3 hours agoOrlando Magic forward
Jonathan Isaac (ankle) reportedly looked good during practice on Monday. The young forward is hopeful to get back on the court for Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Isaac was forced to miss their last game against the Brooklyn Nets due to this issue. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Magic be cautious with their oft-injured forward and hold him out on Wednesday. Fantasy managers will have to check for another update on Tuesday.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Dan Savage
3 hours agoCharlotte Hornets guard
LaMelo Ball (foot) is reportedly making progress and has shed his walking boot. The star guard is expected to be re-evaluated this week. He still has a noticeable limp, but appears to be making progress from his right ankle sprain. Possibly, Ball is able to return at the end of this week or early next week. Fantasy managers should have another update on his status after he gets re-evaluated.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Rod Boone
3 hours agoToronto Raptors center
Christian Koloko (illness) has no timetable to return as he continues to ramp up to full practice. The 23-year-old has been out since the Summer League due to a unspecified respiratory issue. It doesn't sound like Koloko is close to returning to the court. His absence won't have a huge impact on the Raptors rotation. Koloko only averaged 13.8 minutes per game last season. Fantasy managers can continue to ignore him as it doesn't seem like Koloko is going to play anytime soon.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Michael Grange
3 hours agoChicago Bulls guard
Zach LaVine (foot) is currently sidelined and is hopeful to get back on the court within the next week or so. However, there's a chance that LaVine has played his last game in Chicago. The Bulls are off to a rough start and it wouldn't be shocking to see the organization attempt to get younger. LaVine is the best trade piece for Chicago, but reportedly doesn't have much of a trade market. Despite that, it's being reported that the Detroit Pistons are interested in acquiring LaVine. It seems odd that the two-win Pistons would have interest in the All-Star guard. Although, it makes sense considering they probably wouldn't be able to sign him in free agency, so this would be their best chance to land a player of Lavine's caliber. The Bulls are likely going to wait until closer to the trade deadline before possibly unloading their roster.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Sports Illustrated
4 hours agoThe San Antonio Spurs are in rebuild mode and could be motivated to move some of their veteran players after their lackluster start to the season. The expectation is that
Doug McDermott,
Cedi Osman, and
Devonte' Graham are all going to be available ahead of the trade deadline. None of the three players would be considered huge additions to any roster, but they could help contribute to a contending team. McDermott is one of the best 3-point shooters in the league right now. Osman has also looked good from beyond the arc, so a move to a contending roster might actually boost the value of these players. Fantasy managers will have to wait and see what happens as the deadline gets closer.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Sports Illustrated
6 hours agoLos Angeles Lakers forward
Rui Hachimura (nose) said to reporters on Monday that he thinks he's going to play on Tuesday in the team's in-season tournament game. Hachimura has missed the last five consecutive games after he underwent a procedure to fix a nasal fracture. The 25-year-old played an important reserve role in the playoffs for the Lakers last season, so getting him back for the push to the in-season tournament championship would be big. He doesn't warrant much attention in fantasy leagues, however, unless it's a very deep league.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Jovan Buha
7 hours agoPortland Trail Blazers guard
Anfernee Simons (thumb) hasn't played since the team's first game of the season on October 25. After undergoing thumb surgery, he was expected to miss six weeks which would mark this Wednesday as a potential return.
Malcolm Brogdon was the one to talk about Simons back at practice and possibly getting him back on the court for a game within the next few contests. Simons is now considered day-to-day and when he does get back on the court, that will mean fewer minutes for
Matisse Thybulle and some of the others in the backcourt. The team may take a slower approach with his minutes, so fantasy managers will want to stay tuned for more updates.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Sean Highkin
7 hours agoIndiana Pacers forward
Obi Toppin (ankle) was listed on the injury report as questionable as he deals with a left ankle sprain. Ahead of their in-season tournament game on Monday night, head coach Rick Carlisle said that he expects Toppin to play as well as
Tyrese Haliburton (illness). That will be two starters upgraded to active which will mean that
Aaron Nesmith and
Bennedict Mathurin will remain in their bench roles. Toppin has been on a hot scoring streak over the last couple of games, but he isn't much of a fantasy contributor outside of deeper leagues.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Jay King
7 hours agoIndiana Pacers guard
Tyrese Haliburton (illness) was originally listed as questionable for the team's in-season tournament contest against the Boston Celtics. The star point guard came out at his usual time for shootaround though and head coach Rick Carlisle said that he expects Haliburton to play in this game. With his return to the lineup, that means
Andrew Nembhard and
T.J. McConnell will go back to their depth roles with fewer minutes. Haliburton should be in all lineups now that he's going to play.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Jay King
7 hours agoMilwaukee Bucks guard/forward
Pat Connaughton (ankle) has been ruled out of the team's in-season tournament game on Tuesday night against the New York Knicks. This will be his third consecutive game that he has missed from a right ankle sprain.
