1 month agoBoston Celtics general manager Brad Stevens said on Tuesday that center
Luke Kornet had offseason wrist surgery, but he's 100 percent heading into training camp, per Jared Weiss of The Athletic. Kornet will likely see an uptick in early-season minutes with
Kristaps Porzingis (foot) sidelined. In the 2023-24 regular season, the big man suited up for 63 contests and logged averages of 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 15.6 minutes per game.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: Jared Weiss
1 month agoAccording to Jared Weiss of The Athletic, Boston Celtics general manager Brad Stevens said on Tuesday that center
Kristaps Porzingis (foot) is progressing well since his foot surgery in June. Stevens didn't give a timetable on when Porzingis will likely return, but he is optimistic and said he is surprised at how quickly he is improving. Once healthy, the big man will significantly impact fantasy as he averaged 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 29.6 minutes last regular season.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: Jared Weiss
1 month agoPer Jared Weiss of The Athletic, Boston Celtics general manager Brad Stevens said Tuesday that forward/center
Xavier Tillman Sr. (knee) had a knee scope during the offseason, but he will be a full-go for training camp. With
Kristaps Porzingis (foot) out to start the season, the 25-year-old will have a chance for early-season minutes. During 20 regular-season contests last year, Tillman averaged 4.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 13.7 minutes.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: Jared Weiss
1 month agoAtlanta Hawks forward/center
Larry Nance Jr. believes he will have a great time playing under the guidance of Quin Snyder. "Quin is a basketball mastermind," Nance Jr. told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Lauren L. Williams. "I was a huge fan of his when he was at Utah, and obviously, these past few years in Atlanta. Now I'm excited to play for him, and we're gonna get along really well. Yeah, I consider myself a high-IQ basketball player, and he's very high IQ." Nance Jr.'s production has dipped in recent years, and he will attempt to produce a bounce-back campaign under a new coach on a different team. However, he needs to avoid health troubles to make it happen. The 31-year-old has never played more than 67 games in a single NBA campaign.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Lauren L. Wlliams
1 month agoChicago Bulls forward
Matas Buzelis has made a good impression in minicamp sessions ahead of training camp. "It was one thing for the 11th pick to impress in summer league, but the word out of minicamp sessions is the 19-year-old is holding his own in team activities. Buzelis has impressed with his passing and ability to attack the rim," wrote The Athletic's Darnell Mayberry. Buzelis is expected to be one of the top rookies in the league this season, and based on Mayberry's words, he looks ready to make an instant impact. Buzelis' fantasy value could get a further boost if
Patrick Williams (foot) isn't fully healthy for the start of the year.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Darnell Mayberry
1 month agoCharlotte Hornets guard/forward
Josh Green will likely be a starter on his new team. According to Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer, "all indications" show that Green will line up on the backcourt alongside
LaMelo Ball. Green started only 62 of his 223 games with the Dallas Mavericks across the past four seasons. He has posted 9.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in his career as a member of the first unit. Going from an NBA finalist to one of the worst teams in the league isn't a career path any player will want to take. But Green looks set to play a much larger role with his new squad, giving him extra fantasy value.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Roderick Boone
1 month agoBrooklyn Nets guard/forward
Ben Simmons (back) is fully healthy ahead of training camp. "Ben is fully cleared and is a full participant for the start of camp. He is excited to get started," Simmons' agent Bernie Lee told NBA insider Chris Haynes. Simmons had a second back surgery in three years in March, which ended his 2023-24 campaign. He also missed a large chunk at the start of the season, finishing with only 15 appearances. Simmons, a three-time All-Star in 2019-2021, remains an enigmatic player who is naturally gifted in many areas but who can't stay healthy. Hopefully, the story will be different this season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Chris Haynes
1 month agoForward
Nassir Little is joining the Miami Heat on a one-year deal. According to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, Little's deal is expected to be partially guaranteed or non-guaranteed. The 24-year-old was available as a free agent after the Phoenix Suns waived Little four weeks ago. He saw very little action in Phoenix last season, averaging 10.2 minutes across 45 games. The former first-round pick has previously proven that he can contribute at this level, but Little's chances of carving out a significant role in Miami don't appear high.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Anthony Chiang
1 month agoMiami Heat forward
