September 1, 2025
San Antonio Spurs center
Victor Wembanyama (illness) was cleared to return in July after dealing with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder last season. He last suited up in February's All-Star game before the condition ended his season abruptly. While the 21-year-old hasn't played since then, NBA insider Marc Stein mentioned he has "played in some recent full court runs at Loyola Marymount" and has "looked quite stellar." This is certainly another positive update regarding Wembanyama, who averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.8 blocks, and 1.1 steals last season. Without question, the team will presumably be overly cautious with him moving ahead. However, that shouldn't stop fantasy managers from viewing Wemby as a top-five fantasy option, especially since he has MVP potential.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Marc Stein
September 1, 2025
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, forward
Giannis Antetokounmpo is "staying in Milwaukee to start the season." Charania's latest report comes after the Bucks brought back Giannis' older brother,
Thanasis Antetokounmpo, who agreed to a one-year, $2.9 million deal on Sunday. The two-time MVP is coming off another quality year, averaging 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 67 games. With that in mind, Charania didn't rule out a trade request at some point in the future. For now, he'll remain in Milwaukee, where he's expected to stay in the MVP conversation. Antetokounmpo should be considered a top-five fantasy option, although his stock may be a few spots lower in category formats due to his horrendous shooting percentages from deep and the charity stripe. He's also been known to battle nagging injuries throughout his career, which won't make him as safe of a fantasy option as
Nikola Jokic and
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
September 1, 2025
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Milwaukee Bucks agreed to a one-year, $2.9 million contract with forward
Thanasis Antetokounmpo. The 33-year-old spent five seasons with the Bucks before missing the 2024 campaign because of a torn Achilles. In 198 regular-season contests in Milwaukee, he averaged 2.4 points while winning an NBA championship in 2021. All that considered, Antetokounmpo won't see any interest from fantasy managers, considering he probably won't play much. However, the new deal likely means his younger brother, two-time MVP
Giannis Antetokounmpo, isn't going anywhere in the near future after months of trade rumblings.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
September 1, 2025
According to Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, guard
Kyrie Irving (knee) is "ahead of schedule" concerning his rehab efforts. The All-Star suffered a torn ACL in March, requiring surgery. The Mavs expect him back in 2026, and although he's making significant progress, the team has been "careful not to attach a timetable" regarding a return. Irving, who agreed to a three-year, $119 million contract in the offseason after declining his $43 million player option, stated he's "healing up great." There is also a recent video of him "moving comfortably on the court." Despite Irving's lengthy NBA career, he's still playing at an exceptional level, averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.3 steals in 2024. While it appears he's no longer involved in off-the-court drama like earlier in his career, he still has issues staying healthy. With that in mind, Irving is certainly worth drafting and stashing in all fantasy formats until he's cleared to suit up.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Grant Afseth
September 1, 2025
Free-agent guard
Dante Exum agreed to a one-year deal to remain with the Dallas Mavericks. There was talk about a new contract over the last few months. However, with Dallas recently waiving
Olivier-Maxence Prosper, the Mavs finally had the cap space needed to make it official. The 2014 No. 5 overall pick played overseas before returning to the National Basketball Association with the Mavericks, where he spent the last two seasons. He averaged a career-high 8.7 points per contest last season while shooting 43.4% from deep. With
Kyrie Irving (knee) sidelined, Exum should see extra minutes to begin the 2025 campaign. That won't make him a consistently reliable fantasy option, although there could be streaming opportunities for managers throughout the year, especially if
D'Angelo Russell misses time.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
August 31, 2025
Los Angeles Clippers guard
Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring) will miss the remainder of EuroBasket 2025. The 33-year-old, who was suiting up for Serbia, suffered a hamstring injury during the August 29 meeting with Portugal. Unfortunately, it was determined Bogdanovic suffered a ruptured hamstring muscle. He began the 2024 campaign with the Atlanta Hawks before being sent to the Los Angeles Clippers ahead of the trade deadline. In 30 contests in Los Angeles, Bogdanovic averaged 11.4 points and 42.7% shooting from behind the arc. The veteran is expected to remain one of the first options off the bench for the Clippers in 2025. However, there's a good chance he'll miss time to begin the season, especially since hamstring injuries have been a common theme for him throughout the years. If that's the case, guys like
Chris Paul,
Kris Dunn, and
Derrick Jones Jr. could benefit.
--Dennis ClausenSource: EuroHoops.net
August 29, 2025
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Dallas Mavericks waived forward
Olivier-Maxence Prosper on Friday. The Mavs selected the 23-year-old using the No. 24 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. However, he didn't do much on the statistical end, averaging only 3.5 points and 2.4 rebounds in 92 appearances for Dallas. There's a good chance he'll catch on with another club at some point during the 2025 campaign. Still, Prosper has some work to do before earning a routine spot in any rotation. Until that happens, he's not worth adding to any fantasy roster. Prosper also isn't worth keeping in dynasty formats.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
August 29, 2025
Utah Jazz forward
Lauri Markkanen scored 43 points in Finland's 109-79 win over Great Britain. He added two rebounds and four steals. The 28-year-old averaged 19.0 points in 2024, his lowest since joining the Jazz in 2022. He was also limited to 47 games. Markkanen has played well in Finland's two EuroBasket contests so far, so fantasy managers are certainly hoping he can carry that momentum into the 2025 campaign. If so, he's more than capable of earning another trip to the All-Star game. With that in mind, there are some who believe he might be traded during the season, which would impact his ceiling. However, if Markkanen stays in Utah, there's a chance he could be held out late in the season if the Jazz aren't in the playoff conversation heading into the final stretch. With Finland at 2-0, the club will look to keep it going by capturing a victory over Montenegro.
