NBA Player News

The deal would be contingent on the swingman passing a physical, which is certainly no slam dunk. He underwent patella surgery in 2009 and hasn’t played in the league since the 2009-10 season. He reportedly needed another surgery in March of 2011 on the troublesome knee, so we’ll have to wait and see if he passes the physical. The Mavericks recently waived Sean Williams, creating an open roster spot.

Appearing in a game for the first time since February 27, Hachimura was said to be on a limit of 20-24 minutes on Saturday. He only played 18, due partially to things getting out of hand in the Lakers’ 146-115 defeat. Hachimura did not provide much value in his time on the court, and his fantasy prospects aren’t as promising when used in a reserve role. Dorian Finney-Smith (2/2/1/1/1 in 21 minutes) has been the starter since Hachimura’s injury; while his fantasy ceiling is lower, DFS’s defensive ability makes him a solid fit in the Lakers’ starting lineup. Whether or not that remains the case once Rui’s restriction is lifted may be another matter, as he played well before the knee injury.

James returned to the Lakers’ lineup on Saturday after missing seven games with a strained groin. Unfortunately for him, things did not go as smoothly as hoped. While LeBron recorded solid numbers in the rebound, assist and steals categories, he was also responsible for five turnovers. With the game getting out of hand during the fourth quarter, James exited with 6:42 remaining, finishing at 31 minutes. A player displaying some rust in their first game back from injury is unsurprising, even for one of LeBron’s caliber. He’ll look to bounce back on Monday in Orlando, the first of four games the Lakers play during Week 21.

LeBron James’ return to the Lakers lineup did not significantly impact Reaves’ production. He was highly efficient and extended his streak of 20-point games to six. Since the All-Star break, the Lakers guard has provided top-25 value in eight- and nine-cat formats. Reaves’ usage is not on par with that of James or Luka Doncic, but it doesn’t need to be. The good news for fantasy managers is that the Lakers play four games during Week 21, starting with the Magic on Monday.

Doncic was excellent offensively when he shot the ball Saturday night. The issue was turnovers, as he racked up seven turnovers. The Lakers guard has been responsible for five or more in nine of his last 11 outings. However, this isn’t a significant issue in eight-cat formats or for managers willing to punt turnovers. Also, Doncic has been productive enough across the board to alleviate the impact of the turnovers, providing top-20 value in nine-cat formats during this 11-game stretch. The Lakers hit the road for four games during Week 21, starting with the Magic on Monday.

Vucevic has recorded a double-double in three of his last four outings. And over the past two weeks, the Bulls center has provided sixth-round value in eight-cat formats. While the fantasy value has tailed off after a red-hot start to the season, Vooch remains ranked well within the top 50 in eight- and nine-cat formats regarding season-long value. Based on the Yahoo! ADP of 54, he’s exceeded the expectations of many fantasy managers.

Buzelis surpassed 30 points for the first time on Saturday, doing so on a night when the Bulls scored a season-high 146. Rostered in 13 percent of Yahoo! leagues, Matas is ranked outside the top 150 in eight- and nine-cat formats since the All-Star break. However, his place within the Bulls’ rotation makes him worth the risk in deep leagues. Fantasy managers would be in a better place with Buzelis if he provided more in the assist and defensive categories. Still, there’s no denying that the rookie has made strides in his development.

White has scored 35 points or more in consecutive games for the first time this season, and the 36 tallied on Saturday were the most he’s had since March 6 against Orlando. The Bulls guard has provided third-round value in eight-cat formats over the past two weeks. And the moves made at the trade deadline appear to have unlocked something for White, who has averaged 25.6 points per game since the All-Star break. He’ll look to extend his 35-point streak to three when the Bulls visit Denver on Monday.

Giddey had one of the best nights of his NBA career on Saturday, matching his career-high in assists and doubling his previous high in steals. The Bulls guard finished two steals from the first quadruple-double since David Robinson in 1994. However, he did become the tenth player in league history to finish a game with at least 15 points, 10 rebounds, 15 assists and five steals. While dealing with Luka Doncic wasn’t easy for Giddey, he took advantage of the opportunity and recorded an elite fantasy stat line. Unfortunately, the Bulls only play three games during Week 21, starting with the Nuggets on Monday in the final game of their road trip.

Ellis’ final stat line as Malik Monk’s replacement in the starting lineup was excellent. However, he only attempted one shot (a miss) in the fourth quarter, which may have left a bad taste in the mouths of some fantasy managers. However, when Ellis has his first 20-point game since February 12, there isn’t much to complain about. Keon’s value heading into a four-game Week 21 depends on Monk’s availability. However, he’s still worth holding onto in deep leagues due to the Kings’ need for bench scoring with Domantas Sabonis (ankle) still sidelined.

Valanciunas had a good night against the Bucks, providing solid value in the points, rebounds and field-goal percentage categories. However, he doesn’t offer much in the assist or defensive categories, which has limited his value as Domantas Sabonis’ replacement in the starting lineup. Valanciunas is a must-roster player in his current role, but fantasy managers know the veteran center’s deficiencies. The Kings begin a four-game Week 21 on Monday against the Celtics.