NBA News

Dennis Schröder • PG • Hornets

Dennis Schroder Seals Germany's Overtime Win Over Poland

Charlotte Hornets guard Dennis Schroder led Germany past Poland 96-94 in overtime in Sunday's FIBA World Cup 2027 European Qualifier, finishing with 18 points, five assists, two rebounds, and one steal while shooting 5-for-11 from the field, 2-for-5 from deep, and 6-for-7 at the line. FIBA credited him with the game-winning free throws with 17 seconds left, a reminder that the 32-year-old can still manage late-game offense. Charlotte acquired Schroder from Cleveland in August after he averaged 10.8 points and 4.9 assists over 70 games last season, but his fantasy ceiling still depends on steady minutes in a crowded Hornets backcourt.

4 hours ago

Pelle Larsson • SG • Heat

Pelle Larsson Scores 23 Points in Sweden's Qualifying Loss

Miami Heat guard/forward Pelle Larsson scored 23 points in Sweden's 84-69 loss to France on Sunday in Group L of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers, getting to the line 16 times and converting 13, Spotrac's Keith Smith reports. The 25-year-old could not match France's frontcourt efficiency, as Victor Wembanyama posted 18 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks, while Maxime Raynaud added 13 points on 6-for-7 shooting. Larsson also dropped 31 points against Finland on Thursday, making the free-throw volume the best fantasy takeaway from his window. Miami's shooting guard minutes are more available after Tyler Herro went to Milwaukee in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade and Norman Powell signed with Chicago. Larsson started 54 games last season while averaging 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 26.4 minutes. Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr. are camp competitors, but Larsson has done enough to keep pressure on Miami's perimeter rotation.

5 hours ago

Maxime Raynaud • C • Kings

Maxime Raynaud Delivers 13 Points in France's Win Over Sweden

Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud scored 13 points on 6-for-7 shooting in France's 84-69 win over Sweden on Sunday in Group L of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers. The second-year big matched Victor Wembanyama's efficiency from the field, with the San Antonio Spurs star finishing with 18 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks as France moved to 7-1 atop the group. Rudy Gobert was unavailable, giving Raynaud a bigger frontcourt role, while Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson led Sweden with 23 points. Raynaud averaged 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists as a rookie and enters his second Kings season penciled in behind Domantas Sabonis. The efficient summer minutes strengthen his fallback case if Sabonis misses time again, but Raynaud's fantasy value still depends on a clearer path to starts.

5 hours ago

Victor Wembanyama • PF • Spurs

Victor Wembanyama Powers France Past Sweden

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama needed only seven field-goal attempts to score 18 points in France's 84-69 win over Sweden on Sunday in Group L of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year added eight rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and one steal while helping France close on a 20-4 run after trailing 65-64 with five minutes left. France moved to 7-1 atop Group L. Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud chipped in 13 points, while Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson led Sweden with 23. Wembanyama is not expected to be available for the November qualifying window with the Spurs' season underway, capping his summer mileage after averaging 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 3.1 blocks across 64 games last season. Health is the only real concern, so the lighter international calendar is a fantasy-friendly note.

5 hours ago

Braden Smith • PG • Pacers

Braden Smith Targets Daily Progress with Pacers

Indiana Pacers guard Braden Smith said he is focused on turning in-game growth into daily progress after a rough Summer League, per Forbes' Tony East. The No. 38 pick shot just 26.5 percent across five games in Las Vegas, though he still averaged 6.8 points, 7.0 assists, and 4.4 rebounds. Smith called himself his own hardest critic and said he has been working on his ball handling, decision-making, and pace. The passing gives him a base, but the physicality on defense and lack of clean paint touches showed how far he has to go. With Tyrese Haliburton back and T.J. McConnell entrenched behind him, the Noblesville Boom should see plenty of Smith as a rookie. He is a development name, not a fantasy option.

