NBA Player News

Cleveland picks at the end of the lottery at No. 14 where teams will look at guys like OSU’s Malaki Branham or Duke’s Mark Williams. Charlotte can double-dip on a win-now player and a lottery pick if it moves off of No. 15 and keeps No. 13. Charlotte’s needs are in the frontcourt for defense and explosiveness, while Cleveland could use more playmakers who can go out and get their own buckets.

Thompson came off the bench on Sunday with Dillon Brooks (ankle) back in the lineup. The rebounds and assists were solid, but the second-year wing had minimal impact in the reserve role. More concerning for fantasy managers was the fight between Thompson and Tyler Herro, with Amen tossing the Heat guard to the court. His status for Wednesday’s game against the Mavericks may be in doubt, and the Rockets only play three games in Week 10.

Sengun lost out on some shot attempts with Dillon Brooks back in the lineup, but he made up for it with excellent production on the boards. The Rockets center matched his season-high with 18 rebounds, and fantasy managers will also get solid value from the six assists and two defensive contributions. Sengun remains a top-40 player in 9-cat formats, but he’s a top-20 player in 3-point punt builds.

Brooks was back in the Rockets lineup after missing three games with a right ankle effusion. He didn’t shoot the ball well, but the good news is that Brooks played 40 minutes without issues. At best, he remains a deep-league option, but Brooks may be worth a look in more leagues if the NBA suspends Amen Thompson after getting into a fight with Tyler Herro during the fourth quarter. The Rockets play three games in Week 10, beginning with Dallas on Wednesday.

Jovic was back on the court after sitting out Saturday’s loss to the Hawks with a sprained ankle, and he had one of his best games of the season. He scored 18 points, including a crucial 3-pointer that gave Miami a four-point lead with 47 seconds remaining. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra rewarded him with more minutes, but nights like Sunday make Jovic a frustrating player to roster. He can play this well, but the consistency has not been there. If Jimmy Butler is not ready for Wednesday’s game against the Pelicans, Jovic may pick up a few more minutes after earning 31 on Sunday.

Herro continues to shine for the Heat, averaging 24.6 points per game over the past month. His overall production has been good for 3rd-round value in 9-cat formats during this stretch, which aligns with Herro’s season-long value. The lone concern was his ejection from Sunday’s game after getting into a fight with Houston’s Amen Thompson. While the two principals threw no punches, Thompson did manage to slam Herro to the court. Miami hosts New Orleans on Wednesday; we’ll see if Herro is subject to league discipline.

Love replaced Jaime Jaquez Jr. in the starting lineup for Sunday’s game, and Nikola Jovic outshined both. Love only played 14 minutes, and Jaquez (two points, three rebounds) 16, as Jovic had the “hot hand” in Houston. Nights like Sunday are why it isn’t easy to zero in on any of Miami’s supplementary options for consistent fantasy value. There’s no need to consider adding Love ahead of the Heat’s three-game Week 10 slate.

Rozier’s night ended with a little under one minute remaining when he was involved in an altercation kicked off by Tyler Herro and Houston’s Amen Thompson. Scary Terry needs to find his shot regardless of what happens from a disciplinary standpoint. He missed all eight 3-point attempts on Sunday and is shooting 39.7% from the field this season. The Heat play three games in Week 10, beginning with the Pelicans on Wednesday.

VanVleet had a tough night shooting the basketball, and the ending was brutal for the Rockets point guard. He was ejected with 47.4 seconds remaining after bumping into official Marc Davis while arguing a five-second call. While the bump didn’t appear malicious, it was enough to earn VanVleet an early trip to the locker room. The shooting woes persist for the Rockets point guard, and now there’s concern that the ejection could result in a suspension. And with Amen Thompson being tossed seconds later for fighting, Aaron Holiday could find himself in the rotation for Wednesday’s game against Dallas.

Konchar started Sunday’s game due to Zach Edey’s absence, with the rookie center now in the league’s concussion protocol. Give Konchar credit as he rebounded like a much taller player, finishing with a season-high 17 boards. The shot wasn’t there, but the few fantasy managers who streamed Konchar will take the rebounds and blocks. His minutes moving forward will depend on who’s available, so fantasy managers should hold off on adding Konchar until the Grizzlies announce the initial injury report for Tuesday’s game in Phoenix.

Generally speaking, Pippen has been a safe streaming option when the Grizzlies are without Ja Morant. Things did not play out that way on Sunday, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder outclassed the shorthanded Grizzlies. Pippen recorded a complete stat line, but it included four turnovers. He’ll look to bounce back when the Grizzlies visit Phoenix on Tuesday, and Pippen will get another start if Morant remains sidelined.