Charles

Bassey

To begin the regular season, the Grizzlies have been hit hard by injuries, including Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., Brandon Clarke and Zach Edey. Due to the absences, the Grizzlies can apply for a hardship exception to sign a player on a 10-day deal. Adding Bassey to the roster will give Memphis needed depth at the center position, with Jock Landale being the current starter. Fantasy managers don’t need to add Bassey.

The Hawks added another post player on Wednesday, signing Bassey to a contract that only guarantees him a chance to compete for a standard roster spot. A second-round pick of the 76ers in 2021, the 6-foot-10 center spent his last three seasons in San Antonio. In 36 games last season, Bassey averaged 4.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 10.4 minutes. Most recently, he was productive as a member of Boston’s summer league team in Las Vegas in July.

After spending the last three seasons with the Spurs, Bassey is an unrestricted free agent playing with the Celtics in Las Vegas. While Boston did sign Luka Garza and Josh Minott in free agency, this could be an intriguing landing spot for Bassey, even if it’s on an Exhibit 10 deal or two-way. On Sunday, he was highly active as a finisher and defender, recording an impressive stat line. Bassey currently doesn’t offer any fantasy value, but an opportunity to contribute in Boston may change that.

Bassey is available after being listed as questionable, though he continues to manage a knee injury that kept him out for a month. The 24-year-old played just 10 minutes against the Warriors last Sunday and fantasy managers should expect his minutes to be limited once again Friday.

Bassey missed the Spurs’ last two games with a knee issue after returning from a month-long absence on Sunday. He only played 10 minutes in his return, and if he suits up on Friday, his role will likely be limited once again.

Bassey logged 10 minutes on Sunday in what was his return from a month-long absence. However, he’ll sit out the first leg of the Spurs’ back-to-back on Tuesday. Bismack Biyombo didn’t see any minutes on Sunday but should return to the rotation with Bassey sidelined.

Sunday’s game was Bassey’s first since February 23, so he clearly wasn’t going to be asked to log many minutes. He played 10 minutes, but his return meant no room in the rotation for Bismack Biyombo, who picked up a DNP-CD. Following the game, Bassey said that he still wasn’t feeling right. “I just want to play with these guys, man,” Bassey said. “My family, my friends, people in my circle, know who I am as a person. They know I want to get back and play, even though I’m not feeling right.” Fantasy managers should not expect much from Bassey the rest of the way, especially with San Antonio’s four-game Week 22 starting with a Tuesday/Wednesday back-to-back.

Sunday will be Bassey’s first appearance in a game since February 23. The time off will likely mean his minutes will be restricted, but Bismack Biyombo and Sando Mamukelashvili may lose out on playing time with Bassey available. There’s no need to add Bassey for Sunday, but he’s worth watching during the early portion of San Antonio’s four-game Week 22.

Bassey will likely return to the rotation after a lengthy layoff and isn’t expected to impact fantasy basketball.

Bassey hasn’t played since late February and is effectively a third-string center on the depth chart. His return shouldn’t affect fantasy basketball significantly.