Miami Heat guard Kyle Lowry (hamstring) will play on Friday night for the pivotal postseason meeting with the Boston Celtics. Despite the veteran's availability over the last few games, he hasn't received his usual minute's allowance while also struggling offensively, so it's quite apparent his ailing left hamstring is still bothering him. Gabe Vincent, who had been starting for Lowry while he was out, had 15 points in 23 minutes off the bench during Game 6 on Wednesday. DFS managers should keep Vincent in mind, primarily since he could also get some extra opportunities on the scoring end with Tyler Herro (groin) declared out.
Oklahoma City Thunder center Aleksej Pokusevski finished with 11 points across 21 minutes during the Summer League win over Utah on Tuesday. With Chet Holmgren shining in this one, it was a different story for Pokusevski, who struggled by going 3-for-10 from the field and 1-for-5 from deep. The 20-year-old, who averaged 7.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 2021-22, is expected to have a larger role this season. His shooting numbers could improve. However, he's someone managers can take a chance on later during fantasy drafts heading into October.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey finished with 14 points during the Summer League victory over Utah on Tuesday. The 19-year-old was 5-for-9 from the field and added 11 assists, five boards, two steals, and two blocks. After Giddey was ruled out for the remainder of last season in March due to right hip soreness, he appeared to be back at 100%. Nonetheless, with a fantastic rookie year behind him, the No. 6 overall selection of the 2021 NBA Draft has a realistic chance to have an even better season. Giddey is also expected to be a routine fantasy producer in 2022-23, so as long as he stays healthy, managers should benefit immensely from his presence on the roster.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren looked fantastic during the win over the Utah Jazz, finishing with a game-high 23 points. The No. 2 overall selection of the 2022 NBA Draft set a few Summer League records on Tuesday by blocking six shots and draining four of his attempts from deep. He added seven rebounds, four assists, and a steal while also going a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. Holmgren appears to be making an early case for Rookie of the Year honors. Considering he should start right away in OKC, he has an excellent chance of accomplishing that.
Golden State Warriors guard Quinndary Weatherspoon finished with a team-high 14 points during the Summer League loss to Miami. He also added three rebounds, one block, and one steal. The 25-year-old was looking to make a statement in this one, although he shot 40.0% from the field and failed to land either of his two attempts from deep. Nonetheless, Weatherspoon may have a chance to cement his place on the roster heading into the regular season. However, even if he manages to carve out a more prominent role on the depth chart, he will have to battle for minutes with Jordan Poole, Donte DiVincenzo, and others, so he has a way to go before becoming relevant to fantasy managers.
Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic led all scorers during Tuesday's Summer League win over Golden State, finishing with 25 points. The rookie looked great in this one, going 5-for-7 from behind the arc and adding nine rebounds. With P.J. Tucker now in Philadelphia, Miami has a void at the four. However, if Jovic continues to play well over the summer and throughout the preseason, he has an opportunity to break into the starting lineup. Fantasy managers, especially those in dynasty formats, will want to keep an eye on him.
Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody played well during the Summer League loss to Miami on Tuesday. The 20-year-old came out firing in this one, scoring eight of his 13 points within the first six minutes of the contest. He also provided in other areas, adding three assists, three steals, and a block. Moody averaged 4.4 points and 1.5 rebounds while shooting 36.4% during his rookie campaign, although he didn't see much action throughout his 52 contests. However, since the Dubs might have some openings in the rotation in 2022-23, he may receive more work. He certainly won't be a day-to-day fantasy option. But considering head coach Steve Kerr is known to rest his superstars, especially around back-to-back sets, Moody could make a few appearances in the starting lineup this season.
Dallas Mavericks forward/center Maxi Kleber had his $9 million salary become fully guaranteed. Throughout 59 games last season, the 30-year-old averaged 7.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.0 blocks. While he should get some minutes in 2022-23, his workload may be severely reduced if he remains in Dallas after the team signed JaVale McGee and acquired Christian Wood this offseason. Although injuries could change Kleber's fantasy projections, any effective outings this year will probably be few and far between.
Memphis Grizzlies forward John Konchar had his $2.3 million salary become fully guaranteed. The 26-year-old has been in the league for three years, all in Memphis, and has averaged 4.4 points, 3.8 boards, and 1.3 assists while shooting 40.6% from deep. It appears the Grizzlies want to keep him around, and it's possible he will receive a more prominent role in the rotation moving ahead after the team traded De'Anthony Melton to Philadelphia during the 2022 NBA Draft. Although that won't make Konchar an everyday fantasy option, he may get some work this season, so the streaming potential is there.
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving remains on the roster. While several teams are interested in acquiring him, he is on an expiring contract, which somewhat decreases his value. The Lakers have been strongly linked to the multi-time All-Star. However, according to ESPN senior NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Los Angeles hasn't been aggressive in putting together a package. There's always a chance Irving stays in Brooklyn for the last year of his deal, although that's unlikely. Nevertheless, with the start of the regular season over three months away, the Nets aren't in a rush to make anything happen unless the price is right.
Philadelphia 76ers center Paul Reed has been putting in work this offseason. While the 23-year-old won't be on the team's roster for the Las Vegas Summer League, he will be suiting up for the Salt Lake City version. Reed, who was selected with the No. 58 pick of the 2020 NBA Draft, has averaged only 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds throughout his two years as a professional. However, he appears to have a lock on the No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind Joel Embiid, so it's likely he gets consistent action this season. But considering Embiid has had issues remaining healthy over the years, Reed has plenty of streaming potential for fantasy managers moving ahead by getting some starts here and there. Yet, considering more moves may be on the horizon, that may change for better or worse.
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