NBA Player News

The Bucks were on the wrong end of one of the biggest playoff upsets in NBA history, losing to the Heat in five games. This was a tough way to go out for Lopez, who had one of the best all-around seasons of his career. After going for 36 and 13 in Monday’s Game 4 loss, BroLo posted another double-double with a full stat line. Individually speaking, that’s a good way to head into the offseason. From a fantasy standpoint, Lopez was a league-winner this season. He outperformed his Yahoo ADP (120) in a major way, finishing the season as a top 25 player in 9-cat formats and just outside the top 30 in 8-cat. Lopez has been a key cog in the Bucks’ rotation for quite some time, but he will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. He won’t lack suitors, but returning to Milwaukee could lock Lopez in as a top-25 player regarding fantasy value.

Robinson was listed as questionable on Tuesday, so his upgraded status certainly bodes well for his availability. Robinson will be leaned on to slow down Victor Wembanyama with his elite defensive acumen.

Previous reports indicated that Robinson should be available, and he was able to do some individual work on Sunday. However, his official designation for the first game of the Finals is questionable. Don’t expect Mike Brown to dip deep down the depth chart for center minutes if Robinson is out. Karl-Anthony Towns will likely play a massive workload, with Ariel Hukporti giving him a few minutes to breathe when Victor Wembanyama isn’t on the floor.

The 40th overall pick in the 2024 draft, Ighodaro appeared in all 82 games this season, starting 24. The 7-footer’s role expanded when a foot injury sidelined Mark Williams, and that could remain the case in 2026-27 if the Suns were to move on from the former Hornet. However, one would assume that Phoenix would look to upgrade the position if that were the case, and 2025 lottery pick Khaman Maluach would also be in the mix for more playing time. Ighodaro averaged 6.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game this season. That production was not enough to make him much more than a deep-league streamer on nights when Williams was out.

After a 2025-26 season in which he won the NBA’s Hustle Award, Diabaté stands to be one of the biggest bargains in basketball next season. His contract for next season is worth just over $2.46 million, a low amount for a player who emerged as the Hornets’ starting center in 2025-26. A starter in 47 of the 73 games he played, Diabaté averaged 7.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.0 blocks in 26.0 minutes. If he holds onto the starting center role, with Ryan Kalkbrenner standing to be the main competition for that role, Diabaté can offer late-round value to managers targeting rebounds and blocks.

Robinson suffered a fractured right pinky finger at some point in the days following the Knicks’ Eastern Conference Finals sweep of Cleveland. Still, the center expects to be available for Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The 7-footer was limited to individual work in Sunday’s practice and had something on the injured finger, although Knicks head coach Mike Brown did not reveal what the protection was. The NBA Finals don’t begin until Wednesday, so there is time for Robinson to get in some 5-on-5 action in practice.

In Game 6, J-Dub returned from a left hamstring injury that he aggravated during Game 2 of the series. Initially injured during the first round, he played just 10 minutes and was ruled out for Saturday’s Game 7 loss to the Spurs. However, before the season-ending defeat, Daigneault made it clear that Williams did not suffer a setback during his brief Game 6 appearance. He did not go through the standard return-to-play protocols, and it was clear that Williams was not his usual self. “He didn’t do a full return to play, obviously,” Daigneault said. “We knew he wouldn’t be a full 100 percent. He, or we, didn’t know what that would look like and what he’d be able to do when he got out in the game. The only way to find out was to get him out there.” He should be good to go when training camp opens in late September, and fantasy managers hope that J-Dub will be more available than he was this season. He appeared in just 33 regular-season games, not making his debut until late November after undergoing offseason wrist surgery.

Oklahoma City’s season came to an end on Saturday, as they dropped Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals to the Spurs. And with that, the front office has decisions to make regarding the futures of Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein and Kenrich Williams. Each has a team option for next season, with Dort’s being worth a little over $17.7 million. The defensive stalwart hopes to remain with the lone team that he’s played for since entering the NBA in 2019. “The conversation hasn’t happened yet,” Dort said when asked about his team option. “I have a lot of trust in this organization, in Sam (Presti). Really grateful for all the stuff he did for me to this point. I want to stay here. This organization, this city, shaped me as a player. My main goal is to stay here.” Dort has not been a consistently impactful option for fantasy managers in recent seasons. Still, his future in Oklahoma City could affect the ceilings of Ajay Mitchell, Cason Wallace and Jared McCain. If the Thunder were to move on from Dort, there would be an opening in the starting lineup to fill.

After shooting 2-of-15 from three in the first six games of the Western Conference Finals, Fox shot 3-of-7 in Game 7. In total, seven Spurs scored in double figures, with the balanced effort being enough to counter Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who put up a game-high 35 points. Fox will now make his first NBA Finals appearance, with the Spurs hosting the Knicks in Game 1 on Wednesday.

Williams shone in Game 7, recording his first double-double of these playoffs. Given the struggles of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein (seven points, five rebounds and one steal), JayWill’s production was one reason why the Thunder had a chance late. Williams has not been a consistent option for fantasy managers during his time in Oklahoma City, but that could change next season. Hartenstein has a team option worth $28.5 million, while new deals for Holmgren and Jalen Williams will begin. The salary cap situation could make JayWill someone whom the Thunder have to rely on more in 2026-27.

Holmgren picked the worst possible time to have one of his worst games of the season. Due to injuries, the Thunder needed more production from the 7-foot-1 forward/center, and he was unable to answer the call. Holmgren attempted just two shots from the field, an inexcusable number given his talent and what was on the line. However, for as disappointing as his Game 7 performance was, Holmgren will remain a highly regarded player in fantasy basketball. He finished this regular season as a second-round player, and that should be the case in 2026-27.