June 25, 2025
The Washington Wizards selected guard Tre Johnson with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The guard out of Texas is one of the most natural scorers in this class, leading the SEC in scoring (19.9 points per game) as a freshman in his one collegiate season. Some pundits view him as the best shooter in the draft. Johnson and the 2024 second pick, Alex Sarr, are the primary pieces of the young core, with
Bub Carrington and
Kyshawn George factoring in as well. Johnson will also have a strong mentor in guard
CJ McCollum, who was just acquired from New Orleans this week.
--Andrew Ball - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
June 25, 2025
The Utah Jazz selected forward Ace Bailey with the fifth overall selection of the 2025 NBA Draft. Once considered a top-tier prospect, Bailey slipped a couple of spots in the days leading up to the draft. His Rutgers team didn't make the NCAA tournament, despite rostering him and second pick Dylan Harper, and there were questions about his decision-making at the NBA level. The runway for Bailey's upside is wide open in Utah, which, outside of
Lauri Markkanen, lacks star power. The shotmaker will see plenty of opportunities to shoot on this rebuilding roster. Bailey used his seven-foot wingspan to average 1.3 blocks per game, along with 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in his freshman season at Rutgers.
--Andrew Ball - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
June 25, 2025
The Charlotte Hornets selected Duke wing Kon Knueppel with the fourth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The sharpshooter converted more than 40 percent of his three-point attempts (on 5.3 attempts per game) in his freshman season at Duke. The 19-year-old flashes more than just shooting, however, as he showed a tremendous feel for the game, especially when college teammate and first-overall pick Cooper Flagg missed time. Knueppel's stock rose late in the draft process. The Hornets continue to build their young core, as Knueppel joins
LaMelo Ball and
Brandon Miller on the perimeter. Those three are now the building blocks for a franchise that hasn't won a playoff series since 2002.
--Andrew Ball - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
June 25, 2025
The Philadelphia 76ers selected guard VJ Edgecombe with the third pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. A playoff team two seasons ago, the injury bug plagued the 76ers in the 2024-25 season, which put them in the position to draft a top prospect. Edgecombe, a guard from Baylor, fits seamlessly with the current roster.
Tyrese Maxey and
Joel Embiid, if healthy, will continue to handle the bulk of the scoring. Edgecombe brings supernatural athleticism and defensive prowess to the team. The 19-year-old averaged 15 points, 5.6 rebounds, and over two steals per game in his lone season in Waco.
--Andrew Ball - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
June 25, 2025
The San Antonio Spurs selected guard Dylan Harper with the second overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The Rutgers product is considered the clear second-best prospect in this class, behind Cooper Flagg. Harper joins a Spurs team with a bit of a logjam in the backcourt. The team acquired former All-Star
De'Aaron Fox at the trade deadline earlier this year and roster reigning Rookie of the Year
Stephon Castle. The trio should divvy up the minutes, and could see a few minutes together, given the size of Castle and Harper. Harper's best skill is getting into the paint with crafty ball-handling, which should result in creative finishes or a lob to center
Victor Wembanyama.
--Andrew Ball - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
June 25, 2025
The Dallas Mavericks selected forward Cooper Flagg with the first pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Duke's freshman phenom averaged 19 points, 7.5 rebounds, four assists, and 1.4 blocks per game in his lone season in Durham and is widely regarded as one of the best prospects of the decade. The Mavericks view the 18-year-old as a future perennial All-Star. In the immediate future, Flagg joins a roster that could make noise in the Western Conference. He'll start alongside 10-time All-Star
Anthony Davis and nine-time All-Star
Kyrie Irving once the latter returns from an ACL injury. Flagg possesses a skillset that will elevate a team, whether he's playing on or off the ball.
--Andrew Ball - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
June 25, 2025
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Houston Rockets guard
Fred VanVleet agreed to a two-year, $50 million contract with the team. Houston recently acquired
Kevin Durant from the Suns in a trade that sent
Jalen Green and
Dillon Brooks to Phoenix. However, the Rockets improved their championship potential even more by retaining VanVleet, a player who was instrumental in helping the club secure the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference last season. The 31-year-old is one of the most respected players in the National Basketball Association. Unfortunately, he averaged only 14.1 points last season, his lowest mark since 2018. While there's a chance VanVleet will turn it around, that may be difficult, considering he'll be sharing a floor with Durant,
Alperen Sengun, and
Amen Thompson, three players who could be in the All-Star conversation.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
June 25, 2025
Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward
Matisse Thybulle is set to stay with the team for next season. According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the 28-year-old defensive specialist has opted into his $11.5 million player option for the 2025-26 campaign. This will mark the final season of a three-year, $33 million deal that Thybulle signed with the team in 2023. Thybulle spent most of 2024-25 nursing an ankle injury, making only 15 appearances. He averaged 7.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 2.2 steals. Thybulle's defensive ability makes him a valuable asset for NBA teams, but he has minimal fantasy appeal.
