RADIO
Zeke Nnaji Emerges as Nuggets' Likely Salary Dump
Denver Nuggets forward/center Zeke Nnaji is a strong candidate to be traded as the franchise works to dip below the second apron after DeMar DeRozan agreed to join Denver, according to NBA insider Evan Sidery. The Nuggets may need to attach draft capital to move Nnaji, who is owed roughly $7.5 million next season and has a player option for the same amount in 2027-28. The 25-year-old holds little fantasy appeal after averaging 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 12.0 minutes across 52 games last season. DeRozan is the actual fantasy-relevant piece here after averaging 18.4 points, 4.1 assists, and 2.9 rebounds with Sacramento. His arrival could squeeze touches for Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson behind Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
Phil Handy Finalizing Deal to Join 76ers Staff
Phil Handy is finalizing a deal to join the Philadelphia 76ers as an assistant coach under Nick Nurse, according to ESPN's Marc J. Spears. Handy most recently worked on the Dallas Mavericks' staff and previously overlapped with Nurse during Toronto's 2019 title season while also working with LeBron James during championship runs in Cleveland and Los Angeles. The three-time NBA champion brings a strong player-development reputation to a staff built around a veteran-heavy core. This hire does not change the fantasy outlook for James, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, or Jaylen Brown, but VJ Edgecombe is the younger name to watch if Handy's development work translates into a larger two-way role.
Source: Marc J. Spears
Source: Marc J. Spears
Naji Marshall Backed by Mavericks GM Mike Schmitz
Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall received strong public backing from general manager Mike Schmitz after signing a three-year, $52.2 million extension. Schmitz used a Friday appearance on 1310 The Ticket to praise Marshall's toughness, versatility, feel and ability to play with or without the ball. The 28-year-old averaged 15.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals in 29.5 minutes last season while shooting 51.0 percent from the field, though his 29.1 percent mark from three remains the swing skill. Klay Thompson's buyout removes one veteran wing, but Dallas still has a crowded forward mix around Cooper Flagg, P.J. Washington, Max Christie and Zaccharie Risacher. Marshall's role looks stable enough to keep him in the late-round fantasy conversation, with more upside if the jumper improves.
Source: Grant Afseth
Source: Grant Afseth
Neemias Queta Could be in Line for Offensive Leap
Boston Celtics forward/center Neemias Queta could take another step forward offensively after a breakout season that earned him a four-year, $56 million extension. The 26-year-old averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks while shooting 65.3 percent from the field, giving Boston efficient rim-running production around its creators. Jack Simone of Boston Sports Journal noted that the Celtics scored 1.35 points per possession on Queta pick-and-roll looks, a strong sign that more touches could be available next to Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard. Jaylen Brown's move to Philadelphia also opens up creation elsewhere, but Mitchell Robinson's arrival adds center competition. Queta's fantasy value still leans on field-goal percentage, rebounds, and blocks, with minutes deciding how high the ceiling climbs.
Source: Jack Simone
Source: Jack Simone
Jalen Duren Negotiation Gets Messy
Restricted free-agent center Jalen Duren remains unsigned as extension talks with the Detroit Pistons drag on. ESPN's Tim MacMahon said on The Hoop Collective that he did not know whether Duren would sign an extension, calling the situation "an awfully nasty negotiation." At the same time, Marc Stein has reported that Duren could still play on his $9.6 million qualifying offer. The 22-year-old averaged 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists across 70 games last season before slipping to 10.2 points and 8.5 boards in the playoffs. Detroit has continued to brush aside sign-and-trade scenarios, so Duren's fantasy outlook is still tied to a likely return as the Pistons' starting center next to Cade Cunningham. The contract noise is real, but the role remains strong enough to keep him valuable for points, rebounds, field-goal percentage and blocks.
Source: Tim MacMahon
Source: Tim MacMahon
DeMar DeRozan Signs One-Year Deal With Denver
Free agent guard DeMar DeRozan is signing a one-year, $3.9 million contract with the Denver Nuggets, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. DeRozan and the Sacramento Kings parted ways in July, allowing the veteran to join a contending team. Despite being in the second tax apron, the Nuggets' roster is extremely shallow, especially after the recent sign-and-trade of Peyton Watson, so DeRozan projects to get plenty of run with his new team. The 37-year-old enters his 18th NBA season after averaging 18.4 points, 4.1 assists, and 2.9 rebounds on 49.7% shooting last year for the Kings.
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
Klay Thompson Agrees To Buy Out With Mavericks, To Sign With Miami Heat
Veteran shooting guard Klay Thompson will soon join Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. in Miami after agreeing to a buyout with the Dallas Mavericks. ESPN's Shams Charania reports that the 36-year-old is expected to sign with the Heat once he clears waivers. Thompson averaged career-low marks across the board: minutes (21.7), shot attempts (10.6), three-point percentage (38.3%), free throw percentage (76.6%), points (11.7), rebounds (2.1), and assists (1.4). On the tail end of his career, Thompson doesn't have much left to give for fantasy basketball players, but figures to be part of the new-look rotation in South Florida.
