NBA Player News

Curry’s 15th NBA season came to a disappointing end, even though he led the Warriors in scoring. Six turnovers countered the shooting percentages, and the Warriors committed 16. Looking ahead to next season, Curry is one of the few “sure things” on the roster. Beginning the 2023-24 campaign with a Yahoo ADP of 6.7, he ranked within the top 20 in 8-cat formats and the top 25 in 9-cat. Whether or not Curry is worthy of being selected with a top-10 pick in drafts will depend partially on what the Warriors’ overall roster looks like.

Currently an unrestricted free agent, Young had another big scoring night in Las Vegas. The 6-foot-1 guard shot 50 percent from the field and was also active on the glass, grabbing 12 rebounds. However, Young needs to clean up the turnovers, as he was responsible for seven. With Miami having one open two-way contract slot, Young may be competing for that spot. However, an Exhibit 10 contract may also be on the table, and that would guarantee him a training camp invitation.

While two of the Raptors’ three two-way contract slots have been filled by Chucky Hepburn and second-round pick Jaden Bradley, Bittle will be in training camp on an Exhibit 10 deal. Not selected in last month’s draft, the 7-footer out of Oregon has displayed range out beyond the three-point line as well as the ability to provide rim protection defensively. While Bittle may not be in a position where he can be relied on in most redraft leagues, he’s an intriguing player to watch in dynasty formats, especially when considering Jakob Poeltl’s struggles to stay healthy last season.

The Raptors fell short of a spot in Saturday’s semifinals, but Graves came through with another solid performance for the winners. The rookie forward’s ability to fill a stat line is what pushed him into the first round despite not being a starter at Santa Clara. Graves contributed on both ends of the floor against the Heat, and he offers a similar fantasy profile to Collin Murray-Boyles, albeit at a smaller size. How valuable Graves can be as a rookie depends partially on Kawhi Leonard, whose acquisition is still on hold. Rotation minutes should not be an issue for Graves, given the many ways in which he can contribute.

The Hawks once again sat first-round picks Kingston Flemings and Zuby Ejiofor, so it’s clear that qualifying for Saturday’s semifinals was not a priority. Memphis jumped out to a huge lead, and that was it, with Veesaar offering limited production in his second start in Las Vegas. Veesaar has played well throughout the summer when sharing the court with a solid point guard, so Thursday’s effort should not cause too much concern. While Ejiofor is likely to be the priority in the competition for frontcourt minutes, Mouhamed Gueye’s foot injury opens the door for Veesaar when training camp opens in the fall.

Coward and the Grizzlies rolled to a 96-64 victory, guaranteeing themselves a place in Saturday’s semifinals. The second-year guard was efficient offensively, shooting well over 50 percent from the field, with his final line lacking only a blocked shot. With the Grizzlies embarking on a new era, the tandem of Coward and lottery pick Cameron Boozer will be asked to lead the way, and they possess the highest fantasy ceilings on the current roster.

Boozer and the Grizzlies needed a big win to clinch a spot in Saturday’s semifinals, and they understood the assignment from the opening tip. Memphis led 32-2 and never looked back, going on to win 96-64. Boozer made things look easy for himself against the shorthanded Hawks, scoring on all three levels and also doing some facilitating. With Memphis now in the semifinals, any thoughts about a potential shutdown for Boozer and the other summer Grizzlies who are guaranteed roles for next season can be put to rest.

With the Knicks continuing to struggle offensively in Las Vegas, Akins did his best to provide a spark off the bench. Not only did he lead all scorers with 21 points, but the undrafted wing out of Michigan State was one of two Knicks in double figures. Having spent last season in the G League, Akins is looking to earn either an Exhibit 10 contract or a two-way deal. Thursday’s performance is a step in the right direction, and the Knicks will play once more before heading home.

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.

Wilson may have shot the ball reasonably well on Thursday, but this was his worst showing in Las Vegas by some distance. More damaging than the 1-of-6 day from beyond the arc was the turnover count, as the lottery pick was responsible for eight. Wilson has said he does not plan to sit at all, but the Bulls will have nothing to play for in their fifth and final game. And his absence could create opportunities for fellow first-round pick Dailyn Swain (four points, two rebounds, one assist, and one steal), who has struggled throughout Chicago’s time in Las Vegas.

Chicago’s Caleb Wilson had the better individual game, but Carr was part of the team that won Thursday’s matchup by a 105-82 final score. The 24th overall pick in last month’s draft has looked ready to contribute immediately for the Lakers, and there is never not a need for capable 3-and-D wings in today’s NBA. With the Lakers now 4-0 and headed to the semifinals, it’s unlikely that Carr gets shut down for Saturday’s game. If they get to the final on Sunday, good luck getting him to sit down.