NBA

In the past, Brooklyn has primarily been a team that switches ball screens, which has impacted their production on the boards and Sharpe’s playing time (11.8 mpg in his first two seasons). Vaughn’s decision to use more drop coverage in those spots (where the center is defending the screener) is about addressing the rebounding issues, and this could also mean more minutes for Sharpe behind fantasy stud Nic Claxton. “I like to drop better. I like getting boards, I like being physical,” Sharpe, who noted that the switching left Brooklyn at a disadvantage on the boards, said. “And I don’t like when I feel like my matchup is killing me, either. So at the end of the day, I feel like it’s going to help us a lot.” While this is unlikely to cause a major shift to Sharpe’s fantasy value, as Claxton remains the main option at center, it does make him worthy of consideration in deeper, two-center leagues.

The Clippers weren’t going to put any of their stars in harm’s way on Sunday, exercising caution in the preseason opener despite all three being healthy. While Russell Westbrook (rest) was given the night off, Leonard and Paul George (8/5/2/2 with two 3-pointers) played 15 minutes apiece. Both suffered season-ending knee injuries last season and were highly effective fantasy players when on the court. But as we all know, availability has been an issue for Leonard and George since they joined forces in Los Angeles ahead of the 2019-20 season. Due to the availability concerns, both have been going in the third round of drafts based on early ADP data. Of the two, Leonard can offer a little more in the way of fantasy value due to a higher field goal percentage and better turnover numbers.

With Russell Westbrook (rest) getting the night off, Hyland was in the starting lineup for the Clippers’ preseason opener. While he did a good job of getting to his spots inside the arc, going 7-of-8 from two, Bones missed all six of his 3-point attempts. Of greater importance to the Clippers will be how effective he is running a team. Playing alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George for extended periods on Sunday, Hyland finished with four assists and two turnovers. Being able to run the show in an efficient manner will be key for Hyland as he looks to hold on to the backup point guard role. He isn’t a player worth drafting in fantasy leagues right now, but Bones could have streaming value later in the season due to the injury issues some Clippers have endured in the past.

The competition for Utah’s starting point guard job is wide open, with Dunn being one of the candidates despite his contract not yet guaranteed for the 2023-24 season. Well, he was excellent in Hawaii on Sunday, not missing a shot from the field while also performing well as a distributor and defender. Collin Sexton started at the point, and while he dished out five assists, he was also responsible for four turnovers while shooting 1-of-6 from the field. Dunn had just one turnover. Rookie Keyonte George, who finished with 10 points, two rebounds, five assists, one block, and one 3-pointer in 24 minutes, may be viewed as the future of the franchise at point guard, but he may not be the “present.” If Dunn continues to play at the level he did on Sunday, it’s going to be difficult for Will Hardy not to have him in the rotation at a minimum.

Utah’s backcourt rotation can best be described as “fluid,” as coach Will Hardy has yet to make any decisions regarding the starters. Horton-Tucker received the starting nod at the two on Sunday, finishing as one of two starters in double figures (Lauri Markkanen had 10). Jordan Clarkson came off the bench, finishing with six points in 14 minutes of action. Horton-Tucker had his moments down the stretch last season, but that was when Utah was no longer interested in competing for a play-in tournament spot. Can THT produce on a consistent level for a team hoping to make that jump? That’s the big question, and why fantasy managers will want to hold off on drafting him in standard leagues until after the Jazz perimeter rotation is finalized.

Kessler established himself as one of the best rim protectors in the NBA as a rookie, and nothing’s changed in that regard. The 7-footer rejected five shots in Utah’s preseason opener and changed a few others, and he had 11 games with at least that many rejections last season. With Kessler, fantasy managers know that they aren’t going to get anything in the free-throw percentage category, but the field-goal percentage, rebounding, and blocks production make it all worth it. Kessler should be a top-50 player in fantasy this season, and he cannot be allowed to slip past that point in drafts.

One of the top bench scorers in the NBA as a rookie, Mathurin was moved into the starting lineup for good in late March once it became clear that the Pacers were playing out the string. He entered this preseason as a starter, and the second-year wing looked the part on Sunday. Mathurin shot better than 50% from the field, and while the three turnovers were disappointing, he averaged slightly less than that as a starter last season. The key for him will be to continue to improve his 3-point shot while also providing more as a defender. Do those things, and Mathurin will offer a far greater return to managers who are holding out until the later rounds of drafts to pick him.

Playing in his first game as a Pacer, Brown was in the starting lineup as expected. He didn’t have a great night shooting the basketball, but the versatile forward did manage to provide value in other areas. Brown finished the night second on the team in assists (T.J. McConnell had eight) while also providing two steals and a blocked shot. Brown shot better than 48% from the field last season, and he’ll be able to get quality looks playing alongside Tyrese Haliburton (who did not play on Sunday). With Brown starting, Buddy Hield appears locked into the sixth-man role, and he finished Sunday’s defeat with four points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 19 minutes off the bench. With it being reported during the summer that the Pacers were working with Hield to find him a new home, he may need to land in a spot where starting is guaranteed in order to provide consistent fantasy value.

The eighth overall pick in this summer’s NBA Draft, Walker looked good in his unofficial NBA debut. He came off the bench and led the Pacers in scoring, getting the majority of his scoring opportunities in the second half and overtime. Walker is believed to be competing with Obi Toppin for the starting power forward job, and the rookie made a solid first impression regarding actual game production. Toppin started Sunday’s game and played 16 minutes, finishing with seven points (3-of-7 FGs, 0-of-1 FTs), five rebounds, and one 3-pointer in 16 minutes. If Walker can win the job, that would give his fantasy value a welcome boost. For now, he’s worth using a late-round pick on in standard leagues.

No decision has been made, at least publicly, with regard to who will fill the void in the starting lineup left by the suspended Ja Morant once the regular season begins. Kennard was in that spot for Sunday’s preseason opener and didn’t have his best night shooting the basketball. The Grizzlies will need him to remain aggressive offensively, as Kennard has led the NBA in 3-point shooting each of the last two seasons. Among the others competing for the right to start are David Roddy (9/4/2/1 in 20 minutes) and Ziaire Williams (6/4/3/1/1 in 21 minutes), and it’s fair to say that no one separated themselves on Sunday. Whichever Grizzlies player receives the starting nod will be worth streaming until Morant completes his 25-game ban.