5 hours ago

Jordan Hawkins • SG • Pelicans

Jordan Hawkins Could Fall Out of the Rotation

The New Orleans Pelicans recently signed Bennedict Mathurin to a two-year deal. The new addition is going to significantly impact the Pelicans' rotation this upcoming season. The team will need to figure out how to mix Dejounte Murray, Jeremiah Fears, Jordan Poole, and Mathurin all into a rotation together. Given all the depth the Pelicans have right now, Jordan Hawkins might end up outside the rotation to begin the season. There's not going to be enough playing time for everyone, so somebody needs to be the odd man out. Hawkins already didn't have a ton of fantasy value coming into the season, but he probably won't be worth stashing in most fantasy formats.

16 hours ago

Jordan Poole • PG • Pelicans

Jordan Poole Could See Reduced Role

The New Orleans Pelicans recently signed free-agent guard Bennedict Mathurin to a two-year deal. The 24-year-old gets $16 million over two years and a player option in his new deal. The presence of Mathurin is going to significantly impact the rest of the Pelicans' rotation. The team will need to find minutes for Dejounte Murray, Jeremiah Fears, and Jordan Poole to all get playing time with Mathurin in the mix as well. Out of the bunch, Poole is likely going to lose the most playing time with Mathurin joining the team. Poole is coming off a disappointing season where he averaged 13.4 points, 3.1 assists, and 2.0 rebounds across 39 games with the Pelicans this past season. He's probably the most inconsistent player of the bunch, so it wouldn't be shocking to see his minutes take a hit this upcoming season.

16 hours ago

Donte DiVincenzo • SG • Timberwolves

Timberwolves Hold Hope for Donte DiVincenzo's Return

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) remains in the team's plans while he works his way back from surgery. ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective that Minnesota has no plans to trade DiVincenzo, who is on a $12.5 million expiring contract, though the organization has "a quiet hope" he could return before the end of the season. The 29-year-old tore the Achilles against Denver in April and underwent surgery the next day. Minnesota has rebuilt the backcourt around his absence, re-signing Ayo Dosunmu for five years and $112 million and trading for LaMelo Ball. DiVincenzo averaged 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.3 steals in 30.4 minutes across all 82 games last season, but a return to that workload is unlikely right away. He belongs on watch lists, not draft boards, while Terrence Shannon Jr. and Jaylen Clark are cleaner short-term perimeter depth pieces.

Yesterday

Jalen Duren • C • Pistons

Pistons Rule Out Sign-and-Trade Offers for Jalen Duren

Restricted free-agent center Jalen Duren remains firmly in Detroit's plans, with ESPN's Tim MacMahon reporting on The Hoop Collective that the Pistons have told rival teams they are "absolutely positively 100 percent" committed to keeping him. Any team pursuing a sign-and-trade is wasting its time, per MacMahon, leaving Duren nearly two months into an unresolved standoff with Detroit. The first-time All-Star averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 0.8 blocks on 65.0 percent shooting across 70 games last season. Duren became eligible for a five-year max worth $287.1 million after earning All-NBA honors, while Jake Fischer has pointed to a possible four-year deal around $160 million. The contract noise should not knock him down fantasy boards. Detroit traded Isaiah Stewart to Memphis and has Paul Reed as the main center depth behind Duren, so the minutes and volume are waiting. The main risk is Duren taking the roughly $9.6 million qualifying offer and playing out a lame-duck year.

Yesterday

Aaron Nesmith • PF • Pacers

Aaron Nesmith Refines Ball-Handling in Offseason

Indiana Pacers guard/forward Aaron Nesmith said he used the offseason to get healthy and tighten his ball handling, speaking Monday ahead of the Pacers Foundation Charity Softball Classic. "It was good getting a long offseason and getting the body right," Nesmith said. Injuries, including a neck issue, limited the 26-year-old to 45 games last season, and the heavier load on a 19-63 team came with efficiency costs. He averaged 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 41.4 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from deep. Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) has said he is 100 percent cleared, which should help restore cleaner looks for Nesmith. He projects to start alongside Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam, and Ivica Zubac, but Kelly Oubre Jr. and Jarace Walker give Indiana enough wing depth to keep Nesmith in watch-list territory rather than locked-in fantasy value.

