RADIO
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Leads Canada's World Cup Qualifying Roster
Atlanta Hawks guard/forward Nickeil Alexander-Walker headlines Canada's roster for Window 4 of FIBA World Cup qualifying, according to TSN's Josh Lewenberg. Canada opens the second round Thursday against Panama in Panama City before hosting Argentina on Monday in Quebec City. The reigning Most Improved Player is the top name in a stripped-down group, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, RJ Barrett, Dillon Brooks, and Andrew Nembhard sitting out. Hawks teammate Luguentz Dort and veteran big man Kelly Olynyk are also in camp. The qualifiers do not carry fantasy value, but Alexander-Walker's workload is worth noting after he averaged 20.8 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.4 rebounds last season. Atlanta's guard and wing mix now includes Dort, CJ McCollum, and Buddy Hield, so his real fantasy outlook will depend on how those touches shake out in camp.
Source: Josh Lewenberg
Source: Josh Lewenberg
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to Skip Canada's Next FIBA Window
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will sit out Canada's Window 4 slate for FIBA World Cup qualifying, according to Clemente Almanza of OKC Thunder Wire. Gilgeous-Alexander was not named to Canada's 15-man roster after suiting up earlier this summer, leaving Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker to headline the group. Canada enters the second round at 6-0, playing at Panama on Thursday before hosting Argentina on Monday in Quebec City. Hawks guard Luguentz Dort and veteran big man Kelly Olynyk are also in camp. There is no fantasy move to make here, but the extra rest is a small plus for Gilgeous-Alexander as the reigning back-to-back MVP heads toward Thunder camp as one of the safest early fantasy anchors.
Source: Clemente Almanza
Source: Clemente Almanza
Johnny Furphy Still Without Clear Return Timeline
Indiana Pacers guard Johnny Furphy (knee) remains without a firm return timeline after undergoing ACL surgery, according to Forbes' Tony East. Furphy said he is "in a good place" and "right where I need to be," but he has not resumed five-on-five work and would not say whether training camp is realistic. The 21-year-old averaged 5.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 18.4 minutes last season before tearing his right ACL on Feb. 8 in Toronto. Even once cleared, Furphy has to fight through a crowded Indiana wing mix featuring Aaron Nesmith, Kelly Oubre Jr., Ben Sheppard, and Jarace Walker. He does not need to be drafted unless his timeline sharpens, but his midseason progress is worth tracking after last year's 18-game starting stretch.
Source: Tony East
Source: Tony East
Rockets Waive Tristen Newton
The Houston Rockets waived guard Tristen Newton in a corresponding move after signing rookie center Rafael Castro to a two-way deal. The former UConn standout was the No. 49 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and signed with Houston in January after stops with Indiana and Minnesota, but he appeared in just one game for the Rockets. Newton was far more productive in the G-League, averaging 25.1 points across 30 games with Rio Grande Valley and earning All-NBA G-League First Team honors. That production still left him without a clear path in Houston, where Fred VanVleet, Marcus Smart, Amen Thompson, and Reed Sheppard are ahead of him in the backcourt. Newton could get another two-way look elsewhere, but he remains off the fantasy radar.
Source: Ben DuBose
Source: Ben DuBose
Rafael Castro Signs Two-Way Deal with Rockets
The Houston Rockets announced Wednesday that they signed rookie center Rafael Castro to a two-way contract and waived guard Tristen Newton in a corresponding move. Castro went undrafted after a redshirt senior season at George Washington and later played for Milwaukee's California Classic and Las Vegas Summer League teams. Across 63 starts over his final two college seasons, he averaged 14.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 1.5 steals while shooting 64.4 percent from the field. With Alperen Sengun, Steven Adams, and Clint Capela ahead of him, Castro projects for heavy Rio Grande Valley time and is not a fantasy target.
Source: Ben DuBose
Source: Ben DuBose
Malaki Branham Agrees to Exhibit 10 Deal with Magic
The Orlando Magic have agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal with guard/forward Malaki Branham, according to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel. HoopsHype's Michael Scotto first reported the agreement between the two sides. Branham, the No. 20 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, has averaged 8.0 points across 216 NBA games with the San Antonio Spurs and Washington Wizards. His best season came in 2023-24, when he posted 9.2 points, 2.1 assists, and 2.0 rebounds in 21.3 minutes per game. Orlando's backcourt is crowded with Desmond Bane, Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black, and Jase Richardson ahead of him, leaving Branham off fantasy radars unless he turns the camp deal into a real rotation spot.
