2 months agoMemphis Grizzlies forward/center
Santi Aldama posted a double-double with three blocks to help Spain beat Greece at the Paris Olympics 84-77. He led the team with 19 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 6-for-14 from the field. Aldama also dished out a couple of assists while hitting 3-for-8 from downtown. The Grizzlies big man has kicked off the tournament in fine form, averaging 23.0 points through the first two games. Aldama has continued where he left off last season in the NBA when he enjoyed a career year with 10.7 points and 5.8 rebounds. However, he was one of the many players benefiting from Memphis' awful injury problems, and fantasy managers might want to tame their expectations regarding Aldama in the upcoming campaign.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 months agoFree-agent forward
Anthony Gill agreed to a two-year, $4.78 million deal to return to the Wizards. The 31-year-old hasn't played for any other teams since entering the NBA in 2020, and he finished the 2023-24 campaign by logging 3.8 points and 1.9 rebounds per contest. While those numbers are lacking from a fantasy standpoint, Gill showed signs of promise by averaging 13.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in three starts last season. Gill isn't expected to be a routine rotational piece in Washington. However, there may be streaming opportunities for fantasy managers throughout the year.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Michael Scotto
2 months agoAccording to European basketball insider Luca D'Alessandro, Turkish sniper
Furkan Korkmaz will depart the NBA and sign with EuroLeague team AS Monaco for next season. The 27-year-old has spent seven seasons in the Association -- all with the Philadelphia 76ers -- but has been stuck on the bench for the last couple of campaigns. Korkmaz averaged only 8.6 minutes per game across 35 appearances last season. He's notched 6.8 points across 326 career games. The former first-round pick joins several other former NBA players in Monaco, including Mike James and Donatas Motiejunas.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Luca D'Alessandro
2 months agoLos Angeles Lakers point guard
D'Angelo Russell could face an exit from L.A. soon. According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Lakers have been shopping Russell since he picked up his $18.7 million player option for next season. Russell has had an up-and-down ride with the Lakers, and the team is seeking an upgrade at the point guard position. Atlanta Hawks star
Trae Young has often been mentioned as a potential target for the Lakers. Russell appears to have been around forever, but he's still only 28 and should continue to get the job done next season, whether it's in Los Angeles or elsewhere.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Jovan Buha
2 months agoUtah Jazz forward
Lauri Markkanen has been heavily linked with the Golden State Warriors, but his move to San Francisco appears unlikely. The Jazz are reportedly looking to get
Brandin Podziemski or
Jonathan Kuminga in exchange for Markkanen, but Warriors owner Joe Lacob has told The Athletic that he wants to hang on to both players. With ESPN's Tim MacMahon recently suggesting that the Jazz aren't actively shopping Markkanen, it appears that the Finnish star is poised to begin another campaign in Salt Lake City. Markkanen has enjoyed two solid seasons with the Jazz and averaged 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds in 2023-24.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Tim Kawakami
2 months agoGolden State Warriors forward
Jonathan Kuminga has been off the table in trade talks for Utah Jazz star
Lauri Markkanen. "I'm not going to get into specifics like that, there's no way," said Warriors owner Joe Lacob to Tim Kawakami of The Athletic. "(But) I don't want to give (Podziemski) up, or JK (Jonathan Kuminga). We love these guys. And Moses (Moody), Trayce (Jackson-Davis). These are good young players." After stalling in his development for a bit, Kuminga took a big step forward in 2023-24, averaging 16.1 points and 4.8 rebounds in 26.3 minutes. The Warriors see him as a building block for the future, and Kuminga certainly has a lot more room to improve, as he will be only 22 next season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Tim Kawakami
2 months agoGolden State Warriors guard
Brandin Podziemski remains highly rated by the team, and club owner Joe Lacob doesn't want to include him in any trade talks. Podziemski has been linked with a move to Utah in a deal for
Lauri Markkanen. "I'm not going to get into specifics like that, there's no way," Lacob told Tim Kawakami of The Athletic. "(But) I don't want to give him up, or JK (
Jonathan Kuminga). We love these guys. And Moses (Moody), Trayce (Jackson-Davis). These are good young players." Lacob believes Podziemski has "All-Star potential." The 21-year-old averaged 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 26.6 minutes during his rookie year. He looks set for a big leap next season if he stays in Golden State, with
Klay Thompson moving to Dallas.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Tim Kawakami
2 months agoAccording to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Portland Trail Blazers are seeking two first-round picks in a potential trade involving forward
Jerami Grant. The 2014 No. 39 overall pick finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 21.0 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting a career-high 40.2% from deep. While many teams would love to acquire a player with numbers like that, possibilities are limited after Grant re-signed a five-year, $160 million contract last offseason. With that in mind, the 30-year-old has likely already played his final game in Portland. However, his fantasy outlook can go in multiple directions depending on where he lands heading into the 2024-25 campaign.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Jovan Buha
