NBA Player News

Booker rebounded in the second half, but had just two points and five turnovers in 19 minutes in the first half. The Suns trailed by eight at halftime and would go on to lose by nine, which was the closest margin of the series. For much of the series, Booker was stymied by the Thunder defense and it led to a quick exit for the Suns in these playoffs.

Vassell’s ADP is outside the top-100, and that’s unlikely to change before the start of the regular season. In the past, he has delivered excellent fantasy value. However, San Antonio’s rotation is now far stronger than it was earlier in Vassell’s career, which lowers his fantasy ceiling. At best, he’s worth grabbing outside the first 100 picks in 12-team formats.

Wembanyama had a relatively quiet night in his first preseason action, but it will change nothing about his fantasy outlook. He should go no lower than second in drafts, regardless of league format, and you can make a strong case for Wemby at 1.1.

Castle isn’t exactly a polarizing player in fantasy basketball, but his low field-goal percentage knocks him down the board in category leagues. He shot well on Thursday and posted a complete stat line, though he turned the ball over twice. If Castle becomes a more consistent shooter and keeps turnovers in check, he’ll have a higher fantasy ceiling.

De’Aaron Fox was unavailable for Thursday’s exhibition, so Harper started. The second-year guard played well in 19 minutes, shooting well and committing no turnovers. Even if he’s asked to come off the bench again this season, Harper can provide top-100 fantasy value. At a minimum, his playing time should increase, as he averaged 22.6 minutes per game as a rookie.

After sitting out Atlanta’s preseason opener, McCollum played on Thursday, and his insertion into the lineup pushed Kingston Flemings (15/3/5/3, with two three-pointers) to the bench. McCollum’s move to the starting lineup was a major reason the Hawks finished the 2025-26 regular season with a flourish, and he’ll have a similar role this season. While his fantasy ceiling is somewhat limited, McCollum’s floor should be safe.

With Jalen Johnson (rest) sitting, Wiggins moved into the starting lineup on Thursday. In addition to shooting 2-of-5 from three, the 6-foot-5 wing recorded a complete stat line in 24 minutes. In addition to Johnson, the Hawks didn’t have Luguentz Dort (knee) in San Antonio, so Wiggins had more opportunities to contribute than he’s likely to once the rotation is whole.

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.