Memphis Grizzlies forward Ziaire Williams (hip/back) is the second player on the team to be deemed unlikely to be back for the rest of this season. Teammate Derrick Rose (groin) is the other one who is likely to watch from the sidelines for the last couple of weeks as the Grizzlies shut down anyone who's not one hundred percent healthy. The third-year forward has already missed 22 games so far this year, so it's more beneficial to the team to let him rest until next season when they have a healthier roster. In the meantime, Lamar Stevens, Jake LaRavia, and Scottie Pippen Jr. will be better streaming options to finish out the season.

Memphis Grizzlies small forward Ziaire Williams (back) will be out for the rest of the month after the team announced that he would be re-evaluated in four weeks. The 22-year-old has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain of a hip flexor and his lower back. He was already forced to miss Monday's matchup against Brooklyn. Williams had made six consecutive starts with the Grizzlies before getting hurt. John Konchar took on the role of a starter without Williams on Monday, with Jake LaRavia also getting a big boost in playing time off the bench. Konchar tends to be quite anonymous on the court, but LaRavia is an interesting guy to monitor. He had a double-double in 29 minutes on Monday, and his recent efforts also include a 21-point outing versus Portland.

Memphis Grizzlies small forward Ziaire Williams (hip) won't play on Monday against Brooklyn. The 22-year-old was injured in the previous game against Portland and steps out of the lineup with a right hip flexor strain. Williams has played a significant role for the Grizzlies lately, starting in six consecutive games. He's shown flashes of good upside, averaging 10.3 points and 5.4 rebounds in 15 starts across the season. The Memphis rotation is more unpredictable than the weather, but the likes of Jake LaRavia, John Konchar, and Luke Kennard might get extra opportunities without Williams.

Memphis Grizzlies small forward Ziaire Williams (hand) is considered doubtful to face the Pelicans on Monday. He's been out for eight games with a left hand injury, and the chances of Williams returning on Monday don't appear to be high. Williams had a spell as a starter early in the campaign, but he's struggled for consistency. The 22-year-old has tallied 7.7 points and 3.4 rebounds across 18.8 minutes.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Ziaire Williams (hand) has been ruled out ahead of Thursday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Williams will miss his second game in a row due to left hand soreness. The Grizzlies are banged up at the moment, so the absence of Williams opens up significant playing time in the rotation. GG Jackson II is a candidate to see possibly 30 minutes off the bench on Thursday. Sadly, Jackson hasn't been too consistent, which makes him a risky streaming option for this one.

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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Memphis Grizzlies small forward Ziaire Williams has impressed head coach Taylor Jenkins with his work and could force his way into the starting lineup for the start of the year. The Grizzlies have a spot open in the unit due to Ja Morant's 25-game suspension, and Williams is battling for it with the likes of Luke Kennard and John Konchar. Jenkins has liked Williams' defensive efforts and how he uses his length and mobility. The 22-year-old is preparing for his third year in the league. He has so far played 99 games, making 35 starts. As a starter, Williams has averaged 10.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 25.9 minutes.

Memphis Grizzlies small forward Ziaire Williams (knee) is regarded as questionable for Thursday's contest against Cleveland. He is nursing a sore right knee and might need some time off after already playing Wednesday versus Portland. Williams had five points and one rebound in 19 minutes with a typical quiet performance. He's been averaging 18.8 minutes per game for the season but has done very little during his time on the court. Santi Aldama and David Roddy are in line for a few extra minutes off the bench if Williams isn't able to play.

Memphis Grizzlies forwards Santi Aldama (ankle) and Ziaire Williams (knee) will play Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets. Aldama missed two games with an ankle injury but should go back to his normal reserve role. Aldama should see extra minute with Brandon Clarke (hip) ruled out. Williams has also missed the last two games and will likely in a reserve role on Wednesday.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Ziaire Williams (knee) is available for Wednesday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 21-year-old has been officially cleared to make his season debut in this game. The second-year forward does have plenty of potential, but will likely be limited right away. That being said, Williams won't be much of a fantasy option until he's back up to full speed. Once at full health, Williams is probably worth rostering in deep leagues, but it depends on how much playing time he receives.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Ziaire Williams (knee) is not expected to take the court anytime soon. In fact, Williams is expected to miss four-to-six weeks of action. The 21-year-old is dealing right knee soreness. It sounds like the team plans on slowly working Williams back onto the court. His absence won't make much of a difference in the rotation. John Konchar and David Roddy could see more playing time. However, it's unlikely either player gets enough minutes to warrant rostering in fantasy formats.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Ziaire Williams (knee) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Brooklyn Nets. The young forward is listed as day-to-day, so hopefully he won't miss significant time. It sounds like the Grizzlies are going to take the cautious approach and give Williams as much time as he needs to recover. In the meantime, John Konchar and David Roddy will pick up additional playing time. Neither will have much streaming appeal, assuming Dillon Brooks (thigh) is able to suit up on Monday.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Ziaire Williams (knee) has been ruled out for Wednesday's contest against the Knicks. The 21-year-old is dealing with right knee soreness, although it's unknown if he'll be healthy enough for Friday's meeting with the Houston Rockets. Nonetheless, with Dillon Brooks (thigh) doubtful, the lineup may be shuffled around, resulting in Tyus Jones and John Konchar getting more involved than initially expected. While Jones has a higher fantasy ceiling, Konchar can get hot offensively when given a chance.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Ziaire Williams had his 2023-24 rookie scale contract option picked up by the team on Saturday. The No. 10 overall selection in the 2021 NBA Draft averaged 8.1 points in 62 appearances last season. However, he played better in his 31 appearances in the starting lineup, logging 9.9 points while adding 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists. Nonetheless, with De'Anthony Melton and Kyle Anderson no longer on the roster, Williams is expected to take on a more prominent role this season. With that said, he likely won't be a consistent fantasy option, and his 31.4% shooting from deep will need to improve, or it will negatively impact category managers.

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]

Memphis Grizzlies forward Ziaire Williams (knee) is available for Tuesday's Game 2 against the Golden State Warriors. He sat out Game 1 due to right knee soreness, but is feeling well enough to suit up on Tuesday. Although, Williams hasn't been a huge part of the rotation during the postseason. Also, Desmond Bane (back) is active on Tuesday, so Williams shouldn't have an increased role. There isn't much reason to trust Williams in DFS contests for Tuesday.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Ziaire Williams (knee) is questionable for Tuesday's matchup against the Warriors. The 2021 first-round pick has a sore right knee, causing him to sit out during the series opener on Sunday. Nonetheless, Williams isn't expected to have much of a role throughout the remainder of the postseason. However, Desmond Bane (back) is questionable for Game 2, so if he's out, some minutes could open up for Williams if he's available, although he'll remain classified as a risky DFS option.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ziaire Williams (knee) won't return to Tuesday's postseason matchup against Minnesota. The rookie only logged four minutes of work in Game 5 before exiting with right knee soreness. Nonetheless, Williams is averaging only seven points throughout the playoffs thus far, so if he isn't available for Game 6, DFS managers won't even realize he's missing.

Memphis Grizzlies small forward Ziaire Williams (ankle) has been cleared to suit up for Tuesday's contest against the Cavaliers. Williams had been sidelined since Dec. 6 due to a sprained left ankle, having played just three minutes since Nov. 28. With that in mind, it's unlikely that the 10th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft plays major minutes in his first game back, even as injuries and the league's health and safety protocols have hit Memphis' wing group hard. Williams has scored in double figures just once across his first 19 professional contests, shooting 35.4 percent overall; he can remain on the waiver wire in all season-long formats for the time being.