NBA Player News

The news couldn’t come at a better time, as Shams also expects Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter to take the court. Cleveland fell behind 2-0 in the series with a wild final minute of Game 2 that culminated in a Tyrese Haliburton game-winning three-pointer. Teams down 3-0 in a series have never come back to win, so a victory on Friday is crucial in keeping the Cavs’ season alive. With Garland expected back, Ty Jerome will retreat back to the bench.

Young opted out of his $49 million player option last week, but he’ll get a bigger payday and long-term stability with Washington. His deal includes a player option in Year 4, but Young will be with the franchise through at least 2029. With so many talented options already around him and the top pick in the draft heading to the nation’s capital, Washington could move out of the cellar in which it’s been dwelling.

May took Florida Atlantic on an improbable Final Four run in 2023, and just three years later, he guided Michigan to a national championship. May’s meteoric rise through the coaching ranks will now take him to Dallas, where he’ll look to get Cooper Flagg and Co. back into playoff contention after a 26-56 campaign. It’s a very bold hire, but May has proven to be an expert at building a program and that’s exactly what the Mavericks need now.

Consistently contending for an NBA championship gets expensive, especially in the current era. Oklahoma City holds team options on Isaiah Hartenstein, Luguentz Dort and Kenrich Williams, and the franchise also has to account for the extensions for Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren that will go into effect. Moving the remainder of Wiggins’ five-year, $45 million contract frees up some money, while the Hawks add a versatile forward whose opportunities decreased during the postseason. Wiggins had his moments of fantasy relevance with the Thunder, usually when the team was shorthanded. His fantasy outlook in Atlanta depends partially on what happens with Jonathan Kuminga, who has a team option for next season. To consummate the deal, Oklahoma City received Atlanta’s 2030 second-round pick and the least favorable of Atlanta or the Lakers’ 2032 second-round pick.

McCollum was eligible for a contract extension until June 30, and Sunday’s report means that he won’t hit free agency at the end of the month. Also, the new deal includes a trade kicker. After being acquired from the Wizards as part of the Trae Young trade, the 6-foot-3 guard averaged 18.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 2.3 three-pointers with the Hawks. And his play was a big reason why the Hawks were able to hand the Knicks two of their three losses on the way to New York’s first NBA title since 1973. As a starter, McCollum can offer solid value to fantasy managers, regardless of league format.

In consecutive days, the Suns have reportedly come to terms on extensions with guards Goodwin and Collin Gillespie, who provided solid production in a surprising 2025-26 campaign for the franchise. Appearing in 70 games, Goodwin averaged 8.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.6 three-pointers in 22.5 minutes. From a fantasy standpoint, he projects to be more of a specialist when the Suns are whole, proving especially valuable to category league managers needing steals.

After three seasons playing on two-way contracts, Gillespie played well enough last season to earn a substantial payday when free agency opens at the end of the month. Starting 58 of the 80 games he played last season, the 6-foot-1 guard averaged 12.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.9 three-pointers in 28.5 minutes. Gillespie should take on a similar role next season, and he’s capable of offering consistent late-round value in standard leagues.

Acquired from the Mavericks as part of the Anthony Davis trade at the February deadline, Russell never suited up for the Wizards last season. And that was with Trae Young unavailable on most nights. Add in Bub Carrington being on the roster, and it’s highly unlikely that Russell plays for the Wizards next season. Regardless of where he lands, there is not much to gain from rostering D’Lo in fantasy leagues.

Stewart, who has two years and $30 million remaining on his current contract, saw his playing time decrease during the postseason due to Detroit’s search for more playmaking alongside Cade Cunningham. To address that issue this summer, Beef Stew could be used to make something happen. And in a separate report, NBA insider Jake Fischer wrote that Stewart is “bracing” for a move elsewhere. In 58 games last season, Stewart averaged 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 22.7 minutes. Backing up Jalen Duren has lowered Beef Stew’s fantasy ceiling; a move to a place where he would play more could change that. And if Stewart were to be traded, that would free up additional opportunities for Paul Reed.

Caldwell-Pope’s 2025-26 campaign ended early after he injured his finger and underwent surgery. Before the injury, the veteran guard was having one of his least-productive seasons as a pro and had struggled to provide fantasy value. Nonetheless, his opt -in will bring him back to Memphis for a third season.

Williams played a career-best 61 games last season, though he ended up missing the entirety of the Suns’ first-round series against the Thunder and only played in one of their two play-in games. However, he was still effective when he was on the floor, and Phoenix likely won’t let the 24-year-old walk for cheap. He should be penciled in as their starting center for next season, though Khaman Maluach’s development could alter the Suns’ stance on how much their willing to match on an offer sheet for Williams. Brea was a summer league standout in 2025 and will likely play for the Suns’ squad again, though he is likely still far off from being a rotational player for them.