August 18, 2025
Michael Scotto of USA Today reports that restricted free-agent center
N'Faly Dante and the Atlanta Hawks agreed to a two-way deal worth $4.5 million for two seasons. The 23-year-old made four appearances last season for the Rockets, posting averages of 6.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per contest. He also shot 76.9 percent from the field during 12.8 minutes. Dante spent the majority of the 2024-25 campaign in the G League with Rio Grande Valley, leading the team with 2.2 blocks per contest.
--Andrew LennoxSource: Michael Scotto
August 18, 2025
According to Michael Scotto of USA Today, point guard
Dru Smith (Achilles) agreed to a three-year, $7.9 million deal with the Miami Heat. Smith has played in 28 regular-season games across three NBA campaigns, mostly with Miami. In 2023-24, his season was cut short due to a torn ACL after just nine outings. His injury woes continued into last season as he had surgery to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon. The 27-year-old played in 14 games, averaging 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.5 steals during 19.1 minutes per contest before suffering the injury. Once available to suit up, Smith will likely make a minimal impact on fantasy as he will have to battle for minutes with
Davion Mitchell,
Terry Rozier, and rookie
Kasparas Jakucionis.
--Andrew LennoxSource: Michael Scotto
August 17, 2025
According to Ashish Mathur of Dallas Hoops Journal, "multiple teams" have attempted to acquire Chicago Bulls guard
Coby White. However, Chicago has "shot down all inquiries." The Bulls have made several moves in the last few seasons that indicates the club is heading in a new direction. Still, it appears the front office isn't looking to move White, who is entering the final season of the three-year deal he signed back in 2023. He is coming off a productive year, averaging a career-high 20.4 points, adding 4.5 assists and 3.7 rebounds. With that in mind, White is expected to improve even more moving ahead, making him an even bigger asset for fantasy managers. He's also an excellent free throw shooter and has improved his shot from deep, which is a plus for category participants.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Ashish Mathur
August 17, 2025
Dallas Mavericks center
Dereck Lively II (foot) underwent surgery in July to remove bone spurs in his right foot. It was the same foot he injured back in January, resulting in a lengthy stint on the shelf. Fortunately, the 21-year-old is expected to be ready for training camp. He averaged 8.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks last season. However, despite Lively's production, the Mavs have plenty of depth in the middle, so he mave have trouble being a consistent fantasy producer during the 2025 campaign. He's also been limited to 91 regular-season games in his first two seasons, which is another reason his fantasy ceiling isn't as high. To make matters worse, Lively isn't the best free throw shooter, sinking only 56.5% of his attempts throughout his career.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Grant Afseth
August 16, 2025
Los Angeles Lakers guard
Luka Doncic (knee) was injured during Saturday's EuroBasket exhibition versus Latvia after a Slovenian teammate fell on his right knee. Fortunately, the injury "is not believed to be serious," with NBA insider Marc Stein reporting Doncic was diagnosed with a contusion. The 26-year-old was moved to the Lakers ahead of last season's trade deadline after spending his entire career with the Dallas Mavericks. He appeared in 28 regular-season contests for Los Angeles, averaging 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 1.6 steals. With that in mind, he is arguably the top fantasy option in any format heading into the 2025 campaign, especially after he focused on his diet and conditioning this offseason. As far as his immediate future is concerned, he should be considered day-to-day, so there's a good chance he'll be ready to go when Slovenia faces Poland on August 28.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Marc Stein
August 16, 2025
Indiana Pacers guard
Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) is making progress toward an eventual return to the court. The 25-year-old suffered a torn right Achilles tendon during the Game 7 NBA Finals loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, resulting in surgery. He will miss the entire 2025 campaign. However, there is some good news, with Haliburton recently revealing that he's no longer using a scooter or crutches. Instead, he's been able to walk in a boot. The 2020 No. 12 overall pick averaged 18.6 points, 9.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 38.8% shooting from behind the arc last season. He won't receive any attention in redraft formats heading into the new season due to the injury. Still, managers in dynasty leagues shouldn't consider any low-ball offers, especially since Haliburton is predicted to remain in the All-Star conversation for many years moving ahead. While he's off the floor,
Andrew Nembhard could see a bump in usage at the one.
Bennedict Mathurin should also be in line for an increase in fantasy production, considering he's slotted to move into the starting lineup.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Kyle Malzhan
August 15, 2025
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Miami Heat traded forward
Haywood Highsmith and a 2032 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for a protected 2026 second-round pick on Friday. Highsmith will get a fresh start in Brooklyn after he recovers from a torn meniscus in his right knee, which he suffered while training recently. He underwent surgery last week and is expected to be sidelined for at least eight weeks. The 28-year-old started in 42 games for the Heat throughout the 2024-25 campaign. However, he wasn't a reliable contributor on the fantasy end overall, averaging 6.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 74 regular-season contests. Highsmith is considered questionable to open the season and will likely come off the bench for the Nets when he is available.
