NBA Player News

There isn’t much to complain about for a player to be as productive as James at age 39. However, fantasy managers may point to the turnover category if they’re in the business of picking nits. James had four turnovers on Tuesday and has averaged 4.7 per game over the last two weeks. Therefore, during this stretch, he’s ranked outside the top 40 in 9-cat formats while providing top-25 value in 8-cat. There is no need for concern, but hopefully, James can clean things up a bit moving forward.

While the field goal percentage may not have been great, Gilgeous-Alexander was highly impactful in Monday’s victory. The four blocked shots were one shy of his playoff career-high, and he also hit double digits in assists for the first time since Game 4 of the conference finals. Gilgeous-Alexander recorded his 15th 30-point game of these playoffs, the most in a single postseason since Kobe Bryant in 2009 (15). While the Pacers have done all they can to limit Gilgeous-Alexander, and they’ve had some success, the NBA’s Most Valuable Player still feels inevitable. He and the Thunder will look to win their first NBA title on Thursday night.

JDub put on a show Monday night in what was the most productive outing of his brief postseason career. Shooting 56 percent from the field, Williams notched a career-high point total, carrying over his productive play from Games 3 and 4. While Oklahoma City did drop Game 3, the shift to making sure Williams is on the opposite side of the court as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has significantly impacted Indiana’s defense. Having to account for SGA’s drives has left the Pacers in challenging positions regarding how they defend JDub, who’s been able to get downhill far more consistently than he did in the first two games. He and the Thunder will look to close out the series on Thursday.

The Magic upgraded their perimeter rotation with the Bane trade, which was completed on Sunday. However, the team will have some work to do this summer regarding their depth behind starters Bane and Jalen Suggs. As part of the trade, Orlando declined its team options on Harris (worth $7.5 million) and Joseph ($3.47 million). Both players will be unrestricted free agents on June 30. Neither player logged consistent rotation minutes for the Magic last season, and their exits (if they do not re-sign with Orlando) would not impact fantasy basketball.

Donovan was one of the coaches that the Knicks requested to interview to fill their vacancy, but Chicago denied them the opportunity. Now it’s clear why. Donovan is entering his sixth season with the team and appears to be in line for more. Prior to coaching the Bulls, he had five playoff appearances in five seasons as the coach of the Thunder. However, he only has one playoff appearance in five years with Chicago, and he has finished with a losing record in the other four seasons. Though he has a 54.8 career winning percentage, he hasn’t had as much success in recent years.

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.