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Keon Ellis Signs with Nets on Two-Year, $18 Million Deal
Free-agent guard Keon Ellis has agreed to a two-year, $18 million guaranteed deal with the Brooklyn Nets, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. The deal includes a full mutual option that guarantees the full amount but allows both sides to revisit the contract next summer. Ellis averaged 6.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.6 blocks in 20.5 minutes last season while shooting 36.3% from three. Brooklyn is paying for defensive activity and spot-up shooting, not usage. He could earn a real rotation role, but his fantasy value needs more minutes and a bigger offensive workload.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Walker Kessler Draws Multiple Offers in Restricted Free Agency
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler has met with multiple teams and holds several offers in the mid-to-high $30 million range annually, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic. Utah issued Kessler a qualifying offer, so the Jazz can still match any offer sheet. The 24-year-old was limited to five games last season after left shoulder surgery, but he averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.4 steals while shooting 70.3% from the field. If healthy, Kessler remains a strong fantasy target for blocks, boards, and elite efficiency wherever he lands.
Source: Tony Jones
Source: Tony Jones
Kobe Sanders Lands Multi-Year Deal With Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers wing Kobe Sanders has agreed to a new four-year, $11.2 million contract to remain with the team, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. A second-round pick in 2025, Sanders exceeded rookie-season expectations, averaging 7.3 points on 40.8% from three-point land in 19.9 minutes per game. The Clippers traded away Kawhi Leonard earlier in the day, opening the door for Sanders to take on an expanded role in the Los Angeles offense, even with the arrival of Brandon Ingram.
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
Branden Carlson Signs with Trail Blazers on One-Year Deal
Free-agent center Branden Carlson has agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. Carlson spent the last two seasons in Oklahoma City's system and averaged 5.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 0.7 assists, and 0.6 blocks in 11.6 minutes last season while shooting 52.7% from the field and 36.0% from three. The 7-footer gives Portland another stretch-capable big, but Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams III, and Yang Hansen leave him buried for now. Carlson's fantasy value likely needs injuries or a trade to open a clearer path.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Pistons Not Interested in Domantis Sabonis-Jalen Duren Swap
As contract negotiations between Detroit and center Jalen Duren continue, the Pistons reportedly do not have interest in completing a sign-and-trade that would involve Sacramento's Domantas Sabonis. Duren is reportedly not thrilled with Detroit's contract offers and is meeting with the Kings and Lakers as possible sign-and-trade destinations. The Pistons ultimately have the final say, as Duren is a restricted free agent and the team can match any offer given by another team. Duren made his first All-Star team this year, averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds, but struggled in Detroit's two postseason series.
Source: Sam Amick - The Athletic
Source: Sam Amick - The Athletic
Quentin Grimes Draws Lakers Interest in Free Agency
Philadelphia 76ers guard Quentin Grimes is drawing Los Angeles Lakers interest, with Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reporting he's a top target as LeBron James leaves town. Grimes averaged 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.7 threes on 33.4 percent shooting from deep across 75 games for Philadelphia. The catch for fantasy: a Lakers move would slot him as an off-ball 3-and-D piece next to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, trimming the usage behind those counting stats. He's a late-round guard whose ceiling rests on landing a real on-ball role.
Source: Marc Stein
Source: Marc Stein
Mavericks Interested in Marcus Sasser?
The Dallas Mavericks have interest in acquiring Detroit Pistons guard Marcus Sasser via trade, according to Marc Stein. The third-year player averaged 5.2 points and two assists in 12 minutes per game last season, consistently playing behind Cade Cunningham and Daniss Jenkins. Sasser fell even further down the depth chart when the Pistons drafted point guard Ebuka Okorie with the 17th pick in last week's NBA Draft. Sasser has one year remaining on his rookie contract before becoming a restricted free agent next summer.
Source: Marc Stein
Source: Marc Stein
Sandro Mamukelashvili Emerges as Lakers Free-Agent Target
Toronto Raptors forward/center Sandro Mamukelashvili is drawing rising interest from the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer. The 27-year-old declined his $2.8 million player option after a career-best season in Toronto, where he averaged 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 52.3% from the field and 38.9% from three. Los Angeles would be a clean basketball fit if it needs a floor-spacing frontcourt piece, but the fantasy appeal depends on whether he earns more than reserve minutes. He is more of an efficiency play than a reliable volume source unless the role expands.
