Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (knee) has officially been ruled out for Game 1 of their series against the Orlando Magic. The 27-year-old has been an important bench piece for the Cavs throughout the season, but he hasn't appeared in a game since March 8 due to a right knee sprain. Unless others were out as well, he wasn't much of a DFS option. In this case, with Wade on the sidelines, Georges Niang and Marcus Morris Sr. will likely see increases in opportunities while Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen play big minutes as the starting frontcourt.

Philadelphia 76ers guard De'Anthony Melton (back) has officially been ruled out for the first game of the first-round series against the New York Knicks. According to Derek Bodner of PHLY, head coach Nick Nurse said that Melton did not practice on Friday, but he hasn't been fully ruled out for this series. His two-way abilities would be welcomed back on the court, especially within Nurse's system, but Melton's back issues have caused him to miss a lot of time this year. If he does return at some point in this series, he'll likely have a very tight minutes restriction which would limit his upside in DFS rosters.

Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso (ankle) is formally listed as questionable for the final Eastern play-in game against the Miami Heat after suffering an ankle injury in their previous game against Atlanta. Caruso said on Friday morning that he expects to play after the swelling went down drastically on Thursday. Caruso plays a big role, especially for the team's defense, and can be a key piece to a win over a Jimmy Butler-less Heat. Caruso has some value in DFS lineups as well due to his defensive abilities and can deliver a scoring punch against a team that's missing one of their best defenders.

According to NBA insider Michael Scotto, San Antonio Spurs forward/center Zach Collins (shoulder) will undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Collins is no stranger to surgical procedures. However, it's a tough blow, considering the 26-year-old has appeared in at least 63 games in each of the last two seasons. Fortunately, he's expected to be ready to go for the 2024-25 campaign. Collins remained productive last season despite the arrival of Victor Wembanyama, averaging 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. He should continue to hold a spot in the rotation and get some starts when the new season begins in October, so he should have value for those in deeper fantasy formats.

Chicago Bulls center Andre Drummond (ankle) is questionable for Friday's Play-In meeting with the Miami Heat. Drummond sprained his ankle near the end of the regular season and missed some games. However, he returned for Wednesday's win over the Atlanta Hawks. But the veteran logged only 11 minutes, ending the night with four points, three rebounds, three blocks, and one steal. Nonetheless, Drummond should be on the floor for Friday's pivotal contest. While the ailment makes him a risky DFS option, he'll still have some value for the limited two-game slate. Yet, if Drummond can't play, the Bulls may need to go small, opening the door for Torrey Craig to get more involved.

Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (quadriceps) is considered questionable for Friday's matchup with the Heat. He missed the last four games of the regular season because of a right quad injury. Fortunately, he returned for Wednesday's Play-In win over the Atlanta Hawks, logging 41 minutes and scoring 19 points. Nonetheless, it would be surprising if Dosunmu isn't on the floor on Friday evening. But if he's unavailable, Alex Caruso (ankle), who is questionable, and Javonte Green would be the favorites to absorb the surplus minutes.

Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso (ankle) is questionable for Friday's Play-In battle with the Miami Heat. The 30-year-old suffered a "significant" left ankle sprain in Wednesday's win over the Atlanta Hawks, with ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reporting that his status versus the Heat is in doubt. Caruso plays a pivotal role in Chicago's rotation, averaging 10.1 points and 1.7 steals during the regular season. Fortunately, it appears he's doing a little better than he was. But Caruso will have some hurdles to clear before he gets the green light to suit up. However, if he's not on the floor, Javonte Green will immediately see a substantial increase in fantasy potential.

Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard Sam Merrill (neck) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice as he continues to work his way back from injury. A neck problem kept him out for the final three regular-season games, but Merrill looks to be on track to return to the lineup for Game 1 of the playoffs against Orlando on Saturday. The 27-year-old averaged a career-high 8.0 points in 17.5 minutes during the regular season, shooting 40.4 percent from downtown. Merrill's shooting ability makes him a good option to have on the bench, but the rotations get tighter during the postseason, and he likely won't see a lot of time on the court.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (knee) isn't expected to play in Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs against Orlando on Saturday. He missed the end of the regular season, making his last appearance on March 8, and Wade wasn't in Wednesday's practice. Wade's absence means more minutes to Georges Niang and Marcus Morris Sr. off the Cavaliers bench. However, neither player doesn't carry any significant fantasy value as long as Evan Mobley stays healthy.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso suffered a "significant" left ankle sprain in Wednesday's play-in contest against Atlanta and is doubtful to play on Friday versus Miami. Caruso suffered the injury in the first quarter on Wednesday when he collided with teammate Andre Drummond. Following a visit to the locker room, Caruso was able to return to the court, but he didn't see any action since the 9:43 mark in the third quarter. The injury will likely bring Javonte Green into the starting unit on Friday. He was a late addition to the Bulls squad during the regular season but had a productive time with the team. In five starts, Green notched 14.0 points and 8.6 rebounds with 1.2 steals in 29.2 minutes.

