NBA Player News

McConnell will be sidelined for the first time in a few weeks, and with Andrew Nembhard (back) also out, Indiana will be thin at point guard. Kam Jones and Taelon Peter should both play significant roles after not seeing the floor in the Pacers’ last game.

After nearly departing for Europe last offseason, Valančiūnas is officially leaving the NBA following 14 seasons. The veteran big man played for six different NBA teams over the course of his career, posting averages of 12.8 points and 9.0 rebounds. He spent his most recent season with the Nuggets as a depth center behind Nikola Jokić, playing 13.4 minutes per game, which were the fewest of his career. If this is the end of Valančiūnas’ NBA journey, he’ll most likely be remembered as a Toronto Raptor, where he spent 6.5 seasons and started for several championship-contending teams.

Wagler shot 1-of-5 from beyond the arc in Tuesday’s defeat, which dented his overall field-goal percentage. However, the rookie committed just one turnover and appeared more at ease than in his summer league debut on Thursday. Wagler’s size and playmaking ability may add a dimension to the Clippers’ backcourt that was missing last season, as Darius Garland and Kris Dunn are smaller guards. With the Kawhi Leonard trade on hold, it’s still unclear what the roster will look like when training camp opens. Regardless of what happens, Wagler’s development will be critical for the Clippers moving forward.

Sanders agreed to a four-year deal at the beginning of free agency, so his future with the Clippers is secure. He’s taken on a marquee scoring role in Las Vegas, and the second-year forward shot 50 percent from the field on Tuesday. While Sanders has played well, his role in summer league does not align with what he’ll be asked to do when the regular season begins. That said, playing well this summer should improve Sanders’ chances of holding a consistent place in Tyronn Lue’s rotation.

While Cameron Carr and Adou Thiero (13/6/3/1/1) have been the stars for the Lakers in Las Vegas, Mañon’s production has improved with each game. The two-way contract forward posted his first double-double of the summer on Tuesday and also recorded two steals. Mañon is already on a two-way contract, and his opportunities next season may be limited given the Lakers’ overall roster. As a result, there isn’t much to expect from him in fantasy basketball for the foreseeable future.

Despite a right thumb injury, Carr led the way offensively as the Lakers moved to 3-0 in Las Vegas. His eight-point flurry to end the third quarter blew open Tuesday’s “Battle of Los Angeles,” and the rookie wing has been consistent on both ends of the floor. Even with the additions the Lakers made to their roster this offseason, Carr looks like a player who can have an immediate impact under head coach JJ Redick. Fantasy managers should definitely keep an eye on him during the preseason and for the rest of summer league.

Mara did not record any defensive stats in Tuesday’s defeat, but he did manage to make all six of his field-goal attempts. The 7-foot-3 center was also solid on the glass and as a facilitator, and he’s recorded ten assists over Oklahoma City’s last two games. With Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein starting, and Jaylin Williams and 2025 first-round pick Thomas Sorber also in the mix, Mara will face significant competition for consistent rotation minutes. However, he has the size and skill set to add value, especially on nights when the Thunder face bigger frontcourts.

Coming off a 13-point effort in Sunday’s blowout loss to the Warriors, Stirtz had his best game of the summer on Tuesday. The 16th overall pick in last month’s draft shot 50 percent from the field, including a 6-of-10 night from inside the arc. Stirtz committed four turnovers, but the Thunder were likely encouraged by his overall performance. Given Oklahoma City’s perimeter depth, achieving fantasy relevance as a rookie will be challenging for Stirtz. However, he has the scoring and playmaking ability needed to compete for a bench role when training camp opens in the fall.

While Trevon Brazile stole the show with his 32-point effort, Hopkins supplemented his fellow rookie’s night with another quality performance. Hopkins’ stat line was missing only a blocked shot, and he made five of his 11 two-point attempts. Denver has yet to finalize its offseason business, as restricted free agent Peyton Watson is still on the market. That said, Hopkins offers the combination of talent and experience that could lead to opportunities to contribute off the bench next season. That isn’t enough to make him fantasy-relevant, but things could be far worse for Hopkins.

Brazile put forth his best performance of the summer on Tuesday, and he was on fire from the start. The second-round pick scored 19 points in the first half, ending it with a long three from just inside the half-court line as time expired. Brazile would score 13 more after halftime, more than holding his own against a Thunder frontcourt headlined by lottery pick Aday Mara. Because of Peyton Watson’s restricted free agency, Brazile’s contract status has not been finalized, but games like Tuesday’s likely increase his chances of landing a standard deal.

Selected with the 46th overall pick in last month’s draft, Okpara will be on a two-way contract with the Wizards next season. With AJ Dybantsa, Will Riley and Tre Johnson all shut down for the rest of summer league, players like Okpara will have more opportunities on offense. While the Wizards have given two-way and G League players opportunities in the past, that may not happen as often next season as the team moves past its rebuild. Okpara is worth considering in deep dynasty leagues, but that’s it.