2 months agoOn Tuesday, per Damichael Cole of Memphis Commercial Appeal, Memphis Grizzlies guard
Ja Morant (shoulder) was medically cleared for all basketball activities after surgery to repair a labral tear in his right shoulder. After serving a 25-game NBA suspension at the start of last season, the 24-year-old only suited up for nine contests before the injury sidelined him for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign. If Morant can stay injury-free in 2024-25, he has top-10 fantasy potential across all formats.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: Damichael Cole
2 months agoAccording to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Detroit Pistons and point guard
Cade Cunningham officially agreed to a five-year, $224 million maximum rookie extension on Tuesday. The rookie extension could amount to as much as $269 million. After a dismal 2023-2024 campaign, the Pistons signed veterans
Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway, and
Tobias Harris this off-season to help out the 22-year-old. Suffering from left knee tendinopathy, Cunningham's season was cut short, but not before he averaged 22.7 points, 7.5 assists, and 4.3 rebounds in 33.5 minutes across 62 games. Detroit expects the 2021 No. 1 overall pick to be healthy for training camp.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: Adrian Wojnarowski
2 months agoPhiladelphia 76ers shooting guard
Ricky Council IV caught fire late in the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Monday's Summer League matchup, pushing his team to a 102-92 victory with a 29-point effort. The 22-year-old netted 19 of his points in the fourth quarter. He nailed five three-point bombs with 10 attempts and shot 9-for-18 overall. Council IV, who inked a four-year contract with the 76ers in April, was also busy on the boards, grabbing eight rebounds. The undrafted guard was rarely used during his rookie campaign in 2023-24, but it looks like he could be ready to take a big leap forward next season. However, it's definitely going to be an uphill battle for Council IV to earn a significant role on a stacked 76ers team.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA.com
2 months agoMemphis Grizzlies center
Zach Edey made a good first impression as an NBA player on Monday in a Summer League clash with the Utah Jazz. Squaring off against a strong Jazz frontcourt, which included
Walker Kessler, the ninth pick of this year's draft registered a 14-point, 15-rebound double-double with four blocks in a 97-95 overtime loss. Edey sent the game into the extra frame with a dramatic tip-in at the buzzer and finished with 7-for-11 shooting from the field. The seven-foot-four giant will get a new opportunity to impress on Tuesday versus Philadelphia.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA.com
2 months agoThe Toronto Raptors are unlikely to agree on a new contract with
Gary Trent Jr. TSN's Josh Lewenberg has reported that Trent Jr.'s camp has been looking for a raise from last year's $18.5 million, but the Raptors were only willing to offer around $15 million per year when free agency opened. According to Lewenberg, that offer is off the table now, and Trent Jr.'s return to Toronto is "increasingly unlikely." The 25-year-old isn't expected to receive the money he is after elsewhere either, with an unnamed league insider telling Lewenberg that Trent Jr. would be "lucky" to get the mid-level exception, valued at $12.5 million. Trent Jr. averaged 13.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 28.1 minutes with the Raptors last season.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Josh Lewenberg
2 months agoUtah Jazz center
Walker Kessler is expected to fetch a first-round draft pick on the trade market. "The Knicks had been in touch with Utah, had had some interest in Walker Kessler, the big man, as a potential solution for, at the backup five," said SNY's Ian Begley on Monday. "But teams in touch with Utah say the Jazz are looking for at least a first-round pick in return for Kessler in these conversations that have gone on earlier in the offseason." Kessler would be a solid replacement for
Isaiah Hartenstein in New York, but his fantasy value would be limited if he's only going to fill a backup position.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Ian Begley
2 months agoLos Angeles Clippers point guard
Russell Westbrook continues to draw interest from the Denver Nuggets, with a potential deal likely. According to Harrison Wind of DNVR, the Nuggets are "on track" to add the former MVP to the roster. Westbrook has freshly opted into the last year of his contract that will pay him around $4 million next season. However, his future in Los Angeles is in doubt, and his admirers in Denver reportedly include Nuggets leader
Nikola Jokic. Westbrook's fantasy value is far from what it used to be during his prime, but he can still rack up stats in a hurry if given enough minutes.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Harrison Wind
2 months agoFree-agent center
