NBA Player News

Matthews has been cleared to play after initially being listed as questionable. With Jalen Johnson (ankle) sidelined, the veteran wing will likely slide into the starting lineup. Matthews is not a must-stream player, but he’s worthy of consideration in deep leagues due to how shorthanded the Hawks are on the wings.

With Dejounte Murray sitting out Thursday’s game, Fears moved into the starting lineup in Miami. The second-year guard logged 19 minutes, finishing with one more turnover (three) than assists. Playing time shouldn’t be an issue for Fears this season, but a healthy Murray lowers his fantasy ceiling considerably. At best, Fears is a late-round flier in redraft leagues.

Poole appeared in only 39 games last season, and his chances of earning consistent rotation minutes in 2026-27 don’t look good. That said, he shot the ball well in Miami, knocking down three of his four three-point attempts. You gain little by using a draft pick on Poole in most fantasy leagues, but he has a clean slate under new head coach Jamahl Mosley.

As of Thursday evening, Queen had a Yahoo! ADP of 85. That’s pretty high, especially for a player who isn’t guaranteed a starting role once the regular season begins. Yves Missi (11 points, nine rebounds), a superior defender, started at center in New Orleans’ two preseason games. First-year head coach Jamahl Mosley could very well go with Queen once the games count, but he’ll have to do more as a defender to make that happen. Given the uncertainty, using a top-100 pick on Queen is risky.

Blocked shots have never been a huge part of Thompson’s game, so there’s no need to read into his performance against the Pelicans. However, it was good to see the veteran sharpshooter active on the defensive end of the floor. Thompson hasn’t shot well in Miami’s first two preseason games, but starting gives him a chance to return to fantasy relevance in 2026-27.

As in Milwaukee, coming off the bench for the Heat will limit Portis’ fantasy ceiling. However, that doesn’t make him incapable of providing value, especially in deeper leagues. Portis recorded a complete stat line in his 20 minutes on the court on Thursday, and he can do that consistently during the regular season. He won’t be the most exciting late-round pick in fantasy drafts, but the veteran forward will be worth a look.

After scoring nine points in his unofficial Heat debut on Saturday, Antetokounmpo was more aggressive in seeking his own scoring opportunities on Thursday. Whether scoring or creating for others, Giannis will have plenty of chances to deliver elite fantasy value in his new home. If the Heat can surround him with enough shooting, Antetokounmpo’s fantasy outlook would improve.

Cenac struggling with his shot in his unofficial Celtics debut was unsurprising, as he’s still a work in progress offensively. Still, the first-round pick out of Houston played with a high motor and posted solid numbers in rebounds and blocks. Given Boston’s expected rotation, Cenac will face tough odds to lock down minutes once the regular season begins. However, he is a player you have to roster in dynasty leagues.

Watson made his unofficial Cavaliers debut on Thursday, stepping into the starting lineup. He’ll keep that role once the games count, making him a much better fantasy option than he was coming off the bench in Denver. Watson isn’t a player you need to select in the first 100 picks of standard-league drafts, but managers should have him on their radar shortly after.

With frontcourt sidekick Evan Mobley’s emergence, Allen’s fantasy ceiling has been lower in recent years. However, his floor remains relatively safe, especially with point guard James Harden in the fold for the entire season. Allen logged 17 minutes in Thursday’s preseason opener, so there isn’t much to be taken from his final stat line.

One year after winning NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors, Mobley’s production slipped somewhat in 2025-26. However, he remained a valuable frontcourt option for fantasy managers in any league format. Mobley said before training camp that he’s approaching this season with a “chip on his shoulder,” motivated by the conversations that followed the Cavaliers’ playoff elimination. If he lives up to those words, fantasy managers who draft Mobley will happily reap the rewards.