| Atlanta Hawks | Boston Celtics | Charlotte Bobcats |
|
| PG | 1. Rajon Rondo |
| 2. Keyon Dooling  SidelinedKeyon Dooling (illness) did not practice on Friday and is questionable to play in Game 7 against the Sixers on Saturday. Dooling would be in line for more minutes with Avery Bradley's (shoulder) surgery forcing Ray Allen into the starting five, but the veteran point guard is not a lock to play in Game 7 against Philly. We'll have an update on his status when one becomes available. May 25 |
| SG | 1. Avery Bradley  SidelinedAvery Bradley (shoulder) will undergo surgery on Friday. Bradley is expected to need four months of rehab after surgery, so he should be ready to go before next season begins. It's a brutal way for Bradley's season to end after he played through pain, and the Celtics will certainly miss his on-ball defense in the postseason. Ray Allen and Mickael Pietrus will both be thrust into bigger roles with Bradley sidelined. May 25 |
| 2. Ray Allen |
| 3. Marquis Daniels |
| 4. E'Twaun Moore |
| PF | 1. Brandon Bass |
| 2. JaJuan Johnson |
| SF | 1. Paul Pierce |
| 2. Mickael Pietrus |
| 3. Sasha Pavlovic |
| C | 1. Kevin Garnett |
| 2. Greg Stiemsma |
| 3. Sean Williams |
| 4. Ryan Hollins |
|
| PG | 1. D.J. Augustin |
| 2. Kemba Walker |
| SG | 1. Gerald Henderson |
| 2. Matt Carroll |
| 3. Cory Higgins |
| PF | 1. Byron Mullens |
| 2. Tyrus Thomas |
| 3. D.J. White |
| 4. Eduardo Najera  SidelinedEduardo Najera had surgery to repair a fractured frontal bone in his forehead on Saturday, and he is expected to miss the rest of the season. Najera was fortunate to avoid any brain injuries, and he should be fine for next season. Apr 7 |
| SF | 1. Corey Maggette  SidelinedCorey Maggette will have knee surgery immediately after the season. Maggette ended his season with a bad Achilles' tendon, but apparently he'll also have knee surgery as well. He's already been mentioned as a candidate for the amnesty clause, and the oft-injured veteran won't shed that label with an offseason surgery. Apr 25 |
| 2. Reggie Williams  SidelinedReggie Williams (knee) will not play on Thursday against the Knicks. Williams' year was a disappointment, and is accentuated by all the talk by Paul Silas about what a special player he would be. Apr 26 |
| 3. Derrick Brown  SidelinedDerrick Brown (ankle) will not play on Thursday against the Knicks, and Tyrus Thomas will start in his place. Thomas is a deep league desperation play, at best, and look for D.J. White to get a few extra minutes. Matt Carroll could also be worth a look in deep leagues for his 3-point shooting. Otherwise, it's possible the Bobcats go with a small lineup in their attempt to avoid history, which would benefit Kemba Walker. Apr 26 |
| 4. Jamario Moon |
| C | 1. Bismack Biyombo |
| 2. DeSagana Diop |
|
| Chicago Bulls | Cleveland Cavaliers | Dallas Mavericks |
| PG | 1. Derrick Rose  SidelinedDerrick Rose (torn ACL) is "doing great" in his rehab from knee surgery. "He has a great support system," Tom Thibodeau said when appearing on ESPN 1000. "His family is fantastic. He comes in every day. he's diligent. He's moving along well," added Thibs. The head coach said that he talks to Rose almost every day, but there is nothing to suggest Rose is ahead of schedule in his recovery process right now. May 25 |
| 2. C.J. Watson |
| 3. John Lucas |
| 4. Mike James |
| SG | 1. Richard Hamilton |
| 2. Ronnie Brewer |
| PF | 1. Carlos Boozer |
| 2. Taj Gibson  SidelinedTaj Gibson (ankle) will play in Thursday's Game 6 against the Sixers. There was never much of a doubt here as Gibson was able to finish out Game 5 without a problem. He's participating in the morning shootaround and will be a key piece of the Bulls' bench Thursday night. Gibson is averaging 8.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks through the first five games of the series. May 10 |
| 3. Brian Scalabrine |
| SF | 1. Luol Deng |
| 2. Kyle Korver |
| 3. Jimmy Butler |
| C | 1. Joakim Noah  SidelinedJoakim Noah will work with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the offseason. Noah will work with Abdul-Jabbar to improve his attack at both ends of the floor, and it's nice to see him using his offseason in productive fashion. He's going to have to play an important role for the Bulls next season with the possibility that Derrick Rose (knee) and Luol Deng (wrist) won't be ready to begin the year. Noah averaged 10.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks this season. May 18 |
| 2. Omer Asik |
|
| PG | 1. Kyrie Irving |
| 2. Donald Sloan |
| 3. Daniel Gibson  SidelinedDaniel Gibson (foot surgery) is expected to be ready for training camp. Although there are "no guarantees" in regards to him being ready, the assumption is that he'll be without restrictions when training camp rolls around. With Anthony Parker considering retirement, Gibson could be in for an increased role next season. May 21 |
