RADIO
Deandre Ayton Dealt to Washington
Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton was traded to the Washington Wizards on Friday, according to Shams Charania. Ayton will head to Washington in exchange for Jaden Hardy and two second-round picks. The Lakers recently acquired Walker Kessler to be the starting center, so Ayton became movable. The big man recently picked up his player option for $8 million for the upcoming 2026-2027 season. This past season, Ayton averaged 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks across 27.2 minutes per game in 72 contests with the Lakers. The expectation is that Ayton is going to be the primary backup to Alexandre Sarr in Washington. This move to Washington will likely decrease his fantasy value unless Sarr or Anthony Davis suffers an injury.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Javonte Green Returns to Pistons on One-Year, $3.95 Million Deal
Free-agent forward Javonte Green has agreed to a one-year, $3.95 million deal to return to the Detroit Pistons, Shams Charania of ESPN reports. The 32-year-old is a glue guy: he suited up for all 82 games last season as one of Detroit's most trusted perimeter defenders, chipping in 6.9 points in 17.6 minutes while shooting 38.1 percent from three. That defensive motor and iron-man availability matter to a Pistons team built around Cade Cunningham, but they don't add up to a fantasy box score at this usage. Here's the only angle worth filing away: in deep formats, if an injury pushes him into the starting lineup as it did last season, his steals and blocks can carry a short-term stream. Short of that, he stays on the wire.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Payton Sandfort Waived by Thunder After Two-Way Stint
The Oklahoma City Thunder waived forward Payton Sandfort, according to Andrew Schlecht. Sandfort appeared in four NBA games for Oklahoma City last season, averaging 8.8 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 50.0 percent from the field. He spent most of his time with the Oklahoma City Blue, where he averaged 11.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. Sandfort has size and shooting touch, but this move carries little fantasy fallout. He was not in line for a steady Thunder role, and his next value will depend on finding another developmental spot.
Source: Andrew Schlecht
Source: Andrew Schlecht
Neemias Queta Signs Four-Year Extension to Stay in Boston
Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta has agreed to a four-year, $56 million extension to remain in Boston, Shams Charania of ESPN reports. It caps a remarkable climb for the 26-year-old Portuguese 7-footer, who went from a two-way deal and G League stints in Maine to Boston's starting center. Queta seized that job last season after the Celtics traded Kristaps Porzingis and let Al Horford and Luke Kornet walk, and he delivered career highs of 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks while shooting 65.3 percent, third-best in the NBA. For fantasy, he's a quietly valuable category center: the field-goal percentage, boards, and blocks add up even without gaudy scoring. The extension locks in a role that only grows more central as Boston retools around a post-Jaylen Brown roster. The one cap on his ceiling is minutes, with offseason signing Mitchell Robinson now providing real depth behind him.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Rui Hachimura Draws Pitches From Timberwolves and Warriors
Minnesota and Golden State have both pitched free agent forward Rui Hachimura, the top name left on the board, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reports. Hachimura is all but gone from Los Angeles after the Lakers exhausted their cap space on other moves, and the 28-year-old is coming off a scorching close to the season. He averaged 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds on 51.4 percent shooting across 68 regular-season games, then poured in 17.5 points and 4.0 rebounds while hitting 56.9 percent from three over 10 playoff games. The fantasy read hinges on which suitor wins, and the two fits are not equal. Minnesota, which cleared frontcourt minutes by dealing Julius Randle to Brooklyn and moving Naz Reid in the LaMelo Ball trade, could hand him a starting role as the third scorer behind Anthony Edwards and Ball. Golden State's motion offense would use him as a complementary spacer next to Stephen Curry, a lower-usage role. For fantasy purposes, root for the Minnesota outcome.
Source: Jake Fischer
Source: Jake Fischer
Ugonna Onyenso Signs Two-Way Deal With Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are signing center Ugonna Onyenso to a two-way contract, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Onyenso was the No. 53 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, with Detroit acquiring his rights after Houston selected him and moved him through New York. The Virginia product averaged 6.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks in 18.6 minutes as a senior, earning ACC All-Defensive honors. Onyenso's rim protection is the clear fantasy hook, but Jalen Duren's presence and Detroit's added frontcourt depth make early NBA minutes unlikely. He is more of a developmental blocks specialist than a redraft target.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Timberwolves Bring Back Enrique Freeman on a Two-Way Deal
The Minnesota Timberwolves are bringing back forward Enrique Freeman on a two-way contract for a second season, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports. The 25-year-old Akron product is a defense-first, rebounding big, but his usage tells the story: he appeared in just four games for Minnesota last season while spending the bulk of the year in the G League, where he averaged 16.5 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists over 39 games with the Iowa Wolves. That gap is the whole picture for fantasy. Freeman sits behind an established frontcourt anchored by Rudy Gobert on a roster built to contend, so there's no rotation runway waiting for him. The only path to relevance is an injury-driven opening up front. Short of that, he's a development piece, not a fantasy consideration.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Knicks Fail to Pry Yves Missi From Pelicans
New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi remains unavailable in trade talks after the New York Knicks made multiple rejected offers, according to Chris Haynes. New York is searching for center help after Mitchell Robinson agreed to a three-year, $47.4 million deal with the Boston Celtics, but New Orleans views Missi as a vital core piece. The 22-year-old averaged 5.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.5 blocks in 19.7 minutes last season. Staying put keeps Missi's path tied to the Pelicans' frontcourt, where his blocks and offensive boards are more useful than his scoring. He still needs steadier minutes to be more than a specialist.
