Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton, the team's marquee offseason addition, revealed Wednesday that he has yet to share the floor with superstars Luka Doncic or LeBron James. With James expected to miss the first few weeks of the season, Ayton's ability to mesh quickly will be crucial to keeping Los Angeles competitive out of the gate. The 27-year-old big man averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds across 40 games with the Trail Blazers last season but has battled inconsistency and injuries throughout his career. The Lakers are banking on Ayton's presence inside to stabilize the frontcourt and complement Doncic's playmaking once the team's full roster is healthy.

Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe (hip) is dealing with a sore hip, which held him out of practice on Thursday. Beat reporter Kyle Neubeck states that the rookie will not play on Friday, and he's considered day-to-day. Edgecombe is expected to practice next week and even participated in shootaround on Friday morning. This issue seems to be more precautionary than anything else, but his return to practice would still be something to monitor. Edgecombe was the third-overall pick in this year's draft and displayed some insanely athletic plays during the two preseason games against the New York Knicks. With Jared McCain (thumb), Paul George (knee), and Joel Embiid (knee) all on the mend, Edgecombe could see a sizeable chunk of minutes to start the season.

Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (hamstring) originally tweaked his hamstring during the preseason game on Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played only eight minutes and exited in the second quarter. Now, according to beat reporter Tony East, head coach Rick Carlisle is saying that the veteran point guard is going to be out "at least a month." This brings the team's backcourt depth into question after Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) is already expected to miss the season, and Ben Sheppard (undisclosed) remains out, while they decided to cut Delon Wright. Cameron Payne did sign a camp deal with the team, but McConnell will be in line for an uptick in minutes whenever he returns. The 33-year-old averaged 9.1 points, 4.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.4 turnovers across 17.9 minutes per game last year.

Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard (undisclosed) already missed the team's preseason opener, and he's headed for a couple more absences. Beat reporter Tony East reports that head coach Rick Carlisle said Sheppard is "unlikely" to play in either one of the team's next two games. Their game against the San Antonio Spurs on October 17 is "more plausible." Sheppard has seen increased playing time each season since being drafted in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft. With Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) out for the season, and a handful of other injuries to start the preseason, their guard depth is going to be very important. Last year, Sheppard averaged 5.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.1 threes across 19.5 minutes per game, but could see a bump in playing time when he returns.

Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecome (hip) was unable to practice with the team on Thurdsay due to left hip soreness. The No. 2 overall pick in last year's draft has an extremely high ceiling and should be poised for a big role for the Sixers this year, if he can stay healthy. The Sixers have had awful injury issues the last few years, so Edgecombe missing practice hopefully doesn't continue that trend. He has looked very strong when healthy, and he'll be a great sleeper in all formats if he's able to be healthy when the Sixers start the season on October 22 against the Celtics in Boston.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Jaylen Wells flashed some upside and a high ceiling in a few games during his rookie year, including a 30-point outburst in his first game of 2025. Overall, he only averaged 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 25.9 minutes per game while starting 74 of his 79 games and serving mostly as a defensive specialist. However, he is expected to take on a much more involved role in the offense in his second year in the NBA, after the team traded Desmond Bane to Orlando. On Wednesday against the Celtics, Wells had a team-high 21 points in the Grizzlies' second exhibition game this preseason, and he only needed nine shots from the field. Grizzlies Coach Tuomas Iisalo said Wells will be asked to be a secondary playmaker in the offense, and so far, Wells seems to be doing a good job with his expanded role. While there may be some bumps along the road, an expanded role could set Wells up for a breakout season in Memphis.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Joe Ingles (groin) has been diagnosed with a left groin strain and will be re-evaluated in one week. Ingles re-signed with the Wolves as a veteran depth option again this season, agreeing to a one-year, $3.6 million contract with the Timberwolves. He doesn't usually play significant rotation minutes during the season, but his absence for the next week could open up more playing time for other players battling for roster spots and playing time. Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaylen Clark, and Leonard Miller are a few of the other forwards who could get more time without Ingles available.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (back) will miss the start of the NBA regular season while dealing with sciatica, which is pain that originates in the spine and radiates down the back of his right leg. The 40-year-old James has been unable to participate in training camp due to what Lakers coach JJ Redick described as nerve irritation in his glute. It's unclear if this is the same issue or a different problem trying to slow down the 21-time All-Star. James played 70 regular-season games last year, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game. He helped the Lakers to the playoffs, where they lost to the Timberwolves in five games in the first round. With James on the sidelines to start the season, Austin Reaves' fantasy value gets a boost. Luka Doncic will also carry more of the load for the Lakers, but he's already a top option in all formats, so LeBron's absence doesn't impact his fantasy value as much as Reaves', but it should boost his usage. James' recovery and season debut will be a key storyline to watch early in the year since the Lakers are so reliant on the veteran in every facet of the game.

Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward Matisse Thybulle (knee) was sidelined for the team's preseason opener against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night due to right knee soreness. After playing in only 15 games last season due to ankle and knee issues, Thybulle can't seem to shake off injuries. When healthy, he has been an outstanding defender, averaging 1.6 steals for his career and earning two NBA All-Defensive Second Team selections. The Blazers have a light preseason schedule with only four games, so Thybulle must recover quickly if he wants to shake off some rust before the start of the regular season.

