Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (knee) will put his rehab stint on pause for at least the next 10 days. The young guard won't be running for at least another week or so, which is not great news for fantasy managers. Head coach Billy Donovan mentioned Ball's knee hasn't been responding well to rehab. At this point, fantasy managers have little reason to bother holding Ball in fantasy formats. It's uncertain if he'll even be able to suit up for their playoff run. In the meantime, Alex Caruso and Coby White will be asked to pick up the slack. Caruso is the much better fantasy option between the two players.

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (knee) hasn't responded well to rehab, according to head coach Billy Donovan. The young guard continues to deal with knee issues and hasn't been able to do anything at full speed yet. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Bulls back off of Ball's rehab program a bit. The hope is that Ball will be able to return in time for the playoffs. In the meantime, Coby White, Alex Caruso, and Ayo Dosunmu should continue to see increased roles in the rotation.

Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball (knee), who has been out since late January after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, is progressing in his rehab, according to Bulls head coach Bill Donovan. However, Donovan stated that a bone bruise in Ball's knee area has prevented him from recovering sooner. Ball is doing some running and lateral work, but not at full speed and Donovan said that he can't give an estimate on Ball's return without seeing him go at full speed. With Ball out, the Bulls have been going with a starting backcourt of Zach LaVine and Ayo Dosunmu with Coby White and Alex Caruso logging heavy minutes off the bench.

Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball (knee) is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair his left knee, putting him on the shelf for at least the next six to eight weeks. Ball had already missed the past three games due to the ailment, allowing Coby White to take over as the team's starting point guard. Ball has enjoyed a solid first season in Chicago, ranking ninth in the league in made triples per game (3.1), while shooting a career-best 42.3 percent from behind the arc. The team will also be down Zach LaVine (knee) for at least the next three outings, opening the door for DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic to continue seeing elevated offensive upside. Fantasy managers in season-long formats will have a tough roster decision with Ball, who may be of limited use down the stretch of the regular season.

Chicago Bulls shooting guard/small forward Zach LaVine (knee) and point guard Lonzo Ball (knee) have been ruled out for the team's upcoming four-contest stretch due to respective knee ailments. Both will stay back in Chicago to continue receiving treatment as the team embarks on its upcoming road trip. Without either in the mix, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic stand to remain the Bulls' offensive focal points, while Coby White and Troy Brown Jr. continue to stand out as short-term upside plays. The sharpshooting duo both rank within the top 15 in the league in three-point buckets made on a nightly basis (Ball, 3.1; LaVine, 2.9). Their next opportunity to return comes Jan. 26, although a green light is far from guaranteed.

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (knee) won't play on Monday during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee game against the Grizzlies. The 24-year-old is currently battling left knee soreness, an injury that forced him to miss Saturday's matchup versus the Boston Celtics. With Zach LaVine (knee) out as well, Coby White will likely fill the void, with the former Tar Heel averaging 15 points and 4.3 assists while shooting nearly 44 percent from deep throughout seven starts during the 2021-22 campaign. He is expected to see a more significant workload for at least a few games, so fantasy managers in need should pick him up immediately.

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (knee) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Boston Celtics. This is a tough blow with the Bulls already without Zach LaVine (knee) and Alex Caruso (protocols) on Saturday. Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White will see significant playing time with Ball out now. White is the much better fantasy option between the two. Last game, White scored 20 points in 29 minutes and that was with Ball playing as well. Dosunmu finished with zero points in 32 minutes of action. That being said, White is a strong streaming option for Saturday and should be worth a look as a cheap DFS option for Saturday's slate.

Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball will be sidelined for Sunday's clash with Indiana. Chicago just got the band back together, but three players have again landed in the league's COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Ball is joined by Alfonzo McKinnie and Tony Bradley. It's not all bad, though, as Zach LaVine cleared the protocols earlier in the week and will be back on the court. He'll have to balance scoring and playmaking with Ball out. The Bulls backcourt is also without Alex Caruso (foot), which should lift Coby White into the starting five.

Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball had a fine night against the Lakers on Sunday, scoring 19 points and recording four rebounds and four assists in a 115-110 win over his former team. He finished with 7-for-15 shooting from the field and hit three of nine attempts from deep. Ball's work on the defensive end consisted of one steal and one block, and he registered one turnover in 38 minutes of action. The 24-year-old is currently in a good stretch of form and it should remain so on Monday against the Rockets, who own the sixth-worst defense in the league against opposing point guards.

Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball authored his second double-double of the season by scoring 11 points and grabbing 11 boards during a 107-104 loss to the Miami Heat on Saturday. The 24-year-old shot 4-for-12 from the field, including 3-for-11 behind the arc. Ball also added six assists and a steal across 37 minutes. The UCLA product has been a solid addition to a good Bulls' team, averaging 12.3 points, 5.4 boards, 4.7 assists, 1.9 steals, and 3.0 triples per game while shooting 43.2% from three. While the point guard isn't the main playmaker for Chicago, he possesses a strong 3&D profile and contributes solid boards and assists.

During Wednesday's win over the Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball had his best pure-scoring outing of the season. In an evening full of season-highs, Ball played 39 minutes, scored 21 points, drained seven of his 10 three-point attempts, and added six rebounds, six assists, and a steal for good measure. All of his points came from the deep ball on Wednesday, and he's now making 55.8 percent of his three-point attempts in November. It also marks this first time all year that Ball eclipsed 20 points. If he can hit the high-teens in scoring plus continue his current rebound and assist numbers, he will be well on his way to a top-35 finish in nine-category leagues.

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball continued his strong start to the season in Monday's win over Toronto. Ball made five shots, all three-pointers, adding five assists, three boards, a pair of steals, and a block in a team-high 38 minutes. The former lottery pick has thrived in his new destination in Chicago, as he's currently on pace to exceed his previous career-highs in minutes, field-goal percentage, three-pointers made, and steals and blocks per game. Ball might not be able to keep up that defensive pace- but even if he doesn't, fantasy managers who selected him are going to get some good value for their pick.

Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball recorded a triple-double against his former team in Friday's 128-112 victory against the Pelicans. The 23-year-old finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and one block on 6-for-11 shooting from the field and 3-for-8 from deep. Through two games, Ball has fit nicely in the Bulls starting lineup alongside guard Zach LaVine, forward DeMar DeRozan, forward Patrick Williams and center Nikola Vucevic. Ball is a quality option in standard fantasy formats and the young guard will look to build on his triple-double performance when the Bulls host the Pistons on Saturday night.

It's funny that every year at the NBA Draft, once the end of the guaranteed money and live appearances arrives at the end of the first round, everybody tunes out and refers to the 60th pick as "Mr.Irrelevant". That's not very accurate though, is it? Speaking historically, the title of "Mr.Irrelevant" could just as easily be applied to each pick in the draft, as organizations differ greatly in their evaluation of talent and their own needs, particularly in a year without the NCAA tournament. The nickname just doesn't reflect how basketball works anymore. Executives strategically stockpile second-round draft picks for the less burdensome financial obligations, and organizations in down years get super creative to field a team on a budget. With the right situation, the right under-the-radar player can be an immediate breakout.The last few seasons alone have seen scores of second-rounders and UDFAs who wasted no time in making a name for themselves, and the increasing prominence of the G-League and other alternative paths to the pros should only keep this trending upward.We are going to discuss a handful of 2021 second-round picks and undrafted free agent signees who, given their individual skill set and circumstances, should be on the radar of Fantasy Basketball Managers heading into the season, starting today with the second-round picks.  

Herbert Jones (SF, NOP, 35th Overall)

As a two-time member of the SEC All-Defensive team and the 2020-2021 SEC Defensive and straight-up POY, Herbert Jones was custom-built to take on time early with this New Orleans Pelicans squad. The 6'8, 210-lb. forward didn't even see ample PT until his final two seasons at Alabama, a time in which he consistently excelled on defense but needed plenty of work on the other end. In his last season for the prominent Crimson Tide, Jones played 27.3 minutes per game, and in that time he averaged 11.2 points, 6.6 boards, 3.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks, while also hitting 71.3% from the line and converting on 20 of 57 three-point attempts (35.1%).Every single figure just listed is a career-high mark for Jones, who shot just 14 of 61 from three (22.9%) and 141 of 257 from FT (54.9%) over his first three college campaigns. While NOLA has a decently thick crowd of guys who can play the two through four as FA kicks off, the wall is far from impenetrable, especially when you possess the athleticism, ability to learn quickly, and game-changing defense that Herbert Jones offers. The defense might get him on to the floor and it might even keep him there, but his burgeoning well-rounded skillset can contribute across the board if and when he gets his sniff. 