--Taavi PailkSource: Chris Haynes
June 25, 2025
Indiana Pacers center
Myles Turner is heading toward free agency, but the team wants to hang on to him. “I don’t think it’s any secret that the franchise, at this particular moment, that that is the No. 1 priority,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said about Turner. “I don’t know anything about money or numbers or years, or any of that kind of stuff, but Myles is a very important part of what we’ve done here, what we’ve been doing." Turner is coming off a two-year, $40 million deal and could double his annual salary with his new contract. The 29-year-old has spent his entire NBA career with the Pacers, nearing 700 regular-season games. Turner had a solid year in 2024-25, averaging 15.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks while shooting a career-high 39.6 percent from deep.
--Taavi PailkSource: Dustin Dopirak
June 25, 2025
The Boston Celtics have acquired forward
Georges Niang from the Atlanta Hawks. Boston decided to part ways with
Kristaps Porzingis and agreed to a three-team deal with the Hawks and Brooklyn Nets. In the transaction, the team acquired Niang along with a second-round draft pick. Niang finds himself on the move for the second time this year, as Atlanta picked him up in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers in February. The Celtics mainly made the move for financial reasons, but Niang could find some success on the team as a good three-point shooter. He knocked down 40.6 percent of his triples this season on 5.2 attempts.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 25, 2025
Guard/forward
Terance Mann has become a member of the Brooklyn Nets following a three-team deal. The Atlanta Hawks traded him in a transaction that saw the team acquire
Kristaps Porzingis from the Boston Celtics. Mann spent only a few months with the Hawks, having arrived in a trade from the Los Angeles Clippers in February. The Brooklyn native has been a solid bench contributor throughout his six-year NBA career, but he has never really moved the needle in fantasy basketball. This season, Mann averaged 7.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 21.1 minutes.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 25, 2025
The Washington Wizards have acquired forward/center
Kelly Olynyk in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. The veteran big man was sent to D.C. along with
CJ McCollum. Olynyk has played for six teams in five years and will need to pack his bags again. He had a disappointing start to the year with the Toronto Raptors this season, averaging 7.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. With the Pelicans, Olynyk notched 10.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. He played well in New Orleans but received increased minutes and was a regular starter due to injuries. The same likely won't happen in Washington, and a bench role would limit Olynyk's fantasy appeal.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 25, 2025
Denver Nuggets center
Nikola Jokic has two years left on his contract, with a player option for a third year, but the team plans to offer him an extension. Team president Josh Kroenke said the Nuggets are "definitely" going to offer him an extension this offseason, though he's unsure if Jokic will accept. Jokic would be eligible to sign for more money next summer. The Serbian star just finished an incredible year, averaging a triple-double with 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists. Additionally, Jokic posted a career-high 1.8 steals per game. He has only recently turned 30 and is expected to dominate for years to come, both in real life and in fantasy basketball.
--Taavi PailkSource: Bennett Durando
June 24, 2025
According to Dan Wolke of The Athletic, Los Angeles Lakers guard
Luka Doncic is "incredibly committed to his conditioning this offseason.” This has been a topic of discussion, considering the Mavericks apparently had concerns about his dedication to keeping himself in shape. While Doncic has repeatedly stated those reports were blown out of proportion, it appears he’s made it a point to squash any doubts. The 26-year-old, who has been on a “strict diet,” has appeared “visibly slimmer” of late. With that in mind, Doncic is arguably the best player in the National Basketball Association. In 28 games with the Lakers, he averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 1.6 steals. Although there’s no denying his abilities on the court, fantasy managers have been frustrated by his numerous injuries over the years. Hopefully, the new training regimen works out. If it does, Doncic has an excellent chance of finishing the season with an MVP award.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Dan Wolke
June 24, 2025
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Dallas Mavericks guard
Kyrie Irving (knee) is declining his $43 million player option. Instead, he agreed to a three-year, $119 million contract extension. Without question, Irving is as good as it gets. In 779 regular-season appearances for the Cavs, Celtics, Nets, and Mavericks, the 33-year-old has averaged 23.7 points, 5.6 assists, and 1.3 steals while shooting 39.4% from behind the arc. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in March. The Mavs are optimistic Irving will be able to get back on the floor in January, although the lengthy absence has caused his fantasy value to drop considerably. With that said, fantasy managers can consider stashing him until he is healthy, considering his services should be useful later on in the season.
--Dennis ClausenSource: Shams Charania
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