2 months agoMinnesota Timberwolves guard
Anthony Edwards finished with a team-high 26 points for Team USA in Saturday's Olympic win over Puerto Rico. The United States built a commanding lead early in the contest, allowing the bench to receive more minutes, with Edwards shooting an efficient 11-for-15 from the field and adding two steals. The 22-year-old finished last season by amassing a career-high 25.9 points with 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.3 steals. His fantasy value is already at an all-time high. However, his play throughout the 2024 Summer Olympics will make him an even more attractive fantasy commodity heading into the 2024-25 campaign.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 months agoAccording to Fred Katz of The Athletic, New York Knicks forward
Julius Randle may need to take less cash if he's interested in receiving an extension from the team. The veteran is entering what could be the final year of his current deal but could make around $180 million on an extension. However, the Knicks still need to round out the roster while hoping to avoid hitting the second apron, meaning Randle might need to settle for less, much like
Jalen Brunson did at the beginning of July. Without question, the 29-year-old is a top player in the National Basketball Association, most recently averaging 24.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists during the 2023-24 campaign. Unfortunately, he appeared in only 46 games before sustaining a season-ending shoulder injury. The upgraded roster in New York could mean fewer statistical contributions from Randle in 2024-25. Yet, he'll remain a top fantasy provider as long as he stays healthy.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Stefan Bondy
2 months agoFree-agent forward/center
Chuma Okeke agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with the New York Knicks. The 25-year-old was drafted in 2019 by the Magic. In 189 games in Orlando, he averaged 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds. However, he never carved out a routine role in the rotation. With that said, despite the re-signing of
Precious Achiuwa, the Knicks lack depth underneath the basket, meaning Okeke could make the team if he has an impressive training camp. While he probably won't be a reliable fantasy option anytime soon, he's worth watching in case he earns some starts with the Knicks or another team during the 2024-25 campaign.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Stefan Bondy
2 months agoForward
Gordon Hayward announced his retirement on Thursday. The 2010 No. 9 overall pick began his career with the Utah Jazz, where he was an All-Star in 2017. He signed with Boston in the offseason leading up to the 2017-18 campaign. However, Hayward injured his leg just five minutes into his tenure with the Celtics and wasn't the same since. The 34-year-old will finish his career by averaging 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 37.0% three-point shooting in 835 regular season appearances with the Jazz, Celtics, Hornets, and Thunder.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Gordon Hayward
2 months agoForward
Leaky Black was cut by Charlotte, the team announced on Thursday. The 25-year-old went undrafted in 2023 but landed a two-way deal with the Hornets. He appeared in 18 games in the G League. But Black also logged 26 games with the big club, averaging only 2.7 points and 1.8 rebounds. He didn't play much better in any of his three starts. At any rate, the former Tar Heel could at least earn a camp deal heading into the 2024-25 campaign. However, Black's fantasy outlook isn't promising, so dynasty managers can drop him from their rosters.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Charlotte Hornets PR
2 months agoMemphis Grizzlies point guard
Ja Morant is expected to have a big comeback campaign in 2024-25. We have seen very little of Morant recently due to various issues, but the upcoming season could be his best one yet. "Ja Morant is coming for all the work this year. All of it," said Morant's agent, Mike Miller, on The OGs Show. "How soon they forget. That's all I'll say: He's about to come for it." Morant was limited to nine appearances in 2023-24, posting 25.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 8.1 assists. It was reported in early July that the explosive guard had been cleared for five-on-five action after recovering from shoulder surgery.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: The OGs Show
2 months agoHouston Rockets guard
Reed Sheppard has been voted the best draft pick of the 2024 class in a poll conducted by ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo among the NBA's decision-makers. 20 executives and scouts took part in the poll. Sheppard, who was selected third in this year's draft, picked up seven votes to be the "best pick" of the 2024 draft. He was followed by Portland's
Donovan Clingan, who received three votes. The No. 1 pick,
Zaccharie Risacher from Atlanta, was voted the best by only one person. Sheppard boosted his reputation with outstanding Summer League performances. He averaged 20.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.8 steals in Las Vegas. Big things are expected from Sheppard in the future, with one high-ranking Eastern Conference executive saying that Sheppard has a "chance" to become an All-Star in the future.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 months agoDenver Nuggets center
Nikola Jokic came extremely close to a triple-double despite playing only 23 minutes in Serbia's huge 107-66 win over Puerto Rico at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Wednesday. Jokic finished the contest with 14 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists, two steals, and one block. He shot 5-for-7 from the field and 4-for-5 at the charity stripe. After losing to Team USA, Serbia still has some work to do to move to the quarterfinals, so we should see another big effort from Jokic on Saturday against South Sudan. The three-time MVP has averaged 17.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 8.5 assists at the Paris Olympics.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 months agoPhiladelphia 76ers center
Joel Embiid will rejoin Team USA's starting lineup on Saturday against Puerto Rico. Embiid had a poor 11-minute outing in the USA's first game against Serbia and was a DNP-CD on Wednesday versus South Sudan.
