FANTASY / PLAYER NEWS
Sam Cassell: Sore Left Knee
Update: Cassell sat out Sunday's practice with a sore left knee, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Analysis: Cassell has been bothered by the knee already during training camp. He's day-to-day.
Ruben Patterson: Hip Pointer
Update: Patterson sat out Sunday's practice with a hip pointer, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Analysis: Patterson is day-to-day.
Corey Maggette: Starting at Small Forward
Update: Maggette is expected to start at small forward and be a big scorer for the Clippers this season, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Analysis: The Clippers will need to make up for the loss of Elton Brand and need a capable scorer like Maggette to play more minutes. Last season, he found himself coming off the bench as coach Mike Dunleavy started the defensive-minded Quinton Ross, who may move to shooting guard to find his minutes.
Eddy Curry: May Miss the Preseason
Update: Curry (shoulder) may miss the preseason, according to the Associated Press.
Analysis: Curry noted that "We don't think it's anything that's going to be season-ending. We think this is something that's going to take a little bit of rehab, maybe." Between this shoulder injury and the arrival of fellow post player Zach Randolph, fantasy owners should be wary of drafting Curry.
Anthony Carter: Will Undergo Surgery
Update: Carter will undergo surgery Wednesday to repair a broken bone in his hand, the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: The procedure will insert screws into the third metacarpal on Carter's right hand. We expect Carter to miss 4-6 weeks, but a more concrete timeline should emerge after the surgery.
Rashard Lewis: Leaves Game With Leg Injury
Update: Lewis left Monday's preseason game after suffering an apparent leg injury, the Associated Press reports.
Analysis: Lewis was holding his leg as he headed to the bench in the third quarter. He did not return, but the injury doesn't appear to be serious.
Scot Pollard: MRI Reveals Bone Bruise
Update: An MRI on Pollard's left ankle Monday showed a bone bruise and soft tissue inflammation, according to The Boston Globe.
Analysis: Pollard will be re-evaluated Friday, and his status is uncertain at this time. He won't produce fantasy-worthy numbers even if the ankle heals.
Eddy Curry: MRI Reveals Shoulder Tear
Update: Curry will miss Monday's preseason opener with a tear in his right shoulder, according to the Associated Press.
Analysis: Curry will be re-evaluated Tuesday by team doctors, so his status at this point is still uncertain. Curry figures to be one of top fantasy players on the Knicks, as he averaged 19.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game last season.
Keith Bogans: Will Start For Orlando Monday
Update: Bogans will get the start at shooting guard for the Magic's opening preseason game Monday against the Hawks, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Analysis: Bogans is competing against Trevor Ariza, J.J. Redick and Keyon Dooling for the starting shooting guard position. Orlando head coach Stan Van Gundy is experimenting with his roster during the preseason, and the battle to fill Grant Hill's spot will be an interesting one.
Kyle Korver: Groin Tightens Up During Practice
Update: Korver's groin tightened up during practice on Sunday and he was taken out, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Analysis: Korver is listed as day-to-day so keep an eye on his status. There was no word on whether he would play in Monday night's game.
Samuel Dalembert: Should Play Monday Night
Update: Dalembert (stress fracture in left foot) moved well for the third straight day on Sunday and 76ers coach Maurice Cheeks said he expected him to play in Monday's game, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Analysis: As long as Dalembert doesn't suffer any setbacks in his return from a stress fracture in his left foot he should be full go for the preseason.
Louis Williams: Suffers a Lacerated Upper Left Eyelid
Update: Williams did not practice Sunday and is listed as day-to-day after suffering a lacerated upper left eyelid during Saturday's intrasquad scrimmage, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Analysis: The report didn't mention this being serious so Williams should return in a couple of days. We'll update his status as soon as we no more.
Kevin Ollie: Suffers a Left Groin Strain on Friday
Update: Ollie missed Sunday's practice with a left-groin strain, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Analysis: There is no word on the severity of the injury so keep tabs on Ollie over the next few days for an update on his status.
Al Harrington: Dominant in Training Camp
Update: Harrington, who dropped 20 pounds this summer, has been a dominant force so far at the Warriors' training camp, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Harrington concentrated on improving his defense and rebounding over the summer and has been playing power forward and small forward in training camp. "Al's been the best player here," Warriors coach Don Nelson said. "He's been dominant."
Etan Thomas: Still No Timetable for Decision on Playing Status
Update: Thomas remains out indefinitely after a cardiac exam revealed an irregularity, the Washington Post reports. The Wizards have not set a timetable for a decision about Thomas' playing future.
Analysis: In the meantime, the likes of Andray Blatche, Darius Songaila, Oleksiy Pecherov and Tony Massenburg will continue to audition for Thomas' usual allotment of minutes alongside fellow center, Brendan Haywood.
