Player outlooks · basketball
Who they are this season, in plain words
Every player here has a written outlook and an injury assessment grounded in this week's reporting, the same research behind every Fantasy Memo. Ranked by consensus rest-of-season value, in nine-category terms.
Point guards
1Luka DončićLAL · PG1Luka Dončić is the undisputed offensive hub of a post-LeBron Lakers team and has started 3-0, including a 52-point game at Utah on October 25 per Wikipedia's game log.4Stephen CurryGSW · PG2OutCurry is the Warriors' first option when he plays, but the club has said he will sit some of the 15 back-to-back sets this season, so his availability is the main variable.6Tyrese MaxeyPHI · PG3Maxey is the 76ers' first offensive option through the first four games of 2026-27, and he is playing heavy minutes beside a crowded group of stars.7Jamal MurrayDEN · PG4Murray is Denver's lead perimeter scorer and starting point guard, and the early-season evidence is that he is playing heavy minutes at high usage next to Nikola Jokic.11Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderOKC · PG5Gilgeous-Alexander is the Thunder's offensive engine and a healthy, every-night starter for now. Injuries to three other starters mean he carries more of the load, and analysts disagree on whether his efficiency survives that.12Tyrese HaliburtonIND · PG6OutHaliburton is out for at least the next two weeks with a mild left hamstring strain, four games into his return from a torn Achilles, so for now he is an injured star with an open return date.20Kyrie IrvingDAL · PG7GTDIrving is a high-usage lead guard in his first season back from a torn left ACL. He is playing well, but Dallas is managing his workload and he is on the injury report for Monday against the Kings.27Ty JeromeMEM · PG8Jerome is Memphis's starting point guard and early-season scoring leader, and a back issue that cost him one game now looks resolved.37De'Aaron FoxSAS · PG9Fox is the Spurs' starting point guard in a three-guard unit, and his wrist sprain has not kept him out of any of the three games played so far (OKC, Houston, Dallas).40Cade CunninghamDET · PG10Cunningham is Detroit's lead ball handler and top option, and early-season reporting shows him playing 30 to 39 minutes a night, with load management the main thing to watch.43Trae YoungWAS · PG11Trae Young is Washington's starting point guard and primary playmaker, in a starting five with a lot of usage competing for shots.44Dejounte MurrayNOP · PG12Murray is New Orleans' veteran point guard and started the opener, but the club has scheduled him out for Saturday's game against the Hawks (personal), and how he fits next to Jeremiah Fears is the open question.55Brandin PodziemskiGSW · PG13Podziemski is a starting guard next to Stephen Curry, but his back soreness has already cost him one game and will cost him a second, so availability is the main risk right now.61Fred VanVleetHOU · PG14VanVleet is Houston's starting point guard coming off an ACL tear. He is managed by sitting one game of each back-to-back, so his availability will be uneven all season.62Ajay MitchellOKC · PG15Mitchell is a high-minutes guard on a deep, healthy-dependent Thunder roster. Whether he starts or leads the second unit appears to depend on Jalen Williams' and Cason Wallace's health, and I could not confirm the current starting five.68Davion MitchellMIA · PG16Mitchell is Miami's starting point guard in the Giannis Antetokounmpo era, and the rest note from the October 11 preseason game has no bearing on his regular-season role.69Immanuel QuickleyTOR · PG17Quickley is Toronto's starting point guard and primary playmaker, but he is probably the fourth scoring option behind Leonard, Barrett and Barnes.74Andrew NembhardIND · PG18Nembhard is Indiana's starting guard next to a returned Tyrese Haliburton, and the only regular-season sample so far shows him still handling a lot of on-ball work.83Jrue HolidayPOR · PG19Holiday looks like a veteran sixth man on a loaded Portland roster, with his main value as a defender and a ball-handler who can play either guard spot or slide to the wing.96Darius Acuff Jr.SAC · PG20Acuff is a rookie starting point guard on a winless Kings team, and he has a heavy-minutes, high-volume scoring role for now, with shaky shooting efficiency.97Payton PritchardBOS · PG21Pritchard is Boston's sixth man by the club's own choice. He is also one of its main shot creators now that Jaylen Brown has been traded, and he is likely to close games.102Ja MorantPOR · PG22OutMorant is a starting guard for Portland who shares ball handling with Lillard. One regular-season game is all we have, and it was a blowout in which he played only 23 minutes.109James HardenCLE · PG23Harden is a starting guard next to Donovan Mitchell, and the main open question is how the two share the ball at age 37.116Collin GillespiePHX · PG24Gillespie is Phoenix's sixth man and primary bench ball-handler, with some chance of a bigger late-game role. The first two games of the season show his minutes running anywhere from the low 20s to the high 20s.120Reed SheppardHOU · PG25GTDReed Sheppard is a bench guard behind Fred VanVleet, and the early evidence points to a smaller role than last season. His knee is an added question for Saturday.130Jalen BrunsonNYK · PG26Brunson is the Knicks' starting point guard and lead ball handler, and the coverage I found says nothing about that changing. Brown may trim his minutes somewhat from last season.134Damian LillardPOR · PG27Lillard is Portland's starting guard and a secondary creator in his first season back from the torn left Achilles, and by his own account he doesn't plan to play heavy minutes.135Bez MbengFA · PG28Mbeng is a free agent with no NBA roster spot: the Heat waived him on October 17, and reports expect him to land with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, so he has no NBA role right now.136LaMelo BallMIN · PG29LaMelo Ball is Minnesota's starting point guard after the offseason trade from Charlotte, and he looks set to keep real offensive freedom next to Anthony Edwards, though only two games of evidence exist.138Mike ConleyBOS · PG30Conley is a 39-year-old emergency point guard and locker-room veteran on a one-year