NBA Player News

The 6-foot-3 3/4 guard from Baltimore played very well during his lone season at Pitt, earning ACC All-Rookie Team honors. In 33 games, Carrington averaged 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.6 steals, and 2.0 3-pointers, shooting 41.2% from the field and 78.5% from the foul line. While the field-goal percentage suggests some inefficiency on the part of Carrington, he finished the season with a relatively low turnover percentage (13.0) and a respectable offensive rating of 111.5. A little over half of his shot attempts were from beyond the arc, and Carrington struggled finishing around the basket. He didn’t test well athletically at the combine, but the ability to both run an offense and hit perimeter shots is why “Bub” was expected to land in the first round. Washington traded for this pick earlier in the day in the deal that sent Deni Avdija for Portland. Bub will get to learn from Malcolm Brogdon in year one and play alongside Jordan Poole in the backcourt. This is an excellent landing spot for him to make some noise in year one.

Wade and Tyson, who did not travel with the Cavaliers on their three-game road trip that concluded on Thursday, will remain out on Sunday. Due to the absences in the frontcourt, Larry Nance Jr. could move into the rotation on Sunday out of necessity.

Sunday’s game is the first of two in as many nights for the Cavaliers, so some rotation players are resting. Merrill, who played in Thursday’s win over the Cavaliers after sitting out Tuesday’s win over the Clippers. Max Strus is not on the injury report, and he should have no problem getting up shots against the Pacers.

The Cavaliers have games on Sunday and Monday, so some key contributors will sit out for injury management reasons. Allen and Mobley not playing against the Pacers frees up minutes for Thomas Bryant and Nae’Qwan Tomlin. While streaming either comes with considerable risk, playing time should not be a concern.

While Walker has missed Indiana’s last three games, Sheppard was injured during Friday’s loss to the Hornets. The former, if available, offers a much higher fantasy ceiling, especially with Pascal Siakam ruled out. Kobe Brown and Ethan Thompson should play plenty, especially if Walker remains out.

Toppin is back on the injury report, but the probable tag suggests that he will ultimately play. He played 20 minutes in Friday’s loss to the Hornets, and the playing time may not change much, even with Pascal Siakam unavailable.

Siakam suffered back and ankle injuries during Friday’s loss to the Hornets, but it’s the latter that will keep him out of Sunday’s game. As for Nesmith, he will miss a fourth consecutive contest. Ben Sheppard started on Friday but is questionable with a strained hip. If he can’t play, the Pacers may turn to Ethan Thompson to fill in for Nesmith.

Nembhard and McConnell remaining out means that Quenton Jackson should remain in the starting lineup. Given the Pacers’ lack of depth at point guard, he’s worth picking up for the final game of Week 23. Kam Jones played 23 minutes off the bench in Friday’s loss to the Hornets, dishing out a season-high 10 assists.

Williams is out after playing 21 minutes off the bench in Friday’s loss to the Hawks. His absence frees up minutes among the Nets’ reserves, including Malachi Smith and Trevon Scott. Smith offers higher upside, but both players are risky streaming options.

Saraf is dealing with back tightness, casting some doubt on his availability for Sunday’s game. Nolan Traoré is available, and his status as the starting point guard won’t change. If Saraf doesn’t play, Malachi Smith would figure more prominently in the rotation.

Not only is Mann dealing with a sore left Achilles, but also a sore right knee. He is considered probable, so the Nets may have the veteran wing in the rotation. With Nic Claxton (hand) unavailable, Mann could figure more prominently in the Nets’ offensive attack, mainly as a facilitator.