| SG | 1. Anthony Parker |
| 2. Manny Harris |
| PF | 1. Antawn Jamison |
| 2. Samardo Samuels |
| 3. Luke Harangody |
| SF | 1. Alonzo Gee |
| 2. Omri Casspi |
| 3. Luke Walton |
| 4. D.J. Kennedy |
| C | 1. Tristan Thompson |
| 2. Anderson Varejao  SidelinedThe Cavaliers do not plan on discouraging oft-injured Anderson Varejao from participating in the Olympics for his home country of Brazil. Varejao never returned from a wrist injury he sustained back on February 10th, so if he ends up playing in the Olympic Games, hopefully he will be able to stay healthy for next year's NBA season. The Cavs front office will no doubt be crossing their fingers he doesn't have a setback. Apr 27 |
| 3. Semih Erden  SidelinedCoach Byron Scott said he doesn't know if the Cavs will extend a qualifying offer to Semih Erden (ankle, doubtful) this summer. The qualifying offer to Erden would be for roughly $1.1 million. If the Cavs don't make the offer, he'll become an unrestricted free agent. Erden flopped badly with a chance as the starting center after Anderson Varejao's injury this season, averaging just 5.0 points and 4.1 rebounds in that role. Apr 24 |
| |
| Denver Nuggets | Detroit Pistons | Golden State Warriors |
| PG | 1. Ty Lawson |
| 2. Andre Miller |
| 3. Julyan Stone |
| SG | 1. Arron Afflalo |
| 2. Rudy Fernandez  SidelinedRudy Fernandez is still open to re-signing with an NBA team, but if he plays in Europe it will be for Real Madrid. "We'll see if the Nuggets make a good offer to me or not," said Fernandez, who is in Spaid rehabbing after back surgery. His availability for the Olympics remains uncertain. May 16 |
| PF | 1. Kenneth Faried |
| 2. Al Harrington  SidelinedThe Los Angeles Times speculates on potential Lakers' offseason additions, including trading for Al Harrington. The Lakers still have their $8.9 million trade exception available for use, and that will be key moving forward. The paper suggests sending a second-round pick and the trade exception to Denver for Harrington, a move that could benefit both sides. The Times also speculates on the following scenarios: an Andrew Bynum for Dwight Howard swap, signing Raymond Felton for the "mini" midlevel, and trading a second-round pick and the trade exception for either Beno Udrih or Trevor Ariza. Needless to say, GM Mitch Kupchak has his work cut out for him this summer. May 25 |
| SF | 1. Danilo Gallinari |
| 2. Wilson Chandler  SidelinedThe Nuggets view Wilson Chandler as a key part of their future. "Wilson has already proven that he's a 25-minute (per game) player in the NBA, and he's probably trying to prove that he's a 35-minute player," George Karl said. Karl is hoping that the Nuggets can play Chandler at small forward with Danilo Gallinari at power forward sometimes, which could really create matchup problems on the perimeter for the opposition. Chandler had hip surgery at the beginning of May and is facing a 4-5 month rehab process. May 15 |
| 3. Corey Brewer  SidelinedCorey Brewer (eye) will play in Thursday's Game 6 against the Nuggets. Brewer needed three stitches below his left eye after teammate JaVale McGee elbowed him in Game 5. He'll be fine for his normal minutes as a reserve wing. May 10 |
| 4. Jordan Hamilton |
| C | 1. Kosta Koufos |
| 2. JaVale McGee |
| 3. Timofey Mozgov |
| 4. Chris Andersen |
| |
| PG | 1. Stephen Curry  SidelinedWith NBA commissioner David Stern in attendance on Tuesday morning, the Warriors formally announced their intention to move the franchise to a San Francisco waterfront arena after their lease at Oracle Arena expires in 2017. Owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber, San Francisco mayor Ed Lee, Warriors legends Nate Thurmond and Al Attles, team executive Jerry West, head coach Mark Jackson and center David Lee were also in attendance for the press conference which was hosted by Ahmad Rashad. The move is scheduled to take place in 2017, with San Francisco providing the land and the Warriors paying to repair the crumbling piers, and privately financing the arena project. The cost of repairs is estimated at $75 to $100 million. May 22 |
| 2. Charles Jenkins |
| 3. Nate Robinson  SidelinedNate Robinson (hamstring) will not play in Tuesday's game against the Hornets. Robinson seems unlikely to play in Thursday's season finale as well. Charles Jenkins has logged 32 or more minutes in four straight games, averaging 14.0 points and 9.5 assists during that span. Apr 24 |
| SG | 1. Klay Thompson |
| 2. Brandon Rush  SidelinedBrandon Rush (undisclosed) did not play in Thursday's regular season finale against the Spurs. Rush sat out with an undisclosed injury. A restricted free agent after the season, the sharpshooting swingman will certainly elicit interest from a number of teams looking to beef up the second unit. Richard Jefferson (knee) also did not play. Apr 27 |
