NBA Player News

A bright spot for the Bulls in their 20-point defeat was the ability to get Buzelis extended run. The rookie has struggled some with the physicality of the NBA, but Wednesday’s performance was a step in the right direction. Buzelis established season-highs in points, rebounds, steals, blocks, and 3-pointers. Outside of blowouts, the rookie’s playing time will be limited early in the season, so there’s no need to add Buzelis now. But he will have added value later in the season if the Bulls aren’t contending for a postseason berth.

George will reenter the fray after a one-game layoff. The second-year guard will likely slot back into the starting lineup as the team’s top assist man and move Isaiah Collier to the bench.

Kessler is set to miss his first game of the season after a subpar performance against Victor Wembanyama. The Jazz big man will likely be replaced by John Collins in the starting lineup.

Martin has needed to step into a larger role as of late while Miles Bridges (knee) out of commission. The all-rounder has done a little bit of everything and will be replaced by an assortment of role players if he can’t suit up on Tuesday.

Alvarado has been on of the Pelicans’ most consistent players as of late and his absence will leave a glaring hole at point guard. Brandon Ingram is most likely to take over as the team’s primary ball handler and initiator. Brandon Boston J. will get some opportunities as well.

It hasn’t been a great start to the season for the former top five pick, but he did some good things in this game. The field goal percentage continues to be a major issue, but he did record his first double-double of the season while tying his season-high for points. He’s a difficult player to rely on, since he hasn’t had many good games this year. Hopefully he’ll turn things around soon, since struggling like this in year five isn’t a great sign for a player that was drafted 4th overall.

Cleveland’s bench came up big in this game, and Jerome was a huge part of that. The reserves scored 39 points, with Caris LeVert and Georges Niang joining Jerome in scoring exactly 12 points. Jerome has quietly been very solid in 9-cat leagues this season and ranks just outside the top-100 in just 16.5 minutes per game. The efficiency is a big reason for that, and while he may be an elite streaming option if Darius Garland or Donovan Mitchell were to miss a game, he is only worth rostering in deeper leagues as of now.

Joe has been part of a rotation for the final starting spot, but with Chet Holmgren sidelined, both Joe and Aaron Wiggins started in this game, with Cason Wallace coming off the bench. It wouldn’t be surprising if Mark Daigneault continued to rotate through those three in the starting lineup, with two starting at a time. Joe is normally just a floor spacer, but he was able to provide value in other ways in this game, which was encouraging to see.

JDub got the start at center and may be the team’s starting big man moving forward. Chet Holmgren is set to be re-evaluated in 8-10 weeks, so until Isaiah Hartenstein or Jaylin Williams returns, JDub is the guy. Hopefully, this is what managers can expect from OKC’s new starting center. He has been elite this season, and he currently ranks in the top-20 in 9-cat scoring. More performances like this could elevate him to his first ever first-round finish.

The Thunder rolled out a small starting lineup with Chet Holmgren sidelined, which gave Zubac the chance to dominate. He had another big performance in what has been an incredible season for him. He has at least 10 rebounds in every game except for two, and he had nine rebounds in each of those. Tyronn Lue is finally unleashing Zubac, and he has been a top-75 player in 9-cat leagues to this point because of that. As long as he continues to play around 35 minutes per game like he has, Zubac will be an excellent option for the rest of the season.

The Clippers’ offseason acquisition was never a great fantasy option, and that has held true in his first season in LA. However, he does rank in the top-150 in 9-cat leagues this season, which is a huge step in the right direction for him. He set a new season-high for both points and assists while tying his season-high for triples in this game. However, managers shouldn’t see this as a sign of things to come. He simply isn’t a great option in standard leagues.