Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Will undergo offseason surgery
    Porzingis said Monday after the Celtics' title-clinching 106-88 win over the Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals that he'll undergo offseason surgery to address his left leg injury, Tim Bontemps of ESPN.com reports.

    Advice: In Game 2 of the Finals, Porzingis suffered a torn medial retinaculum allowing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon, a rare injury that carried an uncertain recovery timeline. After not playing in Games 3 and 4, Porzingis returned for Game 5 and handled a limited role, playing 16 minutes off the bench while contributing five points (2-4 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 1-2 FT) and one rebound. The Latvian big man said the offseason surgery will require a "few months" of recovery, so his status will be worth monitoring when training camp begins in late September or early October. Porzingis previously missed over five weeks of action earlier in the postseason due to a strained right calf. Rotowire.com Tuesday, 8:23 am
     
  • Scores eight points in Game 5 win
    Hauser delivered eight points (3-7 FG, 2-6 3Pt), four rebounds, one assist and one steal across 17 minutes in Monday's 106-88 Game 5 win over the Mavericks.

    Advice: While Hauser is known as a three-point sniper, he provided Boston with plenty of hard-nosed defense throughout its championship run. Dallas periodically hunted Hauser during the Finals, only to learn the reserve forward was up for the challenge. Hauser averaged 8.2 points, 3.0 boards and 2.2 triples over 15 minutes per contest in the Finals. This offseason, expect Boston to exercise its club option to retain Hauser. The Wisconsin product could again be a key contributor in the quest for Banner 19. Rotowire.com Tuesday, 7:29 am
     
  • Kristaps Porzingis to undergo surgery on left leg
    Kristaps Porzingis told ESPN’s Tim Bontemps after Monday’s win over the Mavericks that he will undergo surgery to address the dislocation of his left posterior tibialis.

    Advice: Porzingis did play in Monday’s title clincher but was clearly at less than full strength. While he was not under any official restrictions, the Celtics big man only played 16 minutes off the bench. Following the victory, Porzingis revealed that the injury will require surgery, and the rehabilitation process will last for a “few months.” With KP facing a prolonged absence, Al Horford’s fantasy value will receive a slight boost in drafts ahead of the 2024-25 season. Rotoworld Monday, 10:14 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
     
  • Nears double-double in Game 5 win
    Horford registered nine points (3-6 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 1-2 FT), nine rebounds, two assists and two steals across 32 minutes during Monday's 106-88 victory over Dallas in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: Horford was terrific in this year's NBA playoffs for the Celtics, averaging 9.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.8 blocks across 30.3 minutes in 19 games. The 17-year veteran stepped up in the absence of Kristaps Porzingis, who dealt with lower leg and calf injuries throughout the playoffs. These injuries led to Horford starting in all five NBA Finals matchups, where he averaged 7.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks while shooting a stellar 47.1 percent from beyond the arc. Rotowire.com Monday, 9:15 pm
     
  • Takes home NBA Finals MVP
    Brown had 21 points (7-23 FG, 2-9 3Pt, 5-6 FT), eight rebounds, six assists and two steals across 44 minutes during Monday's 106-88 victory over Dallas in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: Brown won the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award after averaging a well-rounded 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks across five NBA Finals games. The three-time All-Star helped lead the team to title No. 18 after a dominant season, during which the Celtics boasted the best record in the league. Brown was a force in the 2023-24 playoffs, averaging 23.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks while shooting an extremely efficient 51.6 percent across 19 games. The Celtics will look to run it back next season with Brown and Jayson Tatum at the helm. Rotowire.com Monday, 9:11 pm
     
  • Daniel Gafford limited to 11 minutes in Game 5
    Daniel Gafford recorded a stat line of six points (3-of-5 FGs) and three rebounds in 11 minutes in Monday’s 106-88 loss to the Celtics.

    Advice: Gafford struggled in the NBA Finals, as this was not the best matchup for his skill set. He only surpassed 20 minutes once in five games, playing 10 and 11 minutes in Games 4 and 5. To say this was a rough conclusion to the season for him would be an understatement. Gafford’s season took a turn for the better at the trade deadline as the Mavericks acquired him from the Wizards. While participating in a timeshare with rookie Dereck Lively II meant fewer minutes for Gafford, it did not negatively impact his fantasy value. Despite averaging 21.5 minutes per game, DG was a 6th-round player in 9-cat formats after joining the Mavericks. Gafford will still have solid fantasy value in 2024-25, but Lively may offer a higher fantasy ceiling, especially if he can add a perimeter shot to his toolbox. Rotoworld Monday, 9:10 pm
     
  • 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 Monday, 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 Monday, 8:52 pm