Meleek Thomas Signs Four-Year, $9.3 Million Deal With Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Meleek Thomas signed a four-year, $9.3 million deal, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The No. 34 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft gets the first three years fully guaranteed for $6.4 million, a strong commitment for an early second-rounder. Thomas averaged 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals at Arkansas while shooting 41.6 percent from three. His off-ball shooting gives him a clean developmental path, but Cleveland's veteran backcourt led by Donovan Mitchell and James Harden makes early fantasy value unlikely unless the rotation opens up.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Thomas Sorber Undergoes Minor Right-Knee Procedure
Oklahoma City Thunder center Thomas Sorber (knee) underwent a successful minor arthroscopic procedure and is expected to return to full basketball activities in about four weeks, according to Brandon Rahbar. The 20-year-old rookie was selected No. 15 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft after averaging 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.0 blocks at Georgetown. Sorber has an intriguing long-term fantasy profile because of his rebounding and shot-blocking, but Oklahoma City's crowded frontcourt with Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams, and Aday Mara leaves him without a clear path to early-season minutes.
Source: Brandon Rahbar
Source: Brandon Rahbar
Anfernee Simons Draws Mavericks Interest in Free Agency
The Dallas Mavericks have emerged as a suitor for free-agent guard Anfernee Simons, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line. Jake Fischer previously reported that Golden State and Miami have continued to pursue Simons, who finished last season with Chicago. Simons averaged 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.7 threes in 24.9 minutes across 55 games while shooting 44.0 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from deep. Dallas would give him a cleaner scoring-and-spacing role around Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving, but his fantasy ceiling would hinge on whether he gets starter-level minutes or settles in as a bench gunner.
Source: Marc Stein
Source: Marc Stein
Willie Green Expected to Join Dusty May's Mavericks Staff
The Dallas Mavericks are expected to hire former Pelicans coach Willie Green as the top assistant on Dusty May's first NBA staff, Marc Stein of The Stein Line reports, with Green picking Dallas over a return to Steve Kerr's Warriors bench. The fantasy relevance is all about development. May arrives straight from Michigan with no NBA reps, so pairing him with Green, who spent four seasons running a young Pelicans roster, matters for how quickly Dallas sorts out roles. The centerpiece is reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, who poured in 21.0 points as a rookie and should shoulder a heavy on-ball workload in year two. May has also said he intends to lean on veteran Kyrie Irving as a steadying presence, which could cap Flagg's assist ceiling if Irving handles primary playmaking. Flagg's usage and how these voices split the backcourt touches are the threads to track as the staff fills out.
Source: Marc Stein
Source: Marc Stein
LeBron James Gets Free-Agent Call From Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets reached out to free-agent forward LeBron James to express interest, according to Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. ESPN's Shams Charania reported earlier that James plans to leave the Lakers after eight seasons, and the 41-year-old still produced 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in his 23rd NBA season. A James-Nikola Jokić pairing would likely boost efficiency and assists while lowering pure usage, with Jamal Murray losing some on-ball volume but gaining cleaner looks. Aaron Gordon would be the likeliest starter squeezed if Denver actually landed James, while Peyton Watson and Cameron Johnson would face tighter forward-minute paths.
Source: Bennett Durando
Source: Bennett Durando
LeBron James Draws Surprise Interest From the 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers have emerged as a surprise suitor for free agent LeBron James, reaching out to gauge his interest, Tony Jones of The Athletic reports. The opening stems from Wednesday's blockbuster, as Philadelphia flipped Paul George to Boston for Jaylen Brown, leaving a gap at power forward between Brown and Joel Embiid that the 41-year-old could fill. James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds across 60 games and remains a multi-category anchor, though slotting behind Tyrese Maxey and Brown would trim the usage that drives his playmaking. The real fantasy variable isn't talent at this point. Entering a record 24th season, his rest schedule and games played will swing his value more than any change of address.
