Sacramento Kings forward/center Trey Lyles (back) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Phoenix Suns. He was added late to the injury report due to lower back soreness. Lyles will have the entire weekend to recover, as the Kings' next game is not until Monday when they host the Memphis Grizzlies. Jake LaRavia may see a bit of extra action off the bench Friday night with Lyles unavailable.

Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles (leg) has been upgraded to available ahead of Thursday's game against the Golden State Warriors. Lyles was a late addition to the injury report due to a leg injury, but it doesn't appear to be something that is going to keep him on the sideline. Normally, Lyles plays minutes in the teens off the bench, but he could see an increased role on Thursday with Domantas Sabonis (hamstring) ruled out for this game. Honestly, Jonas Valanciunas will probably absorb most of the additional minutes, so Lyles still isn't an ideal streaming option.

Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles (calf) has been cleared to suit up for Sunday's game against the Indiana Pacers. The veteran forward was active for the first time in almost a month during Saturday's game. He finished with three points and three rebounds across 17 minutes of action. The expectation is that the Kings are going to ease Lyles back into action. Fellow big man Domantas Sabonis (ankle) remains questionable for this game, so Lyles could see a larger role if Sabonis sits out. Otherwise, Lyles is probably avoidable for Sunday's slate.

Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles (calf) is questionable for the meeting with the Lakers on Saturday. The 29-year-old hasn't had a quality season, averaging 5.4 points and 3.9 rebounds, among the lowest marks of his career. He missed the last 10 games because of calf soreness. But Lyles had a chance to return a few games ago, so he's not out of the woods just yet. Under normal circumstances, Lyles wouldn't be a factor in any fantasy setup due to his subpar play throughout the 2024-25 campaign. However, with Keegan Murray (ankle) also questionable, the 2015 No. 12 overall pick could receive meaningful minutes versus Los Angeles, giving him some streaming value despite the potential for limited work. On the other hand, if Murray and Lyles are both sidelined, Doug McDermott, who had 16 points in a recent encounter with the Denver Nuggets, would draw interest from fantasy managers, especially from those looking for DFS value opportunities.

Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles (calf) fully participated in Wednesday's practice, and there's a chance he could be available for Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. If either Domantas Sabonis or Keegan Murray can't play, Lyles could see a larger role in the frontcourt. He's shown his fantasy potential before, like when he posted 12 points and 10 rebounds in a double-double against the Atlanta Hawks on November 18th. Fantasy managers should check for updates as Thursday's game approaches to see if Lyles takes on a bigger role.

Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles (calf) will not play Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 right calf strain. The Kings announced that Lyles will be re-evaluated in 3-4 weeks. The 28-year-old has been an important part of Sacramento's rotation this season, averaging close to 20 minutes per game. His absence could lead to increased opportunities for Alex Len and others to step up in the frontcourt.

Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles is set to return from a nine-game absence on Sunday. The 28-year-old has officially been listed as active and will likely return to his reserve role with around 20 minutes per contest. This will cut into the minutes for both Alex Len and Kessler Edwards, but Lyles' role isn't very conducive to fantasy relevance. He's better suited as a streaming option when others are out of the rotation, but could possibly help with rebounds and threes in deeper leagues.

Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles (knee) is out for at least two weeks. He injured his left knee during Tuesday's win over Milwaukee, with further testing revealing an MCL sprain. The 28-year-old has averaged 7.1 points and 4.4 rebounds this season. Although those numbers aren't enough to keep him a relevant fantasy option, he is still a routine member of Mike Brown's rotation. As a result, Lyles' absence could mean more action for Harrison Barnes, who is coming off a 23-point showing against the Lakers on Wednesday night.

Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles (knee) won't play on Wednesday against the Lakers. He sprained his left knee on Tuesday in the win over the Milwaukee Bucks, ending his night after logging only eight minutes. The 28-year-old has averaged 7.1 points and 4.4 rebounds this season. While he has a stable spot in the Kings' rotation, he is rarely productive for fantasy managers. But Lyles' absence could at least open up more minutes for Harrison Barnes, who had 16 points, six rebounds, and one steal on Tuesday.

Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles (illness) has been ruled out ahead of Tuesday's game against the Phoenix Suns. The veteran forward will sit this one out after being listed as questionable heading into the contest. Fellow forward Sasha Vezenkov (ankle) will also be sidelined during this game. That means Harrison Barnes and Keegan Murray will likely be forced to play heavy minutes on Tuesday. Possibly, Chris Duarte sees an increased role, but he hasn't done enough to trust him as a streaming option.

Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles (ankle) is questionable for Tuesday's game against the Detroit Pistons. The 28-year-old is battling a sprained right ankle, keeping him out of the lineup for Sunday's loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. Lyles hasn't been a consistent fantasy producer this season. However, he's a critical component of the Kings' rotation. But if Lyles misses another contest, it will at least open up more minutes for Sasha Vezenkov, who had 11 points on Sunday against the Pelicans.

Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles (ankle) won't suit up for Saturday's matchup with the Nuggets. It's unknown how severe the injury is. However, considering the 28-year-old is dealing with a high-ankle sprain, he could be on the shelf for an extended period. Fortunately, Keegan Murray (pelvis) has a chance to return, which would help fill some of the minutes. But Lyles' absence should also mean more work for Sasha Vezenkov, who had 13 points and five rebounds the other night against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Sacramento Kings forward/center Trey Lyles (calf) still isn't ready to make his season debut and will remain out for Monday's clash with Cleveland. He has been kept out for the entire year so far by a left calf strain. Lyles played a solid role off the bench with 7.6 points and 4.0 rebounds last season. Sasha Vezenkov and JaVale McGee will continue to cover most of the frontcourt minutes as backups in Lyles' absence. Monday's matchup could be a good one for Sacramento's second unit, as Cleveland allows the third-most bench points in the league this season.

Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles (calf) suffered a calf strain in the preseason and has yet to take the floor this year because of it. The veteran forward will now miss the next two games as the team announced he won't be traveling with the team so that he can continue to get treatment. While he's been out, Sasha Vezenkov and JaVale McGee have both seen some added minutes off of the bench and that trend should continue over the next two games unless there's some sort of rotation change.

Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles (calf) is expected to be sidelined for a few days after suffering an injury during a recent preseason game. The veteran forward underwent an MRI which revealed a slight calf strain. The Kings are going to take the cautious approach here and give Lyles a few days to rest. His absence won't have a huge impact on the Kings' regular season rotation. Possibly, Sasha Vezenkov gets some playing time, but it doesn't sound like he's going to be a big part of the rotation right away.

It's funny that every year at the NBA Draft, once the end of the guaranteed money and live appearances arrives at the end of the first round, everybody tunes out and refers to the 60th pick as "Mr. Irrelevant." That's not very accurate though, is it?Speaking historically, the title of "Mr. Irrelevant" could just as easily be applied to each pick in the draft, as organizations differ greatly in their evaluation of talent and their own needs, particularly in a year without the NCAA tournament. The nickname just doesn't reflect how basketball works anymore. Executives strategically stockpile second-round draft picks for the less burdensome financial obligations, and organizations in rebuilding mode get super creative to field a respectable team on a budget.Particularly in the NBA where worldwide talent is plentiful and positional lines continue to fade, the opportunity is everything: in the right situation, the right under-the-radar player can make an immediate, poignant statement. With professional development leagues for 16-18-year-olds, an ever-expanding set of domestic/international opportunities due to the sheer growth of basketball, and widespread NIL rights for college athletes, players of all levels and localities are starting to get their due exposure and now have enough freedom to hone their skills in a place, and at a pace, that fits best with their path to the NBA. 

Introduction

I am inherently skeptical and distrusting of scouting from the high school level to pre-Draft. That's why in this annual article, I tend to favor overlooked college players (love the mid-majors/non-power conferences) with either well-rounded, polished games or specific statistical specialties.We are going to discuss a handful of 2023 second-round picks and undrafted free agent signees who, given their individual skillsets and circumstances, warrant the attention of Fantasy Basketball Managers as potential high-impact rookies for the 2023-24 campaign who can quietly be acquired on clearance once they start showing signs of emergence.As I will frequently emphasize and reiterate: in 2023, there is very little difference between the vast majority of second-round draft picks and undrafted free agents--it always all comes down to the skillsets they possess, their capacity for growth, and the situations they've landed in.Seasons will be made and broken with early identification of the diamond-in-the-rough rookies. I used to list out the many examples from the past season in this introduction portion, but we are now in a beautiful era where there are just too many to count. There is also very little separating the featured players below and those dubbed "Honorable Mentions"--so put in the work and keep an eye out throughout the regular season for who is receiving and seizing their opportunities. 

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According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, forward Trey Lyles is returning to Sacramento on a two-year, $17 million deal. The deal does not contain a player or team option. The 27-year-old had two productive years in Sacramento, so bringing him back was a no-brainer. He averaged 7.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.9 assists last year and was pivotal in the Kings' return to the playoffs. The Kings simply couldn't let go of Lyles' ability to stretch the floor and guard multiple positions. Unfortunately, he won't do much for fantasy managers unless he gets more minutes during the year.

Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles hopes to return to the team next season. The journeyman averaged 7.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in 74 regular season games with the Kings in 2022-23 and had a consistent spot in Mike Brown's rotation. He'll be a restricted free agent this offseason. However, Lyles likely won't be a beneficial fantasy asset, no matter where he lands heading into the 2023-24 campaign.

Sacramento Kings forward/center Trey Lyles will sit out Wednesday's game against Chicago due to a suspension. He received a one-game suspension for his role in an altercation with Brook Lopez in the closing moments of Monday's matchup against Milwaukee. Giannis Antetokounmpo was dribbling out the clock when he was fouled by Lyles, who also pushed the Bucks superstar. Lopez didn't take kindly to the incident and clashed with Lyles. The Kings man hit Lopez in the face and the two ended up grabbing each other. Both were tossed from the game and Lopez received a $25,000 fine for his involvement. Lyles has been performing well lately, averaging 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds this month, and he will definitely be missed. Kessler Edwards and Chimezie Metu should handle Lyles' minutes while his absent, but they typically don't do enough on the court to be fantasy-relevant.

Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles is expected to remain with the team next season. He played well for the team after being traded from the Detroit Pistons. Lyles averaged 10.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in 24 games with Sacramento. It sounds like Lyles will remain with the team for another season, but likely as a backup. The Kings have Domantas Sabonis and rookie Keegan Murray as their main options down low. It's unlikely that Lyles holds fantasy value while the Kings are healthy.