1 month agoAtlanta Hawks guard
Dyson Daniels is honing in on defense this season, with a bold goal in mind. "I have a big goal of trying to make the first-team All-Defense," Daniels stated during Hawks Media Day on Monday. Atlanta, which ranked 27th in defense last season, will welcome his focus. While the young guard has shown defensive potential, fantasy managers will hope he can boost his offensive production. He averaged 5.8 points in 22.3 minutes per game. His shooting struggles, including 31.1% from three-point range and 64.2% from the free-throw line, indicate that improving his offensive efficiency is essential for his development. At just 21 years of age, Daniels has time to refine his game and could be a sneaky draft pick with upside.
--Dave Goldsholl - RotoBallerSource: Kevin Chouinard
1 month agoBrooklyn Nets guard
Ben Simmons is determined to remind everyone of his abilities when fully healthy. "People forget me as a player when I'm healthy," Simmons said confidently in a recent interview. After being limited to just 15 games last season due to injuries, Simmons says he's "ready to go" following surgery. During Nets Media Day, he emphasized that health is his priority: "It's important just to be healthy. I want to play basketball at a high level and get the most I can out of my body. That's the focus. Money is nice and all that, but I want to play healthy. At the end of the day, I love playing basketball." Fantasy managers should watch his progress closely, as Simmons can be a stat-stuffer if he stays on the court consistently.
--Dave Goldsholl - RotoBallerSource: Michael Scotto
1 month agoBrooklyn Nets forward
Ziaire Williams was traded from the Memphis Grizzlies this off-season and has prepared to earn some more opportunities to be on the floor. The former 10th overall pick said that he felt like "a loose bird finally let out of his cage" when he was traded. He also went on to say that he felt trapped at times with the Grizzlies as he struggled to get on the floor that often throughout his three seasons with the team. While the Nets are in rebuild mode, Williams should receive plenty of opportunities to prove whether or not he deserves to be on the floor after they traded away
Mikal Bridges and now have one of the younger teams around the league. In 150 total appearances (50 starts) for the Grizzlies, Williams averaged 7.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists across 19.6 minutes per game.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Erik Slater
1 month agoPhiladelphia 76ers center
Joel Embiid is coming into one of his most important seasons yet as the front office has surrounded him with arguably the most talented supporting cast he's experienced. The former MVP said that he lost 25-to-30 pounds this off-season as he tries to stay healthier and enter a postseason without any ailments for the first time in his career. Before hurting his knee, Embiid was on pace to outperform his MVP season and averaged 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 52.9% from the floor and 38.8% from beyond the arc. The issue was that he only appeared in 39 regular season games, but he did show some maturity in his game and some fight in their playoff series against the New York Knicks. Embiid should remain a top pick in fantasy drafts this season, but he always comes with added injury risk.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Keith Pompey
1 month agoNew Orleans Pelicans forward
Zion Williamson came into media day lighter and more focused as he explained how much of a breath of fresh air this offseason felt to him. According to Evan Sidery, the superstar power forward lost 15 pounds over the summer and Williamson said that being able to "really lock in on basketball" and break down film while working on things in the gym was a welcomed difference. In past offseasons, Williamson has worked on coming back from injury or battling some weight issues, according to many reports at the time. After playing a career-high 70 games last season, he's heading into his sixth season feeling as healthy as ever.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Evan Sidery
1 month agoToronto Raptors forward
Scottie Barnes talked about adding a lot to his game this offseason as he heads into the fourth season of his career. During the team's media day, Barnes spoke to reporters about how he's working on his shot creation, off-the-dribble moves in different sets, and being able to get to his spots more efficiently than before. He even cited using those skills to create for others, not just finding his own shot. He also named some individual goals to make the All-Star team and an All-NBA team, but those will also come with winning. Barnes is the undisputed superstar of this team, and his fourth season will arguably be the most important. Last year, Barnes registered his best season yet with averages of 19.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game with shooting splits of .475/.341/.781.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Michael Grange
1
month
agoNew
York
Knicks
guard/forward
Mikal
Bridges
moved
across
the
city
this
offseason
as
he
was
traded
from
the
Nets
to
the
Knicks
over
the
summer.
The
Knicks
proved
that
they
weren't
done
there
as
they
traded
away
Juliusread more...