deal, with almost no rotation role so far this season and a wire note that he is not expected to play against the 76ers on Friday.139Keyonte GeorgeUTA · PG31George is Utah's lead ball handler and a top scoring option through three games, and the open question is how he shares the backcourt with rookie Darryn Peterson and cuts down on turnovers.147Anfernee SimonsPHI · PG32Simons is the Sixers' scoring guard off the bench, but his first four games show a streaky, inefficient shooter whose minutes have varied.150CJ McCollumATL · PG33McCollum is the Hawks' starting lead guard this season: a 35-year-old scorer in a veteran role, not the primary playmaker.151Daniss JenkinsDET · PG34Jenkins is Detroit's backup point guard behind Cade Cunningham, and he stepped into the starting five on Sunday, Oct. 25 with Ausar Thompson out.159Darryn PetersonUTA · PG35Darryn Peterson is a 19-year-old rookie and the No. 2 pick in the 2026 draft. He has started in the preseason games I found and is the Jazz's featured young scorer. His rookie-year efficiency is the open question, since he has no NBA regular-season history.162Kennedy ChandlerFA · PG36Chandler is a fringe free agent with no confirmed NBA role as of October 26, and I found no current coverage of rotation minutes for him.176Quenton JacksonIND · PG37Jackson is a depth guard who is filling in as the Pacers' backup point guard while T.J. McConnell is out, and his minutes will shrink if McConnell returns.178Jeremiah FearsNOP · PG38Fears is a second-year guard whose starting job looks to be in flux, with one low-quality report of a promotion alongside Dejounte Murray and the rest of the coverage tied to preseason.181Jalen SuggsORL · PG39OutSuggs is a defense-first starting guard who is sidelined with a mild right knee bone bruise, so any value this season depends on when he returns and how his minutes are managed.182Hayden GrayFA · PG40Hayden Gray is a free agent with no NBA role this season, so he has no rotation value unless a team signs him.183Tristen NewtonFA · PG41Newton is not on an NBA roster right now, so he has no NBA role this season unless a team signs him, and I found no report of one doing so.188Isaiah StevensFA · PG42Stevens is a minor-league depth guard right now and has no NBA fantasy role. Rotowire's Oct 1 note says he signed with the Bulls and will likely start the 2026-27 season in the G League.192Keon EllisBKN · PG43Ellis is a stopgap starting guard for Brooklyn who supplies steals and some threes, and reporting expects rookie Mikel Brown to take the job once his restrictions lift.198Keaton WaglerLAC · PG44A rookie fifth-overall pick who is a rotation regular off the bench and the second unit's ball handler, with early coverage split on whether he should be playing more.199Jordan PooleNOP · PG45OutPoole is a bench guard on a short leash for now: three games into 2026-27 he is playing a modest reserve role, and RotoWire (Oct 25) calls him a non-factor in standard fantasy leagues.202Josh GiddeyCHI · PG46Giddey is the Bulls' starting point guard and primary playmaker, and he has opened the season with heavy assist and rebound work and very poor shooting.205Jamal SheadTOR · PG47Shead is Toronto's primary backup point guard on a new three-year extension, a reserve whose minutes rise when Immanuel Quickley is out.206Darius GarlandLAC · PG48Garland is the Clippers' lead guard and primary offensive engine for the rest of this season, with a heavy workload while the roster is thin.208Tyler KolekNYK · PG49Kolek looks like the third point guard on a deep Knicks roster, a fill-in who plays when injuries or rest nights open minutes, and the preseason coverage I found does not show that changing.209Brandon WilliamsGSW · PG50Brandon Williams is a speed-driven backup guard whose 20-point spot start on Saturday came only because Curry and Podziemski sat the second night of a back-to-back, and he should be a bench rotation piece now that they are back.213Bones HylandMIN · PG51Hyland began the season outside the Timberwolves' rotation, and Anthony Edwards' knee injury has opened a bench-guard role for him that is tied to Edwards' absence.219Kasparas JakučionisMIL · PG52Jakučionis is a 20-year-old second-year guard who looks like Milwaukee's top backup point guard behind Ryan Rollins. His minutes are real after a strong regular-season debut, but he is still inside a crowded backcourt.231Mac McClungFA · PG53Mac McClung is not on an NBA roster for the 2026-27 season: on August 6, 2026 he signed with Basket Girona (FIATC Girona) of the Spanish Liga ACB, officially exiting the NBA rather than pursuing another camp invite.233Kingston FlemingsATL · PG54OutFlemings is a 19-year-old rookie point guard whom the Hawks took eighth overall in the 2026 draft, and he is in a genuine but unresolved fight to be Atlanta's backup point guard this season rather than a settled piece of the rotation.239Bub CarringtonWAS · PG55Carrington is a second-unit guard behind Trae Young, and the only current game evidence is a 19-minute bench role in the opener, so his minutes are likely to be modest and could change from night to night.245Ryan RollinsMIL · PG56Rollins is Milwaukee's starting point guard and primary ball handler on a rebuilt roster, though the evidence I found is mostly aggregators and the sources are uneven.247Nolan TraoreBKN · PG57Traore enters his second season as a depth point guard whose immediate priority is finishing knee rehab and winning backup minutes in a now-crowded Brooklyn backcourt rather than locking down a starting job.248Nate WilliamsFA · PG58250Sharife CooperFA · PG59261Jose AlvaradoNYK · PG60GTD262Marcus SasserDAL · PG61Sasser is a Dallas backup guard behind Kyrie Irving who has played well in his first regular-season game and will start when Irving sits, but the bench guard job is still contested.266Yuki KawamuraFA · PG62269Dennis SchröderCHA · PG63Schröder is Charlotte's starting point guard while Coby White is out with a calf injury, and he moves back to a backup role when White returns.283Curtis JonesFA · PG64300Quentin GrimesLAL · PG65Grimes is a rotation wing for the Lakers who has played about 30 minutes in the two regular-season games I could confirm, and whether he starts is still undecided.
