Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley (knee) has been ruled out for Tuesday's game against the Boston Celtics. Mobley will sit out on the second leg of back-to-back games for Cleveland and his third straight due to left knee injury management. The Cavaliers return to play on Wednesday for a rematch with the Celtics in Beantown, but Mobley's absence is a big loss for the team in this one. The 22-year-old defensive menace is providing third-round fantasy figures with averages of 16.0 points on 57.3% field-goal shooting, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 33.6 minutes over 21 games. The Cavs will lean on Jarrett Allen's rim protection against Kristaps Porzingis and company on Tuesday, while Dean Wade figures to draw another spot start as head coach J.B. Bickerstaff hopes for his reserves to step up.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (knee) has been ruled out for the second consecutive game as he continues to deal with left knee soreness. The 22-year-old has seen an uptick in production this season across multiple stat categories and he's been a big part of the team's success. While he's out, Dean Wade should remain in the starting five while Jarrett Allen will likely see some more usage in the paint. Wade and Georges Niang are probably the best streaming options in this scenario as they'll be more widely available.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (knee) is out for Friday's meeting with the Heat. The 22-year-old was listed as questionable heading into this contest. However, most had a feeling he wouldn't be out there, considering he wasn't at shootaround on Friday morning. Mobley has played well this season, averaging 16.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks, so there will be opportunities for others to step up, including Dean Wade, who will enter the starting lineup. Unfortunately, Wade has averaged just 4.7 rebounds and 3.3 points as a starter this season, meaning he's not a realistic streaming option in any fantasy format. Instead, Georges Niang could get additional minutes while enjoying an uptick on the scoring end, making him a better fantasy option.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley (knee) is currently dealing with some left knee soreness and has been listed as questionable for the Friday night contest against the Miami Heat. Mobley has been a key piece of the team's "big three" and has shown even more consistency this season as he averages a double-double so far. Jarrett Allen would be the biggest beneficiary if Mobley can't give it a go while Georges Niang or Dean Wade would likely join the starting five.

It's funny that every year at the NBA Draft, once the end of the guaranteed money and live appearances arrives at the end of the first round, everybody tunes out and refers to the 60th pick as "Mr. Irrelevant." That's not very accurate though, is it?Speaking historically, the title of "Mr. Irrelevant" could just as easily be applied to each pick in the draft, as organizations differ greatly in their evaluation of talent and their own needs, particularly in a year without the NCAA tournament. The nickname just doesn't reflect how basketball works anymore. Executives strategically stockpile second-round draft picks for the less burdensome financial obligations, and organizations in rebuilding mode get super creative to field a respectable team on a budget.Particularly in the NBA where worldwide talent is plentiful and positional lines continue to fade, the opportunity is everything: in the right situation, the right under-the-radar player can make an immediate, poignant statement. With professional development leagues for 16-18-year-olds, an ever-expanding set of domestic/international opportunities due to the sheer growth of basketball, and widespread NIL rights for college athletes, players of all levels and localities are starting to get their due exposure and now have enough freedom to hone their skills in a place, and at a pace, that fits best with their path to the NBA. 

Introduction

I am inherently skeptical and distrusting of scouting from the high school level to pre-Draft. That's why in this annual article, I tend to favor overlooked college players (love the mid-majors/non-power conferences) with either well-rounded, polished games or specific statistical specialties.We are going to discuss a handful of 2023 second-round picks and undrafted free agent signees who, given their individual skillsets and circumstances, warrant the attention of Fantasy Basketball Managers as potential high-impact rookies for the 2023-24 campaign who can quietly be acquired on clearance once they start showing signs of emergence.As I will frequently emphasize and reiterate: in 2023, there is very little difference between the vast majority of second-round draft picks and undrafted free agents--it always all comes down to the skillsets they possess, their capacity for growth, and the situations they've landed in.Seasons will be made and broken with early identification of the diamond-in-the-rough rookies. I used to list out the many examples from the past season in this introduction portion, but we are now in a beautiful era where there are just too many to count. There is also very little separating the featured players below and those dubbed "Honorable Mentions"--so put in the work and keep an eye out throughout the regular season for who is receiving and seizing their opportunities. 

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Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley finished Friday's exhibition with Indiana by scoring 18 points, adding eight boards, two steals, and one block. The 22-year-old averaged 16.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks last season. He's looked good throughout the preseason, so expectations are higher than ever. Without question, Mobley appears ready to take a giant leap in his progression, although his career 23.2% shooting from deep needs to improve for those in category formats.

Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley is expected to remain with the organization for a little longer. The organization has exercised Mobley's fourth-year option on Wednesday. This comes as no surprise considering Mobley has transformed into a star for this team. The Cavs selected Mobley with the No. 3 overall pick in 2021 and it has worked out great for them. He averaged 16.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, with 1.5 blocks per game last season. The hope is that Mobley gets even better heading into next season.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley is getting a rest night along with most of the starting five against Maccabi Ra'Anana on Monday night. The up-and-coming big man has posted an average preseason so far, but he also hasn't played that many minutes since the team is likely making sure he stays healthy before the regular season. He's averaged 10.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game in two preseason games. Mobley is still a good mid-round value in fantasy drafts and will likely be featured a lot throughout the season alongside Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell.

According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, forward Evan Mobley focused on his body during the offseason. The 22-year-old, drafted with the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, averaged 16.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 79 games last season. He was already expected to progress even more during the 2023-24 campaign. But considering Mobley added roughly seven pounds of muscle and is seeking a Defensive Player of the Year award, he could shatter his preseason projections.

Cleveland Cavaliers forwards Evan Mobley, Caris LeVert, and Isaac Okoro are all listed as out on Thursday as the top six players on the depth chart will be receiving a rest day against the Orlando Magic. The team has clinched the fourth seed in the East, so they don't have a reason to risk anyone's health in their remaining regular season games. As they watch from the sidelines, Cedi Osman and Lamar Stevens would probably be the best streaming options if needed.

On Tuesday, the Charlotte Hornets made it official when they shut down their star guard LaMelo Ball for the remainder of the 2022-2023 NBA season.Many fantasy managers' worst fears were realized when Ball's non-contact injury in Monday night's game against Detroit turned out to be a fractured ankle. Charlotte's season was already lost, but fantasy managers were hoping to get a few more weeks from Ball who, when healthy, was putting up huge numbers this season.To keep close tabs on all of the news across the NBA, make sure to favorite or bookmark the RotoBaller Fantasy Basketball Newspage, or download the free RotoBaller fantasy basketball mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. 

2022-2023 Season Recap

LaMelo Ball will finish his third NBA season with the following numbers.23.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 4.0 3PM, 1.3 STL, 0.3 BLK, 3.6 TO, 41.1% FG%, 83.6% FT%He played in only 36 games this year and is currently 32nd overall in per-game value for 9-cat in Basketball Monster's player ratings.When he was on the floor, he was a triple-double threat on a nightly basis. His talent is undeniable. Just look at what he did to the Spurs only a few weeks before getting hurt.

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LeBron James has dominated the National Basketball Association since entering the league straight from high school. He's won numerous awards and has led several teams to an NBA Championship. During the 2022-23 season, the Akron, Ohio, native continued to get it done, despite battling several nagging ailments along the way.However, James' latest issue, a right foot injury, is expected to keep him out indefinitely. So what does this mean, and will we see James back on the court this season? Is there a chance he won't return?To keep close tabs on all of the news across the NBA, make sure to favorite or bookmark the RotoBaller Fantasy Basketball Newspage, or download the free RotoBaller fantasy basketball mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. 

LeBron James Injury Update

James injured his right foot during the third quarter of Sunday's comeback win over the Dallas Mavericks. It was a tense few seconds after the multi-time MVP clutched his foot after suffering what was deemed a "non-contact injury." The concern grew to greater heights after he was overheard saying, "I heard a pop." Situations like this are never good, as many were concerned that an Achilles tear could be the culprit.https://twitter.com/FanDuelTV/status/1630602449227595777?s=20Yet, after James gathered himself, he tightened his shoe and finished the game, totaling 26 points, eight rebounds, one block, and one steal. Head coach Darvin Ham appeared optimistic while speaking postgame, stating the 38-year-old was "good."However, that couldn't be further from the case, with The Athletic's Shams Charania reporting that James would "miss an extended period of time" because of the foot injury. Charania later added that the all-time scoring leader would "require multiple opinions."https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1630363560051187712?s=20 

LeBron James' Season Recap

Despite James' advanced NBA age, he's still productive. In 47 appearances, he's averaged 29.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 6.9 assists. While his three-point percentage has regressed, that's never been his strong suit.James was also named an All-Star captain while recently passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time scoring leader.https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/1623184801284104192?s=20That said, despite some high-level accomplishments, the year has been a rough one for the 2003 No. 1 overall pick. He's battled left foot soreness for nearly the entire season, so much so that he routinely carried some type of injury designation heading into almost all of his games over the last few months.... [More]

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley turned in one of his best offensive performances of the season in a six-point loss to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. He was able to register 31 points, nine rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block while shooting 12-for-19 from the floor and 2-for-4 from three. After the game, there was a lot of discussion from reporters about why they weren't giving him the ball more often and Donovan Mitchell agreed in his post-game press conference. Mobley has been a top 60 fantasy asset this season and is even more valuable in dynasty formats.

