July 17, 2025
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, free-agent guard
Damian Lillard (Achilles) agreed to a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Portland Trail Blazers. Lillard, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, spent 11 seasons with the Blazers before being traded to Milwaukee in September 2023. Unfortunately, he wasn't nearly as productive with the Bucks, most recently averaging 24.9 points throughout the 2024 campaign, 7.3 points fewer than he has in his final year in Portland. Lillard also battled numerous health issues last season, including a blood clot in his calf and a torn Achilles sustained during the postseason. After the Bucks waived him this offseason, it was reported Lillard wasn't in a rush to sign with a team. However, he will now rehab before once again suiting up for the Blazers, where he'll have a chance to revive his career.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
July 17, 2025
On Wednesday, Oklahoma City Thunder forward
Brooks Barnhizer logged 19 points (8-of-12 on field goals, 3-of-6 on free throws), nine rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks during a 95-81 Summer League win over New Orleans Pelicans. The 23-year-old had a team-high nine boards and 19 points across 24 minutes. Drafted 44th in the NBA Draft last month, Barnhizer has impressed at Summer League, posting averages of 12.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists across 25.3 minutes over the previous four contests in Vegas.
--Andrew LennoxSource: ESPN
July 17, 2025
New Orleans Pelicans guard
Jeremiah Fears posted 22 points, six rebounds, and six assists across 30 minutes on the floor in Wednesday's 95-81 Summer League loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite an impressive outing, Fears struggled from beyond the arc, shooting 1-for-5. Drafted with the No. 7 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Fears' play has been inconsistent so far this summer. The Oklahoma product averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.6 steals across 34 games during his only collegiate season in 2024-25.
--Andrew LennoxSource: ESPN
July 17, 2025
Utah Jazz guard
Isaiah Collier collected 17 points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals across 32 minutes in a 86-76 Summer League win over the Wizards on Wednesday. Collier continues to produce during Summer League as he posted a double-double in Monday's matchup against the Spurs. The 29th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft will look to battle for an expanded role on a young Jazz team after averaging 8.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists across 71 contests during the 2024-25 campaign.
--Andrew LennoxSource: ESPN
July 17, 2025
According to Michael Scotto of USA Today, free agent guard/forward
Caleb Houstan and the Atlanta Hawks have agreed to a one-year deal on Thursday. Houstan landed on the open market after the Magic declined his team option. Last season, the 22-year-old averaged 4.1 points and 1.3 rebounds in 13.6 minutes per contest across 58 games. After the All-Star break, he shot 50.7 percent from beyond the arc. He could grab a regular role at the bottom of the Hawks' rotation, but he will likely not make an impact in fantasy during the upcoming season.
--Andrew LennoxSource: Michael Scotto
July 17, 2025
Washington Wizards guard
AJ Johnson finished with 25 points, five rebounds and three assists across 35 minutes in an 86-76 Summer League loss to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. Johnson has strung together two impressive outings after collecting 20 points during Tuesday's Summer League action against the 76ers. This upcoming NBA season will be Johnson's second, and at 20 years old, he will likely struggle to establish a regular spot in the Wizards' rotation.
--Andrew LennoxSource: ESPN
July 17, 2025
Washington Wizards forward
Leaky Black finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, four blocks, and two steals in over 33 minutes in an 86-76 win over the Jazz during Summer League action on Wednesday. Black's 11 rebounds and four blocks were game highs in the contest. Despite a solid Summer League outing, the 26-year-old is not a player that should be on fantasy managers' radar. He hasn't played in an NBA game since the 2023-24 regular season.
