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Cavs G Donovan Mitchell to miss Game 5 vs. Celtics

Wed May 15 11:56am ET
Field Level Media

Cleveland Cavaliers star guard Donovan Mitchell is expected to sit out Wednesday's Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series against the host Boston Celtics, The Athletic reported.

Mitchell, officially listed as questionable, also missed Game 4 with a left calf strain. The Cavaliers dropped a 109-102 decision to the Celtics on Monday and trail 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.

Mitchell averaged 29.6 points per game over Cleveland's first 10 playoff games after contributing 26.6 per contest in the regular season.

The five-time All-Star also is averaging 5.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game this postseason.


Player Notes
Kyle Anderson Mon Jun 3 9:20am

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson has loved his spell with the team and wants to extend his stay. The versatile forward inked a two-year, $18 million contract with the T-Wolves in 2022. His playing time dropped significantly in 2023-24, which also had an impact on the rest of his numbers, but Anderson has pointed to family reasons as a major factor for wanting to stay in Minnesota. Playing for a successful team is definitely appealing for him as well. Anderson, who will turn 31 in September, averaged 6.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 22.6 minutes this season.

Haywood Highsmith Mon Jun 3 9:00am

Miami Heat forward Haywood Highsmith will be a popular man in free agency after finishing off a three-year, $3.9 million deal. Speaking on the Locket On Heat podcast, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype noted that Highsmith "has a lot of interest around the league." The 27-year-old posted career numbers in multiple categories in 2023-24, averaging 6.1 points and 3.2 rebounds in 20.7 minutes, with 39.6 percent shooting from deep. He hasn't been a fantasy factor, but Highsmith is seen as a good defender, and it looks like this will help him secure a good contract this offseason.

Kelly Oubre Jr. Mon Jun 3 8:40am

Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward Kelly Oubre Jr. is heading toward unrestricted free agency, but he could still remain in the City of Brotherly Love. According to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Oubre Jr. is among the players who the 76ers are most eager to re-sign in the summer. However, keeping Oubre Jr. might get complicated due to financial reasons. The 28-year-old was on a minimum-salary deal in 2023-24, and he will definitely be more expensive after enjoying a good campaign in Philadelphia. Oubre Jr. averaged 15.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.1 steals across 30.2 minutes.

Kyle Lowry Mon Jun 3 8:40am

Philadelphia 76ers point guard Kyle Lowry could remain with the team in 2024-25. According to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the 76ers are interested in re-signing the veteran floor general after he had a positive impact on the team during his short spell in 2023-24. Lowry signed a $2.9 million pact until the end of the season in February after getting released by the Hornets. A potential new deal depends on how much money Lowry commands in the offseason. The 28-year-old is well past his best and posted 8.0 points with 2.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 28.4 minutes with the 76ers this term.

Isaiah Hartenstein Mon Jun 3 8:21am

New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein is set to cash in big on a productive season this summer. According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, Hartenstein will be able to draw at least $80 million, and perhaps upward of $100 million, from a team that tries to lure him away from New York in free agency. Hartenstein, who is coming off a two-year, $16 million deal, finished 2023-24 as the Knicks' starting center and proved himself as a versatile contributor. He averaged 7.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 25.3 minutes during the regular season.

Gordon Hayward Mon Jun 3 8:10am

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Gordon Hayward will be moving on this offseason following a disappointing stint with the team, and the Denver Nuggets might be a possible landing spot for him. Nuggets insider Harrison Wind has noted that he knows there are people within the club who are "fans" of Hayward. The 34-year-old was limited to 5.3 points in 17.2 minutes with the Thunder but started the season reasonably well in Charlotte. He could still do a job in a suitable situation. However, Hayward's play has steadily declined in recent years, and it looks like his days of being a reliable fantasy option are over.

