FANTASY / PLAYER NEWS
Billy Thomas: Gets Some Job Security
Update: The Cavaliers have signed Thomas for the remainder of the season, playoffs and next campaign.
Analysis: Great news for Thomas on the job security front, but he is strictly a depth guy for the Cavs.
Travis Diener: Sore Foot
Update: Diener (foot) sat out Wednesday night's regular season finale, the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: Diener averages 6.7 points per game, so you'd need to be digging deep for this news to affect your lineup.
Jeff Foster: Sits Out Finale
Update: Foster (knee) sat out Wednesday night's regular season finale, the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: Foster, who has a small right patella fracture, also missed Monday's game. Jermaine O'Neal started in his place Wednesday.
Linton Johnson: Re-Signs with Phoenix
Update: The Suns re-signed Johnson on Wednesday, the East Valley Tribune reports.
Analysis: Johnson will make the Suns' playoff roster and could see time if someone, such as Grant Hill, suffers an injury.
Amar'e Stoudemire: May Sit Against Portland
Update: Stoudemire (cold) may sit out the Suns' season finale, the East Valley Tribune reports.
Analysis: It looks like Stoudemire will be a game-time decision, so monitor this situation closely if you plan to have him active in your lineup.
Grant Hill: Inactive for Season Finale
Update: Hill (groin) will not play on Wednesday night against Portland, the East Valley Tribune reports.
Analysis: No big surprise here, as the Suns want Hill as healthy as possible for the playoffs.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas: May be Inactive for Wednesday
Update: Ilgauskus (back) will receive limited minutes, and may sit out completely, on Wednesday, the Akron Beacon-Journal reports.
Analysis: With Cleveland having locked up the Eastern Conference's No. 4 spot, it certainly makes sense for the Cavs to get their stars fresh for the playoffs.
Ben Wallace: Won't Play on Wednesday
Update: Wallace (back) will not be active against the Pistons on Wednesday, the Medina Gazette reports.
Analysis: Cleveland coach Mike Brown will give Wallace a chance to rest his back. Wallace surely would have played if the game had any significance, but the Cavs are already entrenched in the East's No. 4 slot.
LeBron James: Will Sit on Wednesday
Update: Cleveland will rest James (back) on Wednesday night against the Pistons, the Medina Gazette reports.
Analysis: With the Cavaliers entrenched in the East's fourth playoff slot, it makes sense that they would give James, who logged over 40 minutes per game over the season, a chance to rest his back.
Royal Ivey: Suspended for Three Games
Update: Ivey was suspended for three games on Wednesday after punching Chicago's Aaron Gray on Monday.
Analysis: The suspension will carry into the first two games of the 2008-09 season, as Milwaukee's Wednesday-night contest against Minnesota is their last of their current campaign. Ivey received inconsistent minutes all season, and this news certainly doesn't help his potential value for next year.
Paul Millsap: Expected to Play Wednesday
Update: Millsap (toe) is expected to play Wednesday against the Spurs, the Deseret Morning News reports.
Analysis: Millsap left Monday's game after jamming his left big toe. He later returned to the Jazz bench and could have played again if needed, but he did not.
Deron Williams: Misses Practice But Will Play Wednesday
Update: Williams (bruised butt) did not practice Tuesday but is expected to play in Wednesday's regular-season finale against San Antonio, the Deseret Morning News reports.
Analysis: Williams also played in Utah's win Monday over Houston, and if he plays Wednesday as planned he will have appeared in all 82 games this season.
Taurean Green: Recalled by the Nuggets
Update: Denver recalled Green from the Colorado 14ers of the NBA Developmental League on Wednesday.
Analysis: Green averaged 15.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists in the five games he appeared in with Colorado since being sent down on April 5. He will provide the Nuggets with depth at the guard position, but don't expect him to get too much time on the court.
Hedo Turkoglu: Big Game Against Atlanta
Update: Turkoglu shot 7-of-9 from the field and scored 17 points in Orlando's victory over Atlanta on Tuesday.
Analysis: Turkoglu also chipped in four rebounds and eight assists in the game. Turkoglu was no doubt one of the biggest surprises in the NBA this season.
JJ Redick: Sees Extended Action
Update: Redick played 12 minutes and scored 11 points in Orlando's victory over Atlanta on Tuesday.
Analysis: Redick hadn't played that much in a game since February 27 when he saw nearly 16 minutes of action. Redick scored in double figures in both those games, but head coach Stan Van Gundy is still not a fan of Redick's defense and he continues to ride the bench on most nights.
