NBA Player News

The Thunder are getting business done early on a Monday morning. Shortly after it was announced that they were giving Aaron Wiggins a new contract, Shams broke the news of this deal. Both Joe and Wiggins have been important rotation pieces for the Thunder in recent years, especially during their playoff run a few months ago. They’ll continue to be vital reserves and make a large impact on winning, but they aren’t players that will alter the fantasy landscape much.

Efficiency is the issue that has held back Banchero regarding his fantasy value since entering the NBA. Due mainly to his free-throw percentage (72.5%) and turnovers (3.1 per game), he finished last season ranked outside the top 150 in 9-cat, per-game value. Punting either category makes Banchero a top-100 player. Monday’s preseason opener was good for the former Rookie of the Year, as he shot the ball well from the field while only committing two turnovers. Banchero being selected in the fifth or sixth round of drafts is unsurprising, and he’ll fit best in team builds that punt turnovers or free throw percentage.

Caldwell-Pope tends to be overlooked in fantasy basketball, as his profile does not jump off the page. However, he finished last season ranked just outside the top 100 in 9-cat per-game value. KCP isn’t a player who should be selected with a top 100 pick, even though he will start alongside Jalen Suggs in the Orlando backcourt. But he is a trusted veteran who should not finish the season too far outside that threshold.

With Brandon Ingram and Trey Murphy sidelined for Monday’s preseason opener, Hawkins was the first perimeter substitute for the Pelicans. And the 2023 lottery pick took advantage of his opportunity, scoring efficiently and tallying two steals. Ingram’s fantasy value in 2024-25 will be low while the Pelicans’ rotation is whole, but he’s backing up players with suspect injury histories. As was the case during his rookie season, there may be times when Hawkins is worth the risk as a streamer.

Theis was Willie Green’s choice to start at center in Monday’s preseason opener, with the veteran pivot playing into the third quarter. Theis shot the ball well for the Pelicans, but there was likely a desire for more production on the glass. The competition between him, Yves Missi (five points, five rebounds, two steals, and one block in 16 minutes), and Karlo Matkovic (two rebounds in eight minutes) is one to track throughout the preseason, as the starter may be worth a late-round flier in some fantasy leagues. If Monday’s minutes distribution offered any clues, this appears to be a competition between Theis and Missi for the starting job.

Murray made his unofficial Pelicans debut on Monday, running the point and setting up his new teammates for clean looks. In addition to six assists, he tallied just one turnover in his 17 minutes on the floor. Murray didn’t have a great afternoon shooting the basketball, but that is not something fantasy managers should lose much sleep over. Brandon Ingram did not play on Monday, and his presence will undoubtedly impact the shot distribution once the regular season begins. Murray is worth grabbing with a 3rd-round pick in most league drafts.

Orlando couldn’t do much to keep Williamson from getting to his spots, as 10 of his 11 shot attempts were taken in the paint. New Orleans was without Brandon Ingram for Monday’s preseason opener, but they did have a new point guard in Dejounte Murray. The chemistry that he and Williamson can establish will go a long way toward determining the Pelicans’ level of success and the fantasy values of both players. Williamson only played one minute without another big on the floor; managers should not expect to see too much of Zion at the five this season.

Expected to be a stabilizing veteran influence for the Wizards, Brogdon won’t be able to help the team on the court for a few weeks. He injured his hand during practice on Saturday, one day before the Wizards’ preseason opener against Toronto. Brogdon was sent back to Washington for further evaluation, with Robbins reporting that the veteran guard will miss at least one month. His absence frees up minutes for rookie first-round picks Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George while placing more responsibility on Jordan Poole’s plate.

Injured during a recent practice, Sharpe will not be available when the Nets open their season on October 23. While he isn’t a viable option in most fantasy leagues, Sharpe’s absence does mean more opportunities for Noah Clowney. The second-year power forward/center remains in late-round flier territory, but Sharpe being sidelined means there should be more room within the rotation for Clowney to contribute.

Watford injured his hamstring during a recent practice and will miss at least two weeks. This casts some doubt on his availability for the regular season opener, but Watford’s status will not impact fantasy basketball.

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.