June 28, 2025
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Chicago Bulls are trading guard
Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for forward
Isaac Okoro. The Cavs have one of the highest payrolls in the National Basketball Association, so moving on from Okoro can give the team flexibility. It will also give the club another quality bench option, assuming he stays on the court. Ball miraculously returned last season following a two-year stint on the shelf caused by a serious knee injury. He played as well as expected, averaging 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals in 35 games. The 27-year-old could continue to struggle to stay healthy, Still, Ball should have some flashes of production for fantasy managers throughout the 2025-26 campaign, giving him streaming potential. Unfortunately, his best days are likely behind him.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
June 27, 2025
According to ESPN's Jonathan Givony, Utah Jazz forward
Ace Bailey plans to report to the team on Saturday. "We've had good communication with Ace Bailey and his representatives," said a Jazz Representative. "We feel good about everything. We'll have a press conference Sunday and practice Monday." The former Scarlet Knight was anticipated to be the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. However, he fell to the Jazz at No. 5 after refusing to participate in individual workouts for any NBA teams. In 30 games at Rutgers, Bailey averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 1.0 steals. Without question, his name should be mentioned in the Rookie of the Year conversation, assuming he stays healthy. He'll also have a chance to start immediately with the Jazz. All things considered, Bailey will be one of the first rookies selected by fantasy managers in rookie drafts, especially now that he intends to suit up for Utah.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Jonathan Givony
June 27, 2025
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Philadelphia 76ers declined the $1.9 million team option on forward
Justin Edwards. Instead, both sides agreed to a new deal, with the 21-year-old in line to sign a three-year contract. He went undrafted in 2024. Fortunately, Edwards earned a two-way contract last summer before Philly signed him to a standard deal in March. He was more productive than expected, finishing his rookie campaign by averaging 10.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 44 games while playing slightly better in his 26 appearances in the starting lineup. Edwards likely won't see nearly as many starts this season, assuming
Paul George (adductor, knee),
Joel Embiid (knee), and
Tyrese Maxey (finger) stay healthy. He may also have trouble finding consistent work, although dynasty managers can consider keeping him on the roster due to his potential upside.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
June 27, 2025
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Minnesota Timberwolves forward/center
Naz Reid agreed to a five-year, $125 million deal to remain with the team. The 25-year-old was the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2024. However, he is coming off arguably the best year of his career, finishing the 2024-25 campaign by averaging 14.2 points and 6.0 rebounds. As of now, he's projected to come off the bench for the Timberwolves, although that could change depending on what
Julius Randle does this offseason. If Randle doesn't stay with the franchise, Reid may move into the starting lineup, which will improve his fantasy potential even more.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
June 27, 2025
The Houston Rockets are reportedly interested in bringing back
Jae'Sean Tate,
Aaron Holiday, and
Jeff Green. All three players are free agents, but the Rockets want to re-sign all three of them. None of them hold much fantasy value, but are valuable pieces off the bench. Last season, Tate saw a career-low 11.3 minutes per game as he averaged 3.6 points and 2.2 rebounds across 52 games. All of them were playing minutes in the teens, but Tate is probably the best of the trio. It sounds like the Rockets want to bring everyone back and try again with newly acquired
Kevin Durant.
--Andy WebbSource: Shams Charania
June 27, 2025
Philadelphia 76ers center
Andre Drummond has picked up his $5 million player option for the upcoming 2025-2026 season. Drummond heads back to Philly for a second season after playing well in a reserve role with the team last season. He was brought in as depth behind
Joel Embiid, but ended up starting in 23 games due to Embiid's health issues. He averaged 7.3 points and 7.8 rebounds across 40 games with the Sixers last season. The hope is that Embiid is healthy next season, so Drummond would have limited fantasy value in a reserve role.