Yesterday

John Konchar • SG

Timberwolves Waive John Konchar

The Minnesota Timberwolves waived guard/forward John Konchar on Saturday, one day after acquiring him from Utah in the Josh Green trade. The move was expected, as Minnesota plans to stretch Konchar's $6.17 million expiring salary into roughly $2.06 million charges over three seasons to help finalize Jonathan Kuminga's two-year, $12.4 million deal. The 30-year-old split last season between Memphis and Utah, averaging 4.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.7 blocks in 19.9 minutes across 56 games, including eight starts. Konchar should clear waivers Monday and hit unrestricted free agency, but his low-usage profile keeps him off fantasy radars wherever he lands. The fantasy angle is Kuminga, who is projected to compete for the starting power forward job alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels, and Rudy Gobert. Cody Williams, the other piece of the Utah trade, remains in Minnesota as reserve wing depth.

Yesterday

Stephen Curry • PG • Warriors

Stephen Curry Becomes Eligible for a Two-Year Extension

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry became extension-eligible Saturday and can sign a two-year deal worth up to $136.7 million before June 30, ESPN's Bobby Marks reports. The Over-38 rule caps any extension at two seasons, though Curry could pursue up to three years by waiting for free agency in 2027. The 38-year-old is owed roughly $62.5 million this season either way, so the fantasy question is workload, not money. Curry was limited to 43 games last season by various injuries, including a knee issue, but still averaged 26.6 points, 4.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 30.9 minutes. With Jimmy Butler III (knee) and Moses Moody (knee) rehabbing season-ending injuries, Golden State's offense should lean heavily on Curry, Brandin Podziemski, and Kristaps Porzingis early. That keeps Curry's ceiling high, but his durability risk is just as obvious.

Yesterday

Nikola Jović • SF • Heat

Nikola Jovic Scores 21 Points as Serbia Routs Iceland

Miami Heat forward/center Nikola Jovic scored 21 points on 9-for-15 shooting in Serbia's 102-73 rout of Iceland on Friday in Group J of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers. The 23-year-old added three rebounds, two assists, and a plus-28 while outscoring Nikola Jokic, who finished with six points, 13 rebounds, and six assists. Serbia improved to 5-2 in Group J, but Jovic's bigger issue remains his NBA role. He averaged 7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 17.2 minutes across 47 games last season while shooting 36.6 percent from the field and 26.9 percent from deep. Miami reshaped its frontcourt around Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, and Bobby Portis, while Pelle Larsson is also pushing for perimeter minutes. Jovic needs a cleaner shooting camp before becoming more than a watch-list name.

Yesterday

Nikola Jokić • C • Nuggets

Nikola Jokic Fills Stat Sheet in Blowout Win Over Iceland

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic posted six points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and three steals in 23 minutes of Serbia's 102-73 win over Iceland on Friday in Group J of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers. The three-time MVP had reached 20 points in both of his previous 2027 qualifying appearances, so the quiet scoring night looks more like a blowout side effect than a concern. Serbia improved to 5-2 in Group J and closes the window Monday in Italy. Jokic averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists over 65 games last season, and the modest 23-minute workload is the encouraging piece here for managers tracking his summer mileage ahead of a Denver season that folds DeMar DeRozan into the offense.

Yesterday

Luka Garza • C • Celtics

Luka Garza Chips in 10 Points as Bosnia Upsets Italy

Boston Celtics center Luka Garza recorded 10 points and seven rebounds in 15:49 as Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Italy 78-76 on Friday in Tuzla, the country's first win over the Italians in six meetings. The 27-year-old shared the frontcourt with Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic, who carried the load with 25 points on 11-for-19 shooting and 14 rebounds. The result keeps Bosnia's 2027 World Cup hopes breathing, though it does little to move Garza's NBA outlook. Boston signed Mitchell Robinson to a three-year deal and extended Neemias Queta this offseason, dropping Garza to third in the center rotation after he averaged 8.1 points and 4.1 rebounds last season. He stays off fantasy radars unless an injury opens the door ahead of him.

