Milwaukee Bucks guard Malik Beasley (back) will play on Sunday versus Phoenix. He missed Thursday's matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers and was listed as questionable for Sunday. However, the back spams will only cost Beasley one game. With Giannis Antetokounmpo (hamstring) unavailable for this one, Beasley has a chance to benefit from a production standpoint, so he should draw strong consideration from fantasy managers, especially those participating in DFS contests.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Malik Beasley (back) popped up on the injury report again and has been listed as questionable for the Sunday matinee against the Phoenix Suns. The veteran wing was forced to miss their last game on Friday with the same back spasms. A better picture of his health will come on the day of the game when he tries to go through shootaround. Patrick Beverley took his place in the starting five during their last contest, so the same would likely happen. Giannis Antetokounmpo (hamstring) is also questionable, so Beverley and Bobby Portis could have some heavy minutes in store.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Malik Beasley (back) won't play on Thursday against Philadelphia. He logged 25 minutes in Tuesday's loss to the Sacramento Kings and was added to the injury report heading into this one because of back spasms. With Khris Middleton (ankle) out for over a month, Beasley has been getting more work, making him a viable fantasy commodity. However, now that he's out, Pat Connaughton, averaging 10.5 points and 7.5 assists in two starts this season, will make a fine value addition to DFS lineups.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Malik Beasley (back) is listed as questionable ahead of Thursday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Bucks are likely going to wait and see how Beasley feels closer to tip-off. If Beasley is forced to sit, Pat Connaughton and Patrick Beverley would likely be asked to play bigger roles. Between the two, Beverley is the better streaming choice between the two players.

Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Malik Beasley (illness) is listed as probable for Tuesday's clash with the Spurs. He's missed the last two games with an illness but appears to be feeling better and ready to go. Andre Jackson Jr. had a pair of impressive outings in the starting unit as Beasley's replacement, but he will now head back to the bench. Beasley has been a good fit in Milwaukee as a floor spacer who has hit nearly 46 percent of his triples. Scoring should come easily again for him and the Bucks on Tuesday against a team that allows the fourth-most points in the league and won't have Victor Wembanyama (ankle) protecting the paint.

Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Malik Beasley sees himself as a starter on the team and is focused on improving defensively to nail down a spot in the unit. "I came here to also help my defense," Beasley told Jim Owczarski of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "They make an impact on defense. Especially with (assistant) coach (Patrick) Mutombo, that's his specialty. I heard coach (Adrian) Griffin, that's what he likes, too. I want this to be a great year not just for me individually, but overall as a team and building my value more than just a three-point shooter." As a sniper who has averaged at least eight three-point attempts per game for four consecutive seasons, Beasley is set to be a very valuable weapon for the Bucks next to Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The better he does on the defensive end, there more minutes he will likely get with the two superstars.

Well, it finally happened. For the first time in 11 years, Damian Lillard is no longer a Trailblazer.On Wednesday, the nearly three-month saga that held NBA news hostage all summer came to an abrupt halt after Lillard was astonishingly acquired by the Milwaukee Bucks. It was a blockbuster three-team deal that included the Phoenix Suns, nine total players, one first-round pick, and one pick swap.Here is the full breakdown of the trade and my analysis of how it will affect the NBA in 2023-2024 and fantasy basketball. 

The Trade

The Bucks receive - Damian LillardThe Blazers receive - Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, Bucks' 2029 first-round pick, Bucks' pick swapThe Suns receive - Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little, Keon Johnson, ... [More]

Los Angeles Lakers guard Malik Beasley is expected to be released by the organization, assuming they can't find a trade partner by the end of Thursday. The 26-year-old currently has a $16.5 million team option for the 2023-2024 season. The Lakers don't appear to be willing to accept that after what they saw from Beasley last season. He averaged 11.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists during his 26 games in Los Angeles. Beasley has shown the ability to be a reliable shooter during his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He should be able to find another organization, assuming he's released. His fantasy value will be dependent on where he lands this summer.

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 Malik Beasley and forward Jarred Vanderbilt will shift into the starting five for Wednesday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Lakers have decided to shake up their starting five as this is the last game for them before the All-Star break. Dennis Schroder and Rui Hachimura will head to the bench as a result and lose some fantasy appeal. The Lakers could be doing this to see how this group performs together alongside LeBron James. Fantasy managers in need of 3-pointers should look towards Beasley. As for Vanderbilt, a majority of his fantasy value comes from the defensive end. It's unlikely either of these players do much with James and Anthony Davis healthy on Wednesday.

