NBA News
Kawhi Leonard Expected To Miss Indefinite Time To Start The Season
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (knee) will miss indefinite time to start the season as he works to rehabilitate from inflammation in his right knee. Leonard began experiencing inflammation in his surgically repaired knee during a March 31st game against the Charlotte Hornets. The inflammation held him out for the rest of the regular season and he was only able to play in two of the six games in the Clippers' series loss to the Dallas Mavericks. The team's goal for the 33-year-old is to keep him healthy throughout the season. Given his prior health issues the Clippers will need to be cautious and diligent in their approach to Leonard's playing time, an approach that's excluded Leonard from participating in any on-court drills during the preseason. Fantasy managers should avoid taking Leonard in the early rounds of their drafts with uncertainty on his availability. In his absence, James Harden should see an increase in usage. Nicolas Batum and Amir Coffey will be in line to take his spot in the starting lineup while he is out.
5 hours ago
Isaiah Hartenstein Out With Fractured Hand
Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein has suffered a small, non-displaced fracture in his left hand and will be re-evaluated in five-to-six weeks, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. The 26-year-old big man suffered the injury in Tuesday's preseason contest against Denver. Harteinstein was set to be the Thunder's new starting center after the team brought him in over the summer as a free agent from New York. Chet Holmgren will now likely remain at the center position to start the 2024-25 campaign, while the door has opened for Alex Caruso to enter the first unit.
13 hours ago
Khris Middleton Ruled Out For Thursday's Preseason Finale
Milwaukee Bucks small forward Khris Middleton (ankle) will not play in Thursday's preseason finale against Dallas. Last week, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers hoped to have Middleton available for the team's final two preseason games, but the former All-Star will end up missing the entire preseason slate. Middleton continues to nurse injuries to both ankles and didn't practice on Wednesday. However, he is still expected to be available for Milwaukee's regular-season opener on Oct. 23 versus Philadelphia. Taurean Prince will likely replace Middleton in the starting unit if he doesn't recover in time. At the same time, there should also be extra playing time available for Pat Connaughton and Bobby Portis.
14 hours ago
Clint Capela Exits Preseason Action Early Due To Ankle Issue
Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela was limited to only seven minutes in Wednesday's preseason matchup against Miami, exiting the game with right ankle soreness. The Swiss big man tallied three points and three rebounds before his premature exit. Atlanta is already without Onyeka Okongwu (toe), making Capela's loss a bitter blow. However, his injury doesn't sound too bad, so he could still be ready for next week's season opener against Brooklyn. Capela has been a walking double-double throughout his NBA career and should continue in the same vein in 2024-25. After sitting out Wednesday's game, Cody Zeller (rest) could slide into the lineup as Capela's replacement on Thursday versus Oklahoma City.
14 hours ago
Jared McCain Taken To Hospital Following Hard Fall
Philadelphia 76ers point guard Jared McCain (head) was taken to a hospital after he suffered a hard fall in Wednesday's preseason clash with Brooklyn. According to ESPN's Tim Bontemps, McCain is being evaluated for a concussion, among other things, after appearing to struggle to catch his breath on the court. McCain, the 16th pick of this year's draft, notched nine points, seven rebounds, and two assists in 23 minutes before exiting Wednesday's action. The 20-year-old guard has drawn a lot of plaudits for his performances in training camp and the preseason. He looks set to be part of the regular rotation to start the season, although it's currently unclear if McCain will be ready for next week following Wednesday's incident.
14 hours ago
Doug McDermott Joins Kings On One-Year Deal
Veteran small forward Doug McDermott has agreed to a one-year contract with the Sacramento Kings. The 32-year-old was a free agent after finishing the 2023-24 campaign with the Indiana Pacers. McDermott averaged only 4.2 points as a member of the Pacers. However, he posted 10-plus points in four consecutive seasons prior to the 2023-24 campaign, and the Kings are getting an extra scoring option in McDermott as a big three-point threat who has nailed 41 percent of his attempts from deep over the course of his career. With that said, McDermott likely won't see enough action to make an impact in fantasy basketball.