| PF | 1. David Lee  SidelinedDavid Lee (abdominal surgery) is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Lee went under the knife Thursday morning and had his torn abdominal and abductor muscles repaired. The relatively short timetable confirms it's not an overly serious procedure. Lee will be 100 percent well before training camp, but will be battling for rebounds with new teammate Andrew Bogut next season. Apr 26 |
| 2. Dominic McGuire |
| 3. Chris Wright |
| 4. Keith Benson |
| SF | 1. Dorell Wright  SidelinedThere are "strong indications" that the Warriors will pursue a "big upgrade" at small forward. We've heard rumblings that the Warriors will pursue an upgrade previously, so this isn't a huge surprise. The report suggests the Warriors could draft one of Harrison Barnes, Terrence Jones or Perry Jones III in the first round. Dorell Wright is a candidate to be playing elsewhere next year. May 18 |
| 2. Richard Jefferson  SidelinedRichard Jefferson is embracing his leadership role with the Warriors. "I look forward to being part of changing the mentality of this organization," Jefferson said. After the Warriors foolishly used the amnesty clause on Charlie Bell in the offseason, Jefferson will stick around for the next couple of years. He's scheduled to make over $21 million from 2012-2014. Apr 26 |
| C | 1. Andrew Bogut  SidelinedAndrew Bogut is expected to miss three months after ankle surgery on Friday to clear out "loose particles and scar tissue." Bogut is expected to be ready for the start of Golden State's training camp, but this rules him out for the London Olympics. Apr 28 |
| 2. Jeremy Tyler |
| 3. Andris Biedrins  SidelinedAndris Biedrins' (concussion) status remains uncertain. Biedrins was diagnosed with a "minor" concussion on Saturday. If he can get back before the end of the season, he'll at least have some kind of role with David Lee (groin) now out for the season. Apr 16 |
| 4. Mickell Gladness |
|
| Houston Rockets | Indiana Pacers | Los Angeles Clippers |
| PG | 1. Goran Dragic |
| 2. Kyle Lowry  SidelinedThe NBA has suspended Rockets scout David Patrick for one year due to "player contact violations" during the lockout. It's a stiff penalty that probably stings the Rockets even more since they failed to land any of their high-profile free agent targets. No other sanctions against the team have been announced, so this isn't likely to have a tangible impact in 2012-13. May 16 |
| 3. Earl Boykins |
| SG | 1. Kevin Martin  SidelinedBeat writer Jerry Zgoda suggests that Kevin Martin could be Minnesota's trade radar in the offseason. This isn't the first time we've heard Martin's name in connection with the Timberwolves. Rick Adelman had success with him during his tenure as coach in Houston, and the Timberwolves need to pursue an upgrade at the shooting guard position. The Rockets would probably love to shed Martin's bloated salary, and he would fill a need for Minnesota. File it under speculation for now, but this is a scenario that could make plenty of sense for both sides. Apr 25 |
| 2. Courtney Lee |
| 3. Courtney Fortson |
| 4. Dionte Christmas |
| PF | 1. Luis Scola |
| 2. Patrick Patterson |
| 3. Marcus Morris |
| 4. Malcolm Thomas |
| SF | 1. Chandler Parsons  SidelinedChandler Parsons (shoulder) will not play in Thursday's game against the Hornets. Parsons has been a solid contributor all season long for the Rockets, so it's a shame the second-round pick's season has to end on a sour note. In 57 games as a starter, parsons averaged 9.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.0 treys in 30 minutes per game. Apr 25 |
| 2. Chase Budinger |
| C | 1. Samuel Dalembert |
| 2. Marcus Camby  SidelinedMarcus Camby said that he would like to re-sign with the Rockets. "I would like to be here, but I understand the NBA is a business," he said. Camby seized the starting role from Samuel Dalembert upon his arrival in Houston, and averaged 7.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 24 minutes per game. Apr 26 |
| 3. Greg Smith |
|
| PG | 1. Darren Collison |
| 2. George Hill |
| 3. A.J. Price |
| 4. Lance Stephenson  SidelinedLance Stephenson tweaked his knee on Thursday in warmups prior to the Game 6 loss against the Heat. Stephenson was playing one-on-one with Brian Shaw, but it's not a major concern and the benchwarmer should be fine in the offseason. His decision to make a choking gesture toward LeBron James will be remembered, and the fact that it's the most memorable thing Stephenson has done to date in his career really says it all. May 25 |
| SG | 1. Paul George |
| 2. Leandro Barbosa |
