RADIO
Hornets Waive Kyle Mangas
The Charlotte Hornets waived guard Kyle Mangas on Thursday, one day after signing him, and replaced him with Jarkel Joiner on an Exhibit 10 contract. Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer reported the corresponding move, which continues Charlotte's back-end roster churn ahead of training camp. Mangas is the third player the Hornets have rotated through that open offseason spot this week, following Josiah Allick and Trey Townsend. Greensboro acquired Mangas' returning rights in August, so the likely path is a Swarm stint tied to an Exhibit 10 bonus if he stays long enough. The 27-year-old averaged 16.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 35 G League games for Austin last season, but this move has no fantasy impact.
Source: Rod Boone
Source: Rod Boone
Malaki Branham Officially Signs Exhibit 10 Deal with Magic
The Orlando Magic officially signed guard/forward Malaki Branham to an Exhibit 10 contract, one of two camp deals completed alongside JD Davison. Branham, a former Ohio State guard, finished last season with the G-League's Cleveland Charge after Charlotte waived him in February. Orlando has 13 guaranteed contracts plus Jamal Cain's non-guaranteed deal, leaving Branham and Davison to compete for a possible final standard roster spot under new head coach Sean Sweeney. The two-way path is already closed, with Izaiyah Nelson, Alex Morales, and Colin Castleton occupying those slots. Branham has a scoring pedigree, but Orlando's guard depth leaves him buried unless the roster picture changes.
Source: Jason Beede
Source: Jason Beede
JD Davison Signs Exhibit 10 Deal with Magic
The Orlando Magic signed guard JD Davison to an Exhibit 10 contract, one of two camp deals the team completed alongside Malaki Branham, according to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel. Davison, the 2024-25 G-League MVP, was waived by Houston in August after the Rockets had converted him to a standard contract in April. His path into Sean Sweeney's rotation is close to blocked. Orlando has all three two-way spots filled by Izaiyah Nelson, Alex Morales, and Colin Castleton, while Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Anthony Black, Jevon Carter, and Jase Richardson crowd the guard rotation. Davison is likely competing for an Osceola role, not fantasy relevance.
Source: Jason Beede
Source: Jason Beede
Amen Thompson Agrees to Five-Year Extension with Houston
Houston Rockets guard/forward Amen Thompson agreed to a five-year, $208 million rookie-scale extension with the franchise, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The deal includes a 10 percent trade kicker and locks in one of Houston's core pieces after Thompson led the NBA in minutes last season. The 23-year-old logged 37.4 minutes per game across 79 starts while averaging career highs of 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.5 steals. That workload remains the fantasy hook. Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun will command touches, but Thompson's rebounding, defensive production, and ball-handling role keep him firmly valuable. The jumper is still the swing skill, so his ceiling rises only if the shooting catches up.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Dean Wade Embraces Defensive Role with 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers forward/center Dean Wade said his focus this season will be on playing hard, bringing energy, and making a difference defensively, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. Wade joined Philadelphia on a four-year, $39 million deal after spending his first seven NBA seasons in Cleveland, where he averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 22.3 minutes across 59 games last season. With LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, and Joel Embiid ahead of him in the frontcourt pecking order, Wade is ticketed for a low-usage connector role. His fantasy appeal is limited to threes, rebounds, and defensive production unless injuries open extra minutes.
Source: Brett Siegel
Source: Brett Siegel
Domantas Sabonis Emerges as Prime Trade Candidate in Sacramento
ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Anthony Slater report that the Sacramento Kings are not interested in extending forward/center Domantas Sabonis, leaving him positioned as a prime trade candidate. Sabonis has two fully guaranteed years and $94 million left on his deal, including $45.4 million this season and $48.6 million next season, which makes finding a trade partner the hard part. The three-time All-Star played only 19 games last season before left meniscus surgery, averaging 15.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. Drafting Domantas Sabonis means buying elite rebounding with health and trade noise attached. Maxime Raynaud would be the main fantasy name to watch if Sacramento moves him, though Dylan Cardwell also remains in the backup-center mix.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Kings Eyeing Jalen Duren in 2027 Free Agency
ESPN's Anthony Slater reports that Sacramento Kings general manager Scott Perry met with Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren in early July and explored a sign-and-trade concept involving Domantas Sabonis. Detroit balked at losing Duren for Sabonis, leaving the Kings with no clean path unless Duren accepts his $9.6 million qualifying offer and reaches unrestricted free agency in 2027. The 22-year-old is coming off an All-Star, Third-Team All-NBA season, averaging 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists on 65.0 percent shooting across 70 starts. His 2026-27 fantasy outlook stays tied to Detroit for now, where he projects as the starting center if he re-signs or plays on the qualifying offer. Sacramento's interest says more about Domantas Sabonis' uncertain future than Duren's immediate fantasy outlook.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Khalifa Diop Signs Four-Year Deal with Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers signed center Khalifa Diop to a standard contract Wednesday, ending the draft-and-stash wait that began when Cleveland selected him 39th overall in 2022. The deal is worth $9.26 million over four years, with only the $1.36 million first-year salary fully guaranteed, according to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto. Diop averaged 3.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 47 games for Baskonia last season while shooting 67.0 percent from the field. He also was part of Baskonia's 2026 Copa del Rey-winning roster. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen still control Cleveland's frontcourt, while Thomas Bryant gives the Cavaliers a veteran reserve center. Diop is off fantasy radars unless injuries open a deeper bench role.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Timberwolves Hiring Daniel Brady as Assistant Coach
The Minnesota Timberwolves are hiring Daniel Brady as an assistant coach, according to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto. Brady spent last season with the G-League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers after three seasons on Tom Thibodeau's staff in New York, with earlier stops in Oklahoma City, Atlanta, and Houston. The hire helps fill the bench after lead assistant Micah Nori left to become Portland's head coach. A player-development voice is worth noting for Jonathan Kuminga, who arrives on a two-year, $12.4 million deal, and second-year big Joan Beringer, but neither becomes a fantasy priority off this move alone. Anthony Edwards remains the Wolves' clear anchor after averaging a career-best 28.8 points on 39.9 percent shooting from deep last season.
Source: Michael Scotto
Source: Michael Scotto
Gradey Dick Set to Join Clippers Soon
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the trade sending guard/forward Gradey Dick to the Los Angeles Clippers is expected to be finalized in the coming days after the NBA concluded its salary-cap circumvention investigation involving Kawhi Leonard. Dick is coming off a rough third season, averaging 6.0 points and 1.9 rebounds in 14.0 minutes across 76 games with Toronto. Los Angeles is not an obvious fantasy fix, with Bradley Beal, Max Strus, Kris Dunn, and lottery pick Keaton Wagler all part of a crowded guard-wing group. Dick can shoot his way into a role, but he is only a watch-list name until the depth chart settles.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Brandon Ingram Expected to Join Clippers Soon
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the NBA has concluded its salary-cap circumvention investigation involving Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers, clearing the way for the trade sending forward Brandon Ingram to Los Angeles to be finalized in the coming days. Ingram had heel spur surgery in early May and was projected to be ready for training camp, so his health remains the only short-term box to check. The two-time All-Star led Toronto with 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 33.8 minutes across 77 starts last season. In Los Angeles, he should step into heavy scoring usage next to Darius Garland, with Rui Hachimura and Derrick Jones Jr. also in the forward mix. If the deal is finalized, Ingram's shot volume should remain strong.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
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
