1 month agoSpanish forward/center Usman Garuba is set to return to his homeland after signing a three-year contract with Real Madrid, according to Eurohoops. The 22-year-old has spent three seasons in the NBA, suiting up for the Golden State Warriors last season and playing in just seven contests. In the two previous campaigns, Garuba averaged 2.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 11.7 minutes across 105 appearances for the Houston Rockets. For the upcoming season, the Madrid-born big man will be in his second stint with Real Madrid.Source: Eurohoops
1 month agoChicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (knee) stated his rehab has gone well. He also told fans to expect to see him back on the court in 2024-25. The 26-year-old last played in 2021-22 when he averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.8 steals in 35 games for the Bulls. He also shot a career-high 42.3%. Unfortunately, he has undergone numerous knee surgeries and hasn't been on the court since. At any rate, Ball appears to be moving in the right direction in the recovery process. But it will take time before he's ready for a full workload. Even then, the Bulls have Josh Giddey and Coby White, meaning Ball could struggle to find minutes.Source: TMZ Sports
1 month agoNew Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson played a career-high 70 games in 2023-24. However, it appears Williamson remains committed to staying on the floor, with the 24-year-old appearing slimmer in a recent photo posted to Instagram. Without question, his durability has been an issue since entering the league as the No. 1 overall pick in 2019. His work ethic has also been questioned. Yet, while Williamson's statistical numbers were down slightly last season, fantasy managers will take it as long as he stays healthy. With that said, he has top-10 fantasy potential. But the former Duke Blue Devil has an uphill climb to convince fantasy managers he's no longer injury-prone.Source: Darryn Albert
1 month agoBrooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is ready for an expanded role this season after the team traded Mikal Bridges to the Knicks. "I'm not really worried about it," said Thomas when asked about the pressures of becoming a leader for the Nets. "I'm just excited to get it going and to try to do it in the league. I'm not really worried about it at all; I'm just ready." The 22-year-old averaged 22.5 points in 2023-24, easily the highest of his career. Fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised to see Thomas enter the All-Star conversation during the 2024-25 campaign, although he'll need to stay healthy, with the 2021 No. 27 overall pick appearing in just 66 games last season.Source: Curtus Bowser III
1 month agoMilwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard struggled by his standards in his debut campaign with the team but is confident that he can regain the form he previously had playing in Portland. "I'm not a player that's breaking down," Lillard told Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I live a clean, good, healthy life so I can do it. I can do the same (expletive) I did two, three years ago. I can do it right now." Lillard's rebounding and assists remained around the same level he had with the Trail Blazers, but his scoring numbers nose-dived in 2023-24 due to poor shooting efficiency. If Lillard can boost his shooting numbers back up to his career average levels in the upcoming campaign, he should become a regular 30-point scorer again.Source: Jim Owczarski
1 month agoCharlotte Hornets point guard Vasilije Micic is drawing links with the Denver Nuggets. "With a salary of $7.7 million this season and an $8.1 million team option in 2025-26, Vasilije Micić continues to be mentioned as a potential down-the-road trade target for Denver given Micic's close relationship with Nuggets star Nikola Jokic," writes NBA insider Marc Stein on his latest Substack post. Micic and Jokic won bronze in the Paris Olympics with Serbia. The 30-year-old is coming off his first NBA campaign. He had a poor spell with the Oklahoma City Thunder but played well in Charlotte after getting traded in February. However, with LaMelo Ball returning to the court, Micic's role will be much smaller in the upcoming campaign. A move to Denver wouldn't be good for his fantasy value either, as he would have Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook ahead of him on the depth chart.Source: Marc Stein
1 month agoTurkish center Omer Yurtseven remains a free agent and is linked with a return to Europe. However, according to NBA insider Marc Stein, the 26-year-old recently had a workout with the New York Knicks. The Knicks are exploring frontcourt options after losing Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Yurtseven, who started his NBA career in Miami, spent the 2023-24 campaign with the Utah Jazz. He has posted 5.0 points and 4.6 rebounds in 11.8 minutes for his three-year career. You can't ask for much more from a backup big. However, the Knicks elected against signing him. Reports out of Greece suggest that reigning EuroLeague champion Panathinaikos has made an offer to Yurtseven, meaning there's a good chance we won't see him in the NBA next season.Source: Marc Stein
