Phoenix Suns

According to Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer, center Jusuf Nurkic hasn't "done basketball work." He also said Nurkic "hasn't had any contact." The 30-year-old injured his left middle finger while scrimmaging, keeping him off the court during the preseason. While Nurkic averaged 10.9 points last season, nearly three points less than in his final year in Portland, he was still a double-double producer. That's not expected to change, although the injury could compromise his availability for the start of the 2024-25 campaign. If Nurkic misses time, Mason Plumlee or Bol Bol may spend more time in the middle. There's also a chance the Suns go small, with Royce O'Neale sliding over to the five.

According to Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer, guard Devin Booker (ankle) looked "great" in Tuesday's practice, adding he's "ready to go." The 27-year-old sat out the Suns' previous two contests because of right ankle soreness. However, the team was likely playing things safe. Booker is coming off a quality season, averaging 27.1 points, 6.9 assists, and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 36.4% from behind the arc. While he's a capable performer, he hasn't played more than 68 games in any of his previous four seasons, which is something for fantasy managers to consider ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.

Phoenix Suns shooting guard Damion Lee (groin, leg) is reportedly fine following his early exit from Tuesday's preseason game against Detroit. The 31-year-old veteran went to the locker room with three minutes played in the fourth quarter after he was hit in the groin/leg area. However, Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports noted after the game that Lee is "all right." Lee missed the only shot he took in the game and grabbed one assist with one steal across five minutes of action before being forced to exit. After averaging over 20 minutes a night last season, Lee will likely find it tough to get meaningful minutes in 2024-25 following the backcourt additions of Tyus Jones and Monte Morris.

Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic (finger) won't play in Sunday's exhibition against the Lakers. According to head coach Mike Budenholzer, the big man injured his left middle finger during scrimmage. It's unknown how severe the injury is. However, Nurkic will be re-evaluated in a week, meaning he could miss the entire preseason. The 30-year-old played well enough in 2023-24 to justify his presence in fantasy lineups, averaging a double-double (10.9 points, 11.0 rebounds) with 1.1 blocks and 1.1 steals. Without him, Mason Plumlee would be in line to start, although Bol Bol and Royce O'Neale can play bigger if necessary.

Phoenix Suns point guard Tyus Jones will open the campaign as a member of the starting unit. Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer has said Jones will be a starter alongside Jusuf Nurkic and the team's Big Three of Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Kevin Durant. Jones is coming off his first full season as a starter in Washington. Across 66 outings, he averaged 12.0 points with 7.3 assists. Considering the firepower Jones will have around him in Phoenix, his assists numbers should get a nice boost. However, his scoring will likely drop. Grayson Allen rolled as a starter among the Suns' stars last season. He should still play a big part in the rotation, but his fantasy value takes a hit with the move to the bench.