Chicago Bulls

Indiana Pacers forward/center Jalen Smith (back) is questionable for Thursday's game against Golden State. He's had a lengthy spell on the injury report with lower back spasms and still hasn't shaken off the ailment. However, Smith has played in seven of the past eight games, indicating that it's not a very serious issue. The 23-year-old is a valued member of the second unit but only a useful piece for teams in deep leagues in fantasy basketball. He's averaging 10.7 points and 5.6 rebounds for the year.

Indiana Pacers forward Jalen Smith (back) is available ahead of Tuesday's game against the Houston Rockets. This is good news after Smith was listed as questionable coming into this game due to back spasms. It doesn't sound like Smith is going to be limited at all due to these back issues. However, his value isn't as reliable anymore with Pascal Siakam in town. Smith is more of a deep league option with his new role off the bench.

Indiana Pacers forward/center Jalen Smith (back) is questionable to face the Rockets on Tuesday. The young big man has had problems with back spasms for a while, but he's only missed one of the last seven games, and the absence came in a back-to-back situation. There appears to be a good chance Smith can play through the issue again. However, if he's out, Isaiah Jackson will likely step in as Myles Turner's backup. He generally doesn't provide a lot of value for managers from a bench role.

Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (ankle) is considered probable to play against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday. The 23-year-old has become one of the key pieces to the Bulls' offensive success as he revived his career with the best season he's posted yet. White averages 19.2 points, 5.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 2.8 made threes, and 2.2 turnovers per game. He's even shooting 46.3% from the floor and 39.4% from beyond the arc. Since he's expected to play, he should remain in all fantasy lineups regardless of the league format or size. Especially with Zach LaVine (ankle) out for the rest of the season, White's fantasy value is at an all-time high.

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (knee) remains out after undergoing multiple surgeries over the last few years, including a cartilage transplant in March 2023. With nearly a year since the procedure, the 26-year-old is still without a return date. Ball provided an update on his health during Saturday's meeting with the Kings, reporting he's "doing much better." While still not running, he's pain-free, which is undoubtedly good news. For now, Ball will continue to rehab, with the hope of one day returning to the court. The 2017 No. 2 overall pick averaged 11.9 points, 6.2 assists, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.8 steals in 252 regular season games. During his most recent campaign in 2021-22, he shot a career-high 42.3% from deep, a significant improvement from his rookie year. Although Ball is nowhere near ready to play, he's a capable fantasy producer. But his inability to stay healthy has been an issue since he entered the league.