Source: Chris Haynes
Source: Chris Haynes
Mavericks Preparing a Significant Offer for Tarik Biberovic
The Dallas Mavericks are preparing a significant contract offer for Fenerbahce guard/forward Tarik Biberovic, according to Eurohoops' Bugra Uzar. Dallas acquired Biberovic's NBA draft rights in Wednesday's Santi Aldama trade with Memphis. Marc Stein of The Stein Line adds that Dallas has opened talks with the sharpshooter's camp about coming stateside as soon as next season. The 25-year-old is one of Europe's premier shooters, posting a .524/.419/.952 slash with 11.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 24.3 minutes across 41 EuroLeague games, and he has hit 45.8 percent from three over 63 career playoff games. The fantasy fit is obvious: Dallas ranked bottom-five in three-point shooting and could use his floor spacing next to Cooper Flagg. Temper the enthusiasm, though. His arrival hinges on a $2 million buyout the Mavs can only partly cover, and even if he signs, a rookie role likely means single-digit minutes. The actionable question isn't his fantasy value yet, it's whether the buyout gets resolved and he makes the jump. Revisit him if and when Dallas closes a deal.
Source: Bugra Uzar
Source: Bugra Uzar
Alex Karaban Leaves Kings Practice After Rolling Ankle
Sacramento Kings rookie forward Alex Karaban rolled his ankle near the end of practice and did not return, according to Brenden Nunes. There is no update yet on the severity or his availability, leaving his summer-league status up in the air. The No. 29 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft averaged 13.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists at UConn while shooting 37.4 percent from three. Karaban's fantasy appeal is tied to shooting and low-mistake minutes, but any missed development time would make his already narrow rookie-year path harder to trust.
Source: Brenden Nunes
Source: Brenden Nunes
Lakers Explore Jonathan Kuminga as Free-Agent Wing Target
The Los Angeles Lakers continue to explore the feasibility of adding free-agent forward Jonathan Kuminga, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line. Stein also reports that Cleveland and Milwaukee have expressed interest, while a return to Atlanta has not been ruled out. Kuminga became an unrestricted free agent after the Hawks declined his team option, and he averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists last season. The Lakers need athletic wing depth and perimeter defense, but their financial constraints make this far from simple. Kuminga's fantasy value would depend heavily on his landing spot, with Los Angeles offering defensive minutes but not necessarily a high-usage role.
Source: Marc Stein
Source: Marc Stein
Tari Eason Re-Signs With Rockets on Five-Year Deal
Restricted free agent forward Tari Eason is staying in Houston, agreeing to a five-year, $81.5 million deal to return to the Rockets, Shams Charania of ESPN reports. The pact is fully guaranteed and carries a fifth-year player option, rewarding one of the league's premier per-minute defenders. Eason posted 10.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.2 steals in 25.8 minutes across 60 games, ranking 14th in the NBA in steal percentage while adding a career-high 93 threes at 35.8 percent. When healthy, he's a nine-category gem, elite in steals, blocks, and offensive rebounds, the kind of glue piece who returned sixth-round value on a per-game basis. Two things cap the fantasy ceiling: a left leg surgery history that has limited him to 139 games over three seasons and a usage crunch on a loaded roster now fronted by Kevin Durant and a rising Amen Thompson. Draft him for the defensive counting stats, but bake in the health and minutes risk.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Kyle Lowry to Retire as a Raptor on One-Day Contract
Point guard Kyle Lowry is retiring as a Toronto Raptor, signing a ceremonial one-day contract to end his career with the franchise he defined, Michael Grange of Sportsnet reports. Toronto has scheduled a July 7 press conference, fittingly the number Lowry wore, and a jersey retirement is expected later this season, which would make his No. 7 just the second number the Raptors have raised, alongside Vince Carter's No. 15. The six-time All-Star spent nine seasons in Toronto, averaging 17.5 points, 7.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.5 steals while leading the 2019 championship run and finishing as the franchise's all-time leader in assists, steals, and three-pointers. He closes a 20-year career, one of just 12 players to reach that mark, and drew more charges than anyone in NBA history. There's no fantasy angle to chase here: Lowry played only 14 games last season as a locker-room mentor in Philadelphia, most notably for Tyrese Maxey. This one is pure legacy, and the timing is poetic, with 2019 Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard being reacquired by Toronto the same week.
Source: Michael Grange
Source: Michael Grange
Raptors Extend Head Coach Darko Rajakovic on Multi-Year Deal
The Toronto Raptors have agreed to a multi-year contract extension with head coach Darko Rajakovic, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports, rewarding the coach who lifted Toronto to a 46-36 record and its first playoff berth since 2022. For fantasy, the value is in continuity. Rajakovic has developed the players who anchor Toronto's roster, most notably All-Star Scottie Barnes, who has publicly credited him for his growth, along with wing RJ Barrett. Keeping that system intact means predictable roles heading into drafts. The bigger swing is the star Toronto just added: the reacquired Kawhi Leonard, whose touches and shot volume figure to trim the usage behind Barnes's and Barrett's counting stats. Job security for Rajakovic is a plus, but managers should temper their expectations on the young core's ceiling now that Leonard is back in the fold.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Spurs Add Veteran Coach Billy Donovan to Mitch Johnson's Staff
Billy Donovan is headed to San Antonio as the lead assistant under head coach Mitch Johnson, Shams Charania and Pete Thamel of ESPN report, stepping onto the bench of the reigning Western Conference champions after 11 seasons as an NBA head coach. The fantasy read runs entirely through development. Donovan spent years developing guards, most memorably a young Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Oklahoma City, and that track record is a quiet plus for San Antonio's young backcourt. Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are the names to watch, both still ascending alongside anchors Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox. A hire like this doesn't reshuffle anyone's draft-day value on its own, but an experienced offensive voice steering Castle and Harper raises the long-term ceiling on two of the league's most promising young guards. That development curve is where the fantasy payoff lives.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
