The Time Is Now: Third-Year NBA Breakouts (2023-24)

"Breaking out" has different definitions for different players. For some, it's taking that All-Star leap, for others it's as simple as cracking the starting lineup and playing over 25 minutes a night. With the 2023-24 NBA season almost upon us, the following third-year players have all shown flashes of greatness, but haven't been able to […]

Jordan Poole Goes Off For 41 Points

Washington Wizards guard Jordan Poole was a scoring machine in Wednesday's 131-106 preseason victory over the Knicks, pouring in 41 points on 10-for-19 shooting. He caught fire very early and already had 29 points by halftime. Poole did the damage in just 27 minutes and finished 6-for-12 from downtown with a 15-for-16 effort at the […]

Erik Spoelstra "Encouraged" By Caleb Martin's Progress

Miami Heat guard/forward Caleb Martin (knee) hasn't been able to play in preseason due to left knee tendonitis, but he could be available for the regular-season opener next Wednesday. Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has said he's "encouraged" by Martin's progress. Following his outstanding play during the 2023 playoffs, Martin enters the 2023-24 campaign with […]

Tyler Herro Expected To Be Available For Start Of Season

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (thigh) sat out Wednesday's preseason contest against Brooklyn, but a left thigh contusion isn't threatening his status for the team's regular-season opener. According to Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, Herro is considered day-to-day and is expected to be available next week, when Miami tips off the 2023-24 campaign Wednesday versus […]

Anfernee Simons Aims For All-Star Season, Wants To Improve Defensively

Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons wants to become an All-Star in 2024 and is eager to improve his game defensively. "All-Star was my goal last year and is again this year," Simons said. "Also, putting the 'bad defender' [label] out of my name. That would be fun." Simons gave his stock a big boost […]

Cameron Johnson Hopeful To Practice On Saturday

Brooklyn Nets guard Cameron Johnson (hamstring) is hopeful to get back to practice on Saturday, according to head coach Jacque Vaughn. Johnson has missed all of the preseason due to a lingering hamstring issue. Hopefully, this isn't too serious of an issue and the Nets are just being cautious in exhibition games. It's possible that […]

Brandin Podziemski Not Starting On Wednesday

Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski will head to the bench for Wednesday's preseason matchup against the Sacramento Kings. The 20-year-old has been significantly involved during the preseason. He has appeared in three games and looked fairly solid. Podziemski scored 10 points with 10 assists during the October 13th game against the Los Angeles Lakers. […]

Josh Richardson Doesn't Return On Wednesday

Miami Heat guard Josh Richardson (foot) was forced to exit early during Wednesday's preseason matchup against the Brooklyn Nets. It appears Richardson aggravated the foot issue that has been bothering him during the preseason. The expectation is that the Heat will have Richardson undergo further testing to determine the severity of the issue. Dru Smith […]

Romeo Langford Waived By Jazz

The Utah Jazz have announced that the team has waived guard/forward Romeo Langford. The former lottery pick was cut loose ahead of the new season, along with guard Michael Devoe and forward Keshawn Justice. Langford had a few impressive outings with San Antonio last season and was signed to an Exhibit 10 contract by the […]

Rockets Looking To Move Victor Oladipo

Houston Rockets guard Victor Oladipo (knee) likely won't remain with the team for long, with the club reportedly trying to move on from him following his arrival on Tuesday in a deal with the Thunder. Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports has noted that Houston sees Oladipo as a trade piece and has an interest in […]

Fantasy Basketball Breakouts, Busts, And Locks - San Antonio Spurs 2023 Outlook

Remember when Gregg Popovich said, "[don't] bet us to win the NBA finals"? Well, turns out he knew what he was talking about! You don't have to like tanking, but you can't deny the results when it works, and it was a successful tank job for the Spurs since they landed basketball's most intriguing prospect […]

Quentin Grimes Looks Solid On Tuesday

New York Knicks guard Quentin Grimes put together a solid performance during Tuesday's preseason matchup against the Boston Celtics. Grimes and Mitchell Robinson were the only two starters in the lineup during this exhibition matchup. The young guard made the most of his extra chances. He shot 7-of-13 from the floor with 22 points, two […]

Devin Booker Totals 19 Points With Four Triples

Phoenix Suns guard/forward Devin Booker had four three-point bombs reserved for the Trail Blazers on Monday, scoring 19 points in 18 minutes in a 117-108 win. He made four shots from deep with six attempts and finished 6-for-11 overall from the field while also grabbing a pair of rebounds and tallying four assists with two […]

Kelly Oubre Jr. Impresses As Starter With All-Around Performance

Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward Kelly Oubre Jr. joined the starting unit for Monday's preseason clash with Brooklyn and had a busy night with a game-high 21 points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks in 33 minutes. He finished with 9-for-24 shooting, hitting 3-for-9 from downtown. Oubre Jr.'s shooting could've been better, but he […]

Ben Sheppard Forcing His Way Into Pacers Plans

Indiana Pacers guard/forward Ben Sheppard faces a very tough task in carving out minutes in his rookie campaign, but he has left a good impression of himself during preseason. "Sheppard is playing a mature game for a rookie," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said following Monday's 116-112 win over Atlanta. "He is older. He did […]

