NBA Player News

Needing a spark after falling behind by a 33-11 margin, 76ers coach Nick Nurse called on Hield for the first time since Game 3. Give the veteran sharpshooter credit for staying ready, as he came out hot and finished with 20 points off the bench after scoring two in Games 1 through 3. Nicolas Batum also had a good night off the bench, accounting for 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one block, and three 3-pointers in 28 minutes. Hield and Batum are in a similar spot heading into the offseason, as they will be unrestricted free agents. The former offers a higher fantasy ceiling, but that would likely require him to land a starting role with a non-contender. As for Batum, he’ll spark interest among playoff-caliber teams needing a 3-and-D wing.

Jordan will continue backing up Nikola Jokic next season. The Nuggets big man played sparingly last season, but was often his team’s preferred reserve center. Fantasy managers shouldn’t expect much production from him, as no center offers more fantasy value than Jokic.

Bol appeared in roughly half of the Suns’ games last season and averaged 5.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per contest. He’ll look to expand upon his role in his second year with the team. He could have to face an uphill battle given the more experienced players ahead of him on the depth chart, though.

Holmes declined a one-year, $12.9 million player option before agreeing to his extension. It’s unclear how large his role will be, though, as Alexandre Sarr and Marvin Bagley are set to be in the mix as well from the start of 2024-25.

Metu reached career highs of 10.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game during his 14 games with the Pistons last season. Whether he can carve out a role with a new team remains to be seen.

Achiuwa was serviceable for stints after joining the Knicks via trade, but New York has other priorities after trading for Mikal Bridges and re-signing OG Anunoby. The Knicks aren’t opposed to brining Achiuwa back, but it appears like they’d prefer to do so for cheaper.

Lee missed all of last season with a meniscus tear and will look to pursue a new deal after taking all of 2023-24 to recover from surgery. He averaged 8.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game in his lone full season with Phoenix.

Orlando is declining Wagner’s $8 million option but both sides are willing to negotiate a new deal to keep him with the team. He has a chance to step into a bigger role next season behind Wendell Carter Jr., as Goga Bitadze is also entering free agency this summer.

Thompson’s contract negotiations with the Dubs hit a standstill last week and it appears like the two sides won’t be able to come to an agreement on a deal. The sharpshooter has drawn interest from several teams looking to add outside shooting and playoff experience. The Lakers, Clippers, and Mavericks stand out as frontrunners.

George has long been exploring his potential landing spots for next season and is officially entering free agency. The 34-year-old wing is expected to meet with the Clippers and other suitors as he pursues a secure, multi-year contract. He’s been linked to several teams who hope to contend for a title in the near future and could find himself being no more than a second option on offense should he find a new home.

The Pistons faced a June 30 deadline to decide whether or not to guarantee Brown’s contract for next season. The decision to waive the 2018 first-round pick frees up approximately $4 million in cap space, and the decision to move on from Brown means even more playing time should be available to lottery pick Ron Holland. Brown appeared in 22 games for the Pistons after being acquired from Minnesota, averaging 4.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 0.7 steals in 19.0 minutes