NBA Player News

Booker did not have a great night shooting, as he missed all five of his three-point attempts. However, he made the game’s biggest shot, nailing a step-back jumper with just under two seconds remaining to give Phoenix the victory. If there has been an issue for Booker recently, it has been the inconsistent nature of his scoring. He’s failed to crack 20 points in three of his last six outings, averaging 23.4 per game. That’s more than two points lower than Booker’s season average. While the hit hasn’t significantly damaged the Suns’ guard’s fantasy value, managers hope to see Booker get untracked during his final three games of Week 21.

Williams, who has missed Oklahoma City’s last seven games with a strained right hip, remains questionable for Thursday’s game against the Grizzlies. While head coach Mark Daigneault did not settle on one specific replacement in the starting lineup while J-Dub was out, Kenrich Williams was the most recent fill-in, playing 28 minutes in Tuesday’s win over the Kings. He, Alex Caruso and Isaiah Joe would all be in the mix to start if Williams cannot play against Memphis.

While Goodwin has been part of the Lakers’ rotation this season, Reddish has not. And with it being reported Thursday afternoon that the former was being converted from a two-way to a standard contract, it makes sense that the latter would be waived to free up space. Reddish appeared in 33 games this season, averaging 3.2 points and 2.0 rebounds in 17.8 minutes. It will be interesting to see if he can catch on with a non-contending team before the end of the season.

While this transaction does not impact fantasy basketball, as Goodwin was already in the Lakers’ rotation, it does affect the NBA Playoffs. Two-way contract players are not eligible for the postseason, so addressing Goodwin’s status means he will be available. However, with 15 players already under standard contracts, the Lakers must waive someone to free up a spot for Goodwin.

Wheeler is the latest G League alum to receive an opportunity to prove himself in the NBA. The 6-foot-8 forward most recently played for the Maine Celtics, averaging 10.2 points and 5.7 rebounds in six appearances after being acquired from the Texas Legends. Wheeler’s addition to the 76ers’ roster is unlikely to impact fantasy basketball.

Murphy injured his right shoulder during a March 17 game against the Pistons, and a labral tear was discovered in the ensuing MRI. A timeline for his return is unknown, but the Pelicans announced Wednesday that the procedure was successful. Murphy had a career year in 2024-25, averaging 21.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.7 blocks and 3.0 three-pointers per game. With Brandon Ingram traded to Toronto at the February deadline, the Pelicans clearly view Murphy as a critical piece in the team’s rebuild.

Irving tore the ACL in his left knee during a March 3 game against the Kings, ending his 2024-25 season. According to the team, the procedure to repair the torn ligament took place on Wednesday and was successful. A timeline for a return to basketball remains unknown, and complicating Irving’s situation is that he can be a free agent this summer. Fantasy managers should operate under the assumption that he will not be ready when the 2025-26 season begins in October.

Booker has hit double figures in assists in three straight and five of his last seven appearances. While he has only shot 43.9 percent from the field over the past two weeks, the improved assist production is why the Suns’ guard has offered top-50 value during this stretch. Of course, the Suns and fantasy managers want to see Booker shoot the ball better than he has. However, subpar shooting has not kept him from offering solid overall value. The Suns play two more games during Week 21, starting with the Timberwolves on Friday.

Durant got his points on Wednesday and has scored 30 points or more in three straight games. However, he did not offer much else in the loss to the Celtics, which was terrible news for category league managers. The good news is that nights like Wednesday have not been the norm for the future Hall of Fame forward. Over the past two weeks, Durant has offered second-round value in eight- and nine-cat formats. With the Suns needing to go on a run to earn a play-in spot, they will lean on Durant and Devin Booker to lead the way.

Horford has started the Celtics’ last 11 games, most recently filling in for the injured Jayson Tatum (ankle) on Wednesday. The 38-year-old finished the victory with a complete stat line and his fifth double-double of the season in 26 minutes. Rostered in 31 percent of Yahoo! leagues, Horford has offered sixth-round value in eight-cat formats over the past month. That said, his fantasy value depends on the availability of Boston’s starters. The Celtics visit the Spurs on Saturday in their final game of Week 21.

Limited to nine points in his first game back from a knee issue that cost him three games, Brown looked much sharper on Wednesday. He finished the 30-point win one blocked shot shy of a complete stat line, and the four three-pointers were the most he’s made in a game since February 28. Over the past month, Brown has offered sixth-round value in eight-cat formats. The Celtics end Week 21 with a game against the Spurs on Saturday in the penultimate game of the team’s road trip.