14 hours ago
Lonzo Ball Logs 15 Minutes In First Game Since 2022
Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball made his long-awaited return to NBA action on Wednesday, logging 15 minutes in a 125-123 preseason win over Minnesota. Ball came off the bench and played well, posting 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting. He hit a pair of threes with four attempts and had one rebound, one assist, one steal, and one block to remind everybody of his versatility. Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said after the game that Ball "looked great" and moved "really, really well." Ball's return to the court is an exceptional story, and it's great to see that he's fully capable of still making an impact on this level. However, fantasy managers should keep in mind that Ball has returned to action on a 16-minute restriction and won't play in back-to-backs.
14 hours ago
Luka Doncic Returns To Full Practice
Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic (calf) had his first full practice in two weeks on Wednesday. He has been rehabbing a left calf contusion that Doncic sustained in training camp. According to Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, Doncic did "really, really well" on Wednesday, but it's unlikely that Doncic will be on the court on Thursday when Dallas wraps up its preseason with a game against Milwaukee. The losing finalists from last season begin the 2024-25 campaign on Oct. 24 versus San Antonio, so there's still a good amount of time left for Doncic to work his way into game shape.
14 hours ago
Immanuel Quickley Cleared For Contact
Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (thumb) has been cleared for contact and went through a full practice on Tuesday. The speedy guard is working his way back from a thumb injury he sustained before training camp. As a result of the injury, Quickley has missed all four of Toronto's preseason games. His status for the final preseason game on Friday versus Brooklyn will be determined by how Quickley feels after practicing the next couple of days. Missing the preseason certainly isn't ideal for Quickley, but he's set to be healthy for the start of the regular season, and that's the most important thing. The 25-year-old is gearing up for his first full campaign with the Raptors, and the expectations are high following Quickley's good spell he had with the team last term after arriving in a mid-season trade from New York.
Yesterday
Peyton Watson Continues To Nurse A Hamstring Problem
Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (hamstring) remained on the shelf for Tuesday's preseason outing against Oklahoma City. Denver had their fourth exhibition game on Tuesday, but Watson hasn't featured in any of them due to a hamstring injury. He has one more opportunity to shake off some rust before the regular season begins next week, as the Nuggets finish their preseason slate against Minnesota on Thursday. Watson's role on the team has steadily grown in his first two years in the league, but it's a tough challenge for him to take another leap, with Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. firmly ahead of him as starters at the forward positions.
Yesterday
Cody Martin Remains Out With Wrist Issue
Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Cody Martin (wrist) missed a fourth consecutive preseason game on Tuesday against the Knicks. He hurt his right wrist before the start of preseason, and while Martin was initially considered day-to-day, he still hasn't shaken off the injury. Entering training camp, Martin also had an ankle problem. It looks like 2024-25 could be another injury-plagued campaign for Martin, who's managed to suit up for only 35 games across the previous two seasons. Before running into injuries, Martin was on an upward trajectory. Now, there are question marks regarding his role on the team, and Martin might even struggle to average 20 minutes of action this season, which will negatively impact his fantasy value.
Yesterday
Saddiq Bey Remains Without Timetable For His Return
Washington Wizards forward Saddiq Bey (knee) remains without a timetable for his return to action. The 25-year-old suffered an ACL injury in March and is still rehabbing, with a week to go until the start of the 2024-25 NBA campaign. Bey could be fun to watch on this rebuilding Wizards team. He has averaged 14.1 points and 5.2 rebounds in 292 regular-season appearances with Detroit and Atlanta. Despite his knee injury, Bey was signed to a three-year, $20 million deal as a free agent by the Wizards in the summer, so the team clearly values him. However, it could take months until we see the 25-year-old in action with his new squad.
Yesterday
De'Anthony Melton Battling Back Tightness
Golden State Warriors guard De'Anthony Melton was unavailable for Tuesday's preseason clash with the Lakers due to mid-back tightness. Melton had featured in all four preseason games until Tuesday. He's knocked down threes at a good rate while being a defensive pest. Melton also stood out on Sunday versus Detroit with seven assists, showing he has the potential to be a good backup option at point guard behind Stephen Curry. The six-year veteran should also see minutes at the shooting guard spot, although there's a lot of competition, with Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, and Moses Moody all wanting their piece of the cake. The Warriors have one more exhibition game to go, facing the Lakers in a rematch on Friday.
