RADIO
Pistons Rule Out Sign-and-Trade Offers for Jalen Duren
Restricted free-agent center Jalen Duren remains firmly in Detroit's plans, with ESPN's Tim MacMahon reporting on The Hoop Collective that the Pistons have told rival teams they are "absolutely positively 100 percent" committed to keeping him. Any team pursuing a sign-and-trade is wasting its time, per MacMahon, leaving Duren nearly two months into an unresolved standoff with Detroit. The first-time All-Star averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 0.8 blocks on 65.0 percent shooting across 70 games last season. Duren became eligible for a five-year max worth $287.1 million after earning All-NBA honors, while Jake Fischer has pointed to a possible four-year deal around $160 million. The contract noise should not knock him down fantasy boards. Detroit traded Isaiah Stewart to Memphis and has Paul Reed as the main center depth behind Duren, so the minutes and volume are waiting. The main risk is Duren taking the roughly $9.6 million qualifying offer and playing out a lame-duck year.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Aaron Nesmith Refines Handle in Offseason
Indiana Pacers guard/forward Aaron Nesmith said he used the offseason to get healthy and tighten his ball handling, speaking Monday ahead of the Pacers Foundation Charity Softball Classic. "It was good getting a long offseason and getting the body right," Nesmith said. Injuries, including a neck issue, limited the 26-year-old to 45 games last season, and the heavier load on a 19-63 team came with efficiency costs. He averaged 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 41.4 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from deep. Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) has said he is 100 percent cleared, which should help restore cleaner looks for Nesmith. He projects to start alongside Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam, and Ivica Zubac, but Kelly Oubre Jr. and Jarace Walker give Indiana enough wing depth to keep Nesmith in watch-list territory rather than locked-in fantasy value.
Source: Grant Afseth
Source: Grant Afseth
Timberwolves Waive John Konchar
The Minnesota Timberwolves waived guard/forward John Konchar on Saturday, one day after acquiring him from Utah in the Josh Green trade. The move was expected, as Minnesota plans to stretch Konchar's $6.17 million expiring salary into roughly $2.06 million charges over three seasons to help finalize Jonathan Kuminga's two-year, $12.4 million deal. The 30-year-old split last season between Memphis and Utah, averaging 4.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.7 blocks in 19.9 minutes across 56 games, including eight starts. Konchar should clear waivers Monday and hit unrestricted free agency, but his low-usage profile keeps him off fantasy radars wherever he lands. The fantasy angle is Kuminga, who is projected to compete for the starting power forward job alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels, and Rudy Gobert. Cody Williams, the other piece of the Utah trade, remains in Minnesota as reserve wing depth.
Source: Brett Siegel
Source: Brett Siegel
Stephen Curry Becomes Eligible for a Two-Year Extension
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry became extension-eligible Saturday and can sign a two-year deal worth up to $136.7 million before June 30, ESPN's Bobby Marks reports. The Over-38 rule caps any extension at two seasons, though Curry could pursue up to three years by waiting for free agency in 2027. The 38-year-old is owed roughly $62.5 million this season either way, so the fantasy question is workload, not money. Curry was limited to 43 games last season by various injuries, including a knee issue, but still averaged 26.6 points, 4.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 30.9 minutes. With Jimmy Butler III (knee) and Moses Moody (knee) rehabbing season-ending injuries, Golden State's offense should lean heavily on Curry, Brandin Podziemski, and Kristaps Porzingis early. That keeps Curry's ceiling high, but his durability risk is just as obvious.
Source: Bobby Marks
Source: Bobby Marks
Nikola Jovic Scores 21 Points as Serbia Routs Iceland
Miami Heat forward/center Nikola Jovic scored 21 points on 9-for-15 shooting in Serbia's 102-73 rout of Iceland on Friday in Group J of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers. The 23-year-old added three rebounds, two assists, and a plus-28 while outscoring Nikola Jokic, who finished with six points, 13 rebounds, and six assists. Serbia improved to 5-2 in Group J, but Jovic's bigger issue remains his NBA role. He averaged 7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 17.2 minutes across 47 games last season while shooting 36.6 percent from the field and 26.9 percent from deep. Miami reshaped its frontcourt around Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, and Bobby Portis, while Pelle Larsson is also pushing for perimeter minutes. Jovic needs a cleaner shooting camp before becoming more than a watch-list name.
