Welcome to the FINAL week of the NBA season. The DFS slate is a disaster as everyone is resting and teams are ruling players out left and right. We have 12 games and there are, however, plenty of teams still playing for their playoff lives or seeding, so there is still meaningful basketball being played. Whether it’s meaningful or not, there will be value plays that shine, so let’s dive into those guys!
Moritz Wagner, ORL
The Magic are without a lot of guys on Tuesday and Moritz Wagner has taken on a pretty big role these past few games for the team and a lot of individual success has followed. He put up 31 DKP last game against the Knicks and has topped 27 minutes in two straight. With Wendell Carter Jr. and Admiral Schofield out, we should expect somewhat of a similar role for Wagner here. Wagner has been a FP/min monster this year, averaging 1.1 FP/min while also averaging a 23.5% USG rate. The Cavs defense is not nearly as stout as it’s been all year without Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Tre Jones, SAS
With Dejounte Murray ruled out once again, Tre Jones will be in the spotlight looking to help push his team to a play-in playoff game. Jones has been incredible all year without Murray and the last two games are indicative of that. He’s put up 32+ DKP in each of the last two contests and in all seven contests he’s topped 30 minutes in, he’s had at least 25 DKP and in five of the seven, he’s been over 30. In those seven games, Jones is averaging 14.4 points, 7.7 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game.
Olivier Sarr, OKC
The minutes have been all over the place of late, but the production hasn’t. It’s been GOOD lately. He’s put up 21+ DKP in four straight, 24+ in three straight and 32+ in two of his last three. Sarr is coming off a career high 24 points last game and that was the fourth straight game he’s scored double-figures. Sarr gets the BEST match-up on the board going up against the 30th ranked defense in basketball.
Patrick Williams, CHI
With the Bulls ruling Zach LaVine out, it’s possible we see Patrick Williams slide into the starting lineup. Williams has been great in each of the last two games as the offense looks as if it’s catching up to the defense. Williams has played 28+ minutes and has scored in double-figures in two straight games. He has two blocks and a steal in each game as well, which is his calling card and something he’ll do with regularity. Milwaukee ranks just 23rd in defensive rating over the last 15 games.
Devin Cannady, ORL
The Magic are down a number of players including Cole Anthony, Gary Harris, Wendell Carter Jr. and possibly more with Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner both being listed as questionable. Devin Cannady has played two games for the Magic and both have been the last two the team has played and he’s played 29 and 30 minutes. That’s only going to improve with the laundry list of guys being out for Orlando here. He has shot the ball poorly shooting just 25% from the floor but there will be positive regression on the way for him and he’s averaged 16.5 DKP/game at a 3K salary. At minimum salary I’m willing to take a shot.
Player News
Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports the Magic signed Jamal Cain to a two-way contract.
Cain appeared in 37 games for the Pelicans last season after spending his first two seasons with the Heat organization. On a two-way deal, the 6-foot-6 wing appeared in 37 NBA games in 2024-25, averaging 5.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 13.6 minutes. Outside of the occasional solid performance as the Pelicans were playing out the string, Cain did not impact fantasy basketball. That’s likely to be the case in Orlando next season.
Adama Sanogo agreed to a deal with Italian club Trapani Shark.
After appearing in 13 games over two seasons with the Bulls, Sanogo was waived in February, one month after suffering a knee injury. Not selected after a standout college career at UConn, the 6-foot-9 center most recently played for the Jazz in summer league competition. He’s headed to Italy for the next chapter of his professional career. Sanogo’s departure from the NBA will not impact fantasy basketball.
Gina Mizell of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports the 76ers waived Ricky Council IV.
Council’s contract for the 2025-26 season was non-guaranteed, which put him at risk of being let go. In his second season with the team, the former Arkansas wing appeared in 73 games, averaging 7.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.8 three-pointers in 17.1 minutes. While a highly athletic player, Council struggled with his shot, shooting 38.2 percent from the field and 25.8 percent from the foul line. Given the veterans the 76ers re-signed during the offseason, the return of Jared McCain from a knee injury and the selection of VJ Edgecombe in the draft, Council was unlikely to get the minutes needed to impact fantasy basketball in 2025-26.
NBA Insider Chris Haynes reports Heat signed G Myron Gardner to a two-way contract.
Gardner, who went undrafted in 2023, spent summer league with Miami, averaging 13.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 2.8 steals and two triples in 22.2 minutes per game across four appearances. He’ll likely spend most of next season in the G League, but his summer league performance was enough to earn him a two-way deal.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reports Ben Simmons will “probably” determine where he’ll sign within the next week.
While Simmons’ career has not panned out the way many expected it to, his playmaking and defensive abilities mean there is interest in the free agent forward. In his report, Windhorst mentioned the Kings, Suns, Knicks and Celtics as teams linked with Simmons. The potential impact on fantasy basketball will depend on the location and Simmons’ health, which has been problematic for most of his NBA career. He played in 51 games last season between the Nets and Clippers, averaging 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 0.7 steals in 22.0 minutes.
Pistons waived Ron Harper Jr.
After spending his first two NBA seasons with the Raptors, Harper signed a two-way deal with the Pistons before the start of the 2024-25 campaign. He appeared in just one game for Detroit, spending most of his time with the franchise’s G League affiliate. Due to Detroit’s perimeter depth, Harper’s departure will not impact fantasy basketball.