Yesterday
Landry Shamet Suffers Apparent Shoulder Injury
New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet suffered an apparent right shoulder injury in Tuesday's preseason contest against Charlotte. The veteran sharpshooter was hurt in the third quarter after putting up eight points in 20 minutes with 3-for-10 shooting. Shamet has a non-guaranteed contract but was expected to make the Knicks roster for the 2024-25 campaign. The six-year veteran is valuable for his three-point shooting ability, hitting 38.4 percent of his attempts across 348 career NBA appearances. However, the shoulder injury could force Shamet to miss a large chunk of the upcoming season.
Yesterday
Grayson Allen Still Limited At Practice
Phoenix Suns forward Grayson Allen (Achilles) logged another limited practice session on Tuesday. The 29-year-old, who signed a lucrative extension with Phoenix in April, has been dealing with Achilles soreness. While the Suns haven't ruled him out for opening night, there's a chance he may miss some games to begin the 2024-25 campaign. Allen averaged 13.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists last season. He also shot a career-high 46.1% from deep. Although Allen isn't expected to start consistently this season, he should see plenty of minutes, considering the Suns lack depth from off the bench. As a result, Allen is relevant for fantasy managers in any format. With that said, if he isn't on the floor when the Suns open the season against the Clippers on October 23, Royce O'Neale and Damion Lee may see more minutes.
2 days ago
Jusuf Nurkic Still Not Taking Contact
According to Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer, center Jusuf Nurkic hasn't "done basketball work." He also said Nurkic "hasn't had any contact." The 30-year-old injured his left middle finger while scrimmaging, keeping him off the court during the preseason. While Nurkic averaged 10.9 points last season, nearly three points less than in his final year in Portland, he was still a double-double producer. That's not expected to change, although the injury could compromise his availability for the start of the 2024-25 campaign. If Nurkic misses time, Mason Plumlee or Bol Bol may spend more time in the middle. There's also a chance the Suns go small, with Royce O'Neale sliding over to the five.
2 days ago
Devin Booker "Ready To Go"
According to Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer, guard Devin Booker (ankle) looked "great" in Tuesday's practice, adding he's "ready to go." The 27-year-old sat out the Suns' previous two contests because of right ankle soreness. However, the team was likely playing things safe. Booker is coming off a quality season, averaging 27.1 points, 6.9 assists, and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 36.4% from behind the arc. While he's a capable performer, he hasn't played more than 68 games in any of his previous four seasons, which is something for fantasy managers to consider ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
2 days ago
Paul George Diagnosed With A Bone Bruise
Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward Paul George (knee) was diagnosed with a bone bruise. He will be re-evaluated in one week. While there is "no structural damage," the timeline could mean George will miss the start of the regular season. The latest update shouldn't impact his fantasy value ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, barring a setback. However, with the 76ers looking for a championship, fantasy managers may be without George until the team is absolutely certain he is ready to roll. With that in mind, Eric Gordon, who averaged 15.4 points, 1.0 steals, and shot 45.1% from deep in 24 starts with the Suns last season, may spend time with the first five until George can return.
2 days ago
Scotty Pippen Jr., Grizzlies Agree To A Four-Year Deal
Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. agreed to a four-year contract with the team. The 23-year-old spent time in the G League and the Los Angeles Lakers before ending up in Memphis last season. He appeared in 21 games for the Grizzlies, averaging 12.9 points and 4.7 assists. With Derrick Rose recently announcing his retirement, Pippen is now expected to operate as Ja Morant's backup this season. He'll likely make some appearances with the first five, giving him streaming potential at some point during the 2024-25 campaign.
2 days ago
Kelly Olynyk Unavailable On Tuesday
Per Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca, Toronto Raptors center Kelly Olynyk (back) will not suit up for Tuesday's preseason game against the Celtics due to lower-back stiffness. For the 33-year-old, it will be the second consecutive game that he's missed. Olynyk will get another opportunity to play Friday for the Raptors' final preseason game against Brooklyn. During the 2023-24 campaign, the big man averaged 9.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists, playing in 78 games with Utah and Toronto.
2 days ago
