Charlotte Hornets center Mason Plumlee (calf) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Chicago Bulls. This marks the third game in a row that Plumlee has missed due to a left calf strain. P.J. Washington should remain in the starting five, while Plumlee is out. Normally, Washington isn't the best fantasy option, but has played much better lately. Fantasy managers should check the waiver wire and see if Washington is available. He is worth rostering in the short term while Plumlee sits out.

Charlotte Hornets center Mason Plumlee (calf) has been ruled out for Saturday's game vs. Houston due to a strained right calf, his second straight contest out of the mix. P.J. Washington started in his stead Friday and compiled 17 points and six rebounds in place of Plumlee, knocking down five triples, an element that the veteran big man decidedly does not bring to the table. Plumlee has averaged just 24.8 minutes per contest over his last eight appearances, not reaching the 30-minute mark in any of those outings, which severely caps his season-long fantasy upside. His next chance to return to action comes Monday against the Bulls.

Charlotte Hornets center Mason Plumlee (calf) remains questionable heading into the matchup versus Minnesota. The 31-year-old veteran strained his right calf on Wednesday against the Orlando Magic, so there's a good chance that he would concede minutes to P.J. Washington, who recently returned from a 10-game absence, even if he does play. Nonetheless, both are risky options, especially considering uncertainty surrounding their workload on Friday night.

Charlotte Hornets small forward Gordon Hayward and center Mason Plumlee have been ruled out for Monday's preseason game against the Miami Heat due to health and safety protocols. Both players were put under health and safety protocols this past week and neither have played in the preseason yet. However, assuming no setbacks, they should both be ready for the start of the regular season. The Hornets will also be without Terry Rozier (ankle) on Monday and Kelly Oubre Jr. (ankle) is doubtful. Rookie James Bouknight, who scored 17 points in Thursday's game, should see a good amount of run on Monday. Jalen McDaniels is also worth a look for anyone playing DFS for Monday's slate.

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 down years get super creative to field a team on a budget. With the right situation, the right under-the-radar player can be an immediate breakout.The last few seasons alone have seen scores of second-rounders and UDFAs who wasted no time in making a name for themselves, and the increasing prominence of the G-League and other alternative paths to the pros should only keep this trending upward.We are going to discuss a handful of 2021 second-round picks and undrafted free agent signees who, given their individual skill set and circumstances, should be on the radar of Fantasy Basketball Managers heading into the season, starting today with the second-round picks.  

Herbert Jones (SF, NOP, 35th Overall)

As a two-time member of the SEC All-Defensive team and the 2020-2021 SEC Defensive and straight-up POY, Herbert Jones was custom-built to take on time early with this New Orleans Pelicans squad. The 6'8, 210-lb. forward didn't even see ample PT until his final two seasons at Alabama, a time in which he consistently excelled on defense but needed plenty of work on the other end. In his last season for the prominent Crimson Tide, Jones played 27.3 minutes per game, and in that time he averaged 11.2 points, 6.6 boards, 3.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks, while also hitting 71.3% from the line and converting on 20 of 57 three-point attempts (35.1%).Every single figure just listed is a career-high mark for Jones, who shot just 14 of 61 from three (22.9%) and 141 of 257 from FT (54.9%) over his first three college campaigns. While NOLA has a decently thick crowd of guys who can play the two through four as FA kicks off, the wall is far from impenetrable, especially when you possess the athleticism, ability to learn quickly, and game-changing defense that Herbert Jones offers. The defense might get him on to the floor and it might even keep him there, but his burgeoning well-rounded skillset can contribute across the board if and when he gets his sniff. 

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DETROIT (AP) — LaMelo Ball scored 23 points, including two free throws with 5.8 seconds left, and the Charlotte Hornets took another step toward the postseason with a 102-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night. Detroit trailed by two when rookie Killian Hayes was fouled with 9.4 seconds remaining, but he made just one of two free throws. Ball made his free throws at the other end, and Hayes missed a last-second 3-pointer. Hamidou Diallo scored a career-high 35 points for Detroit. The Hornets are in eighth place in the Eastern Conference and are in solid shape to make it at least to the play-in round. They are two games behind seventh-place Boston. “Every game’s important late in the season,” Charlotte's Terry Rozier said. “Melo came in and put us on his back.” Charlotte was without Miles Bridges, who was out because of health and safety protocols. “I don’t know the extent, the days. We have not confirmed that yet," coach James Borrego said before the game. “What that means,... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — LaMelo Ball scored 23 points, including two free throws with 5.8 seconds left, and the Charlotte Hornets took another step toward the postseason with a 102-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night. Detroit trailed by two when rookie Killian Hayes was fouled with 9.4 seconds remaining, but he made just one of two free throws. Ball made his free throws at the other end, and Hayes missed a last-second 3-pointer. Hamidou Diallo scored a career-high 35 points for Detroit. The Hornets are in eighth place in the Eastern Conference and are in solid shape to make it at least to the play-in round. They are two games behind seventh-place Boston. Charlotte was without Miles Bridges, who was out because of health and safety protocols. “I don’t know the extent, the days. We have not confirmed that yet," coach James Borrego said before the game. “What that means, for us down the road, I don’t know. He is out tonight, and we’ll just take it from here.” Terry Rozier scored 18... [More]

DETROIT (AP) — Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic is out for Thursday night's game at Detroit because of a left elbow issue. Coach Rick Carlisle said Dorian Finney-Smith (left leg) is also out, but Kristaps Porzingis (left ankle) and Josh Richardson (right hamstring) are available. Detroit is without several players, including Jerami Grant (right knee), Mason Plumlee (rest) and Wayne Ellington (calf). Doncic is third in the NBA in scoring at 28.6 points per game. He is coming off a 39-point performance in a win over Golden State on Tuesday night. This will be the sixth game he's missed this season. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets have re-signed forward Paul Millsap to a one-year deal. Millsap has spent the last three seasons in Denver, averaging 12.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and a steal in 159 games. Although Millsap, 35, played fewer minutes (24.3) last season than he had in any season since 2007-08, he remained highly effective, averaging 11.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting a career-high 43.5% from three-point range. The 14-year NBA veteran helped the Nuggets reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2008-09 and his re-signing comes after Denver lost key frontcourt players Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee in free agency. Last month, Millsap’s agent, DeAngelo Simmons, told The Athletic that Millsap’s deal with Denver would be worth more than $10 million. Millsap signed a three-year, $90 million deal with Denver in 2017 and last year he was set to make $30 million before having to take a coronavirus pay cut like the rest of the NBA’s players. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DENVER (AP) — With bags on his back, Nikola Jokic playfully swerved his way through the crowd of family and friends gathered at the airport terminal. The Denver Nuggets finally returned home after their longer-than-many-anticipated stay inside the NBA bubble. Arriving with them, a new reputation — the comeback crew. The Nuggets overcame a pair of 3-1 series deficits in advancing to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2009. Their extended stay at Disney in Florida ended when LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers sent them packing after Game 5. Still, they accomplished something historical in becoming only the third team in the U.S. major pro sports to rally from a pair of 3-1 deficits in the same playoffs. They joined the 1985 Kansas City Royals and 2003 Minnesota Wild. “People around this country, around the world, who were watching the playoffs, this group of guys, you would be hard-pressed to find a better story coming out of this bubble,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone... [More]

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets will be without backup center Mason Plumlee indefinitely after he suffered a right foot injury.The Nuggets announced Wednesday that Plumlee will be reevaluated in two to four weeks. Plumlee injured a bone in his foot during a game in Minnesota against the Timberwolves on Monday. He rolled his right ankle in the second quarter, but returned in the third. It's a blow to a Nuggets team that's already missing starters Paul Millsap (bruised knee), Gary Harris (strained right adductor muscle) and Jamal Murray (sprained left ankle).Plumlee is averaging 7.4 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Nuggets, who are near the top of the Western Conference standings.___More AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/NBA

MIAMI (AP) — Add Miami's Tyler Herro to the list of rookies who look ready for the regular season.Herro scored Miami's first 14 points on Monday night, going 5 for 5 in that stretch, and finished with 23 points in a 120-87 Heat victory over the Atlanta Hawks.Through three games in this preseason, Herro — the No. 13 pick in this year's draft — is shooting 18 for 33 from the field for 49 points."The kid can play," Heat assistant coach Malik Allen said in a televised halftime interview. "He has a confidence but he's a student of the game, he's smart, he's an extremely quick learner and you're seeing that."Among those taken in June's draft, some have wasted no time in announcing their presence to the NBA world.New Orleans' Zion Williamson, the No. 1 pick, is averaging 23.3 points and shooting 71% in the Pelicans' four preseason games — all wins. Ja Morant, the No. 2 pick for Memphis, is among the league's assist leaders in exhibition season with 23 in his first three games.No. 3 pick RJ Barrett... [More]

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Trail Blazers kicked off their 50th anniversary season with a preseason game where it all started, Portland's Memorial Coliseum.The Blazers played at the Memorial Coliseum for 25 seasons from 1970-95 before moving to the Rose Garden, now the Moda Center. On Tuesday night the Blazers opened the preseason against the Denver Nuggets, the first of several special events to be held surrounding the anniversary.Blazers coach Terry Stotts wore a burnt-orange leisure suit for the occasion, and fans were entertained by organ music.But the Nuggets spoiled the party with a 105-94 victory, led by Paul Millsap's 14 points. Mario Hezonja paced the Blazers with 12 points.There were several former Portland players and executives on hand, including Geoff Petrie, who was named Rookie of the Year with the Blazers that first season and later became the team's general manager. He said he remembers when the Blazers were drawing just 3,500 a game."We had a lot of fun there for that brief... [More]

