Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Exercises player option
    Bates-Diop (shin) exercised his $2.65 million player option Monday for the 2024-25 season, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: This is an expected move for Bates-Diop. The forward made just 14 appearances for the Nets last season, averaging 1.6 points in 4.9 minutes per game. Bates-Diop missed the end of the season with a right shin stress reaction, but he's expected to be healthy entering training camp. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 8:29 am
     
  • Report: Keita Bates-Diop opting in with Nets
    According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Bates-Diop has chosen to opt to a one-year, $2.65 million deal that will keep him with Brooklyn for the 2024-25 season.

    Advice: Bates-Diop spent 14 games with the Nets after being traded by the Phoenix Suns last season and played a minor role off the bench. He averaged just 1.6 points per game with Brooklyn. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:18 am
     
  • Report: DEN plans to decline Vlatko Cancar option
    According to Bennett Durando of the Denver Post, the Nuggets plan to decline Vlatko Cancar’s player option for next season.

    Advice: Cancar injured his knee while playing for Slovenia last summer and did not play for the Nuggets this past season. He’ll return to game action in early July when Slovenia participates in an Olympic Qualifying Tournament. According to Durando, the Nuggets remain interested in bringing Cancar back, albeit on a different contract. Rotoworld Sunday, 4:05 pm
     
  • Report: Oshae Brissett to decline player option
    According to Spotrac’s Keith Smith, Oshae Brissett plans to decline his player option and become an unrestricted free agent.

    Advice: The 2023-24 season was Brissett’s first in Boston, and it could be his last based on the reported decision to decline his player option. The former Pacer had a limited role for the NBA champions, appearing in 56 games and averaging 3.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 11.5 minutes. Those averages were the lowest for Brissett since his rookie season as a Toronto Raptor. Rotoworld Sunday, 3:21 pm
     
  • Declines player option Sunday
    Brissett declined his $2.5 million player option with the Celtics on Sunday, Keith Smith of Spotrac.com reports.

    Advice: Brissett will become an unrestricted free agent after declining his player option Sunday. The 26-year-old spent one season with the team, and he averaged 3.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.3 steals across 11.5 minutes in 55 regular-season games. Brissett was a non-factor for Boston in the playoffs, and his departure likely signals a desire for a larger role elsewhere. Rotowire.com Sunday, 2:38 pm
     
  • Stein: Magic, 76ers targeting Caldwell-Pope
    The Magic and 76ers are considering making runs at Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency, per Marc Stein.

    Advice: KCP has won two of the last five championships as part of different squads while providing value on both ends of the value. He should make a huge impact on either the 76ers or Magic as both teams are ready to contend and could use a 3-and-D starter at shooting guard. KCP has been an incredibly impactful starter for the Nuggets the last couple of seasons, which could earn him a big raise if he moves to the East. Rotoworld Sunday, 11:34 am
     
  • Bound for free agency
    The Nuggets declined Cancar's (knee) $2.35 million team option for the 2024-25 season Sunday, Bennett Durando of The Denver Post reports.

    Advice: Cancar will thus be eligible to begin negotiating with teams as an unrestricted free agent beginning July 30. The 27-year-old missed the entire 2023-24 season after undergoing surgery in August to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, but Cancar is expected to return to game action for the Slovenian national team in a 2024 Summer Olympics qualifying tournament in July. According to Durando, the Nuggets haven't closed the door on re-signing Cancar on a minimum contract. During his last healthy season with Denver in 2022-23, Cancar appeared in 60 games and averaged 5.0 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 14.8 minutes. Rotowire.com Sunday, 9:23 am
     
  • GSW to fully guarantee Kevon Looney’s contract
    The Warriors plan to guarantee all of Kevon Looney’s $8 million contract for 2024-25 according to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater.

    Advice: Only $3 million of Looney’s $8 million deal is guaranteed, but the remaining $5 million will be guaranteed on Monday. According to Slater, Golden State will keep Looney under contract through Monday, though that doesn’t rule out the possibility that he could be traded down the road. This is the final year of the three-year, $22.5 million deal Looney signed back in 2022. He has played with Golden State every year of his nine-year career. Rotoworld Saturday, 12:47 pm
     
  • Dereck Lively II unlikely to be ‘pick-and-pop’ big
    Mavericks GM Nico Harrison said on Friday that he does not envision Dereck Lively II turning into a “pick-and-pop” big man next season.

    Advice: While Lively hit his first career 3-pointer during the NBA Finals and showed off his range during workouts throughout the series, fantasy managers should not expect to see him offer Brook Lopez-like production in that area next season. Dallas does not need him to do that, especially with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving running the show. “He’s not going to be a pick-and-pop guy,” Harrison said of Lively. “He has the skill to do it, but for our team, that’s not what we’re going to ask him to do. He’s really good in the short-roll, he can pass to both sides of the floor. He’s just going to get better. I think there’s a lot of room for him to grow, and he’ll do it.” Rotoworld Friday, 5:36 pm