Yesterday

Jusuf Nurkić • C • Jazz

Jusuf Nurkic Dominates Italy with 25 Points, 14 Rebounds

Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic carried Bosnia and Herzegovina to a 78-76 win over Italy in Friday's World Cup qualifier in Tuzla, posting 25 points and 14 rebounds on 11-for-19 shooting in just over 22 minutes. The 32-year-old had not played competitive basketball since February, when nose surgery ended his NBA season. Utah's frontcourt looks different this time around. Nurkic re-signed on a two-year, $22 million deal in June and projects as the starting center after the Jazz sent Walker Kessler to the Lakers, with Jaren Jackson Jr. slotting in beside him. Kyle Filipowski is the main threat to those minutes, though Nurkic averaged 10.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 26.4 minutes across 41 games last season. That rebounding and passing floor makes him worth tracking as camp approaches.

Yesterday

Neemias Queta • C • Celtics

Neemias Queta Pulled Early in Portugal's Win Over Spain

Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (undisclosed) is dealing with an injury of some kind after Portugal pulled him early in the fourth quarter of Friday's FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers win over Spain, Keith Smith reports. Head coach Mario Gomes said the medical staff flagged a "real risk" and shut Queta down as a precaution, but he did not name the injury. The 27-year-old had 16 points, nine rebounds, one assist, and two steals in 24-plus minutes before exiting. Portugal hosts Georgia on Monday, making his status there the next read on severity. Queta averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 0.8 steals last season before signing a four-year, $56 million deal, but Boston also added Mitchell Robinson and still has Luka Garza. Any missed camp time would add pressure to Queta's hold on the starting center job.

Yesterday

Aday Mara • C • Thunder

Aday Mara Blocks Four Shots in Spain's Loss to Portugal

Oklahoma City Thunder center Aday Mara posted 12 points, six rebounds, two assists, and four blocks in Spain's 95-89 loss to Portugal on Friday in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers. The No. 12 pick in June's draft went 3-for-8 from the field and 6-for-7 at the line in 19 minutes, while Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta countered with 16 points and nine rebounds for Portugal. The rim protection tracks with Mara's Michigan profile after he averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.6 blocks en route to Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors and a national title. Oklahoma City's frontcourt is crowded, though, with Isaiah Hartenstein back on a fresh three-year deal, Chet Holmgren locked into heavy minutes, and Jaylin Williams and Thomas Sorber also in the backup mix. Mara remains off fantasy radars until that logjam thins.

2 days ago

Neemias Queta • C • Celtics

Neemias Queta Posts 16 Points in Portugal's Upset of Spain

Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta racked up 16 points, nine rebounds, and two steals in 24 minutes as Portugal upset Spain 95-89 on Friday in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers. Five of his boards came on the offensive glass, where the 27-year-old continues to do his best work. Queta averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks across 76 games last season, starting 75 of them before signing a four-year, $56 million extension in July. Boston added Mitchell Robinson this offseason, but Keith Smith has reported the expectation is that Robinson opens off the bench, keeping Queta in the starting mix. With Jaylen Brown now in Philadelphia, there should be enough touches for Queta to build on last season's leap if he holds the job.

2 days ago

Goga Bitadze • C • Magic

Goga Bitadze Scores 23 Points as Georgia Routs Montenegro

Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze put up 23 points, eight rebounds, one steal, and two blocks in Georgia's 101-74 win over Montenegro on Friday in Group I of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers. The 27-year-old finished second on the team behind Tornike Shengelia, who led all scorers with 24 points, while Sandro Mamukelashvili chipped in 17 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Summer form is not Bitadze's issue. Playing time is. He averaged 5.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 15.2 minutes last season and was out of the rotation by Game 7 against Detroit. Orlando then added Nikola Vucevic after Moritz Wagner's departure, leaving Bitadze behind Wendell Carter Jr. and Vucevic in a crowded center mix. He stays off fantasy radars unless an injury opens minutes.

2 days ago

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