
DET • Guard • #25
about 2 months ago
Sasser is on track to miss Wednesday’s season opener due to a right hip impingement. Daniss Jenkins played 17 minutes off the bench in the Pistons’ preseason finale and may crack the rotation on Wednesday. However, that isn’t guaranteed, and a likely increase in minutes for Cade Cunningham means there isn’t much to gain from streaming Jenkins.
Source: NBA Injury Report
DET • G • #3
about 2 months ago
LeVert has been dealing with a sore right knee but is on track to play in Wednesday’s season opener. He’ll provide depth and production off the bench, especially with the Pistons without Jaden Ivey (knee). Duncan Robinson was the starter during the preseason and should retain that role, giving him a slightly higher fantasy ceiling than LeVert.
Source: NBA Injury Report

CLE • Forward-Guard • #12
about 2 months ago
Coach Kenny Atkinson said they’ll see how Hunter responds on Wednesday before determining his status for their matchup with the Knicks. If Hunter isn’t available, Jaylon Tyson or Dean Wade would likely fill out the open starting spot, with Tyson having a much higher ceiling for streaming value.
Source: Danny Cunningham

CLE • Guard • #10
about 2 months ago
Garland underwent toe surgery in June to address an injury initially suffered in March and aggravated during the postseason. While Atkinson did speak positively of the progress his starting point guard has made recovery-wise, Garland remains without a clear timeline for return. While the injury has pushed Garland down some draft boards, he’s well worth the wait. Fantasy managers can stash him in an IL+ slot, while those who select Donovan Mitchell may receive an early boost in the assists category.
Source: ClutchPoints

CLE • Forward-Guard • #12
about 2 months ago
Hunter was injured during Cleveland’s preseason finale on October 14, as he banged knees during a game against the Pistons. While the forward said after the game that he would be fine, he’s been limited to individual work in recent practices. While Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson said Hunter was moving “very well,” he did not provide a clear answer when asked about the forward’s availability for Wednesday’s opener against the Knicks. Fantasy managers should consider Hunter, who’s expected to start for the injured Max Strus, questionable for Wednesday night.
Source: ClutchPoints

DET • Center • #0
about 2 months ago
Duren’s preseason started slowly, as he was held out of the Pistons’ first two games. After logging 13 minutes in Tuesday’s loss to the Cavaliers, he played 19 on Thursday and thoroughly outplayed Wizards starting center Alex Sarr. Duren may not be a top-50 caliber player, even in free-throw percentage punt builds, but he can offer solid middle-round value in standard leagues. The concern may be playing time, as he averaged 26.1 minutes per game last season. That does more to limit Duren’s ceiling than the free throws, especially with Isaiah Stewart and Paul Reed being capable contributors off the bench.

DET • Guard • #2
about 2 months ago
While Cunningham was efficient in his scoring, his playmaking stood out in Thursday’s preseason finale. Last season, he reached double figures in assists 31 times, and the star point guard did so against the Wizards while committing only two turnovers. Of the 31 games he dished out at least 10 assists last season, Cunningham recorded two turnovers or fewer on two occasions. The turnovers won’t make Cunningham a player to avoid in fantasy drafts; he should be a first-round pick in standard formats. But cleaning up that category would raise his ceiling.

DET • Forward • #55
about 2 months ago
With Jaden Ivey (knee) expected to miss at least four weeks, the Pistons have a hole to fill in their starting lineup. Robinson started the team’s last two preseason games, and his shooting ability may keep the veteran wing in that role. All eight of Robinson’s field goal attempts came from beyond the arc, and having a credible shooter on the floor can open up space for Cade Cunningham and the other Pistons starters. Ron Holland (4/3/4/1 in 22 minutes) and first-round pick Chaz Lanier (9/0/4/1/1 with three three-pointers in 23 minutes) may also see their roles expand with Ivey out, but Robinson is a safe target for managers seeking a three-point streamer.

DET • Guard • #2
about 2 months ago
Cunningham, who did not play in the Pistons’ most recent game, is back in the lineup for Thursday’s preseason finale. The player to watch is Robinson, who may be on track to begin the regular season as a starter. Jaden Ivey (knee) underwent an arthroscopic procedure that will sideline him for at least four weeks, opening up a place within the starting five. Robinson also started Tuesday’s loss to Cleveland, potentially a sign that the starting job will be his when the regular season begins next week.
Source: Omari Sankofa

DET • Guard • #23
about 2 months ago
Working his way back from a fractured left fibula suffered during a New Year’s Day game against the Magic, Ivey has been dealing with right knee discomfort during the preseason. While the knee issue is not related to the fractured leg suffered last season, it was problematic enough to result in an arthroscopic procedure that will keep Ivey out for at least four weeks. Duncan Robinson started Detroit’s most recent preseason game, an October 14 loss to Cleveland, and he may be the favorite to hold onto that role when the regular season begins. Ivey’s absence will also boost the fantasy values of Ausar Thompson and Tobias Harris, as both must provide more production.
Source: Detroit Pistons

DET • Forward • #12
2 months ago
Harris was excellent against the Cavaliers on Tuesday. Without Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, the 33-year-old power forward was the primary scoring option for the Pistons. He made 5-of-11 attempts from the field and went 7-of-9 from the free throw line. Harris is in line for another significant role with the Pistons this year, making him a nice selection in the middle rounds of fantasy basketball drafts.

