Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • 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
     
  • Scores eight points in Game 5 win
    Hauser delivered eight points (3-7 FG, 2-6 3Pt), four rebounds, one assist and one steal across 17 minutes in Monday's 106-88 Game 5 win over the Mavericks.

    Advice: While Hauser is known as a three-point sniper, he provided Boston with plenty of hard-nosed defense throughout its championship run. Dallas periodically hunted Hauser during the Finals, only to learn the reserve forward was up for the challenge. Hauser averaged 8.2 points, 3.0 boards and 2.2 triples over 15 minutes per contest in the Finals. This offseason, expect Boston to exercise its club option to retain Hauser. The Wisconsin product could again be a key contributor in the quest for Banner 19. Rotowire.com Tuesday, 7:29 am
     
  • Efficient from deep in Game 5 loss
    Green notched 14 points (5-8 FG, 4-6 3Pt) and two rebounds across 22 minutes during Monday's 106-88 loss to Boston in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: Green produced his best game of the playoffs Monday despite the Mavericks losing Game 5 and the series by a 4-1 deficit. The 23-year-old averaged 5.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 0.4 steals across 19.2 minutes in five NBA Finals games. Green's four three-pointers were his most since Feb. 5, and with the 23-year-old under contract with the Mavericks until 2026, he will look to possibly take on a larger role with the team next season as the Mavericks attempt to make it back to the Finals. Rotowire.com Monday, 9:55 pm
     
  • 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
     
  • 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
     
  • Al Horford posts 9/9/2/1 line in Game 5 victory
    Al Horford finished Monday’s 106-88 win over Dallas with nine points (3-of-6 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), nine rebounds, two assists, one steal, and two 3-pointers in 32 minutes.

    Advice: In his 17th NBA season, Horford finally has his elusive championship. The veteran big man remained in the starting lineup despite Kristaps Porzingis’ return, and he gave the Celtics solid minutes throughout the series. The title was a fitting reward for Horford, who sacrificed by volunteering to come off the bench before the season began. Horford had a Yahoo ADP of 128.4, and the veteran center exceeded that number despite the arrival of Kristaps Porzingis. Appearing in 65 games, Horford offered 10th-round per-game value in 8-cat formats while cracking the top 100 in 8-cat. Selecting him with a top 100 pick in drafts ahead of the 2024-25 season would be a fool’s errand, as his workload will likely be managed again. Horford did not play both ends of back-to-backs this season, and that’s unlikely to change with his turning 38 years old earlier this month. Rotoworld Monday, 8:31 pm
     
  • Report: Suns expected to re-sign Royce O’Neale
    According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Suns are expected to re-sign Royce O’Neale once he hits free agency this summer.

    Advice: Acquired via trade in February, O’Neale was a solid contributor for the Suns. Given the 3-and-D skill set and Phoenix’s need for depth, the report that the team will look to re-sign him is unsurprising. What helps the cash-strapped franchise is that they hold O’Neale’s Bird rights, which allows the Suns to exceed the salary cap to re-sign him. According to Scotto, the veteran wing is expected to command $10 million annually. O’Neale was a top 100 player in 9-cat formats after joining the Suns and would be worthy of late-round consideration in standard leagues if he re-signs. Rotoworld Saturday, 4:05 pm
     
  • Gets garbage-time run in Game 4
    Prosper posted zero points (0-2 FG), two rebounds and one assist in five minutes Friday in the Mavericks' 122-84 win over the Celtics in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: Prosper sprained his ankle in a practice prior to Game 4 of the Mavericks' first-round series with the Clippers and had been sidelined for multiple weeks before being cleared to play ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals. He didn't see any action in either of the first three games of the series, but with Friday's contest turning into a rout by the end of the third quarter, Prosper was able to make his NBA Finals debut in garbage time. Rotowire.com Saturday, 8:36 am