| PF | 1. David West  SidelinedDavid West hit 10-of-16 shots for 24 points and five rebounds as the Pacers fell to the Heat to end their season in Thursday's Game 6. George Hill added 18 points and five assists, Danny Granger had 15 points, four boards and four assists, Paul George double-doubled with 11 points, 10 rebounds and three 3-pointers, and Roy Hibbert added 12 points and eight rebounds. It seems that the Pacers could have used Hibbert more effectively, but in the end, the fact they had 20 turnovers to the Heat's nine was the difference in this game, while Dwyane Wade was simply unstoppable. May 24 |
| 2. Tyler Hansbrough |
| 3. Louis Amundson |
| 4. Jeff Pendergraph |
| SF | 1. Danny Granger  SidelinedDanny Granger said his sprained ankle is swollen "like a small softball." Granger is going to be in the starting lineup for Thursday's Game 6, but it doesn't sound like he's anywhere near full strength. He's on "every time of anti-inflammatory" he's every heard of and might take a numbing injection if the pain ends up being too severe. It's a tough spot for Granger with his team on the brink of elimination. May 24 |
| 2. Dahntay Jones |
| C | 1. Roy Hibbert |
| 2. Kyrylo Fesenko |
| |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Memphis Grizzlies | Miami Heat |
| |
| PG | 1. Mario Chalmers |
| 2. Norris Cole |
| SG | 1. Dwyane Wade |
| 2. James Jones |
| 3. Mike Miller |
| 4. Terrel Harris |
| PF | 1. Chris Bosh  SidelinedErik Spoelstra said that Chris Bosh (abdominal strain) remains out "indefinitely." Bosh said that he was healing at a "very fast rate," but he still hasn't resumed basketball activities and is not close to a return at this time. Udonis Haslem will continue to see an increased role while Bosh remains sidelined. May 25 |
| 2. Udonis Haslem  SuspendedUdonis Haslem has been suspended one game for his Flagrant-2 foul on Tyler Hansbrough during Game 5. Dexter Pittman has also been suspended, for three games, and with Chris Bosh already ruled out for Game 6 the Heat's frontcourt is especially thin. Shane Battier has already been checking David West at PF in the series, and we could see Juwan Howard or even Eddy Curry on the active roster for Thursday. May 23 |
| 3. Juwan Howard |
| SF | 1. LeBron James |
| 2. Shane Battier |
| C | 1. Ronny Turiaf |
| 2. Joel Anthony |
| 3. Dexter Pittman  SuspendedThe NBA has suspended Dexter Pittman three games for his Flagrant-2 foul on Lance Stephenson during Game 5. Pittman took a blatant cheap-shot to Stephenson's head, so the suspension is completely unsurprising. His loss shouldn't be a major issue for Miami, considering he hasn't played more than four minutes in a game during the playoffs. May 23 |
| 4. Eddy Curry |
|
| Minnesota Timberwolves | Milwaukee Bucks | New Jersey Nets |
| PG | 1. Ricky Rubio  SidelinedRicky Rubio (knee surgery) admitted Tuesday that he might not be ready for 2012-13 training camp. Rubio, who underwent an ACL repair on March 21, will still be on crutches for another four weeks. After that, he'll have a recheck with doctors and then embark on a long rehab process to strengthen his knee. "I want to make sure I'm 100 percent," he said. Apr 10 |
| 2. Luke Ridnour  SidelinedLuke Ridnour (ankle) will suit up but is not expected to play in Thursday's finale. Ridnour severely sprained his ankle on April 2 and never made it back. He ended up starting 53 games for the Wolves this season, but really came on after Ricky Rubio (knee) went down. After the All-Star break, Ridnour averaged 13.3 points, 6.3 assists and 1.3 steals in 21 games. He'll be back next season and his fantasy outlook will depend on the status of Rubio's rehab. Apr 23 |
| 3. Jose Juan Barea |
| SG | 1. Martell Webster |
| 2. Wayne Ellington |
| 3. Malcolm Lee |
| PF | 1. Kevin Love  SidelinedTimberwolves owner Glen Taylor is looking for someone to buy the team and keep it in Minnesota. "Now's the time to do it," Taylor said. "We've negotiated the CBA for 10 years so people can see what the finances are." Although he wants to sell the team to someone from Minnesota, he admitted that might not happen, adding, "I haven't had a lot of Minnesotans step up." May 5 |
| 2. Derrick Williams |
| SF | 1. Wes Johnson |
| 2. Michael Beasley |
| C | 1. Nikola Pekovic |
| 2. Anthony Tolliver |
| 3. Anthony Randolph |
| 4. Brad Miller |
| 5. Darko Milicic |
|
| PG | 1. Brandon Jennings |
| 2. Beno Udrih |
| SG | 1. Monta Ellis  SidelinedThe Warriors have reached an undisclosed settlement with a former employee who claimed that Monta Ellis sent her unwanted text messages, including nude photos. Ellis maintains that the text exchange was consensual. The team also avoided another lawsuit by settling with a woman who said that a team executive sent her inappropriate emails. The Warriors have now settled four sexual harassment claims out of court since Joe Lacob purchased the team in 2010. May 12 |