2 months agoAccording to NBA insider Christian Clark, the Utah Jazz are a team to watch in a potential trade involving New Orleans Pelicans forward
Brandon Ingram. His name has been mentioned in trade rumors for months. However, he remains in New Orleans without a contract extension. Without question, Ingram is a quality player, averaging 19.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 477 games combined with the Lakers and Pelicans. While it's possible nothing comes from this latest update, it remains likely Ingram won't be a Pelican during the 2024-25 campaign. With that said, Ingram could thrive in Utah from a statistical standpoint. His presence in Utah could also mean that
Lauri Markkanen will remain with the Jazz.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Christian Clark
2 months agoAccording to Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype, the Cleveland Cavaliers are "intrigued" by Brooklyn Nets forward
Cameron Johnson. The Nets are rebuilding, with the team recently sending
Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks. While there are other names Brooklyn could deal ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, Johnson has been one of the most coveted options around the National Basketball Association. After showing promise following the trade to Brooklyn, the 28-year-old struggled last season, averaging 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. He was also limited to 58 games due to injury. Johnson's outlook would be brighter by staying in Brooklyn, considering he'd have plenty of scoring chances. On the other hand, a trade to Cleveland would mean he'd compete with
Donovan Mitchell,
Darius Garland,
Evan Mobley, and
Jarrett Allen, among others, for offensive opportunities.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Michael Scotto
2 months agoAccording to Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype, several teams have expressed interest in restricted free agent
Isaac Okoro. The 2020 No. 5 overall pick has spent his entire four-year career in Cleveland. In 279 games with the team, he's averaged 8.5 points and 2.9 rebounds. While his offensive contributions haven't been impressive, teams around the National Basketball Association value him for his defensive prowess. There are several directions this situation could go. However, Brooklyn is a potential landing spot, considering the team is rebuilding. With Cleveland looking to cut costs, moving Okoro in a sign-and-trade remains one of the likeliest scenarios. With that in mind, a fresh start with the Nets could allow the 23-year-old to get routine minutes, ultimately improving his fantasy value.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Michael Scotto
2 months agoDenver Nuggets center
Nikola Jokic scored a team-high 20 points in Serbia's loss to Team USA on Sunday. He added eight assists, five rebounds, and four steals. The multi-time MVP was smothered by the United States for the entire contest, forcing him to commit four turnovers and shoot 1-for-6 from behind the arc. Still, Jokic helped his team keep things competitive at times throughout the contest, although it wasn't enough. After the Nuggets captured an NBA championship in 2022-23, Jokic and company couldn't go back-to-back. However, he did all he could, averaging 26.4 points, 9.0 assists, and a career-high 12.4 rebounds. Managers already plan on making him a top fantasy pick for the 2024-25 campaign, especially since he is a favorite to claim his fourth Most Valuable Player award. Serbia will look to get on track versus Puerto Rico on Wednesday.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 months agoLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James led Team USA to an Olympic win over Nikola Jokic and Serbia on Sunday. The multi-time MVP scored 21 points, shooting an efficient 9-for-13 from the field, adding nine assists, eight rebounds, and one steal. James signed a new deal with the Lakers this offseason after averaging 25.7 points, 8.3 assists, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals for the team in 2023-24. He also shot a career-high 41.0% from deep. While James isn't as productive as he used to be, he's still a top fantasy asset. His improved shooting from behind the arc also raises his stock for category managers heading into the 2024-25 campaign. Team USA will look to keep it going versus South Sudan on Wednesday.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 months agoPhoenix Suns forward
Kevin Durant (calf) scored a game-high 23 points in Team USA's win over Serbia. Earlier in the week, it was reported Durant was expected to miss this one. However, he was cleared for action after practicing the last few days. The 35-year-old is still productive despite his age. In 75 games with the Suns last season, Durant averaged 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.2 blocks while shooting 41.3% from behind the arc. If Durant stays healthy, which has been an issue throughout his career, he has a top-10 fantasy upside for the 2024-25 campaign. Team USA will look to remain unbeaten against South Sudan on Wednesday.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
2 months agoAccording to Arizona Sports' John Gambadoro, Phoenix Suns guard
Tyus Jones is expected to start this season. After spending last season in Washington, he agreed to a one-year, $3.3 million contract with Phoenix. In 60 games with the Wizards, the 26-year-old averaged a career-high 12.0 points and 7.3 assists, adding 1.1 steals. With Jones anticipated to roll with the first five,
Grayson Allen will presumably return to the bench. From a statistical standpoint, Allen is also coming off the best year of his career, logging 13.5 points and shooting 46.1% from behind the arc. Fortunately for Allen's fantasy managers, the Suns' bench isn't deep, meaning he could remain involved. However, with
Bradley Beal having issues staying healthy, Allen should still get chances to start during the 2024-25 campaign.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Kellan Olson
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