NBA News

Sasha Vezenkov • PF

Sasha Vezenkov Leaves Door Open to NBA Return

Olympiacos forward Sasha Vezenkov drew exploratory interest from the Minnesota Timberwolves this summer, according to Marc Stein, though a formal offer never followed. The inquiry came before Minnesota signed Jonathan Kuminga, with Vezenkov signaling early that he preferred to stay in Greece. "It's tough now because here is my family, my life," the 31-year-old said, while still leaving the door slightly open by adding, "never say never." Vezenkov's lone NBA season produced 5.4 points and 2.3 rebounds in 12.2 minutes across 42 games with Sacramento in 2023-24. Since returning to Olympiacos, he has won another EuroLeague MVP and led the competition at 19.4 points per game. With Julius Randle and Naz Reid gone, Minnesota had reason to search for frontcourt skill, but Kuminga's arrival and Vezenkov's decision leave Trey Lyles and the remaining bench pieces with a cleaner path to reserve minutes.

5 hours ago

Max Strus • SG • Clippers

Max Strus Embraces Glue-Guy Role with Clippers

Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward Max Strus said on the Link with JB podcast that he is comfortable settling into a glue-guy role built around shooting, defense, rebounding, and moving the ball. "I used to have a bag back in college, but I don't anymore," Strus said, adding that he is not afraid to guard top scorers. The 30-year-old returned from a Jones fracture in his left foot last season and averaged 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.8 three-pointers in 12 regular-season games while shooting 40.2 percent from deep, then posted 9.6 points and 4.8 rebounds across 18 playoff outings. Darius Garland and Bradley Beal already give the Clippers perimeter creation, while Brandon Ingram is expected to arrive once the Kawhi Leonard deal is finalized. Strus should have a rotation spot in the final year of his deal, but threes and rebounds are the only reliable fantasy hooks.

5 hours ago

Naz Reid • C • Hornets

Naz Reid Steps Into Starting Role with Charlotte

Charlotte Hornets forward/center Naz Reid is in line to open the season as a full-time starter after arriving from Minnesota in the LaMelo Ball trade, ESPN's Andre Snellings writes. The 2023-24 Sixth Man of the Year has never held that kind of role, but he averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks last season while shooting 36.2 percent from three in a crowded Timberwolves frontcourt. The fit in Charlotte gives him a cleaner fantasy runway. Coby White should take over as the primary initiator, while Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller will also command touches on the wing. Reid's per-minute production has always been useful, and a steady starting workload could push him toward career highs in points, rebounds, and threes.

5 hours ago

Coby White • SG • Hornets

Coby White Set to Run the Show in Charlotte

Charlotte Hornets guard Coby White is expected to open the season as the team's starting point guard after LaMelo Ball was sent to Minnesota in a deal built around Naz Reid and draft capital, ESPN's Andre Snellings writes. White arrived from Chicago at last season's deadline and came off the bench for Charlotte, averaging 15.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 three-pointers in 19.3 minutes across 21 games. His last two full seasons with the Bulls are the better fantasy guide, as he averaged roughly 19.7 points, 4.8 assists, and 2.8 threes while carrying a larger on-ball role. Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller will need touches, and Reid adds another scoring option up front, but White has the clearest path to initiating the offense after signing a three-year, $74 million deal. A career-best fantasy season is in play if the minutes climb.

5 hours ago

Ron Holland II • SF • Pistons

Ron Holland II in Line for Bigger Role with Detroit

Detroit Pistons forward Ron Holland II should have a more pronounced role next season, according to Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. The opening is partly defensive after Detroit traded Isaiah Stewart to Memphis in June, but the bigger fantasy swing comes on offense. Patterson notes that Detroit needs either Holland or Ausar Thompson to become a more reliable scoring piece, leaving Holland with a cleaner path if his jumper and handle take a step. The 21-year-old averaged 8.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.2 steals in 19.9 minutes across 78 games last season, including five starts. The defensive stats are useful, but his 25.3 percent three-point shooting keeps the ceiling shaky. John Collins and Taurean Prince give J.B. Bickerstaff veteran alternatives, so Holland is a camp name to track rather than a locked-in fantasy target.