| 2. Mike Dunleavy |
| 3. Shaun Livingston |
| PF | 1. Ersan Ilyasova  SidelinedErsan Ilyasvoa (thigh) and Ekpe Udoh (knee) will not play on Thursday against the Celtics, and Tobias Harris and Jon Leuer will start in their place. Harris is a sneaky play on a busy night and Leuer is a deep-league play with some upside. Drew Gooden was not listed on the injury report, so presumably he'll try to play. We like Larry Sanders over him tonight in a one-game shot. Apr 26 |
| 2. Ekpe Udoh |
| SF | 1. Carlos Delfino  SidelinedCarlos Delfino had successful surgery for a sports hernia on Thursday and is expected to resume basketball activities in 6-8 weeks. Delfino had a groin problem down the stretch of the regular season, but he should have no problem being ready for training camp after having the surgery. In fact, he's still hoping to play for Argentina in the Olympics. May 3 |
| 2. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute  SidelinedLuc Richard Mbah a Moute underwent right knee surgery Friday. The surgery was called a "cleanout" to address the patellar tendonitis that caused him to miss 23 games this past season. He's expected to be ready for training camp in October and will resume his defensive stopper role. May 7 |
| 3. Tobias Harris |
| C | 1. Drew Gooden  SidelinedDrew Gooden (ankle) did not play on Thursday against the Celtics. Gooden jumped onto the scene and put up huge numbers, but his fall-off late will factor into the post-season awards we give out around here. Regardless, he was still a monster off the waiver wire and proved that he has some serious old-man game. Apr 27 |
| 2. Larry Sanders |
| 3. Jon Leuer |
| 4. Jon Brockman |
| 5. Kwame Brown  SidelinedKwame Brown (torn pectoral) is "on track" with his rehjab process. "He's rehabbing in Atlanta," Mark Bartelstein (Brown's agent) said. "He should be good to go in a couple of weeks." Bartelstein also indicated that while re-signing with the Bucks is an option, Brown will explore the market before making a decision. Apr 27 |
|
| PG | 1. Deron Williams  SidelinedThe Nets "would rather not" do a sign-and-trade for Pau Gasol if Deron Williams were to force his way to the Lakers. There had been some rumblings that D-Will had been "eyeing" the Lakers' situation, but Brooklyn would apparently rather have the cap space than be committed to Gasol, who is owed more than $38 million over the next two seasons. It's not exactly a surprising revelation given how much help this team needs. May 24 |
| 2. Sundiata Gaines |
| 3. Armon Johnson |
| 4. Jordan Farmar |
| SG | 1. MarShon Brooks |
| 2. Gerald Green |
| 3. Jerry Smith |
| PF | 1. Kris Humphries  SidelinedGM Billy King said he wants impending unrestricted free agent Kris Humphries back as his starting power forward. Humphries has previously said that he wants to be back with the Nets, so this should just be a matter of working out money. The former Mr. Kardashian played out this season on a one-year, $8 million contract. He's likely looking for a long-term deal this time around after averaging a double-double in two straight seasons. May 1 |
| 2. Dennis Horner |
| SF | 1. Gerald Wallace |
| 2. Anthony Morrow |
| 3. DeShawn Stevenson |
| 4. Damion James  SidelinedDamion James (foot surgery) has shed his walking boot. James is out for the season and the Nets are not expected to bring him back next year. The 2010 No. 24 overall pick will have to prove his health in a training camp next season. Apr 2 |
| C | 1. Jordan Williams |
| 2. Johan Petro |
| 3. Shelden Williams  SidelinedShelden Williams (knee) will not play on Thursday against the Raptors. Williams is dealing with a knee injury that will prevent him from playing in this one. Rookie Jordan Williams should once again draw the start at center in his place. Apr 26 |
| 4. Brook Lopez  SidelinedBrook Lopez (ankle) is not running or jumping, but his rehabilitation is proceeding on schedule. Lopez has a no-brainer qualifying offer with the Brooklyn Nets, who can then match any team's offer or use him as bait to land a bigger fish, also known as Dwight Howard. May 19 |
|
| New Orleans Hornets | New York Knicks | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| PG | 1. Jarrett Jack  SidelinedJarrett Jack (foot) was expected to rest for 6-8 weeks after getting shut down on April 9. A stress fracture in Jack's foot forced him to pack it in for the season a little early. But after the rest, his offseason training shouldn't be in jeopardy. Jack will be entering a contract year in 2012-13. May 10 |
| 2. Greivis Vasquez |
| 3. Jerome Dyson |
| SG | 1. Eric Gordon  SidelinedEric Gordon will not play in Thursday's finale, as expected. Gordon's disastrous first season in New Orleans ends with just nine games played, but that's nothing particularly new. In each of the last three seasons, he's missed at least 20 games. Gordon heads into restricted free agency as one of the game's best pure scorers, but also one of its biggest injury risks. Apr 26 |
