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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Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (back) is set to return from a two-game absence on Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls. However, backup center Daniel Theis (thumb) has been ruled out with a thumb strain. Turner should resume his normal starting role on Wednesday while Isaiah Jackson should absorb Theis's minutes off the bench. Jackson could be worth a look as a streamer for blocks, especially if Theis's injury lingers past the All-Star break.

Indiana Pacers center Daniel Theis (thumb) is listed as questionable versus the Chicago Bulls Wednesday. Theis seemed to sprain his thumb during his spot start on Monday with Myles Turner (back) out and is in jeopardy of missing their next contest. With Turner also questionable to play Wednesday, the Pacers would likely turn to Isaiah Jackson if both Turner and Theis have to sit out. Jalen Smith may also find his way back into the rotation given the circumstances.

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]

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]

Indiana Pacers center Daniel Theis is dealing with an undisclosed injury. As a result, he will miss the World Cup qualifiers and potentially September's EuroBasket tournament. The 30-year-old, who was included in the deal that sent Malcolm Brogdon to Boston, has averaged 7.9 points and 4.7 rebounds throughout his career. Although he isn't expected to be a day-to-day fantasy option, he may get some work at various points during the 2022-23 campaign. Also, Myles Turner is still not a lock to remain on the roster, so if he gets moved, Theis' ceiling could increase, assuming his current ailment isn't serious.

Boston Celtics center Daniel Theis is uncertain to suit up for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Hawks. He was traded to the Celtics from the Houston Rockets at the trade deadline. Head coach Ime Udoka mentioned that the organization is comfortable plugging in Theis once he's cleared to play. However, it could be tough for Theis to carve out a role for himself in Boston. He'll likely be stuck behind Robert Williams III and Al Horford. Fantasy managers shouldn't rush to add Theis since it's unlikely he'll have much value once he does play.

Boston Celtics center Daniel Theis has not yet been cleared to suit up for his new team, which means he will miss Friday's contest against the Nuggets. Theis has not appeared in an outing since Jan. 14, which will likely mean that Boston will need to ease him back into game speed, even if his role is unlikely to see him logging significant minutes. Theis, who began his career with Boston, averaged 7.2 points and 4.9 boards in 236 games with the team from 2017-21. He stands to back up Robert Williams III and Al Horford at the center spot, which gives him a very limited path to fantasy relevance during the second half of the season.

Houston Rockets center Daniel Theis has reportedly been dealt to the Boston Celtics just prior to Thursday's NBA trade deadline, reuniting him with the franchise with which he spent the first three and a half seasons of his career. Houston acquired Dennis Schroder, Enes Freedomand Bruno Fernando in exchange. Theis' playing time was sporadic with the rebuilding Rockets, as he averaged 8.4 points and 5.0 boards across 26 games (21 starts). He rejoins a Celtics frontcourt that appears quite set with Robert Williams III and Al Horford holding down center duties, which makes Theis a tricky season-long option in any sized format.

Houston Rockets center Daniel Theis grabbed his second double-double of the campaign on Thursday, scoring a team-high 22 points and notching 10 rebounds in a loss to the Knicks. He shot 8-for-12 from the field and had a nice 2-for-4 night from downtown with a 4-for-5 record at the foul line. Theis also tallied two blocks with one assist and one steal in 33 minutes of action. This was a nice performance from Theis, but it came with Christian Wood (knee) sidelined and Houston's starting center is expected to be back for Saturday's matchup against Detroit. Theis has even spent some time out of the rotation lately when Wood has been healthy, so his situation in Houston isn't great.

Houston Rockets forward Daniel Theis (toe) is questionable for Saturday's game versus the Nuggets. The 29-year-old veteran has missed the team's previous two games because of right Great Toe soreness. If he can't suit up, Alperen Segun will be in line to take his place. Sengun is averaging eight points and four rebounds while filling in for Theis in the starting lineup. However, despite an enhanced role, the rookie's lack of minutes lowers his ceiling in both seasonal and DFS formats.

Houston Rockets center Daniel Theis (toe) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Phoenix Suns. The big man has put together a slow start with his new team. However, rookie Alperen Sengun has been off to a hot start with Houston. He'll likely draw another start and be a solid DFS option for Thursday's slate. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Rockets use Sengun more going forward. He is quickly becoming a must-have fantasy option.

Houston Rockets power forward/center Daniel Theis (toe) has been deemed questionable to suit up for Thursday's contest vs. the Suns. Theis was unavailable Tuesday due to a sore big toe on his right foot, allowing Alperen Sengun to draw the first start of his career. Should Theis once again be unavailable, look for Sengun to be a solid punt play option in DFS due to his multi-category contributions. Theis' minutes total (22 per game) has kept him from larger season-long fantasy relevance, while the Rockets have numerous young mouths to feed on offense. Check back prior to tip-off to get the final word on Theis' status.

