NBA Player News

While Ellis and Schröder were active for Friday’s loss to the Hawks, Bryant has missed Cleveland’s last three games with a strained calf. On the perimeter, Craig Porter Jr. and Tyrese Proctor should play significant minutes, while Olivier Sarr and Tristan Enaruna should pick up rotation minutes in the frontcourt.

Daniels didn’t shoot the ball particularly well on Thursday, but taking 16 shots was encouraging. Jalen Johnson (rest) got the night off, so Daniels and the other starters who played had more opportunities to shoot. He struggled mightily with his shooting last season, which hurt his overall fantasy value. If Daniels can improve his shooting efficiency while remaining an elite defender, his fantasy outlook will improve. That said, he still has top-50 potential despite the questions regarding his shot.

After logging 14 minutes in Atlanta’s preseason opener on Monday, Okongwu played 22 minutes on Thursday. Matching up with Victor Wembanyama is never easy, but the Hawks’ starting center was relatively productive. As of Thursday evening, Okongwu’s ADP sat just a few spots outside the top-50, which is a realistic landing spot for him in 12-team drafts.

Back on the floor after sitting out Monday’s preseason opener against the Knicks, Maxey logged 19 minutes on Thursday. With LeBron James on the court as well, the third-team All-NBA point guard spent more time off the ball. Maxey’s assist production could take a hit this season, but he may make up for it with more scoring. Either way, anyone who drafts him shouldn’t regret it.

While he was far from sharp on Thursday, Embiid played 24 minutes without incident against the Nets. More concerning than the 1-of-5 night from the field was his eight turnovers, but it’s just the preseason. Embiid won’t make a habit of that, especially with Tyrese Maxey and LeBron James on the floor. Most importantly, the former MVP needs to stay healthy, as the 76ers are without Adem Bona (foot) and lost Ariel Hukporti (Achilles) for the season on Monday. If Embiid can avoid the extended absences that have recurred throughout his career, he should exceed his ADP (50) by a safe margin.

After sitting out the 76ers’ preseason opener on Monday, James made his unofficial debut for the team on Thursday. Though he had only one official field-goal attempt, the 41-year-old forward made 8-of-8 from the foul line. LeBron took on primary playmaking duties against the Nets, and the team will ask him to do the same during the regular season. He may also serve as a small-ball center at times because Philadelphia lacks depth behind Joel Embiid.

The Nets didn’t have Day’Ron Sharpe for Thursday’s exhibition, so Wagner moved into the starting lineup after coming off the bench on Tuesday. The veteran forward/center logged 18 minutes, though foul trouble limited his time on the floor. A healthy Sharpe makes Wagner a non-factor in most fantasy leagues, but he’s likely to be worth streaming at times.

After putting up 13 points in Tuesday’s rout of the Hornets, Randle put on a decent showing for the home folks in his first home game as a Net. The move to Brooklyn put the veteran forward on a team unlikely to contend, but it’s a good spot for him to get his numbers. The concern for scorers like Randle in situations like this is that efficiency could suffer. Hopefully, that won’t be the case for him.

Dëmin said during the offseason that he hopes to have the ball in his hands more this season, and he’s started at point guard in both of Brooklyn’s preseason games. Through two games, the second-year guard has totaled 10 assists and three turnovers. Adding Julius Randle (14 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals) to the rotation should help Dëmin as a playmaker and raise his fantasy ceiling. His ADP of 118 makes sense, but don’t be surprised if it creeps up some between now and the start of the regular season.

Drummond’s ability to hit the boards was the main reason why the Knicks signed him to fill the void left by Mitchell Robinson. Five of Drummond’s nine rebounds on Thursday came on the offensive end of the floor. He may not be the rim protector that Robinson was, but Drummond will be an important member of the Knicks’ bench unit.

After a relatively quiet night in the Knicks’ preseason opener on Monday, Hart recorded a complete stat line on Thursday. With an ADP just inside the top-100, Hart is once again positioned to be a fantasy steal, especially in category leagues. He may not be the “sexiest” option for managers seeking significant upside, but one could do a lot worse than selecting Hart in drafts.