Source: Keith Smith
Source: Keith Smith
Nikola Jokic Fills Stat Sheet in Blowout Win Over Iceland
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic posted six points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and three steals in 23 minutes of Serbia's 102-73 win over Iceland on Friday in Group J of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers. The three-time MVP had reached 20 points in both of his previous 2027 qualifying appearances, so the quiet scoring night looks more like a blowout side effect than a concern. Serbia improved to 5-2 in Group J and closes the window Monday in Italy. Jokic averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists over 65 games last season, and the modest 23-minute workload is the encouraging piece here for managers tracking his summer mileage ahead of a Denver season that folds DeMar DeRozan into the offense.
Source: Keith Smith
Source: Keith Smith
Luka Garza Chips in 10 Points as Bosnia Upsets Italy
Boston Celtics center Luka Garza recorded 10 points and seven rebounds in 15:49 as Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Italy 78-76 on Friday in Tuzla, the country's first win over the Italians in six meetings. The 27-year-old shared the frontcourt with Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic, who carried the load with 25 points on 11-for-19 shooting and 14 rebounds. The result keeps Bosnia's 2027 World Cup hopes breathing, though it does little to move Garza's NBA outlook. Boston signed Mitchell Robinson to a three-year deal and extended Neemias Queta this offseason, dropping Garza to third in the center rotation after he averaged 8.1 points and 4.1 rebounds last season. He stays off fantasy radars unless an injury opens the door ahead of him.
Source: Keith Smith
Source: Keith Smith
Jusuf Nurkic Dominates Italy with 25 Points, 14 Rebounds
Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic carried Bosnia and Herzegovina to a 78-76 win over Italy in Friday's World Cup qualifier in Tuzla, posting 25 points and 14 rebounds on 11-for-19 shooting in just over 22 minutes. The 32-year-old had not played competitive basketball since February, when nose surgery ended his NBA season. Utah's frontcourt looks different this time around. Nurkic re-signed on a two-year, $22 million deal in June and projects as the starting center after the Jazz sent Walker Kessler to the Lakers, with Jaren Jackson Jr. slotting in beside him. Kyle Filipowski is the main threat to those minutes, though Nurkic averaged 10.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 26.4 minutes across 41 games last season. That rebounding and passing floor makes him worth tracking as camp approaches.
Source: Keith Smith
Source: Keith Smith
Neemias Queta Pulled Early in Portugal's Win Over Spain
Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (undisclosed) is dealing with an injury of some kind after Portugal pulled him early in the fourth quarter of Friday's FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers win over Spain, Keith Smith reports. Head coach Mario Gomes said the medical staff flagged a "real risk" and shut Queta down as a precaution, but he did not name the injury. The 27-year-old had 16 points, nine rebounds, one assist, and two steals in 24-plus minutes before exiting. Portugal hosts Georgia on Monday, making his status there the next read on severity. Queta averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 0.8 steals last season before signing a four-year, $56 million deal, but Boston also added Mitchell Robinson and still has Luka Garza. Any missed camp time would add pressure to Queta's hold on the starting center job.
Source: Keith Smith
Source: Keith Smith
Aday Mara Blocks Four Shots in Spain's Loss to Portugal
Oklahoma City Thunder center Aday Mara posted 12 points, six rebounds, two assists, and four blocks in Spain's 95-89 loss to Portugal on Friday in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers. The No. 12 pick in June's draft went 3-for-8 from the field and 6-for-7 at the line in 19 minutes, while Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta countered with 16 points and nine rebounds for Portugal. The rim protection tracks with Mara's Michigan profile after he averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.6 blocks en route to Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors and a national title. Oklahoma City's frontcourt is crowded, though, with Isaiah Hartenstein back on a fresh three-year deal, Chet Holmgren locked into heavy minutes, and Jaylin Williams and Thomas Sorber also in the backup mix. Mara remains off fantasy radars until that logjam thins.
