NBA Player News

This translates to more frustration for fantasy managers. Thibs has been known to play guys that aren’t fantasy friendly, leave young guys with potential on the bench, and really favor players that come into training camp already in shape. He also gives a fresh start to everyone every year. Thankfully, Taj Gibson isn’t in New York anymore, so hopefully that translates into more minutes for Obi Toppin off the bench. However, there’s a chance that a lot of the young guys (Cam Reddish, Quentin Grimes, Immanuel Quickley) don’t play as much as we all want them to.

In Sacramento’s first preseason game, Ellis was the fifth starter, which was the same way that they closed out last season. However, Kevin Huerter is still sidelined and getting closer to a return. It’s unclear if Ellis or Huerter will be the starter when both are available, but if Ellis retains the job, his upside in 9-cat leagues will be high. He was able to showcase an elite ability to produce steals, blocks and 3-pointers late last season, which would be a valuable addition in the later rounds.

Monk didn’t play long in this game, but he was able to pour in the buckets quickly. This was his first time on the floor since injuring his right knee late in March, which ended his season early. The Kings are close to full strength now, and Monk will be a big part of their offense this year even with the addition of DeMar DeRozan.

In his first preseason game with Sacramento, DeRozan was perfect. He has still yet to miss a shot while wearing a Kings jersey in a game, which would be a nice trend for him to continue. It will be interesting to monitor how the fit works alongside De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, but the early returns are incredibly positive for this lineup. DeMar should continue to be a reliable option in fantasy leagues despite the change in scenery.

Kuminga joined Draymond Green and Stephen Curry as the three players that have started both of Golden State’s preseason games. It feels like Kuminga’s spot in the starting unit should be safe despite them having two open spots, though Andrew Wiggins has yet to play in the preseason. However, it was still encouraging to see Kuminga knock down four 3-pinters in this game, and fantasy managers will certainly be rooting for him to continue to start even when Wiggins is healthy.

After De’Anthony Melton started in their first game, Podz got the nod in this one. Melton ended up finishing with 16 points, five rebounds, three assists and four 3-pointers, while Podz only had an advantage with the assists. Both guards will play large roles this season, but it’s unclear which one will be the starter when opening night comes around. Regardless, both guards are solid options in the later rounds.

In his second preseason game with Golden State, Hield reminded everyone what kind of shooter the Warriors added to play alongside Stephen Curry. He’ll likely remain in a reserve role, which may prevent him from providing numbers like this consistently. However, he should still be a valuable source of 3-pointers this season, though he may not see enough minutes to contribute in other categories enough to justify more than a late round dart throw.

Wiggins joined Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren as the Thunder players to score in double figures in this game. Wiggins was able to show out, though it was only a preseason game. He won’t be a consistent contributor on offense throughout the season, and while he is going to be an important part of the team’s rotation, he likely won’t make a consistent impact in fantasy basketball.

SGA sat out during the Thunder’s first preseason game, so this was the first time that he suited up since the Olympics. He knocked down some tough 3-pointers, which hasn’t been a strong part of his game in the past. However, if he is able to add that to his repertoire, SGA will be even more impactful in fantasy hoops. He’s already a lock to go in the top four in fantasy drafts, and he will be well worth the early pick.

Sheppard struggled in his preseason debut, so it was encouraging to see him play better in this game. He had a fantastic Summer League, and the expectations for his rookie year are high, even if he’ll likely play a limited role due to the amount of talent that they have on their roster. He’s worth taking a chance on with a pick in the final rounds of drafts, but his impact this season doesn’t compare to his value in dynasty leagues.

Brooks didn’t suit up for their first preseason game, and he was able to have a decent offensive performance in his season debut. He was the starter last year, but with the continued development of players like Amen Thompson, Tari Eason and Cam Whitmore, that spot isn’t guaranteed for long. Whether he’s starting or not, Brooks isn’t a player to target in standard fantasy leagues.