2 weeks agoAtlanta Hawks center
Clint Capela was limited to only seven minutes in Wednesday's preseason matchup against Miami, exiting the game with right ankle soreness. The Swiss big man tallied three points and three rebounds before his premature exit. Atlanta is already without
Onyeka Okongwu (toe), making Capela's loss a bitter blow. However, his injury doesn't sound too bad, so he could still be ready for next week's season opener against Brooklyn. Capela has been a walking double-double throughout his NBA career and should continue in the same vein in 2024-25. After sitting out Wednesday's game,
Cody Zeller (rest) could slide into the lineup as Capela's replacement on Thursday versus Oklahoma City.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Atlanta Hawks PR
2 weeks agoPhiladelphia 76ers point guard
Jared McCain (head) was taken to a hospital after he suffered a hard fall in Wednesday's preseason clash with Brooklyn. According to ESPN's Tim Bontemps, McCain is being evaluated for a concussion, among other things, after appearing to struggle to catch his breath on the court. McCain, the 16th pick of this year's draft, notched nine points, seven rebounds, and two assists in 23 minutes before exiting Wednesday's action. The 20-year-old guard has drawn a lot of plaudits for his performances in training camp and the preseason. He looks set to be part of the regular rotation to start the season, although it's currently unclear if McCain will be ready for next week following Wednesday's incident.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 weeks agoVeteran small forward
Doug McDermott has agreed to a one-year contract with the Sacramento Kings. The 32-year-old was a free agent after finishing the 2023-24 campaign with the Indiana Pacers. McDermott averaged only 4.2 points as a member of the Pacers. However, he posted 10-plus points in four consecutive seasons prior to the 2023-24 campaign, and the Kings are getting an extra scoring option in McDermott as a big three-point threat who has nailed 41 percent of his attempts from deep over the course of his career. With that said, McDermott likely won't see enough action to make an impact in fantasy basketball.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania
2 weeks agoChicago Bulls point guard
Lonzo Ball made his long-awaited return to NBA action on Wednesday, logging 15 minutes in a 125-123 preseason win over Minnesota. Ball came off the bench and played well, posting 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting. He hit a pair of threes with four attempts and had one rebound, one assist, one steal, and one block to remind everybody of his versatility. Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said after the game that Ball "looked great" and moved "really, really well." Ball's return to the court is an exceptional story, and it's great to see that he's fully capable of still making an impact on this level. However, fantasy managers should keep in mind that Ball has returned to action on a 16-minute restriction and won't play in back-to-backs.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 weeks agoDallas Mavericks point guard
Luka Doncic (calf) had his first full practice in two weeks on Wednesday. He has been rehabbing a left calf contusion that Doncic sustained in training camp. According to Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, Doncic did "really, really well" on Wednesday, but it's unlikely that Doncic will be on the court on Thursday when Dallas wraps up its preseason with a game against Milwaukee. The losing finalists from last season begin the 2024-25 campaign on Oct. 24 versus San Antonio, so there's still a good amount of time left for Doncic to work his way into game shape.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 weeks agoToronto Raptors guard
Immanuel Quickley (thumb) has been cleared for contact and went through a full practice on Tuesday. The speedy guard is working his way back from a thumb injury he sustained before training camp. As a result of the injury, Quickley has missed all four of Toronto's preseason games. His status for the final preseason game on Friday versus Brooklyn will be determined by how Quickley feels after practicing the next couple of days. Missing the preseason certainly isn't ideal for Quickley, but he's set to be healthy for the start of the regular season, and that's the most important thing. The 25-year-old is gearing up for his first full campaign with the Raptors, and the expectations are high following Quickley's good spell he had with the team last term after arriving in a mid-season trade from New York.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Josh Lewenberg
2 weeks agoDenver Nuggets forward
Peyton Watson (hamstring) remained on the shelf for Tuesday's preseason outing against Oklahoma City. Denver had their fourth exhibition game on Tuesday, but Watson hasn't featured in any of them due to a hamstring injury. He has one more opportunity to shake off some rust before the regular season begins next week, as the Nuggets finish their preseason slate against Minnesota on Thursday. Watson's role on the team has steadily grown in his first two years in the league, but it's a tough challenge for him to take another leap, with
Aaron Gordon and
Michael Porter Jr. firmly ahead of him as starters at the forward positions.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA.com
2 weeks agoCharlotte Hornets guard/forward
