NBA News

Yaxel Lendeborg • PF • Warriors

Yaxel Lendeborg Dazzles as Warriors Rout Lakers in California Classic

Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg was flawless in his summer-league debut, pouring in 19 points on a perfect 6-of-6 from the field and 4-of-4 from three. He added five rebounds and six assists as Golden State routed the Lakers 104-72 in the California Classic. The No. 11 pick in June's draft, Lendeborg is an older, NBA-ready rookie at 23, a two-way forward who won a national title at Michigan while averaging 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. For fantasy, keep the excitement measured. Summer league is a tiny sample against thin competition, and Lendeborg lands on a veteran, win-now roster built around Stephen Curry, one chasing even more star power this summer, so rookie minutes come at a premium. The takeaway is a dynasty one: he's a versatile, high-floor stash to monitor. In redraft, be patient until the role is real.

7 hours ago

Andrew Nembhard • PG • Pacers

Andrew Nembhard Backs Up SGA With 23 Points for Canada

Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard backed up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 23 points, four rebounds, and four assists in Canada's 110-84 rout of Puerto Rico in the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers. It capped a strong showing for a player coming off the best season of his career. With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined all of 2025-26, Nembhard slid into the lead-guard role and posted career highs of 16.9 points and 7.7 assists over 57 games. Here's the fantasy catch, though: that breakout was largely a product of opportunity. Haliburton is expected back next season, which reclaims the primary ball-handling duties and shrinks Nembhard toward the secondary role he filled before, when he averaged closer to 10.0 points and 5.0 assists. There may be an early-season window while Haliburton ramps up from the Achilles, but don't pay 2025-26 prices. His value fades the moment the offense runs back through Haliburton.

7 hours ago

VJ Edgecombe • SG • 76ers

VJ Edgecombe Fills the Stat Sheet in Bahamas Rout of Jamaica

Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe stuffed the stat sheet with 26 points, nine rebounds, and five steals to lead his native Bahamas to a 123-74 rout of Jamaica in the 2027 FIBA World Cup Americas qualifiers. The 20-year-old shot 10-of-16 from the field and 6-of-11 from deep, with veteran sharpshooter and mentor Buddy Hield chipping in 15 points alongside him. For fantasy, Edgecombe is the young riser worth circling. He's coming off a sensational rookie year: 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists over 75 games with a historic 34-point debut, and this line shows the same multi-category punch that makes him a real Year 2 breakout candidate. The steals are the sweetener: he's a genuine source in a scarce category. The one caveat is usage, as the newly acquired Jaylen Brown joins Tyrese Maxey in the pecking order for touches. Even so, target Edgecombe as a rising mid-round guard with league-winning upside.

8 hours ago

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander • PG • Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Scores 26 Points in Canada's Qualifier Win

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 points in 26 minutes to lead Canada to a 110-84 rout of Puerto Rico in the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers, with "M-V-P!" chants raining down in his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario. The back-to-back NBA MVP was ruthlessly efficient, going 9-of-14 from the field and 7-of-8 at the line while adding four assists, two steals, and two blocks. For fantasy, the box score is a tidy snapshot of why he's a cornerstone. His value isn't in any single category; it's the blend of high-volume scoring, elite free-throw production, steals, and assists, and it travels across rule sets, as Friday showed. That breadth is what makes him a true build-around: draft him among the very first names off the board, then construct the rest of your roster around the categories he already locks up for you.

8 hours ago

Ivica Zubac • C • Pacers

Ivica Zubac Dominates in 18 Minutes as Croatia Routs Cyprus

Indiana Pacers center Ivica Zubac needed just 18 minutes to post 24 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks, powering Croatia to a record 123-50 rout of Cyprus and into the second round of the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers. For fantasy, the number that matters most is the minutes: Zubac looked fully healthy and dominant, an encouraging sign after a lost season. His 2025-26 season was wrecked by the February trade from the Clippers to Indiana, a delayed debut, and a fractured rib that ended his year after just five Pacers games. Remember what he is at full strength, though. In 2024-25, he broke out for 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks while earning All-Defensive honors, and he steps into 2026-27 as Indiana's clear starting center, with pick-and-roll upside once Tyrese Haliburton is back. This is a buy-the-bounce-back center: reliable boards, blocks, and field-goal percentage at a likely discount.

