Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Leaving NBA
    Watanabe (personal) is not expected to pick up his $2.6 million player option this offseason, but rather head to the Japan professional basketball league, Keith Smith of Spotrac.com reports.

    Advice: Watanabe announced the news during an Instagram Live session. Assuming he does not ultimately return to the NBA, the six-year veteran will bookend his career with stints in Memphis. Although, he only played five games for the team this year, as most of his season was spent in Phoenix. His most productive tenure came with the Nets during the 2022-23 season, where the forward averaged 5.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.0 triples across 16.0 minutes per game. Rotowire.com 14 minutes ago
     
  • Makes return in Play-In game
    Robinson (back) recorded eight points (3-6 FG, 2-4 3Pt), three rebounds and one assist across 12 minutes Friday in the Heat's 112-91 win over the Bulls in the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament.

    Advice: Robinson missed the final four games of the regular season with left facet syndrome, but he was cleared to play in advance of the Heat's first game of the Play-In Tournament on Wednesday. He ultimately went unused in Wednesday's 105-104 loss to the 76ers, but a rotation spot opened up for Robinson on Friday with Jimmy Butler (knee) sidelined with an MCL sprain. Though Butler doesn't appear on track to return during the Heat's first-round playoff series with the Celtics, Robinson could be squeezed out of the rotation if the Heat get Terry Rozier (neck) back for Sunday's Game 1 in Boston. Rotowire.com 23 minutes ago
     
  • Keegan Murray (hip) limited to 11 points Friday
    Keegan Murray (left hip) shot 4-of-12 from the field and 1-of-2 from the foul line in Friday’s 105-98 loss to New Orleans, tallying 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists, one steal, one block, and two 3-pointers in 38 minutes.

    Advice: After torching the Warriors on Tuesday, Murray could not rebound from a slow start in Friday’s loss to New Orleans. He began 2-of-7 from the field, and suffering a left hip injury during the second quarter didn’t help. Murray did return and go on to play 38 minutes, but a solid second season in the NBA came to a disappointing end. Beginning the season with a Yahoo ADP of 104.5, the 2022 lottery pick ranked just outside the top 50 in 8- and 9-cat formats. The key for Murray moving forward will be to play with consistent aggression and not go through stretches in which he’s overly deferential to De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. At a minimum, he’ll be worth selecting with a top-75 pick in standard league drafts. Rotoworld Yesterday, 10:06 pm
     
  • Harrison Barnes scores 17 in season finale vs. NOR
    Harrison Barnes accumulated 17 points (6-of-14 FGs, 2-of-4 FTs), five rebounds, four assists, and three 3-pointers in 38 minutes in Friday’s 105-98 loss to New Orleans.

    Advice: Barnes was solid in his final game of the season, duplicating his point total from Tuesday’s win over the Kings. Something evident in the Kings’ six games against the Pelicans (all losses) was a need to get more athletic on the wings. Sacramento should emphasize improving that area of the roster during the offseason, especially in free agency. Barnes has two seasons remaining on his contract, but the positions held by him and Kevin Huerter (when healthy) for most of the 2023-24 campaign are worth keeping an eye on. Entering the season with a Yahoo ADP of 143.4, Barnes finished ranked outside the top 150 in 8- and 9-cat formats. He should be a late-round pick, at best, next season if his role does not change. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:59 pm
     
  • Domantas Sabonis posts 23/14/7/3/1 line vs. Pels
    Domantas Sabonis played 42 minutes in Friday’s 105-98 loss to New Orleans, accounting for 23 points (9-of-14 FGs, 5-of-5 FTs), 14 rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and one blocked shot.

    Advice: As was the case on many nights, Sabonis recorded a double-double in his final game of the 2023-24 season. He recorded a league-best 77 double-doubles, including 61 straight at one point. Sabonis posted a full stat line on Friday, par for the course for a player who provided top 20 per-game value in 8-cat formats. He finished the season ranked 30th in 9-cat formats, according to Basketball Monster. Sabonis did not make good on his Yahoo ADP (15), but he wasn’t far off, with free-throw percentage (70.4%) and turnovers (3.3 per game) being the issues. He’s unlikely to last past the end of the second round in most drafts next fall. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:52 pm
     
  • De’Aaron Fox scores game-high 35 points in finale
    De’Aaron Fox shot 12-of-29 from the field and 7-of-11 from the foul line in Friday’s 105-98 loss to the Pelicans, scoring 35 points with seven rebounds, five assists, three steals, and four 3-pointers in 42 minutes.

    Advice: Fox produced a gaudy point total in his final action of the 2023-24 season, but the Pelicans made him work for his numbers. The Kings point guard was inefficient, shooting 4-of-16 from three while committing five turnovers. While Fox’s scoring (26.6), rebound (4.6), and steal (2.0) averages increased in comparison to last season, his field-goal and free-throw percentages decreased. However, that did not prevent him from providing 2nd-round per-game value in 8- and 9-cat formats, and the same can be said for Fox’s totals value. If he’s to threaten 1st-round value in 2024-25, the percentages need to improve. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:40 pm
     
  • Trey Murphy tallies 16 points, eight rebounds
    Trey Murphy played 43 minutes in Friday’s win over Sacramento, amassing 16 points (6-of-12 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), eight rebounds, six assists, one steal, and two 3-pointers.

    Advice: Due to Zion Williamson (hamstring) sitting, Murphy was back in the starting lineup for Friday’s “winner-take-all” matchup with the Kings. He was productive, with the turnover count (four) being the most significant issue. During the regular season, Murphy averaged 16.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 3.3 3-pointers per game in 23 starts. At a minimum, the Pelicans will need similar production in their first-round series against the Thunder, which will begin on Sunday. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:33 pm
     
  • CJ McCollum offers limited value in win over Kings
    CJ McCollum shot 3-of-8 from the field in Friday’s 105-98 win over Sacramento, accounting for seven points, two rebounds, three assists, one steal, two blocks, and one 3-pointer in 36 minutes.

    Advice: To begin with a positive, McCollum recorded a full stat line as the Pelicans earned the 8-seed in the West. However, he had another quiet night on offense, with Friday’s effort occurring with Zion Williamson (hamstring) sidelined. The good news for the Pelicans is that their bench stepped up, with Jose Alvarado (10/5/2/2/1 with one 3-pointer) and Naji Marshall (13/4/3/2) reaching double figures. The bench contributions will be critical against the Thunder in the first round of the playoffs, but the Pelicans will need more from McCollum regardless of how well the reserves play. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:29 pm
     
  • Jonas Valanciunas posts 19/12/3 line, two blocks
    Jonas Valanciunas finished Friday’s 105-98 win over the Kings with 19 points (8-of-16 FGs, 3-of-3 FTs), 12 rebounds, three assists, and two blocked shots in 27 minutes.

    Advice: There have been times this season when the Pelicans used Zion Williamson at the five, relegating Valanciunas to the bench. With the Pelicans’ best player out with a hamstring injury, JV’s minutes appear to be more secure. However, Friday’s matchup had much to do with that, as he logged 27 minutes against fellow Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis. Valanciunas recorded a solid double-double with a few assists and blocks, and this is the level of production the Pelicans will need from him with Williamson out. However, Larry Nance Jr. could figure more prominently in the first-round series against Oklahoma City due to the Thunder’s lack of a bruiser in the middle. Nance played 21 minutes on Friday, finishing with 13 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:20 pm