NBA Player News

Wiseman will join his fourth team since being selected No. 2 in 2020. He’ll provide depth behind Myles Turner and will scrap for minutes with Isaiah Jackson. Wiseman could get a slight boost in fantasy value if he’s able to secure the top backup spot behind Turner, but he’s a deep-league dart-throw at best. Detroit’s center depth consists of Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart, which means that unless the Pistons make a move for another big man, Beef Stew should play more minutes at the five in 2024-25. That could lead to more rebounds and a higher FG%.

After five seasons in Minnesota, McLaughlin is on the move, reportedly agreeing to a one-year deal with the Kings. Injuries limited him to 56 appearances last season, with the point guard accounting for 3.5 points and 2.0 assists in 11.2 minutes per game. With De’Aaron Fox firmly entrenched as the starting point guard, don’t expect McLaughlin to be worth selecting in fantasy drafts.

After playing sparingly as a rookie, Jones is looking to move up in the Kings’ pecking order on the wing in 2024-25. While Sacramento acquired DeMar DeRozan on Saturday, Harrison Barnes and Chris Duarte headed out in that trade, which could free up a few minutes for someone. While Jones didn’t have his best night shooting the basketball, he was responsible for five assists (tied for team-high with Mason Jones). Colby isn’t a player fantasy managers should plan on drafting, but he’s worth tracking throughout the Kings’ games in northern California and Las Vegas.

As expected, the Kings dominated their summer opener, with the team’s most experienced players leading the way. Jones knocked down five 3-pointers and scored a game-high 19 points, with Keon Ellis adding 18. Jones is on a two-way contract, and the addition of Devin Carter likely makes it more difficult for him to crack the rotation once the games count. However, more performances like Saturday’s could put Mason in a position to fight for regular season minutes, even if it isn’t enough to make him a viable fantasy option.

While the rookies tend to receive most of the attention during summer league action, the progress made by returnees should not be ignored. Ellis, who passed the since-traded Davion Mitchell in the rotation last season, is looking to prove that he should remain in the rotation in 2024-25. He had an excellent start to his summer on Saturday, scoring efficiently while performing well as a distributor and defender. The question in the short term is how much Ellis will play this summer, especially with first-round pick Devin Carter (shoulder) sidelined.

While the Nuggets did decline Cancar’s option for the 2024-25 season, the team remained interested in bringing him back. Denver general manager Calvin Booth was in Greece watching Cancar, who suffered a torn ACL in his left knee last August, represent Slovenia in an Olympic Qualifying Tournament loss to the hosts on Saturday. Cancar will have the opportunity to earn rotation minutes next season but is not a player who fantasy managers in most leagues should plan to draft.

After spending last season with the Raptors on a two-way contract, Gueye is playing for the Hornets this summer. And he made quite the impression on Saturday, displaying his full potential on both ends of the floor. Impactful as a defender, Gueye also showed off the ability to score from just about anywhere on the court. Charlotte will have Mark Williams and Nick Richards under contract for next season, but Gueye’s primary focus this summer will be on earning an invite to training camp.

New Hornets head coach Charles Lee had to be pleased with what he saw from the “Summer Hornets” on Saturday. However, Smith’s shooting struggles were one of the lone negatives. While fellow rookie Brandon Miller improved throughout last season, Smith could not crack the rotation, averaging 14.3 minutes per game in 51 appearances. With starting point guard LaMelo Ball due to return from injury and the Hornets adding Josh Green via trade, this is a big summer for Smith regarding his ability to earn rotation minutes in training camp potentially.

In exchange for DeRozan, who has agreed to a three-year, $74 million deal, the Kings sent Harrison Barnes to the Spurs and Duarte, two second-round picks, and cash to Chicago. Initially competing with Kevin Huerter for a spot in the starting lineup last season, Duarte was injured during the preseason and never seemed to get back on track. He appeared in 59 games, averaging a career-low 3.9 points while shooting 38.1% from the field. If Chicago embraces a rebuild, there could be opportunities for Duarte to prove himself, but he is not worth selecting in fantasy drafts.

As soon as Sacramento’s season ended, it was clear that the team would look to improve its wing scoring, with either Barnes or Kevin Huerter expected to be moved. The latter is headed to San Antonio, with Chris Duarte, two second-round picks, and cash headed to Chicago. While Barnes was a fixture in the Kings’ starting lineup, not missing a game in either of the last two seasons, the fantasy value was limited. While the Spurs are rebuilding, they did sign Chris Paul to get more experience around Victor Wembanyama. Barnes could potentially provide late-round fantasy value in San Antonio, but he offers a limited ceiling.

DeRozan was one of the top remaining free agents on the board, and there were multiple reports of Sacramento’s interest in signing him. They’ve gotten the deal done via sign-and-trade, with the veteran wing due to make $74 million over three years. DeRozan will slide seamlessly into the spot left vacant by Barnes and should once again threaten top 50 fantasy value in 2024-25. However, his ceiling is limited due to the lack of 3-point production. DeRozan’s reliance on the mid-range could boost the 3-point production of Keegan Murray, who has played well in his first two NBA seasons.