NBA Player News

Hurt spent training camp with Memphis, and now he will get a chance to play regular season minutes. They’re dealing with plenty of injuries, but it is still unlikely that Hurt makes any sort of fantasy impact.

Injured during Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Walker has not appeared in a game since. According to Carlisle, the second-year forward is no longer using crutches but is still walking with a slight limp. Due to Indiana’s depth, Walker’s absence has not significantly impacted the team’s approach to this series. Obi Toppin was already the primary backup to Pascal Siakam, so his role remains unchanged.

Memphis and Orlando have reportedly made a significant trade, with the former bidding farewell to a key member of its core. Anthony is one of the players the Grizzlies have received in exchange for Bane, adding another point guard to the mix. And a change of scenery may be what the doctor ordered for Anthony, as the 2024-25 campaign was the worst of his NBA career to date. In 67 appearances, the 2020 first-round pick averaged 9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.1 three-pointers in 18.4 minutes. Even when the Magic were without Jalen Suggs, Anthony was not productive enough to merit being a consistent fantasy streamer. At best, he’ll back up Ja Morant in Memphis, and the Grizzlies also have Scotty Pippen Jr. under contract for the 2025-26 season.

After one season with the Magic, Caldwell-Pope is on the move. He’s been traded to the Grizzlies, but the veteran guard will likely be a starter in his new home. Caldwell-Pope was signed by the Magic last summer for his 3-and-D abilities, but he struggled with his shot. In 77 appearances, he shot 34.2 percent from three on 4.3 attempts per game. The percentage was Caldwell-Pope’s worst since 2015-16, when he shot 30.9 percent from three as a member of the Pistons. Playing alongside Ja Morant could result in cleaner looks for KCP if he’s inserted into the starting lineup, as Orlando lacked a consistent playmaker at the point. From a fantasy standpoint, he’ll be a late-round pick at best in standard leagues.

The Magic have long needed an upgrade at the shooting guard position, and they’ve taken a significant swing at addressing the issue with Sunday’s reported trade. In 69 games this season, he averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.4 three-pointers, shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 89.4 percent from the foul line. Bane has been one of the best shooting guards in the NBA over the last three seasons, due to the ability to both knock down perimeter shots and defend his position. Given the state of the Eastern Conference, Orlando’s decision to make this move is understandable, as it significantly improves the starting lineup.

Smith and the Rockets’ season ended disappointingly, as the Warriors bounced them from the first round of the playoffs in seven games. The 2022 lottery pick would eventually be moved to the bench late in the regular season, lowering his playing time. Whether it’s as a starter or as a reserve, Smith is working to improve his ability to make plays off the dribble. In addition to the stated desire to improve, he’s worth watching this offseason due to the recent Kevin Durant trade rumors. While Houston was adamant that it wanted to keep its young core together during the season, that may change this summer. And Smith’s name has been mentioned as one the Suns would likely be focused on if they were to make a deal with the Rockets.

Based on the most recent reports on the Durant saga, his next stop will be either Florida or Texas, if he has his way. While Houston has long been a rumored destination for the 15-time All-Star, the front office most recently took the approach of seeing what its current young core could offer. The Rockets were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round, but earning the two-seed in the West was a sign of significant progress being made. As for the Spurs, they’ve missed the postseason in phenom Victor Wembanyama’s two seasons in San Antonio, but there’s the expectation that he’s capable of being the face of the NBA in the future. Add in De’Aaron Fox, and there are some intriguing talents for Durant to connect with there. However, with the Suns not dealing with a trade deadline, Durant’s preference does not mean the franchise will pass on a move that would provide greater value. Miami was swept out of the playoffs by Cleveland, months after trading Jimmy Butler to the Warriors. Adding Durant would give the Heat a much-needed marquee scorer.

The Timberwolves are one of the teams that have been mentioned as being in contention for Durant’s services. However, the team’s beat writer reported Saturday that “nothing is close” regarding a potential trade between Minnesota and Phoenix. KD’s close relationship with Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards is well-known, and there have been discussions. But a trade may not occur soon, even with ESPN’s Shams Charania reporting Friday that he believed a deal could happen within the “next few days.”

Rather than test free agency, Adams agreed to three-year extension to stay with the Rockets. Houston already has Alperen Sengun as the starter, but Adams was a key player in Houston’s rotation down the stretch of the season as he usurped Jock Landale as the primary backup center. Adams isn’t much of a scorer at this point of his career, but averaged 15.8 minutes per game and 6.3 rebounds per game in the second half of the season.

While the illness that limited Turner during Thursday’s practice did not land him on the pregame injury report, it’s fair to wonder if the center was still feeling the effects. He missed all six of his three-point attempts in Game 4 and also did not record any steals or blocked shots. By comparison, Turner blocked five shots in Indiana’s Game 3 victory on Wednesday. The Pacers don’t need Turner to be a superstar, but they do need him to be more impactful than he was on Friday. He’ll look to rebound in Game 5 on Monday.

Sandwiched around subpar offensive performances in Games 2 and 3, Toppin was effective in Games 1 and 4. Friday was the second time this series he’s scored 17 points, and the high-flying forward recorded a complete stat line. The lone negative for Toppin was his foul shooting, as he was just 1-of-4 from the stripe. Add in some key missed free throws from Bennedict Mathurin and Oklahoma City’s superior play in crunch time, and the Pacers likely feel that they let Game 4 get away. Toppin and the Pacers will look to bounce back when they visit Oklahoma City for Game 5 on Monday.