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  • Kerr: Kuminga needs to become ‘more versatile’
    During his season-ending press conference, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Jonathan Kuminga needs to become more versatile this offseason.

    Advice: While the 2023-24 season was the best of Kuminga’s NBA career, his skill set limited where he could play within the Warriors’ rotation. According to Cleaning the Glass, 96% of his minutes were played at the power forward position, meaning he could not share the floor with Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis. That trio can be Golden State’s best defensive frontcourt, but only if Kuminga expands his offensive repertoire. “I think he sees the floor pretty well, but his fundamentals in terms of passing have to improve if he’s going to play the three,” Kerr said. “We need him to play the three if we want to have Trayce out there at the five and Draymond at the four. That ideally would be a great defensive lineup. But we’re not ready for that yet as a team.” Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:34 pm
     
  • 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
     
  • Logs 10 minutes in elimination game
    Matthews (hamstring) tallied zero points (0-2 FG, 0-2 3Pt) and one assist in 10 minutes Wednesday in the Hawks' 131-116 loss to the Bulls in the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament.

    Advice: Matthews missed the Hawks' final three games of the regular season with hamstring tightness, but he was able to make it back for what ended up being the team's lone postseason contest. The 37-year-old was an irregular member of the Atlanta rotation in 2023-24, appearing in 36 regular-season contests (three starts) while averaging 3.1 points, 1.5 rebounds, 0.7 three-pointers and 0.6 assists in 11.5 minutes while shooting 35.1 percent from the field. Matthews is scheduled for free agency this summer and could be headed for retirement. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 4:08 pm
     
  • Zach Collins (right shoulder) to undergo surgery
    Zach Collins will undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder but should be ready for the start of the 2024-25 season.

    Advice: Collins injured his shoulder early in the third quarter of Sunday’s win over the Pistons and will need his fifth surgery since entering the NBA. One of the previous four was to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder back in 2019, with the other three being on his left ankle. The expectation is that Collins will be healthy for the start of next season, which is unlikely to impact his fantasy value. With Victor Wembanyama firmly entrenched as the starting center, Collins was most valuable on nights when the French phenom did not play due to injury. Rotoworld Yesterday, 4:04 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 said 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
     
  • Likely to be game-time decision
    Caruso (ankle), who is questionable for Friday's Play-In Game against the Heat, underwent further evaluation Thursday that revealed reduced swelling, creating increased optimism that he'll be available for the win-or-go-home matchup against Miami, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

    Advice: Wojnarowski reported Wednesday night that Caruso had sustained a "significant" left ankle sprain Wednesday against Atlanta that put his availability for Friday's matchup in doubt. However, the 30-year-old appears to be trending in the right direction and will likely be a game-time decision as the Bulls attempt to secure the No. 8 seed in the playoffs. If Caruso is unavailable against Miami, Javonte Green, Torrey Craig and Dalen Terry could see additional playing time. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 2:00 pm
     
  • 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
     
  • Duncan Robinson (back) probable to play vs. Bulls
    Duncan Robinson (left facet syndrome) is considered probable to play against Chicago on Friday in the Play-In Tournament.

    Advice: Robinson was cleared to play after being listed as probable for Wednesday’s game against the 76ers, but he didn’t end up being part of the team’s rotation. With Jimmy Butler sidelined, Robinson should see some minutes off the bench, though there is certainly a chance that Erik Spoelstra continues to roll with Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Delon Wright. Rotoworld Yesterday, 1:54 pm
     
  • Remains out for Friday
    Rozier (neck) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Bulls.

    Advice: Rozier, who will miss a sixth straight contest, has been diagnosed with a neck sprain rather than neck spasms, so it seems the injury is more severe than initially expected. The loss of Rozier will be huge for the Heat, and it will translate in a higher usage rate for Tyler Herro, while there will be more minutes available for Patty Mills and possibly Delon Wright. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 1:52 pm