8 hours ago

Lauri Markkanen • PF • Jazz

Lauri Markkanen Drops 23 Points to Lead Finland Past Hungary

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen poured in a game-high 23 points, adding four rebounds and two assists, to lead Finland past Hungary 85-77 in the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers. The Finnisher shot 7-for-14 from the field and got to the line at will, giving his national team a reliable No. 1 option down the stretch and showing his scoring travels against physical international defenses. The fantasy takeaway, though, is more complicated than the box score. Markkanen is a gifted scorer, coming off a career-high 26.7 points per game, but he suited up for just 42 contests last season because Utah tanked and sat him down the stretch, drawing a $500,000 league fine. Add in perennial trade chatter, and the Jazz situation, not his talent, is the real fantasy variable. Value the scoring, but discount it for the games Utah may not let him play.

8 hours ago

Nikola Jokić • C • Nuggets

Nikola Jokic Leads Serbia Past Switzerland in World Cup Qualifiers

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic posted 22 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists with zero turnovers to lead Serbia past Switzerland 97-73 and into the second round of the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers. The three-time MVP was Serbia's hub in every phase, and with Nuggets teammate Jamal Murray watching from the stands, he looked noticeably leaner and more agile, sparking offseason buzz about his conditioning. For fantasy, this is pure reassurance. Jokic is the presumptive No. 1 overall pick after averaging 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and a career-high 10.7 assists last season, and a dominant, healthy summer only reinforces that. The one footnote to track is workload: Serbia expects him across multiple qualifying windows, adding offseason mileage to a 31-year-old, though few players are more durable. Draft him first with total confidence.

8 hours ago

Myron Gardner • SF • Heat

Myron Gardner Sprains Ankle in Heat's Summer League Opener

Miami Heat forward Myron Gardner (ankle) exited early from Friday's California Classic opener against San Antonio, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports. Gardner was held to two points in just 6:50 after spraining his left ankle. There's no fantasy alarm to sound here. This is a summer-league tweak rather than a regular-season injury, and no timeline has been given. Gardner is a deep-bench piece anyway: the 25-year-old undrafted forward parlayed a strong midseason stretch in the starting lineup into a standard three-year deal last February, but he averaged just 3.6 points in a spot role, and Miami's rotation is now built around Giannis Antetokounmpo. He wasn't a redraft factor before this, and a minor summer ankle doesn't change that.

19 hours ago

Josh Okogie • SG

Josh Okogie Signs Two-Year Deal With the Jazz

Free-agent guard/forward Josh Okogie has agreed to a two-year, $12 million deal with the Utah Jazz, Shams Charania of ESPN reports, picking Utah over several other suitors. The 27-year-old has built an eight-year career on gritty perimeter defense, and last season he finally added an offensive wrinkle, connecting on 38.5 percent from three for Houston. For fantasy, that shooting is the whole case, and it comes with a warning label: a career 29.9 percent shooter from deep rarely sustains a jump that big, so plan on some regression. The bigger issue is fit. A rebuilding Jazz team would rather hand minutes to its young wings than to a 27-year-old role player, so the open runway a thin roster seems to offer may never materialize. Okogie brings real value to Utah's defense and locker room, but at 4.5 points in 17.4 minutes, the fantasy production simply isn't there.

