Player Notes

  • Remains out to start postseason
    Coach Frank Vogel said Friday that Lee (knee) remains out to start the postseason, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports.

    Advice: Lee missed the entire 2023-24 regular season but hopes to return during the postseason. Even if he gets the green light, the veteran guard isn't guaranteed a rotational role, especially if the Suns are playing well. Rotowire.com 20 minutes ago
    Damion LeePHX - SG,SF
  • Good to go
    Coach Frank Vogel said Friday that Gordon (migraine) is healthy and good to go for Game 1 of the first-round series against the Timberwolves on Saturday, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports.

    Advice: Gordon missed Phoenix's regular-season finale due to a migraine but returned to practice this week and should be good to go for the postseason. Over his last 15 appearances, Gordon has averaged 7.6 points, 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 21.9 minutes per game. Rotowire.com 24 minutes ago
  • Tim Hardaway Jr. (illness) misses practice Friday
    Tim Hardaway Jr. (illness) missed practice on Friday but will join the team in Los Angeles for their game on Sunday.

    Advice: THJ wasn’t able to practice on Friday, but he should be with the team for Game 1. If he doesn’t end up suiting up, Dante Exum and Josh Green will likely see some extra minutes off the bench on the perimeter. Rotoworld Today, 10:21 am
  • Bench role in the cards for Klay Thompson?
    Warriors coach Steve Kerr mentioned the possibility of Klay Thompson coming off the bench should he remain with the team during his end-of-season press conference.

    Advice: Thompson’s 2023-24 season came to a brutal end, as he missed all ten field goal attempts and went scoreless in Tuesday’s Play-In tournament loss to the Kings. The veteran guard, one of the all-time great shooters in NBA history, will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer. And a return to the Warriors could depend on how amenable he is to coming off the bench, which is what happened this season. “I thought Klay really showed that he was agreeable to the sixth-man role the second half of the year, even though eventually we put him back in the starting lineup,” Kerr, who noted that the team needs to add more shooting to the roster this offseason, said. “I think that’s got to be an option going forward. I would prefer not to play him 35 minutes.” Thompson’s future in the Bay Area, beginning with whether or not he’ll re-sign with the team, impacts multiple Warriors, including Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody. Rotoworld Yesterday, 5:04 pm
  • Considered questionable for Game 1
    Leonard (knee) is questionable for Sunday's Game 1 against the Mavericks, Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com reports.

    Advice: The Clippers announced Thursday that Leonard received an injection in his left knee, and there's "cautious optimism" that he'll be ready for Sunday's matchup, per Shams Charania of The Athletic. While Leonard returned to practice Monday, he hasn't yet been cleared for 5-on-5 drills. Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said Thursday that he isn't sure whether Leonard will need to participate in full-contact work before he's cleared to return to game action but added that the inflammation needs to continue to reduce. Lawrence said that he's hopeful the issue is trending in the right direction and that Leonard will play but also indicated that the 32-year-old's status remains up in the air. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 2:51 pm
    Kawhi LeonardLAC - SG,SF,PF
  • Probable for Friday
    Robinson (back) is probable for Friday's Play-In Game against the Bulls, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

    Advice: Robinson missed the final four games of the regular season due to his back injury, and although he was available for Wednesday's Play-In Tournament matchup against the 76ers, he didn't see any playing time. It appears likely that he'll be able to suit up again Friday, and he could see some minutes since Jimmy Butler (knee) has been ruled out. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 1:55 pm
  • Officially has sprained MCL
    The Heat announced Thursday that Butler has been diagnosed with a sprained MCL and will miss several weeks, Tim Reynolds of Associated Press reports.

    Advice: Butler suffered his right knee injury late in the first quarter of Wednesday's Play-In Game loss to the 76ers, but he remained in the game down the stretch despite a limp. However, the injury is significant enough to sideline him for multiple weeks, so even if the Heat take down the Bulls on Friday, it seems unlikely that Butler will be in the mix to return during a first-round series against Boston. Jaime Jaquez will likely take on a starting role in Butler's absence, while Haywood Highsmith and Caleb Martin could also see additional playing time. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 1:52 pm
  • Leads bench in scoring
    Mathews chipped in eight points (2-4 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 2-3 FT) over 13 minutes during Wednesday's 131-116 Play-In Game loss to Chicago.

    Advice: Since the All-Star break, the 27-year-old averaged 6.9 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.7 assists on 45.8 percent from the field, playing valuable minutes during Trae Young's (finger) absence. With the Hawks looking to test the trade market around Young and possibly Dejounte Murray after a disappointing year, the Hawks will have until June 29 to decide whether they want Mathews back next season, which would fully guarantee his contract. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 12:50 pm
  • Unable to find shot
    Hunter posted eight points (3-16 FG, 0-7 3Pt, 2-3 FT), four assists and two rebounds over 42 minutes during Wednesday's 131-116 Play-In Game loss to the Bulls.

    Advice: Despite struggling with his shot in April, when Hunter averaged 37.0 percent from the field and an abysmal 24.1 percent from deep, this season was fairly successful for the 26-year-old. Hunter was a consistent part of Atlanta's rotation, starting in 38 of his 57 appearances and averaging 15.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting a career-high 38.5 percent from deep. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 12:49 pm