NBA Player News

Leonard is on the injury report with a left ankle sprain, initially sustained in late March. The Clippers will need help to secure the No. 8 seed in the West after Friday’s loss to the Trail Blazers. If Leonard can’t play on Sunday, John Collins’ playing time is likely to increase after logging 18 minutes in Portland.

Limited to 25 NBA appearances as a rookie, Thiero may be able to earn a larger role within the Lakers’ rotation next season. LeBron James has informed the team that he won’t be back, and Rui Hachimura remains a free agent. The Lakers have a clear need for athleticism on the wing, and Thiero can certainly provide that. He didn’t have his best shooting game against the Spurs, but his ability to influence the action defensively was on display at times. While Walker Kessler will provide the rim protection, he can’t be the only player who provides cover for the Lakers’ subpar perimeter defenders. Thiero isn’t someone to target in redraft leagues, but he is worth tracking this summer for dynasty leagues.

Watson is a restricted free agent, and like a few other players in his position, he’s been made to wait thanks to a market lacking suitors with available cap space. Denver views him as a key player for the franchise’s future, but there is also a significant gap between what Watson wants, reportedly $25 million per year, and what the team is willing to pay. As a result, the Nuggets are reportedly open to a sign-and-trade as they look to avoid going into the second apron. At this point, only the Nets and Clippers have the cap space to provide Watson an offer sheet without needing to negotiate a trade.

After making all six of his shot attempts in his summer debut on Friday, Lendeborg cooled off in Sunday’s 98-69 victory. However, the ability to do a little bit of everything was on display, showing why the Warriors selected him 11th overall in last month’s draft. Lendeborg grabbed eight rebounds and recorded three “stocks” while also shooting 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. His fantasy outlook for 2026-27 is in a bit of a holding pattern for now, as the Warriors are among the teams in the mix for free agent LeBron James. If Golden State strikes out on adding the 41-year-old, Lendeborg’s role will take on added importance during his rookie season.

With the Bulls refusing to tender a qualifying offer, Olbrich is an unrestricted free agent with the Warriors, hoping to earn a contract or a training camp invite. Golden State coasted to the 98-69 victory on Sunday thanks to a balanced offense, with the 6-foot-10 Olbrich coming off the bench to lead five double-digit scorers. His progress this summer won’t do much for Olbrich’s fantasy outlook in 2026-27, but a good performance may be enough to earn him another opportunity in the NBA after playing in 37 games as a rookie last season.

Having agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract days after not being selected in the 2026 draft, Boyd will be in training camp with the Warriors in the fall. After struggling in his summer debut on Saturday, the Warriors’ guard looked more comfortable as an on-ball playmaker on Sunday. Boyd made sound decisions overall, shooting over 50 percent from the field and recording 10 of the Warriors’ 15 assists.

Of the key Kings players active at the California Classic, Sharp was the only one made available for Sunday’s game. The second-round pick shot 4-of-12 from beyond the arc and worked well with fellow guard Isaiah Stevens (18/1/4/1 with one three-pointer) to lead Sacramento to a second win in as many days. Given his experience at the college level, Sharp can play on or off the ball, which should serve him well with the Kings.

After shooting 4-of-12 from the field in his summer debut, Conwell had a tougher time knocking down shots on Sunday. Included in the 6-of-18 afternoon was a 2-of-12 mark from beyond the arc, making the second-round pick 5-of-19 through two games. With the Heat in “win-now” mode following the acquisition of Giannis Antetokounmpo, rotation minutes may be challenging to come by for Conwell. However, Miami’s lack of future draft capital makes him someone worth tracking in dynasty leagues.

Carr’s second game of the summer was even better than his first, with the first-round pick shooting 4-of-9 from beyond the arc. While the assists weren’t there, he committed just one turnover and had good command of the action throughout the Lakers’ 93-91 double-overtime victory. With the Lakers taking a drastically changed roster into the 2026-27 season, Carr’s wing scoring is likely to earn him early opportunities to contribute.

The 13th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Lewis is still looking to cement his status as an NBA player after injuries limited his opportunities in New Orleans. The 25-year-old last appeared in the NBA during the 2023-24 season, so a good showing for the Bucks at the California Classic and in Las Vegas is essential. Despite the Bucks losing by 20 on Sunday, Lewis made sound decisions with the ball as a playmaker for others and in getting his own shots. With Milwaukee rebuilding and having an open two-way contract slot, the door may be open for Lewis, even if he only earns a training camp invite.

After most of their key summer returnees played in Saturday’s loss to the Kings, the Nets rested those players on Sunday. As a result, there were more opportunities for Sallis, who is looking to earn another opportunity once training camp begins in the fall. Waived from his two-way deal by the 76ers in December, the former Wake Forest standout did a little bit of everything in the 89-69 victory. And the ability to chip in beyond scoring is what Sallis will need to show if he’s to get another two-way deal.