Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton (knee) is listed as doubtful for Friday's game against the Dallas Mavericks. Ayton was unable to play on Wednesday due to right knee soreness. It appears the Blazers are going to hold him out for at least one more game. If he sits, Doup Reath is expected to remain in the starting five. Jabari Walker would see extended run as well, assuming Ayton is out. Both are possible streaming options with additional playing time for Friday's slate.

Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton (knee) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Golden State Warriors. He was originally listed as doubtful ahead of this game due to a right knee soreness. The Blazers will take the cautious approach here and hold Ayton out here. His absence will result in Duop Reath moving into the starting five. He has decent scoring ability, but Jabari Walker is the better streaming choice between the two.

Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton (knee) is considered as doubtful for Wednesday's game against the Golden State Warriors. The big man continues to deal with right knee soreness, so the Blazers will likely take the cautious approach and hold him out of this game. His absence would result in Duop Reath and Moses Brown getting more playing time in the rotation. Neither of them have been great options, but Reath has put together a few decent scoring games. He could be worth a look as a low-end streaming option with Ayton sidelined.

Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton (back) is expected to play on Sunday in Milwaukee. The former Sun is battling lower back soreness, keeping him out of Wednesday's contest against the Utah Jazz. But he recently returned to practice, which is a good sign, and the probable tag nearly confirms he'll be in the lineup versus the Bucks. However, anything can happen, so Duop Reath, who started on Wednesday night, would presumably remain in the middle if Ayton suffers a setback. Unfortunately, Reath isn't someone fantasy managers can depend on to fill the void.

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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Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton looks set to have a bigger role on his new team, according to head coach Chauncey Billups. "We are not bringing Deandre here for him to be (Joel) Embiid, where we throw him the ball 30 times a game and say 'All right, go be the MVP,'" Billups said. "Like, that's not going to be his role. However, he will probably have a more expanded role than he had in Phoenix. But again, we have a lot of young guys who are figuring out these things take time." Ayton was an 18-10 guy with the Suns last season, and his career-high in scoring stands at 18.2 points per game. His numbers likely won't see a huge rise in Portland, but even getting only a few extra touches on offense could easily help him become a regular 20-point scorer.

Well, it finally happened. For the first time in 11 years, Damian Lillard is no longer a Trailblazer.On Wednesday, the nearly three-month saga that held NBA news hostage all summer came to an abrupt halt after Lillard was astonishingly acquired by the Milwaukee Bucks. It was a blockbuster three-team deal that included the Phoenix Suns, nine total players, one first-round pick, and one pick swap.Here is the full breakdown of the trade and my analysis of how it will affect the NBA in 2023-2024 and fantasy basketball. 

The Trade

The Bucks receive - Damian LillardThe Blazers receive - Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, Toumani Camara, Bucks' 2029 first-round pick, Bucks' pick swapThe Suns receive - Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little, Keon Johnson, ... [More]

The Portland Trail Blazers are acquiring Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton as part of a three-team blockbuster trade that ships superstar Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks. Portland is also getting Jrue Holiday, but ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports they are looking to move the veteran to a contender. The Blazers are sending Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little, and Keon Johnson to the Suns in the stunning deal. Ayton's name was rumored to be in trade talks all offseason, and Phoenix effectively swaps him with Nurkic here. Ayton was originally set to be the fourth scoring option for the Suns, but that takes a sudden shift in Rip City with Lillard now out of the mix. The star big man is coming off fantasy drafts boards in the top-50 range, but his ADP should become a bit more expensive with a significant uptick in usage headed his way.

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo, Suns center Deandre Ayton could be on the move. With Damian Lillard still in Portland, Fischer believes Phoenix and Utah may get involved to facilitate a three-way trade, possibly resulting in Ayton getting sent to the Trail Blazers and Jusuf Nurkic going to Phoenix. Of course, while there were countless updates surrounding Lillard over the summer, the latest scenario involving the 2018 No. 1 overall pick is intriguing, considering Monty Williams is no longer at the helm. But perhaps a change of scenery would benefit Ayton, who has been hit or miss from a production standpoint throughout his career. Nevertheless, with training camp around the corner, a deal involving the 25-year-old could happen sooner rather than later. However, Ayton's fantasy value won't be determined until managers know where he'll be playing this season.

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton is back in trade talks as the team has been receiving calls on his availability in a potential Damian Lillard deal. Jusuf Nurkic has been floated in trade rumors ever since Lillard requested a trade a few months ago. The Trail Blazers haven't found any teams to make a deal work with the Miami Heat since they weren't liking any of their offers. Now, Ayton could possibly be in the mix with Nurkic maybe on his way to Phoenix. Philadelphia, Toronto, and Chicago have all been active in trade talks and Ayton could be the missing piece that ties everything together in a neat bow. If Ayton does move on from Phoenix, his value could increase depending on the situation.

It's a crazy time of year around the National Basketball Association. Not long after the Denver Nuggets captured the franchise's first championship, French big manVictor Wembanyama was the top pick of the 2023 Draft.While new talent entering the league is all well and good, nothing turns the NBA upside down quite like the beginning of free agency. Since June 30, many notable players have signed with new teams. There were also more than a few significant trades. In either case, at least a handful of clubs will look very different (for the better?) come training camp. Let's take a look at some of the biggest names on the move and how they might affect the NBA landscape this season. 

Fred VanVleet - Houston Rockets

The Rockets entered the 2022-23 campaign as the second-youngest team in the National Basketball Association, and it showed. The club finished with 22 wins and 60 losses, with the Pistons being the only team with a worse record. As a result, the front office made a point to shake things up after the exhaustingly long year came to a close.The overhaul began when Stephen Silas, winning just 59 of his 236 games in Houston, was relieved of his head coaching duties. In his place, Ime Udoka, who helped guide the Celtics to an NBA Finals appearance in his first season, took the reigns. While Udoka's tenure in Boston didn't end on a positive note, he's still regarded as one of the sharpest minds in the league, even by those who lost respect for him on a personal level.https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1650612243661242369?s=20While having a knowledgeable head coach will help accelerate the growth of an up-and-coming squad, the Rockets needed someone to facilitate things on the floor. With Houston having plenty of cap space entering the offseason, the team signed ... [More]

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton is highly valued by the team's new coaching staff and appears to be penciled in for a big role in 2023-24. "We're committed to Deandre," an anonymous member of the Suns told Keith Smith of Spotrac. "He's going to play a key role for us this year as the backline of our defense. And we'll make sure he gets enough touches on offense to keep him involved on that end too. It's not just going to be him living off screens and offensive rebounds." Ayton had a solid campaign in 2022-23, averaging 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds with close to 60 percent shooting from the field, but his play deteriorated badly during the playoffs and the former first-overall pick has found his name in trade rumors this summer. However, it looks like Ayton will not only stay in Phoenix but will also have a vital part in the plans of new head coach Frank Vogel.

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton has been the center of trade and free agency rumors since last offseason. After the team brought in Bradley Beal, it seems like the team has changed its tune. According to Chris Haynes of TNT and Bleacher Report, the Suns are "moving forward with the plan" of keeping Ayton, Beal, Kevin Durant, and Devin Booker. They reportedly believe that Ayton's value to the franchise is at an all-time high as well. So going into this season, it seems like they have a surefire four of their starting five.

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton is not guaranteed to be traded away this offseason. ESPN's Brian Windhorst reports that the team isn't "going to make a trade that is disadvantageous to them". Windhorst cites Frank Vogel's potential impact on this development and a reason he believes the coach "impressed the Suns is that he had a plan for Deandre Ayton". At this stage, it appears Phoenix isn't likely to make a trade involving the star big man for the sake of doing so. The team is equipped for title contention especially after adding Bradley Beal earlier this week, so perhaps the two sides are working towards moving forward together.

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton's days in the valley could soon be over. With Phoenix landing Bradley Beal in exchange for Chris Paul, the team may move on from the 2018 No. 1 overall pick, especially if it means landing a cheaper role player. According to an "NBA GM," there's a belief several clubs will "come calling" for Ayton. However, he's been rumored to be on the move for years, so it's still hard to believe. The 24-year-old has averaged 16.7 points and 10.4 rebounds in 303 regular season games, although he's been inconsistent on both sides of the ball. Yet, he may not have reached his full potential, and being away from Beal, Kevin Durant, and Devin Booker might significantly raise his fantasy production in 2023-24.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Suns aren't receiving much trade interest on center Deandre Ayton. Wojnarowski described the market as "lean," meaning Phoenix may have Ayton on the roster next season, something that didn't seem likely not too long ago. The 24-year-old, taken first overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, has been hit or miss from a production and development standpoint since entering the league. Of course, things could always change regarding Ayton's future in Phoenix in the months ahead, especially if the team can get a superstar in return. However, fantasy managers should continue viewing the former Arizona Wildcat as a double-double threat, although there is room for improvement or regression.

Phoenix Suns head coach Frank Vogel raved about center Deandre Ayton during a recent interview with Sports Illustrated. Vogel feels he can "help restore Deandre to a place of prominence" in the association and that Ayton could be "an elite, dominant, defensive center" in his system. The new Suns coach also believes there is plenty of "growth possible" offensively for the big man. The 24-year-old has averaged a double-double in each of his five seasons in the desert, but he's yet to fully unlock the potential that made him the first overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Ayton's category-league fantasy upside would be fairly high playing alongside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker in 2023-2024. Ayton's points-format value could rise, on the other hand, with a theoretical usage uptick in a different situation if he is ultimately traded.

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton is highly regarded by new head coach Frank Vogel, who looks forward to working with him and helping Ayton to become one of the best big men in the NBA. "There's still areas that he can grow offensively, but I'm intent on really connecting with him and restoring him to an All-Star level player," said Vogel this week. Ayton has averaged a double-double in each of his five seasons in the league, but his confidence looked shot in this year's playoffs and he struggled to be effective. The lackluster performances from the former first-overall pick have led to Ayton being linked with a trade elsewhere, but it looks like Vogel won't mind if he sticks around.

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton appears to be at a crossroads with the team as he finds himself vulnerable to being traded this offseason. It's not the first time the 24-year-old's name has been dangled in trade talks. Marc Stein believes that the Dallas Mavericks are not overly interested in him, calling it "overstated" to think otherwise. Ayton has been a fixture of the Phoenix lineup over his tenure, averaging a double-double in each of his five seasons in the desert. Dallas could theoretically use the big man's services to complement Christian Wood, if they intend on re-signing him, in their frontcourt. It sounds like no exchange is close to happening at this time. Ayton has three years left on his pricey contract with the Suns.

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton might still be on the move in the offseason despite the team already parting ways with head coach Monty Williams, who didn't see eye to eye with the former first-overall pick. "The organizational discontent, impatience, eye-rolling, whatever with Ayton, go way beyond Monty Williams," Zach Lowe said in the latest episode of The Lowe Post podcast. "There's a lot of people in that organization that are tired with Deandre Ayton. You can see it in the game. You don't even have to be at the game to see the body language, the eye-rolling, the 'what is this guy doing?'" Ayton was recently linked with a move to Chicago.