Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Franz Wagner endures brutal Game 7 performance
    Franz Wagner shot 1-of-13 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line in Sunday’s 106-94 loss to the Cavaliers, scoring six points with six rebounds, six assists, one steal, and one blocked shot in 34 minutes.

    Advice: Playing in the biggest game of his brief NBA career, as were many of his Magic teammates, Wagner struggled mightily on Sunday afternoon. He could not make anything happen offensively, missing all five of his 3-point attempts while shooting 1-of-8 from two. Cleveland’s Isaac Okoro certainly deserves some credit for that, but this performance was a severe departure from the norm for Wagner. Based on the Yahoo ADP (66.6), 2023-24 went as expected for Franz, who finished the regular season as a 6th-round player in 8- and 9-cat formats. Sunday wasn’t a good way for him to go out, but Wagner will be one of Orlando’s solid building blocks moving forward. He’s eligible for a contract extension this offseason; it would be surprising if the front office did not make that happen. Rotoworld Yesterday, 1:34 pm
     
  • Report: Pels unlikely to offer Ingram an extension
    According to Forbes Sports’ Evan Sidery, the Pelicans are unlikely to offer Brandon Ingram a contract extension this summer.

    Advice: Ingram, who struggled in the Pelicans’ first-round loss to Oklahoma City, is due to make a little over $36 million in the final season of his deal. He can sign an extension worth up to $208 million over four years. However, with Pelicans lead executive David Griffin saying during his post-season availability that changes will be made, Saturday’s report could be a sign that New Orleans is open to parting with Ingram if a proper deal can be made. Trey Murphy is also extension eligible, but his price tag is considerably lower than Ingram’s, whose 64 games played in 2023-24 were the most he’s been available for since being traded to New Orleans in 2019. Murphy would have the most to gain regarding fantasy value if Ingram is dealt, depending on the return. Rotoworld Saturday, 11:05 am
     
  • Scores 18 points in Game 6 defeat
    George amassed 18 points (6-18 FG, 2-10 3Pt, 4-4 FT), 11 rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal over 42 minutes during Friday's 114-101 loss to the Mavericks in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

    Advice: George was asked to carry the Clippers offensively in the absence of Kawhi Leonard (knee), but he ended the series on a sour note, as he couldn't reach the 20-point mark in three of his last four appearances. In fact, George surpassed the 22-point mark just once in the six contests against the Mavericks, and his numbers throughout the series were disappointing. He averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 41.1 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from three-point range. That marked a clear decline compared to his regular-season figures, and it might be fair to wonder if the Clippers are going to bring him back for 2024-25 or if they might look at potential trade options during the offseason. Rotowire.com Saturday, 6:30 am
     
  • Paul George scores 18 points in Game 6 defeat
    Paul George shot 6-of-18 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line in Friday’s 114-101 loss to the Mavericks, amassing 18 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, one steal, one block, and two 3-pointers in 42 minutes.

    Advice: Facing elimination, the Clippers needed elite production from George and James Harden, and neither could come through. They also struggled in Game 5, making for a disappointing end to the season. Neither health nor production was an issue for George this season, as he appeared in 79 regular season games and provided top 20 per-game value in 8- and 9-cat formats. The production exceeded PG-13’s Yahoo ADP (31.4) by a considerable margin, but there are questions heading into the summer. George still can opt out of the final season of his deal, and even with the expectation that he’ll remain with the Clippers, there’s no shortage of potential suitors. Regardless of where he plays in 2024-25, George’s 2023-24 season should renew the faith of fantasy managers. Rotoworld Friday, 9:58 pm
     
  • Perfect from line in victory
    Wagner amassed 26 points (7-16 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 11-11 FT), five rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal in 42 minutes during Friday's 103-96 win over the Cavaliers in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Wagner went a perfect 11-of-11 from the line, helping the Magic to an impressive Game 6 victory. It was another strong performance by Wagner, who continues to develop into a key piece for Orlando. Game 7 will take place Sunday, with both teams vying for a second-round berth against the high-flying Celtics. Rotowire.com Friday, 8:21 pm
     
  • Franz Wagner tallies 26 points, full stat line
    Franz Wagner finished Friday’s 103-96 win over Cleveland with 26 points (7-of-16 FGs, 11-of-11 FTs), five rebounds, two assists, one steal, two blocks, and one 3-pointer in 41 minutes.

    Advice: The home team has not lost a game in this series, which remained the case in Game 6 on Friday. Wagner was one of three Magic starters to score at least 20 points, and the stat line shows that he was impactful on both ends of the floor. Game 6 was the second in which the third-year forward surpassed the 20-point mark, with the first being Orlando’s Game 4 triumph (34). If the Magic are to win Game 7 in Cleveland on Sunday, they will need another complete performance from Wagner. Rotoworld Friday, 7:06 pm
     
  • Damian Lillard (Achilles) scores 28 points Thurs.
    Damian Lillard (right Achilles tendinitis) shot 7-of-16 from the field and 10-of-10 from the foul line in Thursday’s 120-98 loss to the Pacers, scoring 28 points with two rebounds, four assists, and four 3-pointers in 35 minutes.

    Advice: Initially doubtful for Game 6 after sitting out Game 5, Lillard led the Bucks in scoring while playing 35 minutes. But that doesn’t change that this was a disappointing end to his first season in Milwaukee. While he was not traded until just before the start of training camp, the expectations were high for Lillard regarding fantasy value. Entering the season with a Yahoo ADP of 11.3, he finished as a top 25 player in 8- and 9-cat formats. The Bucks’ lack of continuity, with Khris Middleton being limited to 55 regular season games and Adrian Griffin being fired despite a 30-13 start, certainly impacted Lillard’s value. An entire offseason should help him and his teammates establish better on-court chemistry, but there’s always the possibility of significant changes being made to the roster. Rotoworld Thursday, 6:30 pm
     
  • Leads offense in return in Game 6
    Lillard tallied 28 points (7-16 FG, 4-12 3Pt, 10-10 FT), four assists and two rebounds over 35 minutes in Thursday's 120-98 loss to Indiana in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Lillard returned in Game 6 after missing the previous two games with an Achilles injury, doing all he could to help Milwaukee extend the series by leading all players in Thursday's series-ending contest in scoring and threes made while ending perfect from the free-throw line. Despite dealing with some injury issues during the first-round series against Indiana, Lillard posted 28 or more points in all four of his appearances while adding four or more threes in each of those contests. Rotowire.com Thursday, 6:25 pm
     
  • Good to go for Game 6
    Lillard (Achilles) is available for Thursday's Game 6 against Indiana, Chris Haynes of Turner Sports reports.

    Advice: Lillard has been upgraded from questionable to available Thursday after missing the previous two contests with right Achilles tendinitis. The star guard will likely replace Malik Beasley in the starting lineup. Lillard is averaging 32.3 points, 5.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 40.7 minutes across his previous three appearances in Milwaukee's first-round series against the Pacers. Rotowire.com Thursday, 2:21 pm