--Andy WebbSource: Shams Charania
June 27, 2025
The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted guard Tyrese Proctor out of Duke in the second round of the NBA Draft on Thursday night. Proctor played three seasons for the Blue Devils and earned Third-Team All-ACC honors this season, even though he was overshadowed by standout
Cooper Flagg. Proctor produced 12.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 29.9 minutes per game while shooting an efficient 40.5% from long distance. Proctor isn't the most explosive athlete, but he showed good playmaking ability and can shoot well enough to be a possible contributor off the bench for the Cavaliers behind
Darius Garland and
Donovan Mitchell. The Cavs' bench is still a work in progress since both backup guards
Ty Jerome and
Sam Merrill are free agents, but Proctor could work his way into the mix if he has a good summer.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN.com
June 27, 2025
The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to sign a two-way contract with Caleb Love, who was one of the most prolific scorers in college basketball but went undrafted this year. Love averaged 17.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.6 three-pointers per game last year in Arizona after he spent the first two years of his college career with North Carolina. Love is a scoring threat that has the ability to catch fire and carry his team's offense, but he also had some challenges in college with efficiency and shot selection. He's a little undersized as well, but he could play his way into a role with a big Summer League. He'll be a prospect to keep an eye on for the Blazers, who have a nice group of young guards that now includes Love as a scoring threat.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Shams Charania
June 27, 2025
The Dallas Mavericks added guard Ryan Nembhard after the rookie went undrafted in this year's NBA Draft. Nembhard is the younger brother of Pacers star
Andrew Nembhard, and he'll look to join his older brother in the NBA after also playing at Gonzaga. Nembhard led college basketball in assists last season, averaging 9.8 per game, and also averaged 10.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 three-pointers. He was primarily a pass-first guard in college but had good percentages overall. His lack of size will be his biggest challenge, but his ability as a playmaker and scorer could definitely earn him opportunities in the Mavs' backcourt, especially early in the season with
Kyrie Irving (knee) out to start the year. He'll be an interesting rookie to watch develop as a potential early-season deep fantasy sleeper.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Jonathan Givony
June 27, 2025
The Orlando Magic moved up in the second round of the NBA Draft to acquire forward Noah Penda, who was taken with the No. 32 overall pick in the draft, which was held by the Celtics coming into the day. Orlando gave Boston two second-round picks this season and two future second-round picks to come up and snag Penda, who the team thinks can contribute right away. The 20-year-old from France played for Le Mans last season. He averaged 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.9 blocks while shooting 44.7% from the field in 37 games with the club. He has the potential to develop into a versatile wing for the Magic, who are going all-in and giving up future assets to build around the team's current window with
Paolo Banchero,
Franz Wagner, and the recently added
Desmond Bane. Penda is expected to be on the roster at least as a depth option on the wing this season.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN.com
June 27, 2025
The Phoenix Suns traded up for the top pick in the second round of the NBA Draft, and on Thursday they selected forward Rasheer Fleming from Saint Joseph's University. Fleming is a long, athletic forward with plenty of raw potential but lots of room to grow. He typically brings good energy on defense, contributing blocks, steals, and rebounds, and he's also a good spot-up shooter. He will be another piece in the new-look Suns' frontcourt following the
Kevin Durant trade. Over the last few days, the Suns have added
Khaman Maluach in the draft and
Mark Williams via trade to fortify the frontcourt. Fleming will likely be in the mix for power forward minutes as well and could develop into a contributor with his defensive presence and shooting if they translate to the next level.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN
June 26, 2025
The Chicago Bulls extended a qualifying offer to guard
Josh Giddey, making him a restricted free agent. The 2021 No. 6 overall pick spent his first three seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder before getting traded to Chicago in a deal for
Alex Caruso. He had a quality campaign in his first season with the Bulls, averaging 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.2 steals while shooting a career-high 37.8% from behind the arc. Giddey will likely receive more than a few offers from teams this offseason. It's also safe to assume Chicago will match anything coming his way. All things considered, the 21-year-old will probably be in the All-Star conversation for many years to come. Giddey should also remain a top fantasy option, although his career 2.7 turnovers per contest will lower his value for category participants.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Spotrac
June 26, 2025
The Miami Heat selected guard Kasparas Jakucionis on Wednesday with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Jakucionis played for FC Barcelona before making his way to Illinois. As a freshman, he averaged 31.9 minutes per game, finishing with 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists across 33 contests during the 2024-2025 season, leading the Illini to a 22-13 overall record and a 12-8 mark in the Big Ten. He is a strong passer but struggled with turnovers at the collegiate level.
--Andrew LennoxSource: ESPN
June 26, 2025
The Brooklyn Nets drafted 19-year-old guard Nolan Traore with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday. Traore averaged 11.7 points and 5.1 assists in 22.8 minutes per contest in France last season. He is an athletic guard who possesses strong playmaking abilities. However, the 19-year-old struggled from three points during the previous two campaigns, shooting 30 percent. Traore will join a crowded backcourt in Brooklyn and will have to compete for minutes with guards
Cam Thomas,
Keon Johnson and Egor Demin.
--Andrew LennoxSource: ESPN
June 26, 2025
The 18th draft selection was originally the Washington Wizards' pick, resulting in the selection of guard Walter Clayton Jr. However, he was traded to the Utah Jazz for the No. 21 overall pick and multiple second-round picks. The guard was a part of the Florida Gators' 2024-2025 title-winning team, averaging 18.3 points, 4.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals while shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from three-point land during 39 contests. At 22, Clayton will join former Rutgers star Ace Bailey in Salt Lake City next season. Bailey was taken by the Jazz earlier on Wednesday with the No. 5 pick.
--Andrew LennoxSource: ESPN
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