Daniel Theis agreed to a one-year deal with the Pelicans on Monday. The 32-year-old is best known for his time with the Celtics. However, he's also suited up for the Bulls, Rockets, and Pacers before appearing in 59 games for the Clippers in 2023-24, where he averaged 6.3 points and 4.1 rebounds. Theis will likely operate as the backup behind rookie
Yves Missi, who the Pelicans drafted with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. But if Missi goes down with an injury, Theis could spend some time with the starting lineup, ultimately improving his fantasy value.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Adrian Wojnarowski
2 months agoFree-agent forward
Haywood Highsmith agreed to a two-year, $11 million contract to remain with the Miami Heat. The 27-year-old has spent the last three seasons in Miami, most recently finishing the 2023-24 campaign by averaging a career-high 6.1 points and 39.6% shooting from deep. Although he didn't always see minutes last season, he at least drew 26 starts. Haywood's situation likely won't change in 2024-25. While that won't make him an attractive fantasy asset in most drafts, he has plenty of streaming potential, considering
Jimmy Butler has had issues staying on the floor.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Adrian Wojnarowski
2 months agoFrench veteran
Evan Fournier finds himself going to the Paris Olympics as a free agent, but he could be back in the NBA for next season. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Fournier is expected to generate interest among "some" NBA teams. Fournier became a free agent after the Detroit Pistons declined a $19 million team option on his contract. He is also expected to draw interest from EuroLeague teams. Fournier has been an afterthought in the NBA in recent seasons, making only 59 appearances across two campaigns, but he's been a capable scorer in the league and could re-ignite his career if he lands in a good situation.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Marc Stein
2 months agoSacramento Kings guard/forward
Malik Monk wants to become a starter next season. The 26-year-old was one of the most prolific bench players in the league in 2023-24, averaging a career-high 15.4 points. He has re-signed with the Kings for four years, $78 million. A starter's role would boost Monk's fantasy value, although he has still seen plenty of action as a reserve and logged 28 minutes per game last season. Monk has also proven that he's more than a scorer after posting a career-high 5.1 assists in 2023-24.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Matt George
2 months agoMinnesota Timberwolves center
Luka Garza will return to the team on a two-year deal. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, it's a $4.51 million contract for Garza, which includes a team option for the second year. After making his NBA debut with the Pistons in 2021-22, Garza has spent the past two campaigns in Minnesota. In 53 appearances with the team, he has averaged 5.3 points and 1.8 rebounds across 6.9 minutes. The former Iowa standout has dominated in the G League with a career average of 29.9 points, but he sees very little action with the Timberwolves, and the situation will likely remain the same in 2024-25.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Michael Scotto
2 months agoBoston Celtics center
Neemias Queta has inked a three-year extension with the team. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the contract is worth $7.18 million, which is fully guaranteed in Year 1. The deal comes with a partially guaranteed Year 2 and a team option for Year 3. Queta has spent three seasons in the NBA. The Portugal native, who will turn 25 this week, made 28 appearances for the Celtics in 2023-24, posting 5.5 points and 4.4 rebounds in 11.9 minutes. Queta has shown some promise, but he will likely continue to struggle to log meaningful minutes for Boston, leaving him with no fantasy value.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Michael Scotto
2 months agoWashington Wizards guard
Landry Shamet has become a free agent after the team declined a $11 million option on his contract. Shamet spent only one season in Washington, averaging 7.1 points in 15.8 minutes. As a three-point specialist, Shamet should receive interest on the open market, although he will definitely have to settle for much less money than the team option he had on his old deal. Shamet has been a 38.4 percent career shooter from deep, averaging 8.7 points across 348 games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Adrian Wojnarowski
3 months agoMiami Heat center
Kel'el Ware finished with a 26-point, 11-rebound double-double in Sunday's 102-86 California Classic victory over the Sacramento Kings. The 2024 No. 15 overall pick had 12 points, six rebounds, and five blocks in the loss to the Warriors on Saturday. While he wasn't as impactful on the defensive end on Sunday, he still led his team to a win. With that said, the former Indiana Hoosier continues to make a positive impression. While Ware is undersized, he has a chance to carve out a role behind
Bam Adebayo heading into the 2024-25 campaign.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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