NBA Player News

Both two-way guards will be sidelined against Oklahoma City on Wednesday, though neither has been a consistent part of the Grizzlies’ rotation this season. Their absences won’t open up minutes for any other player, since they don’t have minutes to give away.

With LeBron James and Rui Hachimura out of the picture, LaRavia’s opportunities should increase, whether he starts or comes off the bench. He was the Lakers’ sixth man on Monday and provided solid production outside of his poor foul shooting. While he may not be someone who fantasy managers look to invest a top-100 pick in, LaRavia is well worth the risk as a late-round option.

Going into training camp, many saw Grimes as a frontrunner for one of the two undecided spots in the Lakers’ starting lineup. He started Monday’s preseason opener, logging 19 minutes and shooting reliably alongside playmaker Luka Dončić. The concern is that Grimes offered little production beyond points, three-pointers and percentages. Hopefully, that won’t be the case for him once the games count.

Dončić got his work done early on Monday, playing 16 minutes in the first half and not seeing any action in the second. He delivered his usual performance, doing most of what he wanted as a scorer while also recording five turnovers. The Lakers didn’t have Austin Reaves on Monday, but that won’t change anything regarding Dončić’s fantasy outlook. He will be one of the top options to have rostered, regardless of league format, but the Lakers point guard will be most valuable in turnover-punt builds.

As expected, Acuff started at point guard in the Kings’ preseason opener. The lottery pick out of Arkansas led the team in shot attempts, which was unsurprising since he logged 27 minutes and no other starter played more than 15. Acuff shot reasonably well from the field overall, but he went 1-of-4 from beyond the arc and finished with more turnovers (five) than assists (four). Efficiency can be an issue for rookie point guards, but it seems clear Acuff will be given every opportunity to work through those struggles.

Stewart, acquired from the Pistons in late June, played just two minutes on Monday before exiting wth a left ankle injury. The forward/center landed awkwardly after attempting to block a shot and did not return. With Zach Edey still out, Quinten Post (eight points, four rebounds and two three-pointers) would have added fantasy value if neither is available when the regular season begins. Post started Monday’s game and logged 12 minutes.

Ware came off the bench in his unofficial Bucks debut, but that didn’t prevent the 7-footer from showing why he still has a top-100 ADP. He was highly active on both ends of the floor, recording a double-double and shooting 2-of-6 from beyond the arc. Given starting center Myles Turner’s (seven points, five rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block, and one three-pointer) rebounding struggles last season, Ware will have consistent fantasy value, even if he doesn’t start.

Rollins’ defensive aggression helped Milwaukee hold Minnesota’s reserves to 21 points in the third quarter. However, that also contributed to him fouling out in 14 minutes of play. Rollins averaged 2.6 fouls per game during his breakout 2025-26 season, so there should not be any concern coming out of Monday’s game. In fact, the biggest takeaway is that he started with Kevin Porter Jr. (seven points, three rebounds, and two assists) coming off the bench. The question is whether head coach Taylor Jenkins will stick with this lineup or give KPJ opportunities to make the starting point guard job his own. If Rollins starts, he’ll have the opportunity to show that last season wasn’t a fluke.

After finishing second in NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting last season, the move from Miami to Milwaukee could propel Jaquez into a starting role. He was with the starters in Monday’s preseason opener, logging 18 minutes. His usage rate was third among Bucks starters behind Ryan Rollins and Tyler Herro, suggesting Jaquez should get supplementary playmaking opportunities. While the production wasn’t great, remaining a starter would improve his fantasy outlook and make Jaime a must-draft player.

Playing in a Bucks uniform for the first time, Herro logged 19 minutes and was one of four players in double figures for the home team. He took nine shots, second-most among Bucks starters, with only Ryan Rollins taking more (12). Milwaukee’s backcourt is crowded right now, but that shouldn’t be a major issue for Herro. If he’s one of the offensive focal points, Herro is a safe bet to bounce back from an injury-riddled 2025-26.

Is Beringer a must-draft player in standard leagues? No. However, with the Timberwolves trading Julius Randle and Naz Reid, the second-year pivot has room to earn rotation minutes behind starter Rudy Gobert. Beringer looked comfortable on the court, even attacking the Bucks’ defense off the dribble for a spinning layup in one second-half play. Redraft league managers, especially those competing in deeper leagues, should watch Beringer and his role during the preseason.