Fantasy Basketball News

Chris Paul has been notified he will be waived by the Suns. The move makes him one of the top free agent targets this off-season for contending teams, especially those in need of point guard help. (Source: Chris Haynes on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The Suns were in a tough spot with their four stars, Paul, Booker, Ayton, and Durant. They had the top end talent to contend, but lacked depth. His release frees up cap space and enables the Suns to add some much needed bench help in the off-season, and Paul is free to join any roster he desires in search of a ring.

James Harden is torn between staying with the Sixers or returning home to Houston, per report. His chances of winning a ring are much higher if he stays put but Houston has cap space for Harden to sign a massive deal, something Philly may not be able to do. (Source: Shams Charania on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Wherever Harden signs has big implications for either team. Philadelphia will look to bring in another star alongside Joel Embiid and Houston could be in playoff contention, albeit likely a lower seed. Houston is full of young talent and their fantasy values, not to mention their real life usage, would all take a hit if Harden comes to town. If Harden stays then things stay more or less status quo for their respective teams until free agency and the draft.

Kevin Love will get the start over Caleb Martin in Game 2 of the NBA Finals Sunday night against the Nuggets. (Source: Barry Jackson on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Love will add some much needed size to the starting lineup for the Heat after Aaron Gordon scored 12 points in the opening quarter of Game 1. Martin should still play a fairly big role off the bench for the Heat.

To replace Monty Williams, the Phoenix Suns will hire Frank Vogel as their next head coach on a five-year, $31 million contract. (Source: Shams Charania on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Vogel, who coached the Lakers to a championship victory in 2020, will be tasked with delivering hardware to a top-heavy Suns team from the jump. In addition to coaching in LA, Vogel has had stints in Indianapolis and Orlando. He has a career record of 431-389.

Adam Silver announced on Thursday that a decision regarding disciplinary action against Ja Morant is going to be announced soon after the conclusion of the NBA Finals. (Source: Tim MacMahon on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: “We’ve uncovered a fair amount of additional information," Silver said. "We probably could have brought it to a head now, but we’ve made the decision that it would be unfair to these players and these teams to announce that decision in the middle of this series.” The decision on whether or not Morant will be suspended will be announced soon after the NBA Finals finishes.

Monty Williams has agreed in principle to become the next head coach of the Detroit Pistons on a six-year, $72 million deal. (Source: Shams Charania on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: After falling short of expectations two seasons in a row with the Phoenix Suns, Williams finds a new home in Detroit. While the Suns were never able to win the Finals under him, Williams does bring a winning resume to a young and developing Detroit team. He’ll look to develop Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren and the rest of the young Pistons players into a team capable of playoff success.

The 76ers have ended their search for a head coach by hiring former Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse. (Source: Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Under Nurse, Toronto was always seen as a team you couldn’t count out till it was all said and done. If James Harden leaves, Philadelphia might have to become the next scrappy Nurse team, although having the 2022-23 NBA MVP could disqualify them from being labeled “scrappy”. Embiid offers a player you can build a championship roster around, which Nurse had experience doing with Kawhi Leonard in 2019 when Toronto beat the Warriors in the Finals. Under Nurse their defense should improve, but they need to find at least a second star behind Embiid to really get the ball rolling. Philly will be an interesting team to watch this off-season.

Gabe Vincent (ankle) is questionable for Miami's Game 7 matchup against the Boston Celtics on Monday night. (Source: NBA Injury Report)

Fantasy Impact: Vincent is dealing with an ankle injury that he suffered earlier in this series. He was able to play through it last game, so it seems like he's trending towards playing in Game 7 despite his questionable tag. A decision about his availability will come closer to game time, and Max Strus will be primed to get more work in the off-chance that Vincent is out on Monday night.

Malcolm Brogdon (forearm) is expected to play in Monday's game against the Miami Heat. (Source: Marc Spears on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Brogdon has to miss Game 6 because of a forearm injury, but he is reportedly expected to be available for Boston's elimination game against Miami. The team will need all the help they can get in a crucial Game 7 against the Heat, but it remains to be seen if he will be playing at 100% or not.

