Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul was informed on Wednesday that he will be waived by the team. The 38-year-old soon becomes an unrestricted free agent and intends to play "several more years", per Chris Haynes. It's a significant cost-cutting measure by Phoenix, but Paul is still guaranteed about half of the $30 million he was originally owed next season. The contending Suns now look to retool their roster for another championship push during the upcoming campaign. As for Paul, the future first-ballot Hall of Famer immediately represents one of the most coveted players on the open market for squads in win-now mode. The 11-time All-NBA playmaker has averaged 15.1 points, 9.5 assists, 1.6 steals, and 2.2 turnovers per game amidst his three-year stay in the desert. Paul notably led the association in free-throw percentage (93.4%) in 2020-2021 and APG (10.8) during 2021-2022.

The Phoenix Suns are one of two expansion franchises that joined the National Basketball Association in 1968. While they have had their fair share of triumphs over the decades, they are among 12 teams that have never won an NBA championship.However, they've won three Western Conference crowns and eight division titles. The Suns also have the second-highest winning percentage among teams that don't have a Larry O'Brien Trophy in their collection.Some of the league's greatest players have kept basketball a hot commodity in The Valley. But of all the players who have donned the purple and orange, here are the ones who stood out. 

Honorable Mention -; Dick Van Arsdale

https://twitter.com/sunsgeek/status/1496163718366904322He is known as the "original Sun" after the franchise made him their first selection in the 1968 expansion draft. Van Arsdale played nine seasons for the Suns before retiring in 1977. Throughout that stretch, he became a three-time NBA All-Star and one-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team member. The former Hoosier also served as General Manager, head coach, and Senior Vice President of Player Personnel for the Suns. The franchise retired his number five jersey, one of six they have in the rafters. 

10. Devin Booker

https://twitter.com/NBAHistory/status/1656178078731599874Is it too early to put him on this list? Not really, especially considering he was a 2022 All-NBA First Team member. He has been a three-time NBA All-Star since the Suns selected him 13^th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. As of the 2022-23 season, he is already the franchise leader in three-point field goals made with 1,089.He was also the youngest player to score 60 points in a game when he torched the Boston Celtics for 70 points in 2017. Booker will continue to amass individual and team achievements for Phoenix after signing a four-year, $224 million contract extension in 2022. That deal keeps him with the Suns until the 2027-28 season. 

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Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul likely won't be going anywhere this summer, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes. Phoenix is set to guarantee Paul's full $30.8 million salary, and sources have told Hayes that the franchise is currently of the mindset that Paul will open next season as the team's starting point guard. The veteran floor general, who turned 38 in May, had yet another postseason campaign cut short by injury, but he enjoyed a decent regular season, averaging 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists and 1.5 steals.

The Phoenix Suns are one of two expansion franchises that joined the National Basketball Association in 1968. While they have had their fair share of triumphs over the decades, they are among 12 teams that have never won an NBA championship.However, they've won three Western Conference crowns and eight division titles. The Suns also have the second-highest winning percentage among teams that don't have a Larry O'Brien Trophy in their collection.Some of the league's greatest players have kept basketball a hot commodity in The Valley. But of all the players who have donned the purple and orange, here are the ones who stood out. 

Honorable Mention -; Dick Van Arsdale

https://twitter.com/sunsgeek/status/1496163718366904322He is known as the "original Sun" after the franchise made him their first selection in the 1968 expansion draft. Van Arsdale played nine seasons for the Suns before retiring in 1977. Throughout that stretch, he became a three-time NBA All-Star and one-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team member. The former Hoosier also served as General Manager, head coach, and Senior Vice President of Player Personnel for the Suns. The franchise retired his number five jersey, one of six they have in the rafters. 

