Porziņģis (illness) to meet with medical staff

Porziņǵis, who has struggled with health issues for the last two seasons, missed Golden State’s first five preseason games due to what the Warriors describe as a “health-related matter.” He’ll remain sidelined indefinitely, giving Gui Santos and Yaxel Lendeborg more opportunities in the frontcourt. Both appear on track to start the regular season, with Lendeborg offering higher fantasy upside. Al Horford is expected to be limited to 20 minutes, so he offers little fantasy value. As for Porziņǵis, fantasy managers should avoid drafting him, especially in standard leagues.

Lendeborg’s strong preseason continued in this game, though it is worth noting that he tweaked his left ankle in the third quarter. He shot his free throws before exiting and wasn’t limping and was able to return to the game. There’s no reason to think it will impact his status for opening night, where he should be part of the Warriors’ starting unit.

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.

There still isn’t much clarity as to what Porziņģis is dealing with, and the team doesn’t know when he’ll be back around. Porziņģis has had plenty of health issues over the last few seasons, and that may continue to prevent him from being available as the season starts. He signed a two-year contract to remain with the Warriors back in June.

Butler said during Warriors media day that his testing numbers are “off the charts” and he’s ahead of schedule in his recovery from a torn right ACL. However, the Warriors are exercising caution with the veteran wing’s recovery, as he has not been cleared to go full speed or participate in contact drills. While Butler won’t be available to help fantasy managers immediately, he’s worth stashing with a late-round pick in standard leagues. His and Moses Moody’s (knee) absences likely free up additional minutes for lottery pick Yaxel Lendeborg, who the Warriors will need to contribute immediately, whether he starts or comes off the bench.

Porziņǵis has appeared in only 74 games across the last two seasons, and availability will be a major concern heading into the 2026-27 season. Al Horford and Draymond Green are well past their primes, and Jimmy Butler is still on the mend after tearing his right ACL in January. With so many frontcourt minutes up for grabs, rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is a fascinating late-round selection with upside.

Lendenborg scored nine points in the fourth quarter, including seven straight down the stretch, to help the Warriors overcome a double-digit deficit in the final frame to secure the win. The double-double he tallied along the way was enough to earn the Most Valuable Player award. Lendenborg, the 11th pick of the 2026 NBA Draft, has now won two championships this calendar year. His contributions to winning and a strong summer showing overall could make him an interesting player this upcoming fantasy basketball season.

A few months removed from ending his college career with a national title, Lendeborg will play for a Summer League title on Sunday. The lottery pick bounced back nicely from a poor shooting performance in Thursday’s win over the Knicks, shooting over 50 percent from the field and recording another complete stat line. Regardless of what happens with the Warriors’ pursuit of LeBron James, Lendeborg has the skill set needed to contribute immediately. However, no LeBron would give the rookie a higher fantasy ceiling.

After shooting 1-of-7 from beyond the arc in Tuesday’s loss to the Grizzlies, Cryer rebounded nicely to help the Warriors keep their hopes of qualifying for the semifinals alive. He shot 5-of-12 from beyond the arc, leading five Warriors in double figures with 17 points. Unlike first-round pick Yaxel Lendeborg (3/6/6/1/2 with one three-pointer), Cryer’s status for next season is not secure. He’s still on a two-way deal, but if the Warriors stay healthy, Cryer’s role is unlikely to match what it was last season.

After scoring 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting in Sunday’s rout of the Thunder, Lendeborg shot the ball better on Tuesday. The defeat was the Warriors’ first this summer in a game that their first-round pick appeared in, a reminder of what Lendeborg can bring to the table as a connector and winner. How valuable he is in fantasy basketball will depend on the Warriors’ recruitment of LeBron James; if they can’t land the 41-year-old, Lendeborg will possess a higher ceiling as a rookie.