Mo Bamba (ankle) is expected to be cleared for action in time for Game 4 or 5 of the Western Conference Finals vs the Nuggets. (Source: Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Bamba last played on April 28th due to a left ankle injury but looks primed for a return as soon as Monday. He would add some valuable depth down low opposite of Nikola Jokic.

The Suns have parted ways with their head coach Monty Williams. The former NBA Coach of the Year is out of Phoenix. (Source: Shams Charania on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Williams has coached the Suns since the 2019-2020 season and brought the Suns success they hadn’t seen in years. However, after a disappointing Finals loss and two straight early playoff exits, Williams has been relieved of his duties. He’ll be one of several coaches that will undoubtedly attract interest among teams looking for a head coach. As far as the Suns and Devin Booker are concerned, big changes seem to be on the horizon, with trade rumors floating around for Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton. Phoenix could look very different in the 2023-2024 season.

Andrew Wiggins (ribs) is expected to try and play in Game 6 vs the Lakers. He will participate in pregame warmups and see how he feels prior to game time. (Source: Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: It's likely that Wiggins is still not 100% and shooting will still be difficult, but the Warriors will gladly take anything Wiggins can give them. He is averaging 16.8 points and 6 rebounds per game in the conference semifinals.

Deandre Ayton has been ruled out for Game 6 vs the Nuggets due to a rib contusion. (Source: Shams Charania on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Ayton was questionable on the initial injury report, but has now been downgraded and will sit out Game 6. Jock Landale and Bismack Biyombo could be in for an extended role.

Julius Randle (ankle) has been cleared to play Game 2 against the Miami Heat. (Source: NY Knicks PR on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Randle missed the Knicks loss in Game 1, but will look to aid New Yorks quest to tie things up in Game 2. He could have a lighter workload given he’s been managing an injury, but expect him to be one of the more productive Knicks players.

Jalen Brunson (ankle) is available for the Knicks in Game 2 against the Heat. (Source: NY Knicks PR on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Brunson was a game time decision coming in, but he will be active for the Knicks as they try to even up the series against Miami. Expect him to carry his regular workload.

Jimmy Butler (ankle) has been ruled out for the Miami Heat in Game 2 against the New York Knicks. (Source: Andrew Lopez on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Butler expressed his desire to play, and was labeled a game time decision, but will unfortunately miss the contest. Caleb Martin and Duncan Robinson should see some extra playing time in his absence.

Dillion Brooks, who is about to enter free agency, has been informed by the Memphis Grizzlies that they will not resign him under any circumstances. (Source: Shams Charania on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Brooks averaged 14.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists for the Grizzlies in the 2022-23 season. His performance in the first round of the playoffs against the Lakers was disappointing to say the least and his jab at LeBron James likely were the last straws for the Memphis front office. It will be interesting to see how teams value him in free agency and if he’ll grab a nice contract or have to settle for less than he believes he’s worth.

Paolo Banchero has won the 2022-23 NBA Rookie of the Year award. (Source: Shams Charania on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The top pick of the 2022 NBA Draft lived up to it. In his rookie season, he averaged 20 points on 43% FG shooting and added 6.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. He started off the year hot, scoring 20 or more points in each of his first six games. Though Banchero cooled off mid-season, he ended on a high note, accumulating three double-doubles in his final four games. Orlando could not have asked for a more promising start for their young forwards career.

De'Aaron Fox says he will "likely play" in Game 5 against the Warriors on Wednesday despite fracturing the index finger in his shooting hand according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.

Fantasy Impact: Fox was believed to be "doubtful" for Game 5 but this is a positive sign for the 25-year-old point guard. He reportedly participated in a non-contact practice on Tuesday wearing a splint on his fractured left index finger. The former-Kentucky product is averaging 31.5 points, 7.0 assists, and 6.0 rebounds in 38.5 minutes through the first four games of this first-round series. Fox will likely have to pass pregame tests before getting the official go-ahead for Game 5 so check back prior to tipoff before firing him of in DFS lineups.

Kawhi Leonard has been ruled out for Game 5 on Tuesday against the Suns. (Source: Shams Charania on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Leonard will miss his third straight game after not practicing on Monday. The Clippers will once again rely on Russell Westbrook, Norman Powell and the rest of the team to now keep the Clippers in the series trailing 3-1.