RICKY RUBIO

The fantasy basketball waiver wire seems like it’s beginning to thin out, but that may be a mirage. Meanwhile, Payne posted 12 points, three boards, three dimes and one steal in 16 minutes. Still, it’s surprising that fantasy basketball managers are jumping off the Payne train so quickly (-13% Last Day), given how well he played while the 37-year-old star was sidelined. Sporting career-best averages of 13.0 points and 5.7 assists across 25.9 minutes, Payne is worth picking up in case Paul doesn’t stay healthy. Jalen McDaniels, Charlotte Hornets (38% rostered)Over the last five games, McDaniels is averaging 16.4 points, 4.4 boards, 2.8 assists, 1.6 threes and 1.0 steals across 31.6 minutes.

The Orlando Magic were struck down 107-96 during their Friday night match against the Cleveland Cavaliers, bringing their losing streak up to seven games.

By Gabe Allen, RotoWireSpecial to Yahoo SportsWe’ve reached December, and the fantasy waiver wire is still alive and well. And as usual, this article focuses primarily on players I haven’t already recommended adding this season, with one exception. Players who have posted a stat line like that in recent memory aren’t found on the waiver wire often. However, across the last six contests, McConnell is averaging 9.7 points, 6.3 dimes, 3.3 boards and 1.8 swipes in 21.7 minutes. Seasoned fantasy basketball managers know how difficult dimes and steals are to find via the free-agent pool, especially in deep leagues, so McConnell is certainly worthy of consideration.

D’Angelo Russell had season highs of 30 points and 12 assists, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 29 points, and the Minnesota Timberwolves held off the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers 129-124.

Evan Mobley scored a season-high 22 points, Jarrett Allen had 18 points and 16 rebounds and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Orlando Magic 103-92.

Not all of the picks were busts, but a few were head-scratchers.

The Indiana Pacers are trading two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings in a 6-player deal.

Bulls Pacers Basketball Indiana Pacers guard Caris LeVert, right, drives around Chicago Bulls forward Javonte Green during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/AJ Mast) (AJ MAST)CLEVELAND — (AP) — Caris LeVert exited the bus with his Indiana teammates and walked into Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse a visitor. “A serious competitor who wants to win.”The trade was completed about 90 minutes before the Cavs and Pacers tipped off. “Cleveland is in a great position, and adding a guy like Caris LeVert very well could push them to the top,” Carlisle said. In the short-term, the LeVert deal is a potential season-changer for Cleveland.

Cedi Osman scored 22 points and Kevin Love had 19 as the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied from 20 down to beat Indiana 98-85, shortly after agreeing to acquire shooting guard Caris LeVert from the Pacers.

Bulls Pacers Basketball Indiana Pacers guard Caris LeVert, right, drives around Chicago Bulls forward Javonte Green during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. Pulling off a major move ahead of this week's NBA trade deadline, Cleveland added another young star to its roster by agreeing in principle to acquire guard Caris LeVert in a deal from Indiana. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle confirmed the proposed deal shortly before the teams played at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. “Cleveland just picked up a heck of a player,” Carlisle said. In the short-term, the LeVert deal is a potential season-changer for Cleveland.

Pulling off a major move before the NBA trade deadline, the Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed in principle to acquire guard Caris LeVert from Indiana.

Cavasliers Rondo Basketball FILE - Los Angeles Lakers guard Rajon Rondo (4) stands during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021. Cleveland completed its acquisition of the 35-year-old Rondo on Monday, Jan. 3, 2021, finalizing their trade with the Los Angeles Lakers and what became a three-team deal also involving the New York Knicks. Cleveland completed its acquisition of the 35-year-old Rondo on Monday, finalizing its trade with the Los Angeles Lakers in what eventually became a three-team deal involving the New York Knicks. Los Angeles receives the draft rights to Louis Labeyrie from New York. A four-time All-Star and twice an NBA champion, Rondo, who was barely playing with the Lakers, is joining an improved Cleveland team that has risen from doormat to playoff contender.

Once Ricky Rubio was lost for the season with a knee injury, the Cleveland Cavaliers knew it would take someone special to take his spot.

CLEVELAND — (AP) — The Cavaliers have agreed to acquire veteran guard Rajon Rondo in a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers for guard Denzel Valentine, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday. The Cavs needed an experienced guard to help continue their strong start after losing Ricky Rubio to a season-ending knee injury. A four-time All-Star, the 35-year-old Rondo averaged 3.1 points and 3.7 assists coming off the bench for the Lakers. Valentine averaged just 9.3 minutes for the Cavs, who have been one of the league's most improved teams this season. The Cavs are hoping Rondo can give them many of the same attributes and keep their season headed in the right direction.

A person familiar with the trade tells The Associated Press the Cavaliers have agreed to acquire veteran guard Rajon Rondo in a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers for swingman Denzel Valentine.

