NBA Player News

Utah ended its 13-game losing streak on Thursday, with a balanced offensive effort doing the trick. Samanic led seven double-digit scorers with 22 points and was also one of two Jazz players to surpass 30 minutes (Keyonte George). Interestingly, he logged more minutes than Utah’s frontcourt rookies, with Taylor Hendricks (5/4/4/3/1 with one 3-pointer) playing 19 minutes and Brice Sensabaugh (17/6/3 with four 3-pointers) 24. That’s something for managers in active leagues to be mindful of for Utah’s final two games. Samanic has been a relatively safe play since moving into the starting lineup.

Washington is one of four projected starters who will sit out Monday’s preseason opener. Luka Doncic (calf) will be re-evaluated later this week, while Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson have been given the “rest” designation. After being traded to Dallas at the February deadline, Washington provided 10th-round per-game value in 9-cat formats. An entire season alongside Doncic and Irving may give his value a slight boost, but fantasy managers should not expect too much due to the low usage.

Irving being healthy is good news for the Mavericks, as he underwent surgery in July to repair a broken left hand. With Thompson’s unofficial Dallas debut pushed back, the Mavs will be without four projected starters on Monday. Luka Doncic (calf) and PJ Washington (hip) are also out, but both are expected to be ready when the regular season begins.

Jones made his unofficial Suns debut on Sunday night in Palm Desert, and the team had to be pleased with his performance. The assists (six) and low turnover count (one) were unsurprising, but there may be room for Tyus to offer unexpected value in the 3-point category. After averaging a career-high 1.6 3-pointers per game in Washington last season, he made all three attempts on Sunday. While Jones will be Phoenix’s primary playmaker, playing alongside Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Kevin Durant should result in an increase in catch-and-shoot looks. Jones is a must-draft player in standard leagues and can provide top-100 value in this lineup.

Sunday night was Phoenix’s first opportunity of the preseason to play against outside competition, and to no one’s surprise, the starters looked rusty. Booker and Kevin Durant (6/5/2 in 14 minutes) shot a combined 7-of-22 from the field, but there’s no need for concern. With Tyus Jones in the fold, those two can focus more on scoring and less on making plays for others, which limited Phoenix’s offensive firepower last season. Booker can provide 1st-round fantasy value but is more likely to land outside that range in standard leagues. As for Durant, he’s a popular player to select with either a late-first or early-second-round pick despite the availability concerns.

After struggling with injuries during his first season with the Suns, Beal is looking to return to his true self in 2024-25. Phoenix’s additions at the point guard position should help, with Tyus Jones and Monte Morris being signed during the offseason. Beal didn’t have his best night shooting the basketball, but availability is a more significant concern for fantasy managers. Look for him to come off the board in the middle rounds of most fantasy drafts, unlikely to fall outside the first 75 picks.

After scoring just nine points in Friday’s exhibition loss to the Timberwolves, Hachimura was better on Sunday. There were likely two big reasons for this: the presence of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, neither of whom played against Minnesota. While the two stars soak up most of the usage, their presence on the floor usually produces cleaner looks for “supporting cast” members like Hachimura. If he can make strides as a perimeter shooter in JJ Redick’s system, Hachimura may be a late-round option in fantasy leagues.

After sitting out the Lakers’ preseason opener on Friday, Davis was in the starting lineup on Sunday. He had a good night against Phoenix, with the 3-point category being something fantasy managers can track. Last season, Davis averaged 1.4 3-point attempts per game, and in the third straight year, he accounted for 1.8 or fewer. New coach JJ Redick wants the Unibrow to be more willing to put up those shots, possibly reaching five 3-point attempts per game. Davis shot three on Sunday and likely consistently meets or exceeds that number during the regular season.

Making his first preseason appearance, James looked relatively sharp in Palm Desert. He was a steal shy of a full stat line, with the lone blemish being four turnovers. And LeBron was able to play alongside his son during the first half. If that happens during the regular season, it will be the first time in NBA history that a father and son have played in the same game. As for LeBron’s fantasy prospects, the age has limited him to the 3rd-round in most drafts, with it likely that he exceeds that value when it’s all said and done.

The Pistons’ most recent lottery pick had a solid night in his preseason debut. Holland was responsible for six rebounds and five assists, with only Marcus Sasser (nine assists) having more of the latter. Perimeter shooting remains an issue, with Holland missing all three of his 3-point attempts. But Sunday’s performance was a sign that he can provide value in other categories, as Ausar Thompson did last season before blood clots prematurely ended his rookie campaign. Detroit adding more veterans to the mix may limit Holland’s upside early in the season, but it’s a move that may ultimately benefit him and the Pistons’ other young players.

Cunningham’s fantasy value primarily boils down to turnovers and availability. Last season, he provided top-50 per-game value in 8-cat formats while appearing in 62 games. However, in 9-cat, Cunningham finished just outside the top 75. The hope in Detroit is that the change from Monty Williams to JB Bickerstaff will bolster the Pistons’ young core, and after a slow start on Sunday, the team looked considerably better as the game progressed. However, it’s only the preseason. Cunningham should not get out of the top 50 in most drafts, but selecting him does come with considerable risk.