19 hours ago

Trey Lyles • PF

Trey Lyles Lands One-Year Deal With Timberwolves

Veteran forward Trey Lyles is returning to the NBA on a one-year, minimum deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports, after a season overseas with Real Madrid. The 30-year-old stretch big spent his year in Spain productively, averaging 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds while helping Real Madrid reach the EuroLeague final, though his 7.6-point career NBA average is the more realistic scoring baseline for a bench role. Minnesota brought him in for a specific reason: the Wolves are moving Julius Randle and Naz Reid this offseason, leaving a real void at power forward. That vacancy is what makes Lyles worth a glance, but keep it in perspective. He's a minimum-salary depth piece who will compete with second-year big Joan Beringer for those minutes, and Minnesota is also pursuing Rui Hachimura for the same spot. If the Wolves land a bigger name, Lyles slides down the chart. Until the frontcourt shakes out, treat him as a name to watch, not one to roster.

22 hours ago

Andre Drummond • C

Andre Drummond Signs One-Year, $3.9 Million Deal With Knicks

Free-agent center Andre Drummond has agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million deal to sign with the New York Knicks, Shams Charania of ESPN reports. The defending champions needed a backup center after Mitchell Robinson bolted for Boston, and they landed a proven one on the cheap. Drummond, a 14-year veteran and four-time rebounding champion, remains one of the league's best per-minute rebounders, averaging 6.4 points and 8.4 rebounds in just 19.5 minutes across 63 games last season while adding a surprising 35.6 percent stroke from three. Behind Karl-Anthony Towns, Drummond carries little standalone fantasy value. His appeal is as a handcuff: few backups turn into an instant double-double the way he does the moment the starter sits. Stash him in deeper formats and keep him at the top of your pickup list if New York's center spot ever opens up.

22 hours ago

Caleb Love • SG • 76ers

Caleb Love Lands Two-Way Contract With 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed guard Caleb Love to a two-way contract on Friday, according to Shams Charania. Love joined the Portland Trail Blazers this past season as an undrafted free agent. Across 49 games, Love averaged 10.4 points, 2.5 assists, and 2.3 rebounds across 20.7 minutes per game. There's potential here for Love to turn into a decent scoring option, but the Sixers might not be the best landing spot. The team already has plenty of guards, so Love is unlikely to play consistent minutes unless the team suffers multiple injuries. The 24-year-old is a solid depth piece, but he's unlikely to be a viable fantasy option.

Yesterday

Jordan Miller • SF • Clippers

Jordan Miller Inks Three-Year Deal with Clippers

Los Angeles Clippers guard Jordan Miller has signed a new deal with the organization on Friday. According to Shams Charania, Miller has inked a three-year, $15.3 million deal with the Clippers. Miller joined the free agent pool as a restricted free agent, but has ultimately decided to return to Los Angeles. He took on a bigger role this past season and has impressed enough to earn himself a new three-year deal. He averaged 10.0 points, 2.3 assists, and 3.0 rebounds across 22.1 minutes per game in 60 contests this past season. The departure of Kawhi Leonard figures to open up a larger role for Miller in the rotation. The Clippers also drafted Keaton Wagler and acquired Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick in the Leonard trade. There are a few new faces in Los Angeles, so we'll see how the team decides to shake out the rotation.

Yesterday

Rayan Rupert • SG • 76ers

Rayan Rupert Signs Two-Way Deal With 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed guard Rayan Rupert to a two-way contract on Friday, according to Shams Charania. The Sixers continue to add depth with Rupert being the newest addition to the roster. He's a former second-round pick of the Portland Trail Blazers from 2023. He spent the first two years of his career in Portland before splitting time between the Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies this past season. He averaged 5.2 points, 1.1 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in 64 games last season. This is mainly a depth move that is unlikely to impact fantasy basketball.

