NBA Player News

Awaka will start Friday's preseason game against the Grizzlies.

Nic Claxton (hamstring), Zach Collins (toe) and Jalen Smith (foot) are all unavailable, opening the door for Awaka to enter the starting five. The 22-year-old was highly productive in Wednesday's preseason-opening win over the Suns, recording 14 points, 11 rebounds, a steal and a block in 21 minutes.

Leonard (not injury related) won't suit up for Saturday's exhibition against the Clippers, Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints.com reports.

Leonard will miss a second straight preseason game while ramping up his workload following the offseason, but he's not dealing with an injury. His next chance to play in the preseason will come Tuesday against the Knicks.

Cisse amassed zero points (0-3 FG), six rebounds, three assists and two steals in 14 minutes during Friday's 135-117 preseason loss to Houston.

Cisse served as the third-string center, playing behind Morez Johnson and Daniel Gafford. Despite a few bright spots last season, it appears as though Cisse could struggle to be an every-night part of the rotation, particularly if Dereck Lively returns from his foot injury at any point. Cisse is someone to monitor, just in case injuries befall the Dallas frontcourt, especially for those needing rebounds and blocks.

Christie finished with 14 points (5-12 FG, 4-11 3Pt), two rebounds, two assists and one steal in 24 minutes during Friday's 135-117 preseason loss to Houston.

Christie hit the ground running in the preseason opener, connecting on a team-high four three-pointers. It appears as though he will begin the season as a starter for Dallas, where he will serve as a floor-spacer, presumably launching a high amount of perimeter shots. At this point, his overall game is a little empty, which does make him a somewhat risky option in standard leagues. At best, he should be viewed as more of a three-point streaming consideration.

Adams totaled two points (1-1 FG), three rebounds, one assist and one steal in 14 minutes during Friday's 135-117 preseason win over the Mavericks.

Adams returned to the court after undergoing ankle surgery in January, playing his usual role off the bench. Although his skill set doesn't really lend itself to viable fantasy value, Adams' importance to the Rockets cannot be overstated. He will presumably serve as the primary backup behind Alperen Sengun, typically logging minutes in the mid to high teens.

Castro signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Lakers on Friday, Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com reports.

Castro is set to compete for a spot on the Lakers' regular-season roster, though Los Angeles can waive him at any time since the organization owns his G League rights. In his senior season at George Washington, he averaged 15.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.

The Grizzlies announced Friday that Stewart (ankle) will miss at least two weeks.

Stewart, who was traded from Detroit to Memphis over the summer, sustained a left ankle sprain in the team's preseason opener and is now likely to miss Opening Night. His absence opens the door for Quinten Post to move into the backup center role behind Zach Edey in the interim.

Smith totaled 12 points (4-8 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 2-4 FT), four rebounds, one assist and one steal in 22 minutes during Friday's 135-117 preseason win over the Mavericks.

Smith filled his usual role, operating as a complementary piece on offense, while providing the team with a serviceable defensive presence. The return of Fred VanVleet should allow Smith to get a few more open looks, although not to the point where his overall fantasy appeal changes too much. At this point, he should be considered a viable top-100 target, perhaps slightly higher in two-center leagues.

Edey will play in Friday's preseason game against the Bulls and is expected to see an uptick in minutes, Rob Fischer of FanDuel Sports Network Southeast reports.

Edey made his 2026 preseason debut in Wednesday's loss to Orlando, posting two points, four rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block in 10 minutes. He underwent surgeries on his left elbow and ankle in March, and the big man will likely continue ramping up his workload ahead of the regular season.

VanVleet finished with 17 points (5-12 FG, 5-12 3Pt, 2-3 FT), seven assists, two rebounds and two steals in 24 minutes during Friday's 135-117 preseason win over Dallas.

VanVleet made his first appearance since suffering an ACL injury more than 12 months ago. Despite the layoff, VanVleet looked good in his 24 minutes, providing the team with some much-needed guidance. Although there could be some limitations heading into the season proper, the fact that he played 24 minutes in what was basically a meaningless game bodes well for anyone willing to take a chance on him in drafts.