NBA Player News

Vasquez is dealing with an ankle injury that remains unstable despite multiple surgeries since 2015. “It’s pretty bad,” Vasquez said. “I’m not out of the league because of my talent. I’m out of the league because of an injury. It’s pretty depressing, but it’s something I have to face.” He joined the Pelicans’ coaching staff for Summer League, though, and sounds ready to pivot to coaching as the next chapter in his hoops career.

Acquired from the 76ers along with a 2032 second-round pick to help Philadelphia avoid the luxury tax, Gordon was unlikely to play rotation minutes in Memphis. His release will allow the veteran guard to find another team after he clears waivers, likely joining one with postseason ambitions. With their moves at the deadline, the Grizzlies are clearly rebuilding.

Unfortunately for Bucks fans who may have remembered Hayes-Davis from his time at Wisconsin, they won’t get to see him in a Bucks uniform. Acquired from the Suns on Thursday afternoon, he was waived on Thursday evening and will be an unrestricted free agent once he clears waivers. Having averaged 7.2 minutes per game in 27 appearances for the Suns, Hayes-Davis’ status does not affect fantasy basketball.

Traded to Brooklyn on Thursday, there was some hope that Tyson could emerge as an option for the silly season with the Nets rebuilding. The front office had other ideas, waiving the former Nugget along with Martin. Those decisions free up roster spots but do not affect fantasy basketball.

Edgecombe finished Thursday’s defeat with his third double-double of the season and first since November 20. While the recent Rookie of the Year conversations have focused on Dallas’ Cooper Flagg and Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel, Edgecombe has been excellent as well. Fantasy-wise, he’s providing top-75 value, exceeding his Yahoo! ADP (97). Edgecombe and the 76ers finish their Week 16 slate on Saturday in Phoenix.

Maxey struggled with his outside shot on Thursday, shooting 1-of-9 from beyond the arc. Over his last two games, the 76ers’ guard has shot 2-of-14, a far cry from his 39.0 percent mark for the season. However, Maxey shot 10-of-13 from inside the arc on Thursday, and he recorded 13 assists. Over the past two weeks, he has been a top-20 player in eight- and nine-cat formats, according to Basketball Monster.

Embiid continues to look more like his vintage self, with Thursday’s game being his 11th this season with at least 30 points. The former league MVP was efficient as a scorer and playmaker while also recording a complete stat line. Embiid will look to finish Week 16 on a high note when the visit the Suns on Saturday.

While LeBron and the Lakers ratcheted up their defensive intensity early in the fourth quarter and rallied for the win, turnovers were an issue on Thursday. As a team, the Lakers committed 22 turnovers, and James was responsible for eight of them. He did record a double-double against the 76ers, but the category-league value took a significant hit because of the field-goal percentage and turnovers. And if Luka Dončić (leg) has to miss time, the Lakers will need more from their 41-year-old star.

Reaves remains on a minutes restriction, and the Lakers did an excellent job of managing his workload on Thursday. The guard was available in crunch time, and he finished with an efficient 35 points in 25 minutes of play. Luka Dončić exited Thursday’s game during the second quarter with a left leg injury, and an absence for him would make Reaves’ production even more essential for the Lakers. However, when he returns to the starting lineup — for Dončić or someone else — depends on when the Lakers decide to lift Reaves’ minutes limit.

Allen played relatively well on Thursday, recording another solid stat line. Unfortunately, his night ended painfully, as the Suns guard limped off after injuring his right ankle with 3:03 remaining in the fourth quarter. Allen didn’t return, and the question now is whether he’ll be available for Saturday’s game against the Lakers. With the Suns already without Devin Booker and Jalen Green, they may have to rely more on Jordan Goodwin (6/2/2/2 with two three-pointers) if all three are unable to play.

Brooks led the way offensively for the Suns, but he was unable to keep the team from losing a game it led by a 90-76 margin with 10:11 remaining in the fourth quarter. Brooks had a chance to regain the lead in the final seconds, but his three-point attempt missed the mark. With Devin Booker and Jalen Green out, and the Suns losing Grayson Allen during the fourth quarter, Brooks is doing his best to shoulder even more of the offensive workload. As good as he’s been this season, that may not be the best thing for the veteran wing’s fantasy value.