Source: Tony Jones
Source: Tony Jones
Marvin Bagley III Agrees to One-Year Deal With Nuggets
Free-agent center Marvin Bagley III agreed to a one-year, veteran-minimum deal with the Denver Nuggets, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The 27-year-old gives Denver another frontcourt option after averaging 10.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 61.8 percent from the field in 20.0 minutes across 60 games between Washington and Dallas last season. Bagley is an efficient rim finisher who can help cover regular-season minutes behind Nikola Jokic, but his fantasy ceiling is capped unless Jonas Valanciunas is moved or Denver opens a clearer backup-center lane. For now, he profiles as injury insurance rather than a bankable nightly role.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Leaky Black Waived by Washington
The Washington Wizards have waived forward Leaky Black on Wednesday. Black averaged 7.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.5 blocks and 1.2 steals in 28.9 minutes across 15 regular-season contests during the 2025-26 campaign. He was on a two-way deal with the Wizards and has spent most of his career in the G League. The 27-year-old will likely draw interest from some other teams and could land a new role this offseason.
Source: WIzards PR
Source: WIzards PR
AJ Johnson Traded to Grizzlies
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Memphis Grizzlies acquired guard AJ Johnson, a protected 2030 Warriors first-round pick and two second-round picks from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for forward/center Santi Aldama (knee). The 21-year-old will get a fresh start in Memphis and could see an expanded opportunity as the Grizzlies begin a rebuild following the trade of star guard Ja Morant (elbow) to Portland earlier this week.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Santi Aldama Moves to Dallas
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Memphis Grizzlies traded forward/center Santi Aldama (knee) to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for AJ Johnson, a protected 2030 Warriors first-round pick, and two second-round picks. Aldama's 2025-26 campaign ended abruptly due to a right knee injury, and he underwent an arthroscopic procedure in mid-March. Before suffering the season-ending knee injury, Aldama averaged a career-high 14.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 combined steals and blocks in 27.9 minutes per game across 43 regular-season contests (11 starts). Despite the setback, Aldama is expected to be fully recovered by training camp and should compete for a role in Dallas' frontcourt rotation.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Paul George Lands in Boston
The Boston Celtics agreed to trade Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for forward Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks on Wednesday, per Shams Charania of ESPN. George has reached the 70-game mark just one time in the last seven seasons. A fresh start in Boston will give the 36-year-old veteran forward a chance to team up with Jayson Tatum during the 2026-27 campaign. George averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.7 steals in 30.7 minutes per outing over 37 regular-season games last season.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Jaylen Brown Traded to Philadelphia
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Boston Celtics traded guard/forward Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for forward Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks on Wednesday. The five-time NBA All-Star will join Joel Embiid, VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey in Philadelphia. He is coming off a career-best season, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 34.4 minutes per game across 71 regular-season contests. Despite landing on a loaded Sixers roster, Brown should be one of the team's primary offensive options moving forward.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Jonathan Isaac Signs New Deal With Magic
Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac is signing a new one-year deal to remain with the franchise, according to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel. The sixth-overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Isaac has played his entire career in Orlando, despite major injuries and a reduced role in recent seasons. The 28-year-old was waived just ahead of the free agency period with several years remaining on his contract to save the team some money. He'll still receive $8 million worth of guaranteed money on top of his new contract. Isaac averaged just 2.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 10 minutes of game action in 52 appearances last season.
Source: Jason Beede
Source: Jason Beede
Alijah Martin Earns Multi-Year Deal With Toronto
Toronto Raptors guard Alijah Martin is returning to the team on a two-year, $4.8 million deal, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The second-round rookie was sparingly used on his two-way contract last season, but showed enough potential for the team to reward him with a standard contract for the upcoming season. The 24-year-old appeared in just 23 games for the Raptors, but averaged 18.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.3 steals in 25 games in the G-League.
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
Jaxson Hayes Joining the Jazz
Free-agent center Jaxson Hayes is signing a two-year, $12 million contract with the Utah Jazz, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. Hayes moves from the Los Angeles Lakers, who just added former Jazz center Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade, to a crowded frontcourt rotation in Utah. Jusuf Nurkic, Jaren Jackson Jr., Kyle Filipowski, and Lauri Markkanen are returning, and everyone in that quartet can stretch the floor, something Hayes has not added to his game since entering the NBA. He's strictly a rim-running big that provides depth for the Jazz. Hayes averaged 7.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in 18.3 minutes per game last season.
Source: Tim MacMahon - ESPN
Source: Tim MacMahon - ESPN
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