Yesterday

Dorian Finney-Smith • PF • Hornets

Dorian Finney-Smith Moved to Charlotte

Houston Rockets forward Dorian Finney-Smith was traded to the Charlotte Hornets on Friday. According to Shams Charania, Finney-Smith will go to Charlotte in exchange for three second-round picks. The veteran forward still has three years left on his deal, with the final year being a $13.3 million player option. The Rockets wanted to create cap space, which moving off Finney-Smith's contract certainly does for Houston. The veteran forward had a down year last season, but is normally a viable two-way player. His fantasy value will be dependent on where he shakes out in the rotation.

Yesterday

Jaden Hardy • SG • Lakers

Jaden Hardy Heading to the Lakers

Washington Wizards guard Jaden Hardy was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, according to Shams Charania. The Wizards have traded Hardy and two second-round picks in exchange for center Deandre Ayton. The big man became expendable for the Lakers after they acquired Walker Kessler. Ayton figures to serve as the primary backup center to Alexandre Sarr. As for Hardy, he'll likely be a rotational piece for the Lakers. In 23 games with Washington, Hardy averaged 12.6 points, 1.3 assists, and 1.7 rebounds across 20.4 minutes per game. The 23-year-old has some scoring upside, but is unlikely to be a big part of the Lakers rotation.

Yesterday

Deandre Ayton • C • Wizards

Deandre Ayton Dealt to Washington

Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton was traded to the Washington Wizards on Friday, according to Shams Charania. Ayton will head to Washington in exchange for Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks. The Lakers recently acquired Walker Kessler to be the starting center, so Ayton became movable. The big man recently picked up his player option for $8 million for the upcoming 2026-2027 season. This past season, Ayton averaged 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks across 27.2 minutes per game in 72 contests with the Lakers. The expectation is that Ayton is going to be the primary backup to Alexandre Sarr in Washington. This move to Washington will likely decrease his fantasy value unless Sarr or Anthony Davis suffers an injury.

Yesterday

Javonte Green • SG

Javonte Green Returns to Pistons on One-Year, $3.95 Million Deal

Free-agent forward Javonte Green has agreed to a one-year, $3.95 million deal to return to the Detroit Pistons, Shams Charania of ESPN reports. The 32-year-old is a glue guy: he suited up for all 82 games last season as one of Detroit's most trusted perimeter defenders, chipping in 6.9 points in 17.6 minutes while shooting 38.1 percent from three. That defensive motor and iron-man availability matter to a Pistons team built around Cade Cunningham, but they don't add up to a fantasy box score at this usage. Here's the only angle worth filing away: in deep formats, if an injury pushes him into the starting lineup as it did last season, his steals and blocks can carry a short-term stream. Short of that, he stays on the wire.

Yesterday

Payton Sandfort • PG

Payton Sandfort Waived by Thunder After Two-Way Stint

The Oklahoma City Thunder waived forward Payton Sandfort, according to Andrew Schlecht. Sandfort appeared in four NBA games for Oklahoma City last season, averaging 8.8 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 50.0 percent from the field. He spent most of his time with the Oklahoma City Blue, where he averaged 11.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. Sandfort has size and shooting touch, but this move carries little fantasy fallout. He was not in line for a steady Thunder role, and his next value will depend on finding another developmental spot.

Yesterday

Neemias Queta • C • Celtics

Neemias Queta Signs Four-Year Extension to Stay in Boston

Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta has agreed to a four-year, $56 million extension to remain in Boston, Shams Charania of ESPN reports. It caps a remarkable climb for the 26-year-old Portuguese 7-footer, who went from a two-way deal and G League stints in Maine to Boston's starting center. Queta seized that job last season after the Celtics traded Kristaps Porzingis and let Al Horford and Luke Kornet walk, and he delivered career highs of 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks while shooting 65.3 percent, third-best in the NBA. For fantasy, he's a quietly valuable category center: the field-goal percentage, boards, and blocks add up even without gaudy scoring. The extension locks in a role that only grows more central as Boston retools around a post-Jaylen Brown roster. The one cap on his ceiling is minutes, with offseason signing Mitchell Robinson now providing real depth behind him.

Yesterday

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