RADIO
Paul George Verbally Agrees To Terms With OKC
7/1:Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George has reportedly agreed to four-year, $137 million max contract to return to the team. The eight-year veteran averaged 21.9 points per game in his first season with OKC, a slight decline from his last year in Indiana. He also averaged roughly one rebound less and also saw a dramatic decline in his usage percentage, dropping to 25.4, down from 30.1 percent in the season prior. However, behind guard Russell Westbrook, George will continue to be the focal point of the Thunder offense and will see plenty of action this upcoming season, making him a top-25 fantasy option for the 2019 campaign.Source: Adrian Wojnarowski
Enes Kanter Exercises Option To Remain In NYC
6/29:New York Knicks center Enes Kanter exercised his $18.6 million player option and will remain with the team in 2018-2019. Kanter, who was acquired by the team last season from OKC in the deal involving forward Carmelo Anthony, averaged a double-double last season. He also averaged 59 percent shooting from the field in addition to shooting 84 percent from the charity stripe, both career-bests. However, consistent issues with back spasms forced him to miss 11 games last season, something fantasy owners will need to take into consideration when drafting their team.Source: Ian Begley
Garrett Temple To Remain In Sacramento
6/29:Sacramento Kings forward Garrett Temple will remain will remain with the team this upcoming season. Temple, who opted in to the deal on Friday and will make $8 million dollars, averaged a career-high 8.4 points per contest last season. He also shot a respectable 39 percent from behind the arc and started 35 of 65 games in 2018, filling in at various times throughout the season. Though he will make an impact serving as a mentor for the team’s young up-and-coming roster, stellar fantasy performances will be few and far between. As a result, he will be better served left on the wire until he shows signs that he will see the court on a consistent basis.Source: Marc Spears
Lonzo Ball Diagnosed With Meniscus Tear
6/29:Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball (knee) is expected to be ready to go for the start of the season after being diagnosed with a tear in his left meniscus. Ball dealt with the injury, along with various other ailments, throughout all of last season and suited up for only 52 games as a result. Though he sported a miserable 36 percent average from the field, he concluded his rookie campaign averaging a respectable 10.2 points, 7.2 assists, 6.9 boards, and nearly two steals per contest. If he ends up losing time during the regular season, look for guard Josh Hart get some extra minutes, at least for right now. However, with free agency slated to begin on July 1st, a lot could change come the start of the 2018-2019 season.Source: USA Today
Thaddeus Young Staying Put In Indiana
6/28:Indiana Pacers forward Thaddeus Young will exercise his $13.7 million option and remain with the team in 2018-2019. Young was very durable throughout the course of last season, starting 81 games for the club despite it being his 11th year of service in the league. The veteran averaged 32.2 minutes per outing in addition to averaging 11.8 points, 6.3 boards, and a solid 48 percent shooting from the field. Though forward Domantas Sabonis flashed a few glimpses of brilliance at times filling in for center Myles Turner for a good chunk of the season, Young’s job starting at the four appears to be locked up, at least for now. As a result, he will be a welcome addition to any fantasy roster, especially in nine-category leagues where he can make an impact in field goals, steals, and minutes.Source: David Aldridge
Danny Green Exercises Option
6/26:San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green has exercised his $10 million player option and will remain with the team in 2018-2019. The 31-year-old is coming off another disappointing season that was plagued with a nagging groin injury that forced him to miss 12 games as a result. He also underwhelmed on the offensive end, averaging only 8.6 points per contest in addition to shooting a subpar 38 percent from the field and 36 percent from deep. Though he will have an occasional solid showing, a spot on fantasy rosters should only be reserved for him in deeper leagues until he demonstrates that he can turn things around, something that likely won't happen anytime soon.Source: Adrain Wojnarowski
Austin Rivers Traded To Wizards
6/26:The Washington Wizards have acquired guard Austin Rivers from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for center Marcin Gortat. There are two main fantasy takeaways from this deal for the Wizards. First, Rivers should step into the role as the third guard off theread more...
