Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (toe) has officially been diagnosed with a Grade 2 sprain of his right big toe. He will be re-evaluated in two-to-three weeks. This is tough news for a Grizzlies team that was enjoying a lot of success from their starting backcourt. Bane, especially after a great start to the season so far, has been a fantastic contributor in all fantasy formats. Hopefully, this doesn't turn into a turf toe situation that keeps him out even longer. Fantasy managers will have to keep watch of his timetable and return here for more news as his recovery moves forward.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (toe) has been officially ruled out for Sunday's game against the Washington Wizards. The 24-year-old will sit this one out due to right toe soreness, but hopefully won't miss significant time. John Konchar will make a spot start and see his fantasy value significantly increase on Sunday. Also, Dillon Brooks will have a higher usage, but he has been boom-or-bust at times. Tyus Jones could be the biggest winner here with Bane and Ja Morant (ankle) out on Sunday.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (toe) isn't expected to play against the Wizards on Sunday. The 24-year-old has averaged 24.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and shot 45.1% from deep this season, so hopefully, he's out for only one game. John Konchar is the favorite to take Bane's spot in the lineup if he doesn't suit up. Konchar has averaged 9.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.0 steals in four starts in 2022-23, giving him some upside for fantasy managers in all formats.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane caught fire once again, this time against the San Antonio Spurs in an overtime win. He finished with 32 points, six rebounds, and six assists on 12-for-23 shooting overall and 5-for-10 from deep. Over the last four games, Bane has shot 46% or better from the floor and has scored 19 or more points. While Ja Morant is still the undisputed leader and superstar of this team, Bane has been improving his own resume to be included in that star conversation.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane continued to shoot the lights out on Wednesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers. This time around, he knocked down five of his eight three-point attempts and shot 7-for-16 overall. To go along with his 29 points, he contributed eight rebounds and five assists. This marks his third game of the season where he hit at least 60% of his threes. In those games, he scored 29, 31 and 38 points respectively. Bane is bound to win plenty of games for fantasy managers in points leagues and he also adds plenty of value in other formats moving forward.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (ankle) will suit up for Wednesday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans. He missed Monday's game due to an ankle issue, but appears good to go here. Steven Adams (jaw) and Jake LaRavia (illness) will also suit up despite both being listed as questionable. Fantasy managers can go ahead and get Bane and Adams back in their lineups. Both Adams and Bane should see their normal workloads on Wednesday.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (ankle) is listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Utah Jazz. The Grizzlies could be extremely shorthanded with Ja Morant (illness) also listed as questionable. That being said, Dillon Brooks could be asked to play heavy minutes on Monday. He would be an interesting fantasy option, assuming Bane and Morant are unable to play. John Konchar would likely see more minutes as well, but is more of a deep league option.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane cashed in his second 30-point game in back-to-back games. He's been shooting above 70% from deep in these last two games. Against the Kings, the 24-year-old finished with 31 points, six rebounds, and four assists on 11-for-18 shooting overall and 6-for-8 from beyond the arc. So far, in the young season, he's averaging 22.6 points on 46.8% shooting from three. Fantasy managers can be thrilled to see the points, threes, assists, and even rebound production coming from Bane so far.

Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard Desmond Bane had the game of his life against Brooklyn on Monday, scoring a career-high 38 points in a 134-124 victory. He was an amazing 8-for-11 from deep and shot 14-for-21 overall from the field. The 24-year-old also handed out seven assists in 32 minutes and posted one rebound and one steal with one block and one turnover. Ja Morant shined alongside Bane by also getting 38 points, and the 76 points the two combined for marks the most by a two-player tandem in franchise history. Not a lot of players can outscore Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, but Memphis' young backcourt managed to do it Monday night. Bane had posted 44 points across his first three outings of the season, so his performance was particularly impressive. The third-year player from TCU will try to remain hot on Thursday against the Kings and their inefficient defense.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane had his 2023-24 rookie scale contract option exercised by the team. The 24-year-old is coming off a breakout season, averaging 18.2 points, 4.4 points, 2.7 assists, and 1.2 steals while shooting an impressive 43.6% from downtown. With the latest move, the Grizzlies will receive Bane's services at a discounted rate, especially since he'll likely command a hefty contract down the line.