Lakers Bulls Basketball Los Angeles Lakers guard Rajon Rondo, left, drives as he looks to pass the ball against Chicago Bulls forward Alfonzo McKinnie during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) (Nam Y. Huh)CLEVELAND — (AP) — The Cavaliers have made progress in talks with the Los Angeles Lakers about a trade involving veteran point guard Rajon Rondo, a person familiar with the potential deal told The Associated Press on Thursday. Cleveland has been urgently looking for an experienced guard since Ricky Rubio suffered a season-ending knee injury Tuesday night. The Cavs and Lakers are “trending” toward completing the trade, said the person spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams have not yet reached an agreement. Rondo is in his first season with the Lakers, who are just 17-19 and have struggled with one of the NBA's older rosters.

A person familiar with the potential trade tells The Associated Press that the Cleveland Cavaliers have made progress in talks with the Los Angeles Lakers about a trade involving veteran point guard Rajon Rondo.

Cavaliers Pelicans Basketball Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio (3) is assisted off the court by teammates during the fourth quarter of the team's NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Derick Hingle) (Derick Hingle)CLEVELAND — (AP) — Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio suffered a season-ending left knee injury, a devastating blow to a Cleveland team that he helped moved into playoff contention in the Eastern Conference. The 31-year-old Rubio had a major impact in his first season with Cleveland, providing leadership and depth to a young squad. The Cavs fell apart after Rubio left and the Pelicans completed their rally from a 23-point deficit. I’m just praying that he’s going to be OK. We don’t know what the near future is going to hold for him.

Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio has suffered a season-ending left knee injury.

The Cavaliers won 126-103. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig) (Craig Lassig)CLEVELAND — (AP) — Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff has received a multiyear contract extension for his role in the team's dramatic turnaround. After winning just 22 games last season, the Cavs are 19-13 and fifth in the Eastern Conference. Prior to coaching in Cleveland, Bickerstaff was an interim coach in Houston and Memphis. The Cavs won only 19 games in Bickerstaff's abbreviated first season, but were showing great promise before the season was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cavaliers coach J.

Devin Booker scored 35 points, Chris Paul had 12 assists and made four free throws in the final 8.8 seconds the Phoenix Suns extended their winning streak to 14 games, holding off the Cleveland Cavaliers 120-1115.

Stephen Curry scored 20 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter, hitting three straight 3-pointers, and the NBA-leading Golden State Warriors overcame a 13-point deficit to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 104-89 on Thursday night.

(AP Photo/Eric Gay) (Eric Gay)CLEVELAND — (AP) — The Cavaliers filled one of their biggest needs, acquiring veteran point guard Ricky Rubio from the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday. Cleveland sent forward Taurean Prince, a 2022 second-round draft pick and cash to Minnesota for the 30-year-old Rubio, who has spent 10 years in the NBA. The Cavs were desperate to find a dependable backup point guard for Darius Garland. Rubio averaged 8.6 points and 6.4 assists last season for Minnesota. He played his first six seasons with the Timberwolves, who took him with the fifth overall pick in 2009.

The Cavaliers filled one of their biggest needs, acquiring veteran point guard Ricky Rubio from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Evan Fournier and Nicolas Batum are going for gold, though they can’t forget about the green.

Rubio has well over a decade of experience in the international game. The rims are 10 feet high and much of the court looks the same as what American NBA players are used to, but the nuances of the international game — the Olympic game — are much different. There’s a lot of handchecks; it’s called different in NBA than in FIBA. In the NBA, the sixth foul sends someone to the bench for the rest of the evening; in FIBA, it only takes five. “As the game goes on, as we continue to go through this process, we’re figuring out the difference between the international game and the game we play,” U.S. guard Damian Lillard said.

The rules are different.

Ricky Rubio scored 26 points and rookie Anthony Edwards added 25 as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Golden State Warriors 126-114 on Thursday night.

(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)Another NBA game was called off Sunday because of coronavirus concerns, and the Memphis Grizzlies said center Jonas Valanciunas will not play Monday because of the league’s health and safety protocols. The 76ers played in Memphis on Saturday night, losing 106-104 in a game where Valanciunas played 20 minutes. He was pulled at halftime of Memphis’ game against Brooklyn on Jan. 8 because of some sort of virus-related issue, but was back on the court for the Grizzlies’ next game Jan. 11 against Cleveland. Minnesota, which had a game Friday called off after Karl-Anthony Towns revealed he tested positive, is scheduled to play Monday in Atlanta. Cleveland’s game in Washington on Sunday also was called off, as was the planned rematch between the clubs on Monday.