Shooting guards
3Cooper FlaggDAL · SG1Flagg is Dallas's starting forward and a high-usage, all-around producer who looks healthy again after missing one game with a mild left shoulder sprain.15Donovan MitchellCLE · SG2Mitchell is Cleveland's No. 1 scorer and primary playmaker through the first two games, with no injury designation, and he is sharing the backcourt with James Harden.17Anthony EdwardsMIN · SG3OutEdwards is Minnesota's lead scorer and first option, and he has started the 2026-27 season at a high level, with LaMelo Ball now beside him.25Kris DunnLAC · SG4Kris Dunn is a defense-first veteran guard who is starting for now because Clippers injuries have thinned the backcourt, and he is not a guaranteed starter once they are healthy.32Cedric CowardMEM · SG5Coward is a starting wing in year two who has produced across the board early, and the one open question is a wrist issue that has already cost him a game.36Devin BookerPHX · SG6Booker is the Suns' first option and starting point guard this season, and the sources I found show no sign of a role change.39Christian BraunDEN · SG7Braun is a starting two-guard next to Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, and the reporting I found gives no sign of that changing.41Anthony BlackORL · SG8Black is a defense-first guard who is coming back from a right ankle sprain that kept him out of the whole preseason, and he is questionable for Sunday against the Knicks. Current coverage is thin, so his usage once healthy is not well established.51Austin ReavesLAL · SG9Reaves is the Lakers' starting second option next to Luka Doncic, with high minutes and scoring volume so far, though turnovers have been a problem in recent games.56Ja'Kobe WalterTOR · SG10Walter is expected to be a rotation wing for Toronto this season. Coverage points to a bigger role after Gradey Dick left, but I found no reporting on a regular-season minutes split.58Dylan HarperSAS · SG11Harper is a high-minute, high-usage third guard in the Spurs' three-guard group with Fox and Castle. Through six games he has been playing about 33 minutes a night.65Dyson DanielsATL · SG12Daniels is the starting wing on a Hawks team that is keeping last season's second-half five, and he is expected to produce through defense, rebounding and playmaking more than scoring.66Ayo DosunmuMIN · SG13Dosunmu is Minnesota's first guard off the bench, a sixth man who fills in for either starting guard, and the team is 3-0 with him in that role.72Tyler HerroMIL · SG14Herro is Milwaukee's lead offensive guard this season, but the wire report says he will rest Wednesday against the Bulls, and I found nothing explaining why.73Amen ThompsonHOU · SG15Amen Thompson is a full-time Rockets starter and a two-way hub for the rest of the season, with a role that is secure but whose ball-handling share depends on who else is healthy.77Zach LaVineSAC · SG16GTDLaVine is the starting shooting guard and a primary scoring option on a young, thin Kings roster, with the caveat that his role beyond this season is unclear.80De'Anthony MeltonGSW · SG17Melton is expected to be Golden State's top bench guard this season, and camp and preseason evidence shows he is healthy, though his shooting was poor in preseason.82Nickeil Alexander-WalkerATL · SG18Nickeil Alexander-Walker is Atlanta's main scoring guard and a starter early in 2026-27, and the coverage I found has no real argument about his role.87Desmond BaneORL · SG19Bane is a starting guard and a top-two scoring option for Orlando while Paolo Banchero is out with a high ankle sprain, and his early shooting has been poor.90Josh HartNYK · SG20Hart is a starting wing for the defending champion Knicks who fills the box score with rebounds, assists and defense, and his preseason ankle soreness cleared in time for the opener.91Tari EasonHOU · SG21Eason is Houston's high-energy defensive forward off the bench. Early coverage says his value comes from steals and rebounds, and his scoring is inconsistent.93Alondes WilliamsFA · SG22Williams is a G League-level depth guard with no confirmed NBA rotation role right now; he is listed as a free agent, and my searches found no report of what happened to him after the Wizards' preseason.94VJ EdgecombePHI · SG23Edgecombe is a starting guard on a 76ers team that has opened 4-0 (the Sixer Sense piece calls Sunday the fourth game, and Hottakes describes it as unbeaten). He is out Sunday with an abdominal contusion that coverage so far reads as minor.103Stephon CastleSAS · SG24Castle is a full-time starter in San Antonio's three-guard lineup. He is a high-minute playmaker and rebounder whose shooting has been inefficient through six games, and his migraine looks resolved.104Jordan GoodwinPHX · SG25Goodwin is a defensive, rebounding and steals-heavy guard on Phoenix's second unit, and his minutes depend on who else is healthy around him.105Derrick WhiteBOS · SG26White is a core starter who plays big minutes at both ends. His defense and playmaking are steady, and his shooting efficiency is the open question, so expect uneven scoring nights.113Marcus SmartHOU · SG27Smart is a veteran backup guard who starts when Fred VanVleet sits, and his short-term value depends on whether the left forearm strain keeps him out of Monday's game against the Hawks.114Cam SpencerMEM · SG28Spencer is a bench shooter and secondary playmaker for Memphis, and he opened the regular season in a 16 to 17 minute role after losing the preseason race for a starting spot.115Meleek ThomasCLE · SG29Thomas is a rookie second-round guard who has moved into Cleveland's backup guard minutes after missing the first two games, with about 20 minutes a night and perimeter scoring as his value.129Trey Murphy IIINOP · SG30GTDMurphy is the Pelicans' main perimeter scorer and plays about 32 minutes a game, but his shooting has been shaky and his early usage has been questioned. The knee issue looks minor, since he is probable for Monday's game against the Grizzlies.137Luke KennardPHX · SG31Kennard is a bench shooter on the Suns' second unit. He is a catch-and-shoot specialist whose minutes will be shared with other backup guards.154Ausar ThompsonDET · SG32Ausar Thompson is a defense-first, rebounding and playmaking wing who is being tried as a secondary ball handler. His minutes are steady but not large, and the scoring is modest.161Cason WallaceOKC · SG33OutCason Wallace is OKC's expected full-time starting shooting guard next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. His value is mostly defensive and steals, and the shoulder injury that ended his Sunday game against the Clippers adds short-term uncertainty.174Sam MerrillCLE · SG34Merrill is a bench shooting guard on a Cleveland team that wants a 10-man rotation. The wire report that he went through a full practice points toward a return from the right elbow soreness, but I found nothing confirming his games played this season.179John PoulakidasFA · SG35Poulakidas is a free agent with no NBA team found in current reporting, so he has no active role for now.180Tre JonesCHI · SG36Tre Jones looks like the Bulls' backup point guard and second-unit organizer this season. A hip issue kept him out of a preseason game, and his availability is the open question.195Kentavious Caldwell-PopePHI · SG37Caldwell-Pope is a veteran three-and-D wing who comes off the bench when Philadelphia is healthy and starts when a starting guard or wing is