NBA Player News

Philly certainly has plenty of depth at point guard now. Tyrese Maxey is the starter, with Jackson, Kyle Lowry and rookie Jared McCain as the other options. It’s unclear what the rotation will look like, but there isn’t enough point guard minutes to go around, which means that these lead guards will have to spend time playing off-ball roles. Outside of Maxey, there won’t be much consistent fantasy value in the backcourt in Philly.

Kalkbrenner did not offer much offensive production on Saturday, but his value is best realized on the defensive end of the floor. The four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year blocked three shots and altered a few others on Saturday as the Hornets held on after blowing a sizable lead. Despite being a second-round pick, Kalkbrenner is in a position where he may be a must-select player in the late rounds of fantasy drafts. Charlotte still has Moussa Diabate and brought back Mason Plumlee for a second stint with the franchise, but the roster is lacking at the center position.

Simpson did not have a great evening shooting the basketball, but the 2024 second-round pick still led the Hornets in scoring on Saturday. While these summer league games are undoubtedly crucial for Simpson as he looks to establish himself as a pro, the path to fantasy relevance will be challenging to navigate. In addition to having LaMelo Ball, the Hornets re-signed Tre Mann and acquired Collin Sexton from the Jazz. Add in former first-round pick Nick Smith Jr., and Simpson’s opportunities to transition from two-way contract player to earning a standard deal will be limited.

There’s no sugar-coating that Salaün’s rookie season was disappointing, as he averaged 5.9 points and 4.7 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game. Hopefully, he can use Las Vegas as a springboard into his second NBA season as the Hornets look to improve their standing in a wide-open Eastern Conference. Three-point shooting is an area where Salaün can potentially provide value, even though he was 1-of-6 from beyond the arc on Saturday.

After playing 14 minutes on Thursday, one day after agreeing to a two-way deal, Barlow started on Saturday and was productive in his 30 minutes on the court. He finished one rebound shy of a double-double and contributed three steals on a good evening for the newest 76ers player. Barlow helped pick up the slack for Adem Bona (4/6/2/2/3), who offered minimal value outside the defensive categories. Philadelphia also signed Jabari Walker to a two-way deal this summer, giving them two low-risk options to help fortify the frontcourt rotation.

With VJ Edgecombe sidelined by a thumb injury, Mintz is one of the 76ers who have benefited from the available playing time. He finished Saturday’s defeat with a game-high 24 points but missed out on 26 when Ryan Kalkbrenner rejected his jumper in the final seconds. Between his finish to Philadelphia’s games in Salt Lake City and Saturday’s performance, Mintz is working hard to show he’s worthy of a training camp invitation, and possibly a two-way contract.

Anthony, who was traded to the Grizzlies as part of the deal that sent Desmond Bane to Orlando, clearly was not going to be in Memphis’ plans next season. He’s reportedly agreed to a contract buyout and has already found his next home once he clears waivers. Anthony is reportedly headed to Milwaukee, which needs additional depth on the perimeter. Even if Damian Lillard were not waived, the Bucks would be in a difficult spot since he’s recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon. For Anthony, moving to Milwaukee allows him to earn rotation minutes, but his game is not exactly fantasy-friendly.

After exiting Thursday’s game during the first half with a head injury, Furphy was back on the court Saturday afternoon. He was cold from deep, missing all six of his three-point attempts, but the 2024 second-round pick was able to make some things happen off the dribble. Furphy appeared in 50 games as a rookie but only averaged 7.6 minutes per appearance, so these games in Las Vegas are a big deal for him. He’ll look to remedy the three-point shooting woes when the Pacers face Chicago on Monday.

The Pacers have only used two of their three two-way contracts for the 2025-26 season, and Freeman is among the players in Las Vegas competing for the final spot. His performance against the Thunder was a step in the right direction, with the former Kent State standout recording a double-double on 80 percent shooting from the field. Freeman played in 22 games for the Pacers as a rookie, and he isn’t someone worth considering in fantasy drafts. But, a good run in Las Vegas could get him another two-way deal or an Exhibit 10 that would guarantee him a training camp invite.

Mitchell was able to earn rotation minutes as a rookie before a toe injury in January sidelined him for over three months. For that reason, the time taking on a prominent role for Oklahoma City’s summer league team is invaluable as Mitchell heads into his second season. And with the Thunder signing him to a three-year deal in late June, it’s clear the franchise believes in the 2024 second-round pick. Now, Mitchell must clean up the turnovers after committing seven on Saturday. But it’s fair to wonder if he’s shown the Thunder enough in Las Vegas to be shut down for the rest of the event.

After firing up 18 shots on Thursday, Topić appeared more focused on making plays for others Saturday afternoon. The rookie dished out a game-high 10 assists while committing just three turnovers as Oklahoma City rolled to a 21-point victory. Having missed the 2024-25 season as he rehabbed from a torn ACL, Topić will look to earn opportunities off the bench with the reigning NBA champions. While he may not offer great value in redraft leagues, Topić will be well worth selecting in dynasty start-ups.