RADIO
Anthony Black's Extension Talks Could Squeeze Orlando's Backcourt
Orlando's payroll is set to spike as power forward Paolo Banchero's max extension kicks in, pushing the Magic above the first apron and close to the second, HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reports. That crunch sets up a tough call in the backcourt. Anthony Black is extension-eligible this summer, and with the third-year guard's numbers broadly comparable to Jalen Suggs, who is on a five-year, $150.5 million deal, executives believe Orlando could eventually have to choose between the two. Jonathan Isaac's $14.5 million salary, with only $8 million guaranteed, gives the Magic a possible cost-cutting chip or trade piece, though his career-low 2.6 points in 52 games leave him off fantasy radars. For fantasy, the crowded guard rotation caps usage for both Suggs and Black now, but Black is the developmental name to watch, and a trade of either guard would unlock more value for whoever stays.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Pelicans Emerge as Potential Front-Runner to Trade for Ja Morant
The New Orleans Pelicans have emerged as a potential front-runner to trade for point guard Ja Morant, with the Minnesota Timberwolves also interested, The Athletic's Sam Amick said on FanDuel TV's Run It Back. Minnesota would likely have to move a significant salary to make a deal work, leaving New Orleans as the cleaner potential landing spot for the two-time All-Star, who is owed about $87 million over the next two seasons. Morant's market cooled after a 20-game, injury-marred campaign, but the Pelicans would be betting that a change of scenery revives him next to Zion Williamson. The fantasy fallout would hit the New Orleans backcourt: starting guard Dejounte Murray could be moved in a deal, while Jeremiah Fears would see his path to lead-guard reps narrow behind Morant. Morant's upside is real, but so is the availability risk that travels with him.
Source: Sam Amick
Source: Sam Amick
Anthony Davis Tells Wizards he Wants to Stay
Center/power forward Anthony Davis wants to stay in Washington, Wizards president Michael Winger said, pushing back on trade rumors since February's deadline deal from Dallas. "He's communicated to me a strong interest in being part of what we're building," Winger told NBC Sports Washington's JP Finlay. Davis has yet to play a game for the Wizards after left-hand ligament damage ultimately kept him out for the rest of the season. The 10-time All-Star is owed $58.5 million next year, and when healthy, he remains a sky-high source of points, rebounds, blocks, and steals. The catch is availability: he has appeared in just 71 of 162 games since the start of 2024-25. A healthy Davis at the four could trim some of Alexandre Sarr's frontcourt usage, though Davis' games-missed history means Sarr should still keep a heavy workload.
Source: JP Finlay
Source: JP Finlay
Spurs Stay Committed to De'Aaron Fox as Their Starting Point Guard
San Antonio remains committed to De'Aaron Fox as its franchise point guard, even after a rough playoff series while he dealt with a bad ankle, ESPN's Michael C. Wright reports. Sources have described Fox as a steadying presence and the team's closer, and one rough series does not appear to have changed that. His four-year, $229 million extension kicks in next season, lifting his salary to roughly $49.8 million. The bigger fantasy thread is the backcourt logjam: Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper all need the ball, and Fox's production settled around 18.6 points and 6.2 assists in a shared setup. Harper's camp is expected to push harder for a starting role after a 24-point, seven-steal playoff game, making last year's No. 2 pick the upside name to track while the Spurs hold firm on Fox.
Source: Michael C. Wright
Source: Michael C. Wright
Mavericks Weigh Trades and a Coaching Hire Ahead of the Draft
The Dallas Mavericks are pushing on three fronts at once, exploring trades, preparing for picks Nos. 9 and 30 in the upcoming NBA draft, and working toward a new head-coaching hire, NBA insider Marc Stein reports. The coaching search matters most for fantasy, since whoever new president Masai Ujiri hires will set the rotation around Cooper Flagg, last season's No. 1 overall pick and the franchise's building block. Dallas parted with Jason Kidd in May and has interviewed a mix of veteran and first-time candidates, hoping to land a coach before Tuesday's draft. The trade talks and two first-rounders add more uncertainty to the roster, while Kyrie Irving continues rehabbing from an ACL injury and clouds the backcourt timeline. Until the staff and roster settle, Flagg's role is the clearest long-term fantasy bet in Dallas, with everyone else's value more dependent on how the offseason shakes out.
