Fantasy Basketball

Embiid no longer projects to carry the same offensive burden after Philadelphia added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown while also bringing in Anfernee Simons, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and rookie Labaron Philon, according to Paul Hudrick of Liberty Ballers.

Although his scoring volume could dip slightly, the additional star power should allow Embiid to conserve energy and focus more on efficiency and defense, helping preserve his elite fantasy value when healthy. As always, Embiid's availability will be the biggest question mark given his lengthy injury history.

Koloko agreed a one-year contract with the Pelicans on Tuesday, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.com reports.

The journeyman center is set to compete for one of New Orleans' final roster spots during training camp in the fall. The Pelicans feature a crowded frontcourt, which could make it difficult for Koloko to stick around with the team past camp.

Bittle won't play in Sunday's Summer League game against the Nuggets due to right knee soreness, Zulfi Sheikh of Sportsnet reports.

Bittle was a late scratch for the Nuggets' Summer League finale. He'll finish the Las Vegas Summer League with averages of 9.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 2.2 assists in 20.6 minutes per game across four appearances.

Cisse will return to the Mavericks after Dallas matched the two-year, $4.7 million offer sheet he received from the Knicks on Saturday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Dallas wasted little time matching the Knicks' offer to keep Cisse in the fold, though the 6-foot-11 center will now occupy a standard roster spot after serving as a two-way player as a undrafted rookie in 2025-26. He appeared in 38 games at the NBA level last season, shooting 57.4 percent from the field while averaging 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 13.9 minutes per game. Cisse may have a tough time cracking the rotation with regularity in 2026-27 if Dereck Lively (foot) and Daniel Gafford are fully healthy. The Mavericks also acquired Santi Aldama and Morez Johnson earlier in the offseason and could also look to incorporate them at center.

Reed (rest) won't play in Saturday's Summer League game against the Suns, Paul Garcia of ProjectSpurs.com reports.

Reed will hit the inactive list for the Spurs' Summer League finale. The rookie first-rounder will finish the Las Vegas Summer League with averages of 7.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.7 steals in 23.1 minutes per game across three outings.

Ike notched 16 points (6-10 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 11 rebounds and one assist across 26 minutes in Saturday's 92-88 win over the Lakers in the Las Vegas Summer League Semifinals.

Ike turned in an efficient performance and tied for the team lead in scoring. The big man also paced all players in rebounds en route to his first Summer League double-double. Ike and the Warriors will now turn their focus to Sunday's Las Vegas Summer League Championship against the Grizzlies.

Murray (ankle) is projected to start at power forward for the Kings in 2026-27, according to Kings beat writer Chris Watkins.

Watkins believes De'Andre Hunter will start at small forward next to Murray, with rookie Alex Karaban coming off the bench. Murray underwent an arthroscopic procedure to remove loose bodies in his left ankle back in May, though he's expected to be ready in time for training camp.

Holmgren could be in line for an even larger offensive role after Oklahoma City's offseason roster shakeup, according to Bryan Toporek of Forbes.

The Thunder moved Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins and Luguentz Dort primarily for financial reasons, thinning the supporting cast around Holmgren, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. Holmgren should remain an elite fantasy option thanks to his combination of scoring efficiency, floor spacing and shot-blocking.

The 76ers are trading Broome and a second-round pick to the Clippers for cash considerations Tuesday, per Shams Charania of ESPN.

The purpose of the deal for Philadelphia is to allow the team to stay under both the first and second aprons while signing LeBron James and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (finger). Broome offers the Clippers depth at center, but he's unlikely to begin the new year as part of Los Angeles' Opening Night rotation unless injuries strike the frontcourt.

Green agreed to re-sign with the Warriors on a one-year, $27.7 million deal Tuesday, per Shams Charania of ESPN.

After declining the player option on his previous contract earlier this summer, the longtime Warrior is now set for his 15th season with Golden State in 2026-27 following the negotiation of a new pact. Green is entering his age-36 campaign this coming season and appears to be in a state of decline, but he still showed the ability to chip in across the board in 2025-26. He started all 68 of his regular-season appearances, averaging 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 0.9 steals in 27.5 minutes per game.

Adebayo's (back) fantasy outlook should remain strong after Miami acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo, though his offensive role could shift alongside another high-usage frontcourt star, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sentinel opines.

