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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The New York Knicks have re-signed free-agent guard Duane Washington Jr. The 23-year-old was released by New York a week ago after Washington picked up his qualifying offer. But apparently they've had some second thoughts, bringing him back on a training camp deal. Washington provided a spark on occasion with the Phoenix Suns last year during instances Devin Booker and/or Chris Paul were sidelined. The combo guard ultimately averaged 7.9 points, 2.0 assists, and 1.3 threes on 36% shooting from deep in 12.7 minutes through 31 games last season. Washington has a chance at the upcoming Knicks camp to prove he belongs in the Association after being undrafted in 2021, but he'll likely amount only to backcourt depth if he sticks around this fall.

New York Knicks guard Duane Washington Jr. has been waived by the organization on Monday. The 23-year-old finished last season on a two-way deal with the Knicks. Although, all his game action actually came with the Phoenix Suns. Washington averaged 7.9 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists across 12.7 minutes per game in 33 contests. The Knicks needed to remove someone from their roster after signing former first-round pick Dylan Windler to a two-way deal. Washington should be able to catch on elsewhere, but he isn't expected to have fantasy value.

On Tuesday, the Charlotte Hornets made it official when they shut down their star guard LaMelo Ball for the remainder of the 2022-2023 NBA season.Many fantasy managers' worst fears were realized when Ball's non-contact injury in Monday night's game against Detroit turned out to be a fractured ankle. Charlotte's season was already lost, but fantasy managers were hoping to get a few more weeks from Ball who, when healthy, was putting up huge numbers this season.To keep close tabs on all of the news across the NBA, make sure to favorite or bookmark the RotoBaller Fantasy Basketball Newspage, or download the free RotoBaller fantasy basketball mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. 

2022-2023 Season Recap

LaMelo Ball will finish his third NBA season with the following numbers.23.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 4.0 3PM, 1.3 STL, 0.3 BLK, 3.6 TO, 41.1% FG%, 83.6% FT%He played in only 36 games this year and is currently 32nd overall in per-game value for 9-cat in Basketball Monster's player ratings.When he was on the floor, he was a triple-double threat on a nightly basis. His talent is undeniable. Just look at what he did to the Spurs only a few weeks before getting hurt.

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It wasn't a good day for many clubs around the National Basketball Association, with many teams dealing with unsettling injuries to their top players. Although these situations are always challenging for teams, fantasy managers are also left scrambling to find a replacement.This article will highlight some of the critical injuries that occurred on Saturday, January 21, 2023. At the same time, we will cover some players who were ruled out with a pre-existing ailment while examining which players have benefited.To keep close tabs on all of the news across the NBA, make sure to favorite or bookmark the RotoBaller Fantasy Basketball Newspage, or download the free RotoBaller fantasy basketball mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. 

Marcus Smart Injury Update

The Celtics were without Jayson Tatum for Saturday's meeting with Toronto, as the MVP candidate got the day off to deal with wrist soreness. Luckily, the C's recently got Jaylen Brown back from a three-game layoff, so the team at least had its No. 2 scoring option. Boston also had Marcus Smart, who is proficient on both ends of the floor.Unfortunately, the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year's evening didn't last long, as he exited in the first half after suffering a sprained right ankle. Smart has battled ankle injuries throughout his career, so fantasy managers are familiar with this.https://twitter.com/ChrisForsberg_/status/1616933981362028546?s=20&t=ADA6dM_t2muMcgq6cJRitwWhile X-ray results were encouraging, revealing no structural damage, he'll likely miss a game or two, possibly more. As a result, ... [More]

It was a busy nine-game slate around the National Basketball Association. However, it wasn't a good night for many clubs, especially the ones that dealt with an injury.This article will highlight some of the critical injuries that occurred on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. At the same time, we will cover some players who were ruled out with a pre-existing ailment while examining which players have benefited.To keep close tabs on all of the news across the NBA, make sure to favorite or bookmark the RotoBaller Fantasy Basketball Newspage, or download the free RotoBaller fantasy basketball mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. 

