NBA Player News

The athletic guard from Baylor can quickly make an impact in the NBA. He is one of the best defensive guards in the class, and that translated to plenty of steals last season. He was also an effective offensive player, though he wasn’t the most efficient scorer from any range. He averaged 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.6 three-pointers in 33 games last season. His 38” vertical also led to plenty of highlight dunks in college, though he still only shot about 60 percent on shots at the rim. Still, Edgecombe has all the tools to become a high-level two-way player in the NBA. In Philadelphia, he joins a roster that boasts ample talent, led by Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George. Their inability to stay healthy is what landed the 76ers the third overall pick, but it’s also why Philadelphia could potentially be a player in the East next season. Edgecombe’s fantasy value may be limited early on due to the roster, but he’s capable of developing into a cornerstone for the franchise.

Porter Jr. had several highs and lows throughout Friday’s loss. He finished as the Bucks’ second leading scorer, but shot poorly overall and made only one of his seven three-point attempts. He also tied a team-high in assists, although his seven turnovers led to a poor assist-to-turnover ratio and cost his team several scoring opportunities. His eight turnovers were impactful and helped add to his balanced stat line. However, he left a lot of meat on the bone and will look to be more consistent on Saturday against the Bulls.

Bogdanović played two minutes in the first half before exiting due to left hip tightness. If the veteran wing has to miss time, his absence won’t affect fantasy basketball, but it may free up a few more minutes for rookie Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller. There’s no need to stream Sanders or Miller in redraft leagues.

Portis utilized efficient shooting and tied a season-high in rebounds before earning his fourth double-double in the past six games. He was one of five Milwaukee players to score at least 15 points, and one of three Bucks to collect multiple steals. The veteran forward has now stepped into a starting role under head coach Doc Rivers, and with the role and minutes where they are currently, fantasy managers should expect Portis to remain productive moving forward.

Green did on Friday what he does best, which is light it up from beyond the arc. He broke out of a four-game shooting slump to tie a season-high in points and three-pointers, while scoring in double figures for the first time since December 3 against the Pistons. Green added a couple of steals but didn’t contribute in many other areas. Still, he finished with one of his most productive performances in quite some time.

Spencer made the most of his opportunities on Friday. On low volume, he shot the ball well, especially from beyond the arc, consistently got to the free-throw line, and made contributions as a facilitator in his 25 minutes of game action. Spencer has been one of the more fun and productive bench players this season. He’s now reached double figures in scoring in 14 straight games — he’ll have a chance to extend his streak to 15 on Sunday against the Wizards.

Jackson Jr. put together another well-rounded performance in Friday’s win. Among the several notable stats, his performance on the defensive end was particularly strong and reminiscent of his Defensive Player of the Year-type outings. The veteran forward has now averaged 22.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks over the past 6 games and has been arguably the Grizzlies’ most impressive and reliable player over that stretch. They’ll likely continue to lean on him, which could lead to similarly productive performances from a fantasy basketball standpoint.

Morant played 25 minutes in his return from an ankle injury on Friday. With efficient scoring and strong facilitating throughout, the veteran guard ended up tallying his fifth double-double of the season. Although the numbers weren’t jaw-dropping, it was good for fantasy managers to see Morant productive and on the court again in a season full of injuries. Once his minutes increase, he should see a boost in his offensive production.

White saved his best stuff for the fourth quarter, scoring nine of his points in the final frame to help Chicago complete a comeback win. He didn’t do much as a scorer in the other three quarters, but he contributed as a rebounder and facilitator throughout. Surely, White is capable of more productive games from a fantasy basketball standpoint, but perhaps his strong fourth-quarter showing will carry some momentum into Saturday’s game against the Bucks.

Jones was one of several Bulls reserve players to contribute in a meaningful way on Friday. He came off the bench and tied a team-high in points, which included seven big fourth-quarter points to help the Bulls complete a come-from-behind win. Jones didn’t make his usual impact as a passer, but he’ll have a chance to put together a more balanced performance on Saturday against the Bucks.

Booker has cleared the lofty 30-point barrier twice in his last games after going nearly a month without doing so. The 29-year-old scoring machine served as Phoenix’s primary offensive catalyst in this one, knocking down 9-of-13 shots from inside the arc and getting to the line for a double-digit free-throw attempts. He’s delivered second-round fantasy value over the past week, averaging a sublime 29.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 2.3 steals and 0.7 blocks across three games during that span. These two teams will meet again on Saturday evening for the tail-end of a back-to-back.