out.201Pat SpencerPHX · SG38Pat Spencer is a 30-year-old two-way guard signed by Phoenix in July 2026, and the coverage I found expects him to be injury depth and G League depth, not a regular rotation player.207Bruce BrownFA · SG39Bruce Brown is an unsigned veteran wing with no roster spot right now, so he has no fantasy role until a team signs him.227Miles McBrideNYK · SG40McBride is the Knicks' regular sixth man behind Jalen Brunson, and the main open question is whether he stays on the roster all season, not his on-court role.232Max ChristieDAL · SG41Max Christie enters the 2026-27 season as Dallas's probable starting shooting guard, but training camp reporting through early October 2026 shows the coaching staff experimenting with him in a bigger, more creative role rather than the pure off-ball shooter he was last season.236Tyson EtienneFA · SG42Etienne is not on an NBA roster this season. He signed with Paris Basketball in France in July 2026, so he has no NBA role to project.240Bogdan BogdanovićHOU · SG43Bogdanović arrives in Houston on a one-year free agent deal after the Clippers declined his $16 million option, and camp reporting frames him purely as a veteran bench shooter trying to prove his legs are back after an injury wrecked year.243Tre JohnsonWAS · SG44Tre Johnson is a second-year scoring guard who is the first guard off Washington's bench early in 2026-27, and his production depends on his shooting.244Egor DëminBKN · SG45OutEgor Dëmin is the Nets' starting point guard through the first three games of 2026-27, with a workload of roughly 26 to 31 minutes and shaky shooting efficiency.251John TonjePOR · SG46253Tyrese ProctorCLE · SG47273Bryce McGowensNOP · SG48McGowens enters 2026-27 as a depth wing for New Orleans who has to win bench minutes in camp rather than being handed them, with his toe designation adding short-term uncertainty right as preseason games start.285Jalen GreenPHX · SG49Green is a starting guard next to Devin Booker in Phoenix, but he has played only 2 games this season and has not yet shown a stable role or efficiency.288Jared McCainOKC · SG50McCain is a bench scoring guard for Oklahoma City whose minutes have so far followed his shooting, and he has been ruled out Monday against the Hawks for rest.295Miles KellyFA · SG51297Chris LivingstonFA · SG52
Small forwards
14Paul GeorgeBOS · SF1George is Boston's second forward next to Jayson Tatum, and through the first week or so of the season he has been used as a full-minutes, high-usage player rather than being eased in.19Toumani CamaraPOR · SF2Camara is a starting wing for Portland this season. His main jobs are guarding the other team's best perimeter player and spacing the floor next to Lillard, Morant and Avdija.21Kawhi LeonardTOR · SF3OutKawhi Leonard is a 35-year-old Raptors starter whose availability is uncertain for now. He was a late scratch on Oct. 25 with left knee swelling and has further testing on Monday.22Kevin DurantHOU · SF4Durant is Houston's starting forward and top scorer, and he is still playing starter-level minutes early in the season, though the coach wants to cut his workload over the full 82 games.24Jayson TatumBOS · SF5Tatum is Boston's clear first option this season, now more than 7 months removed from Achilles surgery, and early reporting shows no workload limit.28Michael Porter Jr.BKN · SF6Michael Porter Jr. is Brooklyn's lead perimeter scorer, with a steady scoring and rebounding line. How many touches he keeps next to Julius Randle is the open question.31Julian ChampagnieSAS · SF7Champagnie is a floor-spacing forward who came off the bench in the Spurs' first three regular-season games, and his minutes could shift again once Tobias Harris returns from his calf injury.33Jaden McDanielsMIN · SF8McDaniels is a starting-level two-way forward whose scoring role may grow after the Randle trade, but I could not confirm where he lines up in the regular-season starting five.45Duncan RobinsonDET · SF9Robinson is a starting-shooting-guard three-point specialist for Detroit, and his value comes almost entirely from volume from deep.48Ace BaileyUTA · SF10Bailey is a second-year forward who moved into Utah's starting five two days ago, but he is in a crowded frontcourt and wing group, and his role could still change.53Zaccharie RisacherDAL · SF11Risacher is a Dallas forward in his third season whose current role is a fill-in starter's job. It depends on Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving being out, and the coverage I found does not describe a settled long-term role.64Brandon MillerCHA · SF12Miller is Charlotte's lead scorer and a high-volume shooter, and his early efficiency is poor but the role itself looks secure.75Aaron WigginsATL · SF13Aaron Wiggins, acquired from Oklahoma City in June, is a bench wing with a hot start in Atlanta: through three games he is averaging 17.0 points on 58.1 percent shooting, and the open question is how long that lasts in a crowded rotation.78Ziaire WilliamsLAL · SF14OutWilliams is the Lakers' starting point-of-attack wing defender through the first week of the season, and he comes with a long injury history.86Norman PowellCHI · SF15Powell is the veteran scoring guard on a rebuilding Chicago team, and he has been a steady starter and shot-taker through three regular-season games.88Pelle LarssonMIA · SF16Larsson is a bench wing for Miami to open 2026-27, and he has been a first-off-the-bench rotation piece in the first three games.89Devin VassellSAS · SF17Vassell is the fifth starter beside Fox, Castle, Harper and Wembanyama, a complementary wing whose shot volume is capped by the crowded backcourt.99Tristan da SilvaORL · SF18Tristan da Silva looks like Orlando's top reserve forward behind Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero, a floor spacer who starts only when someone is out.101Grayson AllenCHA · SF19Allen is Charlotte's sixth-man scorer and spot-up shooter. His minutes and usage are higher right now only because Kon Knueppel and Coby White are out, and they will drop when those two return.110Matisse ThybulleLAL · SF20Thybulle is a defense-first wing who has started games for the Lakers this preseason and early season, but whether the starting job lasts is not settled in the reporting I found.111Saddiq BeyNOP · SF21Bey is a bench forward in the Pelicans' rotation, productive in about 24 minutes a night, and the open question is whether that workload grows.118Jaylen BrownPHI · SF22Jaylen Brown is a 30-year-old high-minute starting wing on a new, star-heavy Sixers team. His left knee tendinopathy is the one thing that could cut into that workload.131Bilal CoulibalyWAS · SF23Coulibaly is a defense-first wing who opened the season in the starting five, but his hold on that job depends on when rookie AJ Dybantsa returns from an ankle injury.133RJ BarrettTOR · SF24RJ Barrett is Toronto's starting wing through the first two regular-season games, and he has scored 20 or more in both.140Kyshawn GeorgeWAS · SF25George opens the season as a starting wing for Washington with real playmaking duties, and his workload looks tied to whether rookie AJ Dybantsa returns from his ankle injury.143Jaylen WellsMEM · SF26Wells is a starting wing for Memphis who has opened the 2026-27 season in the first unit, and the main open question is how much of that job survives once Cedric Coward is healthy.145Dillon BrooksPHX · SF27Brooks looks like a starting