Golden State Warriors guards Cory Joseph (back) and Rodney McGruder (concussion protocol) will miss the team's preseason contest on Sunday against the Sacramento Kings. Head coach Steve Kerr expects Joseph to be able to play in a preseason game and is hopeful that McGruder can do the same. The latter is already in the later stages of the concussion protocol so his return is closer on the horizon. Both of them are still battling for backup roles, so they'll both need as many opportunities as they can get. Neither one should be fantasy-relevant in any league format.

Golden State Warriors guard Rodney McGruder (head) won't play in Saturday's preseason meeting with the Lakers. The veteran is in concussion protocol, so he'll miss the first of the Warriors' five exhibition contests. But considering Golden State has nearly a week before retaking the court, McGruder may be cleared to suit up by then. The 32-year-old has played for the Heat, Clippers, and Pistons since entering the league in 2016 and has averaged 5.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 317 career games. There's a chance he could make the Warriors' regular-season roster. However, even if McGruder earns a spot, he has a way to go before becoming a relevant fantasy option.

Detroit Pistons guard Rodney McGruder has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the team. The 31-year-old appeared in 51 games for Detroit last season, averaging 5.4 points and 2.2 boards while shooting 39.7% from deep. McGruder has a way to go before becoming relevant in any fantasy league. However, he may make an occasional start this season, so there could be some streaming potential for the taking.

Detroit Pistons small forward Rodney McGruder took advantage of a 24-minute allotment off the bench in Friday's loss to Milwaukee by compiling a career-best 26 points on 9-for-11 shooting, including going 4-for-5 from behind the arc. Typically known for his defensive acumen, McGruder was lethal offensively, while adding three rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Minutes have not come consistently to the 30-year-old amidst a rebuilding Pistons squad, which has kept him on the periphery of fantasy relevance throughout 2021-22. It will be tough to gauge McGruder's upside for Sunday's regular-season finale vs. the 76ers, but his track record from this year makes him a risky DFS option.

Detroit Pistons shooting guard Rodney McGruder (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Thursday night's game against the Orlando Magic. McGruder is dealing with a left hamstring strain. The injury caused him to miss a pair of games this past weekend, but he returned to the court for Tuesday's game against the Miami Heat. In that game, he was part of the starting lineup and he compiled eight points, two three-pointers, one rebound and one assist over 20 minutes. It seems likely that he's more on the probable side of questionable for Thursday's game. His backcourt mate Cade Cunningham (illness) is questionable as well. If both players sit, expect to see a lot of Killian Hayes and Cory Joseph.

Detroit Pistons shooting guard Rodney McGruder (hamstring) is good to go for Tuesday night's game against his former team, the Miami Heat. He's part of the team's starting five for the game alongside Cory Joseph, Saddiq Bey, Jerami Grant and Isaiah Stewart. The 30-year-old McGruder missed each of the team's last two games with a left hamstring strain. He was regularly seeing minutes in the low teens prior to the injury. He figures to get some extra run on Tuesday as he's part of the starting five with starting point guard Cade Cunningham (illness) out. However, McGruder doesn't offer much value for fantasy purposes outside of his ability to knock down a few threes.

Detroit Pistons point guard Saben Lee and small forward Rodney McGruder have been ruled out for Thursday's game against Miami, as they are part of a group of Pistons to have entered the league's health and safety protocols. Both Lee and McGruder have served as limited usage second unit assets for Detroit this season, but their absence presses the team to just nine active players vs. the Heat. Lee has shown a propensity for scoring when given a sizable minutes allotment, although when that comes has been difficult to predict. Fantasy managers can consider both players out indefinitely.