DET • Guard-Forward • #9
2 months ago
Thompson has to be one of the best players in the league that struggles as much as he does shooting. The 22-year-old small forward didn’t even attempt a three-pointer against the Cavaliers and was 1-of-5 from the free throw line. Thompson is 7-of-17 from the free throw line in three preseason games this year and a 62 percent free throw shooter for his career. He could make a serious leap into stardom with improved shooting, but for now the Pistons will likely have to rely on Jaden Ivey, Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert for outside shooting.

CLE • Guard • #2
2 months ago
Unfortunately for Ball, he’s going to be on minutes restriction due to his injury history to begin the season. With Darius Garland (toe) possibly unavailable to start the year, Ball is an option to pick up the slack with 20 minutes off the bench at a time. While the minutes restriction undoubtedly caps Ball’s fantasy upside, the Cavaliers’ offense is good enough for him to produce. He showed as much by nearly recording a double-double in 20 minutes against the Pistons on Tuesday. Ball is a late-round flyer at best in fantasy basketball drafts.

CLE • Center • #4
2 months ago
Mobley had just eight points on 13 attempts including missing all five of his three-point attempts. The 24-year-old center had 21 points in his last outing against the Bulls. It was just an off-night offensively for Mobley, who has made great strides with his offensive game. He still filled up the rest of the stat sheet. Mobley will look to bounce back on the opening night of the regular season as this was the Cavaliers’ last preseason game.

CLE • Guard • #45
2 months ago
Coming off a 22-point game in his last outing against the Bulls, Mitchell picked up right where he left off by dropping 13 points in the first quarter. The 29-year-old shooting guard cooled off after that and ended up with five turnovers in 29 minutes. It was an uneven performance, but that’s what the preseason is for. Mitchell is an excellent selection in the second round of fantasy basketball drafts this year.

DET • Forward-Center • #28
2 months ago
Stewart, who missed the final five games of the Pistons’ first-round playoff series with the Knicks due to a knee injury, has started both of Detroit’s preseason games. Starter Jalen Duren has been out, so this is not a case of Beef Stew taking the lead in a competition for that role. Having failed to crack the top 100 in any of his first five seasons, the best-case scenario for Stewart would be to provide consistent late-round value. However, he isn’t a player who should be selected in standard league drafts.

DET • Forward • #00
2 months ago
Detroit was without Jaden Ivey and Tobias Harris on Thursday, so Holland and Duncan Robinson (7/3/3/1 with one three-pointer) moved into the starting lineup. Holland did play in all 82 games as a rookie, but he provided limited fantasy value in a reserve role. And with the Pistons being even deeper this season due to the additions of Robinson and Caris LeVert, and Ivey’s return from a fractured leg, Holland faces a challenging climb to achieve fantasy relevance in 2025-26.

DET • Guard • #2
2 months ago
Based on his performances in Detroit’s first two preseason games, Cunningham could be in for a massive 2025-26. Thursday night, he only needed 19 minutes to do his damage, playing efficiently as a scorer and playmaker for his teammates. Detroit did not have its full rotation in Milwaukee, as Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey and Tobias Harris were all inactive. Yet that did not keep Cunningham from having another excellent outing. Turnovers have been an issue in the past, lowering his value in nine-cat formats. But managers competing in eight-cat leagues should not hesitate to select Cunningham with a first-round pick.

CLE • Forward-Guard • #12
2 months ago
On the heels of an efficient 17-point outing in 18 minutes on Tuesday, Hunter needed just 24 minutes of action to efficiently hit the 20-point mark on Thursday. The former veteran forward mainly utilized the three-point shot to find scoring production on Thursday, but also showed active hands on the defensive end to accumulate three stocks. Hunter was one of three Cavaliers starters to score in double figures on the night, and overall, he has performed well through limited preseason games.

CLE • Guard • #45
2 months ago
After playing 18 minutes and logging seven points on 3-of-5 shooting in Tuesday’s preseason opener, Mitchell was much more aggressive in his minutes on Thursday. The superstar guard led all Cleveland players in field goal attempts en route to finishing as one of three Cavaliers starters to score at least 20 points. Mitchell was efficient both inside and outside the arc while racking up stocks on the defensive end. Off a stellar 2024-25 campaign, Mitchell will enter the 2025-26 season as a likely top-10 shooting guard in fantasy basketball drafts.

