Brooklyn Nets power forward Trendon Watford is being evaluated for a hamstring injury. Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez has announced that several players are dealing with hamstring issues before the start of preseason, and Watford is among them. Nicolas Claxton (hamstring) has already been ruled out for Tuesday's preseason opener, and Watford could join him on the sidelines along with Day'Ron Sharpe (hamstring). Watford played well to close out the season last year, but he was limited to only 13.6 minutes per game across the campaign. A good preseason would help Watford in a battle for a regular spot in the rotation, but unfortunately, he's dealing with an injury even before the action has started.

Brooklyn Nets center Nicolas Claxton (hamstring) will not play in Tuesday's preseason opener against the Clippers. He is dealing with hamstring soreness. It looks like Claxton could be limited throughout the preseason, but it doesn't sound like it's a serious issue for him, and there's a good chance Claxton will be fully ready for the regular season. The Nets begin the campaign on Oct. 23 versus Atlanta. Brooklyn will expect big things from Claxton in 2024-25 after signing him to a four-year, $100 million extension in the summer.

Brooklyn Nets center Day'Ron Sharpe is under evaluation for a hamstring injury. The Nets have already ruled out starting center Nicolas Claxton (hamstring) for Tuesday's preseason opener and could be without another big man. Sharpe has been stuck behind Claxton in Brooklyn but played a fairly prominent role for the team in 2023-24. He averaged 6.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in 15.1 minutes. Similar levels of productivity can be expected from Sharpe in the upcoming campaign.

Detroit Pistons forward/center Isaiah Stewart will be used as a center in the upcoming campaign. Stewart started his career as a center but played the last two seasons mostly as a power forward. Now, he's set to feature as a center again, a position Stewart prefers. The six-foot-nine big man is expected to work as a backup behind Jalen Duren. It remains to be seen how Pistons head coach J. B. Bickerstaff splits the minutes between the two, but it's hard to imagine Stewart getting close to the 30.9 minutes he averaged last season, meaning his fantasy stock will take a hit.

New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Trey Murphy III (hamstring) will likely miss the start of the season. The 24-year-old sustained a right hamstring strain in Wednesday's practice, and the team announced that Murphy III will be re-evaluated in three weeks. New Orleans starts its campaign on Oct. 23 against Chicago. Murphy III mostly came off the bench for the Pelicans last term but continued to play an integral part in the rotation, averaging 29.6 minutes per game. Jordan Hawkins and Matt Ryan could get extra action without Murphy III.

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.