Pelicans acquired Taj Gibson from Grizzlies

Champagnie started 68 regular-season games last season, finishing with career-best averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals and three-pointers. Offseason signing Tobias Harris (calf) has yet to play this preseason, and the same can be said for De’Aaron Fox (undisclosed soreness). With those two veterans out, Champagnie has kept his starting spot without fuss. Does that remain the case once Harris and Fox are healthy enough to play? The answer will affect Champagnie’s fantasy ceiling, as he’s a late-round option at best in most leagues.

After recording just one assist in Thursday’s exhibition against the Hawks, Wembanyama recorded six on Saturday. The Spurs didn’t have De’Aaron Fox in either game, and his absence likely contributed to Wemby’s increased playmaking. Fox is dealing with undisclosed soreness; hopefully, it won’t keep him out for the Spurs’ October 20 opener against the Thunder.

After coming off the bench in the Suns’ first two exhibition games, Maluach received the starting nod on Saturday. The second-year center held his own, leading all players with 15 rebounds while also recording a double-double. Oso Ighodaro (8/4/5/2/2) was the replacement in the starting lineup last season when Mark Williams missed time, but many believe Maluach offers a higher fantasy ceiling. He’s worth grabbing with a late-round pick in drafts, with the potential to deliver more value if Maluach earns the starting center role.

Devin Booker was unavailable for Saturday’s game, so Kennard moved into the starting lineup. The Suns signed the veteran wing in free agency for his perimeter shooting prowess, and he shot 4-of-10 from beyond the arc against the Spurs. Kennard can help fantasy managers seeking three-point production, but he shouldn’t be considered a must-draft player.

Green took on a bigger playmaking role on Saturday, as the Suns were without Devin Booker. Although he committed three turnovers, Green was efficient overall. For fantasy purposes, field-goal percentage has been Green’s biggest issue. Last season, his field-goal percentage (42.2) matched his career number, but his free-throw shooting (74.7) and injuries were also problems. If Green, who played all 82 games in 2023-24 and 2024-25, can improve his percentages, he’ll be far more valuable to fantasy managers.

Simply put, Lendeborg was the best player on the floor during the first half of Saturday’s game. The lottery pick out of Michigan recorded 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists and one steal in 15 minutes. Performances like this show why Lendeborg can make an immediate impact, and he’s worth selecting in 12-team drafts. With the Warriors unsure when Jimmy Butler III or Moses Moody will return from their knee injuries, Lendeborg appears on track to begin his rookie campaign as a starter.

With injuries limiting him to 23 games, Murray’s 2025-26 season was a lost one. He made his first appearance of the preseason on Saturday, logging eight minutes in the first quarter before being shut down. Murray’s return pushed De’Andre Hunter (four points, three rebounds and one assist) to the bench, and that’s likely to be the small-forward rotation once the regular season begins. As long as he’s healthy, Murray can be a valuable fantasy option. Another key for him beyond staying healthy is establishing a connection with rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr.

After struggling in Thursday’s exhibition against the Lakers, Acuff was considerably better on Saturday. The lottery pick shot over 50 percent from the field and recorded a game-high eight assists. Even though it was just a preseason game, Acuff’s performance was encouraging, whether you’re a Kings fan or a fantasy manager considering drafting him in the later rounds of 12-team drafts.

Saturday’s exhibition was Simmons’ first game action since Game 5 of the Clippers’ first-round series against the Nuggets in 2025. He started against the Warriors, played nine minutes in the first quarter, then was shut down for the night. Simmons can be a viable option in 12-team leagues, but fantasy managers should temper their expectations early on. He started against the Warriors, but that was because Domantas Sabonis didn’t play. Once the games count, Simmons is likely to come off the bench.

Having turned 40 in early June, Horford’s days of fantasy relevance may be in the rearview mirror. However, with Kristaps Porziņģis sidelined again, Horford’s availability becomes even more important as the regular season approaches. He didn’t shoot well against the Kings, but his rebounding and assists were decent. Horford isn’t a must-pick in most drafts, but he’s worth monitoring on the waiver wire in deep leagues.