NBA Player News

While there was hope that Reaves would be available for Game 4, the Lakers’ 3-0 series lead may have factored into the decision to keep him out. Luke Kennard will remain in the starting lineup, and he has been productive throughout this series.

The extension is fully guaranteed and includes a mutual option in the fifth year as well as a trade kicker, according to Charania. Podziemski is coming off his best season in the NBA where he played in all 82 games and set career-highs nearly across the board. He’s coming off the board in the ninth-round of fantasy drafts this year.

Wilson started and played 32 minutes, which was the most of anyone on either team. The 20-year-old forward who was the fourth overall pick in the draft had 21 points on 17 attempts. He bounced back after missing all four of his three-point attempts in his last preseason game to make 5-of-11 threes against the Grizzlies. Wilson is an intriguing pick with upside in the top-75 of fantasy drafts this year.

Edey made his preseason debut earlier this week after returning from offseason ankle surgery. The 24-year-old big man from Purdue played well in 16 minutes. He had 10 points, five rebounds, two steals and a block. Healthy again, Edey is a solid pick in the middle of the fifth-round of fantasy drafts this year.

Jerome was excellent as the 29-year-old point guard gets ready for the regular season. In just 14 minutes, he had 16 points, four assists and four three-pointers. Jerome played only 15 games for Memphis last year, but averaged 19.7 points, 5.7 assists and 2.8 threes. He’s coming off the board in the eighth-round of fantasy drafts this year.

Stewart’s preseason debut with the Grizzlies lasted just two minutes when he sprained his left ankle in Monday’s game against the Pistons. He has since been diagnosed with a moderate sprain and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. Based on the timeline, Stewart will miss the regular-season opener on October 21, but could return shortly after. His absence won’t significantly affect fantasy basketball, especially since Zach Edey is healthy.

The Kings were without Domantas Sabonis for Thursday’s game, so Raynaud started. An All-Rookie selection last season, the 7-foot-1 center made 56 starts for the then-injured Sabonis. Raynaud finished the defeat with a double-double, and he had 18 such games last season. With Sabonis back, Raynaud is at best a late-round option in 12-team drafts. However, it wouldn’t be surprising if his role expanded at some point, especially if the Kings moved Sabonis.

After attempting just two shots in the Kings’ first meeting with the Lakers this preseason, Achiuwa was far more active on Thursday. Only Darius Acuff Jr. among the Kings’ starters took more shots, and Achiuwa shot well over 50 percent from the field. His viability as a fantasy option this season depends in part on Keegan Murray’s health, as he hasn’t played in either of Sacramento’s first two preseason games. While a healthy Murray would likely push De’Andre Hunter to the bench, his presence in the lineup could also mean fewer shots for Achiuwa.

Outside of a solid finish to the first half, Acuff struggled mightily on Thursday. The rookie point guard missed his first nine field-goal attempts, and he finished with more turnovers (three) than assists (one). Reading too much into two preseason appearances would be foolish, but those who roster Acuff will need to exercise patience.

Thiero has started the Lakers’ last two preseason games, and his combination of athleticism and defensive versatility could keep him in that role once the regular season begins. He didn’t offer much as a scorer against the Kings, but the second-year forward recorded four “stocks” in his 21 minutes. Thiero isn’t a must-draft player, but his role is worth watching.

After scoring 15 points as a spot starter in Tuesday’s loss to the Warriors, Mamukelashvili returned to a reserve role on Thursday. He was excellent, shooting 70 percent from the field and putting up a complete stat line. While coming off the bench limits Mamukelashvili’s fantasy ceiling, his floor should be relatively safe because the Lakers need bench scoring. He’s worth considering in the late rounds of 12-team drafts.