Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Struggles in Game 5 loss
    Washington ended Monday's 106-88 loss to Boston in Game 5 of the NBA Finals with four points (2-7 FG, 0-5 3Pt), six rebounds, three assists and two blocks across 34 minutes.

    Advice: Washington produced one of his worst games of the playoffs in Game 5. Overall, he was a key part of Dallas' starting five, averaging 13.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.8 blocks and 0.7 steals in 22 starts. The Mavericks acquired the 25-year-old at the trade deadline, and he averaged 11.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks across 29 regular-season games. Dallas has Washington under contract until the 2026-27 season and will look to return to the NBA Finals next season, likely keeping most, if not all, of their core group from this season. Rotowire.com Tuesday, 12:47 pm
     
  • Efficient in Game 5 loss
    Jones provided 10 points (4-8 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 1-2 FT) and one block in 22 minutes during Monday's 106-88 loss to Boston in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: Jones started all 22 playoff games for the Mavericks and averaged 9.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 blocks while shooting 48.1 percent from the field. The 27-year-old came into his first season with the team after struggling to carve out a role with the Bulls during two years in Chicago. Jones will enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, and his play throughout this season will likely earn him more interest around the league than last summer. Rotowire.com Tuesday, 12:21 pm
     
  • Al Horford expected back w/ BOS for 18th season
    According to Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck, “Al is coming back for next year. That’s what I’ve been told. Age 38, which is unbelievable.”

    Advice: After winning his first title in Year 17, Horford will be back for a run at another championship with the title favorites. Though he took on a reduced role in the regular season, Horford started the final 15 games of the playoffs for the injured Kristaps Porzingis and averaged 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.0 blocks and 2.0 triples while shooting 46.1% from the floor and 36.6% from beyond the arc. Rotoworld Tuesday, 10:33 am
     
  • Pascal Siakam, Pacers nearing long-term extension
    According to Pacers beat writer Scott Agness, Pascal Siakam and the Pacers are nearing a long-term contract extension.

    Advice: According to Agness, “Both sides know how each other feels [and] want the partnership to continue.” It’s not surprising news considering Siakam’s trade to Indiana at the end of his expiring deal. The belief was that he would stick around for the long haul after the Pacers traded for him, and he’ll be back with Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner and the rest of Indiana’s young core as the team looks to replicate the success it found in an Eastern Conference Finals run this season. Siakam averaged 21.3 points on 54.9% shooting, 7.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 triples across 41 appearances for the Pacers and finished 77th in per-game fantasy value in that span. He’ll be worth a look in the middle rounds of 2024-25 fantasy drafts. Rotoworld Tuesday, 10:14 am
     
  • Expected to remain in Indiana
    Siakam and the Pacers are nearing an agreement on a long-term contract extension, Scott Agness of FieldhouseFiles.com reports.

    Advice: Both sides are motivated to get a deal done after Siakam had a successful half-season in Indiana after coming over in a Jan. 17 trade with the Raptors. The terms of the proposed deal aren't known yet, but Siakam is likely getting a maximum deal or close to it. In 41 regular-season appearances for the Pacers, Siakam posted averages of 21.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 three-pointers in 31.8 minutes while shooting 54.9 percent from the field. Rotowire.com Tuesday, 9:38 am
     
  • 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
     
  • 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