Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Report: Gary Payton II to opt into player option
    According to ESPN’s Kendra Andrews, Gary Payton II will opt into his $9.1 million player option for the 2024-25 season.

    Advice: By opting in, GPII has the flexibility to sign an extension with the team this offseason according to Andrews. Payton II has played a key defensive role for Golden State in recent seasons, but he’s much better in real life than he is in the realm of fantasy hoops. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:14 am
     
  • Opts into player option
    Payton exercised his $9.1 million player option for the 2024-25 season Wednesday, ESPN's Kendra Andrews reports.

    Advice: By opting into his option, Payton will now be able to negotiate a possible contract extension with the Warriors. Payton has had some tough luck with injuries in recent seasons, but he's invaluable to the Warriors for his perimeter defense. In 44 regular-season appearances last season, Payton averaged 5.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.9 steals. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 9:11 am
     
  • Efficient in Game 5 loss
    Jones provided 10 points (4-8 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 1-2 FT) and one block in 22 minutes during Monday's 106-88 loss to Boston in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: Jones started all 22 playoff games for the Mavericks and averaged 9.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 blocks while shooting 48.1 percent from the field. The 27-year-old came into his first season with the team after struggling to carve out a role with the Bulls during two years in Chicago. Jones will enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, and his play throughout this season will likely earn him more interest around the league than last summer. Rotowire.com Tuesday, 12:21 pm
     
  • Efficient from deep in Game 5 loss
    Green notched 14 points (5-8 FG, 4-6 3Pt) and two rebounds across 22 minutes during Monday's 106-88 loss to Boston in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: Green produced his best game of the playoffs Monday despite the Mavericks losing Game 5 and the series by a 4-1 deficit. The 23-year-old averaged 5.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 0.4 steals across 19.2 minutes in five NBA Finals games. Green's four three-pointers were his most since Feb. 5, and with the 23-year-old under contract with the Mavericks until 2026, he will look to possibly take on a larger role with the team next season as the Mavericks attempt to make it back to the Finals. Rotowire.com Monday, 9:55 pm
     
  • Derrick Jones Jr. scores 10 PTS in Finals finale
    Derrick Jones Jr. shot 4-of-8 from the field and 1-of-2 from the foul line in Monday’s 106-88 loss to Boston, amassing 10 points, one blocked shot, and one 3-pointer in 22 minutes.

    Advice: Despite hitting double figures for the second time in the series, Jones’ performance on Monday was not impactful. Besides the points, he only supplied one blocked shot and failed to grab a rebound in Game 5. Jones entered the season competing for a place in the Mavericks starting lineup but remained off the radar in most fantasy drafts. While “Airplane Mode” started 66 of the 76 regular season games he appeared in, he did not offer consistent fantasy value. Jones finished the year ranked well outside the top 200 in 8- and 9-cat formats, which surprised no one. He’ll be a free agent this summer, and regardless of where he lands, Jones is likely to be more valuable to his team than to fantasy managers. Rotoworld Monday, 8:52 pm
     
  • Kobe Bufkin expected to play in Summer League
    Hawks GM Landry Fields said on Monday that Kobe Bufkin is expected to play in Summer League action next month.

    Advice: Bufkin, the 15th overall pick in last summer’s draft, appeared in 17 games for the Hawks this season. So, Fields stating that the rookie point guard is expected to participate in Summer League action is unsurprising. Bufkin is a better option for dynasty leagues than redrafts due to the presence of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray on the roster. If one of those veterans gets moved this summer, Bufkin would have added value as a backup point guard. Rotoworld Monday, 3:38 pm
     
  • Report: Suns expected to re-sign Royce O’Neale
    According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Suns are expected to re-sign Royce O’Neale once he hits free agency this summer.

    Advice: Acquired via trade in February, O’Neale was a solid contributor for the Suns. Given the 3-and-D skill set and Phoenix’s need for depth, the report that the team will look to re-sign him is unsurprising. What helps the cash-strapped franchise is that they hold O’Neale’s Bird rights, which allows the Suns to exceed the salary cap to re-sign him. According to Scotto, the veteran wing is expected to command $10 million annually. O’Neale was a top 100 player in 9-cat formats after joining the Suns and would be worthy of late-round consideration in standard leagues if he re-signs. Rotoworld Saturday, 4:05 pm
     
  • Gets garbage-time run in Game 4
    Prosper posted zero points (0-2 FG), two rebounds and one assist in five minutes Friday in the Mavericks' 122-84 win over the Celtics in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: Prosper sprained his ankle in a practice prior to Game 4 of the Mavericks' first-round series with the Clippers and had been sidelined for multiple weeks before being cleared to play ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals. He didn't see any action in either of the first three games of the series, but with Friday's contest turning into a rout by the end of the third quarter, Prosper was able to make his NBA Finals debut in garbage time. Rotowire.com Saturday, 8:36 am
     
  • Suffers ankle injury
    Jovic was diagnosed with a minor left ankle sprain Thursday and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

    Advice: Jovic is still expected to compete for Serbia in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, which begin on July 28. Jovic made 38 starts for Miami this year and could start alongside Nikola Jokic in the frontcourt for Serbia. Rotowire.com Thursday, 11:24 am