Charlotte

Hornets

Acquired from the Thunder at the 2024 trade deadline, Mann was limited to 13 games last season due to a back injury. He did not play again after November 21 but averaged 14.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.8 three-pointers in 24.5 minutes. Mann can provide value off the bench as Charlotte’s backup point guard when healthy. However, he’s likely to be most useful in fantasy leagues next season when LaMelo Ball is unavailable due to injury.

This is another salary cap saving move by the Bucks so the team can afford to sign Myles Turner. While the Bucks only save $1.3 million in the trade acquiring Micic, the 31-year-old point guard is reportedly planning on going back to Europe rather than continue his NBA career. Micic is expected to give back a significant portion of the $8.1 million he’s owed in a buyout, which will give the Bucks the requisite space to sign Turner.

Connaughton exercised his $9.4 million player option for next season within the last two weeks. With the Bucks in a precarious position as far as the salary cap is concerned, Milwaukee is sending two future second-round picks in 2031 and 2032 to offload his contract. Connaughton will remain in a bench role with the Hornets and doesn’t figure to impact fantasy basketball much at all next year.

It’s a sensible move for the Hornets, who sent center Mark Williams to the Suns on draft night. Now the 35-year-old Plumlee leaves the Suns for the Hornets in free agency. He figures to mostly serve as a veteran presence and mentor to Ryan Kalkbrenner, who the Hornets acquired with the No. 34 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Acquired from the Suns at the February trade deadline, Nurkic is headed back to the Western Conference. His fit in Phoenix was awkward, and opportunities in Charlotte were somewhat limited after Mark Williams returned from injury and a failed trade to the Lakers. Nurkic appeared in 51 games last season, averaging 8.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 20.8 minutes. With Utah having Walker Kessler on the roster, there won’t be much room for Nurkic to impact fantasy basketball next season. He won’t be worth the risk in fantasy drafts.

After three seasons in Utah, Sexton is on the move, with the Jazz sending him and a future draft pick to Charlotte. The scoring guard appeared in 63 games last season, averaging 18.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.7 three-pointers in 27.9 minutes. Primarily a points and assists option, Sexton finished the season ranked outside the top 150 in nine-cat formats. With Utah’s point guard situation including Keyonte George, Isaiah Collier and first-round pick Walter Clayton Jr., Sexton being moved is unsurprising. His fantasy value in Charlotte may be limited, but there could be opportunities to provide value due to LaMelo Ball’s injury history.

Kalkbrenner spent five years at Creighton, and he’ll turn 24 this year, making him one of the oldest prospects in this year’s draft. At 7’1, 257 pounds, he’ll have few peers his size at the next level, giving him a physical advantage out of the gate. In his final season with the Blue Jays, he posted 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.5 steals and 2.7 blocks per game. Kalkbrenner’s 66/73/32 splits over his final four collegiate seasons were impressive for a player of his size, and he has the skills to develop into a strong offensive option in the NBA. Charlotte traded away Mark Williams on Wednesday, so Kalkbrenner will compete with Moussa Diabate and Jusuf Nurkic for the starting center spot for the Hornets. He could be in for a big rookie year.

James spent the first four years of his collegiate career with Tulane before transferring to Duke for his fifth and final season. The 6'5, 218-pound combo guard averaged 8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists with the Blue Devils last season, knocking down 41.3 percent of his three-point tries. James has the size needed to guard multiple positions, and he’s got a high basketball IQ, making him a threat on both ends of the court. Known more for his scoring ability at Tulane, James took on more of a facilitator role at Duke while also being the Blue Devils’ best on-ball defender. In Charlotte, he’ll look to earn an opportunity with a franchise that has been stuck in rebuilding mode for a while.

Micic was dealt to Phoenix in February as part of the deal that sent Jusuf Nurkic to Charlotte. Micic played solidly when given meaningful minutes for the Hornets, and he’ll return after just a few months in the desert.