--Andrew LennoxSource: Shams Charania
August 15, 2025
On Thursday, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the Milwaukee Bucks signed free agent forward
Amir Coffey to a one-year contract. Coffey joins the Bucks after spending his first six NBA seasons in Los Angeles with the Clippers. In 2024-25, the 28-year-old appeared in 72 regular-season contests, posting averages of 9.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists during 24.3 minutes per game. He had been a helpful piece in the rotation for the Clippers most recently and could benefit from a fresh start in Milwaukee.
--Andrew LennoxSource: Shams Charania
August 14, 2025
According to NBA insider Grant Afseth, Boston Celtics guard
Payton Pritchard is expected to move into the starting lineup this season, with
Anfernee Simons anticipated to be used as a "high-scoring option off the bench." The Celtics are projected to take a step back, with superstar
Jayson Tatum (Achilles) in line to miss the entire season. The team also traded
Kristaps Porzingis and
Jrue Holiday during the offseason. As a result, Pritchard appears to be getting a chance to roll with the first five moving ahead. The 27-year-old averaged a career-high 14.3 points throughout the 2025 campaign, earning him a Sixth Man of the Year award. He also amassed 21.7 points in three starts. All things considered, Pritchard might very well be entering what could be the best year of his career. He's an excellent shooter from behind the arc, and he's only missed two games in the last two seasons. Pritchard's ceiling should rise even more if
Jaylen Brown, who has struggled with injuries over the years, misses time.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Grant Afseth
August 14, 2025
Houston Rockets forward
Kevin Durant is poised to significantly enhance the team's title hopes in 2025-26. But the leadership in Houston reportedly isn't interested in offering him a maximum contract extension. "Certainly, I think both sides want that to be more than a one-year window," ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported on Wednesday. "But it's not going to be a max extension. If that was the priority for Kevin Durant, it would have been done in conjunction with the trade and he probably wouldn't have ended up in Houston." The veteran superstar is entering the final season of a four-year, $198 million deal. He is currently eligible to sign a two-year, $118 million extension. MacMahon added that Houston's priority at the moment is to extend
Tari Eason.
--Taavi PailkSource: ClutchPoints
August 14, 2025
Power forward
Isaiah Mobley has moved to Europe for the season, signing a deal with Manisa Basket in Turkey. Manisa joined the Turkish championship just a few years ago, so this is quite a coup for the team. Mobley will pause his NBA career after making 23 appearances in the league. Following a couple of campaigns with his brother Evan in Cleveland, Mobley suited up once for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2024-25. He's made minimal impact as a player in the Association, averaging 2.6 points and 1.5 rebounds in 7.5 minutes. Mobley has done well in the G League, though, posting 18.2 points and 8.0 rebounds per game for his career.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportando
August 14, 2025
Forward
Cole Swider has inked a deal with Turkish team Anadolu Efes for the upcoming campaign. Anadolu Efes, which won consecutive EuroLeague titles in 2021 and 2022, picked up Swinder following a standout G League season. The 26-year-old averaged 20.7 points with 44.3 percent shooting from three-point range and grabbed 5.9 rebounds. In the NBA, Swinder was limited to 10 outings with the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors. The sharpshooter from Rhode Island has also seen time on the court with the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, averaging 3.1 points in 35 career NBA appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: EuroLeague
August 14, 2025
Shooting guard
Ethan Thompson will join the Miami Heat for training camp, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports. The 26-year-old has agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract, meaning Miami now has 18 of its 21 preseason roster spots filled. Thompson, who went undrafted in 2021, is looking to finally break into the NBA after a productive season with the Osceola Magic in the G League. Across 31 regular-season appearances, Thompson averaged 18.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, shooting 39.1 percent from downtown. The Heat had one of the lowest three-point percentages in the NBA last season, so Thompson could definitely help the team improve in that aspect.
--Taavi PailkSource: Anthony Chiang
August 14, 2025
Point guard
Jason Preston has signed a training-camp deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to Keith Smith of Spotrac.com. The 26-year-old will try to earn a roster spot in the NBA after missing the entire 2024-25 campaign with a calf strain. Preston started his pro career with the Clippers in 2022-23 and has also suited up for the Utah Jazz, making 21 total career appearances. The former Ohio Bobcat hasn't seen any success at this level so far, averaging only 2.5 points and 2.0 assists in 9.3 minutes. However, Preston has been impressive in the G League, notching 16.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.
--Taavi PailkSource: Keith Smith
August 13, 2025
Boston Celtics center
Neemias Queta has a big season coming up, during which he's likely to take on a much bigger role than in previous years. He is focused on improving in 2025-26. "Obviously, I think it's making sure I get in great shape," the Portuguese big man said in an interview with CLNS Media's Bobby Manning. "Go out there and make elite decisions with the ball in my hands and making sure I get great finishes this year. I also want to raise up my free throw attempts this year." Queta added that he's also trying to improve his 62.7 career free-throw percentage and is "always" working on three-point shooting. Boston is expected to use Queta as its starting center in the new season, which will significantly increase his fantasy value.
--Taavi PailkSource: CLNS Media Boston Sports Network
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