| 2. Marco Belinelli |
| 3. Xavier Henry |
| PF | 1. Jason Smith |
| 2. Gustavo Ayon  SidelinedGustavo Ayon (concussion) will not play in Thursday's regular season finale. Ayon must have picked up the concussion sometime during his impressive 29-minute outing against the Warriors on Tuesday. Jason Smith (ankle) is expected to play in a limited role, meaning Lance Thomas and Carl Landry are in for big minutes. Apr 26 |
| 3. Carl Landry |
| 4. Lance Thomas |
| SF | 1. Al-Farouq Aminu |
| 2. Trevor Ariza  SidelinedTrevor Ariza (undisclosed) was excused from the team's season-ending three-game road trip. Ariza hasn't played a minute since April 7 as Monty Williams wants to play his younger players, and the swingman ends his season on a rather sour note. Williams said he spoke with Ariza weeks ago to "inform him of his plans" to start Al-Farouq Aminu, but that can't make it any less frustrating for the veteran. Ariza finishes the year with averages of 10.8 points and 1.7 steals per game. Apr 24 |
| C | 1. Emeka Okafor  SidelinedThe Hornets plan to monitor Emeka Okafor (knee) this summer before making a decision on what to do with the seven-year veteran. Okafor will look to work his way back in his recovery from his knee injury, which the Hornets vaguely have termed a "sore left knee." If they don't like what they see, the team has the option of using their one-time amnesty clause to waive him to clear more salary-cap space. Okafor missed 39 games this season because of the injury and is owed $28 million over the next two seasons. May 4 |
| 2. Chris Kaman  SidelinedChris Kaman (leg) is likely out for the rest of the season. Kaman has a bruised left tibia, capping a strange year for the talented 7-footer. He spent a vast majority of the season on the trading block, while also serving as the team's offensive focal point for long stretches. Kaman ended up averaging 13.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks even though he saw just 29.2 minutes per game. He figures to fetch a hefty ransom on the free agency market this summer. Meanwhile, the Hornets will roll with Jason Smith, Gustavo Ayon and Carl Landry as their primary bigs over the final five games of the season. Apr 17 |
| 3. Solomon Jones |
| 4. Jeff Foote |
| 5. Darryl Watkins |
| 6. Chris Johnson |
|
| PG | 1. Jeremy Lin  SidelinedWhen speaking about the recent extension given to head coach Mike Woodson, Knicks GM Glen Grunwald also said he "can't see a scenario where we don't keep [Jeremy] Lin." The case to hear if Lin will be eligible to be re-signed under the "Bird Rights" won't be until mid-June, but it sounds like the Knicks plan on bringing him back no matter what. There will be several teams interested in Lin, as the Raptors, Trail Blazers, Mavericks, and even the Warriors have been mentioned as possible suitors this summer. The bottom line is that New York can match all offers for Lin and it looks like they will do just that. May 25 |
| 2. Mike Bibby |
| 3. Toney Douglas |
| 4. Baron Davis  SidelinedFree agent Baron Davis underwent right knee surgery Thursday. Davis, 33, is now facing 12 months of rehab after tearing his ACL, MCL and patella tendon. He's also dealt with back woes, weight problems and declining effectiveness over the last few seasons. Davis' NBA career is in jeopardy. May 10 |
| SG | 1. J.R. Smith |
| 2. Iman Shumpert  SidelinedIman Shumpert will have knee surgery on Wednesday. Shumpert's expected recovery time is 6-8 months as he suffered a torn ACL and torn meniscus. It's going to be a challenge for Shumpert to be at full strength by training camp. May 2 |
| 3. Landry Fields |
| PF | 1. Amare Stoudemire |
| 2. Jared Jeffries |
| SF | 1. Carmelo Anthony |
| 2. Steve Novak |
| C | 1. Tyson Chandler |
| 2. Josh Harrellson |
| 3. Jerome Jordan |
| 4. Dan Gadzuric |
| |
| Orlando Magic | Philadelphia 76ers | Phoenix Suns |
| |
| PG | 1. Steve Nash |
| 2. Aaron Brooks |
| 3. Sebastian Telfair |
| 4. Ronnie Price |
| SG | 1. Shannon Brown |
| 2. Michael Redd |
| PF | 1. Channing Frye  SidelinedChanning Frye (shoulder surgery) may not be ready to start next season on time. Frye faces a six-to-eight month rehab process following May 2 surgery. Frye would just barely be at the sixth month mark by the beginning of November, so we have very real questions about whether or not Frye will be ready to play. "I had really jacked it up," he said. "They basically said it looked like a bomb exploded inside my shoulder." Hakim Warrick and Markieff Morris would pick up minutes if Frye isn't ready at the beginning of the season. May 25 |
| 2. Markieff Morris |
| 3. Hakim Warrick |
| SF | 1. Jared Dudley |
