NBA Player News

The 76ers needed to address the power forward position this offseason, and they’ve done the job by adding one of the hot names of the Paris Olympics. France did not take off until Yabusele (and guard Isaia Cordinier) were inserted into the starting lineup, ultimately losing to the United States in the gold medal game. Yabusele is headed back to the NBA after spending four seasons with Real Madrid, which is reportedly owed a buyout of $2.5 million. Per the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement terms, the 76ers can contribute a maximum of $850,000, with Yabusele left to resolve the remaining amount. He has the potential to offer deep-league fantasy value, and dynasty managers should not hesitate to select Yabusele in drafts.

Davis worked out with the Bucks in August, but the team did not make a move to sign him. He’s now in camp with the Bucks, attempting to land the team’s final guaranteed contract. Milwaukee has 14 players under standard contracts, and second-year wing Andre Jackson Jr.'s deal is not guaranteed. He may be Davis’ competition for a roster spot.

While the acquisition of Malcolm Brogdon led some to believe that he could fill the void left by Tyus Jones, Poole will assume the starting point guard role this season. While he can be a bit of an enigma on the court, Poole may be able to improve his production when not sharing the court with another playmaker. The two-man combination of Poole and Jones produced -11.1 points per 100 possessions, slightly better than the Poole/Kyle Kuzma duo (-11.8). While some fantasy managers will hesitate to trust Poole, fortune could favor the bold, especially in a punt turnovers build.

No one had any questions regarding whether or not Green would be a starter; he will be in the Warriors’ starting lineup. The question is, where will he play: power forward or center? While he refused to reveal his complete starting five, Kerr said that Green would be part of that group, but no decision was made regarding which position. The answer impacts multiple players, including Trayce Jackson-Davis, Kyle Anderson, and Kevon Looney. Of the three, TJD offers the highest fantasy upside, and Golden State’s defense improved when he started alongside Green last season. Anderson can also provide solid value, although he’s spent most of his career coming off the bench. If fantasy managers are to roll the dice on any of those options in drafts, it should be Jackson-Davis.

While Wiseman has not been a full participant in Pacers training camp, the injury has not sidelined him entirely. Signed to a two-year deal in July, the former second-overall pick will compete with Isaiah Jackson for backup center minutes behind Myles Turner. Fantasy managers should not consider selecting Wiseman in their drafts.

The 35th overall pick in this summer’s draft, Furphy’s opportunities to compete in camp have been limited due to injury. He tweaked both ankles, restricting his availability in practice. The Pacers will not practice on Thursday to allow Furphy and the team’s other banged-up players additional recovery. Due to Indiana’s depth, Furphy will only be an option in dynasty leagues this season.

Acquired from the Knicks as part of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, Randle is a ball-dominant scorer whose fit alongside Anthony Edwards has been questioned by some. However, there’s no question in Finch’s view regarding Randle’s place within the rotation. He sees Randle as a starter, sliding into the void left by Towns. If Randle can increase his 3-point production and limit the turnovers, there’s a chance he will provide reliable mid-round fantasy value. This also leaves Naz Reid in his usual sixth-man role, capping his fantasy potential in 2024-25.

With the Knicks waiving Marcus Morris and Chuma Okeke to free up cap space to absorb Karl-Anthony Towns’ contract, there’s room for another veteran in training camp. Enter Warren, a scoring wing who finished last season in Minnesota. He’ll need to earn a roster spot during camp; if that happens, Warrer would likely receive a deal worth the veteran minimum. He is not a player who fantasy managers should have on their draft boards.

Wednesday’s injury update from Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins was great news for fans and fantasy managers. The team will continue to exercise caution with Jackson as he rehabs his hamstring, but the expectation is that he’ll be a full go when Memphis opens its season on October 23. In the meantime, Santi Aldama may take on more minutes alongside Zach Edey but don’t expect him to be an impactful fantasy option once Jackson’s cleared to play.

The 9-year vet last appeared in an NBA contest during the 2021-22 season when he logged 53 games for the Pelicans and Trail Blazers. Snell may get a shot to join the parent club at some point during the regular season, but fantasy managers shouldn’t expect meaningful production even if he does.

We’ll keep our eyes out for further updates, and fantasy managers should do the same as they head into 2024-25 drafts. It’s unclear how serious this injury is, but Doncic will have three weeks to recover before his season starts. Dallas tips off the new campaign on October 24 against San Antonio.