June 28, 2025
The Brooklyn Nets have exercised the team option on guard
Keon Johnson on Saturday. Johnson will receive $2.35 million after having a career-year with the Nets. Last season, Johnson averaged 10.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists across 24.4 minutes per game in 79 games. Johnson played big minutes for the Nets down the stretch of the season. He has bounced around quite a bit during his career, but appears to have found a home in Brooklyn. The Nets are loaded with young talent, so we'll see where Johnson falls in the rotation when the season begins.
--Andy WebbSource: C.J. Holmes
June 28, 2025
The Portland Trail Blazers have exercised the team option on guard
Rayan Rupert for the upcoming 2025-2026 season. Rupert will receive $2.2 million for next season and become a restricted free agent next summer. The 21-year-old has shown flashes of potential, but hasn't become a consistent performer yet. Last season, Rupert averaged 3.0 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 8.8 minutes per game across 52 contests. He posted some nice performances towards the end of the season, so possibly Rupert gets a bigger role next season. Regardless, Rupert isn't someone worth looking at in fantasy leagues.
--Andy WebbSource: Sean Highkin
June 28, 2025
Golden State Warriors forward
Jonathan Kuminga has reportedly received a qualifying offer from the organization, according to Spotrac's Keith Smith. That means, Kuminga will head into free agency as a restricted free agent. This allows the Warriors to match any offer sheet that Kuminga gets during free agency. Honestly, it's unclear what kind of role Kuminga would have if he returned to Golden State. Last season, Kuminga averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists across 24.3 minutes per game. Kuminga played in a career-low 47 games, but he saw big minutes during the playoffs. It's also possible that the Warriors do a sign-and-trade here. Honestly, Kuminga would probably have better fantasy value elsewhere, but we'll wait and see what happens in free agency.
--Andy WebbSource: Keith Smith
June 28, 2025
Cleveland Cavaliers forward
Sam Merrill plans to sign a new long term deal with the organization. According to Shams Charania, Merrill intends to sign a four-year, $38 million deal with Cleveland. Merrill has spent each of the last three seasons in a reserve role with the Cavs. Last season, Merrill averaged 7.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists across 19.7 minutes per game in 71 contests. He's a consistent shooter that is a valuable option off the bench. Merrill is unlikely to offer much fantasy value, but this looks like a good deal for Cleveland.
--Andy WebbSource: Shams Charania
June 28, 2025
Miami Heat guard
Davion Mitchell plans to stay with the organization for a little longer. Mitchell intends on signing a two-year, $24 million deal with the Heat. The former ninth overall pick has been inconsistent during his five years in the league. Mitchell saw good success with Miami when he averaged 10.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists across 30 games with the team last season. Mitchell played over 30 minutes per game once he joined the Heat. He figures to get a legitimate shot at the starting point guard spot.
--Andy WebbSource: Shams Charania
June 28, 2025
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Cleveland Cavaliers are trading forward
Isaac Okoro to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for guard
Lonzo Ball. The 2020 No. 5 overall pick agreed to a three-year, $33 million contract last offseason. Unfortunately, he is coming off the worst year of his career, averaging 6.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. The Cavs have one of the deepest rosters in the National Basketball Association, so Okoro could see more minutes in Chicago, potentially leading to an uptick in production. Still, he has a way to go before earning a routine spot in any fantasy lineup.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
June 28, 2025
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Chicago Bulls are trading guard
Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for forward
Isaac Okoro. The Cavs have one of the highest payrolls in the National Basketball Association, so moving on from Okoro can give the team flexibility. It will also give the club another quality bench option, assuming he stays on the court. Ball miraculously returned last season following a two-year stint on the shelf caused by a serious knee injury. He played as well as expected, averaging 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals in 35 games. The 27-year-old could continue to struggle to stay healthy, Still, Ball should have some flashes of production for fantasy managers throughout the 2025-26 campaign, giving him streaming potential. Unfortunately, his best days are likely behind him.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
June 27, 2025
According to ESPN's Jonathan Givony, Utah Jazz forward
Ace Bailey plans to report to the team on Saturday. "We've had good communication with Ace Bailey and his representatives," said a Jazz Representative. "We feel good about everything. We'll have a press conference Sunday and practice Monday." The former Scarlet Knight was anticipated to be the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. However, he fell to the Jazz at No. 5 after refusing to participate in individual workouts for any NBA teams. In 30 games at Rutgers, Bailey averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 1.0 steals. Without question, his name should be mentioned in the Rookie of the Year conversation, assuming he stays healthy. He'll also have a chance to start immediately with the Jazz. All things considered, Bailey will be one of the first rookies selected by fantasy managers in rookie drafts, especially now that he intends to suit up for Utah.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Jonathan Givony
