Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte Hornets shooting guard DaQuan Jeffries (hand) has been diagnosed with a fractured right fifth metacarpal and looks set to miss an extended period. A more specific timeline for his return hasn't been announced. Jeffries suffered the injury in Tuesday's preseason game against Miami. The 27-year-old joined the Hornets as a result of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade at the start of the month. He rarely played with the Knicks last season, but Charlotte has given him a decent look in preseason. However, the hand injury has cut Jeffries' preseason short.

Charlotte Hornets forward Cody Martin (thumb) is currently considered day-to-day and won't suit up for Sunday's preseason opener. Martin suffered a thumb laceration and a sprained wrist while attempting to make a block during training camp. The 29-year-old is only expected to miss a few days and should be fine for Opening Night. The veteran forward figures to compete for backup minutes with Seth Curry and Tidjane Salaun. Martin is unlikely to have reliable fantasy value off the bench, but he'll still be an asset off the bench for Charlotte.

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (foot) will miss training camp after suffering a strained tendon in his left foot during a workout on Thursday. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks, although he remains without a return date. The 2022 No. 15 overall pick has shown promise since entering the league, most recently averaging 12.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 2023-24. Unfortunately, he was limited to only 19 games before suffering a season-ending back injury in December. Without Williams in the mix, Nick Richards, averaging 10.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 51 starts last season, will likely hold things down in the middle. With that in mind, Williams' health is always a concern. Still, he's worth taking later in fantasy drafts for those willing to stash him until he's ready to get back on the court.

Charlotte Hornets center Nick Richards has reportedly been on the New York Knicks' radar this offseason. The Knicks lack frontcourt options and have been linked with multiple big men. Richards is among them, and he could come in on a team-friendly contract, as the seven-foot Jamaican is only due to be paid $5 million in each of the next two seasons. Richards, a former second-round pick, had a solid campaign with the Hornets in 2023-24, averaging 9.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 26.3 minutes. He boosted his numbers to 10.1 points, 8.8 boards, and 1.2 swats as a starter.

Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Josh Green will likely be a starter on his new team. According to Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer, "all indications" show that Green will line up on the backcourt alongside LaMelo Ball. Green started only 62 of his 223 games with the Dallas Mavericks across the past four seasons. He has posted 9.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in his career as a member of the first unit. Going from an NBA finalist to one of the worst teams in the league isn't a career path any player will want to take. But Green looks set to play a much larger role with his new squad, giving him extra fantasy value.