NBA Player News

With Luka Doncic out Sunday, Irving was expected to take the lead on offense for Dallas. While he led the team in shot attempts, he didn’t lead the team in scoring as PJ Washington had 27 points. Irving had a fairly typical game with 23 points on 18 shots and six assists, but didn’t explode for a big game in Doncic’s absence. The Mavericks have three games upcoming in Week 5.

While Ingram was doing individual work recently, he had yet to be cleared for contact after missing most of last season with an ankle injury. On Thursday, it was announced that the Raptors forward has taken the next step in his recovery and is expected to start scrimmaging soon. Ingram only played in 18 games last season, none with the Raptors, as he injured his ankle in early December and did not play again. His arrival in Toronto will impact the fantasy values of multiple players within the rotation, most notably RJ Barrett.

Vukcevic averaged 9.4 points and 3.7 boards across 14.6 minutes per game last season with Washington. Heading into Year 3, he’ll serve as Alex Sarr’s top backup at center, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Washington eventually converted his contract into a standard deal.

J Dub is fresh off the best season of his career, posting 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.7 blocked shots and 1.8 triples per game in Year 3. The Santa Clara product delivered a strong playoff run, including a 40 burger in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Williams will be locked in with OKC through 2030 alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren to make up a formidable big three in the Western Conference.

Acquired from the Kings in early February as part of the three-team trade that also sent De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio, McLaughlin averaged 6.9 minutes per game in 18 appearances for the Spurs. Even with Chris Paul no longer in the picture, the fantasy outlook for the veteran guard will not change much in 2025-26. San Antonio used the second overall pick in last month’s draft to select Dylan Harper, and they can also use reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle on the ball in addition to Fox.

Harper suffered a minor groin injury before the California Classic and did not play in San Antonio’s three games in San Francisco. While he will also miss Thursday’s opening game in Las Vegas against the 76ers, the second overall pick in last month’s draft will reportedly make his summer debut on Saturday against the Mavericks. Fans and fantasy managers have seen San Antonio’s other first-round pick, as Carter Bryant played in two of the team’s three games in San Francisco.

Thursday’s summer league matchup was supposed to include the second and third overall picks in last month’s draft, but neither may be available. San Antonio’s Dylan Harper missed his team’s three games in California with a groin injury, and Edgecombe has been officially ruled out with a sprained left thumb. After scoring 28 points in his first game in Salt Lake City, the former Baylor guard missed the next two games with the thumb injury. The good news for Edgecombe and the 76ers is that his non-shooting hand is the one affected. Whether Edgecombe will see any action in Las Vegas is unknown, but he has been going through on-court workouts and will be re-evaluated on Saturday.

With Kevin Durant traded to the Rockets and Bradley Beal likely being bought out of his contract, Booker will continue to shoulder the load as Phoenix’s franchise cornerstone. Wednesday’s extension means his contract will run through the 2029-30 season, strengthening the commitment between player and franchise. Booker will again be worthy of consideration within the first 25 picks of 12-team fantasy drafts. While he finished last season ranked just outside the top 30, the Suns’ cornerstone was a top-20 player in 2023-24.

Signed to a two-way contract by the Clippers on March 1, Lundy did not appear in a game during the 2024-25 season. The team’s decision to waive the 2023 second-round pick will not impact the Clippers’ rotation or fantasy basketball.

Barlow averaged just under 11 minutes per game across 35 appearances for the Hawks last season. The backup big man started four games and averaged 9.5 points and 3.5 boards in 20 minutes. He’ll compete for backup minutes in Philadelphia with the likes of Johni Broome, Adem Bona and Trendon Watford, among others.

Holmgren logged only 32 games last season due to a hip injury, but he was productive when available. During the 2024-25 campaign, the big man put up 15 points, eight rebounds, two assists, 2.2 blocks and 1.4 triples per contest. He struggled on offense in the Finals but provided a strong defensive presence and recorded five blocks in the closeout, Game 7 victory. Holmgren is now locked in as a franchise cornerstone alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the foreseeable future, and OKC will likely look to get the last member of the team’s big three- Jalen Williams - locked into a long-term deal sooner rather than later.