16 hours ago

Dillon Jones • SF • Knicks

Dillon Jones Lands Exhibit 10 Deal with Philadelphia

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed forward Dillon Jones to an Exhibit 10 contract, ESPN's Dave McMenamin reports. The 24-year-old arrives with two championship rings and almost no rotation resume, logging 61 NBA appearances across two seasons while averaging 2.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assist in 9.7 minutes. He has been far more productive a level down, posting 15.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.9 assists in 42 G-League games between Rip City and Westchester last season. Philadelphia carries one open two-way slot behind Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert, and Jones will compete for it against fellow camp signees Tacko Fall, Jameer Nelson Jr., and Saint Thomas. Even if he wins that job, the fantasy relevance stops at Delaware Blue Coats box scores.

17 hours ago

Bez Mbeng • PG • Hornets

Hornets Sign Bez Mbeng

The Charlotte Hornets signed guard Bez Mbeng on Tuesday, according to Charlotte Observer reporter Rod Boone. The 23-year-old fills the roster spot opened by Kobe Stewart's release, and the deal is likely an Exhibit 10 as Charlotte builds out its camp group. Mbeng closed last season on the fringe of Utah's rotation, averaging 8.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.3 steals in 32.8 minutes across 15 games while shooting 50.0 percent from the field. That stretch included a 27-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist triple-double off the bench against Memphis. The steals are interesting, but Charlotte already has Coby White, Kon Knueppel, Dennis Schroder, and Grayson Allen ahead of him in the guard mix. Sioux Falls still controls his G-League returning rights, so Greensboro would need a trade to secure him if he does not make the Hornets.

17 hours ago

Taj Gibson • PF • Pelicans

Taj Gibson to be Waived by Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans plan to waive center Taj Gibson after landing him from the Memphis Grizzlies in Tuesday's trade, according to Will Guillory of The Athletic. Guillory reports that New Orleans will still owe Gibson $100,000, while AJ Johnson will remain with the team for a training-camp look. The move helps the Pelicans clear the room needed to finalize Bennedict Mathurin's two-year, $16 million agreement. Gibson, 41, averaged 3.4 points and 2.7 rebounds in 9.7 minutes across 10 games for Memphis last season and has no fantasy appeal. Johnson is the only piece worth tracking here, but a backcourt featuring Dejounte Murray, Mathurin, Jordan Poole, and Jeremiah Fears leaves him fighting for the back of the roster.

17 hours ago

Yaxel Lendeborg • PF • Warriors

Warriors Plan to Lean on Yaxel Lendeborg Early

Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg is expected to play right away, with ESPN's Anthony Slater writing that the team will rely on the rookie as a high-minute, high-impact rotation piece. The 23-year-old No. 11 pick has a real opening while Jimmy Butler III (knee) works back from ACL surgery and Moses Moody (knee) recovers from a ruptured patellar tendon. Steve Kerr has already floated Lendeborg as a small-forward option next to Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzi is, or Al Horford in bigger looks. Lendeborg backed up the buzz by winning Las Vegas Summer League MVP, averaging 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.5 steals over six games. Rookies do not always get this much trust in Golden State, but his passing, rebounding, and defensive activity give him a cleaner fantasy path than most first-year forwards.

Yesterday

Taj Gibson • PF • Pelicans

Taj Gibson Sent to Pelicans

The Memphis Grizzlies are sending center Taj Gibson and guard/forward AJ Johnson to the New Orleans Pelicans for Jordan Hawkins, Micah Peavy, a future second-round pick, and a future second-round pick swap, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Gibson appears to be salary ballast in the deal, though there is no firm report yet that New Orleans will waive him. The 41-year-old appeared in 10 games for Memphis last season after signing in February, averaging 3.4 points and 2.7 rebounds in 9.7 minutes. He has played more than 1,000 regular-season games across eight franchises, but his recent value has been tied to leadership rather than rotation minutes. Whether he sticks in New Orleans or returns to the open market, Gibson carries no fantasy appeal.

