NBA Player News

Mogbo didn’t have much chance to contribute to Wednesday’s loss to Cleveland, playing 11 minutes off the bench. The rookie made quite the statement on Friday, recording a full stat line that included nine rebounds, two steals, and three blocks. Toronto certainly isn’t going to punt on the season after two games, but Mogbo has a fantasy-friendly game that can be valuable after the trade deadline. However, Friday’s effort showed that he may be capable of adding value a lot sooner. Keep an eye on Mogbo, as his role may change once RJ Barrett (shoulder) returns.

Once again, Henderson came off the bench, but it isn’t like his playing time took a significant hit. The second-year point guard has played 28 minutes in both of Portland’s games, recording reputable stat lines in losses to the Warriors and Pelicans. Henderson has been efficient, shooting the ball reasonably well (14-of-27 FGs) while boasting a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Hopefully, he can build on these recent performances, as that would make Scoot worthy of consideration in more fantasy leagues.

Efficiency has been an issue for Simons through Portland’s first two games. In addition to shooting 11-of-31 from the field, he’s been responsible for nine turnovers in losses to the Warriors and Pelicans. Simons remains the starting point guard, but Portland has another option waiting in the wings in Scoot Henderson. A change isn’t worth losing sleep over right now, but in recent seasons, Portland hasn’t been afraid to pull the plug and go young once the postseason is no longer a realistic goal.

Grant was sensational on Friday, leading all scorers with 34 points while recording a full stat line. The rebounding production hasn’t always been consistent, but nights like Friday are why Grant is worth having in standard leagues. Portland will look to return the favor when they host New Orleans again on Sunday.

With Trey Murphy (hamstring) sidelined, Hawkins effectively moved up a spot in the pecking order. With Dejounte Murray (hand) going down during Wednesday’s win over Chicago, Hawkins is even more valuable to the Pelicans. And Friday’s performance displayed why he’s worth the risk in deep leagues. The former UConn standout hit all four of his 3-pointers during the second half, helping spark the Pelican rally for the win. With one more game this week and four in Week 2, Hawkins is worth the risk in deep leagues.

With Dejounte Murray (hand) sidelined for 4-6 weeks, McCollum is back in the starting point guard role he occupied last season. The role change did not significantly boost the assist category, but the overall stat line and playing time were encouraging. McCollum is unlikely to tally four steals habitually, but Murray’s absence may raise CJ’s fantasy ceiling.

After scoring 33 points in the season opener, Ingram scored another 21 on Friday while recording a full stat line. The 3-point shooting bears watching, as this has not been a category in which Ingram has traditionally provided fantasy value. He’s made seven 3-pointers through two games, with 14 of his 43 field-goal attempts coming from distance. Ingram finished last season with a 21.7% 3-point attempt rate, so this start could be a mirage. But if it isn’t, BI could potentially boost his fantasy value in a contract year.

Active after sitting out Wednesday’s season-opening win over the Bulls, Williamson was on a minutes restriction in Portland. The decrease in playing time wasn’t severe, and every effort was made to ensure he was on the floor in crunch time. That’s a good thing, as Williamson’s block of an Anfernee Simons shot in the final seconds preserved the win over New Orleans. The two teams play again on Sunday afternoon to end their Week 1 slates.

Reaves has recorded a full stat line in the Lakers’ first two games. And on Friday, he warmed up after a cold Tuesday night from beyond the arc. Against the Suns, Reaves hit five of his seven 3-point attempts. Playing off of Anthony Davis and LeBron James means there will be catch-and-shoot opportunities for Reaves and the other rotation members. He took advantage on Friday.

While more productive as a scorer on Friday than in Tuesday’s win over Minnesota, James hasn’t been asked to shoulder as much of the workload. That’s because the Lakers have stuck to their plan of playing more through Anthony Davis. While that may cut into LeBron’s early-season production, the goal is to keep him fresh for the stretch run. Following Friday’s win, James said he’s playing against the Kings on Saturday and plans to play all 82 this season, barring injury.

Davis made some history on Friday, becoming the first Laker to score 30 or more in the first two games of a season since the late Kobe Bryant in 2005. New head coach JJ Redick has made a concerted effort to use Davis as the team’s offensive “hub,” the results have been great for fantasy managers through two games.