Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Dealt to Chicago
    The Thunder traded Giddey to the Bulls in exchange for Alex Caruso on Thursday, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

    Advice: After receiving a significantly reduced role in the playoffs, averaging just 12.5 minutes across six games against Dallas, Giddey's long-term future in Oklahoma City seemed uncertain. As such, it is not surprising to see the 21-year-old guard dealt for Caruso, who can offer better perimeter defense for the Thunder. Giddey could receive an opportunity to have the ball in his hands more often now that he is no longer playing alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 25.2 minutes across 80 games in 2023-24. However, he will be competing for playing time in a crowded backcourt with Coby White, Zach LaVine, Ayo Dosunmu and Lonzo Ball (knee). Rotowire.com Thursday, 2:18 pm
     
  • Shams: 76ers interest in Paul George has ‘waned’
    According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the 76ers’ interest in pursuing Paul George this offseason has “waned in recent days.”

    Advice: Philadelphia is one of the teams that will head into free agency with a significant amount of cap space, even with the need to re-sign point guard Tyrese Maxey. George’s name has come up often recently, and Joel Embiid showing up at the NBA Finals while the Clippers star was working with ESPN certainly raised eyebrows. However, according to Charania, Philadelphia “is expected to be aggressive elsewhere” with its cap space and draft capital as the team looks to strengthen the roster around Embiid and Maxey. George has a player option for next season worth a little under $49 million, and there wasn’t much movement regarding negotiations with the Clippers on an extension. Should he opt for free agency, George will be one of the most sought-after players on the market, even if Philadelphia’s interest has decreased, as Charania reported. Rotoworld Thursday, 2:08 pm
     
  • 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
     
  • 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
     
  • Kristaps Porzingis plays 16 minutes in Game 5 win
    Kristaps Porzingis tallied five points (2-of-4 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs) and one rebound in 16 minutes in Monday’s 106-88 win over Dallas.

    Advice: Having picked up a DNP-CD in Game 4 despite being cleared to play, Porzingis logged 16 minutes off the bench on Monday. He wasn’t under any specific restrictions, but it was clear that the Celtics wouldn’t push him too far. The result was Boston’s 18th title in franchise history and the first for the “Unicorn.” After a stellar 2022-23 season in Washington, Porzingis being traded to Boston may have led to his being undervalued in fantasy basketball. Boasting a Yahoo ADP of 43.1, he provided top-15 per-game value in 9-cat formats and top-25 in 8-cat. The lone negative was availability. Porzingis only appeared in 57 games due to injury, with his absence boosting backup Al Horford’s fantasy value. Injuries were also an issue for Porzingis during the Celtics’ run through the playoffs, and he’s only appeared in at least 60 regular season games once (2022-23) since the 2016-17 campaign. KP is immensely valuable to fantasy managers when healthy, but that’s why his ADP is likely to take a hit. Rotoworld Monday, 8:36 pm
     
  • Coming off bench in Game 5
    Porzingis (lower leg) will come off the bench for Monday's Game 5 of the NBA Finals versus the Mavericks.

    Advice: Porzingis will again come off the bench for the Celtics, as he did in the first two NBA Finals games. In those two contests, Porzingis accumulated 32 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and an assist while shooting 12-for-20 from the field. Prior to Game 5, head coach Joe Mazzulla said Porzingis will not have any restrictions after sitting out the last two games due to a left posterior tibialis dislocation, but Al Horford will remain in the starting lineup Monday. Rotowire.com Monday, 5:09 pm
     
  • Expected to play in Game 5
    Coach Joe Mazzulla said to expect Porzingis (lower leg) to play in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against Dallas on Monday, Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News reports.

    Advice: Porzingis was ruled out ahead of Game 3 after suffering a left posterior tibialis dislocation in the third quarter of Game 2. He got the green light for Game 4 but didn't see any playing time during the blowout loss. However, with the Celtics looking to close out the series at home, Porzingis won't have any restrictions, though it remains unclear if he'll be in the starting lineup. In Game 1, his first appearance after a 10-game absence due to a calf injury, Porzingis scored 20 points (8-13 FG) and blocked three shots in 21 minutes. Rotowire.com Monday, 3:50 pm
     
  • Kristaps Porzingis (leg) available for Game 5 Mon.
    Kristaps Porzingis (left posterior tibialis dislocation) is available for Monday’s game against the Mavericks.

    Advice: Porzingis is officially available for Game 5, but that does not mean he’s guaranteed to play. The Celtics cleared him for Friday’s Game 4, but Porzingis did not see action. Before that game, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said the 7-foot-3 big would only play in “very specific instances,” and the contest turned into a blowout by the end of the first quarter. Mazzulla did say before Game 5 that he “expects to see” Porzingis play, but DFS players should not expect too much from him production-wise. Rotoworld Monday, 3:33 pm
     
  • Available for Game 5
    Porzingis (lower leg) is available for Monday's Game 5 of the NBA Finals versus the Mavericks.

    Advice: Porzingis suffered a left posterior tibialis dislocation in the third quarter of Game 2 and was ruled out for Game 3. He was listed as available ahead of Game 4 but didn't see playing time in the blowout loss. The 28-year-old went through warmups before Game 5 and looked comfortable during light workouts with the Celtics' coaches and training staff. It is unclear whether coach Joe Mazzulla will put the big man to use, especially after saying he is not near 100 percent and would only be used sparingly before Game 4. Porzingis is available for Game 5, but with the Celtics holding a 3-1 series advantage, the team could limit his minutes severely, if he plays at all. Rotowire.com Monday, 3:29 pm