August 6, 2025
Indiana Pacers guard/forward
Bennedict Mathurin is penciled in for a starting role in 2025-26. "I'm projecting him as our starter at the 2 this year on Day 1," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle told Caitlin Cooper of Basketball, She Wrote. "I told him this, I was on the phone with him and his agent four days ago, and I said, 'You're going to be with the starters on Day 1. It's your job to lose. But here's what we need from you: We need you to keep working on the running and simply running to the corners and stretching out the defense.'" The starting role will boost Mathurin's fantasy value. In 85 career games as a member of the first unit, Mathurin has posted 16.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game.
--Taavi PailkSource: Caitlin Cooper
August 6, 2025
Cleveland Cavaliers point guard
Darius Garland (toe) is progressing from offseason surgery but will likely not be ready for the start of the season. "That's not a medical opinion. That's just my sense of this," Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson told Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. "Under-promise and over-deliver. We're not going to rush or push this. If he is ready, then great. I will rely on (trainer) Steve (Spiro) and Darius to tell me. But I don't expect that." Garland injured his left big toe in March and went under the knife in early June. It was then expected that he would miss 4-5 months.
Lonzo Ball is set to begin the 2025-26 season as Cleveland's starting point guard if Garland isn't healthy enough to play.
--Taavi PailkSource: Chris Fedor
August 6, 2025
Forward
Riley Minix will return to the San Antonio Spurs for the upcoming campaign on a two-way contract. After going undrafted, Minix also earned a two-way deal from the Spurs a year ago. He made his NBA debut in November, going scoreless in seven minutes against the Houston Rockets. Minix showed class in the G League Tip-Off Tournament, putting up 20.5 points per game and grabbing 7.0 rebounds. However, the Vero Beach, Florida native made only three regular-season appearances in the G League before his rookie campaign was cut short by a shoulder injury. He's fully healthy ahead of the new season, having featured in five Summer League games with the Spurs.
--Taavi PailkSource: Shams Charania
August 6, 2025
Forward/center
Chris Boucher has joined the Boston Celtics as a free agent. ESPN's Shams Charania reports that Boucher signed a one-year, $3.3 million contract with the team. Boucher came off a three-year, $35.25 million deal this offseason. The 32-year-old was a valuable impact player off the bench for the Raptors but could find himself in a much more important role in Boston. The Celtics have essentially lost all their frontcourt depth over the summer, and they might even consider Boucher as a potential starter. In his last season with the Raptors, Boucher averaged 10.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in 17.2 minutes.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
August 6, 2025
The Utah Jazz have agreed to acquire forward
Georges Niang in a trade with the Boston Celtics. In another money-saving move, the Celtics are trading away Niang and two future second-round picks for rookie guard/forward
RJ Luis Jr., who the Jazz signed to a two-way deal after he went undrafted in June. Niang will pack his bags for the second time this offseason. Boston picked him up last month from the Atlanta Hawks in the
Kristaps Porzingis trade. Early in his career, Niang spent four campaigns with the Jazz. He will add veteran presence and three-point shooting to the squad but isn't expected to be a fantasy factor. Last season, Niang shot 40.6 percent from deep to average 9.9 points in 21.5 minutes across 79 games with the Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
August 5, 2025
Guard/forward
Brandon Boston Jr. has joined 2025 EuroLeague champions Fenerbahce on a one-year contract. The former Kentucky Wildcat moves to Europe after playing four years in the NBA. Following a three-year stint with the Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Jr. put together a strong campaign with the New Orleans Pelicans. In 2024-25, Boston Jr. notched 10.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 23.6 minutes over 42 appearances with the Pelicans. Surprisingly, the 23-year-old failed to land an NBA deal after a good season. However, he now has a chance to impress in Turkey with a team that features many former NBA players.
--Taavi PailkSource: EuroLeague
August 5, 2025
Point guard
Jeff Dowtin Jr. has signed a three-year deal with six-time EuroLeague champions Maccabi Tel Aviv. The 28-year-old has decided to take his talents overseas after bouncing around five teams during his four-year NBA career. Last season, Dowtin Jr. made 41 appearances with the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 7.0 points and 1.9 assists in 15.1 minutes. Maccabi has also just announced the signing of Dowtin Jr.'s teammate from Philadelphia,
Lonnie Walker IV. Earlier in the offseason, the Israeli club brought in
Oshae Brissett from the NBA.
--Taavi PailkSource: Maccabi Tel Aviv
August 5, 2025
Shooting guard
Lonnie Walker IV will return to Europe for the start of the 2025-26 season after signing a three-year deal with six-time EuroLeague winners Maccabi Tel Aviv. Walker IV also began last season overseas with Zalgiris Kaunas but finished it with the Philadelphia 76ers. The former first-round pick posted 12.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game with the 76ers. However, Philadelphia declined to exercise its team option on Walker IV's contract, making him an unrestricted free agent. Walker IV reportedly has an NBA out clause in his contract with Maccabi, so he might be back in North America soon.
