RADIO
Pistons Guarantee Paul Reed's Salary for 2026-27
The Detroit Pistons fully guaranteed center Paul Reed's $5.6 million salary for the 2026-27 season, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. Reed's backup-center path looks cleaner after Detroit traded Isaiah Stewart to Memphis, and Jalen Duren remains unsigned as a restricted free agent. Reed averaged 7.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in 13.9 minutes across 65 games last season, but his per-minute production popped when Detroit needed more. He averaged 11.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in 13.0 minutes over five second-round games against Cleveland, shooting 24-for-34 from the field, and the Pistons went 8-3 in his 11 starts. If Duren signs, Reed is a useful reserve. If Duren's talks drag, Reed could open camp with a real minutes bump.
Source: Jake Fischer
Source: Jake Fischer
Kyle Mangas Signs Exhibit 10 Deal with Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets signed guard Kyle Mangas and waived Trey Townsend, according to the team. Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer reported that Mangas received an Exhibit 10 contract, making this the second back-end roster swap for Charlotte in three days. The 27-year-old has never appeared in an NBA game, though he had a brief two-way stint with San Antonio last season. Mangas played 35 G-League games for the Austin Spurs, averaging 16.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 31.3 minutes. Greensboro acquired his returning rights in August, so the likely path is a Swarm stint tied to an Exhibit 10 bonus. This is roster paperwork, not a move with fantasy impact.
Source: Rod Boone
Source: Rod Boone
Hornets Waive Trey Townsend
The Charlotte Hornets waived forward Trey Townsend on Wednesday, one day after signing him to an Exhibit 10 contract. Charlotte filled the open roster spot by signing guard Kyle Mangas, continuing its back-end roster shuffle ahead of training camp. Townsend went undrafted out of Arizona in 2025 and averaged 4.6 points and 2.2 rebounds across 24 G-League regular-season games split between the Texas Legends and Salt Lake City Stars last season. Greensboro acquired his returning rights in August, so the likely next step is a Swarm stint, where he could earn an Exhibit 10 bonus if he stays long enough. This move has no fantasy impact.
Source: Charlotte Hornets PR
Source: Charlotte Hornets PR
Kawhi Leonard to Pay $700,000, Avoids Suspension
The Los Angeles Clippers were stripped of five first-round picks, fined $30 million, and had owner Steve Ballmer suspended for one year on Wednesday after the NBA completed its salary-cap circumvention probe tied to forward Kawhi Leonard. ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Leonard must pay $700,000 but will not be suspended and will not have his contract voided. That is the key fantasy takeaway, since it could clear the way for his paused trade to Toronto. Leonard averaged a career-high 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 65 games last season. If the deal is finalized, Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick would head to Los Angeles, while Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley would have to share touches with Leonard in Toronto.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Stephen Curry Not Rushing Extension with Warriors
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry became eligible for a two-year, $136.7 million maximum extension on Saturday, but he told NBC Sports Bay Area's Dalton Johnson that he is not rushing the process. "There's no question I want to be here the rest of my career," Curry said. The contract is not the fantasy concern; his health is. Curry played 43 games last season while dealing with a knee issue but still averaged 26.6 points, 4.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.4 threes in 30.9 minutes. With Jimmy Butler III (knee) still without a firm return date, Curry and Brandin Podziemski should carry more early creation responsibility. Curry remains elite when active, but availability is the risk.
Source: Dalton Johnson
Source: Dalton Johnson
Luguentz Dort Says Hawks Transition Has Been Smooth
Atlanta Hawks guard/forward Luguentz Dort said he called Nickeil Alexander-Walker right away after learning of his July trade from Oklahoma City, according to Thunder Wire's Clemente Almanza. The two were high school teammates and longtime competitors, and Dort said Alexander-Walker has helped him adjust to Atlanta's style of play. Dort backed that chemistry Monday with 25 points on 8-for-13 shooting in Canada's 97-92 qualifying win over Argentina, while Alexander-Walker added 26. Still, Dort is coming off a quiet NBA season, averaging 8.3 points on a career-low 38.5 percent shooting. With Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels also in Atlanta's perimeter mix, Dort's fantasy value remains tied mostly to steals, threes, and defensive minutes.
Source: Clemente Almanza
Source: Clemente Almanza
Nikola Jokic Plays Through Illness for Serbia
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic played through three days of sickness and multiple IV treatments in Serbia's 76-64 win over Italy in FIBA World Cup qualifying on Monday. Serbian head coach Dusan Alimpijevic said Jokic "rejected giving up and leaving his team alone," which helps explain the three-time MVP's quiet line of eight points, eight rebounds, and one assist. There is no immediate fantasy fallout with Serbia's next qualifying window set for late November, but managers will want this cleared up before training camp. Jokic averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists last season and remains the safest fantasy anchor when healthy.