Source: Marc Stein
Source: Marc Stein
Nets Explore a Move Up From No. 6 in the Draft
The Brooklyn Nets have tried to trade up from No. 6 into the top four of the upcoming NBA draft, offering their pick plus future firsts, HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reports. With the consensus top tier of AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson, and Caleb Wilson likely out of reach if Brooklyn stays put, the Nets appear set to pick from the next group. They have been linked to a deep run of freshman guards, including Darius Acuff Jr., Mikel Brown Jr., Kingston Flemings, and Keaton Wagler, along with frontcourt options Nate Ament and Aday Mara. Mocks lean toward a guard, with Acuff's scoring and Brown's all-around fit drawing the most traction. No one projects as a bankable fantasy option right away, but a rebuilding, needy Nets roster gives whoever Brooklyn picks a real runway, making this a name to track for the future more than the present.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Jazz Have Interest in Re-Signing Jusuf Nurkic
The Utah Jazz have interest in re-signing center Jusuf Nurkic, who is headed for unrestricted free agency, HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reports. The 31-year-old averaged a double-double last season, posting 10.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.3 steals in 41 games. Those numbers come with a major fantasy asterisk: Nurkic posted them as a fill-in starter while Walker Kessler was sidelined, before nose surgery ended his season. With Utah's frontcourt potentially healthier and crowded next season, a returning Nurkic projects more as a backup five whose minutes and production would be difficult to repeat. He remains a useful veteran, but his per-game line is unlikely to carry over in a reserve role, leaving him off fantasy radars unless injuries reopen minutes.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Nuggets May Attach Zeke Nnaji to No. 26 Pick
HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reports that the Denver Nuggets have shown a willingness to discuss power forward/center Zeke Nnaji and the No. 26 pick as a trade package, with the team projected near the second apron. Nnaji remains on Denver's current roster, but he played only a small role this season, averaging 3.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 12.0 minutes across 52 appearances. From a fantasy standpoint, this would be more about clearing a roster and salary slot than losing a rotation piece. Nnaji would need a thinner frontcourt elsewhere to become relevant, while Denver's fantasy outlook would depend heavily on whether the pick is used to bring back immediate bench help or simply move money.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
RJ Barrett Draws Trade Interest in Multi-Team Talks
Toronto Raptors guard/forward RJ Barrett has drawn trade interest in multi-team conversations, HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reports. The 2019 No. 3 pick is entering the final year of his deal at roughly $29.62 million, a clean expiring contract that makes him useful salary-matching in bigger trades. Barrett has averaged 20.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists since joining Toronto, but his scoring is woven into a crowded, expensive core alongside Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram. That logjam could cap his usage and keep his counting stats more solid than elite for fantasy. A move to a needier team could lift his volume, yet his name may surface more because of his matchable salary than any real push to deal him, since Toronto could just as easily keep or extend him.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Ayo Dosunmu May Land Big Deal From Minnesota
HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reports that the Minnesota Timberwolves want to re-sign guard/forward Ayo Dosunmu, whose market is projected north of $18 million annually and could reach the low $20 million range. The 26-year-old played his way into that bracket after carving out a useful two-way role in Minnesota's backcourt following a midseason trade from Chicago. Dosunmu averaged 14.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists overall in 2025-26, including 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 24 games with the Timberwolves, then delivered a 43-point playoff eruption against Denver when Minnesota needed extra shot creation. Dosunmu would still profile as a secondary option behind Anthony Edwards, but a long-term deal would point to steady minutes, defensive-stat appeal, and occasional spike scoring when the Timberwolves are short-handed.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Raptors Could Extend Darko Rajakovic Soon
Sportsnet's Michael Grange reports that a contract extension for Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic is "well in the works" and could be completed before Tuesday's draft. Rajakovic is coming off his best season in Toronto, leading the Raptors to a 46-36 record and their first playoff appearance since 2022. The continuity matters for fantasy purposes, especially after Toronto ranked third in the league in assists per game while leaning on a balanced core. Scottie Barnes remains the clearest beneficiary as a multi-category hub, while RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, and Immanuel Quickley should continue to carry steady offensive roles if the roster stays intact. Toronto's next step is improving half-court scoring while preserving Barnes' playmaking responsibilities.
