NBA Player News

Wiggins has missed Miami’s last four games with a toe injury, and Saturday’s game will be the fifth. While Myron Gardner had been the replacement in the starting lineup, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra called on Kel’el Ware to fill the void in Thursday’s win over the Bucks.

Despite inefficient shooting, the unrestricted free agent logged another solid overall performance, following Friday’s 26 points with 17 points and six assists on Sunday. He put together some quality production during the Las Vegas Summer League, which could help his chances of landing on an NBA roster beyond the offseason. Still, he likely won’t have an impact this season in regards to fantasy basketball.

Nembhard carved out a role for himself on Dallas last season after going undrafted and proved he could be a reliable table-setter. Atlanta brought back CJ McCollum, drafted Kingston Flemings and traded for Devin Carter, so Nembhard will likely be competing with Carter for a few minutes off the bench in the backcourt. However, if injuries pop up, Nembhard will be able to fill in temporarily and provide plenty of assists.

Thunder GM Sam Presti continues to restructure his roster, and instead of declining Dort’s team option, he has found a new home for him in Atlanta. Dort will be another strong defender for Atlanta, alongside Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kingston Flemings on the perimeter. Dort will have a chance to fill in as a starter on the wing, though he should at least play a significant role off the bench.

The former No. 1 overall pick wasn’t able to figure things out in Atlanta, but he’ll get a fresh start in Dallas. With Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz running the show for the Mavs, they have rebuilt this roster around Cooper Flagg by adding multiple new players in the frontcourt, including Risacher, Santi Aldama and Morez Johnson. Risacher’s role will likely be limited off the bench to start his tenure with Dallas, though a fresh start on a rebuilding team could yield him the opportunity to develop into the player the Hawks hoped he would become. The three second-round picks heading to OKC are Chicago’s 2027 pick from Dallas and most favorable picks in 2031 and 2032 from Atlanta.

With the Knicks and Cissé agreeing to an offer sheet on Saturday afternoon, the Mavericks had until Monday to decide whether they would match it. Dallas didn’t even wait until the end of Saturday to match the offer, which gets the 6-foot-11 center a two-year guaranteed contract. Cissé had his moments as a rookie, most notably grabbing 20 rebounds in the Mavericks’ season finale. The Mavericks have solid depth at center, but holding onto Cissé gives them a needed insurance policy after Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II struggled with injuries last season.

Thiero capped his summer with a perfect shooting performance, as he did not miss a shot from the field or the foul line on Saturday. Add in the rebounds, and he finished with his second double-double in Las Vegas. While the Lakers did make multiple frontcourt signings this summer, there is still a need for Thiero’s athleticism. He isn’t a player who must be selected in drafts, but it would be unsurprising if Thiero found a role within JJ Redick’s rotation.

Carr and the Lakers fell short in their quest to reach Sunday’s Summer League title game, losing to the Warriors, 92-88. The rookie had a tough day from outside the arc, making just one of his eight attempts. However, Carr was still able to put up 17 points, and his overall summer performance was excellent. While the Lakers did load up on players in free agency, Carr has the tools needed to be an effective 3-and-D wing immediately. And there’s a lot to like about his long-term ceiling as well.

A few months removed from ending his college career with a national title, Lendeborg will play for a Summer League title on Sunday. The lottery pick bounced back nicely from a poor shooting performance in Thursday’s win over the Knicks, shooting over 50 percent from the field and recording another complete stat line. Regardless of what happens with the Warriors’ pursuit of LeBron James, Lendeborg has the skill set needed to contribute immediately. However, no LeBron would give the rookie a higher fantasy ceiling.

After going off for 20 points in a win over the Celtics on Monday, Veesaar struggled in his final two games of Summer League. In losses to the Grizzlies and Wizards, the 6-foot-11 center shot a combined 3-of-14 from the field. However, Veesaar did offer some production in the defensive categories. His outlook for next season changed somewhat when Mouhamed Gueye suffered a foot injury that will keep him out for three to four months. Fellow rookie Zuby Ejiofor likely has the leg up in the competition to back up Onyeka Okongwu, but there may also be opportunities for Veesaar to contribute, especially early in the season.

While Thornton did not perform as well as he would have wished in his final action of the summer, the Rockets have to be pleased with what they saw from the second-round pick overall. And even with his shot not falling in Saturday’s semifinals, Thornton still offered value with the rebounds and assists. Given Houston’s current backcourt, getting the minutes needed to affect fantasy basketball as a rookie will be challenging. However, Thornton’s skill set and experience likely make him better equipped to earn playing time next season.