NBA Player News

The Warriors hope to have Butler (knee) back early in 2027, per Keith Watkins of Yahoo Sports.

Butler is still months away from retaking the floor, according to Nick Friedell of The Athletic, so a season debut at some point in December might be too optimistic. The star forward remains without a definitive timeline for a return after undergoing ACL surgery in early February, which typically carries at least a nine-month recovery period. Butler makes sense as an injury stash at the end of fantasy drafts, but managers should likely be bracing for him to miss at least the first two months of the regular season.

Morant could come off the bench for Portland to begin the season, per Casey Holdahl of the Trail Blazers' official site.

With Portland's backcourt fit already a talking point after Morant's arrival, a reserve role would be a notable shift for a player who has made just two appearances off the bench in his seven-year career. The Trail Blazers acquired the star guard with an eye toward him meshing with the returning Damian Lillard in the backcourt, but it sounds like the team is mulling over the idea of easing Morant into the mix. Jrue Holiday appears to be the most likely candidate to open the year as a starter if Portland ultimately decides to deploy Morant from the second unit.

Johnson will be sidelined a few weeks with a right hamstring strain, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports.

This is a tough blow for Johnson as it rules him out for the entire preseason. The forward is on a two-way contract and is expected to feature for Miami's G League affiliate.

Penda is nearing a return to full participation after being limited by a hamstring injury during training camp, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports.

Head coach Sean Sweeney said Friday that Penda is "pretty close to being back and ready to go," offering an encouraging update after the second-year forward tweaked his hamstring shortly before camp. Penda remains day-to-day, but the latest update suggests he could return to full practice in the near future.

Black is making progress in his recovery from the ankle sprain that has limited him during training camp, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports.

Head coach Sean Sweeney said Friday that Black has "definitely made progress" throughout the week and is now performing non-contact work at a high, full-speed level. The Magic remain encouraged by the guard's recovery, though he'll likely need to resume contact work before being cleared for full participation.

Wiggins' versatility should allow him to fit comfortably alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Miami's other high-usage players this season, according to Heat reporter Zachary Weinberger.

Head coach Erik Spoelstra praised Wiggins' ability to adapt to playing alongside other stars, noting that the veteran has become increasingly effective playing off the ball despite previously serving as a No. 1 option. Spoelstra also highlighted Wiggins' ability to defend opposing teams' top players while remaining capable of creating with the ball, giving Miami flexibility in how it utilizes him within its revamped lineup.

Murphy has been working alongside Zion Williamson during three-point shooting drills at training camp, offering advice as his teammate attempts to expand his offensive game, Jim Eichenhofer of the Pelicans' official site reports.

Murphy said he's been giving Williamson pointers during the drills and praised the forward for being willing to listen and put in the work. This highlights Murphy's growing leadership role in New Orleans as he enters his sixth NBA season, while his established perimeter shooting makes him a natural resource for Williamson as the latter works to become a more consistent threat from outside. Murphy is poised to have a considerable role on both ends of the court in 2026-27.

Peterson has impressed veteran teammate Jusuf Nurkic with his maturity and work ethic during training camp, according to Jazz reporter Chandler Holt.

Nurkic said that in 13 NBA seasons he hasn't seen a player enter the league with Peterson's level of maturity, adding that the rookie spends so much time working that Utah has nearly had to tell him to stay out of the gym. Peterson is preparing for his first NBA season after being selected No. 2 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft and should have an opportunity to take on a substantial role immediately.

Thybulle has made an immediate impact defensively during his first training camp with the Lakers, recording at least seven steals through the team's first two practices, according to Daniel Starkand of LakersNation.com.

Head coach JJ Redick specifically highlighted Thybulle's ability to disrupt passing lanes, joking that his teammates need to learn not to throw the ball when the veteran wing is positioned to make a play. Thybulle's defensive ability should give him a strong opportunity to earn consistent minutes as Los Angeles sorts through a crowded competition on the wing.

Okoro is expected to play significant minutes this season, with head coach Tiago Splitter calling him Chicago's "best perimeter defender," Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic reports.

Splitter praised Okoro's physicality, relentlessness and ability to navigate screens while stating that the veteran wing will "definitely" play a lot. Okoro's defensive value should provide him with a consistent path to playing time even within a deep Bulls rotation, though his offensive role could remain relatively modest.