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro scored a game-high 25 points in Wednesday's loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. He added nine assists and two boards. With Terry Rozier (neck) unavailable, Herro was the team's primary ball handler. While he benefitted from a usage standpoint, he had five turnovers. Even worse, he didn't shoot the ball well, going 9-for-27 from the field and 4-for-14 from deep. It's anyone's guess how much longer Herro will be forced to operate at the one spot. But if Rozier isn't back on the floor for Friday's Play-In game between Chicago or Atlanta, Herro could continue to see an uptick in production. His ceiling could rise even higher if Jimmy Butler (knee) is limited after suffering an injury on Wednesday.

Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (quadriceps) got shots up during the morning shootaround ahead of Wednesday's play-in game versus the Atlanta Hawks. Dosunmu sat out Chicago's final four contests of the regular season due to a right quadriceps contusion, but he's trending in the right direction to return on Wednesday. The 24-year-old sharpshooter stepped up in the Bulls' backcourt when healthy down the stretch to help mitigate the never-ending void of Lonzo Ball (knee), averaging 19.7 points, 4.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.2 three-pointers on 47.1% shooting from downtown over his last 11 appearances of the 2023-24 season. Dosunmu would be a very popular DFS play in Wednesday's two-game contests if he's available against Atlanta, who allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards during the regular season.

Golden State Warriors guard/forward Klay Thompson had a shocking performance in Tuesday's play-in loss to Sacramento and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer, but the team wants to have him back in the lineup next season. Thompson went 0-for-10 from the field across 32 minutes in Tuesday's blowout loss. However, the Warriors, including head coach Steve Kerr, are desperate to see him return. "We need Klay back," Kerr said after the game. "He's still got good years left. And I know I speak for everybody in the organization: We want him back. ... What Klay has meant to this franchise and as good as he still is, we desperately want him back." Thompson had a very inconsistent campaign in 2023-24, even finding himself in a bench role at times for the first time since his rookie season in 2011-12. His scoring average of 17.9 points per game was his lowest since his sophomore year.

Sacramento Kings guard/forward Malik Monk (knee) is unsure if he can recover in time to play in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. He missed his 10th consecutive game on Tuesday against Golden State while nursing an MCL sprain. Monk was initially ruled out for 4-6 weeks, meaning a return to the court in the first round appears unrealistic if Sacramento makes it to the playoffs. With Kevin Huerter (shoulder) also unavailable, Keon Ellis has stepped up big time for the Kings. He produced an outstanding two-way performance against the Warriors on Tuesday and will be expected to keep up the form in Friday's decisive play-in matchup against New Orleans. Davion Mitchell has also started to play a much more important role in the rotation due to the injuries.

Philadelphia 76ers forward Kenyon Martin Jr. (toe) is considered questionable for Wednesday's play-in matchup against Miami. A toe injury kept him out for the final three regular-season games, and Martin might remain unavailable as the 76ers try to lock up their playoff berth on Wednesday. Even if he's able to return, Martin likely won't have a large part to play in the contest with Philadelphia's frontcourt fully healthy. Joel Embiid (knee) is carrying a questionable tag but is expected to be in the lineup on Wednesday.

Miami Heat forward/center Kevin Love (arm, ankle) has been cleared to play in Wednesday's play-in battle against Philadelphia. He suffered an arm contusion in the regular-season finale against Toronto on Sunday, logging just three minutes. However, the veteran has shaken off the injury ahead of a crucial part of the campaign. Love is set to provide cover for starting center Bam Adebayo in a tough matchup against Joel Embiid. The veteran has shown in 2023-24 that there's still some juice left in him, averaging 8.8 points and 6.1 rebounds in 16.8 minutes.

Philadelphia 76ers guard De'Anthony Melton (back) is ruled out for Wednesday's Play-In game versus the Miami Heat. The 25-year-old has been bothered by a back issue for most of the season. He recently appeared in two games before missing Sunday's regular-season finale against the Nets. However, Melton played just 21 minutes combined in those two contests. Unfortunately, things don't look promising regarding his prognosis moving ahead, so he may miss more games. With that said, Cameron Payne, amassing 10 points, three assists, and one steal in 23 minutes on Sunday, has value potential for DFS managers.

Chicago Bulls center Andre Drummond (ankle) is listed as questionable ahead of Wednesday's play-in game against the Atlanta Hawks. The big man has missed the last three games due to a left ankle sprain. His absence has opened up more playing time for Dalen Terry in the rotation. He has put together some decent performances and would likely be asked to play more minutes if Drummond sits out. Terry would have some low-end DFS appeal if Drummond is unable to play.

Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (quad) is listed as questionable ahead of Wednesday's play-in matchup against the Atlanta Hawks. It's uncertain if the young guard will be ready to play after he missed the final four games of the regular season. His absence would be a significant hit to the Bulls rotation. Javonte Green would likely continue to start if Dosunmu is unable to play. Fantasy managers will have to check back closer to tip-off on Wednesday.

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White might've found a long term home. Recently, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said that he wants to keep White around for as long as possible. This statement makes sense after the strong campaign that White posted during this season. He averaged 15.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in 32.6 minutes per game across 73 contests. Both the rebounds and assists were career highs for White. The 29-year-old appears to have found a home in Boston, so we'll see what happens over the offseason.