The Russell Westbrook experiment in Los Angeles has been less than ideal over the past two years and has officially come to an end. With the West stocking up everywhere, the Lakers knew they had to make a splash in order to make a push to the playoffs.The Lakers executed a three-team trade with the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves, involving a total of eight players and multiple draft picks Wednesday night. The Lakers sent Russell Westbrook, Juan Tuscano-Anderson, and Damian Jones to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt while also acquiring D'Angelo Russell from the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Jazz also sent Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker to the Timberwolves while accumulating even more draft capital.So just what is the fantasy basketball fallout of this blockbuster trade? Let's examine how each of the teams and players in the deal may be affected going forward. 

Fantasy Basketball Fallout: Russell Westbrook

Westbrook is expected to be bought out from Utah and enter free agency. There are already rumors of teams interested in the veteran point guard, including the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, and Chicago Bulls. If Westbrook were to be claimed, he would likely be given a prominent role immediately given these three teams are all lacking in the point guard position. Westbrook's caveat has always been his personality fit so it remains to be seen how well he can mesh with his new team if he is claimed. 

Fantasy Basketball Fallout: Lakers

The Lakers get some much-needed spacing and size with the additions of Russell, Beasley, and Vanderbilt. Russell is shooting a career-high 39.1 percent from three while averaging 17.9 points, 6.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game this season. Russell should absorb Westbrook's minutes and will likely start at point guard over ... [More]

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers acquired Malik Beasley, D'Angelo Russell, and Jarred Vanderbilt on Wednesday as part of a three-team deal. Minnesota will receive Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker in return, while Utah will get Russell Westbrook, Juan Toscano-Anderson, and Damian Jones. Beasley has averaged 10.8 points throughout his NBA career. He's also shot 38% from deep, something the Lakers desperately need. As a result, the 26-year-old could earn a consistent spot in the rotation, potentially even working his way into the starting lineup.

Utah Jazz guard Malik Beasley will move into the starting five for Tuesday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. This move isn't injury related, so fantasy managers shouldn't be concerned. Head coach Will Hardy is playing matchups, so Jarred Vanderbilt will come off the bench for at least this game. Beasley is worth a look as a streaming option while he's in the starting five. He doesn't have great value on the defensive side, but can produce points if he gets hot from beyond the arc.

Utah Jazz guard Malik Beasley led the team in scoring as they beat the Washington Wizards by a score of 120-112 on Thursday evening. The 26-year-old dropped 25 points, two rebounds, and four steals all while coming off of the bench and only playing a little less than 26 minutes. He shot 52.9% from the floor on 17 attempts and knocked down three of his seven three-point attempts. Despite coming off of the bench, Beasley has raised his numbers across the board from last season. He's always good for a spot-start or as a scoring specialist in deep leagues.

Utah Jazz guard Malik Beasley had himself a night on Wednesday during the team's loss to the Detroit Pistons. The 25-year-old posted 29 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists on 50% shooting overall and 53.3% shooting from deep. Whenever given the minutes, he delivers quite often. The biggest issue since joining the Jazz has been when he's going to see enough minutes to get into a rhythm. He has produced enough so far to be in the top 80 for fantasy value.

Utah Jazz guard/forward Malik Beasley has come to life lately and was able to lead all scorers with 29 points in Saturday's 118-113 win over Portland. He shot 10-for-18 from the field and 6-for-14 from downtown, doing all the damage in just 27 minutes off the bench. Jordan Clarkson led the starters with 28 points and even scored the team's final eight points after Mike Conley (knee) went down. Beasley has now hit 56 points across the last two games and any injury will help him to play a more active role on the team. Other bench guys like Talen Horton-Tucker and Collin Sexton are set to benefit from Conley's potential absence as well.

Utah Jazz guard Malik Beasley (ankle) is expected to be ready to play on opening night. He sprained his ankle during a preseason game on October 4th. Since then, Beasley has sat out the rest of the preseason, but is expected to be ready for the beginning of the regular season. The 25-year-old was a top-100 player two years ago, but hasn't been quite as productive since then. He'll be competing with Jordan Clarkson and Ochai Agbaji for playing time in Utah. Beasley could be someone worth snagging in the late rounds, but his playing time is likely going to determine his fantasy value.

Utah Jazz guard Malik Beasley (ankle) remained sidelined during Friday's practice. He hasn't been able to suit up for practice since injuring his ankle during Tuesday's preseason game. Luckily, the Jazz don't play again until Tuesday, so Beasley has some time to rest and recover. His name has been a hot topic to be traded, but he remains in Utah right now. He'll compete for playing time with Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson. Beasley would probably offer more fantasy value elsewhere, but should still be able to provide triples in Utah.