Source: Michael Grange
Source: Michael Grange
Collin Gillespie Returning to Suns on Four-Year Deal
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie intends to sign a four-year, $48 million deal to return to Phoenix. The 26-year-old turned last summer's one-year commitment into real long-term security after averaging 12.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals across 80 games. He also buried a franchise-record 232 triples, breaking Quentin Richardson's previous Suns mark of 226. Gillespie's fantasy value should remain built around threes, assists, and steals, with Devin Booker and Jalen Green keeping his scoring ceiling more matchup-dependent than bankable.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Tyler Herro Could Land in Detroit in a Giannis Trade
The Detroit Pistons could land point guard/shooting guard Tyler Herro by serving as a third-team facilitator in a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade to Miami, a framework reported by NBA insider Marc Stein. Locked On Pistons' Ku Khahil added that Herro-to-Detroit talk is "picking up steam." Detroit wants shooting and offense around All-Star guard Cade Cunningham, and Herro fits that need cleanly. The fantasy catch is role: in Miami, the one-time All-Star is one of the team's top offensive options, but next to Cunningham in Detroit, his usage and scoring could slide into a more complementary spot. Herro averaged 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists this past season, though injuries held him to a career-low 33 games. That availability, plus thin defensive and secondary numbers, makes him a high-scoring but injury-prone fantasy piece whose value could dip in a smaller offensive role.
Source: Ku Khahil
Source: Ku Khahil
Warriors and Heat Circle Kawhi Leonard as Trade Target
Los Angeles power forward Kawhi Leonard is reportedly on the Heat's Plan B list and the Warriors' Plan A list, though it remains unclear whether the Clippers will make him available, The Athletic's Sam Amick reports, building on Jake Fischer's reporting. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has reportedly told teams Leonard is not on the market, while the NBA's ongoing investigation into alleged cap circumvention involving Leonard and the Clippers adds transaction uncertainty for any team considering him. Leonard, 34, answered durability doubts with one of his best seasons, averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals on 50.5 percent shooting across 65 games. He enters the final year of his deal at roughly $50.3 million. The fantasy read is simpler than the trade math: his production is elite and should travel to any contender, so the open questions are where he plays and whether the probe slows any potential deal.
Source: Sam Amick
Source: Sam Amick
Ja Morant Looms as a Plan B in the Post-Giannis Market
Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant's trade market has quieted, but Memphis is hopeful he becomes a Plan B for whichever team misses on Giannis Antetokounmpo, The Athletic's Sam Amick reports. The Heat reportedly have serious interest and could reset an otherwise soft market, while Sacramento has been willing to take Morant only with extra draft assets attached. The two-time All-Star is owed $87 million over the next two seasons, and his value has slipped after a 20-game campaign that produced 19.5 points and 8.1 assists on just 41.0 percent shooting, including 23.5 percent from three. Availability, not talent, is the question, as he has played only 79 games total since the start of the 2023-24 season. A fresh start with a contender could steady his role, but Morant remains a high-variance fantasy bet whose elite assist and scoring upside come with a shaky floor.
Source: Sam Amick
Source: Sam Amick