Keyon Dooling: Solid Effort on Tuesday
Update: Dooling scored 11 points and dished out nine assists in Orlando's victory over Atlanta on Tuesday.
Analysis: Dooling played 26 minutes in the game, his most action on the floor since March 25.
Maurice Evans: Scores Season-High on Tuesday
Update: Evans scored a season-high 27 points in Orlando's victory over Atlanta on Tuesday.
Analysis: Evans shot 11-of-16 from the floor, including 4-for-6 from behind the three point arc. Evans has been a nice pickup for Orlando this season, starting 67 games for his new club.
Corey Maggette: Leaving Los Angeles?
Update: Maggette, who can opt out of his contract this summer, is believed to be leaning towards becoming a free agent, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Analysis: "I understand the business, the limit they can go to," Maggette said. "It's up to them. It's not up to me. They already know where I want to be. I want to be here. If I can't, then it's just a part of business and I had a great time being here." Rookie Al Thornton has played well behind Maggette the past few months, requiring Clippers management to take a hard look at whether keeping the nine-year veteran makes sense.
Kevin Martin: Idle on Tuesday Night
Update: Martin (knee) did not play in Tuesday night's finale versus the Lakers.
Analysis: As is customary when a star player has an ailment on a team with no postseason hopes, Martin sat out with nothing on the line. He averaged 23.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 61 games. He will finish the season leading the NBA in free-throw attempts made per game (8.2).
Elton Brand: Nine Points in Loss
Update: Brand had nine points, four rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot in the Clippers' 114-92 loss at New Orleans Tuesday night.
Analysis: Brand's abbreviated season will end Wednesday at Houston. Since return from Achilles' surgery seven games ago, he is averaging 17.6 points and 7.4 rebounds.
Shelden Williams: Double-Double in Finale
Update: Williams scored 12 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked three shots in Sacramento's season-ending loss to the Lakers Tuesday night.
Analysis: It was the second-year power forward's best offensive game in a Kings uniform. However, he did struggle at times, as he committed four turnovers and was stuffed on three shot attempts.
Quincy Douby: Career Night in Tinseltown
Update: Douby scored a career-high 32 points during Sacramento's 124-101 loss to the Lakers Tuesday night.
Analysis: The second-year guard was able to show off his game in the season finale. He finished 11-of-22, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range. For the year, Douby played in 74 games and averaged 4.8 points while shooting 39.4 percent.
Beno Udrih: Hits a High Note
Update: Udrih had 22 points, six assists and four rebounds in the Kings' 124-101 loss to the Lakers Tuesday night.
Analysis: Udrih, who will be a highly coveted free agent this summer, finished his season on a high note, shooting 10-of-13 in 35 minutes. For the season, the 25-year-old point guard averaged 12.9 points, 4.3 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 65 games. He shot 46.4% from the floor, 38.7% behind the arc and 85.0% at the line all numbers that would make fantasy owners smile.
Kenny Thomas: No Future in Sacramento
Update: Thomas played his last game of the season on January 2 and is no longer in the team's plans, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Analysis: With free agent Mikki Moore's arrival at the beginning of the season, Thomas was pushed aside at power forward and relegated to the bench. Management is expected to trade or buy him out this summer because he has two years and approximately $17 million left on his deal. The nine-year veteran has an early termination option on his contract for this summer he is not expected to use. In 23 games, he averaged 1.4 points and 2.7 rebounds.
Ron Artest: Headed for the Knife?
Update: Artest may need surgery during the offseason, the Sacramento Bee reports. His left thumb has been sore the past month, and he suspects it might be a loose screw from a prior procedure he had done while playing for the Pacers.
Analysis: Because of his thumb, Artest missed five of the last seven games to end the season. Despite health and personal problems, he was effective while on the court. The small forward registered new career highs in scoring (20.5 points per game), overall shooting percentage (45.3) and three-point percentage (38.0). He averaged 2.3 steals per game, ranking him third in the NBA. The downside for fantasy owners? Artest missed 24 games in 2007-08.
Rajon Rondo: Could be Rested for Season Finale
Update: Rondo, who played 41 minutes on Monday against the Knicks, could be rested for Wednesday's regular season finale, according to the Boston Herald.
Analysis: Rondo has been one of the league's breakout players this season, and has run the point extremely well for the league's best team. His averages of 10.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.7 steals only figure to go up next year as he improves more and more.