Cameron Payne and
MarJon Beauchamp have been receiving more minutes off of the bench in his absence and they should continue to do so. The Bucks may opt to give the starters heavy minutes as well since this is the knockout stage of the tournament.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: NBA Injury Report
9 hours agoDallas Mavericks guard
Kyrie Irving (foot) and forward
Tim Hardaway Jr. (back) participated in practice on Monday. Though role players
Grant Williams (knee),
Josh Green (elbow), and
read more...
9 hours agoThe Portland Trail Blazers have announced that forward
Jerami Grant (concussion) has been placed in the NBA's concussion protocol. Grant departed Saturday's game against the Utah Jazz in the fourth quarter and did not return. Portland is back in action on Wednesday against
read more...
10 hours agoThere's optimism that Boston Celtics center
Kristaps Porzingis (calf) will return this week. Porzingis remains out for Monday's In-Season Tournament quarterfinals versus the Indiana Pacers, but there's increasing confidence that he'd be available for a potential semifinals round on Thursday if the Celtics advance. Porzingis, a notoriously slow healer, will have missed four games due to a left calf strain after Monday. But fantasy managers hope that Boston takes care of business against Indy, otherwise the Celts don't have another game officially scheduled until Dec. 12 vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers at this juncture. An early-round fantasy stud when healthy, the oft-injured 28-year-old All-Star is averaging 18.9 points, 1.7 blocks, and 1.6 treys in Beantown. Manning the middle in KP's stead,
Al Horford is a must-roster asset with averages of 14.0 points, 9.5 boards, 3.8 assists, and 3.0 swats in 30.7 minutes covering four starts sans Porzingis this year.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Adrian Wojnarowski - ESPN
10 hours agoPhiladelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse confirms that guard
Tyrese Maxey (illness) practiced on Monday. Maxey joined star teammate
Joel Embiid (illness) on the sidelines with an illness as the undermanned Sixers hung in there in last Friday's 125-119 loss to the Boston Celtics, sitting out for the first time this year. Appearing to be feeling better now, Maxey looks to be good to go for Wednesday's game against the Washington Wizards. The early odds-on favorite for 2023-24's Most Improved Player Award, Maxey has taken Philly's backcourt reins in the wake of the
James Harden trade. The 23-year-old is averaging 27.0 points, 6.7 assists, and 3.3 treys in an NBA-high 38.4 minutes per night, making him a first-round fantasy player. After flirting with a triple-double on Friday,
Patrick Beverley is in line for a significantly diminished role in Maxey's return against the Wizards.
De'Anthony Melton is also set for decreased usage.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Justin Grasso - SI.com
10 hours agoPhiladelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse confirms that center
Joel Embiid (illness) practiced on Monday. Embiid caught a breather for Philadelphia's prior two games due to an illness, with the Sixers now winless in three tries without the reigning MVP this season. Looking to be over what was ailing him for the past several days, Embiid appears to be ready to roll for Wednesday's game against the Washington Wizards. Embiid is collecting 32.0 points, 11.3 boards, 6.6 assists, and 2.9 combined steals and blocks in 34.5 minutes per game across 16 starting appearances, which qualify for top-five fantasy numbers thus far at 2023-24's quarter point. Embiid's return means fewer minutes to go around for the likes of
Robert Covington, who snagged five steals in last Friday's 125-119 defeat to the Boston Celtics,
Paul Reed, and
Mo Bamba on Wednesday.
--Joseph Barbati - RotoBallerSource: Justin Grasso - SI.com
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