Gilbert Arenas: Taking Cautious Approach in Preseason
Update: Arenas, who sat out Saturday's scrimmage to rest his surgically-repaired left knee, said he won't decide on his status for Tuesday's preseason game until just before tip-off, the Washington Post reports.
Analysis: Arenas indicated that while he hasn't experienced any setbacks or discomfort in the knee, he may end up playing only in alternate preseason games.
Anfernee Hardaway: Bothered by Quad Strain
Update: Hardaway has been limited over the past few days by a strained quadriceps that he suffered last week, the Miami Herald reports.
Analysis: Most of the reports thus far have been positive about how he's performed, though Hardaway struggled in a team scrimmage on Friday. Even if he's not a great fantasy option at this stage of his career, his comeback attempt in intriguing nonetheless.
Mustafa Shakur: Competing to Back Up Bibby
Update: Shakur, an undrafted point guard out of the University of Arizona, hopes to win the backup point guard spot behind Mike Bibby, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Analysis: The 6-foot-3, 190 pound rookie posted a decent assist-to-turnover ratio during summer league (six to 2.4), but shot a paltry 27.8 percent from the field in five games (10-of-36). His main competition for the position includes front-runner Quincy Douby, Sacramento's first-round draft choice last year, and third-year free-agent signee Orien Greene. In his final college season, he averaged 11.9 points and 6.9 assists per game, and shot 45.5 percent from the field.
Bernard Robinson: Suffers Torn Medial Collateral Ligament
Update: Robinson suffered a torn medial collateral ligament and will miss the rest of training camp, the Newark Star-Ledger reports.
Analysis: Surgery might not be necessary, but he'll be re-evaluated Monday.
Cuttino Mobley: Returns to Practice
Update: Mobley (strained left calf) returned to practice, the Orange County Register reports.
Analysis: Mobley participated in every drill, excluding contact activity.
Chris Kaman: Returns to Practice
Update: Kaman (back) returned to practice Sunday, the Orange County Register reports. Kaman missed most of the practices when the team was training in Santa Barbara.
Analysis: Not only is Kaman expected to replace Elton Brand's low-post scoring, he needs to help in the blocked-shot department. Kaman had 116 blocks last season (19th in NBA). "I believe we need Chris' rebounding and defense more than we'll need his points," assistant coach Kim Hughes said. "I think it's imperative that Chris stay out of foul trouble. He can't make silly or useless fouls. We've always been in the top five in blocked shots, and although we can't replace E.B., who was a great contributor to that, Chris will have to dominate the inside for us."
Ronny Turiaf: Will Have MRI on Sore Right Knee
Update: Turiaf will have an MRI examination on his sore right knee, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Analysis: Turiaf was just named the team's starting power forward, so we can only hope that this injury isn't serious.
Alando Tucker: Offensive Abilities Stand Out in Scirmmage
Update: Tucker made 5-of-7 shots for 11 points in the Suns' Saturday scrimmage, the Arizona Republic reports.
Analysis: Tucker said he is getting daily mentoring from Steve Nash, Grant Hill, and Leandro Barbosa, all of whom he credits with his confidence. "Those guys are going to put me in positions to score with easy baskets and open shots," Tucker said. Tucker may have difficulty cracking the eight or nine-man rotation the Suns plan to play this season. However in the future he will be counted on to produce offensively.
Marcus Williams: Banged Knee in Practice
Update: Williams was running stiffly near the end of practice after banging knees with another player during contact drills, the San Antonio Express-News reports.
Analysis: "Just banged knees," Williams said. "It was a little stiff." Williams is expected to start the season with the Spurs' NBA developmental league team in Austin.
Bruce Bowen: Receives Two-Year Contract Extension
Update: Bowen received a two-year contract extension on Sunday, the San Antonio Express-News reports.
Analysis: The new deal will pay Bowen $4 million in each of the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 seasons, though the second year of the extension is not fully guaranteed, according to an NBA executive familiar with the details. Bowen is one of the top defensive specialists in the NBA but does not carry a great deal of fantasy value.
Bonzi Wells: Happy with His Old Coach
Update: In limited workouts while recovering from a groin pull, there's been a different Wells on display in camp, the Houston Chronicle reports. He's clearly happier playing under his old coach Rick Adelman again.
Analysis: "I like what I see in Bonzi," teammate Tracy McGrady said. "He's happy. He came into camp in great shape. He lost 30 pounds, so that tells you that he's really focused and ready to play this year." Wells should see time both at shooting guard and small forward, and Adelman won't hesitate to get him 25-plus minutes per game if he's healthy.
Shane Battier: Could Be Asked to Score More
Update: Battier will cut to the basket as a potential scorer much more often than last season and will also be used as a passer, the Houston Chronicle reports.
Analysis: Last season, Battier was often just a three-point shooter, making space for Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. This year, the Rockets will get up and down the court more and also involve Battier more in the offense.
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