NBA Player News

Howard (ankle) will be available for Thursday's game against the Kings.

Howard saw a total of six minutes over his last two appearances for Orlando, so his availability won't matter much in fantasy hoops.

Giddey (hamstring) expects to play in Thursday's game against the Raptors, Will Gottlieb of AllCHGO.com reports.

Giddey was a full participant in practice Wednesday, and he looks to be on the verge of ending an eight-game absence with a strained left hamstring. The star guard's return would likely translate into fewer minutes for Collin Sexton and Jaden Ivey at the point. That said, it wouldn't be shocking if the Bulls have a minutes restriction in mind initially for Giddey once he's able to take the floor.

Strus (foot) still hasn't been cleared for contact, Spencer Davies of ClutchPoints.com reports.

Strus is ramping up his activity amidst his recovery from offseason foot surgery, but it doesn't seem like he'll be ready for game action imminently. For now, the 29-year-old swingman can be deemed week-to-week. Until Strus is cleared to play, Jaylon Tyson remains worth holding in the majority of fantasy leagues.

Wade (ankle) is likely to play in Thursday's game against the Nets, Spencer Davies of ClutchPoints.com reports.

Wade missed Cleveland's last three contests prior to the All-Star break, but he's trending toward returning from a sprained left ankle. His presence would likely force Sam Merrill into a bench role, though Wade has scored in double figures just twice in his last nine appearances.

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said Wednesday that Mobley (calf) is on track to play Thursday against the Nets, Spencer Davies of ClutchPoints.com reports.

Mobley has missed the Cavaliers' last seven games after he strained his left calf in the team's Jan. 26 win over the Magic. However, he received a positive update prior to the All-Star break, and he continues to trend in the right direction. Thursday's game is the front end of a back-to-back set, so it will be interesting to see how the team handles this.

Young (knee, quadriceps) still hasn't been cleared for contact, Josh Robbins of The Athletic reports Wednesday.

It doesn't sound like Young's Wizards debut is imminent. Until the star guard makes more progress in his recovery from a right knee MCL sprain and a right quadriceps contusion, he can be considered week-to-week. Bub Carrington and Tre Johnson should remain worthwhile streaming candidates in most fantasy leagues out of the All-Star break.

Anunoby (toe) said he will play Thursday against Detroit, Stefan Bondy of The New York Post reports.

Anunoby missed the final four games before the All-Star break, but he fully practiced Wednesday without any issues. For what it's worth, there was no mention of any restrictions for Thursday either.

The Hawks waived Durisic on Wednesday.

Durisic never logged a single appearance for the Hawks, and his roster spot was overtaken by Caleb Houstan. A 2024 second-round pick, Durisic spent last season overseas and will now be seeking opportunities elsewhere.

The Heat signed Gardner to a three-year contract Wednesday, according to NBA reporter Chris Haynes.

Gardner, who was previously on a two-way contract, has thoroughly impressed the Heat thus far. Across 26 total appearances, the rookie has hit 40.0 percent from beyond the arc with averages of 4.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 9.2 minutes per contest. He's expected to play a larger role down the stretch.

The Hawks converted Houstan's two-way contract into a standard deal Wednesday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Houstan has been a standout for Atlanta's G League affiliate this season, particularly as a three-point shooter. Though being upgraded to a standard deal will allow Houstan to be eligible to suit up for the Hawks for the remainder of the regular season and any playoff contests that may follow, he's still expected to remain an afterthought at the NBA level. He's made just 10 appearances for the Hawks all season, averaging 4.9 minutes per contest.