forward on a Phoenix team that is struggling early, and his usage this season is the open question.152Jake LaRaviaLAL · SF28LaRavia is a bench wing fighting for rotation minutes, and he played 15 minutes in Sunday's win over Utah after missing the Clippers game with an ankle sprain.153John KoncharFA · SF29Konchar is not an NBA player this season: he signed a two-year deal with Olympiacos in Greece, so he has no NBA role for the rest of 2026-27.156Peyton WatsonCLE · SF30GTDPeyton Watson is a new Cavaliers wing who is expected to start at the three, and his value comes from defense and all-around production more than from scoring volume.163Naji MarshallDAL · SF31Marshall is Dallas's backup point guard behind Kyrie Irving and a fill-in starter when the stars are out, but he is out Monday against the Heat with an illness.171Kobe SandersLAC · SF32Sanders is a 24-year-old wing on a new four-year deal who, per a RotoWire blurb dated Oct 30, 2026, has started at least one game this season, but the evidence on how steady that role is comes only from fragments.175David RoddyFA · SF33David Roddy is not in the NBA this season: he signed with Hapoel Jerusalem in July 2026, so he has no NBA fantasy role unless he returns to the league.185Franz WagnerORL · SF34Wagner is Orlando's starting forward and top creator. The shoulder issue is behind him, and the open questions are how much ball-handling he keeps and how many games he plays.186Andrew WigginsMIA · SF35Wiggins is Miami's starting wing beside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, a defense-first role that has produced little scoring through the Heat's 0-3 start.196Javonte GreenDET · SF36Javonte Green is a 33-year-old 3-and-D reserve wing for Detroit, and he is currently ahead in a backup-forward competition after a big opener. Three games of data is a small sample.212Brice SensabaughUTA · SF37Sensabaugh is a bench scorer on a Jazz roster that now has more scoring options, so his role is smaller than last season's. This is based on reporting through about October 28.222Terrence Shannon Jr.MIN · SF38Terrence Shannon Jr. is a fringe-to-low-end bench wing on a Timberwolves team that has added on-ball competition, and his minutes are not secure.223Aaron NesmithIND · SF39Nesmith is Indiana's returning starting wing, and he is coming back from a left hamstring strain with his minutes still capped at about 20 a night.235Klay ThompsonMIA · SF40Klay Thompson, 36, enters the season as Miami's starting shooting guard, brought in for floor spacing around Giannis Antetokounmpo. He shot badly in four exhibition games, and Tim Hardaway Jr. is pushing him for minutes.241Ethan ThompsonFA · SF41Ethan Thompson is off the NBA board for this season: after exiting a two-way deal with Indiana, he signed to play in the EuroLeague rather than pursuing another NBA training-camp shot.242Jaylon TysonCLE · SF42OutTyson is a rotation wing off the bench for Cleveland, with his minutes capped so far by a crowded perimeter group.246Jamison BattleTOR · SF43249MarJon BeauchampFA · SF44257Luguentz DortATL · SF45Dort is a defense-first wing who joined Atlanta from Oklahoma City in an offseason trade. The coverage I found is almost all preseason, and his regular-season role is not yet established in anything I read.263DeMar DeRozanDEN · SF46DeRozan is the Nuggets' first scorer off the bench for 2026-27, after a one-year, $3.9 million deal, and the coach says he will settle the exact rotation by feel in preseason.277Leaky BlackSAC · SF47Leaky Black is a fringe training-camp addition in Sacramento fighting for a non-guaranteed roster spot, not a rotation piece anyone should plan around.280Jordan WalshBOS · SF48284Mikal BridgesNYK · SF49Bridges is the Knicks' starting wing, but his season-opening shooting has been poor and his late-game minutes were a live question last spring.290Gui SantosGSW · SF50DTDSantos enters his fourth NBA season fighting for the Warriors' open second small forward/power forward starting spot, with camp and the first preseason game showing him currently on the second unit behind rookie Yaxel Lendeborg.293Daeqwon PlowdenSAC · SF51Plowden is a fringe rotation wing/forward whose path to minutes this season looks far tighter than the finish to his 2025-26 campaign suggested, after the Kings loaded up the frontcourt and bench during the offseason.294Tristan EnarunaCLE · SF52
Power forwards
9Jabari Smith Jr.HOU · PF1Jabari Smith Jr. is a starting power forward who spaces the floor and guards the other team's best forward. He is a complementary piece on offense, with occasional big scoring nights.29Zion WilliamsonNOP · PF2Zion Williamson is a featured scorer on a team that started 0-2, and his workload has not been limited so far, though durability remains the standing concern.34Giannis AntetokounmpoMIA · PF3Giannis Antetokounmpo is Miami's first option and a regular starter, and he has produced like a star in the Heat's early games despite an uneven team start.38Scottie BarnesTOR · PF4Barnes is Toronto's lead offensive engine and a full-time starter. He is coming off a career-high 41 points, and his usage rises whenever Kawhi Leonard is out.42Jalen JohnsonATL · PF5GTDJalen Johnson is Atlanta's centerpiece for 2026-27: an All-NBA Third Team forward and first-time All-Star who is expected to start and lead the offense.46Miles BridgesPHX · PF6Bridges is a starting forward in his first season with Phoenix, a secondary scorer behind Devin Booker who is still finding his footing after an early-camp ankle injury and a thin frontcourt.57Alex CarusoOKC · PF7OutCaruso is a defense-first sixth man whose minutes have risen early this season because OKC lost wing depth. How long that increase lasts is not yet known.59Caleb WilsonCHI · PF8Wilson, the No. 4 pick, is Chicago's featured rookie and has been the team's top option through six games, with high volume and poor efficiency so far.60LeBron JamesPHI · PF9LeBron James is a 41-year-old Sixers forward on a back-management plan, who has been productive across the board in his first two games but is likely to miss some games, especially on back-to-backs.63Yaxel LendeborgGSW · PF10Lendeborg is a rookie (No. 11 pick) who has started the Warriors' first games and is getting heavy minutes while Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody are out.67Paolo BancheroORL · PF11OutBanchero is out for roughly the next month with a right high-ankle sprain, so he is a hold-or-stash question until a return date is announced.81Kadary RichmondFA · PF12Richmond is a fringe, non-rotation player right now: he is listed as a free agent, and the only current evidence I found points to G League depth rather than an NBA role.92Derrick Jones Jr.LAC · PF13GTDDerrick Jones Jr. is a defense-first wing with low offensive usage. He has an expanded opening-week role while Brandon Ingram is out with an Achilles injury, and how long that lasts is unconfirmed.98Julius RandleBKN · PF14Randle is Brooklyn's veteran focal point this season: a high-minute, high-usage forward who scores and passes, with turnovers and shaky efficiency as the main drawbacks.107AJ DybantsaWAS · PF15Dybantsa is the No. 1 overall pick and a rookie who is expected to be a starting wing once his left ankle sprain clears. He has not played a regular-season minute, and no return date has been confirmed.108Deni AvdijaPOR · PF16Avdija is Portland's featured scorer and playmaker, and