Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • PJ Washington struggles mightily in Game 5 loss
    PJ Washington played 34 minutes in Monday’s 106-88 loss to the Celtics, tallying four points (2-of-7 FGs), six rebounds, three assists, and two blocked shots.

    Advice: Washington had a brutal Monday in Boston, as he missed all five of his 3-point attempts and finished with as many turnovers as points (four). It’s an unfortunate end to the season for him, as his arrival at the trade deadline was one reason why Dallas made a run to the NBA Finals. Washington began the season in Charlotte, and despite being in a position to start for the then-suspended Miles Bridges, his fantasy ADP remained relatively low (128.1). Sure enough, that’s how things played out, with being traded to Dallas only giving Washington’s fantasy value a modest boost. From February 14 through the end of the regular season, PJ was a 10th-round per-game player in 9-cat formats. The issue for Washington was percentages, as he shot 41.6% from the field and 63.8% from the foul line. Playing alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the hope was that Washington would be a more efficient player, but that didn’t happen. An entire training camp to strengthen the on-court chemistry should help Washington, but he’ll remain a late-round option in most leagues. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:03 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 Yesterday, 8:52 pm
     
  • Kristaps Porzingis plays 16 minutes in Game 5 win
    Kristaps Porzingis tallied five points (2-of-4 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs) and one rebound in 16 minutes in Monday’s 106-88 win over Dallas.

    Advice: Having picked up a DNP-CD in Game 4 despite being cleared to play, Porzingis logged 16 minutes off the bench on Monday. He wasn’t under any specific restrictions, but it was clear that the Celtics wouldn’t push him too far. The result was Boston’s 18th title in franchise history and the first for the “Unicorn.” After a stellar 2022-23 season in Washington, Porzingis being traded to Boston may have led to his being undervalued in fantasy basketball. Boasting a Yahoo ADP of 43.1, he provided top-15 per-game value in 9-cat formats and top-25 in 8-cat. The lone negative was availability. Porzingis only appeared in 57 games due to injury, with his absence boosting backup Al Horford’s fantasy value. Injuries were also an issue for Porzingis during the Celtics’ run through the playoffs, and he’s only appeared in at least 60 regular season games once (2022-23) since the 2016-17 campaign. KP is immensely valuable to fantasy managers when healthy, but that’s why his ADP is likely to take a hit. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:36 pm
     
  • Al Horford posts 9/9/2/1 line in Game 5 victory
    Al Horford finished Monday’s 106-88 win over Dallas with nine points (3-of-6 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), nine rebounds, two assists, one steal, and two 3-pointers in 32 minutes.

    Advice: In his 17th NBA season, Horford finally has his elusive championship. The veteran big man remained in the starting lineup despite Kristaps Porzingis’ return, and he gave the Celtics solid minutes throughout the series. The title was a fitting reward for Horford, who sacrificed by volunteering to come off the bench before the season began. Horford had a Yahoo ADP of 128.4, and the veteran center exceeded that number despite the arrival of Kristaps Porzingis. Appearing in 65 games, Horford offered 10th-round per-game value in 8-cat formats while cracking the top 100 in 8-cat. Selecting him with a top 100 pick in drafts ahead of the 2024-25 season would be a fool’s errand, as his workload will likely be managed again. Horford did not play both ends of back-to-backs this season, and that’s unlikely to change with his turning 38 years old earlier this month. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:31 pm
     
  • Jaylen Brown scores 21 points, wins NBA Finals MVP
    Jaylen Brown played 44 minutes in Monday’s 106-88 win over Dallas, accounting for 21 points (7-of-23 FGs, 5-of-6 FTs), eight rebounds, six assists, two steals, and two 3-pointers.

    Advice: Brown didn’t have his best night shooting the basketball, but he was influential in other areas as the Celtics wrapped up their 18th title. After winning the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, he stood out again in the NBA Finals and was named series MVP. Brown wasn’t projected to be the Celtics player whose fantasy value would be impacted the most by the additions of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, based on his Yahoo ADP of 35.8. However, decreased production in the points, rebounds, and free-throw percentage categories led to JB finishing the regular season ranked outside the top 75 in 9-cat formats and just inside the top 60 in 8-cat. Brown averaged 23.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting 70.3% from the foul line this season. In 2022-23, he was responsible for 26.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, shooting 76.5% from the line. The scoring and rebounding could remain “low” by Brown’s standards, but getting back into the mid-70s from the charity stripe next season would give his value a welcome boost in category leagues. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:16 pm
     
  • Jayson Tatum seals title with 31/8/11/2 stat line
    Jayson Tatum shot 11-of-24 from the field and 8-of-8 from the foul line in Monday’s 106-88 win over the Mavericks, tallying 31 points, eight rebounds, 11 assists, two steals, and one 3-pointer in 45 minutes.

    Advice: The Celtics wrapped up their 18th NBA championship on Monday, with Tatum leading the way as a scorer and creator. He made some history, becoming the first Celtics player to account for at least 20 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds in an NBA Finals game since Larry Bird in 1986. The championship caps quite the journey for the Celtics star, who has been an elite fantasy option for most of his career. Tatum’s scoring average dropped by more than three points per game compared to his 2022-23 production, so he finished the regular season ranked 15th in 8- and 9-cat per-game value, according to Basketball Monster. That certainly isn’t “bad,” but most fantasy managers were hoping to get top 5 value out of the Celtics star. Tatum’s ceiling still makes him a player who should be selected in the first round of most drafts, but Boston’s depth slightly lowers his fantasy ceiling. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:08 pm
     
  • Coming off bench in Game 5
    Porzingis (lower leg) will come off the bench for Monday's Game 5 of the NBA Finals versus the Mavericks.

    Advice: Porzingis will again come off the bench for the Celtics, as he did in the first two NBA Finals games. In those two contests, Porzingis accumulated 32 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and an assist while shooting 12-for-20 from the field. Prior to Game 5, head coach Joe Mazzulla said Porzingis will not have any restrictions after sitting out the last two games due to a left posterior tibialis dislocation, but Al Horford will remain in the starting lineup Monday. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 5:09 pm
     
  • Poole: Klay Thompson looking for a 3-year deal
    According to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole, league sources believe Klay Thompson is seeking at least a three-year deal.

    Advice: The Warriors’ “big three” era of Thompson, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green may end this summer, as the former is set to hit unrestricted free agency. While a max contract is undoubtedly off the table, the veteran shooting guard is reportedly looking for at least a three-year deal. Thompson is another year removed from a stretch in which he missed two consecutive seasons due to knee and Achilles tendon injuries, but his production dropped considerably in 2023-24. Landing with a team that needs to add 3-point shooting to its starting lineup would boost Thompson’s fantasy value, but the trick is finding that spot. Remaining with the Warriors may include Klay being asked to come off the bench, which would lower his fantasy ceiling. Rotoworld Yesterday, 3:56 pm
     
  • Expected to play in Game 5
    Coach Joe Mazzulla said to expect Porzingis (lower leg) to play in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against Dallas on Monday, Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News reports.

    Advice: Porzingis was ruled out ahead of Game 3 after suffering a left posterior tibialis dislocation in the third quarter of Game 2. He got the green light for Game 4 but didn't see any playing time during the blowout loss. However, with the Celtics looking to close out the series at home, Porzingis won't have any restrictions, though it remains unclear if he'll be in the starting lineup. In Game 1, his first appearance after a 10-game absence due to a calf injury, Porzingis scored 20 points (8-13 FG) and blocked three shots in 21 minutes. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 3:50 pm