NBA Player News

According to the Cavaliers, Strus suffered a Jones fracture in his left foot during a recent workout. He’ll miss three to four months, meaning the starting guard/forward may not be available until after Thanksgiving. With Darius Garland (toe) likely out until the end of October at the earliest, Cleveland will likely begin the 2025-26 season without two starters. Strus’ absence means more opportunities will be available to De’Andre Hunter, Sam Merrill and Jaylon Tyson when training camp opens in late September. Hunter would be the safest choice for fantasy managers, while Merrill offers value as a three-point shooter. Tyson, who played sparingly as a rookie, would be the “wild card” for the Cavaliers.

While Siakam has scored at least 21 points in five straight appearances, Wednesday’s was his first with at least 30 since a January 8 win over the Hornets. While it has been tough sledding for the Pacers’ forward, he’s managed to provide top-100 per-game value in eight- and nine-cat formats. That doesn’t align with Siakam’s ADP (30), but things could be far worse for those who have him rostered.

After totaling 48 points in losses to the Warriors and Suns, McBride crashed back to earth on Monday with a five-point performance against the Mavericks. He got back on track Wednesday night, shooting 50 percent from the field and finishing a blocked shot shy of a complete line. With Jalen Brunson healthy, McBride’s fantasy upside is limited, but he can still be of value to deep-league managers.

Shamet was red-hot from beyond the arc on Wednesday, making all six of his attempts on the night. While his role doesn’t make him a viable option in most fantasy leagues, the Knicks’ reserve has averaged 2.3 three-pointers per game since returning from a shoulder injury. Shamet will only be worth a look on nights when the Knicks are shorthanded on the wings.

Wednesday went as well as it could have for Brunson and the Knicks, who entered their game with the Nets 2-9 in their last 11 games. The Knicks set a franchise record for margin of victory (54 points), and Brunson didn’t have to over-exert himself. Of course, fantasy managers would have hoped for a more competitive game, as the point guard may have logged more than 31 minutes. Saturday’s game against the 76ers stands to be far more competitive.

Wednesday was a night to forget for Porter and the Nets, who were on the wrong end of a 120-66 outcome. Due to the nature of the game, MPJ played only 26 minutes and didn’t shoot well. He and the Nets will look to redeem themselves on Friday when they host the Celtics.

For the second time in three games, Kneuppel grabbed 11 rebounds, pushing his double-double tally to four. The Hornets’ rookie has been a top-50 player over the past two weeks, remaining one of the most productive rookies in fantasy basketball. If there comes a point when the Hornets decide to sit LaMelo Ball, Kneuppel is one of the players who stands to benefit because of his ability to play on or off the ball.