NBA Player News

Fontecchio and Grimes will remain sidelined, and it’s unknown when (or if) either will be cleared to play. The absence of the former is more impactful in fantasy basketball, with Troy Brown Jr. replacing him in the starting lineup. Brown has not done enough to merit being streamed, especially with 12 games on the schedule for Wednesday.

Dunn is moving after reigniting his NBA career with two solid seasons in Utah. The 2016 lottery pick appeared in 66 games last season, averaging 5.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.0 steals in 18.9 minutes, shooting 47.0% from the field and 68.8% from the foul line. With James Harden locked into the starting role, Dunn’s fantasy ceiling will be limited, even if the Clippers manage to trade Russell Westbrook.

Smith only appeared in nine games last season before suffering a torn right ACL during a game against the Cavaliers. While there may be moments when he has streaming value, Smith is not a player fantasy managers should plan on drafting.

Due to injury, Harris was limited to 51 games in 2023-24. He started 27 appearances, averaging 6.9 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.4 3-pointers in 24.0 minutes. The combination of playing time and availability limited Harris’ fantasy value, and he won’t be a must-draft player in most leagues. The Magic signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and he is expected to be the starting two-guard come Opening Night.

The sixth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Salaun is dealing with a minor laceration that will keep him out of the Hornets’ summer minicamp. The team announced he would be available for the Vegas Summer League, but nothing was mentioned regarding the rookie’s availability for this week’s California Classic in Sacramento. Don’t expect to see Salaun in action until Las Vegas.

Simpson, the 42nd overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, injured his hamstring during a pre-draft workout. The Hornets say he will not participate in the California Classic (Sacramento) or Vegas Summer League. The expectation is that Simpson will be ready when training camp opens in September.

Utah is listening to calls regarding Markkanen, but that does not mean they’re actively looking to trade the 2023 NBA Most Improved Player. The conversations could become serious if the team is presented with a massive offer that it cannot refuse, like the one that prompted Brooklyn to trade Mikal Bridges to the Knicks. According to Fischer, Golden State, Minnesota, San Antonio, and Sacramento are teams that have registered interest in completing a deal.

Temple was limited to 27 appearances in his first full season with the Raptors, averaging 3.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 10.7 minutes per game. He’s unlikely to get the minutes needed to impact fantasy basketball next season.

After missing the entire 2022-23 season with a broken leg, Gillespie appeared in 24 games for the Nuggets in 2023-24. He posted averages of 3.6 points and 1.1 assists in 9.4 minutes, not impacting fantasy basketball. Managers should not expect much more from Gillespie next season.

Bitadze has re-signed with Orlando, which was the expected outcome once he hit free agency. He appeared in 62 games in his first full season with the Magic, averaging 5.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 15.4 minutes. Bitadze was most impactful in fantasy basketball when starting center Wendell Carter Jr. was out due to injury, with he and Moritz Wagner offering solid streaming value. Look for more of the same in 2024-25, especially if Orlando also re-signs Wagner.

This was expected, as the Celtics viewed inking Tatum and Derrick White to extensions as an offseason priority. White reportedly agreed to his deal on Monday morning, with Tatum following suit a few hours later. While he fell short of providing first-round fantasy value this season, that was a byproduct of the Celtics adding Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to the roster. With the latter due to miss 5-6 months after undergoing left leg surgery, Tatum’s chances of offering first-round value next season have increased. As for the contract, it’s the largest in NBA history and includes a player option (approx. $71.5 million in 2029-30) and a trade kicker.