| 2. Josh Childress |
| 3. Grant Hill  SidelinedGrant Hill reiterated that he's not prepared to retire. "I'm just focusing on being healthy," he said. The 39-year-old wants to continue playing despite dealing with a knee injury that hampered him down the stretch this season. The Suns have already expressed an openness for Hill to return, but he'll likely have to take a major pay cut from the $6.5 million he made this year. May 25 |
| C | 1. Marcin Gortat |
| 2. Robin Lopez |
|
| Portland Trail Blazers | San Antonio Spurs | Sacramento Kings |
| PG | 1. Raymond Felton  SidelinedActing GM Chad Buchanan said that point guard will be a "critical spot for us to fill." Buchanan added that he's looking for a point guard that's similarly aged to the team's younger core, and this probably wraps up the Raymond Felton era in Portland. Whether it's through the draft or free agency, the Blazers figure to be aggressive in addressing a very obvious need on the roster. Apr 27 |
| 2. Nolan Smith |
| 3. Jonny Flynn |
| SG | 1. Wesley Matthews |
| 2. Jamal Crawford  SidelinedJamal Crawford will opt out of his contract this summer, a source tells Hoopsworld's Alex Kennedy. By passing on playing in Portland for $5.2 million next season, Crawford will become an unrestricted free agent. Kennedy cites the Timeberwolves, Nets and Suns as potential suitors. Crawford turned 32 in March, but is still capable of instant offense off the bench. He netted 14.0 points per game despite logging just 26.9 minutes this past season. May 8 |
| 3. Elliot Williams  SidelinedBlazers GM Chad Buchanan believes that SG Elliot Williams can earn a consistent spot in the rotation next season. Williams once had a 48 inch vertical leap and has since had patella tendon surgery, and the little that we have heard has been relatively positive for Williams coming out of his second year. As the team is constituted right now, he has no clear path to fantasy value, but we'll watch from afar to see if he continues to rise up in the ranks. Apr 28 |
| PF | 1. LaMarcus Aldridge  SidelinedPosting on the Trail Blazers official blog, LaMarcus Aldridge (hip) said that he has started walking again after his hip surgery. Aldridge goes on to say that he is working his way back to 100%. The recovery timeline of 2-4 months seems realistic at this point and LMA is hoping to return for the beginning of next season. May 25 |
| 2. Craig Smith |
| SF | 1. Nicolas Batum  SidelinedRestricted free agent Nicolas Batum is expected to sign the first "lucrative" offer sheet he receives, according to Chris Haynes of CSNNW. "The first good offer we get, we're going with that," said Bouna Ndiaye, Batum's agent. Batum does not plan to wait for the Trail Blazers to address other free agents, but that doesn't make it likely he'll leave Portland. The Blazers can match any offer he receives, and the team can also offer more money than any other club in free agency. May 15 |
| 2. Luke Babbitt |
| 3. Shawne Williams  SidelinedShawne Williams said that he will likely opt-in to the second year of his contract next season. Williams has a $3.1 million player option for next season, but will be coming off a lost season that was cut short due to foot surgery. "I don't have no reason not to," Williams said when asked why he's considering opting-in, and we think that's a perfectly apt description. Apr 14 |
| C | 1. Joel Przybilla  SidelinedJoel Przybilla returned to action on Thursday with two points and four rebounds in 17 minutes. Przybilla said after the game that he might need ankle surgery, and the big man is a candidate for retirement with Portland missing the playoffs. Apr 27 |
| 2. J.J. Hickson |
| 3. Kurt Thomas |
| 4. Hasheem Thabeet |
| |
| PG | 1. Isaiah Thomas |
| 2. Jimmer Fredette |
| SG | 1. Marcus Thornton  SidelinedMarcus Thornton (quad) will not play in Thursday's finale against the Lakers. Thornton ends up missing 15 of 66 games this season due to quad and calf issues. But when he played, the former second-round pick once again proved that he can score at an extremely high level. He set career highs in points per game (18.7), 3-pointers (2.1), steals (1.4) and free-throw percentage (86.5). Thornton will return as the starting shooting guard again next season. Apr 26 |
| 2. Francisco Garcia |
| 3. Terrence Williams |
| PF | 1. Jason Thompson |
| 2. Chuck Hayes |
| SF | 1. Tyreke Evans |
| 2. John Salmons  SidelinedJohn Salmons (hip) is not traveling with the Kings. Salmons is almost certainly done for the season. He was relegated to a bench role mdiway through the season and will end up averaging just 7.5 points per game on 40.9 percent shooting. Salmons is due $8 million next season and his role will depend on the moves the Kings make this offseason. Apr 23 |
| 3. Donte Greene |
| 4. Travis Outlaw |
| 5. Tyler Honeycutt |
