RADIO
Pacers Sign Braden Smith to Two-Way Contract
The Indiana Pacers have signed guard Braden Smith to a two-way contract, the team announced Monday. Smith, the NCAA's all-time career assists leader at Purdue, landed with Indiana after the Pacers acquired the No. 38 pick from Chicago for Kam Jones, future second-round pick swaps, and cash considerations. He averaged 6.8 points, 7.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.6 steals across five Summer League starts, though he shot just 26.5 percent from the field. Smith joins Jalen Slawson and Kobe Brown on Indiana's two-way slate and should spend plenty of time with the G-League's Noblesville Boom. He is buried behind Tyrese Haliburton and T.J. McConnell, leaving him off fantasy radars barring a major role change.
Source: Indiana Pacers
Source: Indiana Pacers
Jeanie Buss Fights Siblings' Vote to Sell Lakers Stake
The Los Angeles Lakers' ownership transition has been thrown into question by a Buss family split, with Jeanie Buss contesting her siblings' vote to sell the family's remaining 17.8 percent stake to incoming majority owners Josh Kushner and Bob Iger. ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the five other Buss siblings voted 5-0 to sell, while Jeanie's attorney says she intends to fight the move and argues any such sale would be void under a 2017 court order. The dispute still has no direct fantasy fallout. Unless the ownership drama leads to separate changes in basketball operations, the rotation and usage tree stay intact. Luka Doncic remains the Lakers' offensive anchor, and Austin Reaves' workload is unchanged.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Haywood Highsmith Signs One-Year Deal with Suns
According to Shams Charania, the Phoenix Suns are signing free-agent forward Haywood Highsmith to a one-year deal. Highsmith was reported to be possibly heading back to the Miami Heat, but instead, he opted to re-sign with the Suns. This past season, Highsmith averaged 5.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assists across seven games in Phoenix. He figures to once again serve as a depth piece for the Suns during this upcoming season. Unless there are a few injuries, Highsmith is unlikely to make much of an impact in the rotation. Fantasy managers can go ahead and avoid Highsmith in fantasy drafts.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Sean Pedulla Signs Two-Way Deal with Rockets
The Houston Rockets announced that they've signed guard Sean Pedulla to a two-way deal on Monday. Pedulla was waived by the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this month. He made seven appearances with the Clippers last season, but spent most of his time in the G-League. Pedulla is the reigning G-League Rookie of the Year, averaging 23.6 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.1 rebounds. The 23-year-old is expected to spend most of his time in the G-League with the Rockets. He's unlikely to see much time on the NBA court unless there's a handful of injuries. Pedulla is avoidable in fantasy formats, but maybe they can develop him into a decent player.
Source: Houston Rockets
Source: Houston Rockets
Heat Desperately Want to Sign Klay Thompson
According to Marc Stein, the Miami Heat desperately want to sign shooting guard Klay Thompson. The problem with that is Thompson is still under contract with the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs have been attempting to trade Thompson and his $17 million salary for the upcoming season. It doesn't sound like any teams are taking the bait and are waiting for the Mavs to eventually buy Thompson out of his contract. If that happens, the Heat sound like the frontrunners to sign Thompson if he becomes available in free agency. The 36-year-old is not the same player he used to be, but he can still be a solid 3-and-D player for a contending organization.
Source: Marc Stein
Source: Marc Stein
Kyle Korver Stepping Down as Hawks Assistant General Manager
According to Marc Stein, Atlanta Hawks assistant general manager Kyle Korver has decided to step away from the organization. Korver is leaving his role after spending four years in the front office. It doesn't sound like Korver is leaving for another job, instead stepping away from basketball to spend more time with his family. Korver played four and a half seasons with the Hawks from 2012 into the 2016 season. He earned his only All-Star selection during the 2014 season with the Hawks. He played with six different organizations, but will probably be most known for his time in Atlanta. Best of luck with whatever he decides to do next in life.
Source: Marc Stein
Source: Marc Stein
Kawhi Leonard Trade to Toronto to be Finalized
According to Brett Siegel, the NBA has found no evidence of wrongdoing by Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer in a recent investigation involving allegedly funneling money. The league was investigating whether Ballmer used side endorsements to illegally pay Leonard. The NBA didn't find anything, so the trade sending Leonard to the Toronto Raptors can now be finalized. The expectation is that the deal will be pushed through ahead of training camp. It sounds like the biggest hurdles have been cleared, and all the players involved in this trade can go to their new teams.
