NBA Player News

Clingan may not have scored in Saturday’s victory, missing all four shot attempts, but that didn’t keep him from providing value. The rookie center grabbed a season-high 19 rebounds and blocked three shots, becoming the first rookie to have a game with no points and at least 15 rebounds. Clingan did injure his left knee during the third quarter but was able to return. Clingan’s had at least one rejection in 17 consecutive games to begin his NBA career, averaging 2.2 per game. His short-term fantasy value will be influenced by the availability of Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams, but Clingan will eventually be the defensive anchor.

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.

Porter Jr. has long been a dynasty sleeper, and when he’s gotten the opportunity to play big minutes, he has been productive. His biggest weakness has been his deep-range shooting, but he showed improvement by making all five of his three-point attempts in this one. It’s too early to say that he’s made a genuine leap, but it’s worth keeping an eye on, since he has the potential to be a fantasy stud.

The second-year wing got the starting nod with Darius Garland (toe) and Max Strus (foot) sidelined, and while he wasn’t able to get any shots to fall, he still made an impact on this game, specifically on the defensive end. He played all his minutes with the starters, and there’s certainly a chance he opens the regular season in the starting lineup, making him potentially worth a late-round pick.