Tyrese Maxey needs to stay healthy this season. (All-Pro Reels)
This week, Cleveland Cavalier forward Max Strus underwent foot surgery that will sideline him for 3-to-4 months; free agent Malik Beasley is no longer a target in a federal gambling investigation; and EuroBasket 2025, featuring the likes of Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic, kicked off. Other Fantasy basketball stories we’re eyeballing include…
Philly’s Health Woes
In 2022-23, the Philadelphia 76ers racked up 54 wins, their highest total since 2000-01 — the last time they went to the NBA Finals. Things have gone downhill since, with the club slipping to 47 victories in 2023-24 before cratering to just 24 last season.
Of course, the fact that former MVP Joel Embiid (incessant knee issues) has only managed to suit up for 58 games over the last two seasons combined has really hurt. Because let’s face it: Philly’s chances of competing in the East are intrinsically tied to his ability to stay healthy and be effective.
It’s been a real tough slog for the 76ers the last couple of years as “The Process” has taken a real hit thanks to injuries and the ugly blowup with James Harden.
Of course, Embiid’s seemingly endless injuries wasn’t the only major health issue for Philly last season; free agent pickup Paul George also missed half the campaign. Also extremely damaging to the squad was the fact that PG Tyrese Maxey missed 30 games and ultimately shut it down in March thanks to a sprained tendon in his finger.
So much for the team’s new Big Three, right?
Combined with a hamstring injury Maxey suffered very early in the season that sidelined him for an extended period, it was a tough season for another dude who can be considered injury prone, as he’s still seeking to top 75 games for the first time in his five-year career.
Still, Maxey has gotten better and better with each passing campaign, last season parlaying a career high in touches to yet another personal best in points. And unlike a Philly PG from back in the day, he’s not averse to practice (see video below).
Coming out of Kentucky, Maxey was lauded for the intangibles he brought to the court, but was not considered the most athletic of players. We’d say he’s done pretty damned well for a dude that lasted to pick No. 21 in the draft. Now, if Maxey can just stay healthy this season and get some help from his teammates, perhaps The Process will get back on track.
Trade Rumours in Miami
Still in the East, the Miami Heat has been in a similar swoon. They bucked the odds by going all the way to the Finals in 2022-23, despite winning just 44 games in the regular season. They improved slightly to 46 wins the following campaign, before dropping to just 37 last season, but got knocked out of the first round both times.
This club wasn’t quite the same after moving Jimmy Butler III in February, going just 12-21 after the trade. Still, Miami should be slightly better this season; maybe not a .500 team, but certainly good enough to get into the play-in tourney.
From a Fantasy perspective, Butler’s departure opened the door for PG Tyler Herro to enjoy a career season, but veteran big man Bam Adebayo took another step back.
In 2022-23, Adebayo was front and centre offensively, enjoying his first campaign averaging over 20 points, even if his rebounding slipped a tad. The following season, he posted a career best 10.4 RPG, but regressed a smidge in scoring. Last season – despite staying healthier and seeing an uptick in PT – Adebayo’s scoring and rebounding both dipped.
It wasn’t all bad, as he managed to develop a deep game for the first time in his career, actually getting a trey per game after sinking a total of 23 three-pointers over his first seven years combined.
Adebayo is himself the topic of trade rumours, but it’s hard to see the Heat parting with their three-time All-Star. Still, imagining a front court with him and Victor Wembanyama is mouth watering, isn’t it?
Adebayo has dealt with minor injuries fairly consistently, playing 82 games just once, and topping 75 only one other time (last season). Of course, on Miami’s roster, he’s locked in as a starter, as he has been for the last half dozen seasons… assuming, that is, that he’s not so jealous of the Panthers’ success that he’ll ask for that trade rumour to come true so he gets a shot at his first ring.
RotoRob Tune of the Day
Originally an acid-jazz band, Jamiroquai built on that sound by incorporating rock, disco, funk, electronic and Latin vibes into their music. In 2006, they released a compilation album, High Times: Singles 1992-2006, which included “Blow Your Mind,” originally the third single from their 1993 debut, Emergency On Planet Earth.