Source: Brett Siegel
Source: Brett Siegel
Herbert Jones Eyes Shooting Bounce-Back
New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones enters 2026-27 as the team's biggest X factor, according to ESPN's season preview. The 2023-24 All-Defensive First Team selection has slipped offensively since that breakout, including 38.3 percent shooting from the field and 30.9 percent from three last season. He still averaged 8.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.6 steals in 28.4 minutes, keeping him useful when defensive stats matter. ESPN noted that a bounce-back year could make Jones a trade-deadline chip for draft compensation. That outcome would be worth tracking, as a move could open extra wing minutes for Saddiq Bey while pushing more creation toward Trey Murphy III.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
76ers Hire Tommy Balcetis as Basketball Intelligence Lead
The Philadelphia 76ers have hired Tommy Balcetis as their head of basketball intelligence, analytics, and innovation, according to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto. Balcetis spent 12 years with the Denver Nuggets, climbing from analytics manager to assistant general manager while contributing to the front-office infrastructure behind Denver's 2023 championship. The Lithuanian-born executive left the Nuggets in June 2025 and later worked with EuroLeague club Zalgiris Kaunas as head of innovations. This is another notable front-office addition under new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, who replaced Daryl Morey this offseason. There is no direct fantasy impact, as a back-office analytics hire does not change Philadelphia's minutes, usage, or rotation outlook.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Trendon Watford Lands with Pelicans
Free-agent forward Trendon Watford and the New Orleans Pelicans agreed to a one-year, $2.9 million deal, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The 25-year-old heads to New Orleans after Philadelphia declined his $2.8 million team option for 2026-27. Watford averaged 6.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 16.3 minutes across 53 games with the 76ers last season, including a 20-point, 17-rebound, 10-assist triple-double in November. His passing and frontcourt versatility give the Pelicans useful depth, but Zion Williamson, Herbert Jones, Saddiq Bey, Yves Missi, Derik Queen, Karlo Matkovic, and DeAndre Jordan leave a crowded path to steady minutes. Watford is off fantasy radars unless injuries thin the rotation.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Miles Bridges Likely to Wait on Extension
Phoenix Suns forward Miles Bridges is expected to wait before signing an extension, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst on The Hoop Collective. Windhorst said Phoenix not only intends to pay Bridges but also plans to give him a sizable role after acquiring him from Charlotte this offseason. The 28-year-old averaged 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.9 threes with the Hornets last season, but his fantasy ceiling is trickier in Phoenix. Devin Booker and Jalen Green should handle plenty of creation, while Dillon Brooks adds another established wing to the rotation. Bridges should still start and carry contract-year scoring appeal, but a third-option role would cap the focal-point value he had in Charlotte.
Source: PHNX Suns
Source: PHNX Suns
Mavericks GM Mike Schmitz Backs Dusty May for NBA Jump
Dallas Mavericks general manager Mike Schmitz backed first-time NBA head coach Dusty May during a Friday appearance on 105.3 The Fan, pointing to May's climb from video work to assistant coach, college head coach and national champion as preparation for the job. May inherits a Dallas roster built around Cooper Flagg, who averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals across 70 starts while winning Rookie of the Year. The Mavericks already ranked fourth in pace last season, and May's push for a more entertaining style should keep Flagg in a strong counting-stats environment. Kyrie Irving is the key swing piece after missing all of last season with a torn left ACL, as his return would ease Flagg's creation burden but likely lower his assist ceiling.
Source: 105.3 The Fan
Source: 105.3 The Fan
Cooper Flagg Draws Offseason Praise from Mavericks GM
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg has earned offseason praise from general manager Mike Schmitz, who discussed the reigning Rookie of the Year's development during a Friday appearance on 105.3 The Fan. The 19-year-old averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals as a rookie, becoming the first first-year player since Michael Jordan to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. Kyrie Irving, nearing a return from his ACL tear, should ease some creation burden, but Flagg's scoring, rebounding, and defensive production keep him locked in as an early-round fantasy anchor.
Source: 105.3 The Fan
Source: 105.3 The Fan
Dereck Lively II Making Progress in Foot Recovery
Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II is making progress in his recovery from season-ending right foot surgery, with general manager Mike Schmitz saying Lively has been "working his tail off" and staying locked in around the facility. The 2023 No. 12 pick said in June that he was out of the boot and crutches and back in normal shoes, but later reports noted he still had not progressed to running. Lively appeared in only seven games last season, averaging 4.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. He remains a high-upside rim runner and shot blocker when healthy, but Daniel Gafford is the safer fantasy bet until Lively's timeline gets clearer. Morez Johnson Jr. adds another frontcourt body if the ramp-up drags.
Source: 105.3 The Fan
Source: 105.3 The Fan
Haywood Highsmith Remains Backburner Option for Heat
Free-agent forward Haywood Highsmith could eventually draw a look from the Miami Heat, though the Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman framed any reunion as a backburner scenario. Highsmith spent parts of four seasons in Miami before being traded to Brooklyn last summer, waived by the Nets in February and later signed by Phoenix. A right knee meniscus tear limited him to seven games with the Suns, where he averaged 5.4 points in 13.0 minutes before being waived this month. Winderman noted Miami's bigger need is frontcourt size, preferably someone who can also play center, not another 6-foot-5 combo forward. Gabe Vincent is a similar long-shot reunion name, but neither carries meaningful fantasy value right now.
Source: Ira Winderman
Source: Ira Winderman