Yesterday

AJ Johnson • SG • Pelicans

AJ Johnson Heads to New Orleans

The Memphis Grizzlies are sending guard/forward AJ Johnson and center Taj Gibson to the New Orleans Pelicans for Jordan Hawkins, Micah Peavy, a future second-round pick, and a future second-round pick swap, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Johnson is already on his fifth organization in three NBA seasons after Milwaukee selected him No. 23 overall in 2024. The 21-year-old guard has yet to find steady NBA footing, averaging 3.3 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists on 32.4 percent shooting across 48 games last season between Washington and Dallas. New Orleans is crowded at guard with Dejounte Murray, Jordan Poole, Jeremiah Fears, and Bennedict Mathurin in the mix, so Johnson profiles as a camp body fighting for the back of the roster. The Pelicans have until the end of October to decide on his 2027-28 rookie-scale option, which may reveal more about his standing than preseason usage.

Yesterday

Micah Peavy • SF • Grizzlies

Micah Peavy Traded to Grizzlies

The New Orleans Pelicans are trading guard/forward Micah Peavy to the Memphis Grizzlies alongside Jordan Hawkins, a future second-round pick, and a future second-round pick swap for AJ Johnson and Taj Gibson, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Peavy earned minutes as a rookie mostly through defense, averaging 4.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 15.0 minutes across 61 games. The 6-foot-7 wing closed the season with 21 points against Minnesota, but the jumper is still the swing skill after he shot 38.5 percent from the field and 25.9 percent from three. Memphis is rebuilding, which gives Peavy a path to compete for reserve wing minutes, but the roster crunch is real. His length can help in steals, though he needs the shot to come around before the fantasy appeal gets interesting.

Yesterday

Jordan Hawkins • SG • Grizzlies

Jordan Hawkins Traded to Memphis

The New Orleans Pelicans are trading guard/forward Jordan Hawkins to the Memphis Grizzlies alongside Micah Peavy, a future second-round pick, and a future second-round pick swap for AJ Johnson and Taj Gibson, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Hawkins, the former No. 14 pick, fell out of New Orleans' rotation last season, averaging 5.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, 0.8 assists, and 0.9 three-pointers in 13.6 minutes across 51 games while shooting 36.6 percent from the field. Memphis is rebuilding and still light on proven shooting, so Hawkins gets a better runway than he had with the Pelicans. The catch is roster security. He is in the final season of his rookie deal at $7.02 million, and the Grizzlies still have a crowded contract sheet to trim before opening night.

Yesterday

Darius Acuff Jr. • PG • Kings

Darius Acuff Jr. Draws Top Rookie Billing Ahead of Camp

Sacramento Kings guard Darius Acuff Jr. could finish as the top fantasy rookie from the 2026 class after landing with the Kings at No. 7, ESPN's Eric Moody writes. The 19-year-old averaged 23.5 points, 6.4 assists, and 3.1 rebounds as an Arkansas freshman, sweeping SEC Player and Rookie of the Year honors. Sacramento's veteran exits help clear the runway after DeMar DeRozan was waived and Russell Westbrook retired, while Domantas Sabonis has been reported as a trade candidate with the Kings uninterested in an extension. Summer League offered a warning, though, as Acuff averaged 20.8 points across five games while shooting 35.0 percent from the field and 27.8 percent from deep. Zach LaVine and Malik Monk still carry scoring volume, so Acuff's assists and usage may arrive before the efficiency does.

Yesterday

Cedric Coward • SG • Grizzlies

Cedric Coward Gets Breakout Buzz in Memphis

Memphis Grizzlies guard/forward Cedric Coward was named a breakout candidate for 2026-27 by ESPN's Eric Moody after a strong rookie season. The No. 11 pick averaged 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.4 blocks in 25.8 minutes across 62 games, including 47 starts, while shooting 47.1 percent from the field. He also made the All-Rookie First Team and finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting. Memphis has since traded Ja Morant to Portland and Santi Aldama to Dallas, opening more usage in a reset roster. Cameron Boozer, Ty Jerome, and Jerami Grant will still need touches, but Coward's rebounding, passing, and efficient scoring give him a cleaner path to fantasy growth than most second-year wings.