Anthony Davis replaced the 2023 MVP in the starting unit. Team USA head coach Steve Kerr said that the change was made to match up better with South Sudan's speed. Kerr will also bring back
Jrue Holiday to the first unit on Saturday.
Jayson Tatum started in his place in Wednesday's 103-86 win, which sent Team USA to the quarterfinals.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Ben Golliver
2 months agoBoston Celtics forward
Jayson Tatum settled for four points on 2-for-4 shooting in his Paris Olympics debut against South Sudan on Wednesday. After sitting out the entire game in Team USA's opener against Serbia as a DNP-CD, Tatum was inserted straight into the starting lineup on Wednesday, replacing
Jrue Holiday. He logged 17 minutes and finished off his work in a 103-86 win with five rebounds, two assists, and one block. Team USA head coach Steve Kerr has suggested that more changes to the lineup are coming and has already confirmed that Tatum will head back to the bench for Saturday's contest against Puerto Rico.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 months agoMiami Heat center
Bam Adebayo was Team USA's top performer as the Americans locked up a quarterfinal berth at the Paris Olympics with a 103-86 victory over South Sudan on Wednesday. Coming off the bench, Adebayo had a team-high 18 points in 21 minutes, shooting 8-for-10 from the field. He even hit a pair of corner threes to finish 2-for-3 from outside. Adebayo was also among the top rebounders in the game with seven boards and notched one assist with one steal and two blocks. The Heat star takes great pride in his defensive work, but he also had a fantastic game offensively on Wednesday. Adebayo hitting threes might become a new thing in fantasy basketball next season. He impressed with 14-for-28 shooting behind the arc across the final 17 regular-season games last term.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 months agoFree-agent guard
Luke Kennard agreed to a one-year, $11 million contract with the Grizzlies. The 2017 No. 12 overall pick finished last season by averaging 11.0 points while shooting 45.0% from behind the arc. Yet, he appeared in just 39 games due to injury. Most had assumed Kennard would be back in Memphis, although the deal took longer than anticipated. With that said, he should continue to receive minutes during the 2024-25 campaign. However, outside of efficient three-point shooting, he likely won't be a consistent producer for category managers.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Adrian Wojnarowski
2 months agoCleveland Cavaliers center
Jarrett Allen agreed to a three-year, $91 million contract extension with the team. The deal will commence at the beginning of the 2026-27 campaign, and it will allow Allen to earn $131 million guaranteed in the next five seasons. The 26-year-old has been a top center in the National Basketball Association for years. However, he's coming off the best season of his career, averaging 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 77 games. It's been a busy offseason for Cleveland, with
Donovan Mitchell and
Evan Mobley also receiving extensions. With that in mind, Allen should be a potent fantasy producer for years to come, even more so for category managers looking for a consistent double-double threat.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Adrian Wojnarowski
2 months agoDenver Nuggets point guard
Russell Westbrook is seen as a good fit for the team by former Nugget and current Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups. "(Westbrook) is going to bring some toughness and a mentality to that team that I think will be welcomed," Billups said in a recent interview. "So I'm happy for him. And I think he's going to make that team better." The presence of
Jamal Murray means that Westbrook will continue to come off the bench in Denver. But he is expected to see a healthy amount of minutes, which will help him produce the goods in fantasy basketball.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Sean Keeler
2 months agoThe Portland Trail Blazers are expected to make at least one big move before training camp opens. According to Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian, the team is looking to move either
Jerami Grant or
Anfernee Simons. "I would be surprised if Jerami (Grant) or Anfernee Simons, that one of the two is not moved," Fentress said in a conversation with Sactown Sports. "I was told that that's definitely the goal, that one of the two would probably be gone before training camp." Grant has already been in trade rumors, with Portland reportedly looking to get two first-round draft picks for him. He's been mainly linked with the Lakers. There should be no storage of interest in Anfernee Simons, either. He's posted back-to-back 20-point campaigns and is still only 25 years old.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Sactown Sports
RADIO
