NBA Player News

Embiid (knee) was a limited participant at Monday's practice, Kyle Neubeck of AllPHLY.com reports.

Embiid was able to do everything but the final scrimmage, as the 76ers continue to exercise caution. This should be par for the course this season, as the franchise has made it very clear that they want to tread carefully. Embiid's status for Wednesday's game against the Bucks has yet to be determined, though Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer notes that the big man may need to participate in multiple five-on-five scrimmages to improve his conditioning and build chemistry with his teammates before getting the green light to suit up.

The Clippers converted Jones' Exhibit 10 contract to a two-way deal Saturday, NBA reporter Chris Haynes reports.

Jones secured the Clippers' third and final two-way slot after averaging 8.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals in 24.2 minutes over his five preseason appearances. The 23-year-old projects to open the season as the Clippers' third-string center behind Ivica Zubac and Mo Bamba (knee), and Jones could end up heading to the G League if minutes are hard to come by.

The Bucks signed Robbins to a two-way contract Saturday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Robbins was competing with Anzejs Pasecniks for the final depth center position on the Bucks' roster and ultimately won. The big man spent last season with the Birmingham Squadron in the G League, but he will now start the 2024-25 campaign on the Bucks' roster. He will be available to provide depth in Milwaukee's frontcourt if needed.

The Raptors waived Carlson on Saturday, Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Carlson was initially signed to a two-way contract but has been let go by the Raptors. He will enter the 2024-25 campaign as a free agent.

Sarr's calf soreness is not considered serious, but the Wizards have not confirmed his availability for Thursday's regular-season-opening matchup with the Celtics, Josh Robbins of The Athletic reports.

Sarr, the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft, struggled with his shooting efficiency during the preseason, but he did show flashes of contributions across the board. He missed the Wizards' final two exhibition contests due to calf soreness, and it sounds like Washington could err on the side of caution with the rookie when the regular season tips off. Should he ultimately miss any time, Patrick Baldwin would be a candidate to see increased minutes at power forward. More clarity on Sarr's status figures to come when the Wizards release their first injury report.

Clingan scored 14 points (7-12 FG, 0-1 3Pt) while adding 20 rebounds, four assists and four blocks over 24 minutes in Friday's 124-86 preseason win over the Jazz.

In Portland's final preseason game, Clingan simply dominated the glass, pulling down nearly twice as many boards as Utah's Walker Kessler and John Collins combined. The seventh overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft will be stuck in a bench role to begin the season behind Deandre Ayton, but Clingan's rebounding and rejections might still provide fantasy utility right out of the gates.

Allen recorded 25 points (11-16 FG, 3-3 FT), 16 rebounds, two assists and two steals across 32 minutes in Friday's 139-137 preseason loss to the Bulls.

Allen led the Cavaliers in points and rebounds in this one, and the star center is ready for the start of the regular season against the Raptors on Wednesday. Allen might not be the first scoring option in a Cleveland offense led by Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, but there's no doubt that Allen should be one of the most productive big men in fantasy due to his impressive two-way ability. He racked up 44 double-doubles across 77 regular-season appearances in 2023-24.

Vucevic finished with 18 points (8-16 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 1-1 FT), 12 rebounds, six assists, a steal and a block across 27 minutes in Friday's 139-137 preseason win over the Cavaliers.

Vucevic seems ready for the regular-season opener against the Pelicans on Wednesday. The big man figures to play a prominent role on offense for the Bulls and should be the team's second-best option on offense behind Zach LaVine.

Carter compiled 10 points (5-8 FG, 0-3 3PT), seven rebounds, one assist and one block in 21 minutes during Friday's preseason loss to the 76ers.

Carter returned to action after suffering an ankle sprain earlier in the preseason, moving straight into the starting lineup. A perennial underperformer, Carter will be looking to establish himself as a noteworthy center this season. He will have Moritz Wagner and Goga Bitadze clipping at his heels, both of whom have proven they can serve as viable starting options. As he is penciled in as the starter, Carter is worth considering as a late-round pick in drafts.

Drummond finished with 12 points (6-9 FG, 0-1 FT), 20 rebounds, three steals and one assist in 26 minutes during Friday's preseason loss to the Magic.

Drummond was a beast on the boards, pulling down 20 rebounds despite the loss. With Joel Embiid set to miss at least 15 games this season, if not more, Drummond is firming up as a viable late-round target as a backup center. If you are willing to take a chance on Embiid in the first round, Drummond makes sense as an insurance policy late in drafts.