Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke (knee) will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Clarke suffered a high-grade PCL sprain in his right knee which will keep him sidelined. That means the 28-year-old will finish the season with averages of 8.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game across 64 appearances (18 starts). His minutes will likely get split up between Vince Williams Jr., Zach Edey, and Jay Huff until GG Jackson II comes back from his G League assignment. Williams and Edey are the most consistent of this group, especially for fantasy managers looking for points and rebounds.

Memphis Grizzlies forward/centerBrandon Clarke(knee) won't play against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. Clarke suffered a right knee injury during Wednesday's game against Portland. He played only five minutes in the contest, posting zero points and one rebound. His next chance to return to the court is Tuesday against the Jazz. While the 28-year-old is out of action, Zach EdeyandMarvin Bagley will take on the available minutes at center..

Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Brandon Clarke (knee) has been cleared to return from a one-game absence on Wednesday against the Utah Jazz. He missed Monday's tilt against the Phoenix Suns due to knee soreness and was also iffy for Wednesday when the team initially listed Clarke as questionable on the injury report. The Grizzlies frontcourt is currently without Jaren Jackson Jr. (ankle) and Santi Aldama (calf), giving Clarke an opportunity to contribute more than usual. This month, Clarke has upped his numbers to 10.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks.

Memphis Grizzlies power forward Brandon Clarke (back) is currently listed as questionable ahead of Wednesday's game against the Toronto Raptors. Clarke missed Monday's game against the San Antonio Spurs and is in danger of missing a second straight game for Memphis as he deals with back soreness. The 28-year-old has played in 46 games this season and has missed three due to injury. This season, Clarke has averaged 7.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game. He'll remain in his reserve role if he is cleared. If Clarke is not cleared to play, Santi Aldama, Jay Huff and Zach Edey should see an increase in playing time.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke (calf) is available to return after a two-game absence due to a calf issue as the Grizzlies visit the Kings. He missed the Grizz's last two games but has played 31 games this season, averaging 18.4 minutes per contest. He has been one of the first big men off the bench for Memphis and is averaging 7.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.8 steals per contest. He could have possibly started while Zach Edey (concussion) was also sidelined for the last two games, but both big men will return to the rotation together on Friday night after being upgraded from questionable.

Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Brandon Clarke (calf) has been ruled out for Tuesday's contest against Phoenix. He will miss a second consecutive game due to a right soleus strain. The Grizzlies are carrying a number of injuries and look to be very shorthanded for Tuesday's contest. Jay Huff and Colin Castleton have entered the frontcourt rotation recently and will work alongside Jaren Jackson Jr as the lone big men for Memphis on Tuesday.

Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Brandon Clarke (toe) could be out for the first time this season on Wednesday versus the Lakers, with the team listing him as questionable on the injury report. Clarke has been a starter for Memphis for the past couple of games, replacing Zach Edey. However, he's not had a big impact in the role, averaging 7.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in 17.0 minutes. Edey might return to the starting unit if Clarke is out on Wednesday, although the team could also replace him with Marcus Smart (ankle), who is on the cusp of returning to the lineup.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke (hand) has been ruled out for Friday's contest against the Los Angeles Lakers. He missed the previous game due to left Achilles injury management, but the injury report shows Clarke is dealing with a hand injury now. The 27-year-old has spent a large majority of the season recovering from last year's Achilles tear and has only played in six games since returning to action on March 27. It is great for Grizzlies fans to see their talented big man back on the court looking healthy, as he has averaged over 11 points per game while playing over 20 minutes in all six games. While he is out, expect Trey Jemison to lead the frontcourt.

Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Brandon Clarke (Achilles) will suit up for Wednesday's game versus the Lakers. The 27-year-old hasn't played in over a year because of an Achilles tear that required surgery. Since then, he's been working his way back and has flirted with returning over the last few games. The Grizzlies could certainly use him, primarily since the roster is loaded with injuries. Although there's a realistic chance Clarke will be limited in his first game back, there's no denying his upside, especially when you consider his DFS rostering cost.

Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Brandon Clarke (Achilles) has been upgraded to questionable with just 10 games left in the season. Wednesday, the Grizzlies are set to meet the Lakers, with Clarke potentially playing after rehabbing a torn Achilles for over a year. Clarke finished last season with averages of 10.0 points and 5.5 rebounds coming off the bench. The 27-year-old's minutes will obviously be limited if he suits up and he shouldn't be considered a fantasy option for the remainder of the season.

Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Brandon Clarke (Achilles) is aiming to return to action around the All-Star break, according to ESPN's Marc J. Spears. The 27-year-old hasn't played since tearing his left Achilles in March. Clarke finished last season with averages of 10.0 points and 5.5 rebounds off the bench. He will be a very welcome addition for the Grizzlies, who have lost their starting center, Steven Adams (knee), for the entire season and have struggled to guard the rim. The 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend takes place in Indianapolis from Feb. 16-18.

Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Brandon Clarke (Achilles) will start the season without a timetable for his return. The 27-year-old tore his left Achilles in March and underwent a second procedure in the offseason. Clarke made the All-Rookie First Team in 2020 and has been a big contributor off the bench for the Grizzlies. He averaged 10.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in 19.5 minutes last season. With Steven Adams (knee) also out and unavailable for the entire season, Jaren Jackson Jr., Xavier Tillman Sr., and Santi Aldama are set to do the heavy lifting on the Memphis frontcourt in 2023-24.

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 The Athletic's David Aldridge, Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Brandon Clarke (Achilles) won't be ready to begin the year. The 26-year-old signed a four-year, $52 million extension last offseason. However, he tore his Achilles during a meeting with the Denver Nuggets in March, requiring surgery. Clarke has been steadily improving since entering the league in 2019 and has averaged 10.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 237 career games. It's unknown when he'll be ready to return. But until Clarke gets the green light, Kenneth Lofton Jr. and David Roddy could see a few extra minutes, although likely not enough to be relevant in most fantasy formats.

Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Brandon Clarke (Achilles) will miss the remainder of the season. Clarke suffered a non-contact injury in the first quarter of Friday's matchup with the Denver Nuggets and didn't return. The most recent update isn't good, with the 26-year-old suffering a left Achilles tear. He signed a four-year, $52 contract extension during the offseason and had averaged 10.0 points and 5.5 rebounds this season before going down. But now, Memphis will be short of big bodies, as Steven Adams (knee) has missed the last 16 games with a knee issue. As a result, Xavier Tillman Sr. is expected to remain in the starting lineup. Tillman has averaged 8.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 12 starts this season, making him a viable fantasy option until Adams returns. At the same time, Santi Aldama is worth monitoring, especially since he could surpass Tillman's production despite coming off the bench.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke suffered a left leg injury in Friday's 113-97 defeat to Denver. He managed to log only 2:07 on the court before suffering a non-contact injury. After exiting the game, Clarke was seen on the back of a golf cart with the lower part of his left leg wrapped up. Hopefully, the injury is far less severe than it appears. The 26-year-old is a highly effective player who has averaged less than 20 minutes on the court for the team this season but still boasts a 10-point scoring average and 5.5 rebounds. Santi Aldama is set to play a bigger role off the bench if Clarke has to sit out games, while Xavier Tillman Sr. should also get a few more extra minutes on the frontcourt.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke will move into the starting five for Wednesday's game against the Golden State Warriors. The Grizzlies are going to be shorthanded with Steven Adams (knee) sidelined three-to-five weeks. That being said, Clarke will likely start most games in place of Adams. The Grizzlies will also need Xavier Tillman Sr. and Santi Aldama to help fill the void as well. Out of the trio, Clarke is the best fantasy option and will see a boost in value with Adams sidelined. Fantasy managers should check the waiver wire to see if Clarke is available.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke (hip) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the San Antonio Spurs. The 26-year-old will miss his fifth game in a row due to left hip soreness. The Grizzlies could be shorthanded with Steven Adams (illness) also in danger of missing this game. Jaren Jackson Jr. is likely to see heavy minutes, while Xavier Tillman Sr. should be a decent streaming option while Clarke is out.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke (hip) remains out on Sunday against Utah, marking his fourth consecutive absence. The 26-year-old is battling left hip soreness, so it remains to be seen if he'll get the green light for Monday's game against the San Antonio Spurs. As a result, Xavier Tillman Sr., who most recently amassed eight rebounds and six points versus the Orlando Magic, should continue to see extra work.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke (hip) won't be in the lineup for the third straight time Thursday against Orlando. He is working his way back from a sore left hip. Following Thursday, Clarke will get some very good recovery time as Memphis won't be back on the court until Sunday, so he should have a good shot at returning for the next matchup. Xavier Tillman has seen more minutes come his way in Clarke's absence and he will look to impress again on Thursday after producing 10 points with six rebounds, two steals and one block Wednesday versus the Hornets.