NBA Player News

Ranked just outside the top 25 in 9-cat formats for the season, Herro has been a top 20 player over the last two weeks. Jimmy Butler’s return on Monday was countered by Terry Rozier (foot) sitting, and Herro shouldn’t have much difficulty sustaining his production if Scary Terry misses more time. However, Rozier may return as soon as Miami’s next game, as the Heat don’t play again until Sunday.

Vassell, who did not play in Sunday’s preseason opener against Guangdong, is available and will start against the Heat. His insertion into the starting lineup is the lone change for San Antonio, with Lindy Waters III being bumped to the bench. With De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper unavailable, look for Vassell to spend ample time on the ball as a playmaker, with Wemby also getting his chances to fill that role.

Knox, the ninth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, is still looking to lock down a consistent home for himself in the league. He finished last season with the Warriors, making 14 appearances for the team after spending time in the G League. By signing Knox to an Exhibit 10 contract, the Bulls hold his G League rights. If waived, Knox would receive a bonus of $85,300 if he were to spend 60 days with the Bulls’ G League affiliate.

Watford, who agreed to a two-year deal with the 76ers this summer, has yet to practice due to a left hamstring injury. According to PHLY’s Kyle Neubeck, imaging of the hamstring revealed no structural damage and the forward is working toward a return to the court within the next week. While Watford does not project to be an impactful fantasy option, his ability to serve as a secondary playmaker at the four could benefit the 76ers’ bench unit once he’s cleared to play.

When everyone’s healthy, Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul George will be locked in as starters. That leaves two spots, which will likely be occupied by Edgecombe, Grimes or Kelly Oubre. Regardless, all three will play significant roles this season, though the starters will see a nice boost in production and opportunity.

Embiid appears to be on track to play in the regular season opener, even if he hasn’t participated in the preseason yet. Paul George was able to do some individual work, and the plan is to integrate him into team work in the coming days, per Keith Pompey of the Philly Inquirer. There’s still not much clarity on either’s status, but things appear to be on track.

Juzang, who signed a non-guaranteed deal with Minnesota in August, made a big impact on the scoreboard for a second consecutive game. After scoring 16 points in Minnesota’s first game of the preseason on Saturday, Juzang topped that mark in this loss to Indiana. This isn’t enough to lock him in for a roster spot, but it certainly helps strengthen his case.

During his first two years in the league, Walker hasn’t made the impact that most teams hope to get out of a player when they select him in the top ten. However, his first preseason game got off to a decent start, though he is still playing a reserve role. That isn’t likely to change with Pascal Siakam in town, which limits his redraft upside, but he’s still worth stashing in dynasty leagues.

The most important fantasy storyline in Indiana this offseason was who would start at center with Myles Turner now in Milwaukee. Isaiah Jackson got the nod in the preseason opener, but Huff ended up playing 19 minutes to Jackson’s nine. Sure, Jackson quickly found himself in foul trouble, which has been a consistent issue throughout his career, but this also shows that all hope shouldn’t be abandoned just because Huff came off the bench. This position battle will certainly be worth monitoring throughout the preseason.

Cleveland added Proctor with the 49th pick in June, and after a strong summer league, his first preseason outing was a productive one. It’s still early, but he’s looking like a steal for the Cavs at this point. It’s unlikely that he plays a significant role as a rookie, but he’s worth stashing in dynasty formats.

In his first game of the preseason the reigning Defensive Player of the Year was able to quickly make an impact on both ends of the floor. The defense was expected, but his continued improvement as a floor spacer has just made him even more dynamic. Mobley has been a fantasy monster for multiple seasons, but he still has more room to grow.