September 8, 2025
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, free-agent utility man
Ben Simmons reportedly declined a contract offer from the Knicks. It's unknown how much it would take for Simmons to join a team. However, New York can't go higher than a veteran's minimum, so it's safe to say the three-time All-Star is looking for more than that. He ended last season by logging 18 games for the Los Angeles Clippers, although he averaged only 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists, all career-lows. There was another report from Stefan Bondy of the New York Post suggesting Simmons has pondered retirement. With that said, even if the 2016 No. 1 overall pick signs with a team during the 2025 campaign, he doesn't have much to offer, considering his shooting percentages are far from great. Simmons also has an extensive injury history, which won't help him find a spot on any fantasy roster.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Marc Stein
September 7, 2025
Boston Celtics forward
Jayson Tatum (Achilles) continues his rehab efforts after undergoing surgery on a torn Achilles suffered during the playoff series versus the New York Knicks. Fortunately, he's moving in the right direction, with
Jordan Walsh recently providing an encouraging update on his teammate. "I've seen him from when he messed up his Achilles to now, and it's a big difference," said Walsh. "He's moving around way better. So, he's progressing well." It's unknown exactly when Tatum will be ready to play. However, the Celtics still have more than a few capable scorers to help keep the team competitive. Fantasy managers can anticipate
Jaylen Brown and
Derrick White to lead the way offensively.
Payton Pritchard, who is in line to move into the starting lineup, should be entering his best season to date after being named the 2025 NBA Sixth Man of the Year.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Darrell Hartwell
September 6, 2025
San Antonio Spurs guard
Dylan Harper (thumb) suffered a partially torn ligament in his left thumb. He suffered the injury while training on Wednesday, resulting in surgery. The rookie is hoping to be ready for the opener versus the Dallas Mavericks on October 22. Harper was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. In 29 games at Rutgers, he averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.4 steals. The latest update shouldn't decrease his value for dynasty managers. On the other hand, Harper's redraft stock should fall, even more so if he's not cleared to suit up to begin the season. The 19-year-old is expected to come off the bench in 2025. He could have difficulty being a reliable fantasy producer, as long as
De'Aaron Fox,
Stephon Castle, and
Victor Wembanyama are healthy.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
September 4, 2025
Houston Rockets center
Alperen Sengun delivered a remarkable performance at EuroBasket on Wednesday, nearly achieving a triple-double in Turkey's 95-90 victory over
Nikola Jokic and Serbia. Sengun led all scorers with 28 points, collected a game-high 13 rebounds, and handed out eight assists. He also snagged one steal while shooting 10-for-17 from the field with a 4-for-7 showing from beyond the arc. Triple-doubles are rare at EuroBasket, with only four players posting one since 1995. Sengun was also very close to a triple-double earlier in the tournament against Czechia, falling short by just one assist. Overall, he has averaged 21.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 6.8 assists in 29.0 minutes. Sengun will have his next race for a triple-double on Saturday in a round of 16 matchup against Sweden.
--Taavi PailkSource: FIBA
September 4, 2025
Denver Nuggets center
Nikola Jokic had a busy night but couldn't save Serbia from a 95-90 loss against Turkey at EuroBasket on Wednesday. The three-time NBA MVP notched a team-high 22 points, nine rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block in 33 minutes. Jokic drained a pair of three-pointers with six attempts and shot 10-for-16 from the field overall. This was a classic Jokic performance, but Houston's
Alperen Sengun outperformed him in their head-to-head matchup. Jokic has fewer playmaking duties with Serbia and has been limited to 4.4 assists per game at EuroBasket, but he remains a regular in the double-double column. He finished the group phase with averages of 20.2 points and 9.2 rebounds. Next up, it's
Lauri Markkanen and Finland in the round of 16 for Jokic's crew.
--Taavi PailkSource: FIBA
September 4, 2025
Miami Heat forward
Nikola Jovic (hand) played his usual minutes with Serbia in Wednesday's 95-90 EuroBasket loss to Turkey. Jovic reportedly injured his hand in the previous game against Czechia, but he appeared fine on Wednesday, scoring 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting and grabbing one rebound in 27 minutes. It wasn't a very productive game for the Heat forward, but overall, Jovic has looked good in the tournament, averaging 11.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 25.0 minutes. He has shot a hugely impressive 62.5 percent from the field, including 58.3 percent from downtown. The Heat would be delighted if they could get the same level of effort from Jovic during the upcoming NBA season.
--Taavi PailkSource: FIBA
September 4, 2025
The Brooklyn Nets have signed power forward
E.J. Liddell to a two-way contract ahead of training camp. Liddell was available as a free agent after playing out the 2024-25 campaign with the Chicago Bulls. He appeared only 12 times with the Bulls, averaging less than five minutes per game. Liddell's NBA experience also includes eight games with the New Orleans Pelicans. Since the Nets are in a rebuilding phase, Liddell might get some opportunities during the season, but he will probably spend most of the year in the G League, where he has averaged 16.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game in his career.
