NBA Player News

Collier remains sidelined due to left hamstring injury management, with Saturday’s game being the sixth that he has missed. EJ Harkless was the starting point guard in Friday’s loss to the Nuggets and played 41 minutes. Given his playing time, Harkless is worth streaming in deep leagues.

Simply put, Lendeborg was the best player on the floor during the first half of Saturday’s game. The lottery pick out of Michigan recorded 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists and one steal in 15 minutes. Performances like this show why Lendeborg can make an immediate impact, and he’s worth selecting in 12-team drafts. With the Warriors unsure when Jimmy Butler III or Moses Moody will return from their knee injuries, Lendeborg appears on track to begin his rookie campaign as a starter.

With injuries limiting him to 23 games, Murray’s 2025-26 season was a lost one. He made his first appearance of the preseason on Saturday, logging eight minutes in the first quarter before being shut down. Murray’s return pushed De’Andre Hunter (four points, three rebounds and one assist) to the bench, and that’s likely to be the small-forward rotation once the regular season begins. As long as he’s healthy, Murray can be a valuable fantasy option. Another key for him beyond staying healthy is establishing a connection with rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr.

After struggling in Thursday’s exhibition against the Lakers, Acuff was considerably better on Saturday. The lottery pick shot over 50 percent from the field and recorded a game-high eight assists. Even though it was just a preseason game, Acuff’s performance was encouraging, whether you’re a Kings fan or a fantasy manager considering drafting him in the later rounds of 12-team drafts.

Saturday’s exhibition was Simmons’ first game action since Game 5 of the Clippers’ first-round series against the Nuggets in 2025. He started against the Warriors, played nine minutes in the first quarter, then was shut down for the night. Simmons can be a viable option in 12-team leagues, but fantasy managers should temper their expectations early on. He started against the Warriors, but that was because Domantas Sabonis didn’t play. Once the games count, Simmons is likely to come off the bench.

Having turned 40 in early June, Horford’s days of fantasy relevance may be in the rearview mirror. However, with Kristaps Porziņģis sidelined again, Horford’s availability becomes even more important as the regular season approaches. He didn’t shoot well against the Kings, but his rebounding and assists were decent. Horford isn’t a must-pick in most drafts, but he’s worth monitoring on the waiver wire in deep leagues.

Much has been made about Miami’s need for spacers, with most of the conversation focused on Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr. (and with good reason). But Fontecchio is another capable shooter, and he’s coming off a season in which he made 37.5 percent of his three-point attempts. Against the Timberwolves, he made four of seven attempts. Fontecchio offered little beyond points and three-pointers, and that’s likely to be the norm during the regular season.

Miami sat most of its established veterans on Saturday, leading to Jović starting and taking on a bigger role on offense. He shot well and recorded a solid stat line, missing only blocks. While Jović doesn’t qualify as a must-draft player in 12-team leagues, he’ll be worth a look in deeper leagues. And Miami needs him to bounce back from a disappointing 2025-26.

Shannon started Saturday’s exhibition and played well, making half his shots and dishing out four assists. The third-year wing, who committed just one turnover, had his moments during the postseason last spring as the Timberwolves had to navigate multiple injuries. Shannon isn’t a must-draft player in 12-team redraft leagues, but the upside makes him worth considering in the final rounds.

Neither team played most of their key veterans, so guys like Hyland had more opportunities to impress. He took advantage, shooting 5-of-6 from beyond the arc and committing no turnovers. Hyland still isn’t at the point where fantasy managers can rely on him for consistent value. However, with Mike Conley in Boston and Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) set to miss most of the regular season, Hyland will have more opportunities to contribute.

Richards scored all his points in the third quarter of Saturday’s exhibition, but the offense won’t earn him a spot on Miami’s Opening Night roster. Richards will need to prove himself most in rebounding and defense, and he did well in those areas. However, regardless of Saturday’s performance, he won’t be an option in fantasy leagues on a roster that includes Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo and Bobby Portis.