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, 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.Plus, 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 2022 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 2022-23 campaign who can quietly be acquired on clearance once they start showing signs of emergence. ... [More]

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, 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.Plus, 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 2022 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 2022-23 campaign who can quietly be acquired on clearance once they start showing signs of emergence. ... [More]

Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (back) will be available for Game 2 against the Golden State Warriors. He was listed as questionable for this contest after tweaking his back in the first game of this series. He should remain in the starting five and return to his normal role on Tuesday. Bane has been playing well in the postseason, so he could be worth using in DFS contests on Tuesday night.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (back) is uncertain for Tuesday's playoff meeting with the Golden State Warriors. The 23-year-old has played exceptionally well throughout the postseason thus far, averaging 21.4 points while shooting nearly 47% from deep. Yet, Bane is now battling lower back soreness, so it would be a tough loss for Memphis if he can't suit up for Game 2. If that's the case, De'Anthony Melton or Kyle Anderson may slide into the starting lineup. However, both men have the potential to make a difference for DFS managers looking for value, regardless of their roles.

Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard Desmond Bane ripped off seven made triples in Thursday's Game 3 victory over Minnesota, en route to finishing with a game-best 26-point effort. After having combined to take 12 threes over the first two games, Bane came out firing with Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks scuffling from the field. On just nine occasions during the regular season did Bane reach the 26-point plateau, while his seven threes are tied for his career best. In addition to the scoring, Bane logged six rebounds, two assists, and two blocks to cap off one of the best all-around performances of his career. The hectic pace of the series bodes well for his DFS stock heading into Game 4 on Saturday.

Memphis Grizzlies guards Tyus Jones (hand) and Desmond Bane (ankle) are both listed as doubtful for Friday's game against the Phoenix Suns. These designations come as a surprise as both players appeared healthy after Wednesday's game. Jones, who is dealing with left hand soreness, was fantastic on Wednesday. He racked up 25 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals in the game while hitting five three-pointers. Meanwhile, Bane, who is hampered by left ankle soreness, scored 16 points over 33 minutes in the contest. Get ready to see a big game from De'Anthony Melton on Friday. He's a must-start player if Jones and Bane indeed wind up sitting. Dillon Brooks should see increased usage as well and Ziaire Williams should see his minutes increase substantially.

Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard Desmond Bane put together a comprehensive stat line during Thursday's victory over Indiana, all while having his team outscore the opposition by 40 points with him on the court. Bane poured in 30 points on 12-for-15 shooting overall, needing to play only 24 minutes due to the nature of the victory. While it marks the fourth 30-point game of Bane's career, it also serves as the 16th with at least five triples made by Memphis' sharpshooter. Shooting triples at a 42.6% clip, Bane ranks third in the league in three-point percentage, a significant contribution when factoring in that he also averages 18.2 points and 4.5 boards per outing during his second season.

Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard Desmond Bane and small/power forward Kyle Anderson have been placed in the league's health and safety protocols, ruling them out indefinitely. Bane has been a breakout sensation in his second season, with his scoring average climbing up to 17.7 PPG in addition to shooting 42 percent from beyond the arc. Anderson has slid into a bench role in 2021-22, which has drastically affected his scoring upside, likely putting him on the wrong side of the waiver wire in many season-long formats. De'Anthony Melton and John Konchar are likely to step into larger roles for Bane and Anderson, respectively, while Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. can be expected to carry even more of the offensive heavy lifting for the time being.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (quad) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. He was also considered questionable on Saturday and managed to play 30 minutes. It sounds like Bane is able to play through the quad issue, but the organization might not push it. His absence would mean more value for De'Anthony Melton and possibly Tyus Jones. Melton is someone worth adding in most formats with Dillon Brooks (ankle) sidelined multiple weeks. Ja Morant (thigh) is also questionable for this game, so Bane and Melton could be looking at huge games. Fantasy managers should check back and see if Bane is able to play through the issue again.

Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard/small forward Desmond Bane continued his breakout season with 32 points during a 114-113 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Monday. The 23-year-old shot 12-for-22 from the field, including 6-for-11 from behind the arc, and 2-for-2 from the line. The TCU product also added six boards, three assists, a block, a steal, and three turnovers across 37 minutes. With an ADP in the 100s, fantasy managers who snatched Bane at the end of their drafts should be ecstatic. The second-year swingman has averaged 17.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.9 triples, and 1.0 swipes on 47.2% shooting from the field, including a stellar 42.6% from deep, and 93.5% from the line.