NBA Player News

Joe finished with seven points (2-8 FG, 2-3 FT, 1-6 3Pt), two rebounds, two assists and one steal in 18 minutes during Monday's 109-107 preseason win over the Suns.

As expected, Joe came off the bench for his new team, allowing Duncan Robinson to remain in the starting lineup. It would appear as though Joe is pencilled in to play a similar role to the one he played during his time in Oklahoma City. However, the need for spacing in Detroit is clear for everyone to see, meaning Joe's opportunities could come a little more frequently. Should Robinson stumble along the way, it wouldn't be surprising to see Joe experimented with as a member of the starting lineup, even for just a handful of games. For now, he should only be considered a stream-level player in standard formats.

Thompson amassed 10 points (5-8 FG, 0-1 FT), three steals, two rebounds, two assists and one block in 18 minutes during Monday's 109-107 preseason win over Phoenix.

Thompson did what he does best, racking up four combined steals and blocks, while also ending as one of five Pistons players to record double-digit scoring. Coming off what was a solid 2025-26 season, all signs point to Thompson playing an even larger role this season. Detroit signed Thompson to a five-year, $155 million deal during the offseason, presumably positioning him to be a huge part of the team's future. Although he has some limitations on the offensive end, Thompson warrants a spot in all fantasy leagues, making for a viable target anywhere after the sixth round, depending on your team's build.

Reed accumulated 10 points (2-6 FG, 6-6 FT), seven rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in 21 minutes during Monday's 109-107 preseason victory over the Suns.

With Jalen Duren (rest) sitting out the preseason opener, Reed was elevated into the starting lineup. To no one's surprise, he made the most of his opportunity, contributing adequately on both ends of the floor. Although the recent re-signing of Duren does put a cap on what Reed might be able to do this season, the fact that Isaiah Stewart is no longer around can't be overlooked. Reed is slated to serve as the primary backup behind Durne, a role that Stewart filled last season. Assuming he can flirt with 20 minutes per game, Reed still makes sense as a sneaky late-round flier.

Green totaled 11 points (3-6 FG, 4-6 FT, 1-4 3Pt), two rebounds and one assist in 15 minutes during Monday's 109-107 preseason loss to the Pistons.

Green was one of three Suns players to score double digits, an encouraging sign given all the injury concerns he had last season. While this was obviously a very small sample size, Green looked energized on the offensive end, a positive sign for anyone considering him in drafts. As a result of basically missing the entire 2025-26 campaign, managers are showing caution when it comes to drafting him, typically targeting him well past pick 100. As a player who can routinely put up in excess of 20 points per game, Green makes for a highly valuable late-round target.

Maluach closed with six points (3-5 FG, 0-3 FT, 0-1 3Pt), two rebounds and one block in 17 minutes during Monday's 109-107 preseason loss to Detroit.

Maluach came off the bench in the preseason opener, perhaps a sign of what's to come once the regular season gets underway. While he did log more minutes than Oso Ighodaro, Maluach's production left a lot to be desired, particularly on the offensive end. Of the two players, Maluach likely has more upside when considering him with a late-round pick. However, managers should temper their expectations, at least until we have a decent sample size of what he is capable of during competitive NBA basketball.

Acuff put up 19 points (8-17 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), two rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block across 27 minutes in Monday's 127-103 preseason loss to the Lakers.

Acuff had the hot hand early for Sacramento, scoring 17 of his 19 points in the first half. However, the Lakers did a better job defending him after halftime and held the rookie to just two points (0-of-4 FG, 2-of-2 FT). Still, Acuff flashed his upside in his preseason debut, which was nice to see after an up-and-down showing at Summer League.

Doncic tallied 21 points (5-12 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 8-9 FT), two rebounds, three assists and two steals over 16 minutes in Monday's 127-103 preseason win over the Kings.

Doncic looked fresh in his preseason debut, and despite being limited to one half of play, he still led his team in scoring. Doncic could be headed for a career year as the lead dog in L.A., making him an attractive top-5 target on draft day.

Ighodaro finished with three points (1-1 FG, 1-2 FT), five rebounds, two assists and one steal in 14 minutes during Monday's 109-107 preseason loss to Detroit.

Despite getting the starting nod over Khaman Maluach, Ighodaro did very little to push his case as the long-term starter. Luckily for him, Maluach also fell short of the mark during his time on the floor, highlighting what could end up being an ongoing issue for the Suns. If Ighodaro does manage to hold onto the starting role once the season proper comes around, he would be on the radar as a last-round flier, albeit when seeking rebounds and steals only.

Ball supplied 11 points (3-6 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 3-3 FT), four rebounds, three assists and one steal across 17 minutes in Monday's 116-97 preseason win over the Bucks.

Ball drew the start alongside Anthony Edwards in the Timberwolves' backcourt in his first preseason appearance and turned in an efficient performance despite the limited playing time. Perhaps the most encouraging part of this outing is that he complemented Edwards well while committing just one turnover and dishing out three dimes. Ball's arrival gives Minnesota another high-level creator alongside Edwards, and his ability to facilitate while shooting from the perimeter should make him a key part of the offense in the regular season.

Kuminga contributed eight points (2-4 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 4-4 FT) and two rebounds across 14 minutes in Monday's 116-97 preseason win over the Bucks.

Kuminga started at power forward and scored Minnesota's first points of the game, finishing a drive off a feed from Ball. He didn't see much offensive volume after that but was efficient when called upon, making both of his attempts inside the arc and all four of his free throws while committing no turnovers. Kuminga's place in the starting five is particularly notable as Minnesota begins evaluating how its revamped frontcourt will fit together during the preseason, and it wouldn't be surprising if he opens the 2026-27 regular season in a starting role.