NBA News

According to Sean Cunningham of FOX40 News (KTXL), the Sacramento Kings will work out 35-year-old free-agent point guard Isaiah Thomas. Last season, Thomas suited up for the Phoenix Suns and appeared in just six games, averaging 1.3 points per contest while going 30.0% from the field. Thomas kicked off his NBA career with the Kings, playing 216 games and averaging 15.3 points across three seasons. Should the veteran guard sign a contract with Sacramento, his minutes on the court will be limited, and he will not be a factor in fantasy in the upcoming season.

Turkish center Omer Yurtseven will likely be returning to Europe, according to a report from the Greek outlet SDNA. The EuroLeague champions Panathinaikos have made an official offer for the free agent. Yurtseven played for the Utah Jazz last season, appearing in 48 games and averaging 4.6 points and 4.3 rebounds. Unfortunately, it seems the 26-year-old hasn't been able to find another opportunity with a different team for the upcoming NBA campaign.

Spanish forward/center Usman Garuba is set to return to his homeland after signing a three-year contract with Real Madrid, according to Eurohoops. The 22-year-old has spent three seasons in the NBA, suiting up for the Golden State Warriors last season and playing in just seven contests. In the two previous campaigns, Garuba averaged 2.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 11.7 minutes across 105 appearances for the Houston Rockets. For the upcoming season, the Madrid-born big man will be in his second stint with Real Madrid.

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (knee) stated his rehab has gone well. He also told fans to expect to see him back on the court in 2024-25. The 26-year-old last played in 2021-22 when he averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.8 steals in 35 games for the Bulls. He also shot a career-high 42.3%. Unfortunately, he has undergone numerous knee surgeries and hasn't been on the court since. At any rate, Ball appears to be moving in the right direction in the recovery process. But it will take time before he's ready for a full workload. Even then, the Bulls have Josh Giddey and Coby White, meaning Ball could struggle to find minutes.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson played a career-high 70 games in 2023-24. However, it appears Williamson remains committed to staying on the floor, with the 24-year-old appearing slimmer in a recent photo posted to Instagram. Without question, his durability has been an issue since entering the league as the No. 1 overall pick in 2019. His work ethic has also been questioned. Yet, while Williamson's statistical numbers were down slightly last season, fantasy managers will take it as long as he stays healthy. With that said, he has top-10 fantasy potential. But the former Duke Blue Devil has an uphill climb to convince fantasy managers he's no longer injury-prone.

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is ready for an expanded role this season after the team traded Mikal Bridges to the Knicks. "I'm not really worried about it," said Thomas when asked about the pressures of becoming a leader for the Nets. "I'm just excited to get it going and to try to do it in the league. I'm not really worried about it at all; I'm just ready." The 22-year-old averaged 22.5 points in 2023-24, easily the highest of his career. Fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised to see Thomas enter the All-Star conversation during the 2024-25 campaign, although he'll need to stay healthy, with the 2021 No. 27 overall pick appearing in just 66 games last season.