Fantasy News

Diallo put pen to paper on a training camp deal Wednesday. However, he appears on track to begin the 2026-27 season in the G League after being waived.

As anticipated, Sears has been waived in an effort to funnel him to the team's G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix. He averaged 18.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.0 steals in 37 appearances a season ago with the Wisconsin Herd.

Dunning, who signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Trail Blazers earlier this summer, has been cut loose prior to the start of training camp. There's a good chance he'll begin the new season playing the G League for Portland's G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix.

Boone was brought in on an Exhibit 10 contract earlier in the week, but he won't have an opportunity to compete for an NBA roster spot. Instead, he'll likely open the 2026-27 season in the G League.

Santos was signed to a training camp deal Wednesday, though it appears the plan all along was to funnel him to the team's G League affiliate. Expect the 24-year-old to begin the new campaign playing for the Iowa Wolves.

Sandfort agreed to a training camp deal Wednesday, though the team has elected to waive him before camp begins. He'll likely open the new season playing for Minnesota's G League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves.

Johnson inked an Exhibit 10 contract with Atlanta on Wednesday, but he won't get a chance to compete for a roster spot. He'll presumably begin the 2026-27 season in the G League with the College Park Skyhawks after being waived Thursday.

Brunson has been trending in this direction all along and was expected to open training camp without any restrictions. However, it's reassuring that he feels comfortable enough to announce a full recovery before camp gets underway.

Marshall will draw an opportunity to earn a roster spot but is likely headed to the G League for the upcoming 2026-27 season. He averaged 8.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals over 33 games (13 starts) a year ago during his final college season at George Washington.

Levin played for the G League's Stockton Kings last year, so Sacramento is likely re-acquiring his G League rights. He figures to be waived at some point prior to the season.

Elmore will join the Spurs for training camp but is unlikely to clinch a roster spot. He appeared strictly in the G League a season ago, averaging 12.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 49 games with Stockton.

After waiving Miles Barnstable earlier Thursday, San Antonio looks to be loading up their G League roster. Williams hasn't appeared in the NBA since 2023-24 with the Raptors and figures to eventually be waived and sent to the Austin Spurs.

Barnstable was brought in on a training camp deal a few days earlier, and he'll now head to waivers. There's a strong chance he'll end up playing for San Antonio's G League affiliate, the Austin Spurs, to open the 2026-27 season.

Key will get an opportunity to compete for a roster spot during training camp. If he's unable to secure a slot, he'll presumably suit up in the G League for Raptors 905 to begin the 2026-27 campaign.

Broome was dealt from the 76ers to the Clippers in late July for cash considerations, and he'll now search for an opportunity elsewhere. He appeared in 26 games in the G League a season ago, averaging 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.5 blocks for the Delaware Blue Coats, and he could be destined for a similar fate this year.

Although Joe is penciled in for a reserve role, it's not out of the question he'll challenge Duncan Robinson for the top spot at shooting guard at times this season. In any event, Joe's presence on the perimeter as a catch-and-shoot threat should help make space on the floor for Cade Cunningham to operate when they're playing alongside one another. The 27-year-old three-point specialist is opening the year as a late-round flier in fantasy leagues.

Collins is replacing Tobias Harris, who left for San Antonio this summer, in the starting lineup this year. The veteran power forward is a strong lob threat and pick-and-roll big man, which could play well with Cade Cunningham running the show at point guard. Collins got off to a rough start last season but experienced a second-half turnaround from Jan. 1 onward, averaging 14.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 three-pointers per game while shooting 58.1 percent from the floor and 45.2 percent from downtown over his final 38 regular-season appearances.

Tyson started a career-high 42 games last regular season, but that could change with Watson in the fold. Sam Merrill is also in the mix, offering the Cavaliers the opportunity to take a hot-hand approach between the three at small forward on a game-to-game basis. Tyson is just a late-round flier in fantasy leagues this fall.

Tatum is healthy ahead of training camp, and the hope is that he'll be able to revert back to the form he showed before his 2025 Achilles injury. The superstar forward is Boston's definitive top scoring option now that Jaylen Brown is with the 76ers, and Tatum will be looking for improved efficiency after shooting a career-low 41.1 percent from the field and 32.9 percent from deep last regular season.

Philadelphia made obvious waves for the signing of LeBron James and acquisition of Jaylen Brown this summer, but the team made several other moves to fortify the second unit. They drafted Labaron Philon in the first round of the draft, while also signing Anfernee Simons, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Dean Wade. That likely leaves Edwards in need of an impressive training camp in order to stitch up an Opening Night reserve role.

The Magic made no significant additions or subtractions to the team this offseason that would noticeably impact Banchero's outlook. That sets him up as one of the club's top playmakers along with Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane, but Banchero continues to carry concerns in category-based fantasy leagues for his high turnover rate and dodgy shooting efficiency. The star forward has averaged at least 22 points, six rebounds and four assists along with nearly one steal in three consecutive years, but he's also averaged at least three turnovers during that time and has never shot at least 46 percent from the floor or 78 percent from the free-throw line in his career.

The gap in negotiations between the two sides has been well-documented this offseason. With the preseason looming, the two parties are running out of time to reach a compromise at this point. As it stands, Duren is a restricted free agent but would be primed for a big role at center if he accepts the qualifying offer or lands an extension and stays with a Pistons team that shipped out Isaiah Stewart over the summer.

Hart is under contract for 2026-27 ahead of a 2027-28 team option. The Knicks have plenty of other mouths to feed, as Karl-Anthony Towns is already extension eligible while Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby will be next offseason, so it remains to be seen how New York will prioritize its contract talks. Hart opened last year as a reserve before assuming a full-time starting role in late November, and he's locked into the first unit to open this season in the wake of Mitchell Robinson's exit.

