NBA Player News

Pokusevski was one of several former Oklahoma City Thunder players who came to Charlotte via midseason trade in 2023-24. The young stretch four averaged 7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game with the Hornets. It doesn’t seem like he’s solidified himself as a legitimate rotation player, so his fantasy appeal as a free agent is low ahead of 2024-25.

Beal has struggled to remain healthy in recent years, having appeared in 60 games just once in his last seven seasons. The 2025-26 campaign was the low point, as knee and hip injuries limited him to six games, with the latter requiring season-ending surgery. Had Beal exercised his player option to remain with the Clippers, he would have received a contract worth $5.26 million. Instead, he’ll hit unrestricted free agency. At his best, he’s capable of offering excellent fantasy value. However, due to the injuries, Beal is not a trustworthy option for fantasy managers.

The 13th overall pick in the 2024 draft, Carter could never truly establish himself after shoulder surgery pushed his NBA debut back to January 2025. Appearing in 74 games over two seasons, the 6-foot-2 guard averaged 6.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 14.8 minutes. And with the Kings using their lottery pick on Darius Acuff Jr., Carter was unlikely to get the opportunities needed to reach fantasy relevance. The trade to Atlanta gives him a fresh start, but it’s unlikely to change his fantasy outlook since the Hawks used their lottery pick on Kingston Flemings.

While the contract amount was not reported, Bryant is likely to be on the veteran’s minimum. In his first season with the Cavaliers, he averaged 12.1 minutes per game in 60 appearances. Unless something unexpected were to happen with Jarrett Allen or Evan Mobley, Bryant is unlikely to get the playing time needed to affect fantasy basketball. He’ll give the Cavaliers additional post depth off the bench.

After one season in Los Angeles, Smart has reportedly decided to hit free agency. Appearing in 62 games, the veteran guard averaged 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.6 three-pointers in 28.5 minutes. On Sunday, NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported that Houston is a potential landing spot for Smart. Had he opted into the final season of his contract, Smart would have received a base salary of $5.4 million.

Jackson appeared in 55 games last season, averaging 12.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 three-pointers in 21.4 minutes. While he has provided decent value in the past, the Grizzlies’ selection of Cameron Boozer and Karim Lopez in the draft, along with the acquisition of Isaiah Stewart, means there will be more players competing with Jackson for rotation minutes. The Grizzlies also exercised Olivier-Maxence Prosper’s option for the 2026-27 season.

Acquired from the Warriors at the February trade deadline, Jackson-Davis was out of the Raptors’ rotation, averaging just 5.0 minutes per game. However, with Sandro Mamukelashvili set to hit unrestricted free agency, the Raptors may have more room for TJD in their rotation next season if Mamu leaves. Still, Collin Murray-Boyles will be the priority within the frontcourt rotation, eliminating most of Jackson-Davis’ fantasy potential.

To make Monday’s reported contract happen, Wiggins opted out of the final year of a deal that would have paid him over $30.1 million next season. While he takes less money, the added years give the athletic forward more guaranteed years on a team headlined by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. In his first full season with the Heat, Wiggins averaged 15.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.0 blocks and 2.0 three-pointers per game while shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 78.4 percent from the foul line. With Tyler Herro now in Milwaukee and Norman Powell’s future with the Heat in doubt, Wiggins’ three-point shooting becomes a more important asset for the Heat, especially if he can maintain his 2025-26 accuracy (41.4 percent).

After beginning training camp competing for a spot in the 76ers’ rotation, the combination of his play and injuries to Joel Embiid and Paul George led to Barlow becoming a fixture in the starting lineup. Starting 59 of the 71 games he appeared in, the 6-foot-8 forward averaged 7.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 23.8 minutes. Barlow’s production wasn’t enough to make him a consistent factor in fantasy basketball. Still, the recent injury histories of Embiid and George mean he should offer streaming value at a minimum.

As recently as last week, the Clippers reportedly had no desire to move on from Leonard. However, according to Monday’s report, the franchise’s failure to make a long-term commitment to the seven-time All-NBA selection has opened up the possibility of Leonard being traded. He’s entering the final season of his contract with a base salary of $50.3 million, and Leonard’s representatives have reportedly told other teams that Toronto is the only team he would consider signing an extension with. Leonard moving east would represent both the Raptors’ desire to join the Eastern Conference’s elite and the Clippers’ pivot to a rebuild that’s likely to feature lottery pick Keaton Wagler.

Given Ayton’s inconsistent play in his first season with the Lakers, it’s unsurprising that he would look to lock in $8.1 million for the 2026-27 campaign. In 72 games, the 7-footer averaged 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 27.2 minutes. While Ayton started every game he played, there were times when he lost minutes to Jaxson Hayes. Between the inconsistent rebounding and rim protection and his awkward fit with the Lakers’ star ball-handlers in the two-man game, Ayton may not have commanded a similar payday had he gone into free agency. One of the Lakers’ remaining goals this offseason is to upgrade the center position, so Ayton may either be a backup or ultimately be moved elsewhere.