Zach LaVine Sun Jun 2 9:30pm

According to NBC Sports Chicago's K.C. Johnson, the Bulls could be open to taking less in a trade involving guard Zach LaVine. The 29-year-old has reportedly been on the block on and off over the last few seasons. Initially, Chicago sought an All-Star-caliber player or multiple first-round picks in return. However, Johnson feels the Bulls would settle for less, considering both sides are "motivated" to make something happen this offseason. LaVine has averaged 20.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists throughout his career with the Timberwolves and Bulls. But he's battled countless injuries, recently appearing in just 25 games in 2023-24 before his year ended abruptly because of a foot injury. With that in mind, LaVine will could be wearing a different uniform when the new season begins in October. Yet, he should have at least a few more productive years on the horizon if he can figure out how to stay healthy.

Nicolas Batum Sun Jun 2 9:30pm

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Keith Pompey, the 76ers are hoping to bring back forward Nicolas Batum. The veteran was traded to Philadelphia early in the 2023-24 campaign after spending three seasons with the Clippers. He appeared in 57 games for the Sixers last season. While Batum was a welcome addition to the roster, he played well enough in his 38 starts by averaging 5.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. The Sixers hold his Bird Rights, so it's possible he could remain with the franchise. However, Batum likely won't be a consistent fantasy option anytime soon, although he has streaming potential when given extra minutes.

Nicolas Claxton Sat Jun 1 8:00pm

According to Brian Lewis of the New York Post, executives around the National Basketball Association believe Brooklyn Nets center Nicolas Claxton will re-sign with the team. The 25-year-old has progressed substantially since entering the league in 2019, most recently finishing the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 11.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks. As a result, he'll likely draw interest from several clubs. However, things may not get that far, with the Nets anticipated to make a lucrative offer to keep him on the roster. Nonetheless, fantasy managers should expect double-double production from Claxton moving ahead. On the other hand, he's not a fantastic shooter from deep or the charity stripe, which is something category participants will need to keep in mind when drafting.

Kristaps Porzingis Sat Jun 1 7:40pm

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (calf) has been practicing. Not only that, but according to head coach Joe Mazzulla, the veteran did "everything the team did" during Saturday's session. It's certainly a good sign ahead of Thursday's NBA Finals opener versus the Dallas Mavericks. Porzingis appeared in four postseason contests before going down with a Soleus strain, averaging 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 steals. But since he hasn't played in over a month, he could see limited action in his first game back from the lengthy layoff. However, Porzingis will likely be on the floor enough on Thursday night to significantly decrease Al Horford's DFS value.

Julius Randle Sat Jun 1 9:10am

New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (shoulder) recently stated he'd "love" to remain with the team. The 29-year-old had shoulder surgery in April but hasn't resumed on-court activities. He's also eligible for a contract extension in August, although there are many who believe he could be traded, something the front office has denied. Without question, Randle has been a quality fantasy asset over the years, and he finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 24 points, nine rebounds, and five assists in 46 appearances. He should remain productive no matter where end ends up when the season begins in October. Randle could even benefit if given a more prominent role in another offense.

Kyrie Irving Fri May 31 10:40am

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving continued his quality play in Game 5, which vaulted the team into the NBA Finals after completely destroying the Minnesota Timberwolves by a score of 124-103. The veteran scorer finished the game with 36 points on 14-for-27 shooting overall and 4-for-10 from beyond the arc. He also chipped in five assists, four rebounds, and knocked down all four of his free throws. Irving has been heavily criticized for not being able to get deeper into the playoffs with anyone not named LeBron James, but he has found himself as the Robin to Luka Doncic's Batman, which has taken them to another Finals appearance. When it comes to scoring, Irving is only matched by very few.

Luka Doncic Fri May 31 10:30am

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic cashed in a big game along with his backcourt duo in Kyrie Irving to lead the team to their first NBA Finals appearance since they won with Dirk Nowitzki in 2010-11. The superstar guard posted 36 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and four turnovers while shooting 14-for-22 from the floor, 6-for-10 from deep, and 2-for-3 from the charity stripe. After missing the postseason altogether last year, Doncic and Irving have seemed to figure out the chemistry on the offensive end which has vaulted their team's potential to a new high. In Game 5, they combined for 72 points while the Timberwolves scored 103 as a team.

