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John Konchar Agrees to One-Year Deal with Knicks
Free-agent guard/forward John Konchar has agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Knicks, agent George S. Langberg told ESPN's Shams Charania. The 30-year-old was waived by Minnesota shortly after the Timberwolves acquired him from Utah in late August, and he now lands in New York as a depth piece. Konchar split last season between Memphis and Utah, averaging 4.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.5 steals in 19.9 minutes while shooting just 28.3 percent from three. He was more useful with the Jazz, where he posted 5.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 steals across 26 games. The problem is the depth chart. With Josh Hart, Miles McBride, Landry Shamet, and Jordan Clarkson already in line for guard and wing minutes, Konchar will probably need an injury or trade ahead of him to matter in fantasy.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
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Peyton Watson Poised for Ample Minutes in Cleveland
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Peyton Watson (hamstring) is in line for ample rotation minutes in 2026-27, according to NBA.com's Shaun Powell. Cleveland landed Watson from Denver in a five-team sign-and-trade in August, with ESPN's Shams Charania reporting a four-year, $88 million deal. Watson broke out with the Nuggets last season, averaging 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.1 blocks, and 1.5 threes in 29.6 minutes while shooting 41.1 percent from deep. He played only 54 games and missed the playoffs with a hamstring injury, so durability is still part of the draft-day equation. Max Strus and Dean Wade are gone from Cleveland's wing mix, giving Watson a clear path to meaningful minutes next to James Harden, though Jaylon Tyson and Sam Merrill remain in the perimeter picture. Watson has a useful fantasy profile if last year's shooting holds, but the scoring may be harder to repeat in a deeper Cavaliers offense.
Source: Shaun Powell
Source: Shaun Powell
John Konchar Draws Interest From Four East Teams
Free-agent guard/forward John Konchar has drawn interest from at least four Eastern Conference teams, with Marc Stein of The Stein Line reporting that the Heat, Magic, Raptors, and Knicks are keeping an eye on him. A deal is not straightforward, as all four teams are operating above the luxury-tax line, Toronto has first-apron concerns, and New York has also been linked to frontcourt help for its open roster spot. Konchar can afford to wait, with Minnesota paying out his guaranteed $6.165 million salary after waiving him following a late-August trade from Utah. The 30-year-old averaged 5.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 26.2 minutes across 26 games with the Jazz last season. That kind of workload would give him some low-end utility, but without a clear rotation role, he is just a depth target for NBA teams rather than a fantasy target.
Source: Marc Stein
Source: Marc Stein
Cam Whitmore Draws Interest From Nuggets
Free-agent forward Cam Whitmore (shoulder) has emerged as a possible target for the Denver Nuggets, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line. Cleveland waived Whitmore in late August after acquiring him from Washington in the five-team deal that sent Peyton Watson from Denver to the Cavaliers. The 22-year-old averaged 10.8 points and 3.4 rebounds in 17.4 minutes across two seasons with Houston before an upper-extremity DVT limited him to 21 games with Washington last season. Denver lost Watson and Tim Hardaway Jr. this summer, leaving room for another scoring wing behind Cameron Johnson, Christian Braun, and DeMar DeRozan. The money is the catch, as Denver may not want to carry a 15th standard contract deep into tax territory. A two-way deal looks like the cleaner path, but that would cap Whitmore's immediate fantasy appeal unless he earns a promotion.