1 month agoMilwaukee Bucks guard/forward
Khris Middleton (ankle) underwent procedures on both ankles during the offseason and he has yet to be cleared to partake in five-on-five action, according to Chris Haynes. Middleton is progressing and is expected to be included in most camp activities, but he wouldn't be cleared to play an actual preseason game just yet. The 33-year-old appeared in 88 regular-season games over the last two seasons as he's dealt with a series of different injuries. Last year, he averaged 15.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists across 27.0 minutes per game. If healthy, Middleton is one of the better wings in the Eastern Conference, but as he's getting older, his health has been the biggest question mark.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Chris Haynes
1 month agoCharlotte Hornets center
Mark Williams (foot) will miss training camp after suffering a strained tendon in his left foot during a workout on Thursday. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks, although he remains without a return date. The 2022 No. 15 overall pick has shown promise since entering the league, most recently averaging 12.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 2023-24. Unfortunately, he was limited to only 19 games before suffering a season-ending back injury in December. Without Williams in the mix,
Nick Richards, averaging 10.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 51 starts last season, will likely hold things down in the middle. With that in mind, Williams' health is always a concern. Still, he's worth taking later in fantasy drafts for those willing to stash him until he's ready to get back on the court.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Charlotte Hornets
1 month agoAccording to NBA insider Shams Charania, New Orleans Pelicans guard
Jose Alvarado agreed to a two-year, $9 million extension with the team. The 26-year-old has spent his entire career in New Orleans, averaging 7.5 points, 2.7 assists, and 1.2 steals. Unfortunately, he has struggled to stay healthy, logging 61 games or fewer in each season since entering the National Basketball Association. Alvarado will hold a consistent spot in the rotation behind
Dejounte Murray and
CJ McCollum this season. However, he won't be a routine fantasy provider, although his defensive prowess gives him added value in category formats.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania
1
month
agoNew
York
Knicks
guard
Donte
DiVincenzo
won't
be
able
to
play
with
the
full
Villanova
squad
this
season
as
he
was
part
of
a
trade
package
to
the
Minnesota
Timberwolves.
Shams
Charania
of
The
Athletic
reports
that
DiVincenzo,
along
with
read more...
1 month agoSan Antonio Spurs forward/center
Zach Collins (shoulder) was cleared to participate in all basketball activities. Even better, he's anticipated to be ready for the Spurs opener in Dallas on October 24. The 26-year-old is a pivotal piece of the rotation and most recently averaged 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 2023-24. However, he tore his labrum in April, resulting in surgery. As expected,
Victor Wembanyama should see more minutes this season, likely meaning less work for Collins. Yet, the veteran will likely get more than a handful of starts in the 2024-25 campaign, so he should gain streaming attention.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Marc Stein
1 month agoNew York Knicks forward
Julius Randle will head back to the Western Conference as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves in a blockbuster deal that included
Karl-Anthony Towns. As reported by Shams Charania, the three-time All-Star has been traded along with
Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for star big man Karl-Anthony Towns. Randle missed most of last season with a shoulder injury and the Knicks went on to have an explosive playoff run that ended ultimately due to more injury issues. It seemed like Randle was primed to play some more minutes at center since
Mitchell Robinson (foot) would still be on the mend, but instead, he'll now play alongside
Rudy Gobert and
Anthony Edwards. In 46 games last year, Randle averaged 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game with shooting splits of .472/.311/.781.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania
1
month
agoMinnesota
Timberwolves
center/forward
Karl-Anthony
Towns
is
on
his
way
to
New
York
as
a
trade
is
finalized
to
send
him
to
play
with
the
new-look
Knicks.
According
to
Shams
Charania
of
The
Athletic,
the
star
big
man
will
be
reunited
with
his
old
head
read more...
1 month agoSan Antonio Spurs guard
Devin Vassell (foot) is anticipated to miss the start of the season. The 2020 No. 11 overall pick averaged a career-high 19.5 points last season. Unfortunately, he suffered a stress fracture in his right foot and was sidelined near the end of the 2023-24 campaign. An update on Vassell's status isn't expected until November 1, although it's unknown when he'll be back on the floor. Without question, the latest update won't earn him attention from fantasy managers heading into the year, especially since he remains without a firm return date. To make matters worse, it should take him time to ramp up to his usual workload once cleared. But until Vassell is back,
Malaki Branham, averaging 11.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 29 starts last season, will likely take his place in the rotation.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Tim Bontemps
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