With the Jazz in the midst of a rebuild, there have been questions regarding Markkanen’s future with the franchise. However, while John Collins and Collin Sexton were traded this offseason and Jordan Clarkson’s contract was bought out, the team reportedly does not plan to move Markkanen. “It would be too much to describe Markkanen as untouchable, but the Jazz still project the All-Star forward as a key player in their future core,” MacMahon wrote. In addition to how he’s viewed within the franchise, Markkanen’s contract may deter some teams. Last August, he agreed to a five-year extension worth $238 million. Utah still needs some veterans to lead the way for their young roster, which is why Markkanen remains so valuable to the franchise.

Given how well Filipowski has played in Utah’s three games in Las Vegas, Monday’s overtime defeat may be the last time he plays until the start of the 2025-26 season. The second-year forward/center was outstanding against the Spurs, producing another efficient offensive effort while also grabbing 11 rebounds. Filipowski’s emphatic dunk with 1.9 seconds remaining in overtime tied the game at 91, but a Riley Minix turnaround as time expired gave San Antonio the win.

Irving was injured in early March and does not have a concrete timeline for returning to game action. However, Harrison’s words about the point guard will spark optimism regarding his return to the court. “Kyrie’s ahead of schedule, but we kind of knew he would be because of the way he attacks his rehab,” Harrison said, according to the Dallas Hoops Journal. “He’s going two or three times a day. As much as he wants to rush it, we don’t want him to. But he’s going to be fine.” Due to Irving’s injury, the Mavericks signed D’Angelo Russell in free agency and re-signed Dante Exum. They’ll handle the point guard responsibilities while Dallas awaits Kyrie’s return, with Russell being worth the risk in standard league drafts.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, George injured his knee during a recent workout. The 76ers wing only appeared in 41 games in his debut season with the team, as groin and knee injuries sidelined him for good in March. George initially hyperextended his left knee during the preseason, and it remained an issue throughout the year. With Joel Embiid also recovering from offseason knee surgery, the 76ers could be without two of their stars when training camp opens in September.

Deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder limited Wemby to just 46 appearances in Year 2. The superstar big man has been phenomenal through his first two NBA seasons, and fantasy managers should expect more of the same for the 2025-26 season, assuming there are no additional health issues. He should be a consensus top-3 pick in upcoming fantasy basketball drafts.

After a decent performance in his summer league opener on Friday, Sarr was outstanding on Sunday against the Nets. The rim protection was elite, with the second-year center blocking eight shots and changing a few others, and he also hit double digits in rebounds. While there are still some issues with Sarr finishing through contact, he’s trending in the right direction after a solid rookie season. He should be selected in all drafts, as Sarr is a lock to be in the starting lineup.

For returnees with significant regular-season experience, the hope during summer league is that those players can dominate early before being shut down. Unfortunately for the Heat, that has not happened with Ware, leading to Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra saying that the 7-footer’s professionalism and consistency need to improve. Ware was better against the Cavaliers, but his performance was not enough to keep Miami from losing by 20. Even if Sunday’s performance is deemed good enough to be Ware’s last appearance of the summer, he’s got some work to do before the start of next season. After a solid rookie season, he will be worth selecting in all leagues.

Flagg played two games at Summer League and averaged 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 dimes, 1.5 steals and a swat. Dallas has apparently seen enough from the generational talent, and he won’t get any more run for the final six days of the summer league. There’s no indication that this shutdown has anything to do with injury, so expect Flagg to be all systems go when the 2025-26 season tips off in October.

Given how well he’s played in Minnesota’s first two games in Las Vegas, it would be unsurprising if the team decided it has seen enough from Shannon. Likely to take on a larger role next season due to Nickeil Alexander Walker’s departure, the 27th overall pick in the 2024 draft has looked ready for the task thus far. Among Shannon’s highlights on Saturday were five three-pointers and an emphatic fourth-quarter dunk that got a courtside Anthony Edwards out of his seat. While he may not be a must-draft player in standard leagues, Shannon may develop into a player who needs to be rostered in deeper formats.

After shooting 2-of-14 from the field in Thursday’s win over the Magic, Carter bounced back significantly during Saturday evening’s contest. Only missing three shots from the field, the second-year guard was elite as a scorer while also providing value as a rebounder and defender. Carter’s name has come up in some trade rumors this offseason, but nothing has come to fruition. Whether in Sacramento or elsewhere, the 2024 first-round pick is working to ensure he logs consistent rotation minutes next season. Saturday’s performance was unquestionably a step in the right direction for the former Providence College standout.