Thu Oct 3 6:46pm ET
Field Level Media
LeBron James may be pushing 40 years old, but his new coach thinks some preseason would be good for him.
JJ Redick told reporters Thursday that he will play James and Anthony Davis at some point early in the Lakers' preseason slate.
Redick didn't divulge when or how much he'd play his stars in the exhibitions, which begin Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves followed by Sunday against the Phoenix Suns. Both games will be played in Palm Springs, Calif.
"Still talking through it," Redick said. "They're going to play this weekend. But we're still talking through what minutes and rotations look like for everybody."
It's especially notable after James and Davis played over the summer with Team USA and won gold at the Paris Olympics.
The preseason could also offer a chance for James to play with his son and new teammate, Bronny James, the Lakers' second-round draft pick who is more likely to spend the regular season with the team's G League affiliate than with Los Angeles.
Redick, 40, is coaching for the first time at any level.
San Antonio Spurs guard Keldon Johnson (foot) says that he is healthy and in shape heading into the start of next season. Johnson missed the final four games of the regular season in 2023 due to a foot sprain. The 24-year-old is heading into his sixth season and is now considered a veteran on this rebuilding roster. Johnson saw a regression in some stats last season, but still remains a reliable contributor on this roster. The Spurs added Harrison Barnes via trade this offseason, so Johnson will likely head to a bench role to start the season. Despite that, Johnson should still have a significant role as he averaged nearly 30 minutes per game over the course of his career. Fantasy managers should consider Johnson healthy as he looks ready to contribute at the beginning of the season.
Toronto Raptors forward Chris Boucher (knee) has put in the work and reportedly has an improved mindset heading into the 2024-2025 season. The 31-year-old was limited to 50 games last season due to a knee injury. Before that, Boucher was growing frustrated with his role on the team. Boucher has been a bench player each of the last two seasons and saw only 14.1 minutes per game in 2023. Boucher is unlikely to have a much bigger role in 2024 with Jakob Poeltl starting at center and Scottie Barnes covering the power forward spot. However, Boucher appears to be more accepting on his role and is ready to put in the work as a depth player.
The Chicago Bulls have signed guard Joshua Primo to an Exhibit 10 contract on Thursday. The 21-year-old is a former 12th overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs from 2021. Primo lasted two seasons with the Spurs before joining the Los Angeles Clippers briefly last season. The young guard certainly has the potential to be a contributor in the NBA, but hasn't be given much of a chance outside of his rookie season. Primo will get a chance to earn himself a role on the Bulls during training camp, but he's likely going to spend most of his time in the G-League. The addition of Primo doesn't mean much for fantasy managers, but it'll be interesting to see if the Bulls are able to jumpstart his career.
Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun was seen playing with the starting unit during Thursday's practice. It looks like Braun is the favorite for the starting shooting guard spot heading into training camp. Braun is coming off a decent year last season as he averaged 7.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists across 20.2 minutes per game in 82 contests. He figures to compete with Julian Strawther for the starting shooting guard spot to begin the season. Whoever wins the gig should see a boost in fantasy value while playing with the starting five. Braun is heading into his third season with the Nuggets and has taken a step forward in each of the last two seasons.
Miami Heat guard Josh Richardson (shoulder) continues working his way back from season-ending shoulder surgery from last March. The 31-year-old is reportedly close to returning and was seen getting up shots after practice earlier this week. Richardson still isn't a full participant in practice, but is expected to be ready by the beginning of the regular season. Richardson could be sidelined for the beginning of training camp, which could mean more reps for Alec Burks and Duncan Robinson. Richardson finished with 9.9 points per game, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across 25.6 minutes per game. The expectation is that the Heat will ease Richardson back into action, but he could be an interesting fantasy option once he's back to full health.
San Antonio Spurs power forward Jeremy Sochan is working on improving his shooting and has said it's going "well." The 21-year-old is a man of many talents but has struggled to shoot efficiently on the NBA stage. His shooting form looks strange, to say the least, and Sochan even uses a one-handed technique for his free throws. He has been a 44.4 percent career shooter, hitting 28.5 percent of his attempts from behind the arc. Despite the shooting struggles, Sochan has averaged 11.3 points for his career. With improved shooting numbers, his scoring output is bound to rise. Sochan's productivity should also get a boost in 2024-25 with the presence of elite playmaker Chris Paul, who is masterful in finding open looks for his teammates.
Indiana Pacers center James Wiseman is carrying a groin injury that has limited his participation in training camp. According to Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, the injury happened a couple of weeks ago. It's seen a "minor" injury for Wiseman, so the seven-footer shouldn't miss a lot of time. Carlisle has called Wiseman "a great young prospect," and he gets a fresh start in Indiana after stops in Golden State and Detroit. However, considering the presence of Myles Turner and Isaiah Jackson on the team, Wiseman will likely have a tough time getting regular minutes.
Washington Wizards guard Jordan Poole is seen as the team's starting point guard and main ballhandler this season. Poole shared the backcourt with Tyus Jones last term and struggled in his first year in Washington. The Wizards even dropped him to the bench for a stretch in February-March. Poole averaged 17.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.1 steals. The 25-year-old looks primed for a bounce-back campaign in 2024-25. His numbers improved significantly last season after Brian Keefe took over the coaching position, and Poole will now get a full year under Keefe in a role that requires a lot of responsibility.
Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic (calf) is expected to be ready for the start of the season. Dallas ruled him out for at least a week with a left calf contusion on Wednesday. However, sources have told ESPN's Tim MacMahon that there is "no concern" about Doncic being ready for opening night. Dallas begins the campaign on Oct. 24 versus San Antonio. Doncic is coming off a hugely successful season and is poised to continue dominating in 2024-25. However, he's yet to play more than 72 games in an NBA season, so it's likely fantasy managers will have to do without him for a stretch at some point.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward/center Naz Reid will remain a bench piece in 2024-25. The 25-year-old was voted the NBA Sixth Man of the Year last season and will continue to roll with the second unit behind starting big men Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle (shoulder). Reid notched 13.5 points with 5.2 rebounds in 24.2 minutes last season, boosting his numbers to 17.6 points and 7.0 boards in 14 games as a starter. He will likely see him as a starter again at some point this season, considering Randle's injury history -- he has averaged 64 games per season during his 10-year NBA career.
Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Julius Randle (shoulder) will remain a starter on his new team. Randle hasn't come off the bench since the 2018-19 campaign, and Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch has now confirmed that the veteran will continue to start in Minnesota. Randle has been an All-Star in back-to-back campaigns, so it would have been quite a shock if he had landed on the bench with the Timberwolves, although Naz Reid offers a good alternative to Finch. Assuming he stays healthy, fantasy managers should get another productive campaign out of Randle. He averaged 24.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists last season.
Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (ankle) took another step forward in his recovery, participating in contact drills during Wednesday's practice, according to head coach Billy Donovan. Giddey, who has been rehabbing a ruptured ligament in his ankle sustained during the Paris Olympics, had missed contact drills for two months. After being limited to a non-contact session the previous day, this marks a positive sign as the Bulls prepare for their preseason game in Cleveland just six days away. The team will continue to closely monitor Giddey's progress as he ramps up his involvement in training camp.
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (calf) will be sidelined for at least one week after sustaining a left calf contusion during a team workout, the Dallas Mavericks announced on Wednesday. The injury, however, is not expected to impact his readiness for the start of the upcoming NBA season. Doncic will be re-evaluated in a week, with the Mavericks' preseason opener against the Memphis Grizzlies set for October 7. During the 2023-2024 season, Doncic was a standout performer, averaging 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 9.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He also earned a spot on the All-NBA First Team and played a pivotal role in leading the Mavericks to the NBA Finals.
Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (hamstring) has been diagnosed with a low-level hamstring strain following an MRI. The former Defensive Player of the Year left the first practice of training camp after experiencing tightness in his hamstring. Head coach Taylor Jenkins described the MRI results as "good news," and emphasized there are "no concerns" about Jackson Jr. being ready for the regular-season opener. Jenkins also noted, "He's already responded well to treatment," and the team will work with the performance staff to determine his return-to-play timeline. Jackson Jr. will focus on recovery in the meantime.
Memphis Grizzlies' star guard Ja Morant says he's ready to remind the league what a "happy Ja" can do. "I feel like a happy Ja is a scary Ja for a lot of people," Morant confidently shared during Grizzlies Media Day. The two-time All-Star enters this season with a renewed focus, having embraced the lessons from his challenges both on and off the court. After averaging 25.1 points per game before his injury, Morant's return is eagerly anticipated by Memphis fans. The former Rookie of the Year now looks to lead the team back into playoff contention.
Memphis Grizzlies rookie center Zach Edey is looking to add a new weapon to his game: a reliable three-point shot. At 7-foot-4, Edey dominated the paint at Purdue, but as he enters the NBA, he's working to expand his range and improve his passing. Despite attempting only two three-pointers in 138 college games, developing an outside shot could transform both his game and the Grizzlies' offense by creating more spacing. If Edey can become a legitimate threat from deep while enhancing his passing, he'll bring an extra layer of versatility to Memphis. Fans will get their first glimpse of the rookie's progress in the preseason opener against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, Oct. 7.
Toronto Raptors shooting guard Ja'Kobe Walter (shoulder) hopes to be in game shape in three weeks. The 20-year-old rookie is recovering from a sprained AC joint. "Probably won't be doing anything on-court for this next week-and-a-half, for sure," Walter said. "But still, I'll be doing my strength and mobility work during that time. I should probably be back in, like, three weeks." The Raptors have their season opener scheduled for Oct. 23 against Cleveland, meaning Walter should be fine for the start of the regular season. However, missing training camp is definitely a blow for him, as he won't have a chance to build any chemistry with his teammates and could struggle for a place in the rotation because of it.
Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Bojan Bogdanovic (foot) isn't doing any five-on-five work at the start of training camp. The veteran scorer has recovered from offseason wrist surgery but also had foot surgery, which is taking longer to heal. Bogdanovic is back in Brooklyn for a second stint after being involved in a trade that sent Mikal Bridges to the Knicks. He is expected to be a contributor off the bench, limiting Bogdanovic's fantasy value. However, the Nets will likely want to get rid of his expiring $19 million contract during the season, meaning the team could give Bogdanovic increased opportunities at some point to boost his trade value.
Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson (blood clot) is being held out of contact drills at the start of training camp. Thompson was diagnosed with a blood clot last season and was shut down in March. The 21-year-old has been cleared for conditioning, strength training, and non-contact drills. Thompson has said he feels "perfectly fine," but there is currently no timeline for his return. After going off the board as the fifth pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Thompson averaged 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.1 steals in 25.1 minutes during his rookie campaign.
Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (foot) is "ready to go" for training camp, according to team executive Arturas Karnisovas. Williams underwent season-ending foot surgery in March, and it was recently reported that he's dealing with discomfort in the same foot. This left a question mark hanging over Williams ahead of training camp. However, Karnisovas said the discomfort wasn't related to Williams' foot surgery, and the 23-year-old has been cleared for training camp. Williams has offered solid but unspectacular production as a starter in Chicago. He averaged 10.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists across 27.3 minutes last season.