1 month agoLos Angeles Clippers forward P.J. Tucker will likely remain with the team for the start of the season. The veteran was sparingly used by the team in 2023-24, and Tucker even publicly requested a trade. According to The Athletic's Law Murray, the Clippers have explored trading him in the offseason after Tucker picked up a $11.5 million player option for the 2024-25 campaign, but a deal before training camp is considered unlikely. Despite seeing big minutes on multiple teams during a lengthy career spanning nearly 900 games, Tucker has never been a productive fantasy asset, and his stock will be at an all-time low if he can't get out of L.A.Source: Law Murray
1 month agoWashington Wizards center Alexandre Sarr has received mixed reviews since being selected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. But Wizards head coach is excited about the rookie's potential. "He's got the ability to be a three-level scorer at some point," Keefe said during a recent interview. "One thing that has stood out to us is his ability to see the game and read the game. He's a good passer, so we want the ball in his hands to explore those opportunities for him." Sarr appeared in four games in the 2024 Summer League. While he struggled offensively, he still showed promise by averaging 7.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. With that said, Sarr may not be a consistent option for redraft managers in 2024-25. Yet, it appears Keefe is committed to giving the 19-year-old plenty of chances to develop, so his dynasty outlook seems promising.Source: Chase Hughes
1 month agoESPN's NBA insider Brian Windhorst believes Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler could turn things around during the 2024-25 campaign. "Butler is going to be highly motivated," Windhorst said during his podcast. "At times, it seems like Jimmy looks for reasons not to play. And maybe that will be the prevailing situation, but I believe that Jimmy is going to be in 'killer mode' to try to prove himself to the Heat and whoever else in the league." The 34-year-old has been scrutinized over the years, especially since he's played 60 games or fewer in five of the last seven seasons. He also averaged 20.8 points last season, his lowest since 2019-20. While Butler is getting up there in age, he should look to prove his value this season, meaning it's possible he'll return to being an All-Star-caliber player.Source: Brian Windhorst
1 month agoFree-agent forward Guerschon Yabusele agreed to a one-year, $2.1 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. The 2016 No. 16 overall pick had a brief career in the National Basketball Association, appearing in 74 games with the Celtics. However, he didn't get much work and averaged only 2.3 points and 1.4 rebounds. But after a quality showing with France during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Yabusele will get a second chance in the NBA. With that said, he probably won't see routine minutes. Yet, there could be streaming potential for fantasy managers at some point throughout the 2024-25 campaign.Source: Adrian Wojnarowski
1 month agoAccording to Shams Charania of The Athletic, free-agent forward/center Kenneth Lofton Jr. signed a one-year deal with the Bulls. Lofton has already played for three teams in his first two seasons in the league. However, he has averaged just 4.8 points in 45 games with the Grizzlies, 76ers, and Jazz. While he has a chance to earn a spot on the Bulls' opening night roster, he'll likely spend most of his time on the bench if he makes the team.Source: Shams Charania
1 month agoNew York Knicks forward/center Jericho Sims had his $2.1 million contract for the 2024-25 campaign fully guaranteed by the team. The 25-year-old has appeared in 138 regular-season games for New York since he was taken as the No. 58 overall pick in 2021. However, he has struggled to find a spot in the rotation and has averaged just 2.6 points and 3.3 rebounds. With Mitchell Robinson (ankle) potentially missing time to begin the year, Sims could get minutes. Yet, there's a chance Julius Randle (shoulder) and Precious Achiuwa split time underneath the rim while Mitchell recovers, meaning Sims could remain the odd man out.Source: Michael A. Scotto
1 month agoAccording to Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr., there are plans to discuss a contract extension with forward Jonathan Kuminga. The 2021 No. 7 overall pick had the best season of his career in 2023-24, averaging 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. He also made 46 appearances in the starting lineup, more than his first two seasons combined. With Klay Thompson now in Dallas, the door is open for others to step up offensively behind Stephen Curry, who could also ink an extension of his own in the near future. With that in mind, Kuminga's pre-draft fantasy ranking is higher than ever. However, there are things he must address, specifically his career-low 32.1% shooting from the three-point line from last season. But with a max contract potentially on the line, Kuminga have plenty of motivation to produce.Source: Anthony Slater
1
month
agoAccording
to
Anthony
Slater
of
The
Athletic,
Golden
State
Warriors
guard
Stephen
Curry
hasn't
"expressed
any
signs
of
panic
or
unrest"
with
the
team's
offseason
moves.
Although
that
could
be
the
case,
at
least
for
now,
Curry's
willingness
to
extend
his
contract
may
paintread more...