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) — Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Serge Ibaka and Patrick Beverley are all out for the Los Angeles Clippers for their game at Detroit on Wednesday night. Leonard is out with a sore right foot, Ibaka has lower back tightness, Beverley has a broken left hand, and the Clippers said they will rest George for this game. Los Angeles beat Indiana 126-115 on Tuesday night for its sixth straight victory. The Clippers play at Philadelphia on Friday night. Rodney McGruder (sprained right elbow) and Dennis Smith Jr. (left knee inflammation) are sidelined for the Pistons. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Clippers acquired guard Luke Kennard from Detroit, and sent guards Landry Shamet to Brooklyn and Rodney McGruder to Detroit as they attempt to improve the supporting cast around Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. In addition to Kennard, the Clippers received center Justin Patton from the Pistons in the draft-night deal, as well as the draft rights to junior-college player Jay Scrubb and four second-round picks (2023 via Portland, and 2024, 2025 and 2026 via Detroit). "The draft assets allow us the opportunity to continue drafting and developing young talent, or otherwise explore trade opportunities, for years to come,” Lawrence Frank, Clippers president of basketball operations, said Thursday in confirming the moves. Kennard missed most of last season due to knee tendinitis. Over 28 games, he averaged career highs in points (15.8), assists (4.1) and rebounds (3.5) as a starter for Detroit. “Luke is a young, ascending player who has worked hard to establish... [More]

Preseason numbers often mean almost nothing. Rotations are unusual, starters rarely play much, and few if any teams are putting a premium on winning games.As such, it's tough to glean much from exhibition stats.But what the Boston Celtics and New Orleans rookie Zion Williamson — the No. 1 pick in this year's draft — have been doing so far in the preseason certainly stands out.The Celtics are 3-0 after beating Cleveland on Sunday — and have put together a huge run in all three of those games. The latest was a 50-17 spurt against the Cavaliers, a game that was close for most of the first quarter before Boston built what eventually became a 54-point lead.Boston's other big runs of note in this preseason were a 41-17 stretch last Sunday against Charlotte, and opening the game with a 29-4 burst at Orlando on Friday. On top of the 50-17 run against the Cavs, they added a 26-8 run in the fourth quarter as well.No matter who the Celtics have on the court, defense has been the constant. Boston is... [More]

Preseason numbers often mean almost nothing. Rotations are unusual, starters rarely play much, and few if any teams are putting a premium on winning games.As such, it's tough to glean much from exhibition stats.But what the Boston Celtics and New Orleans rookie Zion Williamson — the No. 1 pick in this year's draft — have been doing so far in the preseason certainly stands out.The Celtics are 3-0 after beating Cleveland on Sunday — and have put together a huge run in all three of those games. The latest was a 50-17 spurt against the Cavaliers, a game that was close for most of the first quarter before Boston built what eventually became a 54-point lead.Boston's other big runs of note in this preseason were a 41-17 stretch last Sunday against Charlotte, and opening the game with a 29-4 burst at Orlando on Friday. On top of the 50-17 run against the Cavs, they added a 26-8 run in the fourth quarter as well.No matter who the Celtics have on the court, defense has been the constant. Boston is... [More]