he has stayed the focal point of the offense through two games even with Lillard and Morant in the backcourt.117Obi ToppinIND · PF17GTDToppin looks like a bench forward who plays the 4 and some small-ball 5, with a reported role of roughly 20 to 25 minutes, and no source I found has him starting.121Aaron GordonDEN · PF18Aaron Gordon is Denver's starting power forward next to Nikola Jokic. His season depends mostly on whether he stays healthy, because his role looks settled.122Jonathan KumingaMIN · PF19Kuminga is the projected starting power forward on a new-look Minnesota team, a complementary rebound-and-defend forward whose minutes may sit below the other starters.126Lauri MarkkanenUTA · PF20Markkanen is Utah's top scorer and a lead option when healthy. He is coming back from a right wrist sprain that cost him one game, and the frontcourt around him is thin.132OG AnunobyNYK · PF21Anunoby is a full-time New York starter who plays heavy minutes and is slow out of the gate, with a possible small-ball center wrinkle that is still unproven.141Justin ChampagnieWAS · PF22OutChampagnie is a rebounding, high-energy bench forward on a deeper Wizards roster. He has produced early, and his minutes depend partly on how the frontcourt looks when it is healthy.142Dean WadePHI · PF23Wade is a defense-first forward on a deep roster who has started two games in a row because of injuries and rest. Reporting expects him to move to the bench once the 76ers are healthy.146Jalen WilliamsOKC · PF24OutWilliams is out indefinitely after surgery for a fractured left fibula and ankle ligament reconstruction. He is a long shot to play any meaningful part of this season, and the Thunder have not said when he will return.149P.J. WashingtonDAL · PF25P.J. Washington is a starting-caliber forward in Dallas, and he started in the Mavericks' reported opening lineup, but coach Dusty May has not committed to him as a permanent starter.155Trevon ScottFA · PF26Trevon Scott is an unsigned free agent with no NBA roster spot or role this season, so he has no fantasy role unless a team signs him.160Precious AchiuwaSAC · PF27Achiuwa is a frontcourt big whose role is still moving: he was a bench backup in the first two games, then got a start at power forward, and the wire's ankle injury adds a new unknown.166Kyle KuzmaMIL · PF28Kuzma is a starting-caliber forward on a Bucks team without Giannis Antetokounmpo. He is playing 27 or more minutes a game, but his scoring has been modest and his night off for rest on Wednesday against the Bulls (per the wire note) shows he is being managed.168Jaime Jaquez Jr.MIL · PF29Jaquez is a regular starter and one of the main offensive options on a Bucks team that is 1-4 (as of the Oct 31 game preview). His minutes have varied from game to game, but his shot volume has stayed steady.169Tyler BurtonFA · PF30Burton is not on an NBA roster right now, so for the rest of this season he is a G League depth forward and not a fantasy option unless he gets another NBA call-up.170Trevon BrazileDEN · PF31Brazile is a rookie second-round pick (35th overall) who has played his way into Denver's early-season rotation, and his role beyond the current injuries is not yet settled.173Pascal SiakamIND · PF32Siakam is Indiana's lead scorer and top frontcourt option through two regular-season games, and his minutes and role look secure with no injury designation.177Mouhamadou GueyeFA · PF33Gueye is not on an NBA roster in the sources I found, so he has no NBA role to project right now, and I found no reporting that he has signed anywhere.187Mario HezonjaCLE · PF34Hezonja is a bench forward in his first NBA season since 2019-20, and his role is real but not yet fixed. He played 19 minutes in the opener, but the 10-man rotation is still being sorted.191John CollinsDET · PF35John Collins is the Pistons' starting power forward and a spot-up shooter and lob finisher next to Cade Cunningham, with two regular-season games of evidence so far.203Skal LabissièreFA · PF36Labissière is an unsigned free agent with no confirmed NBA role for the rest of this season, and I found no current coverage of a rotation spot.204Sam HauserBOS · PF37Hauser is a low-usage, three-point-shooting wing who looks set for a rotation role off Boston's bench, but I found no regular-season coverage of how he has actually been used.210Josh OduroFA · PF38Oduro is not on an NBA roster. RealGM and Wikipedia say he signed with Melbourne United in Australia's NBL, so he has no NBA role this season unless an NBA club signs him.214Draymond GreenGSW · PF39OutDraymond Green is the Warriors' starting small-ball center and a high-assist, low-scoring defender for now. He is expected to play about 26 to 30 minutes, and his back is a small concern after he missed one game.217Caleb MartinDAL · PF40Martin is a fringe forward who returned from a thumb sprain and has played in the two games since, with minutes that depend on Dallas's injuries.218De'Andre HunterSAC · PF41Hunter is a low-usage wing who opens the season with an unsettled Kings role, and his starting job is contested in preseason reporting.224Matas BuzelisCHI · PF42Buzelis is a young Bulls forward whose role is still being set. He was benched for a game early in the 2026-27 season, and a report from about four days before this check has him back in a new starting five.225Leonard MillerCHI · PF43Miller is a young forward who played his way into the Bulls' rotation with a strong preseason, but I found no regular-season sample or confirmed role to judge him on yet.226Danny WolfBKN · PF44Wolf enters his second NBA season as a depth big man who lost ground this offseason when Brooklyn added size ahead of him, and as of camp opening (media day held September 28, 2026 per a NetsDaily offseason report) his path to real minutes runs through beating out Moritz Wagner and Chaney Johnson for backup center/forward time rather than starting.228Ronald Holland IIDET · PF45Ron Holland II is a bench forward on a deep Pistons team. His role looked secure after the offseason departures, but a three-minute season opener has put his minutes in question.229Trendon WatfordNOP · PF46Watford is a camp-bubble frontcourt depth signing in New Orleans, not a settled rotation piece, and his fantasy relevance this season hinges on whether he even survives the final roster cuts.234Graham IkeGSW · PF47Ike is a rookie two-way big who has started two straight games because Golden State is thin up front. His role depends on who else is available, and I found nothing saying it is permanent.237Chaney JohnsonBKN · PF48Chaney Johnson is a 24-year-old two-way big man entering his second NBA season with Brooklyn, fighting for a fringe frontcourt role rather than a guaranteed rotation spot.252Jerami GrantMEM · PF49Grant is a heavy-minutes scorer for a rebuilding Memphis team, and early reporting has him as the lead bench forward rather than a starter.254Keldon JohnsonSAS · PF50Keldon Johnson is the Spurs' second-unit forward, and the reporting I found points to a reduced role this season, not an expanded one.255Tidjane SalaünCHA · PF51Salaün is a fringe rotation forward for Charlotte, and so far this season he is in and out of the lineup on coach's decisions.258Herbert JonesNOP · PF52Herb Jones enters 2026-27 fully recovered from last season's shoulder surgery and is presently viewed as New Orleans's starting small forward and top perimeter defender under new coach