2 weeks agoDallas Mavericks guard
Jaden Hardy agreed to a three-year, $18 million contract extension with the team. The 22-year-old has spent his first two seasons in the league with the Mavs, averaging 7.9 points and shooting 37.9% from behind the arc. Although Hardy gives Dallas a reliable bench option, he'll likely have a tough time entering any fantasy lineups this season. However, if
Luka Doncic or
Kyrie Irving miss time during the 2024-25 campaign, which will likely happen, Hardy has streaming potential.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania
2 weeks agoAccording to ESPN's Shams Charania, Denver Nuggets forward
Aaron Gordon agreed to a four-year, $133 million contract extension with the club. The deal includes a player option in 2028-29. There were questions when this would happen. However, the team made the deal on the eve of the start of the NBA season. The 29-year-old has been instrumental to the Nuggets' success over the years, most recently averaging 13.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 2023-24. As long as Gordon remains healthy, he'll see more than enough minutes to be at least a top-50 fantasy asset at the position in points leagues. But his shooting from behind the arc will compromise his desirability in category formats.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania
2 weeks agoThe Pistons picked up the third-year team option on guard
Marcus Sasser on Monday. The 24-year-old had a decent rookie campaign in 2023-24, averaging 8.3 points and 3.3 assists (13.1 points and 4.7 assists in 11 starts). While he'll come off the bench, there is potential for some starts this season, considering
Cade Cunningham has had issues staying healthy over the years. For now, Sasser shouldn't be viewed as anything more than a dynasty stash.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Coty Davis
2 weeks agoThe Pistons picked up the third-year team option on forward
Ausar Thompson (illness) on Monday. Thompson, selected with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, averaged 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.1 steals. However, he shot a rough 18.6% from behind the arc. Even worse, a blood clot ended his season abruptly. As of now, it's hard to justify Thompson taking up a spot on fantasy rosters, considering he is without a timetable regarding his return. Still, he's worth monitoring. But until he returns, the team could look to
Tim Hardaway Jr. and
Simone Fontecchio to fill the void in the lineup, with the latter having a higher ceiling for fantasy managers.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Coty Davis
2 weeks agoThe Pistons exercised the fourth-year option on center
Jalen Duren on Monday. The 20-year-old averaged a double-double last season (13.8 points, 11.6 rebounds). He also significantly improved his free-throw percentage from his rookie campaign. While the franchise sees potential in Duren, he hasn't logged more than 67 games in each of his first two seasons in the National Basketball Association. Fantasy managers should keep that in mind, although he'll be a consistent fantasy performer whenever he's on the floor during the 2024-25 campaign.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Detroit Pistons
2 weeks agoThe Pistons exercised the fourth-year option for guard
Jaden Ivey on Monday. The 22-year-old is coming off a rough season, where he spent some time coming off the bench. However, he wasn't horrible, averaging 15.4 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.4 rebounds. But fantasy managers have plenty of reasons to be optimistic about Ivey's potential heading into the 2024-25 campaign, considering he's been routinely praised by new head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. He's also missed only 13 games during his NBA career, which is another positive for fantasy managers. That said, Ivey's three-point percentage needs work. The same is true for his free-throw percentage. Yet, the upside is there, so fantasy managers could easily see Ivey surpass his ADP expectations this year.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Pistons PR
2 weeks agoAccording to ESPN's Bobby Marks, the Rockets and center
Alperen Sengun agreed to a five-year, $185 million contract extension. There were questions if and when this would get done. However, it appears Houston made it a priority to extend Sengun on the same day the team also rewarded
Jalen Green with a new deal. The 2021 No. 16 overall pick had easily the best season of his career in 2023-24, averaging 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.2 steals. He's not the most proficient shot-blocker, something for category managers to consider. Sengun also logged only 63 games last season, so he'll need to stay on the floor more often throughout the 2024-25 campaign. If the 22-year-old can stay healthy, he has All-Star potential.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Bobby Marks
2 weeks agoPhoenix Suns guard