Houston Rockets center Daniel Theis (toe) is listed as questionable for Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets new big man has been off to a slow start to the season. He is averaging 6.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 0.6 assists while shooting just 37.5% from the floor over his last five games. The organization would likely use a committee approach to fill the void, assuming Theis is out. Fantasy managers should check back for another update closer to tip off.

Houston Rockets center Daniel Theis (rest) and guard Eric Gordon (rest) have been ruled out for Friday's preseason game against the San Antonio Spurs. There aren't any lingering injuries here, so the Rockets are just playing it safe as the regular season approaches. Theis has played well during his three preseason games, but only averaged 18.9 minutes per game. He certainly has the ability to create fantasy value, but it will be dependent on how often he's on the court.

CHICAGO (AP) — Zach LaVine insisted he had never played on a team as talented as the Chicago Bulls were this season. That made it all the more disappointing. Instead of gearing up for a potential playoff appearance, the Bulls are once again on the outside looking in. “I'm not upset or spiteful about things that happened," LaVine said Monday. “I just know that we have to work on things and get better at them. We are a good team, and this season made us better.” The Bulls finished 11th in the Eastern Conference at 31-41, two games behind Charlotte for the final play-in spot and out of the postseason for the fourth straight year. They think they are on the right track after their first year with Arturas Karnisovas leading the basketball operation and Billy Donovan coaching them. But they're also frustrated. “I'm optimistic because I know that each player is disappointed with the season, and I want them to go into the offseason feeling that way and remember what it feels like,” said Karnisovas,... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was a late scratch from the Milwaukee Bucks’ lineup with the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference out of reach, and Khris Middleton missed the regular-season finale against the Chicago Bulls because of lingering soreness in his left ankle. The Brooklyn Nets beat the Cleveland Cavaliers to secure the second seed. That locked Milwaukee into the third spot and a first-round matchup with Miami. And the Bucks opted to scratch Antetokounmpo and the rest of their starters. Milwaukee had already ruled out Middleton. The two-time All-Star missed his fourth game this season after scoring 21 points the previous night in a win over Miami. “We feel like if we can kind of get on top of it this 24, 48 hours, I think he’ll be in a great place heading into the week of prep and playoffs,” coach Mike Budenholzer said. The Bucks began the day a game behind Brooklyn for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. They needed a win over the Bulls... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks star Khris Middleton will miss the regular-season finale against the Chicago Bulls because of lingering soreness in his left ankle. Middleton, averaging 20.4 points, was ruled out Sunday after scoring 21 points the previous night in a win over Miami. The two-time All-Star is missing his fourth game this season. “We feel like if we can kind of get on top of it this 24, 48 hours, I think he'll be in a great place heading into the week of prep and playoffs,” coach Mike Budenholzer said. The Bucks began the day a game behind Brooklyn for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. They needed a win over the Bulls plus a loss by the Nets to the Cleveland Cavaliers to clinch the second seed. Otherwise, they would finish third in the East. Milwaukee had won three straight and eight of nine entering Sunday's matchup. The Bulls were missing their two best players with Zach LaVine sitting out his second consecutive game with tendinitis in his right knee and Nikola Vucevic held out because of nagging hip issues. Daniel Theis (sprained right hip), Tomas Satoransky (sprained left ankle) and Troy Brown Jr. (sprained left ankle) also were unavailable. Chicago was eliminated from contention for the play-in tournament Friday when Washington beat Cleveland. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks star Khris Middleton will miss the regular-season finale against the Chicago Bulls because of a sore left ankle. Middleton, averaging 20.4 points, was ruled out Sunday after scoring 21 points the previous night in a win over Miami. The two-time All-Star is missing his fourth game this season. The Bucks began the day a game behind Brooklyn for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. They needed a win over the Bulls plus a loss by the Nets to the Cleveland Cavaliers to clinch the second seed. Otherwise, they would finish third in the East. Milwaukee had won three straight and eight of nine entering Sunday's game. The Bulls held out stars Zach LaVine (right knee tendinitis) and Nikola Vucevic (rest) as well as Daniel Theis (sprained right hip), Tomas Satoransky (sprained left ankle) and Troy Brown Jr. (sprained left ankle). Chicago was eliminated from contention for the play-in tournament Friday when Washington beat Cleveland. ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Celtics president Danny Ainge didn’t get everything he wanted at the trade deadline. He hopes it was at least the start of changing the tone inside his team’s locker room entering a pivotal stretch of the season. “I want our players to feel hope. I want our coach to feel hope. I sense some discouragement internally with our guys,” Ainge said Friday. “And so, that was one reason we did something now as opposed to waiting somewhere down the road.” What he did was send reserve point guard Jeff Teague and two future second-round draft picks to Orlando in exchange for 28-year-old Evan Fournier, a wing scorer and playmaker Ainge believes can take at least some pressure off Boston’s core of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker, and re-energize his team over the latter part of its schedule. Boston entered Friday at 21-23, having lost six of eight since returning from the All-Star break. The Celtics are currently eighth in the Eastern Conference and in danger of missing the... [More]