Rui

Hachimura

Following an extended absence, Hachimura appeared in three straight games before sitting out Thursday’s loss to Chicago. That game was the second leg of a back-to-back set, and the Lakers will likely manage Hachimura’s knee injury moving forward. He started and logged 28 minutes in his last game out, and fantasy managers should expect a similar workload against Memphis. Dorian Finney-Smith may see a dip in playing time as a result.

After logging 28 minutes as a starter in Wednesday’s win over the Pacers, Hachimura will sit out the second game of the Lakers’ back-to-back. Dorian Finney-Smith should move into the starting lineup, making him a worthwhile streamer in deep leagues.

After coming off the bench in his first two games back from the knee injury that sidelined him for nearly one month, Hachimura returned to the starting lineup on Wednesday. Still under a minutes restriction, Rui played 28 minutes and only attempted five shots from the field. However, he made two critical fourth-quarter three-pointers and was 4-of-4 from beyond the arc. Due to Hachimura’s minutes restriction, Dorian Finney-Smith (11/3/1/2/1 with three three-pointers) logged 31 minutes despite coming off the bench. The Lakers visit the Bulls on Thursday, which could result in a return to the starting lineup for Finney-Smith. Hachimura should be considered questionable.

James and Hachimura have been cleared to play, and the latter will make his return to the starting lineup. Hachimura is still under a minutes restriction, so fantasy managers should not expect too much from him regarding playing time. Dorian Finney-Smith heads to the bench, where his already low fantasy value takes a hit.

LeBron and Hachimura are back on the Lakers’ injury report, both listed due to injuries they have been dealing with in recent weeks. In James’ case, sitting out Wednesday’s game would likely push Jordan Goodwin into the lineup, giving him some streaming value in deep leagues. As for Hachimura, Dorian Finney-Smith has retained his place in the starting lineup, and his minutes will likely increase if Rui cannot play.

Finney-Smith has made at least three three-pointers in three of his last four outings, with Saturday’s loss to the Bulls being the exception. Being a starter raises his fantasy ceiling, especially with Rui Hachimura still under a minutes restriction. Hachimura played 24 minutes on Monday, finishing with five points, three rebounds and one steal. Whether or not JJ Redick sticks with this lineup for the rest of the fantasy season remains to be seen, but deep-league managers who have Finney-Smith rostered should hold onto him for now.

James and Hachimura have been upgraded from probable to available, meaning the Lakers will have their full rotation in Orlando. The latter will likely be under a minutes restriction, meaning he would come off the bench. Dorian Finney-Smith would remain in the starting lineup in that scenario.

Hachimura logged 18 minutes and come off the bench on Saturday after missing almost a month with this knee issue. He was initially listed as questionable, but now he is expected to suit up against Orlando. He’ll likely see a limited role off the bench once again.

Hachimura returned to the Lakers’ rotation on Saturday after missing nearly one month with left knee tendinopathy. He logged 18 minutes, two fewer than the limit Lakers coach JJ Redick stated before the team lost to the Bulls. Hachimura will likely take on a similar workload if he’s allowed to play against the Magic, and he’s likely to come off the bench again.

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.