Houston Rockets forward Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) will miss Tuesday's matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He's recovering from an offseason ankle procedure and doesn't have a set timetable for his return. Houston snapped up Finney-Smith on a four-year, $53 million contract in the summer, indicating that the team values him quite highly. Once he is healthy, Finney-Smith is expected to have a regular role in the rotation. In the meantime, Tari Eason may see increased playing time off the bench, with veteran Jeff Green also a candidate to fill some of the vacant minutes.

Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard Isaiah Joe (knee) will miss Tuesday's season-opening matchup against the Houston Rockets. He has failed to shake off a knee injury, which Joe sustained during the preseason. With Joe on the shelf, the Thunder are forced to start the season without a skilled three-point sniper. Last season, Joe sank 41.2 percent of his three-point shots on 6.3 attempts per game, averaging a career-high 10.2 points. Joe's absence means that players like Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, and Aaron Wiggins will have a chance to step up and contribute more against Houston.

Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland (toe) is not expected to play in Wednesday's season opener against the New York Knicks, according to Cleveland.com. Garland is considered "ahead of schedule" in his recovery from offseason toe surgery, but it looks like the season opener comes too soon for him to be ready for action. Garland's absence is set to give Lonzo Ball an opportunity to start, while much of the Cavaliers offense will run through Donovan Mitchell without him. Mitchell has averaged 29.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.8 assists in games without Garland in Cleveland.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Alex Caruso (ankle) is not on the injury report ahead of Tuesday's season opener against the Houston Rockets. The defensive specialist appeared to have injured his ankle in the Thunder's preseason finale against the Denver Nuggets last week, but he has fully recovered for Tuesday. Due to Isaiah Joe's (knee) absence, Caruso could pick up additional minutes on Tuesday. However, he is clearly a much valuable player in real life than he is in fantasy hoops.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter (knee) is considered questionable for Wednesday's season opener against the New York Knicks, according to Cleveland.com. A week ago, Hunter sustained a knee contusion in a preseason contest against the Detroit Pistons. On Monday, he was only a limited participant at practice. Jaylon Tyson is seen as the favorite to start if Hunter can't play against the Knicks. A starting role would significantly boost Tyson's fantasy stock. During his rookie campaign last year, the 22-year-old had a minimal role, averaging 3.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in 9.6 minutes.

Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith has agreed to a two-year contract extension ahead of the new season, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. He's signing a two-year, $40.4 million deal, which includes a trade kicker. Nesmith will begin his fourth campaign with the Pacers and could have a significantly larger role on offense due to Tyrese Haliburton's (Achilles) absence and Myles Turner's departure. Last season, Nesmith averaged 12.0 points and 4.0 rebounds with career-high shooting percentages. He went 43.1 percent from deep and 50.7 percent overall from the field. Indiana kicks off its campaign on Thursday night with a rematch of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ty Jerome (calf) will be re-evaluated in four weeks, the team announced. He sustained a high-grade right calf strain in Friday's preseason finale against the Miami Heat. The injury will delay Jerome's debut with the Grizzlies, who signed him to a three-year, $28 million contract as a free agent this offseason. Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe) is out indefinitely and Ja Morant (ankle) isn't at 100 percent either, so Memphis' backcourt is already battling injuries before the season has even begun. This could lead to rookie Javon Small playing a significant role in the rotation from the start.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (wrist) is listed as inactive for Tuesday's opening night game against the Houston Rockets. Williams will likely be in attendance to take part in the team's ring ceremony to honor the 2024 NBA Championship, but he is officially ruled out for the season opener. The 24-year-old underwent surgery in the offseason to repair a torn ligament in his wrist, so he'll need more time to heal before he's back with his star-studded team. He averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game last season. Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, and Aaron Wiggins should get more playing time in Williams' absence. Oklahoma City having stronger depth than any other team in the league allows the club to play it safe and avoid playing Williams until he's closer to 100% healthy and ready for high-level basketball.

According to Shams Charania of ESPN Atlanta Hawks guardDyson Daniels agreed to a four-year, $100 million rookie contract extension with the franchise on Monday. Daniels was named NBA's Most Improved Player of the Year last season after averaging 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists across 33.8 minutes per contest in 76 appearences. He also made first-team All-Defense and finished second-place for Defensive Player of the Year after leading the NBA with 3.0 steals per game.

Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appealreports that Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant (ankle) is expected to be available to suit up for Wednesday's regular season opener versus the New Orleans Pelicans. Morant sprained his left ankle during practice in early October and has had a long list of injuries the last few seasons. During the 2024-25 campaign he averaged 23.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.2 steals in 30.4 minutes per contest across 50 appeearences. Despite playing in just 58 games in the last two seasons the 26-year-old still remains a top fantasy asset when he is healthy.

ESPN's Shams Charania reports that Denver Nuggets guard/forward Christian Braun agreed to a five-year, $125 million rookie contract extension with the organization on Monday. Last campaign during 79 appearences Braun averaged 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 steals while shooting 58.0 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from beyond the arc in 33.9 minutes per contest. He will likely remain in a starting role even after the Nuggets re-tooled a lot of their lineup this offseason.

Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (calf) has officially been ruled out through at least the end of October and will be re-evaluated on November 3. While the team hopes he can ramp up shortly after, there is no guarantee of an immediate return, and Chicago may opt for caution with its lead guard. White is coming off a breakout campaign in which he averaged a career-high 20.4 points per game while starting 73 contests and steadily improving his efficiency. In his absence, Josh Giddey is expected to handle primary point guard duties, with Ayo Dosunmu and Tre Jones also seeing expanded playmaking roles. Fantasy managers should keep White stashed in all formats, but those in need of short-term guard production can look to Jones or Dosunmu as viable streaming options until White is cleared to return.

Washington Wizards small forward Bilal Coulibaly (thumb) has been ruled out for Wednesday's season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks and is expected to miss at least the first week or two of the season. The third-year wing suffered the injury late in the preseason, delaying what was expected to be a breakout campaign. Coulibaly made a promising leap last season, boosting his scoring from 8.4 points as a rookie to 12.3 per game while flashing two-way upside. His absence opens the door for rookie Kyshawn George to see extended minutes on the wing, while fellow young talents Bub Carrington and Alex Sarr could also benefit as the Wizards lean into their rebuild. Fantasy managers in deeper formats should consider George as a short-term streaming option, while Coulibaly remains a strong stash candidate once healthy.

Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun has officially been named a starter for Tuesday's season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Head coach Ime Udoka confirmed he will roll out a "jumbo" frontcourt featuring Sengun alongside veteran Steven Adams, a move likely aimed at matching the Thunder's physical interior play. Sengun took a major leap last season, averaging 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while establishing himself as one of the most versatile offensive centers in the league. His combination of post scoring, playmaking, and rebounding makes him a reliable fantasy option in all formats. With Houston committed to giving him a major role once again, Sengun should be locked into fantasy lineups as a high-floor, high-upside producer on opening night.

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (hamstring) practiced fully on Monday and is on track to play in Wednesday's season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers. Brown dealt with minor hamstring tightness during the preseason, but his participation without restrictions signals that the team is confident in his health. With Jayson Tatum (Achilles) expected to miss most of the season, Brown should operate as Boston's primary offensive option to open the year. He already carried a strong 28.9% usage rate last season and averaged 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game, and those numbers could rise early on with increased scoring volume and ball-handling responsibilities. Fantasy managers should view Brown as a high-end option in all formats this week, with a strong chance to deliver elite production while Tatum is sidelined.

New York Knicks forward Josh Hart (back) missed Monday's practice as he continues to deal with a lingering back issue that kept him sidelined for most of the preseason. His status for Wednesday's season opener remains uncertain, and the Knicks may opt for caution given Hart's importance as a high-energy two-way contributor. If he's unable to suit up, New York will likely lean on Jordan Clarkson for added scoring on the wing, while Miles McBride and Guerschon Yabusele could also see expanded roles. Hart is coming off a strong season in which he averaged 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game while shooting 52.5% from the field, making him a valuable fantasy option thanks to his ability to contribute across multiple categories. Fantasy managers should monitor updates leading up to tip-off and have a backup plan ready in case Hart is ruled out.

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (ankle) was limited at practice on Monday, keeping his status for Wednesday's season opener very much in play. Head coach Jason Kidd said the team will monitor how Gafford responds to the increased workload, offering only, "We'll see how he feels tomorrow," when asked about his availability. Gafford is expected to open the season as Dallas' backup center after averaging 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks last year on 70.2% shooting from the field. His elite efficiency and shot-blocking ability make him a valuable fantasy asset, particularly in category formats. If active, Gafford should be deployed as a high-floor big man, though fantasy managers may want to temper expectations slightly in his first game back from injury. Dwight Powell and Dereck Lively II would see additional run if Gafford is ruled out.

Denver Nuggets guard/forward Christian Braun is up for a contract extension that was rumored to be close to done back in June. Fast forward to October, and there hasn't been anything signed, but Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports that there is "cautious optimism" that Braun and the Nuggets agree on an extension before the deadline on Monday. Scotto states that the ongoing talks are around a five-year extension worth somewhere in the range of $115 to $125 million. After the Nuggets re-tooled a lot of their lineup this offseason, Braun is likely to continue in the important starting role he stepped into last year. During his best year yet, Braun averaged 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 steals across 77 starts and 33.9 minutes per game. He's a solid mid-to-late round fantasy asset in any type of format, especially category leagues with his .528 career field goal percentage.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topic (groin) will be sticking around for at least one more season on his rookie deal. The 12th-overall pick from the 2024 NBA Draft, unfortunately, hasn't appeared in his first game yet, but the team still picked up his third-year worth $5.4 million next season. Topic missed his first full season with an ACL tear, and now has to wait even longer to make his debut after undergoing testicular surgery a couple of weeks ago. He's expected to be re-evaluated in 4-to-6 weeks after that surgery, so it's possible that he returns at some point in November. As of right now, Topic isn't much of a fantasy option in redraft leagues, but is worth a stash in deeper dynasty formats after the team spent such a high pick on the Serbian combo guard. Across three seasons for various clubs in Europe, Topic averaged 10.2 points, 4.1 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace will be with the team for at least one more season. The former 10th overall pick remains on his rookie contract, so the last two years have been team options. He's currently making $5.8 million for this coming season, and the Thunder picked up his fourth-year option next season for $7.4 million. The reigning NBA champs have a very deep roster right now, so they may have to make some tough decisions when these rookie-scale contracts are up. For now, Wallace should be in the same role as last season when he averaged 8.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.8 steals across 27.6 minutes per game. Wallace could be a sleeper fantasy option in deeper category leagues, but his value is a bit higher when it comes dynasty formats.