New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (illness) was absent from the team's practice on Wednesday, and his status remains uncertain for the Pelicans' game at home against the Rockets on Thursday. If Ingram is unable to play, Trey Murphy and Jordan Hawkins are the most probable candidates to see an uptick in minutes. Additionally, C.J. McCollum and Zion Williamson typically see the biggest increase in overall usage when Ingram is sidelined. This season, Ingram has been averaging 21.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.8 assists in 33.4 minutes per game.

New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (shoulder) reported he's "doing everything he can" to return to the floor this season. Unfortunately, he didn't rule out surgery. The 29-year-old has been out of the lineup for nearly a month because of a shoulder injury. Although the Knicks remain optimistic regarding a potential return, fantasy managers should acknowledge the chance he may not be back for the rest of the 2023-24 campaign. Randle had averaged 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in 46 games before going down, so replacing that kind of production won't be easy. However, Precious Achiuwa and Isaiah Hartenstein (Achilles) should continue to benefit until Randle is back in the lineup.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (ankle) was absent from practice on Wednesday and is expected to join the team in San Francisco for their game against the Warriors on Thursday. The 39-year-old played only 10 minutes in the All-Star game on Sunday and is currently undergoing treatment on his left ankle, which might potentially sideline him for the Lakers' upcoming game. Taurean Prince, Max Christie, and Rui Hachimura are all potential candidates to receive increased playing time if James is unable to play. He maintains averages of 24.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 7.8 assists in 34.9 minutes per game this season.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic returned to practice on Wednesday after head coach Michael Malone excused him from Tuesday's practice due to his All-Star responsibilities. The MVP favorite played 23 minutes in the All-Star game, contributing 13 points, four rebounds, and nine assists in the West's 211-186 loss to the East on Sunday. Jokic is expected to be fully prepared for the stretch run of the year, set to return at home against the Wizards tomorrow. He's maintaining impressive averages of 26.1 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 8.9 assists in 33.8 minutes per game this season.

New York Knicks forward Bojan Bogdanovic (calf) practiced on Wednesday. The veteran sharpshooter, who was recently dealt by the Detroit Pistons, has averaged 13.0 points and 3.5 rebounds since arriving in New York. However, he's shot just 27.3% from deep, a significant drop from his average in Detroit, and wasn't available for the meeting with Orlando before the All-Star break. Fortunately, head coach Tom Thibodeau reported Bogdanovic is "on track" to return for Thursday's matchup with Philadelphia. But his fantasy outlook remains cloudy for various reasons, including the impending returns of Isaiah Hartenstein (Achilles) and Donte DiVincenzo (hamstring).