NBA Player News

Gafford notched 11 points (4-5 FG, 3-3 FT), four rebounds, three assists and two blocks across 17 minutes in Thursday's 109-84 preseason win over the Bucks.

Gafford made the most of his starting role in this preseason finale, though his fantasy upside looking ahead to the regular season is uncertain. He's likely to split time with Dereck Lively at the five, and that rotation won't help either player boost their fantasy stock. Gafford averaged 11.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game across 74 regular-season appearances in 2023-24 while spending time with the Mavericks and Wizards.

Sengun recorded 21 points (9-12 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 3-7 FT), 10 rebounds and two assists across 26 minutes in Thursday's 129-107 preseason win over the Spurs.

Sengun should be among the leaders of this Rockets team, and his fantasy upside is sky-high if he stays healthy, as he can stuff the stat sheet. He should be one of the most reliable big men in fantasy regardless of the format and could be in line to surpass the career-best season he had in 2023-24, when he averaged 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game across 63 regular-season contests.

Collins delivered 10 points (4-12 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 1-1 FT), four rebounds and six assists across 22 minutes in Thursday's 129-107 preseason loss to the Rockets.

Collins got the start Thursday since Victor Wembanyama was rested ahead of the regular-season opener Oct. 24 against the Mavericks. The big man will be a serviceable backup and should see steady minutes with the second unit, but as a reserve frontcourt player who doesn't stand out in any particular area, his fantasy upside will be close to minimal.

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.