NBA Player News

Walker is still with the Pistons because his “anticipated buyout [is] still on hold,” but it seems inevitable that Kemba and Detroit will agree to terms. Meanwhile, the Hornets were pleased with Thomas’ impact on the team while signed to 10-day contracts last season. Payton averaged a mere 11.0 minutes in 50 games for Phoenix last season and may not be Charlotte’s first choice for a veteran-backup PG, but there’s at least some NBA interest in his services.

“Just when I thought I was out...they pulled me back in.” The words of Michael Corleone may be bouncing around the heads of some fantasy managers after Boucher’s performance on Friday. He didn’t produce any defensive stats in the nation’s capital, but the slender forward was very good as a scorer and rebounder. Toronto remains without RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, which leaves a little more offensive room for Boucher to work. However, a good preseason could put some managers in a position where they once again roll the dice on him. It’s OK to wait for Boucher to show something in the regular season before making that plunge again.

Friday’s exhibition was Barnes’ first game action since March 1, when he was ruled out for the remainder of the 2023-24 season with a fractured left hand. Therefore, it’s understandable that the Raptors star would look rusty. In addition to missing all five of his 3-point attempts, Barnes was responsible for a team-high five turnovers. Fantasy managers should not be too concerned, as Barnes was a stud when he was available last season, and this team is being built around him. He’ll be fine.

Valanciunas came off the bench on Friday, with Alex Sarr being the lone big on the floor for the Wizards to begin the game. JV took advantage of the foul line, scoring eight of his 12 points from the charity stripe while also putting in a solid shift on the glass. Whether or not Wizards coach Brian Keefe would look to bring Valanciunas off the bench once the games count remains to be seen, but there could come a point during the season when that happens. Sarr finished Friday’s win with seven points, four rebounds, one blocked shot, and two 3-pointers in 21 minutes.

Having struggled in Wednesday’s loss to the Knicks, Carrington bounced back with a solid performance off the bench on Friday night. In addition to the 12 points, six rebounds, and four assists, the rookie only committed one turnover in 28 minutes. Jordan Poole (3/2/2/2 in 22 minutes) is locked in as the starting point guard, but Malcolm Brogdon’s absence due to a hand injury has freed up additional minutes on the perimeter. Carrington, fellow rookie Kyshawn George, and Corey Kispert could have streaming value during the first month of the regular season.

After playing well in a reserve role during Wednesday’s loss to the Knicks, George was rewarded with a start on Friday. And the first-round pick out of Miami was solid, contributing quality numbers in the 3-point, rebounds, and steals categories. Malcolm Brogdon (thumb) will be out for at least one month, and his absence boosts the value of players like George. Initially an afterthought in standard league drafts, George’s play during the preseason may get him on the radar as a late-round dart throw.

Kispert’s fantasy value is limited because he is a reserve on most nights. But days like Friday show what he’s capable of despite coming off the bench. The points and 3-pointers should be there, but Kispert dropping a full stat line was incredibly encouraging. With Malcolm Brogdon sidelined due to a thumb injury, Kispert will have added streaming value early in the regular season.

After shooting a combined 2-of-11 from the field in Washington’s first two preseason games, Kuzma was better against the Raptors. However, there were still efficiency issues. He shot 3-of-11 from three, and the Wizards forward was also responsible for a team-high five turnovers. With Washington in a rebuild, Kuzma is being counted on to lead the way for this young group. And that responsibility could lower his efficiency, which was already an issue in some fantasy formats. Kuzma is worth selecting within the first 100 picks of standard leagues, but managers may need to prepare to punt field-goal percentage or turnovers.

Oubre had a good night shooting the basketball, making three of five attempts from beyond the arc while shooting 66.7% from the field overall. While it was assumed that the arrival of Paul George would lessen Oubre’s fantasy appeal, that’s been countered by Joel Embiid still working to get his knee back to full strength. The two may not play the same position, but Philadelphia needs more scoring from someone. Oubre’s capable, and this could boost his fantasy value early in the season.

After playing 12 minutes in Philadelphia’s preseason opener, Maxey logged 26 on Friday and looked sharp. The partnership with Paul George will be difficult for opposing teams to deal with, and Maxey can provide top-50 fantasy value with relative ease. The question is how many games Joel Embiid (knee) will play, as he’s prioritizing being healthy for the postseason over regular season honors. The more time he sits, the more valuable players like Maxey and George become.

After sitting out Philadelphia’s preseason opener on Monday, George was available and in the starting lineup (as expected) on Friday. While we’ll have to wait to see how he fits alongside Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid (knee), PG looked comfortable sharing the court with Maxey as the latter remains sidelined. While he isn’t someone who should be selected in the first round of drafts, George showed last season that he’s still capable of offering that value.