Jimmy Butler (knee) is healthy heading into the 2024-25 campaign. He sprained his right MCL in the Heat's Play-In loss to the Philadelphia 76ers and missed the remainder of the postseason. Injuries have been an issue for Butler over the years, with the veteran appearing in 64 games or fewer in each of his five seasons in South Beach. When healthy, he's as good of a fantasy producer as it gets. But until Butler stays on the floor, his fantasy value is capped. Still, the 35-year-old warrants top-25 fantasy consideration in all scoring formats.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Andrew Lopez
1 month agoAccording to ESPN's Jamal Collier, Milwaukee Bucks forward
Khris Middleton (ankles) is anticipated to be ready for the start of the 2024-25 campaign. The 33-year-old averaged 15.1 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.7 rebounds last season. He also shot 38.1% from deep, his highest since 2020-21. However, after Middleton appeared in only 33 games in 2022-23, he appeared in 55 last season and underwent surgeries on both ankles over the summer. That said, the 2012 No. 39 overall pick needs to stay healthy for the Bucks to consider themselves a championship-caliber club. He'll also need to find out how to avoid the injury report. Until then, Middleton will remain a risky fantasy option no matter what round he's drafted heading into the year.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Jamal Collier
1 month agoAccording to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, Memphis Grizzlies guard
Ja Morant (shoulder) "enters training camp with a clean bill of health." After beginning the 2023-24 campaign by serving a 25-game suspension, Morant averaged 25.1 points, 8.1 assists, and 5.6 rebounds for Memphis. Unfortunately, he injured his shoulder and underwent season-ending surgery. Without a doubt, the 25-year-old is an All-Star caliber performer. He also has MVP potential. However, Morant's off-the-court conduct remains a concern, and his inability to stay healthy over the years has been an issue. But he can still anchor a fantasy team, so he's worth drafting for those comfortable with taking a gamble.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
1 month agoThe Grizzlies waived guard
Derrick Rose on Monday. The 35-year-old appeared in 24 regular season contests for Memphis last season, averaging 8.0 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.9 rebounds. With one year left on his former deal, he requested his release, indicating his intention to remain playing. Without question, Rose's best days are well behind him. However, he was semi-productive in his seven starts with the Grizzlies in 2023-24, so he could have value at times during the 2024-25 campaign.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: NBA.com
1 month agoChicago Bulls forward
Patrick Williams (foot) continues to rehab his surgically repaired left foot ahead of training camp, which starts Oct. 1. Back in July, Williams told Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic that everything felt good, there wasn't any pain or swelling, and that he was running and jumping. Fast forward to August, where the Bulls met up in Miami for some voluntary workouts, and Williams was forced to stop participating after he experienced discomfort in the same foot he had surgery on. As of right now, it's unclear if he'll be ready by the start of training camp, and then the discussion turns to whether he'll be ready by the start of the regular season. Williams appeared in just 43 games last year and averaged 10.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Darnell Mayberry
1 month agoChicago Bulls guard
Zach LaVine has been in the middle of the rumor mill for a couple of seasons already, but it seems like he hasn't let that keep him away from team activities. According to Darnell Mayberry of the Athletic, LaVine is buying into the voluntary workouts and the player-led minicamps throughout the offseason. LaVine and the team are still working on trade options, but he's working to be an asset to his teammates in the meantime. He was present and a full participant when the team traveled to Miami for workouts, and when they went back to Chicago for some practices before training camp started. If LaVine stays on the Bulls for a portion of this coming season, he's likely to get plenty of offensive opportunities after
DeMar DeRozan departed for Sacramento.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Darnell Mayberry
1 month agoNew York Knicks center
Mitchell Robinson (foot) underwent a foot surgery in May to address a stress injury that he suffered in the first round of last year's playoffs. According to Yaron Weitzman, the Knicks are not expecting Robinson to return until around the December/January time frame. The team is trying to be as cautious as they can, so they aren't planning to rush him back until he's as close to 100% as possible. Robinson also had surgery on his foot last December before returning in the playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers where re-aggravated the injury and needed further surgery to help alleviate the issue. Head coach Tom Thibodeau is planning to increase
Julius Randle's minutes at center in the meantime, and even use
OG Anunoby to guard opposing centers in shorter spurts.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Yaron Weitzman
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