Source: Jason Beede
Source: Jason Beede
Bryce Hopkins Lands a Two-Way Contract in Denver
The Denver Nuggets and forward Bryce Hopkins have agreed to a two-way deal, agents Mark Bartelstein and Reggie Brown confirmed to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto. Denver selected Hopkins with the 49th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and the former St. John's standout strengthened his case in Las Vegas by averaging 18.0 points and 6.5 rebounds across four Summer League games. He was a two-time All-Big East selection and averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.1 steals last season after injuries limited the end of his Providence run. Hopkins gives Denver another physical forward to develop, but the two-way tag keeps him off fantasy radars unless injuries push him into real rotation minutes.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Jordan Miller to be Re-Evaluated in Six Months
Los Angeles Clippers guard/forward Jordan Miller (shoulder) underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a torn left rotator cuff sustained during an offseason workout, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Miller will be re-evaluated in six months, putting his return window around late February or March at the earliest. The 26-year-old re-signed with the Clippers on a three-year, $15.3 million deal in July after averaging a career-best 10.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 22.1 minutes across 60 games last season. His path had already tightened after the Max Strus trade, and this injury gives Cam Christie and Kobe Sanders a cleaner shot at depth minutes behind Bradley Beal and Strus.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Jonathan Kuminga Joins Timberwolves
Forward Jonathan Kuminga has agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves that includes a player option, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The 23-year-old is expected to start at power forward next to Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels, and Rudy Gobert after choosing Minnesota over offers from the Lakers, Bulls, and Trail Blazers. Kuminga struggled to find a rhythm last season, averaging 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists across 36 games between Golden State and Atlanta. With Julius Randle in Brooklyn and Naz Reid in Charlotte, the frontcourt minutes are there. Playing off Edwards and Ball should give Kuminga cleaner looks, but his fantasy ceiling still hinges on shooting growth and defensive stats.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Bennedict Mathurin Lands in New Orleans
Guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin has agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans that includes a player option, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Mathurin's representatives approached the Los Angeles Clippers about withdrawing his $8.8 million qualifying offer, giving the 24-year-old more flexibility and a quicker path to unrestricted free agency. He averaged a career-best 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across 54 games between Indiana and Los Angeles last season, but his 31.5 percent mark from three remains a concern. New Orleans gives him another scoring lane, though Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson, Jordan Poole, and Jeremiah Fears all need touches. Mathurin's free-throw volume keeps him interesting, but the jumper has to improve for his fantasy ceiling to climb.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Michael Porter Jr. Eyes First All-Star Nod
Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. has a believer in head coach Jordi Fernandez, who expects him to make his first All-Star team next season. Fernandez praised Porter's work ethic and said he thought the former Denver Nuggets forward should have been in the All-Star conversation last year. Porter was Brooklyn's top scorer in 2025-26, averaging 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.1 steals, and 3.4 threes across 52 games before a left hamstring strain ended his season. The fantasy wrinkle is Julius Randle, who arrived in a four-team trade and should command touches in the half court. Porter still carries strong scoring and rebounding appeal, but his All-Star case likely needs both good health and a much more competitive Nets team.
Source: Sameer Kumar
Source: Sameer Kumar
Stephon Castle Trains for Bigger Year
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle spent the offseason focused on shooting and conditioning work, trainer Olin Simplis told Mark Medina of R.org. Simplis praised Castle's defensive versatility and said the 21-year-old has worked on keeping his shot mechanics consistent through fatigue after a long playoff run. Castle averaged 16.7 points, 7.4 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.1 steals across 68 games last season, but he shot just 37.7 percent from the field and 30.0 percent from three in the Finals loss to New York. Better shooting would raise Castle's fantasy ceiling, though a healthy De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper's place in the backcourt could cut into some of Castle's on-ball work.
Source: Mark Medina
Source: Mark Medina
Cason Wallace Shows Off Scoring Growth
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace enters the final season of his rookie-scale deal with more attention on his offensive growth after a recent open-gym clip showed off his handle, pull-up shooting, and finishing. The 22-year-old already has the defensive role locked in after earning All-Defensive Second Team honors, so the next step is becoming more than a low-usage guard. Wallace averaged 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.9 steals in 26.6 minutes last season. Oklahoma City moved Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe this summer, creating more perimeter minutes, but Wallace still has to share touches behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren. The steals give him a fantasy floor, while a double-digit scoring jump would make him much more useful.
Source: Clemente Almanza
Source: Clemente Almanza
Kings' Scott Perry Watches Ben Simmons Work Out
Sacramento Kings general manager Scott Perry was in Florida to watch free-agent guard/forward Ben Simmons work out, according to Sactown Sports, which confirmed Carmichael Dave's initial report. Jake Fischer had previously linked Sacramento to Simmons as part of its veteran guard search, and the fit is easy to understand with the Kings looking for ball-handling depth behind rookie Darius Acuff Jr. Simmons sat out all of 2025-26 while recovering from back and other injuries and is reportedly open to a minimum deal. He averaged 5.0 points, 5.6 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 0.7 steals in 22.0 minutes across 51 games in 2024-25. Even if Sacramento signs him, Simmons is more of a low-cost depth swing than a fantasy target.
Source: FRANKIE CARTOSCELLI
Source: FRANKIE CARTOSCELLI
Nikola Topic Faces Make-or-Break Year
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topic enters a pivotal 2026-27 season with a 2027-28 team option hanging over his future. The 21-year-old has already dealt with a torn left ACL that wiped out his first NBA season, a testicular cancer diagnosis that delayed his debut until February, and offseason back surgery that he is expected to return from by training camp. Topic flashed late last season with back-to-back double-doubles, including an 18-point, 14-assist game against Phoenix that tied a Thunder rookie record. Oklahoma City moved Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe this offseason, but minutes are still not guaranteed with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain, and Alex Caruso in the guard mix. Topic has passing upside, but he needs a steady role before becoming fantasy relevant.
Source: Grayson Buchanan
Source: Grayson Buchanan