--Dennis ClausenSource: FIBA
August 29, 2025
Miami Heat forward
Nikola Jovic scored 18 points in Serbia's EuroBasket win over Portugal. He added six boards and one steal. The 22-year-old averaged a career-high 10.7 points last season. Unfortunately, he missed time, mostly due to a broken hand. While there are plenty of capable scoring options in Miami this season, Jovic has a real chance to carve out a routine role in Erik Spoelstra's rotation. If that happens, he could be in line for his best year to date. However, Jovic must stay on the floor, with the 2022 No. 27 overall pick logging 46 games or fewer in each of his three seasons in the National Basketball Association. With another win, Serbia will look to keep it going versus Latvia on Saturday.
--Dennis ClausenSource: FIBA
August 29, 2025
Denver Nuggets center
Nikola Jokic played well in Serbia's EuroBasket win over Portugal. The multi-time MVP logged 22 minutes of work, finishing with a 23-point, 10-rebound double-double. He also contributed on the defensive end, amassing two blocks and two steals. Jokic is coming off another quality year, ending the 2024 campaign by averaging a career-high 29.6 points, 10.2 assists, and 41.7% shooting from deep while recording 12.7 boards. Although
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the league's Most Valuable Player, Jokic was certainly in the conversation all season. That's not expected to change in 2025, making him arguably the top fantasy option going in any format. With Serbia sitting at 2-0, the club will look to remain undefeated by getting by Latvia on Saturday.
--Dennis ClausenSource: FIBA
August 29, 2025
New Orleans Pelicans guard
Jose Alvarado appears to be doing fine after exiting Thursday's AmeriCup loss to Argentina. Alvarado, representing Puerto Rico, took a hard fall in overtime while attempting to grab a rebound. He remained on the floor in obvious pain before eventually being taken off the court by a stretcher. Fortunately, the 27-year-old provided a positive update on social media, posting "your boy good." Alvarado averaged a career-high 10.3 points, 4.6 assists, and 2.4 rebounds while amassing 1.3 steals last season. With that in mind, he hasn't appeared in more than 61 games in any of his four seasons in the National Basketball Association, which certainly doesn't help his fantasy stock. Although Alvarado could find himself starting to begin the 2025 campaign, that may not last once
Dejounte Murray (Achilles) is cleared to return. The development of rookie
Jeremiah Fears should also be a factor in Alvarado's path to playing time.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Kurt Helin
August 28, 2025
Utah Jazz forward
Lauri Markkanen was one of the standout performers on Day 1 of EuroBasket 2025 action, scoring 28 points in Finland's 93-90 victory over Sweden. Markkanen went 2-for-4 from downtown and shot 7-for-15 overall from the field. He was also a busy man at the charity stripe, shooting 12-for-14. In addition to his scoring, Markkanen led the Finns with six rebounds and contributed three assists and two steals. After missing the final 12 games of last season due to a knee injury, Markkanen appears to be in top condition ahead of the new campaign. When healthy, Markkanen will continue to lead the way offensively for the Jazz.
--Taavi PailkSource: FIBA
August 28, 2025
Boston Celtics center
Neemias Queta collected a huge double-double as Portugal began its EuroBasket 2025 campaign with a 62-50 victory over Czechia. Queta scored nearly 40 percent of his team's points, shooting 11-for-15 from the field during a 23-point effort, and grabbed 18 rebounds. His efforts across 31 minutes of action included two steals and four blocks. Queta has a great chance to begin the season as Boston's new starting center, and his performance against Czechia should excite fantasy managers. However, there are much tougher challenges ahead in the tournament for the 26-year-old big man.
--Taavi PailkSource: FIBA
August 28, 2025
Los Angeles Clippers forward
Kawhi Leonard must be held back from playing on consecutive nights, head coach Tyronn Lue revealed. "Even though he wants to do it, sometimes you've got to protect him from himself," Lue said on the Club Shay Shay podcast. In April, Leonard played his first back-to-back in 13 months, logging 49 total minutes over two home games against the Dallas Mavericks. Despite seeing limited time on the court, he was highly productive, averaging a point per minute. The Clippers' pursuit of a higher playoff seed likely influenced the team's decision to allow Leonard to play in both games. It would be great to see him on the court in back-to-back situations regularly, but given his injury history, that's unlikely. As a result, Leonard's fantasy value suffers.
--Taavi PailkSource: Club Shay Shay
August 28, 2025
Dallas Mavericks forward
Olivier-Maxence Prosper is on the trade block, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. The Mavericks are seeking a new home for Prosper in order to complete the signing of
Dante Exum. Prosper, who was a first-round pick in 2023, has struggled to make an impact so far in the Association, averaging 3.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in 10.0 minutes per game. A fresh start with a new team could benefit the 23-year-old Montreal native, especially if he lands on a team that's willing to give him regular playing time. Prosper's 2024-25 campaign was cut short in March due to wrist surgery, but he's expected to be fully healthy when the new season starts.
--Taavi PailkSource: Marc Stein
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