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
Source: Shams Charania - ESPN
Matas Buzelis Adds Strength Ahead of Year 3
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis told Cousins with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady that he added roughly 12 pounds this offseason and hired a personal chef to help keep the weight on. Bulls On SI's Elias Schuster noted that Buzelis wants to play through more contact and cut down on his three-point volume after taking 6.4 attempts per game last season. The 21-year-old nearly doubled his scoring in Year 2, averaging 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 29.2 minutes while shooting 46.3 percent from the field. The added strength could help his finishing and rebounding, though Chicago's frontcourt now includes rookie Caleb Wilson and Nicolas Claxton. Buzelis still has breakout appeal, but the Bulls' crowded rotation keeps his fantasy ceiling tied to minutes.
Source: Elias Schuster
Source: Elias Schuster
Cavaliers Acquire Ismael Kamagate's Draft Rights
The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired the draft rights to center Ismael Kamagate from the LA Clippers, closing a minor piece of the expanded multi-team deal that also sends Peyton Watson and Cam Whitmore to Cleveland, Max Strus to the Clippers, Tre Mann to Washington, and Julian Reese to Denver. Kamagate, the No. 46 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, has never played an NBA game and recently signed with OpenJobMetis Varese after spending last season with Besiktas. This is strictly a trade-facilitation move, leaving no fantasy angle to chase. Watson is the Cleveland piece with the clearest fantasy relevance.
Source: Eurohoops
Source: Eurohoops
Darius Garland Says He Is Back to 100 Percent
Los Angeles Clippers guard Darius Garland says he is back to 100 percent after the injury that disrupted his last year in Cleveland and delayed his Clippers start. Speaking with HoopsHype at New Balance's Beantown Elite camp, Garland said the issue began as a bone bruise before worsening into torn ligaments that required reconstruction. He is now excited for a full training camp under Tyronn Lue and said he has discussed borrowing from Kyrie Irving's 2016 Finals role. Garland averaged 20.6 points, 6.7 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.8 threes in 2024-25, so a clean offseason makes him a strong bounce-back fantasy target.
Source: Cyro Asseo
Source: Cyro Asseo
Max Strus Earns Praise From Lawrence Frank
Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward Max Strus received a strong endorsement from president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, who called him "a big part" of the team's plans after the trade from Cleveland. Frank praised Strus as a shooter with feel who can handle, pass, and fit into different lineup groups. The veteran wing gives Los Angeles another floor spacer after shooting 37.0 percent from three across his NBA career. His 2025-26 regular season was derailed by a left foot Jones fracture, but he returned in the playoffs and averaged 9.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.1 threes across 18 games. Strus should get clean catch-and-shoot chances next to Darius Garland, though his fantasy value still depends on minutes and shot volume in a crowded Clippers rotation.
Source: Joey Linn
Source: Joey Linn
Nick Richards Works Out with Heat Players in Miami
Free-agent center Nick Richards has been working out in Miami Heat gear on the team's practice court, but the Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman downplayed the idea that it signals a front-burner signing. Miami is an offseason hub for player runs, and Winderman framed any Heat path for Richards as more likely a non-guaranteed camp invite than a firm roster move. The 28-year-old could follow the path Precious Achiuwa took last year, though that route would come with no roster-spot guarantee even if he plays well in preseason. Miami's hard cap after the Giannis Antetokounmpo acquisition also limits flexibility while other roster matters remain unresolved. Richards split 2025-26 between Phoenix and Chicago, averaging 5.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 0.3 assists in 14.6 minutes per game, leaving him off fantasy radars unless a real roster opening develops.
Source: Ira Winderman
Source: Ira Winderman
Malique Lewis Nears Deal with Cairns Taipans
Forward Malique Lewis is nearing a deal with the Cairns Taipans for NBL27, according to ESPN's Olgun Uluc. The Trinidad and Tobago forward would join Cairns as an import and fill the team's final roster spot, keeping him in the NBL after two seasons with the South East Melbourne Phoenix through the Next Stars program. Milwaukee holds Lewis' NBA draft rights after he was selected No. 60 in the 2026 NBA Draft, making this a draft-and-stash development year rather than an NBA opportunity. Lewis averaged 7.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 steals last season. His defensive tools and improved shooting keep him interesting long-term, but he is off NBA fantasy radars for now.
Source: Olgun Uluc
Source: Olgun Uluc
Aaron Holiday Signs with Maxima Roma in Italy
Guard Aaron Holiday is headed overseas after signing with Maxima Roma, the first-year Italian club set to compete in Lega Basket Serie A and the EuroCup in 2026-27. The 29-year-old leaves the NBA after eight seasons with Indiana, Washington, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Houston, averaging 6.4 points and shooting 38.4 percent from three across 505 regular-season games. Holiday spent the last three years with the Rockets, posting 5.5 points, 1.1 assists, and 1.0 rebounds in 13.7 minutes across 57 games last season. Houston's guard rotation now includes Fred VanVleet and Marcus Smart, leaving no clear path back there. Holiday's deal reportedly has an NBA out, but he is off fantasy radars unless he returns stateside.
Source: Lachard Binkley
Source: Lachard Binkley
Jae Crowder Joins ASVEL for First European Stint
Forward Jae Crowder signed with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne for the 2026-27 season, sending the longtime NBA veteran to Europe for the first time in his career. The 36-year-old played 13 NBA seasons across nine franchises, averaging 9.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists over 812 regular-season games. Crowder also appeared in 115 playoff contests and reached the NBA Finals with Miami in 2020 and Phoenix in 2021. His last NBA stop came with Sacramento in 2024-25, when he logged only nine appearances before later playing in Puerto Rico. With Crowder now committed to ASVEL, he carries no value in NBA fantasy formats.
Source: BasketNews
Source: BasketNews
