Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves put up 23 points on 61.5% shooting in Game 1 of the Lakers-Grizzlies divisional playoff matchup. He was particularly dangerous down the stretch, with 14 points in the fourth quarter. In his playoff debut, the 24-year-old played 30 minutes and put up one more point than LeBron James. Reaves was even the go-to option down the stretch, icing the game with seven points in the final four minutes of play. The Arkansas native will look to replicate his performance in Wednesday's Game 2.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Austin Reaves continued his brilliant stretch of basketball down the stretch of both the fantasy season and the NBA season. The 24-year-old ended with 28 points, six assists, and three rebounds while shooting 8-for-13 from the floor and 4-for-7 from three. Outside of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Reaves might be the next-best fantasy asset on the team for the final week of the season. He's ranked at 51st in nine-category leagues over the last week, and after going undrafted in most leagues, he's climbed to 149th in per-game value.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves will move into the starting five for Wednesday's game against the Phoenix Suns. Head coach Darvin Ham hinted at changes in the lineup and that's exactly what happened. Reaves will move into the starting unit after a career-high 35-point performance on Sunday. Malik Beasley will head to the bench with Reaves getting the promotion to the starting five. Reaves has been hot lately, so he's well worth looking at as a streaming option. As for Beasley, his fantasy value will take a hit with the shift to the bench.

Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Austin Reaves popped up with a huge performance Sunday against Orlando, leading the team to a 111-105 victory with a career-high 35 points. He was only 1-for-4 from deep but shot a good 9-for-14 from the field and lived on the line with a 16-for-18 effort. In 30 minutes off the bench, Reaves was also able to get six rebounds and six assists with three turnovers. The 24-year-old has become a reliable contributor over the final stretch of the season, averaging 17.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists this month. Reaves comes off the bench but is getting 30-plus minutes regularly and should continue to play a big part in the rotation for the rest of the way.

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]

Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Austin Reaves (hamstring) will make his return Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Reaves has missed the past 16 games due to a hamstring strain, but will return to the court against the Thunder. Given the length of absence, Reaves will likely have some restrictions until he gets back into game shape. Troy Brown Jr. and Max Christie should take a hit in minutes once Reaves is up to speed.

Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard/small forward Austin Reaves (hamstring) has been shut down for at least two weeks due to a strained left hamstring, at which point the team will re-evaluate his progress. Reaves has played an integral wing role for L.A. this season, averaging 10.8 PPG while shooting 48.8 percent overall. With injuries sweeping the Lakers' depth chart, it may take some time for head coach Darvin Ham to establish a new rotation, but Kendrick Nunn and Max Christie are early candidates to see a bump in playing time. Reaves' extended absence likely pushes him toward the waiver wire in all but the deepest of season-long formats.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (hamstring) is listed as out for Friday's game against the Atlanta Hawks. This is not good news for the Lakers who are already without Lonnie Walker IV (tailbone) for the time being. Also, Troy Brown Jr. (quad) is considered questionable after getting injured on Wednesday. He'd be an interesting streaming option if healthy. Otherwise, Max Christie might get decent playing time during Friday's game. He wouldn't be anything more than a risky dart throw in DFS contests.

Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard/small forward Lonnie Walker IV (tailbone) will miss Friday's contest against the Hawks, allowing Austin Reaves to step into the starting five. Walker had found his offensive rhythm prior to going down, drilling multiple triples in six straight outings prior to injury. While Reaves is coming off a scoreless performance Wednesday, he will likely see significant last-minute DFS appeal due to the 13.4 PPG he has averaged across 10 starts this year. Juan Toscano-Anderson also stands to see additional minutes without Walker in the mix, but L.A. will have to get creative offensively to make up for his 14.7 points per contest average.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (ankle) won't play against Sacramento, marking his second consecutive absence because of a sprained left ankle. Russell Westbrook (foot) is out as well, so L.A. will be shorthanded in the backcourt on Wednesday night. As a result, Dennis Schroder, who had 30 points in the loss to Phoenix, should continue to see an uptick in production. Patrick Beverley and Max Christie may also get some additional minutes, although they aren't consistent fantasy options.

Los Angeles Lakers power forward LeBron James (ankle) and shooting guard/small forward Austin Reaves (ankle) have been ruled out for Monday's game against the Suns. James' absence marks his second consecutive instance of missing both legs of a back-to-back, having dropped 33 points in 37 minutes Sunday in a win over Washington. With Anthony Davis (foot) also sidelined, Russell Westbrook, Dennis Schroder, Lonnie Walker IV and Thomas Bryant will stand to see their offensive roles increased exponentially, making the quartet potential upside DFS plays. While James should be ready to return Wednesday vs. Sacramento, Reaves' absence marks his first of the year, making his return to action the murkier of the two.