Source: Marc Stein
Source: Marc Stein
Gradey Dick Officially Joins Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers have officially acquired guard/forward Gradey Dick from the Toronto Raptors in the completed Kawhi Leonard trade, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Toronto sent Dick, Brandon Ingram, two unprotected first-round picks, one first-round swap, and two second-rounders to Los Angeles for Leonard after the deal sat on hold during the NBA's salary-cap investigation. Dick averaged a career-high 14.4 points in 2024-25, but his role fell off last season, when he posted 6.0 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 14.0 minutes across 76 games while shooting just 30.1 percent from three. The Clippers are not a clean reset, with Darius Garland, Max Strus, Kris Dunn, Kobe Sanders, and No. 5 pick Keaton Wagler all in the perimeter mix. Dick can still shoot his way into minutes, but he is only a watch-list name unless camp gives him a clearer role.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Brandon Ingram Officially Heads to the Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors have completed the trade, sending forward Brandon Ingram (heel), Gradey Dick, and draft compensation to Los Angeles for Kawhi Leonard, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. The deal was first agreed to on June 30 but sat on hold for more than two months during the league's salary-cap investigation involving Leonard and the Clippers. Ingram now officially moves to Los Angeles after averaging 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 33.8 minutes across 77 starts with Toronto last season. He had a spur removed from his right heel in May, though he was expected to be ready for training camp. If healthy, Ingram should step into heavy scoring usage next to Darius Garland, with Max Strus and Rui Hachimura in supporting roles. Garland trade speculation adds a wrinkle, but Ingram's shot volume should remain strong either way.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Thunder Sign Christoph Tilly to an Exhibit 10 Deal
The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed center Christoph Tilly to an Exhibit 10 contract, according to Andrew Schlecht. The 7-foot German went undrafted out of Ohio State after a 118-game college career between Santa Clara and the Buckeyes, averaging 9.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 20.6 minutes. Tilly also played six Summer League games for Oklahoma City, posting 6.0 points and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 53.1 percent from the field. Exhibit 10 deals are usually about camp depth and G-League positioning, and there is no clear NBA runway here with Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams, Aday Mara, and Thomas Sorber already in the frontcourt mix. With Oklahoma City's two-way spots already full, Tilly looks more likely to land with the OKC Blue than on fantasy rosters.
Source: Andrew Schlecht
Source: Andrew Schlecht
Celtics Sign Caleb Grill to a Training Camp Contract
The Boston Celtics have signed guard Caleb Grill to a training camp contract, according to Paul Garcia of The Spot Up Shot. The deal gives Grill another NBA look after he played for Boston's Summer League team, though his likely path runs through the Maine Celtics if he is waived before the regular season. The 26-year-old went undrafted in 2025 out of Missouri, where he won SEC Sixth Man of the Year honors after averaging 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.7 steals while shooting 39.6 percent from deep. Chicago waived him last September, and he averaged 11.2 points per game for the Windy City Bulls before a March move to Greensboro. Boston did lose shooting volume when Jaylen Brown was dealt to Philadelphia, but Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Mike Conley, and wing shooter Sam Hauser are all well ahead of Grill for minutes. He is more likely headed for Maine than Boston's fantasy radar.
Source: Paul Garcia
Source: Paul Garcia
Kawhi Leonard Returns to Toronto as Trade Becomes Official
The Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors have completed the trade, sending forward Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Leonard waived his $7.45 million trade kicker to help push the deal through after the NBA's cap-circumvention investigation delayed the June 30 agreement. The seven-time All-Star returns to Toronto after averaging a career-high 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals across 65 games last season, immediately slotting into a starting group with Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Jakob Poeltl. Leonard's arrival tightens the shot-creation ceiling for Barnes, Barrett, and Quickley, though Poeltl's center role should be less affected. Brandon Ingram (heel) heads to the Clippers with Gradey Dick and a pick package, giving Ingram a clearer scoring runway next to Darius Garland if his heel is right by camp.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Taj Gibson Retires and Joins the Bulls as an Assistant Coach
Former forward/center Taj Gibson is retiring after 17 NBA seasons and returning to the Chicago Bulls as an assistant coach under Tiago Splitter, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The 41-year-old was the 26th overall pick in 2009 and spent his first eight seasons in Chicago, where he ranks fifth in franchise history with 695 blocks. Gibson averaged 8.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks across 1,012 career games, with his best scoring season coming at 13.0 points per game in 2013-14. Gibson's fantasy impact is more about player development than immediate rotation changes. Chicago has a young frontcourt with Nicolas Claxton, No. 4 pick Caleb Wilson, and Matas Buzelis, giving Gibson a hands-on group to work with as he moves into coaching. Wilson is still the name to watch after earning 2026 NBA All-Summer League First Team honors, but Gibson's arrival on the bench does not change the fantasy outlook on its own.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Devin Carter Signs Exhibit 10 Deal with Celtics
The Boston Celtics have signed guard Devin Carter to an Exhibit 10 contract, according to the Boston Globe. HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported that Carter will compete for an NBA roster spot or a two-way opening in camp, while Spotrac's Keith Smith noted the deal can become a standard non-guaranteed contract, convert to a two-way, or send him toward a bonus with Maine. The 24-year-old was waived by Atlanta on Friday after arriving from Sacramento in a June salary-dump trade, leaving the Hawks on the hook for his $5.16 million salary. Carter averaged 8.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 18.4 minutes across 38 games last season. Boston has 14 standard contracts and two two-ways filled, so Carter is battling camp guards and wings such as Milos Uzan and Tucker DeVries. Even if he sticks, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Mike Conley leave him with no clear fantasy path.
