Player Notes

Smith has fluid buildup in his left knee that may have contributed to his poor shooting performance in the playoffs, the NY Post reports.
Recommendation: Smith is supposed to get the fluid drained from his knee in the near future and should be fine after that. It is suggested that draining the knee and resting it for a short period of time should relieve any stiffness or swelling. Smith is expected to opt out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He has said he wants to remain a Knick, but it'd be somewhat surprising if Smith isn't able to spin his Sixth Man of the Year Award into a decent long-term contract.

Wade (knee) acknowledged that his injured right knee has been more painful than it had been in the 2012 postseason, the Miami Herald reports. He hopes to play through the remainder of the postseason for the defending champions, as he doesn't believe extra rest will help at this point. "Time doesn't help me right now. It's unfortunate I've had to deal with this thing for two months now... Even though my knee isn't 100 percent, it [isn't] gone," Wade said.
Recommendation: Wade's struggles have been ailing him throughout the entire season, but it has not prevented him from being efficient for the Heat. He managed to pull off 19 points, six rebounds, five assists, three steals, and one block in Game 1 against the Pacers and looks to continue to play effectively in the Heat's title run.

Vasquez is scheduled to undergo a cleanup procedure on both of his ankles, True Hoop reports. He could miss 3-to-4 months to fully recover from the procedure.
Recommendation: Vasquez is in a precarious position with the Pelicans. He was the starting point guard when healthy this season, but the team drafted Austin Rivers with the 10th pick in last year's draft, and Rivers believes his best position is point guard. Depending on the Pelicans' plans next season, Vasquez's inability to practice and improve for the better part of the offseason could open the door for Rivers to claim the starting point guard role next season. Vasquez is under contract with the Pelicans for at least one more season, and the team can extend him a qualifying offer in 2014-15 to keep his free agency restricted.

Jones intends to opt into his player option with the Heat for next season, Fox Sports reports.
Recommendation: Jones averaged just six minutes of action in the 38 games in which he appeared with the Heat this season and has mostly become a forgotten man on the team's deep roster. If Mike Miller is released, as has been discussed as a very real possibility, and Ray Allen decides to retire or opt out of his contract, Jones could find himself playing a larger role next season.

Williams has yet to be charged in the firearm incident he's been implicated in due to the prosecutors needing extra time to complete their investigation, Mass Live reports.
Recommendation: Williams has admitted to police that he pulled his gun but says he did so out of fear for his well-being. The Celtics gave Williams a multi-year contract this season, but there are several qualifiers that would allow them to cut him without paying the entirety of the contract as all of it is not guaranteed. The Celtics don't appear in any rush to make a decision regarding Williams' future on their roster, but if this issue with the police turns into a distraction, he'll likely be released.

Beal (leg) is weeks away from commencing basketball activities, CSN Washington reports.
Recommendation: Beal has passed his six week period devoid of any basketball activities but intends to have another X-ray performed on the stress fracture in his left tibia in a few weeks. If it has healed, he will then begin his rehab, which will include lifting weights and basketball activities. Despite enduring numerous injuries during his rookie season, he only missed 26 contests, an impressive number considering the severity of some of them. At the moment, he is being prudent with the concern that held him out for the final eight games of the regular season, which should give him plenty of time to be ready for the Las Vegas Summer League in July.

White is unlikely to return with New York next season, ESPN New York reports.
Recommendation: White's agent, William McCandless, noted that White values his playing time, which was certainly lacking in New York. He started 16 games and averaged only 7.6 minutes and 2.2 points per game. White has a team option next season for about $1 million. The Knicks will have to reach a decision on what to do with him by June 30. If they do not choose to accept the team option, he will become an unrestricted free agent. If White is looking to make the most money, he may have to return to his previous career path and play for an international team. McCandless noted that there has been plenty of interest by international teams already and that White would not hesitate to go to these teams.

Prigioni noted that he would like to stay in the NBA next season, but his future with the Knicks is unclear at this point, the New York Post reports.
Recommendation: For Prigioni to return with the Knicks, the team would have to match an offer from another team, considering he is a restricted free agent. It is unclear whether or not the Knicks will do this. He averaged 3.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists during his rookie season.

George scored a team-high 27 points (7-of-16 FG, 3-of-6 3Pt, 10-of-11 FT) with four rebounds, five assists and six turnovers in 47 minutes Wednesday night in Indiana's overtime loss to Miami in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Recommendation: George had just two points at halftime, but got engaged offensively in the second half and hit a last-second three-pointer to send the game into overtime. In addition to his work offensively, George was tasked defensively with guarding LeBron James.

Bayless finished with 18 points (7-18 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 3-4 FT), three assists, three rebounds, and two steals in Tuesday's 93-89 overtime loss against the Grizzlies.
Recommendation: The 18 points were the most Bayless has scored since Game 6 of the first round, but the Grizzlies still lost the game and will head home under the weight of a 2-0 deficit in the Western Conference Finals. Bayless and Quincy Pondexter both saw more playing time Tuesday night, while Tayshaun Prince was on the court for just 16 minutes.

Kidd is expected to play again next season according to Knicks' coach Mike Woodson and GM Glen Grunwald, ESPN New York reports.
Recommendation: Kidd was horrible in the playoffs and even though he is under contract with the Knicks for two more seasons, there was talk he may be considering retirement. Even though nothing is set in stone yet, it appears the signs are starting to point to his return. If he does play again next season, he doesn't expect to carry much fantasy value based on the limited role he would play.

Whether or not Roberts' team option is picked up depends on how the ping pong balls fall Tuesday, The Times-Picayune reports.
Recommendation: The Pelicans are currently projected for the fifth pick in the draft, which could land them Michigan's Trey Burke. If the Pelicans think they will get Burke-the top point guard in the draft-, then Roberts isn't a necessity for the roster, despite his strong season. Of course, the Pelicans could also decide point guard isn't a need and they could look for a small forward, like Georgetown's Otto Porter.

Leonard scored 12 points (5-9 FG, 2-5 3Pt) with nine rebounds in Tuesday's game against the Grizzlies.
Recommendation: Leonard played a robust 40 minutes in the game two win. His impact is on the defensive side, but Leonard's averaging 14.1 points at an amazing 56.9 percent shooting from the field. Look for Leonard to continue his strong contributions with defenses keying in on Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili.