Los Angeles Clippers forward P.J. Tucker (calf) won't play on Sunday versus the 76ers. The veteran logged at least 21 minutes in three of his previous four appearances. However, even with the increased workload, Tucker didn't offer much from a fantasy standpoint. With Norman Powell (leg) returning after missing a few games with a leg contusion, Tucker's absence will have even less of an impact on fantasy managers.

Los Angeles Clippers forward P.J. Tucker is away from the team. He was sent home ahead of the meeting with the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday evening, although he's anticipated to rejoin Los Angeles after the All-Star break. The 38-year-old was acquired by the Clippers only three games into the 2023-24 campaign. However, he hasn't seen much work in Los Angeles, averaging just 14 minutes, and has appeared in only 12 games for the club. Tucker hasn't been on the floor since November, and although both sides have had productive talks, he's not expected to do anything meaningful for fantasy managers anytime soon.

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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Philadelphia 76ers forward P.J. Tucker has been included in trade discussions with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The Clippers reportedly like the way that Tucker can guard multiple positions and take on the opposing team's top scorer. As of right now, the two sides remain at a stalemate regarding a James Harden trade, but Tucker could be the piece that the Clippers want to actually part ways with more value.

Philadelphia 76ers forward/center P.J. Tucker (calf) is on the injury report as questionable for Thursday's matchup versus the Heat. The veteran has been out just five times this season and clearly doesn't like to sit out games, but Philadelphia will want to keep him as healthy as possible for the playoffs and Tucker is currently with right calf tightness. Tucker typically provides very little for fantasy managers, but he's a starter who logs nearly 26 minutes per game, so there will be a nice chunk of minutes available for others if Tucker won't play.

Philadelphia 76ers forward P.J. Tucker (ankle) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Chicago Bulls. The veteran forward will miss his second straight game due to left ankle soreness. In his absence, Jalen McDaniels, Georges Niang, and Danuel House Jr. will all see increased playing time. On Sunday, House moved into the starting five, but didn't offer much in terms of fantasy value. Between the three, Niang has the highest upside in terms of streaming appeal.

Philadelphia 76ers forward P.J. Tucker (ankle) is questionable for Monday's game against the Chicago Bulls. The veteran didn't play in Saturday's meeting with Indiana, allowing Danuel House Jr. to roll with the first five and finish with three points in 19 minutes. House will have limited fantasy value if Tucker misses his second consecutive contest, even if he draws another start. Instead, fantasy managers can pivot to Georges Niang for streaming purposes, with the 29-year-old amassing 10 points, two boards, and one steal versus the Pacers.

Philadelphia 76ers forward P.J. Tucker (ankle) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Indiana Pacers. He was listed as questionable for this game, but the team will ultimately hold him out considering it's the second game of a back-to-back set. Luckily, Jalen McDaniels (hip) has been cleared for this game. He's expected to move into the starting five, which would give him a boost in fantasy value. Also, Georges Niang should see more minutes, so he could be a possible deep league option.

Philadelphia 76ers forward P.J. Tucker (ankle) is questionable for Saturday's game in Indiana. The veteran has averaged only 3.4 points this season, so a possible absence shouldn't impact many fantasy managers, although it may open up a spot in the rotation for Jaden McDaniels (hip). However, he's also questionable, so guys like Georges Niang, Paul Reed, and Danuel House Jr. could see more work. While Niang has the most potential, all three players are risky fantasy options.

Philadelphia 76ers center P.J. Tucker (back) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Indiana Pacers. The veteran big man exited early on Saturday due to back spasms, so it must still be bothering him. The organization is hopeful that Tucker will be able to suit up for Tuesday's game. In the meantime, Georges Niang and Jalen McDaniels should both benefit in the absence of Tucker. Whoever gets the starting nod will probably be the better streaming choice for Monday's slate.

Philadelphia 76ers forward P.J. Tucker (back) is questionable to play against the Indiana Pacers on Monday. Tucker left Saturday's game with back spasms and is now in danger of missing more time. The Sixers may also be without Tobias Harris (calf) on Monday as they enter a back-to-back set of games. Georges Niang, Jalen McDaniels and Paul Reed would likely see increased minutes if Tucker and Harris are ruled out.

Philadelphia 76ers forward P.J. Tucker (back) didn't return to Saturday's win over the Milwaukee Bucks after being ruled out with back spasms. The 37-year-old played only 19 minutes before his premature departure, totaling two points and two rebounds. Considering Tucker isn't a potent fantasy presence, his potential absence on Monday against the Indiana Pacers shouldn't impact many managers. However, Georges Niang, who had 16 points on Saturday, could benefit if Tucker is unavailable.

Philadelphia 76ers forward/center P.J. Tucker (calf) is expected to be fine for Wednesday's game against Cleveland. He played only seven minutes Monday versus Houston due to left calf tightness, but it looks like the problem won't keep Tucker out of any games, with the team listing him as probable for Wednesday. He's missed only two contests all season, starting all 54 games he's played in. Tucker is clearly a more valuable player in real life than he is in fantasy basketball. Despite averaging nearly 26 minutes as a starter, the veteran has produced only 3.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.

Philadelphia 76ers forward P.J. Tucker (illness) has officially been listed as probable to play against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night. He was forced to miss the team's last contest due to a non-COVID illness, but it looks like that eased up enough for him to take the court a couple of days later. The 37-year-old shouldn't be on any fantasy radars unless desperately needed or in a very deep league. Paul Reed and Georges Niang will likely see fewer minutes with Tucker playing.

Philadelphia 76ers forward P.J. Tucker (illness) won't play on Sunday against Detroit. The veteran is under the weather, so he'll join Joel Embiid (foot) on the sidelines for this contest. Georges Niang, who scored 11 points in 25 minutes versus the Clippers, may see an uptick in production from off the bench, giving him streaming potential for managers in deep fantasy formats.

Philadelphia 76ers forward P.J. Tucker (ankle) had to leave the game on Sunday night against the Orlando Magic with left ankle soreness. The 37-year-old has been playing some big minutes over the last seven games and it seems to have caught up with him a bit. He played 16 minutes and logged two rebounds and one assist. He hasn't been very fantasy relevant except for some of the deepest leagues. He's only scored three points across the last seven games but has been an above-average option for defensive stats.

Philadelphia 76ers forward/center P.J. Tucker (hip) is available and will start against Atlanta on Thursday. The veteran is dealing with a left hip contusion, but he's probably played through worse ailments in his career and is ready to contribute. Tucker doesn't do a lot for fantasy managers, but he's a big piece for the Sixers, who have already lost one starter in James Harden (foot). The 37-year-old averages around six points and five boards for the season, but he's just had his best outing of the year on the glass with an eight-rebound effort against Phoenix and should look to stay active again on the boards.

Philadelphia 76ers forward/center P.J. Tucker (hip) is listed as questionable for Thursday's trip to Atlanta. The veteran is dealing with left hip contusion and could end up missing his first game of the season. Georges Niang put in an impressive 21-point performance against Phoenix on Monday and could end up getting most of the minutes left over by Tucker if his hip ailment is bad enough that he can't play. Tucker's injury could also help Montrezl Harrell back into the rotation, and the rest of the Sixers starters should stay ready for some heavy minutes.

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]

Philadelphia 76ers forward P.J. Tucker (knee) is expected to be a full participant during training camp. The veteran forward underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee. Despite that, it sounds like Tucker will be completely fine heading into the season. Tucker is expected to be the starting small forward and should have a big role on this roster. Fantasy managers should consider Tucker a late-round flier on draft day. This roster is loaded, but he should be a useful option in 9-cat leagues.