Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said on Tuesday that there's been no setbacks with guard Zach LaVine (foot) from ramping up his workouts in the last few days. Donovan also "doesn't want to rule out" LaVine from returning as soon as Friday against the Charlotte Hornets, but that it is realistic he will be back within the next week. If LaVine can't get the green light to return on Friday from over a month on the shelf due to inflammation in his right foot, his next possible return date would arrive on Monday for a road rematch with Charlotte. With LaVine out for Chicago's two-game road trip, Alex Caruso remains very much worthy of a roster spot in nine-category fantasy leagues while playing top-100 ball this year. Patrick Williams has also seen a boost in production over 16 games without LaVine, supplying 13.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.8 threes per outing on 45.9% shooting from deep.

The Atlanta Hawks did not include center Onyeka Okongwu (illness) on their injury report for Wednesday's matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, meaning he is good to go for a return from a one-game respite with an illness. Okongwu remains a darling in fantasy hoops for his ability to rack up blocks and boards when given the opportunity, but his ceiling is limited in Atlanta's second unit behind starter Clint Capela. Since Capela seems to always find his name swirling in trade rumors around the annual February deadline, Okongwu remains a forward-thinking hold with massive contingency upside if anything were to happen to Capela. The former No. 6 overall pick is still managing 9.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 0.9 swats in 24.5 minutes per night, and he should return to the bench on Wednesday as the 13-19 Hawks' backup big man.

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams (back) is tagged as doubtful to return from an absence of 11 consecutive games on Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings with a lower back contusion. Williams continues to pile up doubtful designations, insinuating that his return for Charlotte is not exactly imminent. Despite the lingering absence, the 22-year-old Duke product needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues and hopes to return on Friday against the Chicago Bulls. In 12 starts without Williams this season, Nick Richards is collecting 9.4 points on 66.7% field-goal shooting, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 29.4 minutes per contest for the short-handed Hornets and remains worth rostering for a stopgap source of boards and swats.

Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier (illness) is listed as probable to suit up on Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings due to an illness. Rozier was initially expected to play on Monday against the Denver Nuggets but was later downgraded to out, although his absence is likely to remain at a minimum. T-Ro should command Charlotte's offense versus the Kings, and he's bouncing back after a down 2022-23 for third-round fantasy numbers in 20 games overall during 2023-24. In 14 contests without LaMelo Ball (ankle) this year, Rozier is putting up 24.3 points, 7.9 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 3.1 threes, and 1.4 steals per game. Ish Smith notched double figures with 10 points in 29 minutes amid Monday's spot start, but he should head back to the Hornets' second unit with Rozier expected back.

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse says there won't be any minute restrictions for center Joel Embiid (ankle) in his return to Tuesday's lineup versus the Chicago Bulls. The Sixers went 2-2 during Embiid's four-game absence due to a sprained right ankle, and they'll get a full dose of the NBA's leading scorer if needed against this undermanned Bulls team. Embiid is right back in the MVP conversation after taking home the 2022-23 award. In his last nine games before going down, Embiid was recording an incredible 40.2 points (60.6% shooting from the field), 12.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.2 triples, and 3.5 combined steals plus blocks per contest. Paul Reed will revert back to Philly's bench on Tuesday after being a serviceable fantasy streamer, and he can also be returned to waiver wires for the time being.