Source: Keith Smith
Source: Keith Smith
Neemias Queta Posts 16 Points in Portugal's Upset of Spain
Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta racked up 16 points, nine rebounds, and two steals in 24 minutes as Portugal upset Spain 95-89 on Friday in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers. Five of his boards came on the offensive glass, where the 27-year-old continues to do his best work. Queta averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks across 76 games last season, starting 75 of them before signing a four-year, $56 million extension in July. Boston added Mitchell Robinson this offseason, but Keith Smith has reported the expectation is that Robinson opens off the bench, keeping Queta in the starting mix. With Jaylen Brown now in Philadelphia, there should be enough touches for Queta to build on last season's leap if he holds the job.
Source: Keith Smith
Source: Keith Smith
Goga Bitadze Scores 23 Points as Georgia Routs Montenegro
Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze put up 23 points, eight rebounds, one steal, and two blocks in Georgia's 101-74 win over Montenegro on Friday in Group I of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers. The 27-year-old finished second on the team behind Tornike Shengelia, who led all scorers with 24 points, while Sandro Mamukelashvili chipped in 17 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Summer form is not Bitadze's issue. Playing time is. He averaged 5.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 15.2 minutes last season and was out of the rotation by Game 7 against Detroit. Orlando then added Nikola Vucevic after Moritz Wagner's departure, leaving Bitadze behind Wendell Carter Jr. and Vucevic in a crowded center mix. He stays off fantasy radars unless an injury opens minutes.
Source: Keith Smith
Source: Keith Smith
John Konchar Traded to Minnesota, Expected to be Waived
The Utah Jazz are trading veteran guard/forward John Konchar and Cody Williams to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Josh Green and cash, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. Minnesota is expected to waive-and-stretch Konchar, with Saturday marking the final day to stretch a player's 2026-27 salary across multiple seasons. The move would spread Konchar's $6.17 million cap hit into roughly $2.06 million charges over three years, helping clear the last bit of space needed to finalize Jonathan Kuminga's taxpayer midlevel deal. The undrafted veteran averaged 4.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.7 blocks in 19.9 minutes across 56 games between Memphis and Utah last season. Konchar could draw interest as a defensive-minded depth wing once he clears waivers, but his low-usage profile keeps him off fantasy radars.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Cody Williams Heads to Minnesota
The Utah Jazz are sending guard/forward Cody Williams and John Konchar to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Josh Green and cash, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. Minnesota is expected to keep Williams and waive-and-stretch Konchar, giving the No. 10 pick from 2024 a fresh opportunity after two uneven seasons in Utah. The 21-year-old averaged 8.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 0.8 steals in 24.3 minutes across 67 games last season, including a career-high 41 starts. His post-break growth was encouraging, but the jumper remains the issue after he hit just 21.4 percent from three last season and 23.7 percent for his career. Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) is recovering from surgery, but Terrence Shannon Jr. and Ayo Dosunmu are also part of the wing/guard competition. Williams is worth monitoring in camp, not rostering yet.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Josh Green Sent to Utah
The Minnesota Timberwolves are trading guard/forward Josh Green and cash to the Utah Jazz for Cody Williams and John Konchar, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. The Australian wing was the salary Minnesota needed to move, as his $14.7 million expiring deal cleared enough room under the second apron to finalize Jonathan Kuminga's contract using the taxpayer midlevel exception. Green never played a game for Minnesota after arriving in June's LaMelo Ball trade, and he lands in Utah as another 3-and-D option in a crowded perimeter mix. He shot 42.0 percent from three last season in Charlotte but managed only 4.3 points and 1.8 rebounds in 15.7 minutes across 58 games. With Lauri Markkanen, Ace Bailey, Darryn Peterson, Brice Sensabaugh, and Josh Okogie all part of Utah's rotation picture, Green remains off fantasy radars.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