CLE • Center • #4
2 months ago
Mobley showed off his versatility against the Bulls in his 26 minutes of game action. He needed just 10 shots to eclipse the 20-point mark, while tying a team-high in assists and being active on the defensive end. Thursday’s performance marked the second of the preseason in which the reigning Defensive Player of the Year had a positive impact on both ends of the floor. He should be in store for another stellar fantasy basketball season.

DET • Forward • #00
2 months ago
The Pistons have made two changes to the lineup that began the preseason opener against the Grizzlies. Holland and Robinson are in the starting lineup, filling the voids left by Jaden Ivey and Tobias Harris. While both will be in the rotation when the regular season begins, performing well during the preseason may improve their standing within the bench unit. Also of note is Stewart making a second straight start, as the Pistons remain without Jalen Duren.
Source: Detroit Pistons

CLE • Forward • #13
2 months ago
Cleveland added Proctor with the 49th pick in June, and after a strong summer league, his first preseason outing was a productive one. It’s still early, but he’s looking like a steal for the Cavs at this point. It’s unlikely that he plays a significant role as a rookie, but he’s worth stashing in dynasty formats.

CLE • Center • #4
2 months ago
In his first game of the preseason the reigning Defensive Player of the Year was able to quickly make an impact on both ends of the floor. The defense was expected, but his continued improvement as a floor spacer has just made him even more dynamic. Mobley has been a fantasy monster for multiple seasons, but he still has more room to grow.

CLE • Guard • #9
2 months ago
Porter Jr. has long been a dynasty sleeper, and when he’s gotten the opportunity to play big minutes, he has been productive. His biggest weakness has been his deep-range shooting, but he showed improvement by making all five of his three-point attempts in this one. It’s too early to say that he’s made a genuine leap, but it’s worth keeping an eye on, since he has the potential to be a fantasy stud.

CLE • Guard-Forward • #24
2 months ago
The second-year wing got the starting nod with Darius Garland (toe) and Max Strus (foot) sidelined, and while he wasn’t able to get any shots to fall, he still made an impact on this game, specifically on the defensive end. He played all his minutes with the starters, and there’s certainly a chance he opens the regular season in the starting lineup, making him potentially worth a late-round pick.

CLE • Guard-Forward • #24
2 months ago
With Darius Garland (toe) and Max Strus (foot) both sidelined, Hunter and Tyson will occupy spots in the starting lineup. Hunter was expected to start, but Tyson comes as a surprise after not seeing the floor much during his rookie year. It’s the first preseason game, so this doesn’t lock him into the role to start the regular season, but he’s worth keeping an eye on as a dynasty stash and potential late-round sleeper in redraft leagues.
Source: Cleveland Cavaliers

DET • Forward • #55
2 months ago
With Tim Hardaway Jr. in Denver and Malik Beasley no longer in the Pistons’ plans, Robinson was brought in via offseason trade due to Detroit’s need for perimeter shooting. While he did have his moments in Miami, a change of scenery may benefit the veteran sharpshooter. Robinson’s eight shot attempts were tops among Pistons reserves on Monday, with Caris LeVert (two points on 1-of-8 shooting and one assist) also hitting that number. Robinson will remain a specialist in deeper fantasy leagues, but he may have more consistent opportunities to produce in Detroit than he did in his final seasons with the Heat.

DET • Guard • #2
2 months ago
Less than a month after the Pistons’ 2024-25 campaign concluded, Pistons lead executive Trajan Langdon told Cunningham that he wanted the franchise cornerstone to be in “elite shape” this season. He looked sharp in Monday’s preseason opener, taking over in the second quarter to spearhead a 40-9 Pistons run. He’s receiving first-round attention in fantasy drafts and with good reason, as Cunningham played a career-high 70 games last season. As long as Cunningham stays healthy, he can provide top-10 fantasy value regardless of league format.

DET • Guard • #23
2 months ago
Monday’s exhibition may not have counted toward official records, but it was a big day for Ivey. The Pistons guard was on the floor in game action for the first time since New Year’s Day, when he suffered a fractured fibula during a game against the Magic. Unsurprisingly, Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff did not push Ivey or any of the starters too far against the Grizzlies, but the playing time should increase as the regular season gets closer. Before his injury, Ivey shot a career-best 40.9 percent from beyond the arc. While the Pistons did add Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert during the offseason, they’ll need Ivey to continue on that trajectory, especially with fellow starter Ausar Thompson (5/5/3/2/1) not being much of a perimeter shooter.