Source: Boston Globe Sports
Source: Boston Globe Sports
Haywood Highsmith Faces Roster Battle in Phoenix
Phoenix Suns forward Haywood Highsmith (knee) enters training camp without a guaranteed roster spot after the team waived and re-signed him in August, according to Holden Sherman of Bright Side of the Sun. Highsmith is on a one-year, $3 million deal that does not become fully guaranteed until Jan. 10, 2027, and he cannot be traded until Dec. 15. The 29-year-old currently projects behind Miles Bridges and Rasheer Fleming, leaving him closer to blowout or injury-dependent minutes than a steady rotation role. Highsmith averaged 5.4 points and 1.9 rebounds in 13.0 minutes across seven games last season, so even Jordan Ott's three-point-heavy offense is unlikely to make him fantasy-relevant unless Phoenix's forward depth thins out.
Source: Holden Sherman
Source: Holden Sherman
Fred VanVleet Ramps Up Contact Work
Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (knee) has taken another step in his ramp-up before training camp, according to Brian Barefield of Big Sarge Media. Head coach Ime Udoka said VanVleet has "really ramped it up" while rehabbing in San Diego and has progressed to back-to-back work and contact activity. That builds on VanVleet's earlier expectation that he would be ready for the preseason opener, but Houston still has camp and exhibition games to gauge his workload. If he avoids a setback, VanVleet's return would tighten Reed Sheppard's path to usage after the young guard averaged 13.5 points on 43.0 percent shooting across 82 games last season.
Source: Brian Barefield
Source: Brian Barefield
Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer Accepts NBA Penalties
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer will comply with the NBA's salary-cap circumvention penalties and will not pursue legal action, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. Ballmer apologized to fans, employees, and fellow owners in a statement, saying, "Team owners should support, not distract." The decision reverses the Clippers' Sept. 2 stance, when the franchise said it planned to challenge the league's findings. The Clippers have paid the $30 million fine. They will forfeit first-round picks in each draft from 2029 through 2033, while Ballmer and president of business operations Gillian Zucker are suspended one year and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank is suspended six months. The fantasy angle is indirect but real: with key decision-makers sidelined and premium draft capital gone, Los Angeles has less flexibility to chase a midseason roster shakeup that could open minutes for fringe pieces.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Aaron Gordon Feels Ready for Camp
Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (hamstring, calf) told Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports that his offseason helped reset him physically and mentally. Speaking at his youth camp, Gordon said he did a lot of "soul-searching" and training before adding, "I'm ready to go." The 30-year-old was limited to 36 regular-season games by hamstring issues, then played only three games in Denver's first-round loss to Minnesota while dealing with left calf tightness. He still produced when available, averaging 16.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.7 threes in 27.9 minutes while opening the season with a 50-point night. Peyton Watson's move to Cleveland helps secure Gordon's frontcourt role next to Nikola Jokic, though DeMar DeRozan's arrival adds another scorer to the mix. The injury discount is the appeal, but another missed stretch would quickly cap the upside.