Marcin Gortat Traded To Clippers
6/26:The Los Angeles Clippers have acquired center Marcin Gortat from the Wizards in exchange for guard Austin Rivers. Gortat is 34 and is coming off a season in which he averaged under 10 points per game for the first time since the 2009-2010 season. He also averaged just 7.6 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game. Gortat has played in all 82 games in three of the last four seasons, though, so his ability to stay on the court should give him some fantasy value this coming season if he stays with the Clippers. That's dependent on Los Angeles letting current starting center DeAndre Jordan walk in free agency, but in that scenario Gortat would likely rank outside the top 20 at his position, especially with a talented backup center in Montrezl Harrell taking a good amount of his minutes.Source: Adrian Wojnarowski
Mike Muscala Staying In Atlanta
6/24:Atlanta Hawks forward/center Mike Muscala has exercised his $5.0 million player option to remain with Atlanta for the 2018-2019 season. Muscala's 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds in 20.0 minutes per game averages do not jump off the page, but he was a valuable piece in DFS while Atlanta dealt with injuries to frontcourt players John Collins and Dewayne Dedmon. Muscala will be stuck in the bench role again the start the upcoming season, but injuries come more often than not and Muscala could be forced into a more prominent role at any point.Source: Adrian Wojnarowski
Carmelo Anthony Will Remain In OKC
6/24:Oklahoma City Thunder forward Carmelo Anthony declined to exercise the early termination option on the final year of his contract, thus remaining with OKC this upcoming season. Anthony, who will earn $27.9 million in 2018-2019 had the worst season of his tenured career, averaging an underwhelming 16.2 points, 32.1 minutes, and shot 40 percent from the floor. With the Thunder unable to make serious moves in free agency, the veteran will have ample opportunity to see the court as well as an increase in production if forward Paul George doesn't remain with the team.Source: Royce Young
Pelicans Select Tony Carr With 51st Pick
6/23:The New Orleans Pelicans have selected Penn State guard Tony Carr in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft. Carr averaged 19.6 points. 4.9 rebounds and five assists in his sophomore season before declaring for the draft. He was an All Big 10 selection after the 2017-18 season and becomes the only Penn State player to be drafted since 1999. With the Pelicans roster thin right now, a guard could be helpful for their depth come next season.Source: Nola.com
Pacers Choose Alize Johnson With 50th Pick
6/23:The Indiana Pacers have selected Alize Johnson from Missouri State with their second-round pick. The power forward/center is known for his rebounding ability and his presence in the paint. He averaged 11.6 rebounds per game in his senior year could have an impact for the Pacers next season. It's likely he'll feature in the NBA Summer League before the coaches see if he could be part of the rotation.Source: News Leader
Spurs Pick Chimezie Metu With Their Second-Round Pick
6/23:The San Antonio Spurs have selected Chimezie Metu with the 49th pick of the 2018 NBA Draft. The power forward comes from USC and earned All Pac-12 first-team honors in college. He averaged 15.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.7 blocks per game in his final year in California. Expect him to be on the summer league roster of the Spurs in two weeks time.Source: NBA
Timberwolves Select Keita Bates-Diop With Pick No. 48
6/23:The Minnesota Timberwolves have selected Keita Bates-diop from Ohio State with the 48th pick of the 2018 NBA Draft. The forward was the Big 10 Player of the Year and is considered to be a steal by some. He could provide depth for the Timberwolves if given the opportunity, but fans will get to see him meanwhile in the NBA Summer League once it starts next month.Source: Sporting News
Lakers Select Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk With The 47th Pick
6/23:The Los Angeles Lakers have selected Kansas shooting guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft. It was reported that Mykhailiuk impressed in his Lakers workout, convincing the front office to choose him. For the near future, expect him to be in the summer league and play most of next season in the G-League for the Lakers affiliate, the South Bay Lakers.Source: Silver Screen and Roll
