NBA Player News

Young picked up a right quad contusion in the third quarter of Monday’s loss to the Warriors, and he did not return. The injury will keep him out for at least one game, which means more playing time for Bub Carrington and potentially some extra run for Sharife Cooper.

The 51st overall pick in last month’s draft, Nelson suffered a fractured left ankle during Sunday’s win over the Trail Blazers. Signed to a two-way deal shortly after the draft, the 6-foot-9 forward is expected to be sidelined for three to four months. Nelson’s defensive ability will give him a chance to earn opportunities once he’s healthy, but there’s no need to plan to draft him in the fall.

After scoring 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting in Sunday’s rout of the Thunder, Lendeborg shot the ball better on Tuesday. The defeat was the Warriors’ first this summer in a game that their first-round pick appeared in, a reminder of what Lendeborg can bring to the table as a connector and winner. How valuable he is in fantasy basketball will depend on the Warriors’ recruitment of LeBron James; if they can’t land the 41-year-old, Lendeborg will possess a higher ceiling as a rookie.

Boozer didn’t have the best day shooting the basketball, but that doesn’t matter much when seven Grizzlies reach double figures in a 106-85 victory. Also, the third overall pick does not need to score to provide fantasy value, as evidenced by the rebounds, assists and steals. The Grizzlies play their fourth game in Las Vegas on Thursday, and it’s fair to wonder if Boozer will be shut down. Counting Salt Lake City, he has played a lot of basketball over the last two weeks, and there doesn’t seem to be much that the Grizzlies haven’t seen from their lottery pick.

Small led seven Grizzlies players in double figures with 26 points, capped by an emphatic two-handed dunk in the final seconds. The 48th overall pick in the 2025 draft, Small played more than many anticipated due to injuries to other guards. He remains on a two-way contract, and the Grizzlies should not have the same injury concerns on the perimeter, which limits Small’s ceiling in fantasy basketball. However, as he showed on Tuesday, Small can make an impact when given the opportunity.

Between the California Classic and Las Vegas, Sharp has delivered some quality performances for the Kings. Despite the 32-point defeat, the second-round pick’s performance was a bright spot, as he shot 6-of-11 from beyond the arc. While Alex Karaban (four points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal) has largely struggled since returning from a sprained ankle, Sharp has looked comfortable on both ends of the floor. Given his experience and shooting ability, it would be unsurprising if Sharp cracked the Kings’ rotation as a rookie.

Acuff had a good afternoon in Las Vegas, but he did not have much help in a game the Kings lost by 32 points. The seventh overall pick in last month’s draft, Acuff shot the ball well against the Nets but finished with as many turnovers as assists (five). Given who he has shared the court with in Las Vegas, Acuff is likely to benefit from the Kings’ veterans being on the floor when the regular season kicks off. Efficiency can be an issue for rookie point guards, but the opportunity makes Acuff one of the top fantasy rookies in this class.

Coming off a rookie season in which he offered limited production, Powell is looking to use summer league as a springboard into Year Two. He shot the ball well against the Kings, making four of his seven three-point attempts. As a rookie, Powell shot 28 percent from deep on 2.9 attempts per game. He did not offer much offensive production in Brooklyn’s first two games in Las Vegas, so the coaching staff will certainly appreciate Tuesday’s breakout performance. Powell is unlikely to be worth the risk in redraft leagues, but he’s worth holding onto in deeper dynasty formats.

After scoring 20 points in his first Las Vegas appearance on Friday, Brown did not play against the Hawks on Saturday. Back in action on Tuesday, the rookie point guard put together a solid floor game in Brooklyn’s 32-point victory. Given what the Nets saw from the point guards they selected in the first round of last year’s draft, Nolan Traoré and Ben Saraf, Brown should have every opportunity to earn significant rotation minutes when training camp opens in the fall. He’s looked up to the task thus far, and Brown’s back has not been an issue after missing 14 games at Louisville last season.

Dëmin and the Nets moved to 2-1 in Las Vegas with a 115-83 victory on Tuesday, and he had another stellar showing. The second-year guard scored 20 points in the first half alone, helping Brooklyn eliminate any drama in the second half. Of the five players the Nets selected in the first round of last year’s draft, Dëmin is the one who has performed the best, both last season and this summer. While he wasn’t much of a fantasy asset as a rookie, the 6-foot-9 guard will be worth selecting in the late rounds of redraft leagues.

While Philon and the 76ers were on the wrong end of an 87-62 outcome, the rookie guard’s play was one of the bright spots. He played efficiently, shooting the ball well and committing just one turnover, and the defensive stats were there as well. Given Philadelphia’s perimeter rotation, it will be challenging for Philon to get the minutes needed to be relevant in standard redraft leagues. However, he’s a must-have in dynasty leagues because of his upside.