LaMelo Ball Injury Update

LaMelo Ball exited Monday's meeting with the Rockets with a sprained left ankle. This is an all too familiar ailment, as the 21-year-old injured it twice already this season. He missed the first 13 games of the 2022-23 campaign because of it before making his season debut on November 12 against Miami.https://twitter.com/HornetsOnBally/status/1615898994508546048?s=20&t=2ONmwk9cIuX1k5z8xOpxsQUnfortunately, the 2020 No. 3 overall pick was incapacitated again after stepping on a fan's foot during a matchup with Indiana just a few days later, keeping him sidelined for an additional 11 games. Now, it appears fantasy managers will be without Ball for a while, considering he needed help getting to the locker room.With ... [More]

As we celebrate the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the NBA had a loaded schedule throughout Monday. Unfortunately, there were some injuries throughout the day, which may create issues for teams moving ahead.This article will highlight some of the critical injuries that occurred on Saturday, January 16, 2023. At the same time, we will cover some players who were ruled out with a pre-existing ailment while examining which players have benefited.To keep close tabs on all of the news across the NBA, make sure to favorite or bookmark the RotoBaller Fantasy Basketball Newspage, or download the free RotoBaller fantasy basketball mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. 

Donovan Mitchell Injury Update

Donovan Mitchell has been on a tear in his first season as a Cavalier, averaging a career-high 28.8 points per game. The 26-year-old has certainly made an impact, so there is naturally some concern surrounding his most recent injury, a groin strain, suffered during Monday's win over the Pelicans.https://twitter.com/ChrisFedor/status/1615106299636719632?s=20&t=nIB5An7gWfmmxjT49g7LLAMitchell exited in the third quarter and did not return to the contest, finishing with 11 points in 22 minutes. The former Louisville Cardinal has stayed relatively healthy in 2022-23, missing only five games. However, with the Cavs looking to make a deep run into the postseason, Mitchell may miss some games, beginning with Wednesday's meeting in Memphis.https://twitter.com/AmicoHoops/status/1615116579011690502?s=20&t=8uEcBgsFXrfQNXVsKuQmNAWithout him in the lineup, others will have to step up. Of course, the first name to come to mind is ... [More]

Phoenix Suns point guard Duane Washington Jr. was the lone bright spot of a 112-98 loss to Cleveland on Sunday, leading all scorers with 25 points on 9-for-18 shooting. He went 5-for-6 with the three-ball and posted one rebound and three assists in 25 minutes off the bench. Washington Jr. has now logged 25 minutes in back-to-back games, scoring 38 points in total and notching 10 assists. His emergence has coincided with injuries to Chris Paul's (hip) and Cameron Payne (foot). The latter has already been ruled out for at least two weeks, so Washington Jr. is set to have a larger role for quite some time, which greatly boosts his fantasy appeal.

Phoenix Suns guard Duane Washington Jr. posted a new career-high in both points and assists as the team took down the Memphis Grizzlies by a score of 125-108. The second-year point guard out of Ohio State put up 26 points, four rebounds, eight assists, and one steal as he shot 10-for-21 overall and 5-for-9 from beyond the arc. If anyone had Washington in a lineup, that was a huge reach that worked out perfectly. Fantasy managers should be very cautious before they go chasing this kind of production outside of this game.

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 (UDFA) 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 point guard Duane Washington Jr. (hip) will be sidelined for the second consecutive game on Monday when the team matches up against the Atlanta Hawks. Washington is nursing a right hip bruise. He is one of a multitude of injured Pacers. With Washington out during the team's last game against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday, we saw Keifer Sykes and Lance Stephenson log 23 minutes and 21 minutes off the bench, respectively. Both players struggled in the game, shooting a combined 4-for-19 from the field. The Pacers' starting guards, Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield, are the only guards on the team worth utilizing for fantasy purposes on Monday.