While Adebayo may sacrifice some scoring volume, Antetokounmpo's ability to collapse defenses should create more efficient scoring opportunities, and the duo projects to form one of the league's premier defensive frontcourts. Adebayo nursed a back issue to end the 2025-26 season, but he should be a full go for training camp.

Vanderbilt should continue to provide defensive value after LeBron James' exit from the Lakers, Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Despite James' absence, the arrivals of Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams and Sandro Mamukelashvili give the Lakers additional options on the wing and in the frontcourt. While Vanderbilt's rebounding and defensive versatility remain valuable, increased competition for minutes could make it difficult for him to carve out a reliable fantasy role.

Sochan agreed to a one-year contract with the Trail Blazers on Saturday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Sochan will join the Trail Blazers on a one-year pact after splitting time between the Spurs and Knicks during the 2025-26 campaign. The Baylor product appeared in 44 regular-season games between the two clubs, averaging 3.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 10.7 minutes per contest after averaging double-digit scoring marks in each of his first three NBA seasons. The 23-year-old forward will look to carve out a role off the bench and rediscover his form in Portland.

According to Baxter Holmes of ESPN, the NBA's salary-cap circumvention investigation involving Leonard and the Clippers could extend into 2027 if the sides cannot agree on the findings or any proposed discipline.

The unresolved probe continues to delay Leonard's trade to Toronto, while the Clippers have maintained their innocence and are reportedly prepared to challenge any league-imposed penalties through arbitration. Adam Silver has publicly stated that he wants this investigation wrapped up prior to the 2026-27 season, so this will be a messy situation for fantasy managers to navigate until there's some clarity.

Camara should continue to play a major role following Portland's trade for Ja Morant, according to Robert Ohman of Willamette Week.

The Trail Blazers have been reluctant to include Camara in trade discussions because of his defensive value, and he'll remain an important complementary piece alongside Ja Morant, Damian Lillard and Deni Avdija. Camara's fantasy value should continue to be driven primarily by steals, rebounds and hustle stats in general.

The Wizards announced Thursday that Watkins has undergone surgery for a torn ACL.

Watkins, a two-way player for the Wizards, suffered the injury during the Summer League. Although Washington has yet to offer a timetable for a return, a typical recovery time for the procedure is approximately 9-to-12 months. That leaves Watkins in serious jeopardy of missing most, if not all, of the 2026-27 season, and it remains to be seen if the team will stay committed to keeping him around on a two-way roster spot while he's injured.

Dunn could be restricted to a reserve role next year after Phoenix acquired Miles Bridges from Charlotte this summer.

The Suns may have lost Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale this offseason, but they signed sharpshooter Luke Kennard in addition to receiving Bridges in a trade with the Hornets. Dunn opened 2025-26 as a starter before being phased out of Phoenix's rotation entirely during the playoffs, ultimately averaging a pedestrian 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 19.4 minutes per game over 70 appearances (16 starts) during the regular season. Dunn figures to be battling for a bench role with the likes of Jordan Goodwin, Haywood Highsmith, Rasheer Fleming and perhaps even rookie first-rounder Koa Peat at training camp this fall.

Brooks could play a different role next season after Phoenix acquired Miles Bridges from Charlotte this offseason.

There could be a crunch for usage in Phoenix's starting lineup in 2026-27, which wasn't the case particularly often for Brooks in 2025-26. The Suns landed Jalen Green in last summer's Kevin Durant trade as compensation for the loss of the future Hall of Famer, but Brooks capitalized with a career campaign, which may have come largely due to Green's inability to stay on the court consistently due to nagging hamstring injuries. Over 56 regular-season appearances, Brooks averaged a career-high 20.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals in 30.4 minutes per game but could be at risk of seeing those numbers drop now that Bridges is in the mix.

Marshall (hip) signed a three-year, $52.2 million extension with the Mavericks on Sunday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Marshall signed a three-year pact with Dallas in July 2024 and is now set to remain with the team for the foreseeable future. The 28-year-old wing is coming off a career-best year in 2025-26, during which he averaged 15.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 51.0 percent from the floor in 29.5 minutes per game across 74 regular-season appearances (47 starts).

Sharpe could face increased competition for offensive opportunities after Portland acquired Ja Morant, according to Robert Ohman of Willamette Week.

Sharpe has been mentioned as a potential trade candidate as the Trail Blazers reshape their roster, though he can provide a scoring punch if he stays in Portland. His long-term upside remains intriguing, but Morant's arrival may cap his usage entering 2026-27.

