Nique Clifford scores game-high 23 points vs. LAL

After sitting out the entire 2025-26 season, Simmons started and played nine minutes in his unofficial debut for the Kings on Saturday against the Warriors. At the time of his signing, reports said the veteran guard/forward was expected to back up rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr., but the Kings appear to have a different plan. Simmons, whose minutes will be increased in Sacramento’s final two preseason games, is expected to remain a starter. That likely pushes Precious Achiuwa to the bench, with Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray, and Domantas Sabonis rounding out the starting five. Despite Monday’s report, fantasy managers should still wait until the later rounds of drafts to select Simmons.

Signed to an Exhibit 9 contract in early August, Walker faced long odds of getting his deal guaranteed. After playing 17 minutes in the Nuggets’ first two preseason games and then not playing at all on Sunday against the Bulls, the decision to part ways with the 2018 first-round pick was unsurprising. Walker could be headed back to Europe, having most recently played for Maccabi Tel Aviv last season.

Because of the opposition and Robert Williams III getting the day off, Yang played 21 minutes on Monday. The 7-foot-1 center made the most of his height advantage on offense, shooting 75 percent from the field, but he recorded no defensive stats. Once the regular season begins, Yang is unlikely to get the minutes needed to affect fantasy basketball, especially if Williams and starting center Donovan Clingan remain healthy.

Cissoko is unlikely to get the opportunities needed to provide reliable fantasy value, but his defense may earn him a spot on the back end of Micah Nori’s rotation. Against the Lions, he didn’t miss a shot, going 3-of-3 from beyond the arc and 5-of-5 overall. With Shaedon Sharpe ruled out for at least six months with a torn meniscus, Cissoko and Vit Krejčí (10 points, five rebounds, two assists, three steals, and two three-pointers) should earn additional minutes.

With Ja Morant and Damian Lillard added to the roster, Henderson will remain in a reserve role this season. That makes it imperative that he improves his efficiency to provide reliable fantasy value. Over his career, Henderson is a 40.4 percent shooter from the field and has averaged 2.9 turnovers per game. Given Portland’s perimeter depth, Scoot’s fantasy outlook isn’t great, even though he will remain in the rotation.

Damian Lillard didn’t play in Monday’s exhibition, and his absence opened a starting spot for Holiday. Like the other starters, the veteran guard was done at halftime. The move to the bench lowers Holiday’s fantasy ceiling considerably, giving managers no reason to use a top-100 pick on him. However, he should play enough to provide reliable late-round value in most leagues.

With the Trail Blazers adding Ja Morant and Damian Lillard to the rotation, Clingan’s touches may take a hit this season. However, the 7-foot-2 center can still provide reliable fantasy value in rebounds, blocks and field-goal percentage. For managers punting free-throw percentage, Clingan is a prime candidate for that particular roster build.

Camara has been a mainstay in the Trail Blazers’ starting lineup for most of his first three seasons in Portland, starting all 160 games he played in 2024-25 and 2025-26. That won’t change this season, making Camara a late-round pick in 12-team leagues. He was a 12th-round player in category leagues last season, and it’s fair to expect similar value, especially with Ja Morant and Damian Lillard in the fold.

It could be precautionary, but it is still worth noting. The Kings host the Trail Blazers for a preseason game on Tuesday, so Cardwell’s status for that may paint a better picture. With Maxime Raynaud expected to miss the start of the season with a right knee injury, Cardwell will likely start the year as the backup center, assuming he’s healthy.

Waived by the Clippers on September 25, the 7-foot-5 Sharp joins the Raptors and will compete for the team’s open two-way contract slot. He went undrafted in the 2024 draft and spent the last two seasons with the Mavericks’ G League affiliate. If he earns a two-way slot, Sharp is unlikely to impact fantasy basketball this season. To make room for Sharp, the Raptors have waived guard Chucky Hepburn.