NBA Player News

Martin and Williams are on track to remain sidelined for the Mavericks’ regular-season finale. While the latter has missed the last three games, the former has not played since March 15. Ryan Nembhard started and logged 31 minutes in Friday’s loss to the Spurs, while AJ Johnson played 20 off the bench. Expect a similar approach on Sunday.

With the Knicks and Cissé agreeing to an offer sheet on Saturday afternoon, the Mavericks had until Monday to decide whether they would match it. Dallas didn’t even wait until the end of Saturday to match the offer, which gets the 6-foot-11 center a two-year guaranteed contract. Cissé had his moments as a rookie, most notably grabbing 20 rebounds in the Mavericks’ season finale. The Mavericks have solid depth at center, but holding onto Cissé gives them a needed insurance policy after Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II struggled with injuries last season.

Thiero capped his summer with a perfect shooting performance, as he did not miss a shot from the field or the foul line on Saturday. Add in the rebounds, and he finished with his second double-double in Las Vegas. While the Lakers did make multiple frontcourt signings this summer, there is still a need for Thiero’s athleticism. He isn’t a player who must be selected in drafts, but it would be unsurprising if Thiero found a role within JJ Redick’s rotation.

Carr and the Lakers fell short in their quest to reach Sunday’s Summer League title game, losing to the Warriors, 92-88. The rookie had a tough day from outside the arc, making just one of his eight attempts. However, Carr was still able to put up 17 points, and his overall summer performance was excellent. While the Lakers did load up on players in free agency, Carr has the tools needed to be an effective 3-and-D wing immediately. And there’s a lot to like about his long-term ceiling as well.

A few months removed from ending his college career with a national title, Lendeborg will play for a Summer League title on Sunday. The lottery pick bounced back nicely from a poor shooting performance in Thursday’s win over the Knicks, shooting over 50 percent from the field and recording another complete stat line. Regardless of what happens with the Warriors’ pursuit of LeBron James, Lendeborg has the skill set needed to contribute immediately. However, no LeBron would give the rookie a higher fantasy ceiling.

After going off for 20 points in a win over the Celtics on Monday, Veesaar struggled in his final two games of Summer League. In losses to the Grizzlies and Wizards, the 6-foot-11 center shot a combined 3-of-14 from the field. However, Veesaar did offer some production in the defensive categories. His outlook for next season changed somewhat when Mouhamed Gueye suffered a foot injury that will keep him out for three to four months. Fellow rookie Zuby Ejiofor likely has the leg up in the competition to back up Onyeka Okongwu, but there may also be opportunities for Veesaar to contribute, especially early in the season.

While Thornton did not perform as well as he would have wished in his final action of the summer, the Rockets have to be pleased with what they saw from the second-round pick overall. And even with his shot not falling in Saturday’s semifinals, Thornton still offered value with the rebounds and assists. Given Houston’s current backcourt, getting the minutes needed to affect fantasy basketball as a rookie will be challenging. However, Thornton’s skill set and experience likely make him better equipped to earn playing time next season.

One game removed from scoring 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting, Boozer didn’t have the best day shooting the basketball against the Rockets. However, he found other ways to add value, most notably as a rebounder and facilitator. Viewed by some as a player who possesses the highest floor in this summer’s draft class, that label may be selling Boozer’s ceiling short. His ability to affect games as a scorer, rebounder and facilitator makes him one of the top fantasy rookies, and the defense should not be overlooked, either.

The results in Summer League don’t mean a great deal, but teams with a chance to take home the title usually ramp things up a notch toward the end of the week. Coward has surpassed 20 points in each of his last two games, with Saturday’s effort helping push the Grizzlies into Sunday’s title game. Given the players Memphis has moved on from within the last year, the franchise is embarking on a new era, and Coward is expected to be one of the leaders. And his skill set is such that he could be an incredibly valuable player in fantasy basketball, especially for those competing in category leagues.

Ament finished his first Summer League with a solid overall stat line in Milwaukee’s 96-94 victory. While fellow lottery pick Brayden Burries was one of the best performers in Las Vegas, things did not go as smoothly for Ament. However, the final outing was encouraging, and the former Tennessee forward still boasts immense upside. While his fantasy ceiling in redraft leagues may be limited next season, Ament is a must-roster player in dynasty leagues.

While he missed all four of his three-point attempts, Burries finished his summer with another excellent showing. The tenth overall pick in last month’s draft was Milwaukee’s best player in Las Vegas and has the look of a player who should compete for rotation minutes immediately. Whether he was on the ball or off it, Burries made things happen offensively, and his defense was solid as well. With the Bucks paying Gary Trent Jr. $64 million and adding Tyler Herro and Kasparas Jakučionis in the Giannis trade while also having Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins, the backcourt projects to be crowded next season. However, good luck keeping Burries off the floor, given how well he played this summer.