Stein: Trail Blazers not pursuing DeMar DeRozan

Diawara, who had his moments during the 2025-26 regular season before falling out of the rotation for the team’s title run, injured his left ring finger during Summer League. While he did need to undergo surgery, the wing has already returned to the court and is expected to be fully ready when the Knicks open training camp in late September. There should once again be opportunities for Diawara to contribute during the regular season, but he is not a player to select in redraft leagues.

Jemison has played for five different NBA teams in his three seasons, most recently spending the 2025-26 campaign with the Knicks on a two-way deal. The 6-foot-11 center appeared in 13 NBA games for the champs, averaging 6.3 minutes per game. While Toronto has experienced success in using its G League affiliate to develop players, Jemison is unlikely to be in a position to impact fantasy basketball next season.

Selected with the 47th overall pick in June’s draft, Nickel was arguably the Knicks’ best performer at Summer League in Las Vegas. However, a recent lawsuit ruling that now allows players to play five seasons of college basketball may have opened the door for a return to campus. Nickel, who entered his name into the transfer portal in April, is said to be considering the possibility of playing another season of college basketball. According to the Nashville Post, his NIL valuation ranges from $1-1.4 million, likely more money than Nickel would make if he were to agree to a deal with the Knicks. If he does return to college, the Knicks would retain Nickel’s draft rights.

DeRozan’s time with the Kings ended earlier this summer, and there has been speculation about his next stop. Miami, Denver, Cleveland and Washington have reportedly expressed interest in the veteran wing, and there were also reports that Portland was involved. However, according to Stein, the Trail Blazers have not pursued the possibility of signing DeRozan. Given the team’s surplus of perimeter players, it is unsurprising that Portland would not be in the mix for the 36-year-old.

The report indicates the Kings are interested in adding a veteran mentor for Darius Acuff Jr., who they just selected with the 7th overall pick. Westbrook and Oladipo have experienced a lot during their NBA careers, so either would be a good locker room presence for Acuff to have around. However, with Acuff as the priority, neither would likely play enough to make much of an impact in fantasy basketball.

Despite rumors that Holiday would join the 76ers after securing a buyout, Portland intends to keep him around. Holiday appeared in 53 games for the Trail Blazers last season, averaging 16.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists and a career-high 2.6 three-pointers per game. With Ja Morant now in town and Damian Lillard healthy, it’s unclear what Holiday’s role will be, but he should see plenty of minutes as one of the best defenders on the team.

Houstan spent his first three seasons with the Magic before joining the Hawks on a two-way deal in October. Atlanta would convert him to a standard contract before waiving Houstan in early April. He appeared in 18 NBA games for the Hawks, averaging 2.3 points per game. Houstan will compete for the Pelicans’ final standard roster spot, as his contract is not guaranteed. Kobe Bufkin and Christian Koloko will be in the Pelicans’ camp on similar deals.

A door that was once closed for Mitchell and other players like him swung open earlier this summer thanks to a court ruling that now gives college players five seasons of eligibility to be completed over five years. The original rule gave them four years of eligibility. Despite playing well for the Celtics’ summer league team, Mitchell is reportedly considering returning to school to fill the final available roster spot for the two-time defending Big East champions. If Mitchell, who has yet to finalize a contract with the Celtics, were to return to school, Boston would retain his draft rights. Given how lucrative NIL deals can be for some players in this new era of college sports, a domestic “draft and stash” may not be a bad idea for Mitchell, especially when considering that he would be playing for one of the sport’s best coaches in Rick Pitino.

Added via sign-and-trade ahead of the 2024-25 season, Thompson’s first two seasons in Dallas have not gone as planned. While his 38.7 percent mark from three is respectable, that is nearly four percentage points lower than his number with the Warriors. Also, the Mavericks have not been a contender in Thompson’s two seasons, especially after former lead executive Nico Harrison decided to trade Luka Dončić to the Lakers. With 16 players on standard contracts and a new lead executive, Masai Ujiri, calling the shots, it’s unsurprising that the Mavericks would reportedly explore the market for Thompson. In July, it was reported that Miami had interest in Thompson, potentially adding another shooter to play off of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.

Marshall is entering his third season in Dallas and is now set to be tied to the team until 2030. The two best scoring seasons of his career have come during his time with the Mavericks, and his veteran presence will be important as they continue to add young talent. Marshall has stepped up when Dallas has dealt with injuries in the frontcourt, and he’ll likely continue to be a valuable reserve option for them next season.