Yesterday

Kel'el Ware • C • Bucks

Kel'el Ware Could Push for Starter Minutes

Milwaukee Bucks center Kel'el Ware enters camp with a much cleaner path than he had in Miami, with ESPN's Zach Kram noting that only Myles Turner and Kyle Kuzma currently sit ahead of him at center and power forward. The 22-year-old averaged 11.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and 0.8 steals in 22.1 minutes across 77 games last season while shooting 53.0 percent from the field, 39.5 percent from three, and 74.0 percent at the line. Milwaukee also views this season as a chance to see whether Ware can become a foundational piece. Turner has been mentioned as one of the Bucks' top trade candidates, and any move would open a clearer route to starter-level minutes. Ware already has the rebounding, blocks, and efficiency profile fantasy managers chase; the question is whether Taylor Jenkins gives him enough run to turn that upside into nightly double-double value.

Yesterday

Cason Wallace • PG • Thunder

Cason Wallace Lines Up for Full-Time Starting Role

Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Cason Wallace is expected to slide into the starting shooting guard spot after the team moved Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins for financial reasons, according to ESPN's Anthony Slater. Wallace already made 58 starts last season, averaging 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.9 steals in 26.6 minutes, so the fantasy bump comes down to touches more than trust. He is extension-eligible until October, giving Oklahoma City another reason to clarify his long-term role. Ajay Mitchell also benefits after a 13.6-point breakout, but Wallace has the cleaner path to defensive stats and starter-level minutes.

Yesterday

Darryn Peterson • SG • Jazz

Darryn Peterson Positioned as Utah's Franchise Centerpiece

ESPN's Tim MacMahon is framing Utah Jazz guard Darryn Peterson as a possible franchise centerpiece entering 2026-27. The No. 2 overall pick gives Utah another high-end scorer after averaging 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 steals at Kansas, where he posted the highest scoring average by a freshman in program history. Peterson also flashed in July, scoring at least 20 points in each of his first four Summer League appearances before finishing the event at 20.7 points, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. The fantasy question is volume. Keyonte George still has lead-guard usage, while Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Ace Bailey all need touches. Peterson is worth drafting for scoring upside, but his rookie ceiling depends on how quickly Will Hardy clears a steady on-ball role.

Yesterday

Baylor Scheierman • SG • Celtics

Baylor Scheierman Positioned for a Leap in Boston

Boston Celtics guard/forward Baylor Scheierman was identified by John Karalis of the Celtics for Sports Illustrated as the roster's best candidate to make the biggest leap this season. Scheierman averaged 5.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 18.6 minutes across 77 games in 2025-26, but his 20 starts were more useful: 9.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 28.3 minutes. Karalis pointed to Scheierman's 49.4 percent mark from the corners, behind only Payton Pritchard on Boston, as his edge over Hugo Gonzalez and Jordan Walsh. Karalis also framed Paul George's projected missed games as part of the opportunity, giving Scheierman a path to spot starts if his shooting carries over.

Yesterday

Kingston Flemings • PG • Hawks

Kingston Flemings Faces Early Backup Role in Atlanta

Atlanta Hawks guard Kingston Flemings projects to open training camp behind CJ McCollum, but Zach Langley of Soaring Down South notes that his fit with Jalen Johnson may be the more important long-term angle. Johnson became Atlanta's offensive hub after the Trae Young trade, averaging 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists in 35.2 minutes across 72 games. Still, his first-round dip against New York showed why Atlanta could use another organizer. Flemings, the No. 8 overall pick, recorded 27 assists against nine turnovers over four Summer League games, giving Quin Snyder a potential pick-and-roll option who could shift Johnson into more finishing chances. McCollum's one-year, $21 million extension keeps Flemings in a backup role for now, but his passing gives him a cleaner fantasy runway if Atlanta leans into a younger backcourt.

Yesterday

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