Nuggets GM Rates Peyton Watson Higher Than Bruce Brown

Denver Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth was apparently quite happy to let Bruce Brown move on in the offseason. He rates Peyton Watson as a better player. "Some of these teams were trying to get Bruce, trying to make it worth it; it's like, just be careful what you wish for," Booth told Kevin O'Connor […]

Fantasy Basketball Breakouts, Busts, And Locks: Houston Rockets 2023-2024 Outlook

With the NBA season right around the corner, it’s time to start breaking down NBA teams and determining what you should expect from individual players on the team this year. Today, I’ll be breaking down the Houston Rockets and giving their lock, bust, and breakout fantasy player heading into the 2023-24 season. The Houston Rockets […]

Scotty Pippen Jr. Waived By Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers guard Scotty Pippen Jr. has been waived by the organization on Monday. The Lakers decided to move on from Damion Baugh, and Vincent Valerio-Bodon as well. However, Pippen is the most notably considering he's the son of Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen. It's possible that these three come back and join the […]

Andrew Nembhard Will Miss Another Preseason Game

Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (kidney stone) will miss the team's third preseason contest while he still deals with the kidney stone that has ailed him for most of the preseason now. He has been ramping up to hopefully play in their final game of the preseason on Friday though. Nembhard is currently looking at […]

Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell Sitting Out On Monday

Cleveland Cavaliers guards Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell are getting the night off on Monday night during their preseason contest against Maccabi Ra'Anana. The All-Star backcourt will get a rest night as the team tries to figure out who will play their primary backups. In their place, Ty Jerome and Isaac Okoro will get the […]

Celtics, Derrick White In Extension Talks

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White has proven to be one of the most important players to the team's success ever since they acquired him two seasons ago. According to Adam Himmelsbach, the two sides are talking about a contract extension but an agreement doesn't seem to be on the horizon just yet. White is set […]

Klay Thompson's Future In Doubt As Extension Talks Stall

Golden State Warriors guard/forward Klay Thompson hasn't made any progress with the team in his extension talks, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. "I'm told that there has been absolutely no progress on a Klay Thompson extension in Golden State, that they are still apart on years and money," Wojnarowski said on NBA Countdown Sunday. "There's […]

Fantasy Basketball Breakouts, Busts, and Locks - Milwaukee Bucks (2023-24)

Welcome to yet another edition of RotoBaller's Fantasy Basketball Breakouts, Busts, and Locks for the 2023-24 season. Today, we will be looking at the Milwaukee Bucks; a team that has around two more seasons to convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to stay. Last season was filled with ups and downs. They had a 9-0 start, but injuries […]

Tyler Herro Leads All Scorers In Win Over Grizzlies

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro is a man on a mission to prove his worth after having to hear his name in trade talks all summer long. In the team's preseason win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, Herro posted 30 points, six assists, and three rebounds while shooting 11-for-19 from the floor and 4-for-7 […]

Tre Jones And Devin Vassell Won't Play On Monday Night

San Antonio Spurs guards Tre Jones and Devin Vassell are getting rest days along with Victor Wembanyama instead of playing against the Houston Rockets on Monday. Jones and Vassell seem to be the leaders to control the backcourt this season. Vassell has a lot of hype after he's improved in each of his three seasons […]

Stephen Curry And Chris Paul Get The Night Off On Sunday

Golden State Warriors guards Stephen Curry and Chris Paul are getting a rest night on Sunday during their game against the Sacramento Kings. According to Anthony Slater, head coach Steve Kerr said that the veterans on the team would at least get one game off during the preseason. This most likely allows the team to […]

Cory Joseph And Rodney McGruder Sitting Out Against Kings

Golden State Warriors guards Cory Joseph (back) and Rodney McGruder (concussion protocol) will miss the team's preseason contest on Sunday against the Sacramento Kings. Head coach Steve Kerr expects Joseph to be able to play in a preseason game and is hopeful that McGruder can do the same. The latter is already in the later […]

Clippers Not Looking To Add More For James Harden

According to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Enquirer, the Clippers haven't budged on sweetening the trade package proposed for 76ers guard James Harden. It's common knowledge Harden wants to head west. However, outside of some picks and expiring contracts, Los Angeles doesn't appear willing to add anyone else, including the highly-coveted Terance Mann. With the […]

Fantasy Basketball Breakouts, Busts, And Locks - Phoenix Suns 2023 Outlook

After being dispatched in six games in the second round by the eventual champion Denver Nuggets, the Suns and new owner Mat Ishbia decided it was time to make a big splash. The Suns were involved in a pair of blockbuster three-team trades this offseason, highlighted by the departures of Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton […]

Dennis Smith Jr. To Miss "At Least A Week"

According to Brooklyn Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn, guard Dennis Smith Jr. (ankle) will be sidelined for "at least a week." The 2017 No. 9 overall pick, who injured his left ankle in preseason action on Thursday night, signed with Brooklyn over the summer after most recently suiting up for the Hornets in 2022-23. He […]