Harden declines option, negotiating with Cavaliers

Not long after it was reported that Duren would meet with the Kings, who hope to arrange a sign-and-trade with the Pistons, he will also meet with another Pacific Division team. The Lakers are seeking a starting center, as they look to upgrade the position after receiving underwhelming production from Deandre Ayton last season. Given their current salary cap situation, the Lakers would likely be in a position where re-signing LeBron James would be unrealistic if they signed Duren.

After beginning the 2025-26 season as a starter, Barnes fell out of the starting lineup just before the All-Star break, making just three starts the rest of the season. The veteran forward did not offer great fantasy value as a starter, and the situation became even more dire once he hit the bench. Barnes’ return gives San Antonio another experienced option to call upon in the frontcourt, but he’s unlikely to get the opportunities needed to affect fantasy basketball.

Acquired from the Hawks at the trade deadline, injuries and a lingering illness limited Porziņǵis to 15 appearances for the Warriors last season. The veteran center played just 32 games overall, averaging 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.7 three-pointers in 24.0 minutes. Porziņǵis’ contract includes a player option for the second season. While he’s certainly capable of being a highly impactful option for fantasy managers when available, injuries have been a major concern for Porziņǵis in recent seasons.

For quite some time now, it has been believed that Duren and the Pistons were far apart in their negotiations on a new deal. While the 2026 All-Star struggled during the postseason, Monday’s report is shocking. Not only will Duren meet with the Kings at the beginning of free agency, but he’ll do so to work out a sign-and-trade with the Pistons. According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Kings plan to offer Domantas Sabonis to the Pistons to get a deal done. Of course, Detroit can always refuse to do so, especially if they decide to simply match whatever offer sheet Duren signs. If Duren were to move on, that would put the Pistons in the market for a new starting center, which could affect the market for a player like New York’s Mitchell Robinson.

Acquired from the Bulls at the February trade deadline, Huerter missed nine of the Pistons’ final 10 games of the postseason with a strained adductor. When he was available, he averaged 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 three-pointers in 20.3 minutes per game with the Pistons. Huerter’s production wasn’t great, but the Pistons are likely betting that a return to full strength and a better understanding of the team’s system will pay dividends next season.

While he appeared in just 41 games last season, Nurkić fit well within Jazz head coach Will Hardy’s system when available. The veteran center averaged 10.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game, shooting 50.3 percent from the field. How impactful he’ll be next season depends on what happens with Walker Kessler, who is a restricted free agent. If Kessler returns, Nurkić will come off the bench, which lowers his fantasy ceiling.

Instead of simply exercising his option worth $3 million, the Spurs have rewarded Champagnie handsomely with a new contract. Appearing in all 82 regular-season games, starting 68, the 6-foot-7 wing averaged 11.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.4 three-pointers, shooting 43.7 percent from the field and 84.4 percent from the foul line. While the Spurs did add more size via the draft, selecting Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed Jr., Champagnie should still figure prominently in the team’s rotation next season.

Dort entered the offseason with a team option worth $17.7 million, and there were questions about whether his time in Oklahoma City would come to an end. That’s still a possibility, but the Thunder’s ability to move Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe via trade may bode well for Dort and his chances of remaining with the only NBA franchise he’s played for. Due to the limited offensive production, his fantasy ceiling has been limited, and that may not change next season, especially if Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain play more minutes.

While there were reports that multiple teams had interest in offering Shamet a deal when free agency opens on Tuesday night, he’s decided to remain in New York. He’ll receive an average of $6 million per year, which leaves the front office some room to work with as they look to follow owner James Dolan’s directive to avoid the second apron. Shamet was not a consistently impactful fantasy option, but he came up big for the Knicks when they needed him most, including shooting 11-of-12 from three in the Eastern Conference Finals.

With Kuminga’s $24.33 million option, it’s unsurprising the Hawks declined to exercise it. According to multiple reports, the front office attempted to find a trade partner but failed, leading to this transaction. Acquired from the Warriors, Kuminga appeared in 16 games for Atlanta, averaging 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.1 three-pointers in 22.1 minutes. While he had his moments of fantasy relevance, especially with the Warriors, Kuminga likely needs to land in a position where he’ll be featured to be worth the risk in most drafts.