NBA Player News

The Knicks don’t have any stars on their summer roster, which has opened the door for some unheralded prospects to make a name for themselves. Brown, who has prior NBA experience, would fit the bill, and he has been the Knicks’ best player in Las Vegas. He was impactful on both ends of the floor on Wednesday, with his first-half production keeping New York within striking distance. Finishing the week strong could be enough to get Brown a training camp invite, be it from the Knicks or another team.

Vassell returned to the starting lineup on Saturday after coming off the bench in his first two games back from a strained adductor. While he recorded a complete stat line in Charlotte, the impact was a bit muted. However, Vassell getting back to 30 minutes is the most notable aspect of his line. Harrison Barnes moved to the bench, finishing with 11 points, three rebounds, two assists and three three-pointers in 25 minutes. With the Spurs hosting the Magic on Sunday, Barnes would likely be back with the starters if they decide to sit Vassell.

After taking over Wednesday’s win over the Rockets, Wembanyama was held in check by the red-hot Hornets on Saturday. The limited offensive production wasn’t the only issue for fantasy managers, as the 7-foot-4 phenom didn’t bring much defensive output to the table, either. After tallying 14 blocked shots in his prior three games, Wembanyama did not have any against the Hornets. Days like Saturday don’t happen very often for Wemby, so there’s no need to be concerned. The Spurs host the Magic on Sunday in their final game of Week 15.

Facing countryman Victor Wembanyama, Diabaté held his own on Saturday. In addition to recording his third double-double in five games and 13th of the season, the Hornets’ forward/center’s six assists were a season-high. Rostered in 25 percent of Yahoo! leagues, Diabaté appears to have locked down the starting center job. Even with the Hornets playing three games in Week 16, now is the time to add Moussa if he’s sitting on the waiver wire.

While Ball didn’t have the best day shooting the basketball, including a 3-of-9 afternoon from inside the arc, his work as a playmaker helped the Hornets extend their win streak to six games. During the run, the Hornets’ point guard’s assist-to-turnover ratio has been excellent, with Ball recording 47 assists and 17 turnovers. He’s shooting just 36.5 percent from the field over the last two weeks, which has negatively affected Ball’s fantasy value. That said, fantasy managers should be encouraged by the decrease in turnovers.

Having totaled 24 points on 8-of-27 shooting in his three prior appearances, Sexton needed a day like Saturday to snap out of his mini-slump. The Hornets guard was a perfect 5-on-5 from beyond the arc, knocking down two within the first three minutes of the fourth quarter. With Charlotte’s perimeter starters being healthy, Sexton offers limited fantasy value. But he’s capable of providing a spark off the bench, which was the case on Saturday.

Miller and the Hornets have now won six consecutive games, the franchise’s longest win streak since March 2016. And he’s been on a roll recently, scoring at least 20 points in 10 straight games. Another impressive streak for Miller is that he’s made his last 38 free throws. Over the past two weeks, he has provided first-round per-game value in 12-team leagues. The Hornets play three games in Week 16, starting with the Pelicans on Monday.

Wagner will remain out for Sunday’s game, the sixth that he’s missed due to left ankle injury management. Anthony Black will remain in the starting lineup until something changes regarding the Magic forward.

With Jerome listed as questionable, this is as close as he’s been to making his season debut. While his return may result in fewer minutes for Cam Spencer and Vince Williams Jr., both will remain in the rotation. Also, look for Jerome’s playing time to be restricted, given the time missed.