3 months agoFree-agent guard
Vit Krejci agreed to a four-year, $10 million contract to remain in Atlanta. He began his career by appearing in 30 games for the Oklahoma City Thunder before spending the last two seasons with the Hawks. The 24-year-old had his best season in 2023-24, averaging 6.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 41.2% from deep. There's a chance Krejci will make appearances with the starting lineup during the 2024-25 campaign. However, his fantasy outlook overall isn't promising.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Adrian Wojnarowski
3 months agoOklahoma City Thunder guard/forward
Dillon Jones scored a game-high 21 points in a 98-75 win over the Utah Jazz in the Salt Lake City Summer League on Tuesday. The Weber State product, who was the 26th selection in last month's draft, had an incredible shooting touch in the game, going 7-for-8 from the field and 4-for-5 at the charity stripe. His efforts included a 3-for-3 record from deep, and Jones capped off his performance with seven rebounds, four assists, and one steal. The Thunder are full of exciting young talent and might have landed themselves another one in Jones, who went close to a triple-double in his Summer League debut on Monday against Philadelphia.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: NBA.com
3 months agoFree-agent forward
Davis Bertans is reportedly generating interest among multiple teams after getting waived by the Charlotte Hornets. According to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto, the New York Knicks are among the teams who are looking at Bertans. The 31-year-old is a sweet-shooting big man who would give an extra threat from deep to the Knicks. However, he will likely not get enough opportunities in New York to jump back into fantasy relevance. Bertans posted 6.7 points and 1.2 rebounds in 15.7 minutes across stints with Oklahoma City and Charlotte in 2023-24.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Michael Scotto
3 months agoThe Phoenix Suns remain interested in bringing back guard/forward
Josh Okogie. The 25-year-old has spent the past two seasons in Arizona but became a free agent after not picking up a $2.9 million option on his contract. Okogie averaged 4.6 points and 2.6 rebounds in 16.0 minutes last season, logging 11 starts across 60 appearances. His numbers will likely be in a similar mold next season if he returns to Phoenix, which appears likely, as Okogie hasn't really been linked with any other teams since hitting free agency.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Gerald Bourguet
3 months agoVeteran point guard
Kyle Lowry could end up complementing the Big Three in Phoenix next season. According to PHNX's Gerald Bourguet, Lowry is in talks with the Suns. Phoenix has been desperate for a point guard, and the team has already snapped up
Monte Morris as a free agent. Lowry's addition would give the backcourt a further boost, although he also continues to be linked with a return to the Philadelphia 76ers. The 38-year-old has lost a lot of fantasy value in recent seasons but could still do a job for teams in deeper leagues if he lands a starting role for 2024-25.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Gerald Bourguet
3 months agoUtah Jazz forward
Lauri Markkanen continues to draw links with the Golden State Warriors. The Athletic's Anthony Slater has reported that the Warriors remain in pursuit of Markkanen, although he believes it could be a drawn-out process. Markkanen has averaged 20-plus points in back-to-back seasons and is just a year removed from being an All-Star. He would add shooting and size to the Warriors lineup, although Markkanen's scoring numbers could take a hit in San Francisco, with the offense flowing through
Stephen Curry.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: Anthony Slater
3 months agoBrooklyn Nets utility man
Ben Simmons (back) is expected to be ready to go for the start of the 2024-25 campaign. "Ben has been doing his rehab and prep work," said Bernard Lee, Simmons' agent. "I'll simply say he's in a great place and the expectation is he's able to start the season 100 percent of himself ready to go." Fantasy managers heard the same story last summer. However, the 27-year-old appeared in only 15 games in 2023-24, averaging a career-low 6.1 points. Without a doubt, Simmons has talent. But until he can stay healthy, he shouldn't be considered anything more than a risky fantasy option with an upside.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Brian Lewis
3 months agoOn Tuesday, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that the Detroit Pistons claimed center
Paul Reed off free agency waivers. Reed is in the second season of a three-year, $24 million deal and will join former 76ers teammate
Tobias Harris in the Motor City. The 76ers waived the 25-year-old on July 6th. With Philadelphia, he suited up for 82 regular season games last year, averaging 7.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.0 blocks in 19.4 minutes. Come fall, Reed will not be a fantasy factor, as he will have to compete with
Isaiah Stewart and
Jalen Duren for playing time.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania
3 months agoOn Tuesday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that power forward
Trendon Watford signed a qualifying offer to remain with the Brooklyn Nets. Signing the qualifying offer allows Watford to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. The 23-year-old deal is for one year and is worth $2.7 million. Last season, Watford played in 63 games for the Nets and posted averages of 6.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: Adrian Wojnarowski
3 months agoDetroit Pistons forward
Ausar Thompson will not participate in Summer League as he is recovering from a blood clot, per James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. Thompson's rookie season ended in March due to a blood clot, for which he would receive treatment. In 63 regular-season contests, the 21-year-old averaged 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.1 steals across 25.1 minutes. The Pistons are likely not rushing Thompson back, and he should be good to go come training camp.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: James L. Edwards III
3 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
3 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
3 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
3 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
3 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
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