10. Devin Booker

https://twitter.com/NBAHistory/status/1656178078731599874Is it too early to put him on this list? Not really, especially considering he was a 2022 All-NBA First Team member. He has been a three-time NBA All-Star since the Suns selected him 13^th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. As of the 2022-23 season, he is already the franchise leader in three-point field goals made with 1,089.He was also the youngest player to score 60 points in a game when he torched the Boston Celtics for 70 points in 2017. Booker will continue to amass individual and team achievements for Phoenix after signing a four-year, $224 million contract extension in 2022. That deal keeps him with the Suns until the 2027-28 season. 

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Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (groin) will remain out for Thursday's Game 6 against the Denver Nuggets. The veteran guard will miss his fourth straight game, but appears to be making progress. The hope is that Paul will be able to suit up for the next series, assuming the Suns can advance. Until then, Cameron Payne is expected to remain the starting five. He has been lackluster, averaging 6.3 points, 1.3 boards, 4.7 dimes in his last three starts. That being said, fantasy managers shouldn't trust Payne to bring much to the table for Game 6.

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (groin) remains out Tuesday against the Denver Nuggets, but appears to be making progress. Paul was seen getting shots up before their game Tuesday night and could be nearing a return. There have not been any updates on his status and Paul continues to be listed as out on the injury report. With the Suns tying up the series, Paul may be able to return before this playoff round is over. Until then, Cameron Payne should continue to start while Devin Booker and Kevin Durant hold the majority of the usage on offense.

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (groin) has been ruled out for Tuesday's Game 5 against the Denver Nuggets. As expected, Paul will remain on the sideline as he continues to work his way back from a groin issue. The team continues to consider him day-to-day, but it seems unlikely that Paul is going to play in this series. In the meantime, Cameron Payne will continue to start in his place and see significant playing time until Paul returns.

Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul (groin) won't play in Sunday's Game 4 against Denver. According to Suns head coach Monty Williams, Paul did "a little bit on the floor" in Saturday's practice, but he clearly isn't ready to play just yet. Williams added that nothing has changed from the initial report. Paul was ruled out for at least a week and is considered day-to-day after he injured his left groin in Monday's Game 2 of the second-round series. Cameron Payne moved into the starting unit in Paul's absence in Friday's Game 3. He had seven points and six assists with one steal in 30 minutes.

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (groin) was unable to participate in Thursday's practice, according to head coach Monty Williams. The veteran guard suffered a groin injury on Monday, which could sideline him for part of the series. As of right now, the Suns don't expect Paul to be ready for Game 3 of this second-round series. The team is listing him as day-to-day, but they aren't going to rush the 37-year-old back onto the court. In the meantime, Cameron Payne and Josh Okogie are likely to see increased usage in the rotation.

Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul (groin) will be re-evaluated in one week after suffering a groin injury on Monday. Paul appeared to injure his groin late Monday night and received an MRI. It remains to be seen the full severity of the injury, but the Suns are expecting Paul to be out through Game 5 at the least. With the Suns already down two games, this is tough news for the Suns. Cameron Payne and Josh Okogie figure to see an uptick in minutes. Damion Lee may also be in line for an increased role.

Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul (groin) is under evaluation after exiting Monday's Game 2 against Denver in the third quarter. Paul was ruled out of the game with tightness in his left groin after he appeared to have hurt himself while trying to go for a rebound. Paul's injury derailed Phoenix's night, as the team was up by four prior to his exit and ended up losing the game by 10 points. The veteran floor general had a good performance in limited minutes, posting eight points with five rebounds and six assists. With the next game in the series not until Friday, Paul has extra recovery time, but if it's a more serious injury, he could be out for a week at minimum. Cameron Payne is in line for more work in Paul's absence.

Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul opened the second-round series against the Nuggets with a quiet 11-point, five-assist performance on Saturday. He shot 5-for-11 from the field, with most of Paul's misses coming with a poor 1-for-5 effort from downtown. The veteran played 32 minutes and managed to pick up one steal on the defensive end. Phoenix won the opening quarter 32-21 but was well beaten in the end and Paul definitely could've done a lot more. We should see a much more impactful game from him Monday.