Preseason numbers often mean almost nothing. Rotations are unusual, starters rarely play much, and few if any teams are putting a premium on winning games.As such, it's tough to glean much from exhibition stats.But what the Boston Celtics and New Orleans rookie Zion Williamson — the No. 1 pick in this year's draft — have been doing so far in the preseason certainly stands out.The Celtics are 3-0 after beating Cleveland on Sunday — and have put together a huge run in all three of those games. The latest was a 50-17 spurt against the Cavaliers, a game that was close for most of the first quarter before Boston built what eventually became a 54-point lead.Boston's other big runs of note in this preseason were a 41-17 stretch last Sunday against Charlotte, and opening the game with a 29-4 burst at Orlando on Friday. On top of the 50-17 run against the Cavs, they added a 26-8 run in the fourth quarter as well.No matter who the Celtics have on the court, defense has been the constant. Boston is... [More]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Clippers have claimed guard Rodney McGruder off waivers, although he won't be eligible to play for Los Angeles in the postseason.McGruder averaged 7.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 66 games for the Miami Heat this season. He's been with them for three seasons.The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder previously played two seasons in the G League with the Maine Red Claws and Sioux Falls Skyforce. McGruder played four seasons at Kansas State.The Clippers announced the move Tuesday, two days after they waived forward Luc Mbah a Moute.He only played four games this season because of a sore left knee that required surgery late last month.The 11-year veteran has career averages of 6.4 points and 4.1 rebounds.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BIRMINGHAM, Michigan (AP) — The Miami Heat have fined Dion Waiters an undisclosed amount for his expletive-laden comments about playing time earlier this week.Waiters made the comments to reporters from two South Florida newspapers after Miami's lopsided loss in Milwaukee on Tuesday night. The Heat were off Wednesday and announced the fine Thursday."We fined him and we addressed it as a team," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.Waiters has played in five games this season, all as a reserve. He missed just over a full year while recovering from surgery to repair a long-problematic ankle, and has repeatedly said that being patient throughout the process is a challenge for him."Look, this is going to be very difficult for Dion," Spoelstra said. "I have empathy for everything he's gone through in the last year to get back to where he is right now. But this is not about him. This is only about the team and it's about winning."Miami is 21-21 this season, going into its game Friday at Detroit.Waiters... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Miami Heat point guard Goran Dragic is out for their game at Atlanta due to persistent pain in his right foot.Dragic is not in uniform Saturday night after a cortisone shot earlier in the week did not provide sufficient pain relief.Forward Justise Winslow made his first start of the season. Rodney McGruder moved from forward to join Josh Richardson in the backcourt. Dragic's status for Monday's game at Detroit is not known. He is second on the team with 17.7 points per game.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ATLANTA (AP) — Miami Heat point guard Goran Dragic is out of the starting lineup for their game against the Atlanta Hawks due to persistent pain in his right foot.Dragic is active but not expected to play Saturday night after a cortisone shot earlier in the week did not provide sufficient relief.Forward Justise Winslow is moving into the lineup for his first start of the season. Rodney McGruder is moving from forward to join Josh Richardson in the backcourt. Dragic's status for Miami's next game at Detroit on Monday is not known. He is second on the team with 17.7 points per game.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MIAMI (AP) — Miami Heat guard Dion Waiters will begin this season as he finished last season — unable to play.Waiters has not recovered sufficiently enough from left ankle surgery to be ready for the start of training camp next week, the team announced Tuesday. Heat President Pat Riley said it's unlikely that Waiters will be ready for the start of the regular season as well.The announcement wasn't a total surprise because Waiters was told when he had the procedure in mid-January that he could be sidelined for up to 10 months."Dion will not be returning to the court until the Heat medical team and training staff deem him healed, rehabbed and physically conditioned for all basketball activities," Riley said.Heat point guard Goran Dragic was taken aback by the news."This is kind of out of the blue for me," Dragic said. "At the end of the day, he knows what is best for him. I'm hoping he's going to be ready when we need him."Waiters is due to make about $11.5 million this season, the second... [More]

MIAMI (AP) — If there was any reason for solace in the Miami Heat locker room after the final game of the season in Philadelphia, it was this: They knew they lost to a better team.The Heat were good. They weren't great.Hence, the challenge of the offseason is clear: The Heat have to not only find ways to improve, but will have to find some creative ways to make it happen. They don't have a pile of salary-cap space to play with, they don't have any picks in this year's draft and they know that fellow Eastern Conference clubs like the 76ers — who needed five games to oust Miami from the playoffs — might only get better."We gave everything we have," Heat guard Dwyane Wade said. "We have to be OK with that."And with that, there is Question No. 1 of the offseason: Does Wade have any more to give?Wade is considering retirement, a decision that could affect some of the personnel decisions the Heat will make this summer, plus could also have an impact on whether Udonis Haslem returns to Miami for... [More]