June 27, 2025
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Philadelphia 76ers declined the $1.9 million team option on forward
Justin Edwards. Instead, both sides agreed to a new deal, with the 21-year-old in line to sign a three-year contract. He went undrafted in 2024. Fortunately, Edwards earned a two-way contract last summer before Philly signed him to a standard deal in March. He was more productive than expected, finishing his rookie campaign by averaging 10.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 44 games while playing slightly better in his 26 appearances in the starting lineup. Edwards likely won't see nearly as many starts this season, assuming
Paul George (adductor, knee),
Joel Embiid (knee), and
Tyrese Maxey (finger) stay healthy. He may also have trouble finding consistent work, although dynasty managers can consider keeping him on the roster due to his potential upside.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
June 27, 2025
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Minnesota Timberwolves forward/center
Naz Reid agreed to a five-year, $125 million deal to remain with the team. The 25-year-old was the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2024. However, he is coming off arguably the best year of his career, finishing the 2024-25 campaign by averaging 14.2 points and 6.0 rebounds. As of now, he's projected to come off the bench for the Timberwolves, although that could change depending on what
Julius Randle does this offseason. If Randle doesn't stay with the franchise, Reid may move into the starting lineup, which will improve his fantasy potential even more.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
June 27, 2025
The Houston Rockets are reportedly interested in bringing back
Jae'Sean Tate,
Aaron Holiday, and
Jeff Green. All three players are free agents, but the Rockets want to re-sign all three of them. None of them hold much fantasy value, but are valuable pieces off the bench. Last season, Tate saw a career-low 11.3 minutes per game as he averaged 3.6 points and 2.2 rebounds across 52 games. All of them were playing minutes in the teens, but Tate is probably the best of the trio. It sounds like the Rockets want to bring everyone back and try again with newly acquired
Kevin Durant.
--Andy WebbSource: Shams Charania
June 27, 2025
Philadelphia 76ers center
Andre Drummond has picked up his $5 million player option for the upcoming 2025-2026 season. Drummond heads back to Philly for a second season after playing well in a reserve role with the team last season. He was brought in as depth behind
Joel Embiid, but ended up starting in 23 games due to Embiid's health issues. He averaged 7.3 points and 7.8 rebounds across 40 games with the Sixers last season. The hope is that Embiid is healthy next season, so Drummond would have limited fantasy value in a reserve role.
--Andy WebbSource: Shams Charania
June 27, 2025
The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted guard Tyrese Proctor out of Duke in the second round of the NBA Draft on Thursday night. Proctor played three seasons for the Blue Devils and earned Third-Team All-ACC honors this season, even though he was overshadowed by standout
Cooper Flagg. Proctor produced 12.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 29.9 minutes per game while shooting an efficient 40.5% from long distance. Proctor isn't the most explosive athlete, but he showed good playmaking ability and can shoot well enough to be a possible contributor off the bench for the Cavaliers behind
Darius Garland and
Donovan Mitchell. The Cavs' bench is still a work in progress since both backup guards
Ty Jerome and
Sam Merrill are free agents, but Proctor could work his way into the mix if he has a good summer.
--Zach ThompsonSource: ESPN.com
June 27, 2025
The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to sign a two-way contract with Caleb Love, who was one of the most prolific scorers in college basketball but went undrafted this year. Love averaged 17.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.6 three-pointers per game last year in Arizona after he spent the first two years of his college career with North Carolina. Love is a scoring threat that has the ability to catch fire and carry his team's offense, but he also had some challenges in college with efficiency and shot selection. He's a little undersized as well, but he could play his way into a role with a big Summer League. He'll be a prospect to keep an eye on for the Blazers, who have a nice group of young guards that now includes Love as a scoring threat.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Shams Charania
June 27, 2025
The Dallas Mavericks added guard Ryan Nembhard after the rookie went undrafted in this year's NBA Draft. Nembhard is the younger brother of Pacers star
Andrew Nembhard, and he'll look to join his older brother in the NBA after also playing at Gonzaga. Nembhard led college basketball in assists last season, averaging 9.8 per game, and also averaged 10.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 three-pointers. He was primarily a pass-first guard in college but had good percentages overall. His lack of size will be his biggest challenge, but his ability as a playmaker and scorer could definitely earn him opportunities in the Mavs' backcourt, especially early in the season with
Kyrie Irving (knee) out to start the year. He'll be an interesting rookie to watch develop as a potential early-season deep fantasy sleeper.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Jonathan Givony
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