NBA Player News

The 76ers are in need of some shooters, and Rush could fit that bill. They’ll likely be bringing in a few players for workouts, but it’s unlikely whoever they sign will be relevant in fantasy hoops this season.

While Bismack Biyombo is available for Saturday’s game, he’s been moved to the bench for matchup reasons. A more athletic defender, Sochan will start opposite Kristaps Porzingis, and the lineup change raises his fantasy ceiling. Biyombo can still offer rebounds and blocks as a reserve, but this is not a great matchup.

Williams left Thursday’s game against the Grizzlies early with a hip injury that he was already dealing with. The 22-year-old power forward was at shootaround Saturday, but was ultimately ruled out for the game against the Pacers. Kenrich Williams and Isaiah Joe are candidates to see additional minutes with J-Dub out.

Caruso left Thursday’s game against the Grizzlies early with a back injury that he’s been dealing with all season. The 31-year-old shooting guard was at shootaround and is available Saturday where he’ll resume his customary reserve role.

Bagley is back after sitting out the Grizzlies’ last two games. While he can provide additional depth off the bench, that isn’t enough to make him a player worth rostering in most fantasy leagues.

Houstan has made at least four three-pointers in four games this season, and he matched his previous high on Saturday with six. Also, he managed to provide some value in the rebound and assist categories. However, Saturday’s performance is insufficient to make Houstan a player worth targeting. He’s been an inconsistent shooter, and the limited production outside of points and triples makes him a difficult player to trust in most fantasy leagues.

Carter has scored 12 points or more in five of his last seven appearances. While this would not be a significant deal for most starters, it is for a player who has battled inconsistency for most of the season. However, even with the increased scoring output, Carter remains a player who cannot be trusted in 12-team leagues. Over the past two weeks, he’s ranked outside the top 200 in eight- and nine-cat formats. Backup Goga Bitadze (12/10/5/1/1 in 18 minutes) has been better, but his overall fantasy value hasn’t been much to brag about. With Orlando’s three-game Week 22 ending on Thursday, there isn’t much to gain from rostering either in standard leagues.

Wagner has scored 20 points or more in seven straight games, his longest streak since late January. The Magic forward has provided sixth-round value in eight-cat formats over the past two weeks, which aligns with most fantasy managers’ expectations for him before the season began. However, Wagner’s season-long value remains within the top 50 in eight- and nine-cat formats. The Magic start a three-game Week 22 on Monday against the Clippers.

Banchero did not see any action during the fourth quarter, as the Magic led by 32 points after three. That had more to do with the end of his five-game streak of 30 points or more than anything, as there was no need for the Magic to push their star further. Over the past two weeks, Banchero has provided fourth-round value in eight-cat formats, and his nine-cat value is just outside the top-50. The bad news for fantasy managers is that Orlando plays three games during Week 22 and none after Thursday.

LaVine had a brutal afternoon in Orlando. While the field goal percentage wasn’t terrible, Saturday’s loss was the third game this month in which he’s failed to crack double digits in attempts. Add in five turnovers, and Saturday was a day to forget for those who have LaVine rostered. And over the past two weeks, he’s ranked outside the top 250 in nine-cat formats. LaVine will look to turn things around during a four-game Week 22, which begins in Indianapolis on Monday.

Sabonis has reached double figures in rebounds in four straight games, including three double-doubles. However, he only shot 33.3 percent from the field in Orlando, and a combination of poor foul shooting and limited defensive production has weighed down the center’s fantasy value. Over the past two weeks, Sabonis is ranked just inside the top 100 in eight-cat formats and has only been a 12th-round player in nine-cat. With the Kings looking to hold onto a play-in spot, they’ll need more production from Sabonis, and fantasy managers can say the same.