The Houston Rockets agreed to trade Trevor Ariza and the 16th pick in Wednesday night's NBA draft to the Detroit Pistons for a future first-round pick, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been announced. The Philadelphia 76ers sent Al Horford and a protected future first-round pick to Oklahoma City, and the Minnesota Timberwolves reacquired point guard Ricky Rubio in a separate trade with the Thunder. The person confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade had not yet been announced. The Timberwolves obtained the 17th pick, which originally belonged to Brooklyn, from Atlanta in a four-team, 12-player, three-pick trade in February.

FILE - In this Aug. 15, 2020, file photo, Portland Trail Blazers' Jusuf Nurkic (27) and Memphis Grizzlies' Jonas Valanciunas (17) reach for the opening tip in an NBA basketball play-in game in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The 2020-21 NBA schedule will feature a play-in tournament and an NBA Finals that could run all the way until July 22 keeping some players from competing in the Olympics. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP, File)NEW YORK – The 2020-21 NBA schedule will feature a play-in tournament and an NBA Finals that could run all the way until July 22 — keeping some players from competing in the Olympics. The league debuted the play-in tournament this year at Walt Disney World, though it only featured the Nos. The second half is March 11 to May 16, with the play-in tournament May 18-21.

A person with knowledge of the situation says All-Star guard Chris Paul is being traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Phoenix Suns, where he'll play alongside one of the league's most dynamic young scorers in fellow All-Star Devin Booker. The Phoenix Suns weren’t deterred. “We are excited to welcome Chris Paul and Abdel Nader to Phoenix,” Suns general manager James Jones said. That trade, along with the Paul trade, could give the Thunder as many as 17 first-round picks in the next seven drafts. The trade reunites him with Suns coach Monty Williams; Paul played for Williams in 2010-11 when Williams was in his first season coaching the New Orleans Hornets.

Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker (1) dribbles as Dallas Mavericks' Trey Burke defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)

Dario Saric scored 16 points and Cameron Payne and Cameron Johnson each added 15 for the Suns. Dallas was already locked into a playoff matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers, so the starters played limited minutes. Luka Doncic, who had averaged 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11.3 assists in the bubble, finished with 18 points in just over 13 minutes. Booker scored 23 points on 9-for-13 shooting before the break. Suns: Either season over or will be in a play-in game against Memphis on Saturday.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives past Philadelphia 76ers forward Glenn Robinson III (40) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)

Booker became the Suns' career leader with his 91st 30-point game, breaking a tie with Walter Davis. Phoenix pulled away late after leading only 105-102 following back-to-back baskets by Alec Burks, who led the 76ers with 23 points. The Suns continued their high-scoring play in the bubble after averaging 120 points in the first six games. The 76ers also were without Joel Embiid (left ankle), Tobias Harris (sore right ankle) and Al Horford (sore left knee). 76ers: Play the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night.

Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)

Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro each had 25 points to lead the Heat. Three free throws by Robinson cut the Suns' lead to 115-112 before Miami's Bam Adebayo was called for goaltending on a shot by Booker. The review with 11.2 seconds remaining confirmed the call and extended the lead to five points. Led by its backcourt scoring from Herro and Robinson, Miami quickly led by double figures at 19-8. The Suns led 88-86 entering the final period.

Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker draws a foul from Los Angeles Clippers' Paul George, rear, during an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP)

The Suns improved to 3-0 in the bubble as they chase a playoff spot. Ricky Rubio missed a shot after that and Ivica Zubac got the rebound, but he threw a bad pass that Mikal Bridges stole to give the Suns another chance. He turned the other direction and shot as George was closing, then crashed to the court as his teammates surrounded him to celebrate the victory. After setting a franchise record by making 25 3-pointers in a win over New Orleans on Saturday, the Clippers managed just eight in the loss. Leonard led the Clippers with 27 points and George added 23.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives to the basket against Washington Wizards guard Jerome Robinson (12) in the first half an NBA basketball game in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Friday, July 31, 2020. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. Devin Booker scored 27 points, Deandre Ayton added 24 points and 12 rebounds and the Phoenix Suns beat the Washington Wizards 125-112 on Friday in their first game of the restart. Booker made all nine of his free throws and Phoenix hit 30 of 32 from the line. Dario Saric added 16 points for the Suns, who shot 52% from the field. Rui Hachimura had 21 points and eight rebounds and Jerome Robinson added 20 points for the Wizards on coach Scott Brooks' 55th birthday.

Ricky Rubio of Spain celebrates with Head Coach Sergio Scariolo during the finals between Argentina and Spain of 2019 FIBA World Cup at the Cadillac Arena on September 15, 2019 in Beijing, China. BEIJING (CNN) - Spain captured its second FIBA basketball World Cup title after defeating Argentina 95-75 in the gold medal game at the Wukesong Arena in Beijing on Sunday. He won the NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors and becomes the second player to win an NBA title and the FIBA World Cup title in the same year. He was among five players named to the FIBA World Cup 2019 All-Star Five. The Spaniards won their first basketball World Cup title in 2006 in Japan.