| C | 1. DeMarcus Cousins |
| 2. Hassan Whiteside  SidelinedHassan Whiteside said his season was done due to a severe ankle injury. No surprise, here. Whiteside will be a guy to watch over the offseason to see if he can cash in some of his freakish athleticism and turn it into production. Apr 13 |
|
| Toronto Raptors | Utah Jazz | Washington Wizards |
| PG | 1. Jose Calderon  SidelinedThe Raptors are very unlikely to use their amnesty clause on Jose Calderon, who is owed $10.6 million next season. According to GM Bryan Colangelo, "All of our post-season meetings with the players led us to a clear conclusion that there’s a few leaders in that locker room, and one of them is Jose Calderon. The players have a tremendous amount of respect for him." Though a sub-par defender, Calderon is a solid shooter and he's one of the league's best passers, routinely posting an elite assist-to-turnover ratio. Apr 28 |
| 2. Gary Forbes |
| 3. Jerryd Bayless  SidelinedRaptors coach Dwane Casey compared Jerryd Bayless' natural role to sixth-men Jason Terry and James Harden. Bayless is a solid scorer who struggles at times to keep his teammates involved, which basically disqualifies him as a starting PG (which is what he sees himself as, nonetheless). "It's not the end of the world for a guy like Jerryd not to know exactly where his position is when he's only 23 years old," said GM Bryan Colangelo. The Raptors can retain Bayless as a restricted FA this summer. Apr 28 |
| SG | 1. DeMar DeRozan  SidelinedDeMar DeRozan will join the USA Select Team. DeRozan will be a part of the squad that scrimmages against the Team USA roster. Typically those on the Select Team are considered for future opportunities with Team USA, so this should be considered a positive for DeRozan at a critical juncture of his career. May 8 |
| 2. Ben Uzoh |
| PF | 1. Andrea Bargnani  SidelinedAndrea Bargnani (calf) has been ruled out for the rest of the season. The team said that Bargnani will miss the final seven games of the season to avoid further injury risk based on left calf scans and a relapse of his previous symptoms. This ends a disappointing season for Bargs, as he was only able to stay healthy for 31 games, averaging 19.5 ppg (with just over one 3PMg), 5.5 rpg and 2.0 apg. It is safe to drop him for a healthy big for your fantasy stretch run. Amir Johnson looks to be the biggest beneficiary. Apr 13 |
| 2. Amir Johnson |
| 3. Ed Davis |
| SF | 1. James Johnson |
| 2. Linas Kleiza |
| C | 1. Aaron Gray  SidelinedAaron Gray (back) will not play in Thursday's finale. Even though Jamaal Magloire will start, Amir Johnson, James Johnson and Ed Davis figure to play a ton of minutes up front as the Raptors wrap up the season. Gray heads into free agency as a mere big body that has never topped 4.3 points per game in a season. Apr 26 |
| 2. Jamaal Magloire |
| 3. Solomon Alabi |
| |
| PG | 1. John Wall |
| 2. Shelvin Mack |
| SG | 1. Jordan Crawford  SidelinedJordan Crawford (ankle) will not play on Wednesday or in Thursday's finale. Crawford made just 1-of-8 shots in 20 minutes on Monday, and he might as well rest with the Wizards bound for the draft lottery. In his absence, expect to see more of Shelvin Mack, Cartier Martin and even Morris Almond. Martin started in his place on Wednesday. Apr 25 |
| 2. Roger Mason Jr.  SidelinedRoger Mason will have season-ending finger surgery Monday. Mason played 52 games for the Wizards, averaging 5.5 points in 13.4 minutes. The Wizards will waive Mason, making him an unrestricted free agent this summer. Apr 15 |
| PF | 1. Trevor Booker  SidelinedTrevor Booker will not play in the final two games for the Wizards due to his foot injury. He was hoping to make it back for a game or two, but we officially won't see Booker again until next year. Apr 25 |
| 2. Jan Vesely |
| 3. Andray Blatche  SidelinedAndray Blatche's weight ballooned above 280 pounds this season, sources tell the Washington Post. Blatche's injuries, attitude and work ethic contributed to a nightmare season that saw the Wizards essentially send him home. He's now on the trading block and a candidate for the amnesty clause. Blatche is no better than a 50-50 bet to be back with the Wizards next season. Apr 30 |
| SF | 1. Chris Singleton |
| 2. Cartier Martin |
| 3. Maurice Evans |
| 4. Rashard Lewis  SidelinedThe Wizards view Rashard Lewis as a valuable trade chip, according to the Washington Post. Lewis is owed $23.7 million in 2012-13, the final year of his contract. As teams begin to look to the free agent class of 2013, he could indeed be very valuable. Meanwhile, Lewis says his career is far from over, but knee woes have limited him to 85 games of woeful ineffectiveness during the last two seasons. May 14 |
| 5. Edwin Ubiles |
| C | 1. Nene Hilario |
| 2. Kevin Seraphin |
| 3. Brian Cook |
|