NBA Player News

Cardwell, who has been out since spraining his ankle during one of the Kings’ first practices out of the All-Star break, practiced on Friday. Now absent from the injury report, he’ll be available on Saturday. While it may not happen immediately due to a possible minutes limit, Cardwell can be valuable during the silly season for managers needing rebounding and defensive stats.

In his lone college season, Cenac shot 30-of-90 from beyond the arc; it wasn’t a major aspect of his game. On Friday, he shot 2-of-4 from deep, including one in the final seconds of regulation that forced overtime. Of greater importance to the Celtics was Cenac’s activity as a rebounder and defender, as he recorded 10 rebounds and five defensive contributions. Boston’s depth in the post should give Cenac time to develop, but he’ll be a solid option for managers competing in dynasty leagues.

González didn’t have a great night shooting the basketball, going just 1-of-9 from beyond the arc. However, his ability to contribute in other ways was on display, with the second-year wing hitting double digits in rebounds and leading the Celtics in assists. It was reported earlier this summer that the Celtics refused to part ways with González, which contributed to their not getting Giannis Antetokounmpo. So it’s clear that the decision-makers in Boston think highly of him. While González is not a must-draft player in standard leagues, the injury history of the new addition, Paul George, makes it likely that Hugo will be fantasy-relevant at some point.

After appearing in 22 NBA games as a rookie, Williams is once again on a two-way contract. And with the Celtics giving Neemias Queta an extension and signing Mitchell Robinson in free agency, earning consistent rotation minutes will be a challenge. However, Williams played well in his first action of this summer league, an encouraging development for the Celtics as they move forward after the Jaylen Brown trade.

Signed to an Exhibit 10 contract on Friday morning, Bittle had an excellent summer league debut. The 7-footer blocked six shots and shot 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, providing value on both ends of the floor. In the past, the Raptors have enjoyed success developing players through their G League affiliate. At a minimum, Bittle knows that he’ll be in an NBA training camp come September. Not a bad deal for a player who went undrafted after a productive college career at Oregon.

Making his summer debut, Graves displayed the versatility that made him the 19th overall pick in last month’s draft. Efficient offensively, the former Santa Clara forward was also a pest defensively. What the Raptors’ rotation will look like once the regular season begins is unknown, as the Kawhi Leonard trade has been placed on hold. Regardless of what happens, Graves has the tools needed to crack the rotation, just as Collin Murray-Boyles did as a rookie last season.

While Caleb Wilson put forth a historic performance in the Bulls’ summer opener, fellow first-round pick Swain struggled. Memphis’ perimeter defenders consistently got into the rookie’s body, making it challenging for Swain to handle the ball. The good news is that the inefficient shooting did not carry over into the ball control, as Swain committed just two turnovers. He’ll look to bounce back on Monday when the Bulls face the Jazz in their second game in Las Vegas.

Friday’s game was Essengue’s first action since November 24, as he required season-ending shoulder surgery in early December. With only two NBA games under his belt, this summer league experience is important for the 6-foot-10 forward, who appears to have added some weight/muscle to his slender frame. Essengue didn’t offer much scoring against the Grizzlies, but the six defensive contributions are something that new Bulls head coach Tiago Splitter can work with as he rebuilds the team.

While he didn’t offer much offensively on Friday, the Grizzlies had to be encouraged by Hendricks’ four blocked shots. And the defensive end of the floor is where he may prove most valuable once the regular season begins. With Jaren Jackson Jr. no longer in the picture, getting shot-blocking from Hendricks and the offseason acquisition Isaiah Stewart would help offset Trip’s February exit.

Making his first appearance in Las Vegas after shoulder surgery sidelined him last summer, Coward finished Friday’s 97-96 victory with a solid double-double. As was the case in Salt Lake City, the Grizzlies wing struggled with his perimeter shot on Friday, shooting 1-of-5 from beyond the arc. However, Coward provided value as a rebounder, defender and playmaker. With the Grizzlies turning the page from the Ja Morant era, Coward is one of the players who will figure prominently in their rotation next season. That makes him a more valuable fantasy basketball option, especially if Coward can improve his perimeter shooting.

Chicago’s Caleb Wilson may have stolen the show in the matchup of the top-5 draft picks, but Boozer had an excellent game in his own right. The rookie forward led five Grizzlies starters in double figures, with the lone negative being his four turnovers. They haven’t shared the floor in an official game yet, but Boozer already appears to have established good chemistry with Cedric Coward, which bodes well for the Grizzlies moving forward. Since Boozer also played in Salt Lake City, he may not play every game in Las Vegas.