Jordan Farmar: Scores 13 in Season Finale
Update: Farmar had 13 points in the Lakers' 124-101 win over the Kings on Tuesday.
Analysis: Farmar is certainly the Lakers' point guard of the future, but that future could still be a year or two away with the success of veteran Derek Fisher this year running the point. Keep an eye on the Laker point guard spot this offseason, as they may decide to hand the reins over to Farmar after all.
Manu Ginobili: Status Uncertain For Wednesday's Game
Update: Ginobili status remains uncertain for Wednesday's game against Utah due to a left groin injury, the San Antonio Express-News reports.
Analysis: The game has become huge for the Spurs as a win would give them the number three seed in the Western Conference while a loss could drop the Spurs as far as number six. Ginobili's status looks to be a game-time decision.
Vladimir Radmanovic: Scores 14 in Season Finale
Update: Radmanovic had 14 points and four assists in the Lakers' 124-101 win over the Kings on Tuesday.
Analysis: Radmanovic's 2007-2008 season was a dramatic improvement on his disastrous 2006-2007, especially after he became a starter late in the season. However, we don't expect him to start next year in a crowded Laker frontcourt, so expect his production to decrease significantly.
Lamar Odom: Finishes Season With Fourth Straight Double-Double
Update: Odom had 15 points and 12 rebounds in the Lakers' 124-101 win over the Kings on Tuesday.
Analysis: Odom finished the season averaging 14.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, and remains one of the best rebounding forwards in the league. His game improved with the presence of Pau Gasol in the lineup, though it remains to be seen next year how he'll adjust to the small forward spot.
Kobe Bryant: Scores 20 in Season Finale
Update: Bryant had 20 points and five assists in the Lakers' 124-101 win over the Kings on Tuesday.
Analysis: Bryant finished his season with averages of 28.3 points, 5.4 assists and 6.3 rebounds, and may end up winning the league's MVP award. He's certainly been a fantasy MVP this year, as his newfound attention to rebounding has supplemented his already-great scoring ability. Expect big things in the playoffs.
Pau Gasol: Scores 22 Against Kings
Update: Gasol had 22 points and seven rebounds in the Lakers' 124-101 win over the Kings on Tuesday.
Analysis: Gasol's numbers this season with the Lakers (18.8 points, 7.9 rebounds) were lower than they were with Memphis (20.8 points, 9.8 rebounds), but he still remains one of the top fantasy PF/C players in the league, though his value next year may be lower with the presence of Andrew Bynum in the middle.
Mike Bibby: Plays 16 Minutes in Loss
Update: Bibby played just 16 minutes in Tuesday's loss to the Magic.
Analysis: With the Hawks in the playoffs, expect Bibby to get a lot of rest in Wednesday's finale against the Heat.
Joe Johnson: Resting For Playoffs
Update: Johnson played just 24 minutes in Tuesday's loss to the Magic. He had 10 points and three assists.
Analysis: Johnson logs as many minutes as any player in the league, so with the Hawks clinching the eighth seed, don't expect big minutes Wednesday against the Heat.
Darrell Armstrong: Starts Final Home Game
Update: Armstrong started at point guard Tuesday night in New Jersey's final home game of the season.
Analysis: Vince Carter and Devin Harris talked New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank into starting Armstrong one final time. Expect Harris back in the starting lineup for the regular season finale Wednesday night at Boston.
Sean Williams: Riding the Bench
Update: Williams did not play for a third straight game Tuesday night.
Analysis: Coming into the game, Nets coach Lawrence Frank said he would be finding time for Williams. Looking ahead to next season, we don't have high hopes for Williams.
Devin Harris: Off Bench Tuesday
Update: Harris came off the bench Tuesday night and scored 17 points with eight assists, a steal and a blocked shot in 35 minutes in New Jersey's victory over Charlotte.
Analysis: There's been no change in New Jersey. Nets coach Lawrence Frank, at the urging of Harris and Vince Carter, started Darrell Armstrong in the Nets' final home game of the season. Harris should be back as starter Wednesday night at Boston.
Craig Smith: Won't Play Again This Season
Update: Smith (collar bone/breast bone) missed Tuesday's loss to Detroit and will not play in Minnesota's final game, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Analysis: There was no reason to rush him back for the final games.
Sebastian Telfair: Season Ends
Update: Telfair (ankle) missed Tuesday's loss to Detroit and will not play in Minnesota's final game, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Analysis: It was thought he could return last week, but there's little reason to get back on the court at this point.
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