--Taavi PailkSource: Maccabi Tel Aviv
August 5, 2025
Boston Celtics center
Neemias Queta revealed that he underwent offseason surgery to address a lingering knee problem. "It's been good," Queta told Bobby Manning of CLNS of his recovery. "We've been dealing with this stuff (since) a couple years ago. We just decided it was a great time for us to do it. We're trying to get back to 100%. We feel pretty confident in the process and we're just grateful that we were taken care of, and I want to make sure I'm healthy and get back to 100% and I feel like I'm on the right path to do that." So far, Queta's role with the Celtics has been limited, but with
Kristaps Porzingis and
Luke Kornet leaving and
Al Horford's return unlikely, he may become a player to watch for fantasy managers next season.
--Taavi PailkSource: Bobby Manning
August 5, 2025
Guard/forward
Johnny Juzang has agreed to a deal to join the Minnesota Timberwolves. ESPN's Shams Charania reports that Juzang will sign a one-year contract. Juzang was left looking for a new team after the Utah Jazz waived him on June 30. The 24-year-old had some solid stretches with the Jazz, averaging 8.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in 19.8 minutes last season. However, he'll face much tougher competition for playing time with the Timberwolves and looks set to start the 2025-26 season as a third-stringer at the end of the bench.
--Taavi PailkSource: Shams Charania
August 5, 2025
Guard/forward
Ricky Council IV will join the Brooklyn Nets as a free agent. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Council IV agreed to a one-year deal. The 24-year-old became a free agent after being waived by the Philadelphia 76ers last month. Council IV showed some strong performances with the 76ers during the 2024-25 season but struggled with efficiency. He averaged 7.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 17.1 minutes, shooting 38.2 percent from the field and 25.8 percent from behind the arc. With the Nets, Council IV needs to improve his shooting to earn regular playing time.
--Taavi PailkSource: Shams Charania
August 4, 2025
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Chicago Bulls center
Nikola Vucevic shouldn't be considered a buyout candidate. There have been numerous reports that a buyout could take place. However, Stein has repeatedly denied the validity of the reports and insists that Vucevic will begin the 2025 season with the Bulls unless "a trade materializes between now and the start of training camp." The 34-year-old finished the 2024 campaign by averaging 18.5 points and 10.1 rebounds in 73 appearances. While his production has dipped over the last few seasons, he remains a double-double threat. Another All-Star selection also shouldn't be ruled out. Of course, there are a number of teams interested, although it may make sense to wait things out, considering Vucevic will be an unrestricted free agent next summer. The Bulls would love to get something in return before then, so the club may be forced to settle for a trade that's less than ideal.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Marc Stein
August 4, 2025
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, "there's still nothing set in stone" regarding
Giannis Antetokounmpo and his future with the Milwaukee Bucks. "I reported it in mid-May that he's evaluating whether his best fit is in Milwaukee or is it elsewhere," said Charania on ESPN's Get Up on Monday morning. "That process is continuing. There's been some very real conversations over the last week or so." The 30-year-old had another fantastic season in 2024, averaging 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.2 blocks. The Bucks attempted to bolster the roster to Antetokounmpo's liking by adding
Myles Turner and
Cole Anthony. The club also re-signed
Bobby Portis and
Kevin Porter Jr. However, the team parted ways with
Damian Lillard (Achilles), who isn't expected to play in 2025. Time is ticking before the start of the regular season, although Antetokounmpo should remain in the MVP conversation regardless of what uniform he is wearing moving ahead.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
August 4, 2025
According to Keith Smith of Spotrac.com, forward
Daniss Jenkins agreed to a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday. Jenkins played in just seven regular-season Pistons games during last year's NBA campaign. He spent most of 2024-25 in the G League with the Motor City Cruise, averaging 18.5 points, 6.1 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals across 35.7 minutes per contest during 47 outings. The 23-year-old won't factor into fantasy as he will likely spend most of 2025-26 once again in the G League.
--Andrew LennoxSource: Keith Smith
August 4, 2025
Michael Scotto of USA Today reports that the Washington Wizards waived forward
Jaylen Martin on Monday. Martin played in 16 NBA regular-season games last season, averaging 4.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists across 14.9 minutes per contest with the Nets and Wizards. Most of the 2024-25 campaign, Martin spent in the G League posting averages of 14.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals in 28.0 minutes per game across 20 outings. The 21-year-old free agent will now look to land another opportunity before training camp in the fall.
--Andrew LennoxSource: Michael Scotto
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