio.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jared McCain Produces 20 Points in First Playoff Start
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain made a big impact in his first career playoff start on Tuesday night, scoring 20 points in a 127-114 win over the San Antonio Spurs. Initially, McCain struggled in his new role, netting only two points in the first half, but he looked like a different player after the break. The 22-year-old also bagged three rebounds in the contest, though his efficiency was poor at 7-for-19 from the field and 3-for-9 from downtown. McCain has recorded two 20-point games since the Thunder lost Jalen Williams (hamstring). His role has also increased due to Ajay Mitchell's (calf) absence.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