Orlando Magic point guard Jalen Suggs (knee) participated in individual non-contact drills during Wednesday's practice, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports. This suggests Suggs still hasn't been cleared for contact with two weeks remaining until opening night against the Miami Heat. Suggs has been aiming for opening night as his return date, but even if he is ready for the first game of the season, the team might limit his workload. Tyus Jones is the leading contender to start at point guard instead of Suggs if he isn't able to recover in time for Oct. 22.

Golden State Warriors guard Seth Curry missed a second straight preseason game on Wednesday against the Portland Trail Blazers. According to Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told reporters that Curry "is still ramping up" after the offseason. The Curry brothers are finally together on the same team, but it seems it will take some time before we see them sharing the floor. Adding Curry provides another three-point threat for the Warriors, but he probably won't see much action during the regular season.

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (knee) is battling left knee tendinopathy, TSN's Josh Lewenberg reports. Due to the issue, Barnes was unavailable for Wednesday's preseason contest against the Sacramento Kings. It's possible his left knee already bothered him during the team's preseason opener against the Denver Nuggets on Monday, as Barnes failed to make a field goal with six attempts and finished with one point in 19 minutes. Barnes is an exciting talent, and it's sad to see him struggling with injuries. Over the last two campaigns, he has played in only 125 regular-season games. Fortunately, his latest health issue doesn't seem serious, giving Barnes a chance to be healthy for the start of the campaign

Boston Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown (knee) notched 21 points in 20 minutes in Wednesday's 121-103 preseason win against the Memphis Grizzlies. He shot 6-for-13 from the field with a 3-for-6 record from downtown and finished 6-for-8 at the line. Brown underwent a procedure on his right knee during the offseason and appears to be fully recovered, although he didn't do much else besides scoring against Memphis. With Jayson Tatum (Achilles) sidelined, Brown will be expected to take on more responsibilities this season and could have a career year if everything clicks. Brown has averaged 27.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in games without Tatum since the two became teammates in 2017.

Philadelphia 76ers forward Trendon Watford (hamstring) was held out of Wednesday's practice, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Watford has missed both of the Sixers' preseason games in Abu Dhabi due to a right hamstring strain. The 24-year-old signed a two-year, $5.3 million deal with Philadelphia during the offseason after averaging 10.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.3 blocks in 20.8 minutes across 44 games last season. Once healthy, Watford should be a valuable depth piece in the Sixers' frontcourt rotation moving forward.

Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) participated in some five-on-five drills during team practice on Wednesday. Despite the positive update, it is still unclear if the 31-year-old will make his return to the floor during preseason action. When active, Embiid remains a dominant force across all fantasy formats, though injuries have limited him to just 58 appearances across the last two regular-season campaigns.

According to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia 76ers guard/forward Paul George (knee) is expected to participate in team activities within the next few days. George has been limited to individual workouts since undergoing surgery in July. The veteran forward appeared in just 41 games during an injury-plagued first season with the Sixers, averaging 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per contest. While his recovery continues to trend in the right direction, there remains no clear timetable for his return to action.

Indiana Pacers point guard T.J. McConnell (hamstring) played only eight minutes in Tuesday's preseason opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He exited the contest in the second quarter due to a sore left hamstring. McConnell was off to a great start in the game, posting seven points, two rebounds, three assists, and one steal. The Pacers have lost Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) for the season, so they are likely to exercise extreme caution with their remaining point guards during the preseason. It wouldn't be surprising if McConnell sits out the rest of the preseason schedule to ensure he's fully ready for the regular-season opener. McConnell will continue to come off the bench for the Pacers in 2025-26, but he may see an increase in usage without Haliburton.

Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (calf) is available for Wednesday's preseason opener against the Toronto Raptors, Frankie Cartoscelli of KHTK Sactown Sports 1140 reports. Monk missed the end of the 2024-25 regular season with a calf injury but seems to be back at 100 percent. The team announced that all players are available for Wednesday's contest. After dropping to the second unit for the final stretch of last season, Monk will compete to regain his starting position during the preseason. He faces strong competition from Dennis Schroder, who was picked up from the Detroit Pistons in July via a sign-and-trade deal.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart (Achilles) went through Tuesday's practice, Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times reports. According to Lakers head coach JJ Redick, Smart "did most of practice, including some live play." Smart has been dealing with Achilles tendinopathy during training camp and wasn't available for the team's first two preseason games. The Lakers won't be back in action until Sunday, so we might see Smart in a Lakers uniform for the first time this week. He seems to be a good fit for the team; however, Smart will be coming off the bench this season, which will negatively affect his fantasy value.

New York Knicks guard/forward Josh Hart (back) sat out Tuesday's practice and is considered day-to-day, Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News reports. New York's utility man has been battling back spasms after hurting himself in a preseason contest last Thursday. It appears like a minor issue, but Hart might still miss some additional preseason action because of it. The situation isn't ideal for Hart, as some reports suggest that he's facing a battle for his spot in the starting unit. Mitchell Robinson is seen as a potential fifth starter for the Knicks on opening night.