Grayson Allen (Achilles) is still working his way back from an Achilles injury and his status for the team's season opener is in doubt. The good news is that Allen said to Gerald Bourguet that he was able "to do everything" in practice on Monday and he's hopefully to be ready for their first game on Wednesday. Allen has been an important rotational piece for this team as a three-and-D type of player. Last season, he averaged 13.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.7 threes, and 1.3 turnovers while shooting a red-hot 46.1% from beyond the arc.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Gerald Bourguet
2 weeks agoWashington Wizards forward
Corey Kispert will remain in DC for the foreseeable future after agreeing on a new contract extension. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Kispert signed a four-year deal worth $54 million on Monday afternoon. The 25-year-old was the team's 15th-overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and has been a very consistent role player for them over the past three years. Throughout his time in Washington so far, he's averaged 10.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 2.0 threes per game. He posted a career-high 13.4 points per game last season as well.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania
2 weeks agoOrlando Magic guard
Jalen Suggs just cashed in on a massive deal after being named to an All-Defensive team last season. The former fifth-overall pick agreed to a five-year extension that will pay him $150.5 million to stay in Orlando. With
Cole Anthony remaining on the bench and
Markelle Fultz not on the team anymore, Suggs is primed to take on an even bigger role on both sides of the ball. Last year was his healthiest season so far as he appeared in 75 games and averaged 12.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.0 threes, 1.4 steals, and 1.8 turnovers per game while shooting 47.1% from the floor and 39.7% from beyond the arc.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania
2 weeks agoBoston Celtics center
Kristaps Porzingis (foot) has been ruled out for the team's season opener against the New York Knicks on Tuesday. The star big man has been rehabbing from surgery on his foot and is not ready to take the floor just yet. There hasn't been a specific timetable reported, so fantasy managers will have to monitor his status in the meantime.
Al Horford will take on some more minutes while the other opportunities will likely be spread between
Luke Kornet,
Xavier Tillman Sr., and maybe even
Neemias Queta. Horford and Kornet are likely the better streamers to start the season.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Boston Celtics
2 weeks agoHouston Rockets guard
Jalen Green received a big payday ahead of his fourth season in the NBA. According to Kelly Iko of The Athletic, Green and the Rockets agreed on a three-year extension worth $106 million. The first year of the deal is worth $33.5 million, and the deal even includes a player option for the last year. Green has averaged 19.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.4 threes, and 2.3 turnovers per game across three seasons in Houston. He'll look to lead a completely revamped team from when he was first drafted to their first playoff appearance since the 2019-20 season.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Kelly Iko
2 weeks agoGolden State Warriors forward
Jonathan Kuminga is fresh off of his best season yet and is entering a big contract year with his rookie deal set to expire at the end of the upcoming season. The two sides were not able to agree on a rookie contract extension, so he will be a restricted free agent during the 2025 offseason. Last year, Kuminga averaged 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 turnovers per game with shooting splits of .529/.321/.746. He's set to receive even more minutes heading into this season, so he'll be playing for even more money now.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Evan Sidery
2 weeks agoAtlanta Hawks guard
Kobe Bufkin (shoulder) suffered a right shoulder injury in Saturday's practice and is now undergoing some testing and evaluation. As reported by Kevin Chouinard, Bufkin is already ruled out for Wednesday's season opener against the Brooklyn Nets due to his shoulder issue. He may have to miss more time, but that won't be clear until the test results come back. In the meantime,
Dyson Daniels and
Vit Krejci should see some added minutes as well as
Bogdan Bogdanovic.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Kevin Chouinard
2 weeks agoToronto Raptors guard/forward
RJ Barrett (shoulder) suffered an AC joint sprain on October 6 and has been out ever since. According to Michael Grange of Sportsnet, Barrett went through practice on Monday without contact and is targeting opening night for his return. They'll take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday for their season opener. If Barrett is unable to suit up, since rookie
Ja'Kobe Walter (shoulder) and
Bruce Brown (knee) are both out,
Ochai Agbaji could step into a starting role with
Gradey Dick receiving a lot more opportunities too.
--Alex Fischbein - RotoBallerSource: Michael Grange
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