Ighodaro (oblique) trending toward playing Friday

Maluach and starting center Oso Ighodaro (7/4/2) were overwhelmed by San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, an unsurprising development. The good news is that the second-year center scored in double figures for the second time this season while shooting the ball well from the field and the foul line. While expectations for Maluach weren’t sky-high before the season began, most fantasy managers assumed he would average more than 19.6 minutes per game. He hasn’t done enough to make the starting center job his, which has kept Maluach’s fantasy ceiling relatively low.

Head coach Jordan Ott made the call to replace Khaman Maluach with Ighodaro in the starting unit. Unfortunately, Ighodaro found himself in foul trouble throughout the game, which prevented him from providing much value. Ighodaro is worth considering as a waiver wire pickup, even if this first game as a starter was rough. He won’t do much scoring, but he’s a strong passer for a big man and has five blocks over his last three games.

Despite coming off the bench, Ighodaro had actually been playing more minutes recently than Khaman Maluach, who he will replace in the starting unit. The minutes allocation may not be that different from the last few games, but it does bode well for Ighodaro’s value.

Ighodaro is back after a two-game absence, adding frontcourt depth for the Suns. Depending on how much he plays, Oso’s return could push Duop Reath out of the rotation entirely.

Ighodaro injured his oblique during the Suns’ season-opening loss to the Trail Blazers and has missed the last two games. While his absence hasn’t changed the starting lineup, as Khaman Maluach has been the preferred center, it has led to Duop Reath getting rotation minutes off the bench.

No surprise here as Ighodaro was initially listed as doubtful and has since been ruled out for Monday’s game against the Thunder. Khaman Maluach started and had nine points and nine rebounds with Ighodaro out against the Warriors on Saturday. Maluach is likely to start again Monday.

Ighodaro did not play in Saturday’s win over the Warriors, leading to a significant increase in starter Khaman Maluach’s playing time. Expect that to continue if Ighodaro can’t play against the Thunder.

With Oso Ighodaro (oblique) sidelined, Maluach did not have to worry about a timeshare at center. He logged 28 minutes against the Warriors, recording a complete stat line and finishing one point and one rebound shy of a double-double. If the Suns had a good schedule, Ighodaro’s injury would make Maluach a more popular fantasy player. However, they have another two-game week in Week 2, so adding Maluach in 12-team leagues offers little upside.

Ighodaro exited early from Wednesday’s game against Portland and was initially listed as doubtful for this one. Duop Reath should fill out the backup center minutes behind Khaman Maluach.

Ighodaro, initially believed to have suffered a hip injury during Wednesday’s loss to the Trail Blazers, has been diagnosed with an oblique strain. His absence on Saturday would likely result in Duop Reath playing rotation minutes off the bench, with Khaman Maluach remaining the starting center.