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets ended their six-year playoff drought in style.After spending most of the season jockeying with the juggernaut Golden State Warriors for top billing in the West, the Nuggets fended off Portland and Houston to earn the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs and will face the San Antonio Spurs in the first round.Game 1 is Saturday night at the Pepsi Center, where the Nuggets posted the NBA's best home record (34-7), including a thrilling 99-95 win over Minnesota in the finale that gave them a 12-1 record on the second night of back-to-backs.More importantly, it locked down the coveted No. 2 seed that ensures the Nuggets won't have to face Golden State, Utah or Houston — against whom they were a combined 3-8 this season — until the conference finals, should they get that far.It won't be easy.The novice Nuggets have just three players with playoff experience — Paul Millsap, Mason Plumlee and Will Barton — and the Spurs are making their 22nd straight playoff... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic's one-game suspension for leaving the bench during an altercation took Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone by surprise."I felt — we felt — pretty strongly that he would not be suspended based on other instances, similar instances. But they saw it in a different light," Malone said prior to the Nuggets' game Friday night against the Phoenix Suns, who were missing their own center, DeAndre Ayton, with a sprained ankle.One of those similar situations Malone surely had in mind was NBA superstar Stephen Curry's avoidance of a suspension after leaving the bench in a strikingly similar manner to Jokic in Golden State's final preseason game a few months ago.On that night, the Lakers' Lance Stephenson was fouled by Quinn Cook and threw a quick punch. Curry rose from his seat on the baseline and took several steps onto the court. Curry wasn't suspended for the Warriors' next game, which was their season opener against Oklahoma City when the Warriors received their championship... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic received a one-game suspension for leaving the bench during an altercation.Jokic will miss the contest Friday night against the Phoenix Suns, the league announced.The Serbian center stepped toward the court during Wednesday's loss at Utah when teammate Mason Plumlee and Derrick Favors of the Jazz engaged in an altercation near the basket. The league ruled that Jokic's "proximity to the altercation and aggressive manner created the potential for further escalation of the situation."Jokic leads the Nuggets in points (19.8), rebounds (10.3) and assists (7.7) this season.Plumlee received a $25,000 fine for the incident that occurred late in the first quarter and Favors was fined $15,000.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

DENVER (AP) — The topic: Denver leading the Western Conference and whether teams are starting to take the Nuggets more seriously.The look from Nikola Jokic: Nearly expressionless. The Joker doesn't jest about this subject."To be honest, I don't really care," Jokic said . "Because we know that we're good."Denver is missing three starters and still boasts a percentage points lead over Golden State in the conference standings . This marks the latest into a season the Nuggets have been leading the conference since December 18, 1984.The Nuggets have swagger, confidence and Jokic, the big Serbian center/forward/guard who's blossoming into one of the league's most hard-to-defend players."A lot of people just think we are on a hot run right now," said forward Torrey Craig, whose team has won 10 of 12 heading into Tuesday's game against Dallas. "They don't really believe in us. But I think we have started to open a lot of eyes. We just have to realize how we win."Grind it out? They can do that.... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Nuggets coach Michael Malone kept the mood light at practice Monday and the lectures to a minimum.No reason to get too worked up over Denver's current three-game skid. After all, this is the same bunch that began 9-1 for one of the best starts in franchise history.Malone's missive to his team: Rediscover that resolve."It's too early in the season to have their heads down and have it be gloom and doom," said Malone, whose team hosts James Harden, Chris Paul and the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night. "We're young. Some of these guys are in moments they haven't been in before. That's my job, to teach and keep this team moving along in the right direction."Given their recent history, there's a sense of early season urgency. That's understandable since the Nuggets missed the playoffs by a game in each of the last two years. They don't want piled-up losses in November to come back and haunt them in April.Especially since everything was going so smoothly out of the gate. But the Nuggets... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Denver Nuggets center Mason Plumlee underwent surgery to fix a core-muscle injury.The team said Plumlee had the procedure performed Thursday morning by Dr. William Meyers in Philadelphia.Plumlee is expected to return to basketball activities this summer and be ready for training camp in the fall. He averaged 7.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists for a Nuggets team that narrowly missed out on the postseason.The 28-year-old Plumlee was acquired by Denver as part of a deal in February 2017 that sent center Jusuf Nurkic to Portland. Plumlee signed a three-year, $41 million deal with the Nuggets last September.___For more AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

Restricted free agent center Mason Plumlee agreed to return to the Denver Nuggets with a three-year deal.The deal is worth $41 million, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Monday.Agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports and Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly reached agreement on the deal late Sunday night, league sources told ESPN.Plumlee, 27, was acquired from the Portland Trail Blazers in a February trade for center Jusuf Nurkic.The 6-foot-11, 255-pound Plumlee averaged 9.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.1 blocks and 23.4 minutes in 27 games (10 starts) with Denver.As a restricted free agent, Plumlee could have signed a $4.6 million qualifying offer for the 2017-18 season, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.Plumlee, who was the 22nd overall pick of the Brooklyn Nets in the 2013 draft out of Duke, owns career averages of 9.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in four NBA seasons with Brooklyn, Portland and Denver.