Source: Harrison Wind
Source: Harrison Wind
Ettore Messina Joins Hawks as Consultant
The Atlanta Hawks are adding Ettore Messina as a consultant, according to Eurohoops' Aris Barkas, who relayed a report from Walter Fuochi of La Repubblica. Messina reunites with Quin Snyder, who worked under him as an assistant at CSKA Moscow before becoming an NBA head coach. The 66-year-old previously consulted for the Lakers and spent five seasons as a Spurs assistant under Gregg Popovich, with four EuroLeague titles on his resume. He is expected to split next season between Atlanta and Italian television work, so this reads more like a steadying advisory move than a fantasy-altering staff change. Atlanta's post-Trae Young offense should still run heavily through Jalen Johnson, who averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 1.2 steals across 72 games last season. Messina's arrival does not threaten Johnson's workload or materially change the outlook for Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Source: Aris Barkas
Source: Aris Barkas
Giannis Antetokounmpo Enters Miami with Huge Expectations
Miami Heat forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf, knee) enters his first season in Miami with immediate pressure, as Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel used Sunday's Ask Ira column to weigh whether his Heat debut can top Shaquille O'Neal's 2004-05 arrival. The framing says plenty about Miami's expectations. Antetokounmpo should operate as the offensive hub next to Bam Adebayo, with Erik Spoelstra able to build inside-out looks around that frontcourt while Klay Thompson, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Davion Mitchell help the spacing. The fantasy ceiling remains elite if the usage stays near career levels, but availability is the swing point after he averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists across a career-low 36 games last season. His decision to skip Greece's World Cup qualifying window for season prep helps, but the calf and knee history keeps some risk attached to the first-round profile.
Source: Ira Winderman
Source: Ira Winderman
Koby Brea Faces Crowded Suns Rotation
Phoenix Suns guard Koby Brea is back on a one-year two-way contract after signing his qualifying offer in July, but Kevin Humpherys of Bright Side of the Sun does not see a clean path to NBA minutes. The 23-year-old is trying to stick in a crowded backcourt and wing mix, with shooting serving as his clearest route to the floor if Luke Kennard or Collin Gillespie misses time. Brea hit 13-for-30 from deep in just 85 NBA minutes last season, yet shot only 34.9 percent from three on 10.0 attempts per game with the Valley Suns. Pat Spencer's two-way addition squeezes him further because Phoenix has a greater need for on-ball creation and toughness. Brea is worth filing away, but he is not a fantasy target unless the shot translates and injuries open a role.
Source: Kevin Humpherys
Source: Kevin Humpherys
Dean Wade Slots Into Sixers' Second Unit
Philadelphia 76ers forward Dean Wade is expected to open the season with the second unit behind LeBron James, according to Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice. Wade originally signed a four-year, nearly $40 million deal with the expectation of starting at power forward, but Philadelphia's summer shakeup pushed him into a bench role. That does not mean his workload will be light, as Aaronson notes Wade could still top last season's career-high 22.3 minutes per game. The 29-year-old averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists with Cleveland while shooting 36.2 percent from three. Nick Nurse can use him as a low-usage defensive matchup piece across several lineup types, but Wade's limited scoring and shaky availability make him more useful to the Sixers than to fantasy managers.
Source: Adam Aaronson
Source: Adam Aaronson
Celtics Sign and Waive Hank Morgan
The Boston Celtics signed and waived forward Hank Morgan, according to the NBA's official transaction log. The move was almost certainly Exhibit 10 housekeeping, making Morgan eligible for a bonus worth up to $91,000 if he reports to the Maine Celtics, Boston's G-League affiliate. The 24-year-old went undrafted out of Division III Hamilton College in 2025 and split his first pro season between the Salt Lake City Stars and Maine, averaging 8.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 19.2 minutes across 17 games with the Celtics while shooting 43.8 percent from deep. He also logged four Summer League appearances for Boston. Morgan has no redraft value, but the move keeps Boston's camp flexibility intact while the team reportedly shows interest in Devin Carter after his Atlanta waiver.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Pelicans Sign Christian Shumate to a Training Camp Contract
The New Orleans Pelicans have signed forward Christian Shumate to a training camp contract, according to Paul Garcia of The Spot Up Shot. Shumate went undrafted in 2025 after four seasons at McNeese State, where he earned All-Southland honors each year and won Southland Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 and 2025. He also signed an Exhibit 10 deal with New Orleans last fall, was waived before opening night, and spent the season with the organization's G-League affiliate, averaging 11.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 26.8 minutes across 40 appearances on .516/.340/.405 shooting. The rebounding and defensive activity give him a path to camp interest, but the free-throw number and limited offensive polish keep him well off the fantasy radar unless New Orleans converts him to its open two-way slot.
Source: The Spot Up Shot
Source: The Spot Up Shot