--Andrew LennoxSource: ESPN
July 17, 2025
New Orleans Pelicans shooting guard
Trey Alexander totaled a game-high 25 points in Wednesday's 95-81 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, impressing with a 5-for-9 effort from downtown and shooting 7-for-13 overall from the field. Additionally, Alexander had a perfect record with his six free throws. His line also included four rebounds, three assists, and a couple of steals. Last season, Alexander was named the 2025 G League Rookie of the Year while playing for the Denver Nuggets-affiliated Grand Rapids Gold, and the Pelicans signed him to a two-way contract earlier this month. Things started poorly for him in Vegas as Alexander scored only five points in his first two games. He will get another chance to impress on Friday against the Indiana Pacers.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 17, 2025
Philadelphia 76ers forward/center
Johni Broome posted a second consecutive double-double in the Las Vegas Summer League on Wednesday, racking up 22 points, 13 rebounds, one assist, two steals, and one block in a 90-82 triumph against the Dallas Mavericks. The second-round pick from Auburn was a bit quiet in his first few Summer League outings, but he has now demonstrated his full potential in the past two games. By picking up Broome, Philadelphia has boosted its frontcourt depth behind the injury-prone
Joel Embiid, and he could become a valuable contributor for the team.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 17, 2025
Chicago Bulls guard
Jahmir Young put on a show in Wednesday's Summer League clash against the Milwaukee Bucks, scoring 40 points on 13-for-18 shooting in a 102-96 victory. It marks the most points ever a Bulls player has scored in the Summer League, and it's also the highest scoring tally during this year's tournament in Las Vegas. Young was unconscious from downtown, going 7-for-8, and finished 7-for-9 at the charity stripe. His work included one rebound, three assists, and two steals. As an undrafted rookie, Young made only five appearances for the Bulls last season, but he could be in line for more work in 2025-26 since the Bulls' backcourt is now a bit thinner following
Lonzo Ball's departure.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 17, 2025
Minnesota Timberwolves point guard
Rob Dillingham finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists as the team snuck past the Phoenix Suns 89-85 during Wednesday's Summer League action. The 20-year-old was tied for the highest scoring mark in the game, shooting 9-for-20 from the field with a 1-for-6 record from three-point range. Dillingham saw very little action in Minnesota during his rookie campaign, but
Mike Conley is on his last legs, and 2025-26 could bring more opportunities for the former Kentucky Wildcat. During the Las Vegas Summer League, Dillingham has improved his numbers in almost all categories compared to last year, averaging 17.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.8 steals.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 17, 2025
Cleveland Cavaliers guard
Tyrese Proctor scored a whopping 40 percent of his team's points in Wednesday's Summer League encounter with the Sacramento Kings, finishing a 94-86 loss with 35 points on 11-for-24 shooting. Proctor's efficiency wasn't great, but he went 9-for-9 at the free-throw line and dropped four three-point bombs with 11 attempts. The 21-year-old from Australia wrapped things up with three rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Across his previous three Summer League outings, Proctor had managed only 34 total points. This was an impressive effort from the Duke product, but we will probably see only glimpses of him in the stacked Cavaliers backcourt during the 2025-26 regular season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 17, 2025
Utah Jazz forward
Cody Williams posted a team-high 23 points in Wednesday's 86-76 Summer League victory against the Washington Wizards, shooting 9-for-16 from the field and 3-for-6 from downtown. He also did his part defensively by picking up a pair of steals and finished his line with two rebounds and two assists. Williams had a slow start to Summer League action in Salt Lake City, averaging 11.7 points, but he's been sharp with his play in Las Vegas. With four games played, Williams has notched 20-plus points three times. The 20-year-old is working hard to prove himself enough to secure a regular spot in the Jazz rotation for his sophomore season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 16, 2025
According to Dan Woike and Joe Vardon of The Athletic, the Dallas Mavericks aren't interested in "gutting its roster" in a deal for Los Angeles Lakers forward
LeBron James (knee). It was reported that the multi-time All-Star hasn't had discussions with the Lakers involving a trade. However, James' no-trade clause, age, and $52.6 million salary are barriers preventing teams, not just the Mavericks, from engaging in meaningful discussions about a potential deal. The 40-year-old is still playing at an exceptional level, most recently finishing the 2024 campaign by averaging 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 70 contests. Of course, there will be more updates and rumors regarding James and his future moving ahead. With that in mind, he should continue to provide consistent fantasy production, assuming he stays healthy, no matter where he suits up before calling it a career.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Dan Woike, Joe Vardon
July 16, 2025
New York Knicks forward
Josh Hart (finger) underwent a procedure on his right ring finger. He sustained the injury during the postseason. Fortunately, the 30-year-old is expected to resume basketball activities "later in the summer." Even better, he's not projected to miss any time to begin the 2025 campaign. Hart is coming off another quality year, finishing the 2024 season by averaging 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.5 steals. He's also one of the most durable players in the National Basketball Association, logging 234 games in the last three seasons. Hart is always a triple-double threat whenever he's on the floor. His willingness to play through injuries is an added bonus for fantasy managers. While his shooting percentages could improve, his contributions in the other statistical categories gives him plenty of value from a fantasy standpoint.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Christian Arnold
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