Without a doubt, Kyrie Irving is arguably one of the most naturally gifted players in the National Basketball Association. He's a fantastic ball-handler and can get to the rim with ease. However, the former Duke Blue Devil's career has been surrounded by controversy, ultimately impacting his ability to win an MVP.The NBA trade deadline kicked off with a bang when Irving, who had demanded a trade out of Brooklyn, was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. NBA fans and fantasy managers are left wondering how things will play out.To keep close tabs on all of the news across the NBA, make sure to favorite or bookmark the RotoBaller Fantasy Basketball Newspage, or download the free RotoBaller fantasy basketball mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. 

Kyrie Irving's Season Recap

Irving got suspended for an antisemitic social media post, keeping him out of the lineup for eight games. But since then, the 30-year-old stayed out of the limelight, so most had assumed he finally turned things around. He's played well all season, averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 40 appearances.https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1622324668047794177?s=20&t=NTffJ2tRvNpjAA7bddjYHQHe was also selected to the All-Star team for the eighth time in his career. However, things were apparently going too well, as Irving dropped a bombshell by requesting a trade. His wish was granted, as he was sent to Dallas in exchange for ... [More]

Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley feasted against the Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Bucks on Saturday, leading the way in a 114-102 victory with a career-high 38 points. He finished with 19-for-27 shooting and nearly pulled off a double-double as well, grabbing nine rebounds. Mobley's stat line also included three assists in four turnovers in 38 minutes. The 21-year-old averages just over 15 points a night for the season, so this performance came out of nowhere, and Mobley hadn't even reached the 20-point mark for over two months. Next up, he faces a Knicks team that has limited him to just 13.5 points on 45.5 shooting this season.

It wasn't a good day for many clubs around the National Basketball Association, with many teams dealing with unsettling injuries to their top players. Although these situations are always challenging for teams, fantasy managers are also left scrambling to find a replacement.This article will highlight some of the critical injuries that occurred on Saturday, January 21, 2023. At the same time, we will cover some players who were ruled out with a pre-existing ailment while examining which players have benefited.To keep close tabs on all of the news across the NBA, make sure to favorite or bookmark the RotoBaller Fantasy Basketball Newspage, or download the free RotoBaller fantasy basketball mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. 

Marcus Smart Injury Update

The Celtics were without Jayson Tatum for Saturday's meeting with Toronto, as the MVP candidate got the day off to deal with wrist soreness. Luckily, the C's recently got Jaylen Brown back from a three-game layoff, so the team at least had its No. 2 scoring option. Boston also had Marcus Smart, who is proficient on both ends of the floor.Unfortunately, the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year's evening didn't last long, as he exited in the first half after suffering a sprained right ankle. Smart has battled ankle injuries throughout his career, so fantasy managers are familiar with this.https://twitter.com/ChrisForsberg_/status/1616933981362028546?s=20&t=ADA6dM_t2muMcgq6cJRitwWhile X-ray results were encouraging, revealing no structural damage, he'll likely miss a game or two, possibly more. As a result, ... [More]

It was a busy nine-game slate around the National Basketball Association. However, it wasn't a good night for many clubs, especially the ones that dealt with an injury.This article will highlight some of the critical injuries that occurred on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. At the same time, we will cover some players who were ruled out with a pre-existing ailment while examining which players have benefited.To keep close tabs on all of the news across the NBA, make sure to favorite or bookmark the RotoBaller Fantasy Basketball Newspage, or download the free RotoBaller fantasy basketball mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. 

LaMelo Ball Injury Update

LaMelo Ball exited Monday's meeting with the Rockets with a sprained left ankle. This is an all too familiar ailment, as the 21-year-old injured it twice already this season. He missed the first 13 games of the 2022-23 campaign because of it before making his season debut on November 12 against Miami.https://twitter.com/HornetsOnBally/status/1615898994508546048?s=20&t=2ONmwk9cIuX1k5z8xOpxsQUnfortunately, the 2020 No. 3 overall pick was incapacitated again after stepping on a fan's foot during a matchup with Indiana just a few days later, keeping him sidelined for an additional 11 games. Now, it appears fantasy managers will be without Ball for a while, considering he needed help getting to the locker room.With ... [More]

Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley (ankle) will play Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns. Mobley has missed a couple games due to ankle soreness, but seems good to go against the Suns. Mobley's return will push Kevin Love back to the bench where he is more of a rebounds streamer who can knock down threes from the center position. If Mobley or Jarrett Allen were to miss time, Love would be the pick up.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley (ankle) is questionable to play Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns. Mobley will likely test his ankle during the team's shootaround before a decision is made on his status. If he is unable to go, Kevin Love will likely get another spot start and would be a great streaming option. Readers should check back before game-time for an update on Mobley's status.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (ankle) is in danger of missing his second consecutive game with right ankle soreness. He was absent from the team's one-point win over the Chicago Bulls on New Year's Eve and has been given the questionable tag for their second game against Chicago. If he can't suit up again, Kevin Love will likely take over the starting role and remain a solid streaming option.