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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac is expected to start extension talks with the team soon. The Croatian big man is currently on a three-year, $33 million deal that will expire after the 2024-25 campaign. Zubac joined the Clippers from the Lakers in the middle of the 2018-19 season and has steadily developed. The 27-year-old scored a career-high 11.7 points in 2023-24, grabbing 9.2 rebounds and blocking 1.2 shots across 26.4 minutes of action. Fantasy managers can expect to see similar numbers from him next season.

Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson has likely played his final game with the team. According to NBA insider Evan Sidery, the Jazz are expected to make Clarkson available on the trade market. The soon-to-be 32-year-old has spent the last four and a half seasons in Salt Lake City. Clarkson has mostly been used as a microwave scorer off the bench and won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award for his efforts in 2020-21. He put up 17.1 points and averaged a career-high 5.0 assists this term. The veteran should be a very attractive piece on the trade market, as Clarkson is tied for two years with a deal that pays him $14 million annually.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Taurean Prince hopes to ink a new deal with the team. He signed a one-year, $4.5 million pact last offseason and wants to extend his stay in L.A. "My family, the quality of life in Los Angeles is something that myself and my family haven't had in probably three or four seasons," Prince told Lakers Nation. "So to stay here would be definitely number one. If not that, then I mean, wherever the dominoes fall and wherever it's best, that's where I'll be. But I for sure want to be a Laker, 100 percent." Despite starting 49 times in 78 appearances and averaging 27.0 minutes, Prince didn't do much that pops out on the box score in 2023-24. He averaged 8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, shooting 39.6 percent from three-point range.

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (calf) has been increasing his activity, as he attempts to return from a strained calf injury he suffered in the first round of the playoffs. In a recent interview, head coach Joe Mazzulla provided a positive outlook on the veteran center's potential return for the NBA Finals, stating, "Like I said, he's working really, really hard. There's been a couple shootarounds where he hasn't done anything with the team but has been in a 1-on-1 setting kind of ramping it up with the intensity level of it. He's been getting better and better." The Celtics have cruised through the postseason, and the NBA Finals will not begin for more than another week, giving Porzingis more time to get fully healthy.

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving saw his incredible run of wins in closeout games come to an end on Tuesday, as the team went down 105-100 to Minnesota on home court. Irving had previously won on all 14 occasions when his team was in a spot to finish off a playoff series. However, the Mavericks were far from their best on Tuesday, and it was also a poor effort from Irving, who had 16 points on 6-for-18 shooting. He was 1-for-6 from behind the arc and capped off his line with two rebounds, four assists, and one steal. Irving and the Mavericks will look to get back on track in Game 5 on Thursday.

Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley produced a good two-way performance in Tuesday's Game 4 win over the Mavericks, scoring 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting and snagging four steals. He also recorded three rebounds in 34 minutes on the floor as Minnesota fought off elimination. Conley struggled in the first game of the series, but he's played well since then, and the team needs more of the same to remain alive again in Game 5 on Thursday. The veteran point guard will enter the contest with averages of 16.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.0 steals across the last three games.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert registered a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double as the team managed to avoid a sweep against Dallas in the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday with a 105-100 win. Gobert made four of his five attempts from the field and finished 5-for-9 at the line. He had one assist and one block, logging 39 minutes of action despite battling foul trouble. This marks the second double-double of the series for Gobert, who has averaged 12.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in the matchup. His numbers have dropped compared to the regular season, and it would be a big plus for the Timberwolves if he could get back to the level.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns managed to end his shooting slump in Tuesday's Game 4 against Dallas, hitting 9-for-13 from the field en route to 25 points in a 105-100 win. After nailing only three shots with 22 attempts from deep across the first three games of the series, Towns was 4-for-5 with the three-ball. He recorded five rebounds and one assist while battling foul trouble all game. With Towns back in form, this series might not be over after all. Minnesota can make it 3-2 at home on Thursday, and we should see Towns in a prominent role again.

According to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the 76ers are reportedly willing to offer Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler a max contract extension. Of course, Miami would need to make him available. But if the Butler era in South Beach is finished, Philadelphia would be required to give him a two-year extension worth $113 million. The 34-year-old averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.3 steals during the 2023-24 campaign. However, he hasn't played more than 64 games in a season since 2016-17, when he was still with the Bulls. If Butler can stay healthy, he could be at least a top-15 fantasy option. On the other hand, his consistent injuries over the years will make fantasy managers look the other way heading into the 2024-25 season.

Indiana Pacers forward/centerPascal Siakamis expected to receive a max contract offer from the Pacers this summer, per Shams Charania of the Athletic. The 30-year-old averaged 35.4 minutes, 21.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.4 blocks, and 0.8 steals across 17 postseason contests. He helped take the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals after being traded from the Toronto Raptors in January.

Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley (Achilles) is questionable for Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against Dallas on Tuesday. Conley has suffered from a right soleus strain but has suited up the last five contests. The 36-year-old veteran will likely be good to go, with Minnesota on the verge of elimination. He has averaged 13.3 points, 4.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 31.7 minutes in the series.

Indiana Pacers point guard T.J. McConnell enjoyed another productive bench outing on Monday against the Celtics, scoring 15 points and tallying five rebounds, four assists, and one steal as Indiana's season ended with a 105-102 loss. He finished with 7-for-16 shooting, missing his lone attempt from three-point range. McConnell impressed throughout the playoffs with his high-energy performances off the bench. He averaged 11.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists across 20.5 minutes. Plenty of teams will likely be looking at him as a potential offseason acquisition, with McConnell on a very affordable $9.3 million deal for next season. Recent reports suggest that he has been a long-term target of the Phoenix Suns, who are desperate for a point guard.

Indiana Pacers forward/center Pascal Siakam finished the 2023-24 campaign with a double-double, notching 19 points and 10 rebounds in Monday's 105-102 loss to the Celtics. His line included three assists as Siakam shot 8-for-18 from the field with a 0-for-3 effort from downtown. It was a bad ending to an otherwise productive series, which saw Siakam become the first player in history to record 50-plus points with zero free-throw attempts in the first two games of a Conference Finals series. The Cameroonian star is set to become an unrestricted free agent, but he had a good spell with the Pacers and is expected to re-sign with the team. He is eligible for a five-year, $245 million deal.