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul received an X-ray on his right hand after their Game 2 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday. The veteran guard seemed to be holding his hand in pain toward the end of the contest, so the fact that they got a clean result is a promising sign. Paul seems to never catch a break as he gets injured in the playoffs quite often. Hopefully, after this news, the hand pain is just a temporary blip on the radar. If it keeps him out for any amount of time, while Cameron Payne (back) is still hurt, Josh Okogie and Landry Shamet will probably see some more playing time.

On Tuesday, the Charlotte Hornets made it official when they shut down their star guard LaMelo Ball for the remainder of the 2022-2023 NBA season.Many fantasy managers' worst fears were realized when Ball's non-contact injury in Monday night's game against Detroit turned out to be a fractured ankle. Charlotte's season was already lost, but fantasy managers were hoping to get a few more weeks from Ball who, when healthy, was putting up huge numbers this season.To keep close tabs on all of the news across the NBA, make sure to favorite or bookmark the RotoBaller Fantasy Basketball Newspage, or download the free RotoBaller fantasy basketball mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. 

2022-2023 Season Recap

LaMelo Ball will finish his third NBA season with the following numbers.23.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 4.0 3PM, 1.3 STL, 0.3 BLK, 3.6 TO, 41.1% FG%, 83.6% FT%He played in only 36 games this year and is currently 32nd overall in per-game value for 9-cat in Basketball Monster's player ratings.When he was on the floor, he was a triple-double threat on a nightly basis. His talent is undeniable. Just look at what he did to the Spurs only a few weeks before getting hurt.

Highlights LaMelo Ball Spurs ... [More]

LeBron James has dominated the National Basketball Association since entering the league straight from high school. He's won numerous awards and has led several teams to an NBA Championship. During the 2022-23 season, the Akron, Ohio, native continued to get it done, despite battling several nagging ailments along the way.However, James' latest issue, a right foot injury, is expected to keep him out indefinitely. So what does this mean, and will we see James back on the court this season? Is there a chance he won't return?To keep close tabs on all of the news across the NBA, make sure to favorite or bookmark the RotoBaller Fantasy Basketball Newspage, or download the free RotoBaller fantasy basketball mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. 

LeBron James Injury Update

James injured his right foot during the third quarter of Sunday's comeback win over the Dallas Mavericks. It was a tense few seconds after the multi-time MVP clutched his foot after suffering what was deemed a "non-contact injury." The concern grew to greater heights after he was overheard saying, "I heard a pop." Situations like this are never good, as many were concerned that an Achilles tear could be the culprit.https://twitter.com/FanDuelTV/status/1630602449227595777?s=20Yet, after James gathered himself, he tightened his shoe and finished the game, totaling 26 points, eight rebounds, one block, and one steal. Head coach Darvin Ham appeared optimistic while speaking postgame, stating the 38-year-old was "good."However, that couldn't be further from the case, with The Athletic's Shams Charania reporting that James would "miss an extended period of time" because of the foot injury. Charania later added that the all-time scoring leader would "require multiple opinions."https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1630363560051187712?s=20 

LeBron James' Season Recap

Despite James' advanced NBA age, he's still productive. In 47 appearances, he's averaged 29.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 6.9 assists. While his three-point percentage has regressed, that's never been his strong suit.James was also named an All-Star captain while recently passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time scoring leader.https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/1623184801284104192?s=20That said, despite some high-level accomplishments, the year has been a rough one for the 2003 No. 1 overall pick. He's battled left foot soreness for nearly the entire season, so much so that he routinely carried some type of injury designation heading into almost all of his games over the last few months.... [More]

The NBA trade deadline has officially come and gone and we had one of the most active deadlines in recent memory with some big stars being dealt. Kyrie, KD, and Westbrook are all heading to new teams and we have been covering those trades and their fantasy impacts here at RotoBaller.But there were plenty of other lesser-known players who were dealt in the last few days and I wanted to go through and make sure we don't overlook some of these trades as some of those deals may even have more fantasy impact than the big moves.So here are some other trades that went down and my two cents on the increase or decrease in value that we should expect from the players involved for the remainder of the 2022-2023 fantasy basketball season. 

