NBA Player News

The Mavericks waived Sharp on Friday.

Sharp signed a one-year pact with the club in August of 2024, but he is now expected to join its G League affiliate -- the Texas Legends -- for the 2024-25 campaign. The 7-foot-5 center spent the Summer League with Dallas, during which he averaged 2.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in five appearances.

Carter (ankle) is available for Friday's preseason finale against the 76ers, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports.

Carter will return to action Friday after suffering a left ankle sprain earlier this preseason. The 25-year-old big man appears to have made a full recovery and is expected to operate as Orlando's starting center this season.

Sabonis logged 24 points (7-14 FFG, 0-2 3Pt, 10-12 FT), nine rebounds, five assists and two steals across 27 minutes in Thursday's 113-91 loss to the Clippers.

Sabonis coughed up the ball six times in the loss, which is an unusually high number for him. Still, preseason mistakes are common and one shouldn't read much into the increase. Sabonis will be one of the most productive players in the league once again, and he'll challenge Nikola Jokic for the double-double and triple-double crowns.

Nurkic generated 15 points (6-11 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 1-2 FT), seven rebounds, two blocked shots and a steal across 17 minutes in Thursday's 128-122 loss to the Lakers.

Nurkic was matched in minutes with Mason Plumlee, who recorded more rebounds during the loss. Despite Plumlee's increased involvement, Nurkic is in no immediate danger of losing his job, but he may get a little more rest in the opening weeks of the regular season as his finger continues to heal.

Okongwu finished with nine points (4-7 FG, 1-4 3PT), four rebounds, one assist and one block in 16 minutes during Thursday's preseason loss to the Thunder.

Okongwu made his preseason debut, finishing with a modest stat line in limited minutes. It is unclear whether Okongwu will be the starter this season, although based on what we have seen over the past couple of years, confidence is low. However, Clint Capela is dealing with an ankle injury, something that could open the door for Okongwu to get first crack at the role. Either way, he makes sense as a target anywhere after pick 100.

Turner totaled 18 points (7-10 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block in 25 minutes during Thursday's preseason win over the Hornets.

Turner did a bit of everything in the win, which should translate into the regular season. His fantasy floor remains relatively safe due to his elite block production. However, underwhelming rebound numbers and a tendency to be passive on the offensive end can limit his upside. With that said, he should be targeted in the middle rounds of drafts, often going off the board in the 50s, along with a host of other center-eligible players.

Richards finished with 10 points (5-6FG), five rebounds and one block in 13 minutes during Thursday's preseason loss to Indiana.

Richards continues to start at the center position for the Hornets with Mark Williams unavailable due to a foot issue. There is no certainty Williams will be ready to go on Opening Night, making Williams a viable short-term streaming option, even in standard formats.

Davis recorded 35 points (14-28 FG, 4-9 3Pt, 3-8 FT), 10 rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block across 34 minutes in Thursday's 128-122 preseason win over the Suns.

Davis tied Dalton Knecht for the team's lead in scoring, and if this preseason game taught us anything, it's that Davis is more than ready for the start of the regular season. The star big man will undoubtedly be the Lakers' top offensive threat, even ahead of LeBron James, when they open their 2024-25 regular season against the Timberwolves next Tuesday.

Bol isn't starting Thursday's preseason game against the Lakers.

Bol impressed in Sunday's start against the Nuggets, tallying 14 points, eight boards and one assist in 28 minutes. He'll return to his usual bench role Thursday while Jusuf Nurkic (finger) enters the starting five at center.

Plumlee is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's preseason game against the Lakers.

Plumlee heads back to the bench since Jusuf Nurkic is available to start. Plumlee is expected to operate as Nurkic's primary backup option once the regular season begins next Wednesday against the Clippers. However, Plumlee's fantasy value will be almost minimal barring multiple injuries.