Avdija's outlook remains bright despite Portland's acquisition of Ja Morant, according to Robert Ohman of Willamette Week.

Morant's arrival could reduce Avdija's on-ball responsibilities after his breakout campaign, but the Trail Blazers continue to view him as a foundational piece. Even if his usage declines slightly, Avdija's ability to contribute across every category should keep him among Portland's top fantasy options.

Booker will be sharing a different starting lineup next year after the Suns acquired Miles Bridges from the Hornets this summer.

The Suns have constructed a talented roster around their franchise centerpiece, now featuring Bridges as opposed to lower-usage options such as Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale. Although Bridges could theoretically cut into Booker's ballhandling opportunities to an extent, the latter could experience a jump in efficiency after shooting 45.6 percent from the field last regular season, his lowest mark since 2017-18. Booker also shot just 33.0 percent from deep last regular season, his worst figure since 2018-19, and Bridges' presence could result in more open looks from downtown.

Green could experience a downtick in usage next season after the Suns acquired Miles Bridges from the Hornets this offseason.

Phoenix is welcoming in a new member of its starting lineup in 2026-27, with Bridges set to replace Royce O'Neale in that role. The Suns effectively replaced Grayson Allen with Luke Kennard, as both players profile similarly as three-point shooters, but Bridges poses a far greater risk to Green's usage than Kennard. Green still figures to slot in as the team's No. 2 scoring option behind Devin Booker, and the former will be looking to bounce back after averaging 17.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.2 three-pointers in 25.9 minutes per game over 32 regular-season appearances amid an injury-plagued 2025-26 campaign.

Edgecombe could benefit from entering a veteran-laden environment after Philadelphia added LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Anfernee Simons and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Paul Hudrick of Liberty Ballers reports.

While touches may be harder to come by, Edgecombe will have less pressure to create offense immediately and should continue developing alongside one of the league's deepest rosters. Across 75 regular-season games in 2025-26, Edgecombe averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals.

Payton agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million deal with the Warriors on Saturday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Payton lingered on the open market, but he'll ultimately return to Golden State for his 11th NBA season. In 73 regular-season games last season, the 33-year-old averaged 7.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 15.6 minutes per contest. Payton isn't likely to see significant usage during the 2026-27 campaign but will provide valuable veteran depth in the Warriors' backcourt.

Maxey's role figures to evolve after Philadelphia assembled a star-studded roster featuring LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, Paul Hudrick of Liberty Ballers reports.

He may handle the ball less often than in recent seasons, but sharing the floor with multiple elite creators should improve the quality of Maxey's scoring opportunities and allow him to operate more efficiently as both a scorer and secondary playmaker. Maxey still projects to be an elite fantasy producer.

According to Bryan Toporek of Forbes, Oklahoma City's offseason roster shakeup opened additional opportunities for Mitchell (calf) and others in the backcourt after the departures of Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins and Luguentz Dort.

Mitchell had a breakout campaign in his second NBA season and could earn a larger role in 2026-27. However, he'll still have to compete with Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso and Jared McCain for consistent playing time. Mitchell's continued development as a secondary playmaker could determine whether he becomes a reliable fantasy contributor.

According to Bryan Toporek of Forbes, Oklahoma City's offseason salary-saving moves resulted in the departures of Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins and Luguentz Dort.

Caruso's defensive versatility and championship experience should make him an even more valuable part of the Thunder's rotation, though he'll continue to share minutes with Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell and rookie Jared McCain. Caruso's fantasy value should remain strongest in leagues that reward defensive production.

According to Bryan Toporek of Forbes, Oklahoma City's decision to trade Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins and Luguentz Dort was driven largely by financial considerations, creating a larger opportunity for Wallace entering 2026-27.

Wallace has already established himself as one of the Thunder's top perimeter defenders, and he could take on a more prominent offensive role while continuing to split backcourt minutes with Alex Caruso, Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain. Wallace's all-around game will give him plenty of intrigue late in fantasy drafts.

Mitchell could be in line for a larger role after Miami traded Tyler Herro in the deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sentinel reports.

With the Heat expected to lean on Mitchell as a primary backcourt facilitator, he'll have the opportunity to capitalize on the attention Antetokounmpo commands offensively. However, Mitchell's fantasy value will likely hinge on whether he can provide enough scoring to complement his defensive impact. Over 70 regular-season appearances in 2025-26, he averaged 9.3 points, 6.5 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.0 steals while shooting 49.0 percent from the field.