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.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: 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.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: 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.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: 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.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: 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.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: 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.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Jay King
1 month agoAccording to Los Angeles Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, forward
Kawhi Leonard (knee) is still dealing with swelling in his right knee. While the veteran's condition has improved, it will still limit him during training camp. Most assumed the issue would be behind him. However, it doesn't appear to be the case. Leonard finished last season by averaging 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals. Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like Leonard is a lock to be ready to begin the 2024-25 campaign, so his fantasy stock will suffer until there is more clarity regarding his health. For now, it may be best for managers to look in another direction during fantasy drafts, at least in the first few rounds.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Janis Carr
1 month agoBoston Celtics general manager Brad Stevens said on Tuesday that center
Luke Kornet had offseason wrist surgery, but he's 100 percent heading into training camp, per Jared Weiss of The Athletic. Kornet will likely see an uptick in early-season minutes with
Kristaps Porzingis (foot) sidelined. In the 2023-24 regular season, the big man suited up for 63 contests and logged averages of 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 15.6 minutes per game.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: Jared Weiss
1 month agoAccording to Jared Weiss of The Athletic, Boston Celtics general manager Brad Stevens said on Tuesday that center
Kristaps Porzingis (foot) is progressing well since his foot surgery in June. Stevens didn't give a timetable on when Porzingis will likely return, but he is optimistic and said he is surprised at how quickly he is improving. Once healthy, the big man will significantly impact fantasy as he averaged 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 29.6 minutes last regular season.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: Jared Weiss
1 month agoPer Jared Weiss of The Athletic, Boston Celtics general manager Brad Stevens said Tuesday that forward/center
Xavier Tillman Sr. (knee) had a knee scope during the offseason, but he will be a full-go for training camp. With
Kristaps Porzingis (foot) out to start the season, the 25-year-old will have a chance for early-season minutes. During 20 regular-season contests last year, Tillman averaged 4.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 13.7 minutes.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: Jared Weiss
1 month agoAtlanta Hawks forward/center
Larry Nance Jr. believes he will have a great time playing under the guidance of Quin Snyder. "Quin is a basketball mastermind," Nance Jr. told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Lauren L. Williams. "I was a huge fan of his when he was at Utah, and obviously, these past few years in Atlanta. Now I'm excited to play for him, and we're gonna get along really well. Yeah, I consider myself a high-IQ basketball player, and he's very high IQ." Nance Jr.'s production has dipped in recent years, and he will attempt to produce a bounce-back campaign under a new coach on a different team. However, he needs to avoid health troubles to make it happen. The 31-year-old has never played more than 67 games in a single NBA campaign.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Lauren L. Wlliams
1 month agoChicago Bulls forward
Matas Buzelis has made a good impression in minicamp sessions ahead of training camp. "It was one thing for the 11th pick to impress in summer league, but the word out of minicamp sessions is the 19-year-old is holding his own in team activities. Buzelis has impressed with his passing and ability to attack the rim," wrote The Athletic's Darnell Mayberry. Buzelis is expected to be one of the top rookies in the league this season, and based on Mayberry's words, he looks ready to make an instant impact. Buzelis' fantasy value could get a further boost if
Patrick Williams (foot) isn't fully healthy for the start of the year.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Darnell Mayberry
1 month agoCharlotte Hornets guard/forward
Josh Green will likely be a starter on his new team. According to Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer, "all indications" show that Green will line up on the backcourt alongside
LaMelo Ball. Green started only 62 of his 223 games with the Dallas Mavericks across the past four seasons. He has posted 9.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in his career as a member of the first unit. Going from an NBA finalist to one of the worst teams in the league isn't a career path any player will want to take. But Green looks set to play a much larger role with his new squad, giving him extra fantasy value.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Roderick Boone
1 month agoBrooklyn Nets guard/forward
Ben Simmons (back) is fully healthy ahead of training camp. "Ben is fully cleared and is a full participant for the start of camp. He is excited to get started," Simmons' agent Bernie Lee told NBA insider Chris Haynes. Simmons had a second back surgery in three years in March, which ended his 2023-24 campaign. He also missed a large chunk at the start of the season, finishing with only 15 appearances. Simmons, a three-time All-Star in 2019-2021, remains an enigmatic player who is naturally gifted in many areas but who can't stay healthy. Hopefully, the story will be different this season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Chris Haynes
1 month agoForward
Nassir Little is joining the Miami Heat on a one-year deal. According to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, Little's deal is expected to be partially guaranteed or non-guaranteed. The 24-year-old was available as a free agent after the Phoenix Suns waived Little four weeks ago. He saw very little action in Phoenix last season, averaging 10.2 minutes across 45 games. The former first-round pick has previously proven that he can contribute at this level, but Little's chances of carving out a significant role in Miami don't appear high.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Anthony Chiang
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