Jamahl Mosley, though the exact closing lineup around him is still being sorted out in camp.259GG JacksonMEM · PF53GG Jackson enters a contract year as one of several young Grizzlies forwards fighting for bench minutes rather than a settled rotation spot.264Kelly Oubre Jr.IND · PF54Oubre is a veteran wing who has moved from the starting five to a bench role in Indiana, and his minutes now sit in the low 20s.267Jalen SlawsonIND · PF55Slawson enters the 2026-27 season as a two-way energy forward fighting for third-unit minutes and spot duty as a small-ball five, not as a locked-in rotation piece.270Allen GravesTOR · PF56Graves is a 20-year-old rookie who has made Toronto's opening-night rotation. He is a fringe ninth or tenth man whose playing time depends on matchups, not a settled role.272Norchad OmierFA · PF57274Ryan DunnPHX · PF58Dunn is entering the 2026-27 Suns camp fighting for a roster spot rather than a rotation role, after being phased out of the playoff rotation last season.278Noah ClowneyBKN · PF59Clowney enters a contract year as the presumptive top candidate for backup power forward minutes behind newly added starter Julius Randle, but he has to win that job in camp rather than simply inherit it.281Larry Nance Jr.IND · PF60Nance is a depth big on a minimum deal whose fantasy relevance hinges on an already-crowded Indiana frontcourt, and his hamstring issue has kept him off the floor for most of camp heading into opening night.289Bogoljub MarkovićMIL · PF61291Rui HachimuraLAC · PF62Hachimura is the Clippers' starting power forward after signing in July 2026. He has started slowly in a bigger offensive role, and his shooting has been poor so far.298Sidy CissokoPOR · PF63Cissoko looks like a hustle-and-defense reserve on a Portland team that Nori has said will play 10 deep, and he is a rotation piece, not a featured scorer.299Patrick BaldwinFA · PF64
Centers
2Victor WembanyamaSAS · C1Wembanyama is the Spurs' first offensive option and a centerpiece scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker, and the early 2026-27 evidence points to heavy usage with no designation attached.5Nikola JokićDEN · C2Jokić is Denver's engine and a clear centerpiece this season, with the only open question being how many minutes Denver asks of him, not his role.8Domantas SabonisSAC · C3Sabonis is the Kings' starting center and primary rebounding and passing hub on a team that is 0-6, and nothing in the reporting I found points to a role change.10Alperen ŞengünHOU · C4Sengun is Houston's starting center and primary playmaking hub. He returned from a two-game back absence on Saturday (Oct. 31) and looked unrestricted, though the back is still a watch item.13Karl-Anthony TownsNYK · C5Towns is the Knicks' starting center and a steady double-double producer, and foul trouble is the main thing that caps his minutes.16Yves MissiNOP · C6OutMissi is the Pelicans' starting center but is out indefinitely with a left knee bone bruise, so for now he has no usable role and no return date.18Evan MobleyCLE · C7Mobley is a core starting-caliber big for Cleveland through the first six games of 2026-27, with no injury designation and a steady workload, but I found no current analysis of his role.23Cameron BoozerMEM · C8Boozer is a rookie starting power forward for Memphis. Through two regular-season games he has been a high-minute rebounding and playmaking hub whose shooting has been inconsistent.26Jarrett AllenCLE · C9Jarrett Allen is Cleveland's starting center and is expected to play through a lingering knee issue, though the early reporting suggests his minutes could be managed.30Walker KesslerLAL · C10Kessler is the Lakers' starting center and rim protector, on a four-year, $130 million deal. He has played 30 or more minutes in most games so far, and nothing in current reporting suggests that is changing.35Bam AdebayoMIA · C11Adebayo is Miami's starting center and a second option next to Giannis Antetokounmpo. Through the first six games he has produced steadily but not spectacularly, and he has had one groin issue.47Chet HolmgrenOKC · C12OutHolmgren is OKC's starting big man, and in two regular-season games he has produced mainly rebounds and blocks. The sample is tiny, and his quad issue appears to be behind him.49Moussa DiabatéCHA · C13Diabaté is Charlotte's preseason starting center and played big minutes in the opener, but he has only two regular-season games, so his hold on the job is still unproven.50Jalen DurenDET · C14OutDuren is the Pistons' starting center but is out with a right hamstring strain, so his near-term value depends on when he clears the re-evaluation.52Anthony DavisWAS · C15Davis is the Wizards' clear first option, and through six regular-season games he has played about 33 minutes a night without missing one.54Wendell Carter Jr.ORL · C16Wendell Carter Jr. is Orlando's starting center, but Nikola Vucevic's return as a backup is the main question over his minutes.70Paul ReedDET · C17Reed is Detroit's primary backup big, and he got a bigger workload in the Oct. 23 win over Miami. How far that extends depends on Jalen Duren's availability, and I could not confirm that.71Jalen SmithCHI · C18GTDSmith is the Bulls' stopgap starting center while Nic Claxton is out, and he is expected to move back to backup center once Claxton returns. His foot issue is the open question.76Jaxson HayesUTA · C19Hayes is a shot-blocking big on a rotation that is still sorting itself out. He opened the season in the starting five, then moved back to the bench in the next game I found, so his role is not settled.79Daniel GaffordDAL · C20Gafford is Dallas's starting center to open the season, but beat coverage expects his role to shrink as Lively and Aldama return and rookie Morez Johnson competes for frontcourt minutes.84Donovan ClinganPOR · C21Clingan is Portland's starting center and an offensive-rebounding and shot-blocking anchor. Early minutes are lower than last year's, and he is still working to expand his offensive game.85Joel EmbiidPHI · C22GTDEmbiid is the Sixers' starting center when he plays, and the team is managing a right foot plantar fascia problem by sitting him on back-to-backs, so expect a high-impact player who is not available every night.95Bobby Portis Jr.MIA · C23Portis is Miami's first big off the bench behind Bam Adebayo, a rebounding and three-point source whose ceiling is capped by the Heat's new frontcourt.100Mo BambaUTA · C24Mo Bamba is a deep-bench center for Utah. His only path to real minutes is injuries or matchups in a thin frontcourt. The latest coverage I found says he hasn't yet had a clear role in the regular season.106Isaiah StewartMEM · C25Stewart is Memphis's backup center behind Zach Edey. He started once as a spot fill-in when Edey sat, and it's too early to say how much more than that he will get.112Onyeka OkongwuATL · C26Okongwu is Atlanta's starting center through the first week of the season, but he is playing fewer minutes and shooting worse than he did in the second half of last season.119Thomas BryantCLE · C27Thomas Bryant looks like a third-string or emergency center for Cleveland, and his value depends on injuries or a trade ahead of him. The current evidence is thin.123Isaiah HartensteinOKC · C28Hartenstein is OKC's starting center, and through five games he's a rebounding and passing big on modest minutes of about 23 to 26 a night, with rookie Aday Mara as the one