Keegan

Murray

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.

Hunter, whose 2025-26 season ended in February due to an eye injury that required surgery, was in the starting lineup on Monday. The Kings did not have Keegan Murray, so fantasy managers should not read too much into that. What they should read into when evaluating Hunter is that he did not have an official shot from the field, with his points coming via a three-shot foul. And there was no rebounding or defensive production to speak of. Hunter has rarely offered reliable fantasy value as a pro, making him challenging to trust in drafts.

Murray, who initially injured his left ankle in early January, aggravated the sprain during a February 25 game against the Rockets. That was the last game of the season for the Kings’ forward, who underwent a “minimally invasive” procedure on May 12 to remove loose bodies from the ankle. With the six-to-eight week timeline, Murray being ready for the start of training camp in late September should not be an issue. In addition to health, his fantasy outlook in 2026-27 will depend on whether the Kings can move some of their veterans this offseason.

Murray was cleared to resume contact on March 25, but he’ll end the season with his last game action occurring on February 25. Nique Clifford and Daeqwon Plowden have seen their minutes increase substantially over the final month of the season, and they should play plenty on Sunday.

Murray has not appeared in a game since February 25, when he aggravated his sprained left ankle against the Rockets. Being approved to resume contact activities is a step in the right direction, but it remains unknown when (or if) he’ll return to game action. Fantasy managers stashing Murray in an IL spot can continue to do so, but it would be fine to seek out productive options on the waiver wire.

Murray aggravated his sprained left ankle during a February 25 game against the Rockets and has not played since. With the update provided by the Kings on Friday, he’s unlikely to be an impact option for fantasy managers again this season. Nique Clifford is as close to a must-add as a player can be going into the silly season, and Precious Achiuwa is also worth a long look in 12-team leagues. Daeqwon Plowden has cracked the rotation, but Clifford and Achiuwa should be the priorities of fantasy managers.

Murray aggravated his sprained left ankle during Wednesday’s loss to the Rockets and was forced to exit. Nique Clifford entered the lineup to start the third quarter of that game and should retain that role, making him a player worth rostering. Also worth a look in deeper leagues is Daeqwon Plowden, but he is not a must-add.

While Clifford was not in the starting lineup on Wednesday, he did start the third quarter due to Keegan Murray aggravating his sprained left ankle. The first-round pick out of Colorado State played 28 minutes in Houston, and he may take on an enhanced role as soon as Thursday’s game in Dallas. If so, Clifford has the potential to join fellow rookie Maxime Rayanud (11 points, eight rebounds and two assists in 29 minutes) on the list of first-year players who can be serious factors in fantasy basketball during the silly season.

Murray, who missed over a month after spraining his left ankle in early January, injured the ankle again during the first quarter of Wednesday’s game. He played nine minutes, finishing with three points, one rebound and one blocked shot. Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Daeqwon Plowden may pick up additional minutes in Murray’s absence, but neither is a must-add.

After scoring 15 points in his first game back from a sprained ankle on Thursday, Murray put up 20 as part of a complete stat line on Saturday. Also of note for the Kings forward was that he played a team-high 36 minutes. While DeMar DeRozan (20/1/5/2/1 in 35 minutes) and Russell Westbrook (7/3/2/1/1 with one three-pointer in 21 minutes) don’t appear to be part of the Kings’ long-term plans, Murray should be the priority over the final two months of the regular season. If the Kings take that approach, it should bode well for fantasy managers who have him rostered.