NBA Player News

After playing in the team’s first 78 games, Sexton will miss a third straight, and managers should expect him to remain sidelined for the finale on Sunday. Talen Horton-Tucker and Johnny Juzang will continue to take on extra minutes, with the latter starting in the backcourt.

The rest of the team was available to practice, but these three were held out. This early into training camp, it is likely precautionary, though Leonard is worth keeping a close eye on as draft season approaches. He underwent a knee procedure during the offseason, and while they are insistent that he will be available for opening night, that could change.

Head coach Taylor Jenkins said that they’re anticipating the injury being a strain, which means that they will likely turn to Santi Aldama to run with the starters during training camp. If this is an injury that lingers over the next three weeks, Aldama could start the season as part of the starting lineup. This is a situation worth keeping an eye on.

The Lakers opened training camp on Tuesday without two potential rotation frontcourt players. In addition to Vanderbilt, who’s recovering from offseason procedures on both feet, Christian Wood is working his way back from a second knee surgery. When asked about his status for the start of the regular season, Vanderbilt was not sure he’d be available. “I’m not quite sure. The team has put together a great plan for me and we’re making progress,” Vanderbilt said, according to The Athletic. These injuries could open the door for Jaxson Hayes to earn minutes on the back end of the rotation, but that isn’t enough to make him fantasy-relevant.

Ball has not played in an NBA game since 2022, and there have been no expectations regarding his return to action this season. However, the Bulls point guard was cleared for 5-on-5 action in August and said on Monday that his knee is feeling good. Ball is attempting to return from a procedure that included a meniscus transplant and a graft to replace the damaged cartilage in his knee. There will be restrictions for him to deal with if cleared to play in games, which essentially takes him off the table in most fantasy leagues. But Ball playing would create a crowded backcourt, with Josh Giddey being acquired this summer and Coby White coming off of a career year. Giddey (ankle) has not been cleared to practice and could miss the start of the regular season.

To clear out the cap space needed to complete the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, the Knicks waived Morris and Chuma Okeke on September 28. The door was open for a potential return, but Morris has reportedly decided to seek out other options. His status will not impact fantasy basketball, as he’s unlikely to be guaranteed rotation minutes wherever he lands.

Robinson staying behind isn’t worth reading into too much, as SNY’s Ian Begley reported on September 23 that he was targeting a December or January return. With the Karl-Anthony Towns trade yet to be finalized, there will be more training camp reps at the five for Jericho Sims and Precious Achiuwa. According to Cleaning the Glass, the latter played 45% of his minutes at center last season.

During Lakers media day, Wood said he believed he has two more weeks of rehab and a two-week ramp-up process before he can play. While optimistic, this timeline does not align with the reports after his September knee surgery. At the time, it was stated that Wood would be re-evaluated in eight weeks, meaning he wouldn’t be ready for the start of the regular season. With this being the second procedure on Wood’s knee in the last calendar year, the Lakers exercising caution would be unsurprising. With Jarred Vanderbilt (feet) also sidelined, Jaxson Hayes should have opportunities during the preseason to earn rotation minutes.

Mavs reporter Grant Afseth also notes that, “Kidd mentioned both Lively and Daniel Gafford will get a chance to start during the season and ‘not just because of injury.’” Lively II was electric as a rookie thanks in large part to his size, athleticism and hustle. He was able to convert lobs, run the floor on the fast break and swat shots with authority. Competition from Gafford won’t be a negative thing for Lively II’s fantasy value, as he maintained 12-team league value in just 23.5 minutes per game in his inaugural campaign.

One week after it was reported that Williams dealt with discomfort in his left foot during a “camp” in Miami put together by the Bulls players, lead executive Arturas Karnisovas said the forward is good to go for training camp. He’s been playing 5-on-5 since that time in Miami, and K.C. Johnson reported that the soreness was unrelated to Williams’ previous foot injury. Williams has the potential to be a credible fantasy asset, but availability has been a concern for most of his career. He’s worth a late-round pick in standard league drafts, as the reward would outweigh the risk at that point.

Bogdanovic suffered foot and wrist injuries late last season, ultimately undergoing offseason surgery on both. Now with the Nets after being included in the Mikal Bridges trade, the veteran forward’s wrist is in good condition, but the foot has taken longer to heal. Bogdanovic did say on Monday that he’s been cleared for some on-court work, but not 5-on-5. He was unlikely to be a must-draft player if fully cleared, so Monday’s update does not significantly impact Bogdanovic’s value. He may have value as a streamer during the season, especially for managers needing points.