NBA Player News

Hopefully, Key will be able to rejoin his teammates soon. His absence will not impact fantasy basketball, as he is not in the rotation when available.

Jones has played well in both of Sacramento’s games to open the summer, good timing for a player currently on a two-way contract. The news that Devin Carter will have to undergo shoulder surgery may crack the door open for Jones, especially with it unknown if the rookie will be healthy at the start of training camp. Jones isn’t a player who fantasy managers should consider selecting in most league drafts, but there may be times during the season when he’s allowed to show what he can do.

Ellis wasn’t as productive as in Sacramento’s summer opener on Saturday, but he was plenty effective as the Kings moved to 2-0. Four Kings scored in double figures, led by undrafted rookie Boogie Ellis (no relation), who scored 17. Of the players on the roster, Keon has the most significant chance of being in the opening night rotation. He had a bench role for most of last season, moving into the starting lineup after Kevin Huerter went down with a season-ending shoulder injury. Ellis didn’t offer consistent fantasy value in 2023-24, but there were times when he was worth streaming in deep leagues. What the Kings likely want to see this summer is for him to dominate against less experienced players.

With lottery pick Stephon Castle sidelined, there were additional opportunities for other Spurs, such as Ingram, to step up offensively. Unfortunately for the second-round pick, he had a tough night shooting the basketball while offering limited value in other areas. Ingram plays on the wing, a position where the Spurs have multiple veterans still considered young by NBA standards, most notably Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson. While Ingram could have value as a late-round option in dynasty leagues, he’s unlikely to be worth the risk in redrafts.

The eighth overall pick in last summer’s draft, Walker played limited NBA minutes as a rookie. And with the Pacers re-signing Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin, the path to rotation minutes at power forward appears to be blocked. As a result, he will see plenty of time at the three in Las Vegas. “He’s going to start at the 3, but today’s game is positionless,” Pacers summer league coach Jannero Pargo said. “If he’s ahead of the play, we want him dunking it and playing in the paint. If he’s not, spacing the floor, handling the ball, playing in pick-and-roll, making decisions off the dribble. In all facets of the game, we want to use him because he’s that kind of a player.” Regardless of where Walker slots into the lineup once the games count, he’ll be part of a loaded Pacers rotation on the wings. While he remains a viable option in dynasty leagues, his value in redraft formats may be limited in 2024-25.

McGowens may have been credited with just eight official shot attempts, but that was due to his ability to get downhill against Team China consistently. The former Hornets guard attempted 14 free throws, making 12 on his way to a game-high 20 points. McGowens was waived by the Hornets just before summer league but still decided to play with the team. Like many players who will see action in northern California, Salt Lake City, and Las Vegas this month, he’s auditioning for all 30 teams. Until his status for next season is solidified, there’s no need to make plans to select McGowens in fantasy drafts.

After shooting 3-of-12 from the field on Saturday, Knecht matched his point total on Sunday but again struggled with inefficiency. The first-round pick has not shot the ball well, but he has been productive in other areas. Knecht accumulated two steals on Sunday, one day after dishing out four assists without committing a turnover. While the offensive skill set is why draft analysts thought so highly of him during the pre-draft process, the ability to do the “other things” is what will give him a shot at earning credible rotation minutes as a rookie.

Lewis was the only Lakers player to struggle on Sunday, but he took a noticeable step back after scoring 14 points in Saturday’s loss to the Kings. Selected with the 40th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Lewis was limited to 34 appearances (3.0 minutes per game) as a rookie. The Lakers still have one more game to play in northern California before heading to Vegas, so Lewis will have opportunities to make a positive impression on the new coaching staff. He’ll need to be more consistent offensively, especially if he’s to have a chance of cracking a veteran-laden rotation once training camp begins.

Puerto Rico will participate in the men’s basketball competition at the Summer Olympics for the first time since 2004, and Alvarado led the way in Sunday’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament final. The Pelicans guard takes on a vastly different role with Puerto Rico, taking on more scoring responsibilities. Alvarado led Puerto Rico in scoring while also knocking down four 3-pointers. While he only recorded one steal on the day, the point guard’s point-of-attack defense was crucial. Puerto Rico will compete in Group C in Paris, joining the United States, Serbia, and South Sudan.

After spending last season on a two-way contract, Ford faces an uphill battle for a camp invite, with Sacramento having already allocated its three available slots. While Sunday’s scoring production was encouraging, one would like to see more from Ford in the assist category (zero vs. Miami). In a similar position this summer is Adonis Arms, who chipped in with 14 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals, one block, and one 3-pointer in 26 minutes. While Arms and Ford are representing the Kings, they’re auditioning for all 30 NBA teams.

Swider spent last season on a two-way contract, and the Heat have yet to decide what they’ll do with their three available slots. Shooting the ball as well as he has through two games should strengthen Swider’s chances of earning a return, as he is now 9-of-16 from beyond the arc. He isn’t a player worth targeting in drafts, but solid play this summer will go a long way toward ensuring that Swider is in training camp with the Heat (or another team).