HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reports that the Washington Wizards are promoting Amber Nichols to vice president of basketball operations and personnel. The former Capital City Go-Go general manager most recently served as Washington's director of amateur evaluation, running point on the process that produced AJ Dybantsa at No. 1 and Felix Okpara at No. 46 in […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

The Atlanta Hawks have promoted Peter Dinwiddie to executive vice president of basketball operations, added Tim Bontemps as a strategic adviser, and elevated Maxwell Kupchak to director of cap strategy and player personnel. Dinwiddie, who previously held the same title in Philadelphia, becomes a leading voice under president of basketball operations Onsi Saleh after Bryson […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

Basketball efficiency is quite the tightrope. But failing to pay attention to efficiency statistics such as field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and turnovers can have dire consequences in category leagues. The rim-running centers rarely miss from point-blank range. The turnovers are generally low, too, but most are poor shooters at the charity stripe. The […]

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 […]

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 […]

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford remains a trade candidate. Heavy's Sean Deveney reported, via Grant Afseth of Roundtable, that Dallas hopes to land a first-round pick for both Gafford and P.J. Washington. Gafford is owed $17.26 million this season on a three-year, $54.38 million extension that includes a 5 percent trade kicker. The 27-year-old averaged […]

Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein is back at the team's practice facility ahead of training camp, posting a photo from the building on his Instagram story Monday, according to Clemente Almanza of OKC Thunder Wire. The 28-year-old signed a three-year, $75 million extension in June that runs through 2028-29, keeping his frontcourt role secure. […]

The Charlotte Hornets waived guard/forward Kobe Stewart on Monday, dropping their offseason roster back to 20 players. Stewart had signed an Exhibit 10 contract three days earlier, making him the latest back-end roster piece Charlotte has cycled through after Josiah Allick, Trey Townsend, Kyle Mangas, and Jarkel Joiner. The 24-year-old averaged 7.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, […]

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace remains unsigned to a rookie-scale extension, with the 2023 draft class deadline set for Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. CT, according to Clemente Almanza of OKC Thunder Wire. The 22-year-old is coming off his best season, averaging 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.9 steals in 26.6 minutes […]

Indiana Pacers guard/forward Ben Sheppard is likely to open the season in the third unit, according to Alex Golden of Pacers On SI. The 25-year-old is entering the final year of his rookie-scale contract after averaging 7.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.6 steals in 21.4 minutes across 65 games last season. The path […]

Indiana Pacers forward Kelly Oubre Jr. could play the most minutes off the bench this season, according to Pacers On SI's Alex Golden. Oubre signed a two-year deal worth nearly $17 million in July, giving Indiana a veteran wing to help replace the role Bennedict Mathurin left behind in the Ivica Zubac trade. The 30-year-old […]

Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard enters his fifth season with a different offensive setup as Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) returns after missing 2025-26. Nembhard handled lead-guard duties well last season, setting career highs with 16.9 points and 7.7 assists while adding 2.8 rebounds and 0.9 steals in 31.3 minutes across 57 games. He also shot 36.1 […]