Source: Harrison Wind
Source: Harrison Wind
Trey Townsend Signs Exhibit 10 Deal with Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets signed forward Trey Townsend to an Exhibit 10 contract after waiving Josiah Allick, according to Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer. Townsend went undrafted out of Arizona in 2025 and split last season between the Texas Legends and Salt Lake City Stars, averaging 4.6 points and 2.2 rebounds in 18.8 minutes across 24 G-League games. Greensboro acquired his returning rights in a six-team trade in August, so the likely endgame is a Swarm assignment and a bonus worth up to $91,000 if he sticks there for 60 days. This is back-end roster work, not a move with fantasy impact.
Source: Rod Boone
Source: Rod Boone
Hornets Waive Josiah Allick
The Charlotte Hornets waived forward Josiah Allick on Tuesday, one day after signing him, and gave the vacated spot to free-agent forward Trey Townsend. Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer reported that Allick's original deal was an Exhibit 10, so the fast turnaround was the plan, not a surprise. The 25-year-old spent last season with the Greensboro Swarm, averaging 5.6 points and 5.8 rebounds in 16.6 minutes across 41 games while shooting 65.8 percent from the field. Charlotte is cycling players through its final roster spot to secure G-League rights ahead of camp. Allick is expected back in Greensboro and holds no fantasy value, though his offensive rebounding could earn him a 10-day look if the Hornets' frontcourt thins out.
Source: Charlotte Hornets PR
Source: Charlotte Hornets PR
Nick Richards Enters Camp in Prove-It Mode
Miami Heat center Nick Richards said the teams that passed on him in free agency were wrong, and he plans to prove it in Miami. "There's a lot of teams that passed up on me that I felt like they should have given me more consideration," Richards told Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Tuesday. The 28-year-old has spoken with Erik Spoelstra about bringing energy and physicality, but the path to minutes is tight behind Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, and Nikola Jovic. Richards started 51 games for Charlotte in 2023-24, averaging 9.7 points and 8.0 rebounds, but he slipped to 14.6 minutes per game between Phoenix and Chicago last season. He needs a strong preseason to become more than emergency fantasy depth.
Source: Ira Winderman
Source: Ira Winderman
Thanasis Antetokounmpo Leaves NBA for Aris BC
Aris BC of Greece signed forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo to a two-year deal with a team option for a third season, according to NBA correspondent Marc Stein. The 34-year-old spent six of the past seven seasons with Milwaukee and appeared in 34 games last season, averaging just 4.4 minutes per contest. Thanasis carried no fantasy value in that role, but his exit adds another marker to Milwaukee's post-Giannis Antetokounmpo era. Tyler Herro has the clearest path to scoring volume, while Kel'el Ware and Jaime Jaquez Jr. are the more interesting fantasy names to track from the trade return.
Source: Marc Stein
Source: Marc Stein
Saint Thomas Signs Exhibit 10 Deal with 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers signed forward Saint Thomas to an Exhibit 10 contract on Tuesday, according to Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice. Thomas is the most familiar of Philadelphia's three camp additions after spending last season with the Delaware Blue Coats. The 23-year-old wing went undrafted in 2025 out of USC and averaged 12.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 36 regular-season G-League games, including 21 starts. Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert already hold two-way deals, leaving Thomas to compete for Philadelphia's final open slot. For now, he is more of a system-depth piece than a fantasy target.
Source: Adam Aaronson
Source: Adam Aaronson
Jameer Nelson Jr. Signs Exhibit 10 Deal with 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers signed guard Jameer Nelson Jr. to an Exhibit 10 contract on Tuesday, according to Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice. The 25-year-old Haverford native is the son of Sixers executive vice president of basketball operations Jameer Nelson, but his G-League production gives the camp invite more context. Nelson averaged 19.9 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in 11 regular-season games for the Stockton Kings last season. Philadelphia's final two-way spot is open, but Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Anfernee Simons, and Labaron Philon Jr. leave him buried for fantasy purposes.
Source: Adam Aaronson
Source: Adam Aaronson
Tacko Fall Joins 76ers on Exhibit 10 Deal
The Philadelphia 76ers signed center Tacko Fall to an Exhibit 10 contract on Tuesday, according to Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice. Fall has not appeared in an NBA game since the 2021-22 season, and his career line remains modest at 2.2 points and 2.4 rebounds across 37 games with Boston and Cleveland. This looks more like a training camp and G-League move than a path to fantasy relevance. Philadelphia is tight against the first-apron hard cap, while Joel Embiid and Adem Bona remain the cleaner fantasy-relevant center names on the roster.
Source: Adam Aaronson
Source: Adam Aaronson
Deni Avdija Misses FIBA Qualifiers at Blazers' Request
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija said in a social media post that the team did not clear him for Israel's August FIBA World Cup qualifying window. According to Aris Barkas of Eurohoops, Avdija called it a complex back injury, and earlier reporting traced it to a January rebound attempt. The first-time All-Star still finished 2025-26 with 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game, but the lingering back concern is worth tracking before camp. Ja Morant and Damian Lillard add more on-ball competition in Portland, so Avdija's fantasy ceiling may hinge on health and how much creation he keeps under Micah Nori.
Source: Aris Barkas
Source: Aris Barkas