threat to that workload.124Derik QueenNOP · C29Queen is a backup center behind Yves Missi who is producing in limited minutes, and his ceiling this season depends on Missi's knee and on whether coach Jamahl Mosley trusts his defense.125Robert Williams IIIPOR · C30Robert Williams III is Portland's backup center behind Donovan Clingan, a short-minute rim protector and rebounder whose usefulness depends on staying healthy and on a managed workload.127Alex SarrWAS · C31GTDAlex Sarr is a starting big man in Washington who is playing about 24 minutes a night through three games, and the sources disagree on whether that rises toward 28 or stays near 25.128Brook LopezLAC · C32A 38-year-old stretch center who is expected to be the backup behind Isaiah Jackson, with a role of roughly 16 to 22 minutes that could change if the Clippers trade him.144Isaiah JacksonLAC · C33Isaiah Jackson is the Clippers' starting center through the first week of the season, but his hold on the job looks conditional because Brook Lopez has been a close second.148Zach EdeyMEM · C34Edey is Memphis's starting center, and the club is easing him back from two left ankle surgeries and an elbow surgery with capped minutes and maintenance rest.157Myles TurnerMIL · C35Turner is Milwaukee's starting center through the first three games of a rebuilding season. His job looks less secure than it did, and he is a standing trade candidate.158Kel'el WareMIL · C36Kel'el Ware is a bench center for the Bucks, behind starter Myles Turner, and has been productive in limited minutes. His role is still unsettled, and Turner is the main variable.164Naz ReidCHA · C37Naz Reid is Charlotte's lead big man through three games of 2026-27, after the offseason trade that sent him from Minnesota in the LaMelo Ball deal, and his production so far is well above his career norms.165Sandro MamukelashviliLAL · C38Mamukelashvili is Los Angeles's first big off the bench, a shooting and passing backup center behind Walker Kessler, and he has not started in the first six games.167Jaren Jackson Jr.UTA · C39OutJackson is a core frontcourt piece for Utah alongside Lauri Markkanen, off to a productive start through two games, with foul trouble and his health history as the main risks.172Moritz WagnerBKN · C40Wagner is a Brooklyn backup big whose minutes have grown over the first five games, and he is shooting far above his career norm from three, so the open question is whether the role holds.184Karlo MatkovićNOP · C41Matković is a deep-league frontcourt option whose minutes depend on Yves Missi's knee injury and on whether Mosley keeps starting him over Derik Queen and DeAndre Jordan.189Khaman MaluachPHX · C42Maluach is a 20-year-old second-year center who is in a real fight for the starting job with Oso Ighodaro while Mark Williams is out after September shoulder surgery, and he is likely to play meaningful minutes either way.190Ryan KalkbrennerCHA · C43Kalkbrenner is a backup center to starter Moussa Diabate, and his early-season minutes are short and block-driven.193DeAndre JordanNOP · C44DeAndre Jordan is a 38-year-old emergency-depth center. The only current evidence I found says he is behind Yves Missi, and a leadership role is the reason the Pelicans re-signed him.194Collin Murray-BoylesTOR · C45Murray-Boyles is a second-year big who comes off the bench as Toronto's frontcourt reserve, and he starts when Jakob Poeltl, Scottie Barnes or Kawhi Leonard is out.197Day'Ron SharpeBKN · C46Sharpe is Brooklyn's projected starting center for 2026-27 after the Nic Claxton trade, and the open question is whether he holds the job and the minutes, not whether he gets the chance. The shoulder soreness that kept him out of Thursday's preseason game has no designation attached, and I found nothing newer on it.200Joan BeringerMIN · C47Beringer is Rudy Gobert's backup center in Minnesota and has a real but unsettled rotation role, with minutes that Finch says depend on how he plays.211Clint CapelaHOU · C48GTDCapela is a backup center who gets short-term bumps in minutes when Alperen Sengun or Steven Adams is out, and he is currently questionable with an ankle issue.215Ivica ZubacIND · C49OutZubac is the Pacers' starting center when healthy, but he is out with a left ankle sprain and has no reported return date, so his rest-of-season value starts with how fast he comes back.216Neemias QuetaBOS · C50Queta has moved from last season's full-time starter to a reserve center behind Mitchell Robinson, but he is still a rotation big with real minutes, and Robinson's durability could give him more.220Charles BasseyGSW · C51Bassey is a depth center with a real but unsettled role, and his knee tendinopathy is the main thing deciding whether he plays.221Olivier SarrFA · C52Olivier Sarr is not in the NBA this season: Hoops Rumors and EuroLeague.net reported in mid-August 2026 that he signed a two-year deal with Real Madrid, so he has no NBA fantasy role.230Aday MaraOKC · C53Mara is a rookie backup center on a deep Thunder team. Through three games he has played short bench minutes, with a lot of defensive upside and a small role.238Jay HuffIND · C54Huff is Indiana's backup center behind Ivica Zubac, but Zubac's left ankle sprain in the Oct. 25 win over Brooklyn could open a short-term starting role if Zubac misses games.256Al HorfordGSW · C55Horford is a 40-year-old, minutes-capped big man who plays the first few weeks as a backup or fill-in center while Kristaps Porzingis is out indefinitely, and he is now out Saturday with a back issue.260Yang HansenPOR · C56265Quinten PostMEM · C57GTDPost heads into his first season in Memphis as a floor-spacing backup big fighting for minutes in a suddenly crowded center room rather than a clear role.268Andre DrummondNYK · C58Andre Drummond is the Knicks' backup center behind Karl-Anthony Towns, a rebounding specialist on a one-year, $3.9 million deal who replaces Mitchell Robinson.271Jonathan MogboSAC · C59Mogbo is a depth big man on a two-way contract fighting for scraps of frontcourt minutes behind an already crowded Kings forward rotation, with his role to be decided by camp and injuries rather than guaranteed now.275Jakob PoeltlTOR · C60GTDPoeltl is Toronto's nominal starting center, but his value this season depends on whether his back lets him play a full schedule.276Steven AdamsHOU · C61OutAdams is a 33-year-old backup center who has barely played this season because of a right soleus strain, and his availability is the main question right now.279Trayce Jackson-DavisTOR · C62Jackson-Davis is a depth big for Toronto heading into training camp, with no current reporting establishing a clear rotation spot and an undisclosed day-to-day designation hanging over his early-season outlook.282Deandre AytonWAS · C63Ayton is Washington's first big off the bench, and three regular-season games show a 15 to 16 minute, low-usage role. It grows only if Anthony Davis or Alex Sarr misses time.286Oscar TshiebweHOU · C64Tshiebwe is a camp invitee big man battling for a two-way or bottom-of-the-roster spot in Houston, not a player projected for meaningful regular-season minutes behind the Rockets' established centers.287Taj GibsonFA · C65292Zeke NnajiDEN · C66296Marvin Bagley IIIDEN · C67Bagley signed with Denver on a veteran minimum deal this offseason and has been running as the backup center behind Nikola Jokic through the first week of training camp and the preseason opener.