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.Source: 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.Source: 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.Source: 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.Source: 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.Source: 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
headread 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.Source: Tim Bontemps
1 month agoCharlotte Hornets center Nick Richards has reportedly been on the New York Knicks' radar this offseason. The Knicks lack frontcourt options and have been linked with multiple big men. Richards is among them, and he could come in on a team-friendly contract, as the seven-foot Jamaican is only due to be paid $5 million in each of the next two seasons. Richards, a former second-round pick, had a solid campaign with the Hornets in 2023-24, averaging 9.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 26.3 minutes. He boosted his numbers to 10.1 points, 8.8 boards, and 1.2 swats as a starter.Source: James L. Edwards III
1 month agoFollowing Paul George's departure to Philadelphia, the Los Angeles Clippers have a starter's spot open, and head coach Tyronn Lue expects to see multiple players competing for the role. The most obvious candidates to fill it are Derrick Jones Jr., Amir Coffey, and Norman Powell. A starting role always boosts a player's fantasy value. However, Jones Jr. wasn't very productive in the role during his stay in Dallas last season, averaging 8.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in 23.5 minutes. Coffey had 11 starts with the Clippers last season and posted 11.8 points with 3.7 rebounds as a member of the first unit. Powell is a very valuable bench scorer but started three games in 2023-24, averaging only slightly more points than his season average of 13.9.Source: Janis Carr
1 month agoDetroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart has been mentioned as a possible trade target for the New York Knicks. "New York has spent a good portion of the last few months scouring the league to address its lack of depth at the position, according to league sources," notes James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. "The team has shown interest in trading for Detroit's Isaiah Stewart, among others." The Knicks are short of quality under the rim after losing Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency and Mitchell Robinson (foot) to injury. Stewart is a serviceable big man who posted 10.9 points and 6.6 rebounds in 30.9 minutes on a struggling Pistons team last season. On paper, he looks like a good addition to the Knicks' frontcourt, but Stewart's $15 million salary means the team will need to give up some pieces to acquire him.Source: James L. Edwards III
1 month agoBoston Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown has let it be known that he is in great shape ahead of the 2024-25 NBA campaign. Speaking during the Celtics' media day, Brown noted that "this is the best he's ever felt" and "this summer was the hardest he has ever worked." Brown had plenty of time to invest in improving himself as a player after being left off the Team USA Olympics team. After being named the NBA Finals MVP in 2024, he appears to be gearing up for a big regular season, which should excite fantasy managers.Source: Jay King
1 month agoBoston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum spent some of the offseason working on his shooting, telling the media on Tuesday that he has worked through "a few mechanical things" on his jumper with trainer Drew Hanlen. Tatum has developed into one of the best scorers in the league, but his numbers dipped in 2023-24. The five-time All-Star went from averaging 30 points a night to getting 26.9 points. Tatum shot a career-low 28.3 percent from three-point range in the 2024 playoffs and couldn't get anything to fall from deep at the Paris Olympics. The Celtics star enters the new season after signing the biggest extension in NBA history and is expected to be out to prove his worth after being largely overlooked by Team USA in the summer.Source: Jay King
1 month agoBoston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (leg) is progressing in his return from the torn medial retinaculum suffered in the postseason. During Celtics' media day, the veteran reported feeling "really good," adding he's been running and doing "light contact work." Porzingis finished his first season in Boston by averaging 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.9 blocks. However, he appeared in only 57 regular-season contests, which limited his fantasy contributions. While the 29-year-old hopes to return sooner than anticipated, fantasy managers should still be prepared to keep him stashed on their roster. Yet, once he is fully healthy, he'll be a difference-maker for fantasy managers come the playoffs. With that in mind, Al Horford will hold things down in the middle until Porzingis is back on the court, giving him value in all formats early in the 2024-25 campaign.Source: Jay King