NBA Player News

McCain’s insertion into the opening unit didn’t necessarily lead to a fast start individually — he logged only two points of 1-of-5 shooting over the first two quarters. However, he would proceed to score nine points in each of the third and fourth quarters to finish as one of three Thunder players to reach the 20-point mark. There’s no telling when Jalen Williams (hamstring) or Ajay Mitchell (calf) will return from injuries. Regardless, McCain’s production in this series should keep him firmly in the nightly rotation with a large role.

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.

Simply put, Lendeborg was the best player on the floor during the first half of Saturday’s game. The lottery pick out of Michigan recorded 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists and one steal in 15 minutes. Performances like this show why Lendeborg can make an immediate impact, and he’s worth selecting in 12-team drafts. With the Warriors unsure when Jimmy Butler III or Moses Moody will return from their knee injuries, Lendeborg appears on track to begin his rookie campaign as a starter.

With injuries limiting him to 23 games, Murray’s 2025-26 season was a lost one. He made his first appearance of the preseason on Saturday, logging eight minutes in the first quarter before being shut down. Murray’s return pushed De’Andre Hunter (four points, three rebounds and one assist) to the bench, and that’s likely to be the small-forward rotation once the regular season begins. As long as he’s healthy, Murray can be a valuable fantasy option. Another key for him beyond staying healthy is establishing a connection with rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr.

After struggling in Thursday’s exhibition against the Lakers, Acuff was considerably better on Saturday. The lottery pick shot over 50 percent from the field and recorded a game-high eight assists. Even though it was just a preseason game, Acuff’s performance was encouraging, whether you’re a Kings fan or a fantasy manager considering drafting him in the later rounds of 12-team drafts.

Saturday’s exhibition was Simmons’ first game action since Game 5 of the Clippers’ first-round series against the Nuggets in 2025. He started against the Warriors, played nine minutes in the first quarter, then was shut down for the night. Simmons can be a viable option in 12-team leagues, but fantasy managers should temper their expectations early on. He started against the Warriors, but that was because Domantas Sabonis didn’t play. Once the games count, Simmons is likely to come off the bench.

Having turned 40 in early June, Horford’s days of fantasy relevance may be in the rearview mirror. However, with Kristaps Porziņģis sidelined again, Horford’s availability becomes even more important as the regular season approaches. He didn’t shoot well against the Kings, but his rebounding and assists were decent. Horford isn’t a must-pick in most drafts, but he’s worth monitoring on the waiver wire in deep leagues.

Much has been made about Miami’s need for spacers, with most of the conversation focused on Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr. (and with good reason). But Fontecchio is another capable shooter, and he’s coming off a season in which he made 37.5 percent of his three-point attempts. Against the Timberwolves, he made four of seven attempts. Fontecchio offered little beyond points and three-pointers, and that’s likely to be the norm during the regular season.

Miami sat most of its established veterans on Saturday, leading to Jović starting and taking on a bigger role on offense. He shot well and recorded a solid stat line, missing only blocks. While Jović doesn’t qualify as a must-draft player in 12-team leagues, he’ll be worth a look in deeper leagues. And Miami needs him to bounce back from a disappointing 2025-26.