Tomas Satoransky played 21 minutes vs. the Magic on Friday with six points, four rebounds and four assists.
He has played very limited minutes since returning from COVID-19, but the Bulls may be ramping him up soon as they will be without Otto Porter (lower back spasms) for a while and Lauri Markkanen injured his shoulder Friday. Satoransky can play positions 1-3 and was a decent fantasy asset last season with 9.9 points, 5.4 dimes, 3.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.0 triples in 29 minutes. Keep an eye on him in deeper formats, and it will be interesting to see if he has restrictions for Saturday's back-to-back.
Thaddeus Young had another terrific line vs. the Magic on Friday with 15 points (7-of-10 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), seven rebounds, five assists, two steals and one turnover in 32 minutes.
He started the second half of this game with Daniel Gafford failing to read the scouting report on Nikola Vucevic. Young, who is on an expiring contract, has seen his name all over the rumor mill with contenders expected to come calling. “I'm just going to do my job and worry about my job and my job only and making sure I help this team get wins,” Young said. “If they see fit to do what they have to do as far as a business, I understand it. It's not my first rodeo. I've been there before.” Young is the ultimate pro and has giving the Bulls and fantasy managers a huge lift, posting top-25 numbers in 9-cat over his previous four games with 14.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.5 dimes, 2.0 steals and 0.8 blocks. Those numbers aren't going anywhere either as the Bulls need Young more than even with Lauri Markkanen injuring his shoulder Friday.
Kevin Durant (health and safety protocols) will not be available to start Friday's game due to contact tracing but could return at some point later in the contest.
According to ESPN's Malika Andrews, "Durant will not be available to begin tonight’s game due to health and safety protocols, the team says. A team source said they are awaiting further updates to see if he may be available later in the game." Translation: the Nets are waiting for his test results and he can't play until they know it's negative, which hopefully, it is. We'll have more shortly.
Kevin Durant has now been cleared to play on Friday vs. the Raptors.
He missed the start of the game due to health and safety protocols, but after going through some contact tracing, the NBA granted him clearance. This is a huge sigh of relief for the Nets and for Durant's fantasy managers.
Devonte' Graham suffered a left groin strain in the second quarter vs. the Jazz on Friday and is questionable to return.
This is frustrating because we really wanted to see more of Charlotte's new lineup. If Graham isn't able to return for the second half, Malik Monk will likely be next in line for more minutes.
Frank Kaminsky is starting Friday's game ahead of Cam Johnson.
Jae Crowder (foot) is out tonight so this could be designed to get more firepower in the bench, and Johnson is already familiar with the second unit since that's where he began the season.
Abdel Nader (sore left ankle) is available vs. the Pistons on Friday.
Nader could make some noise due to the absence of Jae Crowder (foot), but he's only on the radar as a punt-DFS play.
Lonnie Walker IV (illness) won't play vs. the Rockets on Saturday.
Dejounte Murray is also questionable with a sore left ankle. Walker's absence could result in Derrick White's first start of the season, and either way he gets a boost for DFS purposes. Walker is just day-to-day with his ailment, so we could see him back in the lineup vs. Golden State on Monday.
Jae Crowder (right foot soreness) has been ruled out Friday night's game vs the Pistons.
Monty Williams said Crowder is out tonight and is currently day-to-day as he deals with right foot soreness. Cameron Johnson and Abdel Nader (ankle, probable) should be in line for minutes in his absence.
Terry Rozier (right ankle sprain) will start Friday's game alongside Devonte' Graham and LaMelo Ball.
This move sends Miles Bridges to the bench and it'll be fascinating to see Charlotte deploy a true three-guard lineup out of the gates. It's likely just a temporary situation, though, since P.J. Washington (foot) could return as soon as Sunday.
Wayne Ellington (right calf strain) will not play Friday vs. Phoenix.
His absence opens up minutes for Saddiq Bey and Svi Mykhailiuk, though neither guy has been remotely reliable this season. Ellington is day-to-day so it's possible we'll see him vs. the Lakers on Saturday in the tail end of this back-to-back set.
Jarrett Culver (left ankle) didn't travel with the Wolves on their three-game road trip, according to Ryan Saunders.
Saunders mentioned that Karl-Anthony Towns (COVID) is ramping up his activity and added that Culver is out for the next few games. Besides, Anthony Edwards is the guy you want as a fantasy option.
DeAndre Jordan will start vs. the Raptors on Friday, with Jeff Green coming off the Nets' bench.
This is likely a matchup-based move with Toronto starting Aron Baynes in the middle. Jordan's minutes have held steady around 20 per game the past few weeks and that shouldn't change no matter where he begins games, though the starting job doesn't hurt.
Aron Baynes (groin) is starting on Friday vs the Nets.
Baynes will suit up after being previously being listed as probable heading into tonight's game, although he hasn't been producing much fantasy-wise and backup Chris Boucher has struggled lately, too.
David Nwaba (left ankle sprain) is questionable for Saturday's game vs. the Spurs.
Nwaba had a chance to play Thursday before being ruled out, so hopefully a few extra days of rest will have sufficed. He's a sketchy fantasy play even in the best of circumstances, so his availability shouldn't impact your lineups.
LaMarcus Aldridge (right hip flexor) is out vs the Rockets on Saturday.
He's out indefinitely and we'll let you know when there are any signs he's nearing a return. Rudy Gay is off the injury report and Jakob Poeltl should continue to start with LA out.
Rudy Gay (left hip flexor tightness) is not on the injury report for Saturday's game vs. Houston.
Gay sat out Wednesday's game, but that appears designed to have given him four full days off to rest any nagging ailments. We'll take him off the injury report and will let you know if there's any indication that his status is in jeopardy.
Russell Westbrook is starting vs. the Heat on Friday, as expected.
Westbrook sat out Wednesday in the second of back-to-back games, but he should be used as normal in fantasy lineups tonight. He's looked better over the past few games, too, so hopefully these sporadic DNPs will at least keep him healthy as the season turns a corner toward the All-Star break.
Terry Rozier (right ankle sprain) will play Friday vs. Utah.
Hornets coach James Borrego is being coy about who he'll start in the backcourt, since rookie LaMelo Ball has been getting the nod in Rozier's absence. Regardless, it's safe to get Rozier back into your active fantasy lineups.
John Wall (back spasms) is questionable vs the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.
In the Rocket's last game on Thursday, Wall had his back wrapped up and played through the pain, although he struggled a bit shooting the ball and had seven turnovers. But he's now questionable and Houston will probably wait until he goes through practice tomorrow morning before making a decision, and it's safe to assume he will sit out as Houston looks to play it safe with him as they have all season.