3 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
3 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
3 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
3 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
3 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
3 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
3 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
3 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
3 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
3 months agoLos Angeles Lakers guard
Bronny James (knee) didn't suit up for Sunday's California Classic Summer League loss to the Golden State Warriors. The 19-year-old, drafted No. 55 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, made his unofficial NBA debut on Saturday versus Sacramento. However, he struggled, scoring just four points while shooting 2-for-9 from the field. Fortunately, James is only dealing with "trace swelling" in his left knee, so he was held out for precautionary reasons. He's expected to return to the lineup for the Lakers California Classic finale against the Miami Heat.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Kendra Andrews
3 months agoLos Angeles Clippers forward
Kawhi Leonard (knee) has been "ramping up" his activity level ahead of the start of the 2024 Summer Olympics. The veteran missed most of the postseason due to knee inflammation. However, it appears he's moving in the right direction, recently appearing in a scrimmage for Team USA and draining four three-point shots. Leonard stayed relatively healthy during the 2023-24 campaign, appearing in 68 games. He was also as productive as ever, averaging 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals while shooting 41.7% from behind the arc. Without question, injuries continue to impact his fantasy value negatively. But if Leonard can stay on the floor for most of the 2024-25 campaign, he has top-10 fantasy upside.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania, Joe Vardon
3 months agoThe Hornets waived forward/center
Aleksej Pokusevski on Saturday. The 2020 No. 17 overall pick out of Serbia played in OKC for just over three seasons. However, after getting cut by the Thunder early in 2023-24, he signed with Charlotte, where he averaged 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. Without question, Pokusevski has talent. But injuries have prevented him from reaching his potential. If Pokusevski signs with a new team and stays on the floor, he may gain deep-league fantasy value in 2024-25. For now, his fantasy ceiling can't get any lower.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Hornets PR
3 months agoThe Hornets released forward
Davis Bertans. The 2011 No. 42 overall pick began the 2023-24 campaign with OKC before getting traded to Charlotte. In 28 games with the Hornets, he averaged 8.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, and shot 37.5% from deep. Without question, Bertans has plenty of experience and will add depth to any club around the National Basketball Association, meaning there's a good chance a team will sign him. However, he isn't relevant from a fantasy standpoint, and that's not expected to change anytime soon, even if he lands somewhere for the 2024-25 season.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Hornets PR
3 months agoPhoenix Suns forward
Kevin Durant (calf) will miss the start of Team USA training camp. The veteran is dealing with a calf strain, although Team USA head coach Steve Kerr indicated that the injury is "not bad." Durant finished last season by averaging 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.2 blocks. He also appeared in 75 games, his most since the 2018-19 campaign, and shot 41.3% from deep. Of course, fantasy managers will want to monitor the ailment in case it becomes something more heading into the regular season.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania, Joe Vardon
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