NBA Player News

McGowens may have been credited with just eight official shot attempts, but that was due to his ability to get downhill against Team China consistently. The former Hornets guard attempted 14 free throws, making 12 on his way to a game-high 20 points. McGowens was waived by the Hornets just before summer league but still decided to play with the team. Like many players who will see action in northern California, Salt Lake City, and Las Vegas this month, he’s auditioning for all 30 teams. Until his status for next season is solidified, there’s no need to make plans to select McGowens in fantasy drafts.

Sunday’s preseason opener was the first time Miller shared the court (in a game) with LaMelo Ball since January 26, as the point guard’s season ended that night due to an ankle injury. It’s possible that impacted Miller’s shot profile on Sunday, as seven of his eight field-goal attempts came from beyond the arc. Last season, he produced a 3-point attempt rate of 45.5%, so fantasy managers should not expect too many nights like Sunday once the regular season begins. The presence of Ball, Miles Bridges, and Mark Williams could limit Miller’s ceiling, but this isn’t something that should concern fantasy managers.

Charlotte coach Charles Lee played his starters into the third quarter of Sunday’s exhibition opener, with Ball being the only one not to reach 20 minutes. While there was some rust to work off, as evidenced by the four turnovers, Ball looked good. Also, there were stretches in which he played alongside backup Vasa Micic (8/3/5 in 18 minutes), so Ball getting time off the ball is something to keep an eye on once the regular season begins. As for the lingering ankle issues, LaMelo is now wearing ankle braces. Hopefully, for the sake of fantasy managers, he’ll be able to stay on the floor.

In Knicks camp on an Exhibit 9 contract, Shamet’s odds of making the opening night roster improved once the Karl-Anthony Towns trade was consummated. With Donte DiVincenzo included in that deal, the Knicks need reliable shooting, and Shamet can provide it. He shot 50% from three on Sunday, and the chemistry established with Mikal Bridges via their time together in Phoenix may also help his chances of making the cut. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has spoken highly of Shamet throughout camp, so it would be unsurprising if he were eventually signed to a standard contract.

For most of last season, McBride was most valuable to fantasy managers when the Knicks were down a starter. With the Knicks including Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, they may need more consistent production from Deuce. While Sunday’s game was only an exhibition, the Knicks had to be encouraged by what they saw from McBride. He may not be worth a draft pick in standard leagues, but there could be a point when Deuce is well worth the risk as a streamer.

Like the other Knicks starters, Bridges only saw action during the first half of Sunday’s preseason opener. Simply put, there wasn’t enough evidence to make definitive statements regarding his fantasy value for the upcoming season. Bridges may not have done much scoring or provided any defensive stats, but Sunday was more about getting used to his new teammates in a competitive setting while also working off the off-season rust. Whether or not Bridges can be a top-50 fantasy player will depend on his efficiency after the field-goal percentage dipped last season. Playing alongside Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns should help.

As with the other four Knicks starters, Brunson only played during the first half of Sunday’s exhibition opener. The All-NBA guard didn’t show much against the Hornets, leading the starters in shot attempts, points, and assists. The additions of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges may ultimately impact Brunson’s attempts, but not too much. Look for him to have another high-usage season as the Knicks go “all-in” to pursue the Celtics at the top of the Eastern Conference.

Sunday’s exhibition was Towns’ unofficial Knicks debut, giving fans and fantasy managers an idea of how he’ll fit in with his new team. Starting at center, the pick-and-pop is a massive aspect of Towns’ offensive game, and five of his seven field-goal attempts came from beyond the arc. During his most recent season as the lone big in a starting lineup, 2021-22 in Minnesota, Towns boasted a 3-point attempt rate of 30.1%. So, one can assume that Sunday’s short stint was an extreme for the newest Knick. He is worth a second-round pick in standard league drafts ahead of the upcoming season.

Before training camp began, there was a feeling that Green could be the choice to start alongside Ball. A lot can change between now and Charlotte’s season opener on October 23; this provides an early boost to Green’s value in fantasy drafts. He had moments with the Mavericks, but Green’s fantasy value was significantly capped. There should be more chances to achieve fantasy relevance with a rebuilding team. Also of note is Richards starting for Mark Williams, who remains sidelined due to injury.

While Towns is the headliner, as Sunday’s exhibition will be his unofficial Knicks debut, Hart’s presence in the lineup is the eye-opener regarding fantasy value. The combination of Julius Randle’s exit and Mitchell Robinson (ankle) still being sidelined opened up a place in the starting five, with Hart being Tom Thibodeau’s choice to fill the void. This would boost Hart’s fantasy value once the season begins, making him a must-draft player instead of one who’s worth a late-round flier.

The Kings announced on Saturday that Robinson, competing for the backup center role, will miss at least four weeks after injuring his knee during training camp. With Domantas Sabonis set to once again log heavy minutes as the starting center, Robinson’s absence will not significantly impact fantasy basketball leagues.