Moves That Matter

These are very much in order of how much they matter. Let's start with the Spurs sending their starting center back up North where he started his career.Jakob Poeltl to the RaptorsI am a huge Poeltl fan and was close to acquiring him on multiple teams before the deadline. It was a curious move by Toronto to be buyers instead of sellers at the deadline, but Poeltl gives them the presence at the five they have been lacking all season and allows Siakam to shift over and play PF where he belongs.Poeltl is no longer a shutdown candidate and has legit top-50 upside with his multi-category abilities. His departure also makes ... [More]

As hectic as this year's NBA trade deadline has been, with 28 out of the 30 teams making at least one trade, early Thursday morning at 1:00 am, a blockbuster trade went down that not many expected. However, if you had read my previous article, you could have gotten a glimpse of the future thanks to my magic ball, as the first "potential trade" I wrote about was sending Kevin Durant to none other than the Pheonix Suns.Kevin Durant is undeniably a top-three player and arguably even the best in the NBA right now. It's not surprising to hear how stunned the NBA world was after seeing this trade, as the Suns sold a huge chunk of their future for the Nets superstar but were somehow saved from involving Deandre Ayton in the trade!Any average NBA fan knows how much of an impact future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant has on any team, but to emphasize just how much, check this out: The Suns went from odds of +1800 of winning the finals to +450 on Thursday morning after the huge trade, now only behind the Boston Celtics, who lead the race with their odds being +350. 

Kevin Durant's Season Recap

Durant (knee) has been sidelined for over a month after getting hurt on January 8 against the Miami Heat and remains without a timetable to return to make his debut with the Suns. Before getting hurt, the 13-time All-Star was averaging 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.8 blocks, and 36 minutes in 39 appearances this season.

FULL TRADE DETAILS:

Suns- Kevin Durant- TJ WarrenNets- ... [More]

Without a doubt, Kyrie Irving is arguably one of the most naturally gifted players in the National Basketball Association. He's a fantastic ball-handler and can get to the rim with ease. However, the former Duke Blue Devil's career has been surrounded by controversy, ultimately impacting his ability to win an MVP.The NBA trade deadline kicked off with a bang when Irving, who had demanded a trade out of Brooklyn, was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. NBA fans and fantasy managers are left wondering how things will play out.To keep close tabs on all of the news across the NBA, make sure to favorite or bookmark the RotoBaller Fantasy Basketball Newspage, or download the free RotoBaller fantasy basketball mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. 

Kyrie Irving's Season Recap

Irving got suspended for an antisemitic social media post, keeping him out of the lineup for eight games. But since then, the 30-year-old stayed out of the limelight, so most had assumed he finally turned things around. He's played well all season, averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 40 appearances.https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1622324668047794177?s=20&t=NTffJ2tRvNpjAA7bddjYHQHe was also selected to the All-Star team for the eighth time in his career. However, things were apparently going too well, as Irving dropped a bombshell by requesting a trade. His wish was granted, as he was sent to Dallas in exchange for ... [More]

Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul ran the show against San Antonio on Saturday, totaling 31 points and 11 assists in a 128-118 overtime victory. He wasn't far away from a triple-double either, adding seven rebounds with one steal and two blocks in 39 minutes. The veteran was only 1-for-4 with the three-ball but shot a very good 12-for-20 overall with a perfect 6-for-6 record at the charity stripe. Following a long injury layoff, Paul hasn't needed anytime at all to regain his rhythm, going for four straight double-doubles and averaging 22.3 points and 10.8 assists since his return. With Devin Booker (groin) still not near a return, Paul is set to lead the Suns backcourt all on his own for the foreseeable future.