With Haliburton working his way back from the torn Achilles he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, this is a notable checkpoint ahead of the 2026-27 season. A full clearance for camp suggests Indiana's star guard should enter the preseason without formal restrictions, though his workload to begin the regular season could still be monitored after such a lengthy absence.

Towns is under team control for 2026-27 before having a player option for 2027-28. Jalen Brunson is eligible for an extension next year, so Towns may have to settle for a discount in order for New York to maintain its championship core in the future. The star big man appears to be a pretty safe second-round pick in fantasy drafts this year, having averaged at least 20 points, 11 rebounds and three assists along with nearly one steal while shooting at least 50 percent from the floor and 82 percent from the charity stripe in back-to-back seasons for the Knicks.

Running mate Jalen Williams was limited to a career-low 33 regular-season appearances in 2025-26, but his presence on the floor could help Gilgeous-Alexander spend more time off the ball in 2026-27. Gilgeous-Alexander remains a cinch pick early in the first rounds of fantasy drafts regardless of his role, having averaged at least 30 points, four rebounds, five assists, one steal and nearly one block while shooting at least 51 percent from the field and 87 percent from the foul line in each of his past four seasons.

Wallace started 58 regular-season games in 2025-26, averaging 9.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.1 steals in 27.7 minutes per game in those contests. With Dort no longer in Oklahoma City, Wallace appears positioned for an increased role and could become a full-time starter in 2026-27.

The league has reportedly hired national investigations law firm Hecker Fink to examine the fully guaranteed deal, while both Milwaukee and Trent's agency, Klutch Sports Group, are cooperating with the investigation. The NBA is looking into whether Trent's previous team-friendly contracts with the Bucks were connected to an understanding that he would receive a more lucrative deal once Milwaukee acquired his Early Bird rights. There is currently no indication of when the investigation will conclude, and no finding of wrongdoing has been announced.

Mitchell appears to be a candidate for an expanded role in Oklahoma City's rotation after showing promise in a limited capacity last season. The team lost Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins and Luguentz Dort this offseason, making Mitchell an obvious player to watch ahead of fantasy drafts. His exact place in the rotation will become clearer during training camp and the preseason.

Presti added that there's "a lot more" to McCain's game than his ability to knock down three-pointers. The comments suggest Oklahoma City values the 22-year-old's broader skill set and could look to utilize him in multiple ways during his first season with the Thunder. There will certainly be more opportunities following some key departures in the wing rotation.

Webster added that spending time at home helped Poeltl reset ahead of the upcoming campaign. The positive update suggests the veteran center is in good shape entering camp, though his workload and status will be worth monitoring as Toronto begins preseason preparations. Injuries limited Poeltl to 46 regular-season appearances in 2025-26.

Davis was limited to only 20 regular-season appearances with Dallas last season due to health issues, but Dawkins said the 10-time All-Star is currently in a "great frame of mind." Washington also views Davis as a starting-caliber center in a revamped frontcourt featuring Alex Sarr and Deandre Ayton. Davis and the Wizards reportedly postponed contract extension discussions earlier this offseason, but Dawkins declined to specifically address those talks Thursday.

Vanderbilt's defensive versatility, size and rebounding make him a theoretical fit for what Los Angeles wants from the role, but Buha is skeptical that he'll win the competition after playing a modest role last season. Jake LaRavia and Ziaire Williams appear to have the inside track entering camp, so Vanderbilt may need a strong preseason to move up the pecking order.

Buha questioned whether a lineup featuring Luka Doncic, Mamukelashvili and Walker Kessler would have sufficient quickness and athleticism defensively. Mamukelashvili should nevertheless get an opportunity to compete for the job during camp and the preseason, though Jake LaRavia and Ziaire Williams appear to be the more likely candidates entering the competition.

Grimes is expected to join Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler as four established members of the starting five, leaving only one position unsettled. The offseason addition should complement Doncic and Reaves with his perimeter defense and ability to operate away from the ball, putting Grimes in line for a substantial role in his first season with Los Angeles.

The Lakers would ideally like their fifth starter to provide positional versatility, rebounding and off-ball production alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Williams has the size to fit that profile, and his performance during camp and the preseason should determine whether he can separate himself from LaRavia and the other candidates.

Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Quentin Grimes and Walker Kessler are expected to occupy the other four spots, leaving Los Angeles in search of a versatile forward to round out the first unit. LaRavia's size, rebounding and ability to contribute without the ball could make him a strong fit alongside the Lakers' established starters, but the competition with Williams remains unsettled entering camp.

The 23-year-old forward spent the latter portion of the 2025-26 campaign with Washington, averaging 11.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.4 steals in 30.9 minutes across 13 regular-season appearances, including 10 starts. Look for him to spend a lot of time with New Orleans' G League affiliate.

The young center underwent a minor arthroscopic procedure on his right knee in early July after missing the 2025-26 campaign while recovering from a torn ACL in the same knee. Sorber had initially been expected to return to full basketball activities roughly four weeks after the procedure, so his workload will be worth monitoring as camp progresses.

General manager Sam Presti announced the restriction Thursday, and Topic is currently dealing with a back issue stemming from offseason surgery. The 21-year-old guard's participation level will be worth monitoring throughout camp as Oklahoma City prepares for the preseason.

General manager Will Dawkins said Thursday that Sarr is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season, so the limited workload to begin camp appears precautionary. Sarr underwent surgery in mid-June, and his progress during the preseason will be worth monitoring, but there currently doesn't appear to be significant concern about his availability for Opening Night.