Cody Martin (wrist) missed a fourth consecutive preseason game on Tuesday against the Knicks. He hurt his right wrist before the start of preseason, and while Martin was initially considered day-to-day, he still hasn't shaken off the injury. Entering training camp, Martin also had an ankle problem. It looks like 2024-25 could be another injury-plagued campaign for Martin, who's managed to suit up for only 35 games across the previous two seasons. Before running into injuries, Martin was on an upward trajectory. Now, there are question marks regarding his role on the team, and Martin might even struggle to average 20 minutes of action this season, which will negatively impact his fantasy value.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 weeks agoWashington Wizards forward
Saddiq Bey (knee) remains without a timetable for his return to action. The 25-year-old suffered an ACL injury in March and is still rehabbing, with a week to go until the start of the 2024-25 NBA campaign. Bey could be fun to watch on this rebuilding Wizards team. He has averaged 14.1 points and 5.2 rebounds in 292 regular-season appearances with Detroit and Atlanta. Despite his knee injury, Bey was signed to a three-year, $20 million deal as a free agent by the Wizards in the summer, so the team clearly values him. However, it could take months until we see the 25-year-old in action with his new squad.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Varun Shankar
2 weeks agoGolden State Warriors guard
De'Anthony Melton was unavailable for Tuesday's preseason clash with the Lakers due to mid-back tightness. Melton had featured in all four preseason games until Tuesday. He's knocked down threes at a good rate while being a defensive pest. Melton also stood out on Sunday versus Detroit with seven assists, showing he has the potential to be a good backup option at point guard behind
Stephen Curry. The six-year veteran should also see minutes at the shooting guard spot, although there's a lot of competition, with
Brandin Podziemski,
Buddy Hield, and
Moses Moody all wanting their piece of the cake. The Warriors have one more exhibition game to go, facing the Lakers in a rematch on Friday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Anthony Slater
2 weeks agoNew York Knicks guard
Landry Shamet suffered an apparent right shoulder injury in Tuesday's preseason contest against Charlotte. The veteran sharpshooter was hurt in the third quarter after putting up eight points in 20 minutes with 3-for-10 shooting. Shamet has a non-guaranteed contract but was expected to make the Knicks roster for the 2024-25 campaign. The six-year veteran is valuable for his three-point shooting ability, hitting 38.4 percent of his attempts across 348 career NBA appearances. However, the shoulder injury could force Shamet to miss a large chunk of the upcoming season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Stefan Bondy
2 weeks agoPhoenix Suns forward
Grayson Allen (Achilles) logged another limited practice session on Tuesday. The 29-year-old, who signed a lucrative extension with Phoenix in April, has been dealing with Achilles soreness. While the Suns haven't ruled him out for opening night, there's a chance he may miss some games to begin the 2024-25 campaign. Allen averaged 13.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists last season. He also shot a career-high 46.1% from deep. Although Allen isn't expected to start consistently this season, he should see plenty of minutes, considering the Suns lack depth from off the bench. As a result, Allen is relevant for fantasy managers in any format. With that said, if he isn't on the floor when the Suns open the season against the Clippers on October 23,
Royce O'Neale and
Damion Lee may see more minutes.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Duane Rankin
2 weeks agoAccording to Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer, center
Jusuf Nurkic hasn't "done basketball work." He also said Nurkic "hasn't had any contact." The 30-year-old injured his left middle finger while scrimmaging, keeping him off the court during the preseason. While Nurkic averaged 10.9 points last season, nearly three points less than in his final year in Portland, he was still a double-double producer. That's not expected to change, although the injury could compromise his availability for the start of the 2024-25 campaign. If Nurkic misses time,
Mason Plumlee or
Bol Bol may spend more time in the middle. There's also a chance the Suns go small, with
Royce O'Neale sliding over to the five.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Duane Rankin
2 weeks agoAccording to Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer, guard
Devin Booker (ankle) looked "great" in Tuesday's practice, adding he's "ready to go." The 27-year-old sat out the Suns' previous two contests because of right ankle soreness. However, the team was likely playing things safe. Booker is coming off a quality season, averaging 27.1 points, 6.9 assists, and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 36.4% from behind the arc. While he's a capable performer, he hasn't played more than 68 games in any of his previous four seasons, which is something for fantasy managers to consider ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Duane Rankin
2 weeks agoPhiladelphia 76ers guard/forward
Paul George (knee) was diagnosed with a bone bruise. He will be re-evaluated in one week. While there is "no structural damage," the timeline could mean George will miss the start of the regular season. The latest update shouldn't impact his fantasy value ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, barring a setback. However, with the 76ers looking for a championship, fantasy managers may be without George until the team is absolutely certain he is ready to roll. With that in mind,
Eric Gordon, who averaged 15.4 points, 1.0 steals, and shot 45.1% from deep in 24 starts with the Suns last season, may spend time with the first five until George can return.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Kyle Nuebeck
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