Hornets guard Tre Mann (back) will miss his sixth straight game on Tuesday when the Hornets face the Sixers in Charlotte. With both Mann and LaMelo Ball (calf) out at least two weeks, the Hornets will rely on Vasilije Micic to run point and Brandon Miller to pick up heavy usage. Micic has started the last two games for the Hornets, both narrow defeats. In his first start, he had nine points and eight assists in 31 minutes against the Knicks, and he followed that with 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists against the Hawks. Micic is a solid play for as long as Mann and Ball are sidelined.

Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann got off to a fast start this season, averaging 14.1 points, 3.0 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.5 per game while playing 24.5 minutes per game. He was starting to even get some Sixth Man of the Year attention and would be in a great position to step up while LaMelo Ball (calf) is sidelined for two weeks. However, that won't be possible since Mann was diagnosed with "disc irritation" in his lower back and will also miss at least two more weeks. With both Mann and Ball out for a while, Vasilije Micic will likely continue to start at point guard for Charlotte for the next few weeks and is a nice addition from the waiver wire if available. Mann is a hold if possible given his early-season success, but he may be out too long to stash depending on the size and competitiveness of your league.

Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann (back) is out for Saturday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to lower back soreness. The 23-year-old has been dealing with back issues recently, which have caused him to miss multiple games. In his absence, Seth Curry and Vasilije Micic are expected to see additional playing time. Mann has been inconsistent of late, posting 19 points against the Brooklyn Nets but just five points versus the Detroit Pistons in his last two outings. His next opportunity to return will be Monday against the Orlando Magic.

Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann (back) is available ahead of Thursday's game against the Detroit Pistons. Mann is dealing with lower back soreness, but it doesn't appear to be severe enough to hold him out of the lineup. He finished with 19 points and six assists through 25 minutes on Tuesday. He'll continue to be the primary backup point guard which limits his ceiling in fantasy leagues.

Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann (back) is probable heading into Thursday night's game against the Detroit Pistons. Mann had been listed as questionable for Monday's game against Brooklyn but was able to suit up. Given that he's listed probable already it's a positive sign that his back issues are subsiding after missing two games over the past week. Fantasy managers and DFS managers alike should get Mann into their lineups with the 23-year-old averaging 14.8 PPG.

Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann (back) has been upgraded from questionable to available for Tuesday's game against Brooklyn. He's returning to the lineup after sitting out one game. Mann has enjoyed a good start to the campaign, averaging 14.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 24.7 minutes off the bench. However, he might have a difficult time on Tuesday, as only nine teams allow fewer bench points than the Nets. Mann's return will likely push Vasilije Micic out of the rotation.

Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann (back) is listed as questionable for Tuesday's matchup against the Brooklyn Nets. The 23-year-old missed Sunday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers as he continues to deal with a lower-back injury. On the season, Mann has been a reliable presence for the Hornets, averaging 14.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. If he is unable to play, Vasilije Micic and Seth Curry could see expanded opportunities to contribute off the bench for Charlotte.

Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann (back) has been ruled out ahead of Tuesday's game against the Orlando Magic. Mann has been dealing with back soreness for a few days, so the team has decided to sit him and let him rest. The 23-year-old was limited to 15 minutes during Sunday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Before that, Mann was averaging over 25 minutes per game, so there is a significant void to fill in the rotation. Vasilije Micic figures to move into the rotation and Seth Curry will likely see more minutes in the rotation. Between the two, Curry is the much better streaming option for Tuesday's slate.

Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann (back) is considered questionable for Tuesday's battle with Orlando. He shook off a questionable tag to play on Sunday versus Philadelphia but apparently still isn't fully healthy. Mann has so far featured in all 10 games, averaging 14.8 points and 3.3 assists in 25.1 minutes. However, the 23-year-old has been inconsistent with his performances lately, and sitting out some action might even be beneficial for him. Vasilije Micic will likely re-enter the rotation on Tuesday if Mann is out, but he lacks fantasy appeal.

Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann (illness) will be available for Tuesday's matchup against Orlando. He's won a bout with an illness, shaking off a questionable tag. Mann has produced a number of good performances for the Hornets since joining the team in February, but things could get tricky for him on Tuesday. Led by Jalen Suggs, the Magic are a defensively solid team, and Charlotte's backcourt could struggle to produce their regular numbers.

Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann (groin) is back in action ahead of Wednesday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The young guard will make his return to the court following a three-game absence due to a groin injury. Before going down, Mann was playing over 30 minutes per game on most nights. He hasn't been a great fantasy asset, but he does enough to warrant rostering in certain fantasy formats. Fantasy managers who have Mann rostered can get him back in their lineups on Wednesday.

Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann (groin) has been listed as questionable for Wednesday's game against Memphis. He could be out for a fourth consecutive contest due to a right groin strain. Mann had gained a lot of momentum over several weeks before suffering the injury. The 23-year-old has posted 11.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.6 steals since arriving in Charlotte. His absence has given a big boost to Vasilije Micic, while Grant Williams has also received a larger role, starting all three games Mann has missed. However, Wednesday's matchup isn't a good one for the Hornets players, as the Grizzlies, despite all of their flaws, are ranked just outside the top 10 in defensive efficiency.

Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann (groin) isn't expected to play on Monday versus the Pistons. The 23-year-old has played well in his 11 games in Charlotte, averaging 11.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.6 steals. But he's missed the Hornets' previous two contests because of a groin strain. Nevertheless, with Mann heading toward another absence, Vasilije Micic could be in line for another opportunity to start. Micic had a double-double with five rebounds against the Nets on Saturday, so he should remain in nearly all fantasy lineups if Mann doesn't suit up.

Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann (groin) won't play on Friday versus Washington. Heading into Friday, Mann was initially regarded as questionable for the game. Vasilije Micic will be the biggest beneficiary of Mann's absence. He's already broken into the starting unit due to a number of other injuries, and Micic's all-around involvement in Charlotte's play is set for a further boost on Friday. The former EuroLeague star has averaged 15.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists across the last three games.

Charlotte Hornets guard Tre Mann (groin) is considered questionable for Friday's matchup versus Washington. He's on the injury report with a left groin strain. Mann has started 11 straight games with the Hornets since arriving from Oklahoma City in the Gordon Hayward trade. The 23-year-old has played well, posting 11.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.6 steals in 30.5 minutes. Charlotte's recent injuries have given Vasilije Micic a big lift, and Mann's absence would boost his fantasy appeal even further. Bryce McGowens should start to sneak into the rotation more often as well.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Tre Mann (illness) is available ahead of Thursday's game against the Utah Jazz. Mann was one of four players on this team added to the injury report due to an illness. Mann has been cleared to play, but there's no guarantee he gets much action during this contest. He sat out their last game, but could have a role off the bench with Luguentz Dort (illness) ruled out for this contest. Regardless, Mann won't play enough to warrant streaming in most fantasy formats.

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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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Tre Mann (finger) will miss the remainder of the summer league with a small avulsion fracture in his right middle finger. He's not expected to miss that much time as it was reported that he'll return to basketball activities in two weeks. Mann was having a solid stretch of summer league games minus the turnovers. He averaged 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game across 4 games. He'll definitely earn some time in the guard rotation this coming season.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Tre Mann continued his brilliant play in the Summer League when he dropped 23 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and one steal while shooting 7-for-15 from the floor and 4-for-10 from deep on Thursday. He has now scored 20 or more points in all three of the team's summer league games so far. He's slated to be the backup guard behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey, which is a big piece to have coming off of the bench. He could play his way into fantasy relevance in deeper leagues this coming season.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Tre Mann scored a game-high 28 points in Wednesday's Summer League loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. The 22-year-old went 10-for-14 from the field and 2-for-6 from deep while adding four boards, two assists, and a steal. Unfortunately, he did have five turnovers, which wasn't a good look, but it was still a solid showing, nonetheless. Mann has played well during his time in Utah, averaging 24 points, five rebounds, and two assists. While he still has plenty of things to work on, he should get consistent minutes off the bench in 2023-24. Mann might also get chances to start, so he should draw streaming interest from those in redraft formats during the season.