NBA Player News

While Banchero’s 45 points equaled those of Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, the Magic forward will likely head back to Orlando with some regrets. Banchero shot 5-of-12 from the foul line, and Orlando made 16 of its 30 attempts as a team. There’s no guarantee that the Magic would have clinched their spot in the second round with a better effort at the charity stripe, but it wouldn’t have hurt their cause. Banchero’s 45 points were one shy of the Magic franchise record for a postseason game, which Dwight Howard and Tracy McGrady share. Orlando will look to end the series at home on Friday.

Mobley didn’t have the best night shooting the basketball, going 3-of-10 from the field, but there’s little to worry about regarding his readiness for the regular season. His current ADP puts the Cavaliers forward/center in the middle of the third round in 12-team formats, and that’s a fair spot. The hope is that Mobley and the other Cavaliers will benefit from having James Harden run the point from Day 1 rather than joining the team mid-season.

After six seasons in Europe, Hezonja is back in the NBA, and his build is different from his first stint. The Cavaliers’ forward weighs 260 pounds, more than 40 pounds heavier than his previous NBA weight. Against the Magic, Hezonja did a little bit of everything and added value on both ends of the floor. He’ll get rotation minutes, but Hezonja isn’t a must-draft player in most fantasy leagues.

Tyson has earned positive reviews from Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson during the preseason, and he’ll be in the rotation once the regular season begins. The question is whether Tyson will get the minutes he needs to impact fantasy basketball. You don’t need to consider him in 12-team drafts, but don’t be surprised if Tyson emerges as a streaming option at some point.

Harden made his first appearance of the preseason on Sunday, and the veteran point guard looked sharp. Shooting 70 percent from the field, “The Beard” logged 26 minutes in the first three quarters before calling it a night. While Harden’s current ADP puts him on the back end of the third round in 12-team leagues, he can offer greater value than that.

Raynaud underwent an MRI on his right knee that revealed a right patellar subluxation, according to the team. He’ll be reevaluated in two weeks. Raynaud left Saturday night’s preseason game against the Warriors in the second quarter due to the injury. Considering he was taken to the locker room on a stretcher, it’s encouraging that it appears he was able to avoid a more significant injury. Dylan Cardwell will have more opportunities as the Kings’ backup center in Raynaud’s absence.

Champagnie started 68 regular-season games last season, finishing with career-best averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals and three-pointers. Offseason signing Tobias Harris (calf) has yet to play this preseason, and the same can be said for De’Aaron Fox (undisclosed soreness). With those two veterans out, Champagnie has kept his starting spot without fuss. Does that remain the case once Harris and Fox are healthy enough to play? The answer will affect Champagnie’s fantasy ceiling, as he’s a late-round option at best in most leagues.

After recording just one assist in Thursday’s exhibition against the Hawks, Wembanyama recorded six on Saturday. The Spurs didn’t have De’Aaron Fox in either game, and his absence likely contributed to Wemby’s increased playmaking. Fox is dealing with undisclosed soreness; hopefully, it won’t keep him out for the Spurs’ October 20 opener against the Thunder.

After coming off the bench in the Suns’ first two exhibition games, Maluach received the starting nod on Saturday. The second-year center held his own, leading all players with 15 rebounds while also recording a double-double. Oso Ighodaro (8/4/5/2/2) was the replacement in the starting lineup last season when Mark Williams missed time, but many believe Maluach offers a higher fantasy ceiling. He’s worth grabbing with a late-round pick in drafts, with the potential to deliver more value if Maluach earns the starting center role.

Devin Booker was unavailable for Saturday’s game, so Kennard moved into the starting lineup. The Suns signed the veteran wing in free agency for his perimeter shooting prowess, and he shot 4-of-10 from beyond the arc against the Spurs. Kennard can help fantasy managers seeking three-point production, but he shouldn’t be considered a must-draft player.

Green took on a bigger playmaking role on Saturday, as the Suns were without Devin Booker. Although he committed three turnovers, Green was efficient overall. For fantasy purposes, field-goal percentage has been Green’s biggest issue. Last season, his field-goal percentage (42.2) matched his career number, but his free-throw shooting (74.7) and injuries were also problems. If Green, who played all 82 games in 2023-24 and 2024-25, can improve his percentages, he’ll be far more valuable to fantasy managers.