NBA Player News

Charania’s report indicates it’s a low-grade left groin strain for Giannis, and if he doesn’t return in November, he should be back quickly to start December. That means at least three absences for Giannis, though he could be out seven games or more, depending on how he recovers. Antetokounmpo has had one of the highest usage rates of his career this year, so there will be plenty of shots to go around. Recently, Kyle Kuzma (24 percent rostered in Yahoo! leagues) replaced Gary Trent Jr. (seven percent) in the starting lineup, but GTJ could make a return to the opening unit with Antetokounmpo out. Jericho Sims started the second half of Monday’s game against the Cavaliers, but that was likely a matchup-based decision against Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Bobby Portis (25 percent) is another candidate to enter the starting lineup, though he has been disappointing this year. Of course, Ryan Rollins, who is enjoying a breakout season for the Bucks, had his two best games of the year when Giannis missed games earlier this year. Everyone on the Bucks will seen a bump in usage and minutes until Antetokounmpo returns.

Clifford had some strong outings during his rookie season, but that didn’t lead to him dominating during his first game of this summer league. However, he was able to come up big at the end by drilling a three-pointer with five seconds left to give the Kings the win. Clifford should be an important rotation piece for Sacramento this upcoming season, but when the team is healthy, there won’t be enough minutes for Clifford to make much of a fantasy impact.

Sacramento added Sharp with the 45th pick last month, and the experienced guard was able to make a well-rounded impact in his first game as a King. This stat line is similar to his college averages, where he was an effective scorer and good source of steals, though his field goal percentage was subpar. Sharp will continue to play a large role during summer league and may be part of the rotation as a rookie, especially with Devin Carter now in Atlanta.

Mogbo, who signed a two-way contract with Sacramento at the start of free agency after spending his first two seasons with Toronto, made his debut for the Kings in this game. He immediately showcased why he’s been such an intriguing player in fantasy basketball. Despite the lack of a perimeter shot, he’s more than capable of racking up the defensive stats. On a two-way deal, his availability this upcoming season may be spotty, but he may have some stretches as a valuable streaming option if he gets the minutes.

As an undrafted rookie last season, Cardwell was able to make a big impact on the defensive end, which he carried right over into summer league. He isn’t the most dynamic offensive player, but Cardwell is a valuable piece in the Kings’ frontcourt and should be able to contribute defensive stats when he gets the opportunity this upcoming season. However, with Domantas Sabonis healthy, the minutes may not be quite as plentiful.

The Kings’ first-round pick last month certainly wasn’t afraid to let it fly in his debut for the team. Acuff showcased plenty of offensive ability during his freshman season at Arkansas, and while he didn’t get many assists in this game, he did have one to Nique Clifford with just five seconds left to win the game. Acuff is a talented offensive player, and if he continues to have this type of mentality, he’ll put up gaudy numbers as a rookie, even if they come inefficiently.

The Nets’ second-round pick made his summer league debut and was able to contribute in multiple areas. Bilodeau is an older rookie, so he should be ready to make an impact from day one if needed, though that doesn’t mean he’s going to play a significant role as a rookie. He’ll continue to get plenty of minutes as summer league continues.

Saraf had a strong finish to his rookie season, but the Nets’ backcourt only got more competitive with the addition of No. 6 overall pick Mikel Brown Jr. He didn’t play in this game, but he will likely start over Saraf when he eventually debuts. Saraf should have a role for the Nets this year, but it is unlikely he makes much of an impact in fantasy basketball.

As a rookie, 71.7 percent of Dëmin’s shot attempts were from beyond the arc, and 69.3 percent of his total made field goals were from deep. Getting to the rim and scoring inside the arc were both question marks for him as a prospect and after his rookie season, but he certainly looked better in that regard in this game. He should once again play a major role for the Nets this upcoming season.

Veesaar slid to the Hawks at pick No. 52 last month, but he’s far more talented than his draft slot. However, he didn’t contribute much during his 18-minute summer league debut. It’s obviously far too early to draw any conclusions, but Veesaar should see his role increase as summer league continues.

Newell didn’t have his best shooting performance from deep, but he got up plenty of shots from deep and looked confident as a shooter. That’s going to help him get on the floor, but the other factor is how well he can defend down low and rebound. He still has a ways to go on that end, even if he does look noticeably stronger than he did as a rookie.