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 rebuilding mode get super creative to field a respectable team on a budget.Particularly in the NBA where worldwide talent is plentiful and positional lines continue to fade, opportunity is everything: in the right situation, the right under-the-radar player can make an immediate, poignant statement. With professional development leagues for 16-18-year-olds, an ever-expanding set of domestic/international opportunities due to the sheer growth of basketball, and widespread NIL rights for college athletes, players of all levels and localities are starting to get their due exposure and now have enough freedom to hone their skills in a place, and at a pace, that fits best with their path to the NBA.Plus, I am inherently skeptical and distrusting of scouting from the high school level to pre-Draft. That's why in this annual article, I tend to favor overlooked college players (love the mid-majors/non-power conferences) with either well-rounded, polished games, or specific statistical specialties.We are going to discuss a handful of 2022 second-round picks and undrafted free agent signees who, given their individual skillsets and circumstances, warrant the attention of Fantasy Basketball Managers as potential high-impact rookies for the 2022-23 campaign who can quietly be acquired on clearance once they start showing signs of emergence. ... [More]

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 rebuilding mode get super creative to field a respectable team on a budget.Particularly in the NBA where worldwide talent is plentiful and positional lines continue to fade, opportunity is everything: in the right situation, the right under-the-radar player can make an immediate, poignant statement. With professional development leagues for 16-18-year-olds, an ever-expanding set of domestic/international opportunities due to the sheer growth of basketball, and widespread NIL rights for college athletes, players of all levels and localities are starting to get their due exposure and now have enough freedom to hone their skills in a place, and at a pace that fits best with their path to the NBA.Plus, I am inherently skeptical and distrusting of scouting from the high school level to pre-Draft. That's why in this annual article, I tend to favor overlooked college players (love the mid-majors/non-power conferences) with either well-rounded, polished games, or specific statistical specialties.We are going to discuss a handful of 2022 second-round picks and undrafted free agent (UDFA) signees who, given their individual skillsets and circumstances, warrant the attention of Fantasy Basketball Managers as potential high-impact rookies for the 2022-23 campaign who can quietly be acquired on clearance once they start showing signs of emergence.... [More]

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 rebuilding mode get super creative to field a respectable team on a budget.Particularly in the NBA where worldwide talent is plentiful and positional lines continue to fade, opportunity is everything: in the right situation, the right under-the-radar player can make an immediate, poignant statement. With professional development leagues for 16-18-year-olds, an ever-expanding set of domestic/international opportunities due to the sheer growth of basketball, and widespread NIL rights for college athletes, players of all levels and localities are starting to get their due exposure and now have enough freedom to hone their skills in a place, and at a pace, that fits best with their path to the NBA.Plus, I am inherently skeptical and distrusting of scouting from the high school level to pre-Draft. That's why in this annual article, I tend to favor overlooked college players (love the mid-majors/non-power conferences) with either well-rounded, polished games, or specific statistical specialties.We are going to discuss a handful of 2022 second-round picks and undrafted free agent signees who, given their individual skillsets and circumstances, warrant the attention of Fantasy Basketball Managers as potential high-impact rookies for the 2022-23 campaign who can quietly be acquired on clearance once they start showing signs of emergence. ... [More]

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves put together his first career triple-double during Sunday's overtime win over the Denver Nuggets. The young guard finished with 31 points,16 boards and 10 assists in 42 minutes. To be fair, it was a battle of the benches with both teams resting their starters. Reaves becomes one of five Lakers rookies to ever notch a triple double. It was a nice ending for the Lakers season, but they have plenty to figure out this offseason. Reaves is one of the few young pieces on this team, but it's unlikely he has a significant role next season.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves has been removed from the injury report ahead of Friday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. He has been ramping up his conditioning since being sidelined due to the league's COVID-19 protocols. The rookie guard has shown flashes of solid play, but not enough to warrant rostering in most formats. He could be worth a look as a low-end streaming option, assuming Avery Bradley (head) misses Friday's game. Fantasy managers should check back on Friday for more information.

Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard/small forward Austin Reaves and small forward Kent Bazemore have tested out of the league's COVID-19 health and safety protocols, but neither were cleared to return to action Wednesday vs. Memphis. Reaves' absence has now been extended to seven games, while Bazemore is missing his sixth consecutive contest, leaving L.A. thin on the wing for the time being. Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson have stepped into larger roles without the duo available. Prior to entering the protocols, Reaves had averaged 11 points and 5.3 rebounds across 28.5 minutes in his three latest outings. Fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on Reaves' and Bazemore's availability ahead of Friday's matchup against the Trail Blazers.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves has entered the league's health and safety protocols. Another hit to an already crushed Lakers roster. Reaves is one night removed from an epic shot against the Dallas Mavericks in overtime. Now, Reaves won't be available for Friday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. His absence means Kent Bazemore and Wayne Ellington will be asked to play more minutes. Possibly, Isaiah Thomas makes an impact, but it's his season debut, so fans shouldn't have their expectations too high.

Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Austin Reaves was the hero of the night against Dallas on Wednesday, hitting a late triple to hand the team a 107-104 win in overtime. He nailed his fifth trey with his sixth attempt with less than a second left in the extra frame. The undrafted rookie finished the game with a career-high 15 points and also tallied seven rebounds, two assists and one steal with one turnover in 32 minutes. Reaves has logged some very good playing time in recent games with some of his teammates unable to play, and the 23-year-old currently looks like a decent short-term option for managers in deep leagues.