NBA Player News

Carter did not play in Thursday’s loss to the Hornets, sitting out due to a rib contusion. Goga Bitadze started but only played 19 minutes, with reserve Moritz Wagner also playing 19 minutes. That isn’t enough for either to offer reliable streaming value, especially with the Magic willing to go small for extended periods if needed.

Young looked sharp in his first appearance this preseason, shooting over 50 percent from the field and committing just two turnovers in 17 minutes. Even with the turnover concerns, Young should be highly valuable to fantasy managers in any league format. For those punting turnovers, he’s likely to go in the second round of drafts at worst.

Davis made his Wizards’ preseason debut on Thursday, playing 17 minutes against the Knicks. The veteran forward/center had a good night, with his final stat line lacking only a steal. With reports earlier this week that the Wizards are highly unlikely to give Davis the max extension he wants, this will be a contract year for the veteran big man. With that in mind, he’ll have a lot to play for this season. If Davis stays healthy, that sets him up to be a fantasy steal given his third-round ADP.

With Dejounte Murray sitting out Thursday’s game, Fears moved into the starting lineup in Miami. The second-year guard logged 19 minutes, finishing with one more turnover (three) than assists. Playing time shouldn’t be an issue for Fears this season, but a healthy Murray lowers his fantasy ceiling considerably. At best, Fears is a late-round flier in redraft leagues.

Poole appeared in only 39 games last season, and his chances of earning consistent rotation minutes in 2026-27 don’t look good. That said, he shot the ball well in Miami, knocking down three of his four three-point attempts. You gain little by using a draft pick on Poole in most fantasy leagues, but he has a clean slate under new head coach Jamahl Mosley.

As of Thursday evening, Queen had a Yahoo! ADP of 85. That’s pretty high, especially for a player who isn’t guaranteed a starting role once the regular season begins. Yves Missi (11 points, nine rebounds), a superior defender, started at center in New Orleans’ two preseason games. First-year head coach Jamahl Mosley could very well go with Queen once the games count, but he’ll have to do more as a defender to make that happen. Given the uncertainty, using a top-100 pick on Queen is risky.

Blocked shots have never been a huge part of Thompson’s game, so there’s no need to read into his performance against the Pelicans. However, it was good to see the veteran sharpshooter active on the defensive end of the floor. Thompson hasn’t shot well in Miami’s first two preseason games, but starting gives him a chance to return to fantasy relevance in 2026-27.

As in Milwaukee, coming off the bench for the Heat will limit Portis’ fantasy ceiling. However, that doesn’t make him incapable of providing value, especially in deeper leagues. Portis recorded a complete stat line in his 20 minutes on the court on Thursday, and he can do that consistently during the regular season. He won’t be the most exciting late-round pick in fantasy drafts, but the veteran forward will be worth a look.

After scoring nine points in his unofficial Heat debut on Saturday, Antetokounmpo was more aggressive in seeking his own scoring opportunities on Thursday. Whether scoring or creating for others, Giannis will have plenty of chances to deliver elite fantasy value in his new home. If the Heat can surround him with enough shooting, Antetokounmpo’s fantasy outlook would improve.

Cenac struggling with his shot in his unofficial Celtics debut was unsurprising, as he’s still a work in progress offensively. Still, the first-round pick out of Houston played with a high motor and posted solid numbers in rebounds and blocks. Given Boston’s expected rotation, Cenac will face tough odds to lock down minutes once the regular season begins. However, he is a player you have to roster in dynasty leagues.

Watson made his unofficial Cavaliers debut on Thursday, stepping into the starting lineup. He’ll keep that role once the games count, making him a much better fantasy option than he was coming off the bench in Denver. Watson isn’t a player you need to select in the first 100 picks of standard-league drafts, but managers should have him on their radar shortly after.