NBA Player News

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Friday that Anunoby was not expected to be available for Game 4, so this status update is unsurprising. Precious Achiuwa started Game 3 and had issues defending Pascal Siakam. Anunoby’s absence also freed up rotation minutes for Alec Burks, who scored 14 points on Friday.

With no Timberwolves starters playing after the first quarter, there was ample opportunity for players further down the pecking order to show what they can do. Minott was excellent on Friday, racking up five “stocks” while shooting 4-of-6 from three. He played limited minutes in his first two seasons, and the 3-point shot was not part of Minott’s repertoire when he did see action (6-of-16). With Julius Randle (shoulder) sidelined, Minott is a player who could find himself on the back end of the rotation if the newest Timberwolf is not healthy when the regular season begins. That doesn’t make Minott a player in standard league drafts, but he’s worth tracking for deeper leagues.

With Julius Randle (shoulder) inactive, Reid started Minnesota’s preseason opener alongside Rudy Gobert. There wasn’t much time to establish a rhythm, as no Timberwolves starter played after the first quarter. But that isn’t a big deal, as fantasy managers know what they will get from Reid. However, if Randle is not ready for the start of the regular season, that would boost Naz’s draft value, as he would likely be the choice to fill the void in the starting lineup.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch did not play his starters past the first quarter, and two of the expected “first five” (Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle) were inactive. However, fans and fantasy managers alike had to be pleased with what they saw from DiVincenzo, who was perfect from the field in his unofficial Timberwolves debut. Coming off of the best season of his NBA career, the “Big Ragu” can provide value, even as a reserve. At a minimum, he’ll be worth selecting in the later rounds of standard-league drafts.

During a recent practice, Martin suffered the injury while attempting to block a shot at the rim. While the injury isn’t considered severe, it’s enough to keep him out of Charlotte’s preseason opener on Sunday afternoon. This isn’t the start Martin or the Hornets wanted, as injuries have limited him to 35 games over the last two seasons.

Unlike fellow 2023 draftee Taylor Hendricks, who entered the Jazz starting lineup after the All-Star break, Sensabaugh didn’t get many opportunities to make an impact. He made 11 starts but only appeared in 32 games, not making his NBA debut until after Christmas due to offseason knee surgery. Sensabaugh was part of the second set of Jazz subs on Friday, entering during the first quarter with Jordan Clarkson. The second-year wing was impactful as a defender, recording three steals, and he shot 5-of-7 from inside the arc. Sensabaugh isn’t a draftable player in most redraft leagues, but consistent rotation minutes would make him worth tracking.

Williams was one of the first subs off the Jazz bench in Friday’s preseason opener, which can be taken as a sign that he’s had a good training camp. And it didn’t take long for him to make an impact, throwing down a two-handed dunk on Breakers big man Freddie Gillespie during the first quarter. Williams has work to do as a perimeter shooter, but the length and athleticism can benefit him as a finisher and defender. That won’t be enough to make him anything more than a late-round flier in drafts, but Williams is the kind of player on a non-playoff team who can impact fantasy basketball after the All-Star break.

Last season, Hendricks was a fixture in the starting lineup after the All-Star break. His start on Friday is a sign that the second-year forward will retain that role in 2024-25. While Hendricks didn’t offer much offensive production on Friday, the defensive numbers (two steals, one blocked shot) can’t be overlooked. At this point, Hendricks is more of a “late-round flier” than a player fantasy managers should feel obligated to draft. But he’s worth watching, as improved performances and remaining in the starting lineup during the preseason will raise his ADP.

After falling into a bench role last season, many fantasy managers have wondered if Kessler could work his way back into the starting lineup. He started Friday’s preseason opener and was relatively effective as a finisher and rebounder. Foul shooting remains an issue for Kessler, but sticking with the starters would boost his fantasy value, especially in FT%-punt builds. John Collins came off the bench but only played 10 minutes, finishing with 12 points (3-of-5 FGs, 6-of-6 FTs) and three rebounds. Fantasy managers should not read too much into the minutes split, but they should keep an eye on the Jazz rotation for the remainder of the preseason. If Collins only plays when Kessler isn’t on the floor, it becomes clear that he’s viewed more as a center than a power forward. And this would decrease Collins’ fantasy value.

Not only will Wiggins not play in the Warriors’ preseason opener, but he has yet to participate in a training camp practice due to illness. Warriors coach Steve Kerr is unconcerned, stating during his media availability that Wiggins looked good in the weeks leading up to training camp. His absence opens up a spot in the starting lineup for Saturday’s opener, resulting in more opportunities for Jonathan Kuminga or Buddy Hield to show what they could do in that role.

Having suffered a severe finger injury before the Paris Olympics, Exum missed only one game for Australia. He was given a clean bill of health before training camp, but now the Mavericks guard is dealing with a wrist injury that could require surgery. According to Charania, the team is evaluating treatment options for Exum. He was unlikely to be a reliable fantasy asset this season, with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving playing most of the perimeter minutes, but the injury does not help matters. Spencer Dinwiddie, Quentin Grimes, and Jaden Hardy would figure more prominently in the rotation if Exum is sidelined for an extended period.