Source: Marc Stein
Source: Marc Stein
LeBron James Prioritizes Title Chase in Free Agency
Free-agent forward LeBron James will be patient and open-minded while choosing his next team, but Chris Haynes reports that his priority is finding a realistic path to a championship. The 41-year-old is still producing at a strong fantasy level, averaging 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals across 60 games for the Lakers last season. The landing spot matters more than the name value now. A contender could protect his minutes or lower his usage, but James still brings enough scoring, passing, and efficiency to hold fantasy value if he remains a central offensive piece. Durability and rest risk will be the bigger concerns.
Source: Chris Haynes
Source: Chris Haynes
Free Agent Kelly Oubre Jr. Meeting With Multiple Teams
Free agent wing Kelly Oubre Jr. plans to meet with multiple teams, including the 76ers, Pacers, Trail Blazers, and Lakers, according to a report by Yahoo! Sports' Kelly Iko. The 30-year-old has spent the last three seasons with Philadelphia, mostly as a starter. He averaged 14.1 points, five rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 steals in 31.5 minutes on the floor last season. He also shot a career-best 36% from three-point land. Two of Philadelphia's primary wings, Oubre and Quentin Grimes, are free agents. If Philadelphia is unable to bring back either player, the team may turn to other free agents to fill the gaps in the rotation.
Source: Kelly Iko - Yahoo! Sports
Source: Kelly Iko - Yahoo! Sports
Dennis Schroder Enters Cavaliers Trade Talks Amid LeBron James Push
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dennis Schroder has been part of ongoing trade conversations, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, as Cleveland looks to create flexibility for a possible LeBron James addition and Dean Wade return. Schroder averaged 10.8 points, 4.9 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.8 steals in 24.2 minutes last season while shooting just 32.9% from three. His fantasy value in Cleveland was capped by James Harden and Donovan Mitchell controlling the offense, but a trade could help if he lands somewhere with backup point guard minutes and clearer second-unit usage. His shooting still keeps the ceiling modest.
Source: Jake Fischer
Source: Jake Fischer
Cavaliers Could Move Max Strus to Clear Room for LeBron James
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Max Strus has been discussed in ongoing trade conversations, according to Jake Fischer, as the Cavaliers look for ways to create space for LeBron James and improve their chances of retaining Dean Wade. Strus averaged 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists last season, but he was limited to 12 regular-season games before rejoining the rotation in the playoffs. His $16.7 million expiring salary makes him a logical trade chip, though a move away from Cleveland could cut either way for fantasy. Strus needs steady minutes and high-volume perimeter work to matter, so landing spot would be everything.
Source: Jake Fischer
Source: Jake Fischer
Chaney Johnson Stays with Nets on Two-Way Qualifying Offer
Brooklyn Nets forward Chaney Johnson is signing his two-way qualifying offer and will return next season, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Johnson carved out a late-season role last year, averaging 8.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.5 blocks on 54.3% shooting across 20.5 minutes in 17 games. He also produced 14.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game with Long Island, so Brooklyn still has reason to keep developing him. For fantasy purposes, the two-way tag caps his appeal unless injuries open minutes, but his efficiency, rebounding, and defensive activity make him a name to remember if he cracks the rotation.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Kam Jones Expected to Be Waived by Chicago
Chicago Bulls guard Kam Jones is expected to be waived before his $2.15 million salary becomes fully guaranteed, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The 2025 No. 38 pick lasted less than a week in Chicago after being acquired from the Indiana Pacers on draft night. Jones averaged 4.4 points, 3.2 assists, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.5 steals in 16.6 minutes across 37 rookie appearances, but his 29.3% mark from three limits the short-term fantasy appeal. With Josh Giddey, Collin Sexton, Anfernee Simons, Tre Jones, and Rob Dillingham already on the roster, Jones was facing a thin path to minutes anyway.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Tim Hardaway Jr. Joins the Heat
The Miami Heat wasted no time surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo with shooting, signing veteran wing Tim Hardaway Jr. to a one-year, $6.4 million contract. The 34-year-old shot a career-best 40.7% from downtown as a member of the Denver Nuggets last season, averaging 13.5 points and finishing third in Sixth Man of the Year voting. On his new team, Hardaway will once again be tasked with providing important spacing and knocking down open threes. He could be in for an even larger role if the Heat are unable to retain free agent Norman Powell this offseason.
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
