NBA Player News

Harkless has missed Utah’s last five games, but he could be back on Friday. If available, his return may not significantly reduce the minutes available to Bez Mbeng and Kennedy Chandler, as the Jazz will remain extremely shorthanded.

Despite the expectation that he’ll come off the bench, Murray-Boyles has a skill set that can make him valuable in category leagues. He didn’t shoot well on Saturday night, but the second-year forward/center led the Raptors in rebounds. Murray-Boyles didn’t record any defensive stats in his 20 minutes, but that shouldn’t be the norm for him once the games count. Managers in category leagues should benefit if they grab Murray-Boyles with a late-round pick.

What a difference a year makes for Poeltl, who was sidelined last preseason by a lower back issue. That lingering injury limited him to 46 games last season, eliminating most of the 7-footer’s fantasy value. Poeltl is healthy this preseason, and he logged 18 minutes in Saturday’s opener. He made changes to his regimen this offseason, and the hope is that this will pay dividends during the regular season. Poeltl has been a top-75 fantasy player in the past, and he offers a solid floor if he stays healthy.

Barrett was one of three Raptors starters to play into the third quarter in Saturday’s exhibition opener, alongside Jakob Poeltl and Ja’Kobe Walter. His field-goal percentage wasn’t great, but Barrett was active on both ends of the floor during his 18 minutes. He’s been a better option in points leagues than category leagues throughout his career, and that’s unlikely to change this season.

With the players Miami sent to Milwaukee in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, Jović is one player who will have every opportunity to contribute more this season. While he didn’t have a great night from the floor, the 2022 first-round pick contributed in multiple areas on Saturday. Jović admitted recently that his motivation dipped last season after signing his four-year, $62 million extension, so he should be eager to make amends for a disappointing 2025-26.

Having agreed to a four-year extension last month, Larsson’s immediate future in Miami is secure. He came off the bench on Saturday and took on more playmaking responsibilities because of the Heat’s lack of depth at point guard. With Dru Smith (hamstring) currently out and not guaranteed to be a full go when the regular season begins, Larsson is even more enticing as a late-round option.

With a starting lineup that includes two limited perimeter shooters, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, the Heat clearly need players who can provide spacing. They signed Hardaway for that reason, and he had an excellent preseason debut on Saturday. The veteran guard didn’t miss a shot from the field, making all three of his three-point attempts. Klay Thompson (zero points, two rebounds in 13 minutes) was the fifth starter, but it’s unknown if that will hold once the regular season begins. Regardless of what Erik Spoelstra decides, Hardaway could have value for managers in deeper leagues seeking three-point production.

Like Scottie Barnes, Quickley did not play in the second half of Saturday’s preseason opener. Limited to 33 games in his first full season with the Raptors, IQ appeared in 70 games last season and was close to a top-50 player in nine-cat formats. While Kawhi Leonard will be a high-usage player in his return to Toronto, his presence should not negatively affect Quickley’s opportunities. With a current ADP of 97, he could be one of the biggest steals in fantasy basketball this season.

The Raptors didn’t need to push Barnes much in Saturday’s exhibition opener, so he spent the second half on the bench in street clothes. As usual, he did a little bit of everything during his 12 minutes on the floor. Barnes remains a highly valuable fantasy option regardless of league format, even with Kawhi Leonard’s return to Toronto. He should be no worse than a second-round pick in standard drafts.

Like the other Heat starters, Mitchell was shut down at the half. He didn’t have a great night shooting, but that shouldn’t dissuade fantasy managers from selecting “Off Night” in drafts. Miami lacks depth at point guard, especially with Dru Smith (hamstring) not guaranteed to be fully ready when the regular season begins. With Giannis Antetokounmpo joining the lineup, Mitchell could potentially provide more value in assists and three-pointers than he did in 2025-26.

With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo not offering much as perimeter shooters, Wiggins’ role stands to take on added importance during the regular season. Miami needs consistent shooting to help its spacing on offense, and Wiggins can help there. Last season, he shot a career-best 41.4 percent from deep on 4.9 attempts per game. Wiggins got up six three-pointers on Saturday in 13 minutes of action, and opportunities should be plentiful as he shares the floor with Giannis and Bam.