Cleveland Cavaliers forward Caris LeVert (knee) has received a questionable tag for the team's Tuesday night game against the Philadelphia 76ers. LeVert has played a big role in the team's offense while Donovan Mitchell (hamstring) and Isaac Okoro (knee) have both been out. If LeVert can't suit up, that leaves a big void for minutes in the rotation. Sam Merrill will likely be the one impacted the most either way if LeVert can or cannot play, and he would be a solid streaming option if LeVert does have to be sidelined.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Caris LeVert (hamstring) will play in Wednesday's game against the New York Knicks. LeVert is making a return from a one-game absence due to left hamstring soreness that cost him Tuesday's contest versus the Knicks. The 29-year-old will surprisingly come off the bench instead of Georges Niang but should still play heavy minutes, since Darius Garland (hamstring) remains on the mend with a hamstring injury on Wednesday. LeVert is registering strong averages of 19.0 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.3 three-pointers in 35.7 minutes across three games this year and is well worth streaming for however long Garland cannot go.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Caris LeVert (hamstring) is questionable for Wednesday's game against the New York Knicks. LeVert is still experiencing left hamstring soreness, which cost him Tuesday's home matchup with New York. The 29-year-old point forward would likely draw the start in Cleveland's backcourt alongside Donovan Mitchell if active, since Darius Garland (hamstring) is still out with his hamstring injury on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden. Max Strus and Isaac Okoro should continue to soak up a heavy amount of playing time for head coach J.B. Bickerstaff either way. LeVert is averaging 19.0 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.3 three-pointers in 35.7 minutes over three games this season.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Caris LeVert (hamstring) has been ruled out for Tuesday's game versus the New York Knicks. LeVert was added to the injury report as questionable due to left-hamstring soreness, and he'll have to miss out on Tuesday's opportunity as one of the slate's highest-added streamers following a huge effort his last time out. The versatile 29-year-old seemed to be the direct beneficiary of the absence of Donovan Mitchell (hamstring), racking up 31 points, eight assists, and four three-pointers in 44 minutes of Saturday's 125-113 win over the Indiana Pacers. Darius Garland (hamstring) remains on the mend for this one, so Max Strus and Isaac Okoro should see even more playing time on the wings. LeVert will try to return for Wednesday's road rematch with the Knicks.

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 guard/forward Caris LeVert has re-signed with the team on a two-year, $32 million contract. The 28-year-old returns to Cleveland as a versatile member of the squad's rotation, putting up 12.1 points, 3.9 assists, 1.7 threes, and 1.0 steal over 30.2 minutes per game last season. After starting 30 games for the Cavs last year, the swingman also serves as valuable insurance on occasions where superstar Donovan Mitchell is unable to play. LeVert should be a later-round fantasy pick in upcoming drafts, perhaps one which is more useful in points leagues.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Caris LeVert is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He'll be eligible for a four-year, $101 million extension, so we'll see how much LeVert can get on the open market. The Cavs are coming off a first-round exit to the New York Knicks. Despite that, LeVert said that he would absolutely come back to Cleveland next season. He's coming off a decent season where he averaged 12.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in 74 games with the Cavs. He'd likely have to lower his asking price from the possible $101 million extension, but we'll see what happens in free agency.

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.

Highlights LaMelo Ball Spurs ... [More]

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]

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 guard Caris LeVert (hamstring) is available for Monday's game against the Washington Wizards. He'll make his return to the lineup after missing each of the last two games due to a hamstring issue. LeVert is likely to see increased playmaking opportunities with Ricky Rubio (rest) sidelined. The return of LeVert should mean less involvement for Cedi Osman and Dean Wade off the bench. Fantasy managers should double check their lineups and make sure LeVert is in there for Monday.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Caris LeVert (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Washington Wizards. This doesn't come as a surprise considering LeVert has missed the last two games. The Cavs will likely wait until later in the day before they make a final decision. However, LeVert is dealing with hamstring soreness, so the team might play it safe until he's 100 percent healthy. That being said, Cedi Osman and Dean Wade would continue to see more minutes if LeVert sits out. Between the two, Osman is the better streaming option, but is more of a deep league streaming choice.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Caris LeVert (hamstring) remains questionable for Sunday's game in Indiana. He didn't play on Thursday in the win over Memphis, allowing Cedi Osman to finish with 21 points in 32 minutes from the bench. If LeVert is ruled out again, Osman should draw interest for those in deeper fantasy formats. However, it will be tough for Osman to duplicate the production he had on Thursday.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Caris LeVert (hamstring) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. He is dealing with right hamstring soreness and will sit out this game as a result. The Cavs will likely use a committee approach to try and fill the void. Isaac Okoro, Cedi Osman and Raul Neto should all see more playing time with LeVert on the sideline. Between the three players, Osman probably has the highest ceiling as a streaming choice for Thursday.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward Caris LeVert (hamstring) has been added to the injury report ahead of Thursday's encounter with Memphis. He is dealing with a sore right hamstring and could be forced to miss a fifth game of the season. LeVert is the fifth-best scorer on the team with a 12.5-point scoring average and has tallied 3.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. Starter Isaac Okoro could see a few more minutes in LeVert's absence on Thursday, while Cedi Osman and Dean Wade are the likeliest beneficiaries off the pine.

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]

As we celebrate the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the NBA had a loaded schedule throughout Monday. Unfortunately, there were some injuries throughout the day, which may create issues for teams moving ahead.This article will highlight some of the critical injuries that occurred on Saturday, January 16, 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. 

Donovan Mitchell Injury Update

Donovan Mitchell has been on a tear in his first season as a Cavalier, averaging a career-high 28.8 points per game. The 26-year-old has certainly made an impact, so there is naturally some concern surrounding his most recent injury, a groin strain, suffered during Monday's win over the Pelicans.https://twitter.com/ChrisFedor/status/1615106299636719632?s=20&t=nIB5An7gWfmmxjT49g7LLAMitchell exited in the third quarter and did not return to the contest, finishing with 11 points in 22 minutes. The former Louisville Cardinal has stayed relatively healthy in 2022-23, missing only five games. However, with the Cavs looking to make a deep run into the postseason, Mitchell may miss some games, beginning with Wednesday's meeting in Memphis.https://twitter.com/AmicoHoops/status/1615116579011690502?s=20&t=8uEcBgsFXrfQNXVsKuQmNAWithout him in the lineup, others will have to step up. Of course, the first name to come to mind is ... [More]

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love and guard Caris LeVert will move into the starting five for Monday's game against the Chicago Bulls. These two will move into the starting unit with Darius Garland (thumb) and Evan Mobley (ankle) missing their second straight contest. Both Love and LeVert are strong streaming options after posting great outings on Saturday. Fantasy managers in need of help should take a look at Love or LeVert for Monday's slate.