--Taavi PailkSource: Peter Botte
September 4, 2025
Guard/forward
Ben Simmons may have played his final NBA game. The 29-year-old free agent has been linked with several teams during the offseason, but a new report by Stefan Bondy of The New York Post suggests that Simmons could choose to retire. "Ben Simmons has generated interest from the Knicks and another team but is also questioning whether he even wants to continue playing in the NBA next season," Bondy wrote. Simmons is still only 29 years old and showed last season that he can make an impact if he's healthy. Over 51 appearances with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers, Simmons averaged 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 22.0 minutes.
--Taavi PailkSource: Stefan Bondy
September 4, 2025
Dallas Mavericks forward
P.J. Washington has agreed to a four-year, $90 million contract extension, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. Washington had one year left on his contract for $14.1 million and now can't be traded during the upcoming campaign. The new deal means that Dallas has tied him down through the 2029-30 season. Washington moved to Texas in 2024 and became an instant hit. During his first full season with the Mavericks in 2024-25, he averaged 14.7 points, a career-high 7.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks. Among players to make at least 50 appearances, Washington was one of only eight players to average at least 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. The addition of
Cooper Flagg might affect Washington's role on the team, but the large contract extension shows he's still a key part of the Mavericks' plans.
--Taavi PailkSource: Shams Charania
September 3, 2025
Memphis Grizzlies forward/center
Santi Aldama finished Spain's 67-63 loss to Italy at EuroBasket with a double-double on Tuesday, scoring a game-high 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Both marks were team-highs, and Aldama also led Spain with four assists. He shot 6-for-13 from the field, including 2-for-6 from three-point range. On the defensive end, Aldama contributed one steal and one block. Spain, which won its fourth EuroBasket title in 2022, is struggling in this year's edition, but Aldama has been a consistent performer. The 24-year-old has averaged 14.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 22.3 minutes. Aldama's role on the Grizzlies squad has grown with each year, along with his fantasy stock, and he looks set to remain a solid option for managers in 2025-26.
--Taavi PailkSource: FIBA
September 3, 2025
New York Knicks power forward
Guerschon Yabusele rocked Poland during France's 83-76 victory at EuroBasket on Tuesday, racking up a national team career-high 36 points. He went berserk from deep, shooting 6-for-12, and finished 12-for-20 overall from the field. Yabusele wrapped up his stat line with six rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. This was the third-highest scoring outing ever by a French player in a EuroBasket contest. Yabusele's offensive explosion came out of nowhere, as he had notched only 24 total points across the first three games. Following a strong year with the Philadelphia 76ers, Yabusele finds himself in the Big Apple and looks like a good fit for the Knicks, bringing energy and a versatile skillset to the frontcourt.
--Taavi PailkSource: FIBA
September 3, 2025
Los Angeles Lakers point guard
Luka Doncic scored a game-high 26 points as Slovenia secured its spot in the Round of 16 at EuroBasket with an 87-79 victory over Iceland on Tuesday. Doncic was limited to 8-for-22 shooting, going 2-for-10 from downtown, but he still enjoyed a productive outing. The Mavericks superstar added seven rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block to his stat line. Doncic leads EuroBasket in scoring with an average of 31.3 points and is second in assists with 8.3 per game. After working hard on his physique over the summer, Doncic might be ready to deliver his best fantasy campaign yet.
--Taavi PailkSource: FIBA
September 3, 2025
Shooting guard
Stanley Umude will join the San Antonio Spurs for training camp, having agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract. The 26-year-old was a standout performer at San Antonio's Earl Warren High School and will now attempt to continue his NBA career in the city. After starting his pro career with the Detroit Pistons, Umude spent the 2024-25 campaign with the Milwaukee Bucks. He has not gotten much of a look in the Association, averaging only 8.4 minutes over 47 career games. Umude has notched 3.1 points and 1.4 rebounds in limited action. Last season, the Spurs struggled with three-point shooting, which could give Umude, a player known for his solid shooting ability, an opportunity to make the team.
--Taavi PailkSource: Dusty Garza
September 3, 2025
Point guard
Reece Beekman has agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with the Orlando Magic. After his rookie season with the Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets, Beekman hopes for another shot in the NBA next season. In his first year in the league, Beekman averaged 2.6 points and 1.8 assists in 13.0 minutes, making 36 appearances. Following his rookie year, the Denver Nuggets also gave Beekman a look by picking him up for Summer League action. It's an uphill battle for Beekman to earn a spot on the Magic squad, as the team is well-stocked at the point guard position, with
Tyus Jones joining
Jalen Suggs and
Anthony Black this summer.
--Taavi PailkSource: Jason Beede
September 3, 2025
Small forward
Justin Minaya has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Orlando Magic. He will join the team for training camp, aiming to earn a spot on the roster. Over his first three years as a pro, Minaya has made 57 appearances in the NBA, all with the Portland Trail Blazers. However, his workload has been very limited, with Minaya averaging 1.7 points and 1.4 rebounds in 10.0 minutes. In the G League, Minaya has posted 12.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game for his career. Every player begins training camp with a clean slate, but it seems unlikely that Minaya can force himself into Orlando's plans for the 2025-26 season.
--Taavi PailkSource: Jason Beede
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