Toronto Raptors guard/forward Scottie Barnes appears to be off limits in any trade discussions involving superstar forward Kevin Durant. The Brooklyn Nets have made it clear that they want a massive return for Durant. The Raptors have reportedly made a strong package for Durant, but are extremely hesitant to include Barnes. It's not shocking to see the Raptors unwilling to trade the first-team all-rookie forward. The future is bright for Barnes and the Raptors want to keep him even if it cost them a chance at acquiring Durant.
Forward Simi Shittu is reportedly joining the Orlando Magic organization ahead of the 2022-23 season, per Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. Shittu played last season in the Israeli Basketball Super League, with his latest U.S. experience coming as a member of the Westchester Knicks of the G League from '20-21. In his time with the Knicks, he averaged 14.5 points and 10.1 boards per game, while shooting 55.6 percent overall in the high-octane, offensively minded G League. A former McDonald's All-American ('18), Shittu will likely factor into G League plans for most of the year, with his upside featuring some bench minutes for an Orlando team embracing its youth movement.
Guard/forward Jordan Hall has officially signed a two-way deal to join the San Antonio Spurs for the 2022-23 season. Hall played two years at St. Joseph's, including a sophomore campaign that saw him average 14.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. The 6-foot-8 wing went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft and figures to spend most of the upcoming year with the Austin Spurs of the G League. San Antonio will be one of the more captivating teams to watch early in the season due to the possibility of young players emerging as significant fantasy contenders in the wake of Dejounte Murray's departure.
The Atlanta Hawks added to their backcourt depth by signing combo guard Trent Forrest to a two-way deal for the upcoming year. Forrest was an undrafted free agent who spent the past two seasons primarily coming off the bench for the Jazz, with whom he appeared in 90 games (six starts). He averaged just 3.1 PPG in that time, but shot 47.8 percent overall and made enough of an impression to join the Hawks. The 24-year-old is the latest new face in Atlanta, who has already brought Dejounte Murray and Aaron Holiday aboard to join Trae Young and Bogdan Bogdanovic in the backcourt. Forrest won't be a fantasy asset at the start of the year, although he could garner second-unit minutes if the opportunity presents itself.
New Orleans Pelicans point guard Jose Alvarado became something of a breakout sensation during his rookie year, largely due in part to his tenacious defensive prowess and sly ability to pick-pocket unassuming ball-handlers. But with C.J. McCollum slated to become New Orleans' primary point guard next season and with Devonte' Graham a likely second-unit contributor, Alvarado could be facing a minutes squeeze. Will Guillory of The Athletic makes the case for the 24-year-old continuing to get run. An undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech, Alvarado compiled 71 steals in just 54 games for the Pelicans. He can likely go undrafted in redraft formats, but he could become a trendy waiver-wire addition in category formats if his minutes stay steady during the winter months.
LA Clippers shooting guard Norman Powell (foot) hit a significant speed bump shortly after joining the team at last season's trade deadline when he broke his left foot. As Powell continues to ramp up to full speed, he suited up for the famed Drew League summer circuit, after which he indicated to Law Murray of The Athletic that he was feeling good and heading in the right direction. In 45 games with Portland and LA last year, Powell set a new career-high with 19 points per game while also shooting 41.6 percent from behind the arc. The Clippers' backcourt and offensive pecking order is set to take on a new focus in 2022-23, with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard both expected to carry the lion's share of scoring duties when healthy.
Miami Heat point/shooting guard Victor Oladipo is back in South Beach on a two-year deal and is eyeing a return to form after injury-riddled campaigns. Oladipo spoke with Vince Carter on The VC Show and reiterated that while the injuries have clouded the perception of his talent, he believes he can reestablish himself as "one of the best players in the world." Oladipo was a two-time All-Star with Indiana, having led the league in steals per game (2.4) back in 2017-18. He has shown flashes of his electric scoring upside when healthy since then, but his role with the Heat makes him a difficult redraft option. When healthy, the 30-year-old's talent is undeniable, but Miami also boasts Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro in the backcourt, alongside key contributors Gabe Vincent and Max Strus.
Free-agent center Gorgui Dieng officially signed a one-year deal with the Spurs. The terms of the contract were not disclosed. The 32-year-old has averaged 7.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists since being drafted in 2013. Dieng may not see regular playing time this season. However, he has room to make some appearances in the starting lineup, giving him streaming appeal in all fantasy formats.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton remains committed to landing a new deal. The Cavs have reportedly offered a three-year, $40 million contract. However, Sexton's agent, Rich Paul, continues to seek more than $20 million annually for his client. The 23-year-old has averaged 20.0 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.0 rebounds while netting 37.8% of his attempts from deep throughout his career. Still, he hasn't played 82 games since his rookie season in 2018-19, most recently missing 71 games last season because of a torn meniscus. Although Sexton is a proven scorer, he doesn't offer much for category managers outside of that. He also needs to stay healthy moving ahead, or else his fantasy stock will continue to fall.
Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks is expected to receive an extension offer from the team. The 26-year-old is coming off the best season of his career, averaging 18.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. Brooks, who has one year left on his current deal, is eligible to sign a four-year contract and up to $61.3 million. It's unknown if he'll accept such an offer or test his luck in free agency next offseason. However, no matter where the veteran suits up beyond the 2022-23 campaign, his career 34.8% shooting from deep must improve before he moves up the rankings list in category formats. Brooks has also dealt with plenty of injuries throughout his career, including missing 50 games last season, primarily because of a broken left hand.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram could be included in a "compelling package" to acquire Kevin Durant from Brooklyn, according to Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily Times. Although the Nets are remaining firm on its asking price for the multi-time All-Star, adding Ingram to the equation could be more than enough to make a deal happen. Unquestionably, the 24-year-old has played the best basketball of his career over his last three seasons in New Orleans. During that span, he's averaged 23.4 points, 5.6 boards, and 4.8 assists while shooting an acceptable 37.3% from deep. While Ingram is a capable fantasy producer, his inconsistency on the defensive end has been a minor hindrance for category managers. His inability to remain healthy also continues to be a problem.
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