... [More]

The Pelicans and Bulls agreed to a sign-and-trade deal on Monday that will send Lonzo Ball to the Windy City. In return, New Orleans will receive Tomas Satoransky, Garrett Temple, and a second-round draft pick. Ball had to sign a four-year, $85 million contract to make the deal happen, and he will likely see plenty of minutes as a starter during the 2021-22 campaign. The former Bruin averaged 14.6 points, 5.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.5 steals throughout 55 games last season. His health is an issue at times, and so are his below-average shooting percentages, although they have improved. Nonetheless, the 23-year-old is an all-around producer for fantasy managers, and his statistical output may increase in Chicago because of his enhanced role.

Free-agent guard Lonzo Ball received a $14.3 million qualifying offer from the Pelicans. This would make him a restricted free agent, allowing New Orleans to potentially match offers from other teams. After being drafted with the No. 2 overall selection in the 2017 NBA Draft by Los Angeles, the Lakers moved on from the 23-year-old after only two seasons. However, Ball picked things up while with the Pelicans, and he finished the 2020-21 campaign by averaging 14.6 points, 5.7 assists, 4.8 boards, and 1.5 steals. The former Bruin can contribute in many areas, although fantasy managers in category leagues should be concerned with Ball's shoddy shooting percentages and inability to remain healthy over the years.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers are acquiring All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards for three players and the rights to first-round pick Isaiah Jackson. According to two people with knowledge of the deal, the Lakers are trading Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Montrezl Harrell to Washington for Westbrook, who is a Los Angeles native and helped lead UCLA to a pair of Final Four appearances. The Lakers had the 22nd overall pick in Thursday's draft and selected Jackson, a 6-foot-11 forward from Kentucky. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal can't be officially announced until Aug. 6, when the salary cap becomes official and teams can also begin making moves for the upcoming season. The Lakers will also receive second-round picks from the Wizards in 2024 and '28. The Wizards also aren't holding on to Jackson. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced that Jackson’s rights were traded by the Lakers to... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers are acquiring All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards for three players and the rights to first-round pick Isaiah Jackson. According to two people with knowledge of the deal, the Lakers are trading Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Montrezl Harrell to Washington for Westbrook, who is a Los Angeles native and helped lead UCLA to a pair of Final Four appearances. The Lakers had the 22nd overall pick in Thursday's draft and selected Jackson, a 6-foot-11 forward from Kentucky. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal can't be officially announced until Aug. 6, when the salary cap becomes official and teams can also begin making moves for the upcoming season. The Lakers will also receive second-round picks from the Wizards in 2024 and '28. This is the second time in three years that the Lakers have made a significant offseason trade. They acquired Anthony Davis from New Orleans... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers are acquiring All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards for three players and this year's first-round draft pick. According to two people with knowledge of the deal, the Lakers are trading Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Montrezl Harrell to Washington for Westbrook, who is a Los Angeles native and helped lead UCLA to a pair of Final Four appearances. The Lakers have the 22nd overall pick in Thursday's draft. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal can't be officially announced until Aug. 6, when the salary cap becomes official and teams can also begin making moves for the upcoming season. The Lakers will also receive second-round picks from the Wizards in 2024 and '28. This is the second time in three years that the Lakers have made a significant offseason trade. They acquired Anthony Davis from New Orleans in 2019 for Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and three first-round... [More]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Zion Williamson takes little comfort in how close the New Orleans Pelicans came to qualifying for the postseason. If anything, the 20-year-old All-Star put the club on notice about the urgency with which he'd like New Orleans to approach this offseason. “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is kind of insane, so I’m not going to going to sit here and say we’re close,” Williamson said. “The reality of it is it was very disappointing not to be a part of the play-in tournament and stuff. But we just got to come in and just be better. That’s just me being real.” Those comments ran somewhat counter to the narrative promulgated by Pelicans chief basketball executive David Griffin, who saw his team as one that looked far more competitive that its 31-41 record during coach Stan Van Gundy's first season with the club. The Pelicans blew 14 double-digit leads and had a rash of late-season injuries to key players, including Williamson, before winding... [More]