NBA Player News

Despite suffering a strained abdominal muscle during Game 6, Hart was on the court for Game 7. Give him credit for gutting out 37 minutes before fouling out, but he wasn’t himself physically. Hart still contributed 10 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, but it wasn’t enough to help the Knicks erase an early deficit. Hart was expected to provide late-round fantasy value this season, and that’s precisely what he did. However, he was a 6th-round player in 9-cat formats after the trade deadline. Hart’s fantasy ceiling in 2024-25 will depend on what the Knicks do with the rest of the roster, as OG Anunoby can become a free agent, and Julius Randle (shoulder) will be healthy.

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. While Wood sits, Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaxson Hayes are two players competing for rotation minutes off the bench. The former can provide defensive value, but the playing time may not be enough for Vanderbilt to impact most fantasy leagues.

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.

Giddey suffered a ruptured anterior talofibular ligament in his ankle during Australia’s finale at the Paris Olympics. This was an eventful offseason, as he was traded to Chicago for Alex Caruso. The move north should result in a more prominent role for Giddey, raising his fantasy ceiling. The ankle injury means he won’t be able to compete with his new teammates fully, but Giddey should not be limited for too long. Even with his struggles down the stretch in Oklahoma City, he’s worthy of top-75 consideration in standard leagues.

Exum injured his finger during Australia’s preparations for the Paris Olympics, sitting out the team’s group play opener against Spain. He played the remainder of the Boomers’ games without issue and is a full go for Mavericks training camp. While Exum wasn’t a significant fantasy asset last season, he did have a run in December in which he scored 11 points or more in 11 of 12 games. During this stretch, Exum averaged 16.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.9 3-pointers in 31.5 minutes. He isn’t a player who needs to be drafted in most leagues, but there could be times during the season when Exum offers solid streaming value.

According to Pistons lead executive Trajan Langdon, the team is working with the NBA due to the type of injury that ended Thompson’s rookie season in March. He can go through non-contact drills, but that’s the extent to which Thompson will be allowed to participate in practice until cleared. Depending on how long this process lasts, Thompson is a late-round option at best in most fantasy leagues. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Simone Fontecchio are two players who could have increased opportunities to earn rotation minutes under new head coach JB Bickerstaff.

Williams only appeared in six games last season before having to undergo season-ending knee surgery. According to Cronin, the Time Lord has been playing 5-on-5 and will be ready to go when the regular season begins. However, the Blazers will likely hold Williams out of some preseason activities to keep him fresh. With Deandre Ayton still on the roster and Donovan Clingan being the team’s lottery pick, Williams isn’t in a great spot regarding fantasy potential. He’ll likely need a trade (either him or Ayton) to make himself relevant in standard leagues.

After being listed at 210 pounds for his rookie season, Wembanyama has added some weight. That’s to be expected, as Wemby won’t turn 21 until January and has a season of NBA experience. With Chris Paul now in the fold, the Spurs big man has the potential to be a dominant force as soon as this season. In fantasy, Wembanyama is on the short list of options for first overall pick in redraft leagues and the unquestioned 1.1 in dynasty formats.