Karl-Anthony Towns Fri May 31 10:00am

Minnesota Timberwolves center/forward Karl-Anthony Towns was the only player on the team outside of Anthony Edwards who scored double-digit points in a blowout loss that ended their season on Thursday night. In the 103-124 loss, Towns registered 28 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and two turnovers while shooting 9-for-20 from the floor and 1-for-6 from downtown. The 28-year-old registered a solid season despite taking a backseat to Edwards and dealing with some more injuries. He posted 21.8 points, 8.3. rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.2 threes, and 2.9 turnovers per game while making his fourth All-Star game.

Anthony Edwards Fri May 31 9:40am

Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Anthony Edwards put his best foot forward in Game 5 against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, but it wasn't enough as they suffered a blowout loss. The young star registered 28 points on 10-for-18 shooting with nine rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block, and one turnover. Edwards not only cashed in on the best season of his young career, but he proved to everyone that he could elevate his level of play in the postseason at the age of just 22. This year, he averaged 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.3 steals, 2.4 threes, and 3.1 turnovers per game. He'll likely be a top-ten fantasy option heading into next season.

Klay Thompson Thu May 30 7:00pm

According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, there hasn't been any progress in contract talks between the Warriors and guard Klay Thompson. Golden State reportedly offered him an extension before the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign. However, Thompson declined, so there's a good chance he'll be an unrestricted free agent come July. The 34-year-old averaged 17.9 points and 3.3 assists while shooting 38.7% from deep, all down from the 2022-23 season. But teams are reportedly interested in his services, with the Magic, Thunder, and Sixers emerging as potential suitors. Nonetheless, it will be different seeing Thompson in a new uniform, although he could have a bounce-back year while playing for a championship-caliber club.

Luka Doncic Thu May 30 7:00pm

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (knee, ankle) is available for Thursday's matchup with Minnesota. He was once again listed as questionable. However, there wasn't a chance he'd miss this contest, considering the Mavericks can advance to the NBA Finals with a win. Doncic has averaged 31.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 9.0 assists, and 2.3 steals during the Western Conference Finals, making him the top DFS option for Thursday night.

Rui Hachimura Thu May 30 6:50pm

According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Lakers are expected to seek a trade for forward Rui Hachimura. The 2019 No. 9 overall pick averaged a career-high 13.6 points in 2023-24. He also played 68 games, the most since entering the league. There will likely be a market for Hachimura, who has two years left on his contract. With that in mind, he could be even more productive with a new team if given routine minutes.

T.J. McConnell Thu May 30 6:40pm

According to NBA insider Evan Sidery, the Indiana Pacers want guard T.J. McConnell to remain with the team for the remainder of his career. The 32-year-old averaged a career-high 10.2 points with 5.5 assists and 1.0 steals during the 2023-24 campaign. He was also instrumental in helping the Pacers advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. McConnell, who has one year left on his current deal, is eligible for an extension this offseason. With that said, he isn't expected to be a routine fantasy producer in 2024-25, but he could get plenty of chances to be productive, considering Tyrese Haliburton's inability to remain healthy.

Kristaps Porzingis Thu May 30 6:30pm

According to Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, center Kristaps Porzingis (calf) has been "working really hard to get back." There was talk that Porzingis would return for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals versus the Indiana Pacers. However, that never happened. Truth be told, the C's didn't need him, with the team pulling off a sweep. With the Finals commencing on June 6, it appears Porzingis has a chance to be available for Game 1 after missing over a month because of a Soleus strain. Of course, if he can't suit up, Al Horford, averaging 9.9 points and 7.3 rebounds during the playoffs, will continue to get most of the work in the middle.