NBA Player News

Butler’s absence is a major blow to the Warriors, who are treading water in the competitive Western Conference standings. Golden State should have more minutes available for the likes of De’Anthony Melton, Brandin Podziemski and Quinten Post, though there is no clear-cut fantasy beneficiary to immediately identify.

Bufkin spent his first two seasons with the Hawks but was traded to the Nets ahead of last season. They waived him right before the season began, and he didn’t end up appearing in an NBA game until January, and he ended up signing with the Lakers for the rest of the season. Now, he’s trying to earn a new contract, and this performance should help make his case. He was quite the path to climb to get to the point where he is producing in NBA games, but he should be on pace to at least get a deal before the summer ends.

With Quinten Post heading for Memphis, Golden State has turned to Bassey to fill out some backup minutes down low. Bassey finished out last season on a 10-day deal with the Warriors and is now on track to start next year as a reserve option for them down low.

The two teams agreed to send Leonard back to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and draft compensation at the end of June, but that deal is now on hold pending the league’s investigation into the Clippers’ Aspiration scandal. ESPN’s Shams Charania said that the expectation is that the deal will still end up happening. While that remains to be seen, all parties involved will be better off as soon as the league finally wraps up this investigation.

It’s a two-year, non-guaranteed contract for Nance. The Bucks somewhat curiously waived the 26-year-old forward last week, but elected to bring him back now. While much remains in flux with the Bucks’ roster, Nance seems ticketed for a reserve role next season. He averaged 5.4 points and 2.7 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game over 47 games (six starts) last season.

It’s a veteran minimum deal for Clarkson, who turned 34 last month. He served as valuable depth during the Knicks’ championship run and will take on a similar role next season. With the Knicks aiming to be under the second apron, Clarkson is an important value signing for their offseason.

Gardner sprained his left ankle during Miami’s first California Classic game on Friday and has since been sent back to Miami to undergo further treatment. The 6-foot-6 wing appeared in 45 games as a rookie, averaging 3.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 9.1 minutes. While Gardner is unlikely to be in a position to impact fantasy basketball next season, the Heat saw their depth take a hit with the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. As a result, there may be a few more opportunities for Gardner to contribute.

While there is mutual interest between the Lakers and Kuminga, who is an unrestricted free agent after the Hawks declined his option, the two sides are reportedly far apart on a deal. With the Lakers’ activity at the start of free agency, they’re limited in how much money they can spend to fill their remaining roster spot. In fact, the Lakers would have to shed $20 million to pay Kuminga $10 million annually, and that price tag won’t get the job done. As a result, it’s been reported that the Lakers are interested in a sign-and-trade that would send Jarred Vanderbilt and a 2032 first-round pick to Atlanta. While Vanderbilt offers limited offensive production at best, he is a solid defender. However, his contract combined with a future first-round pick may not be all that appealing to the Hawks. Cleveland is also reportedly interested in Kuminga, but the chase for LeBron James takes priority for the Cavaliers.

The sixth overall pick in the 2018 draft, Bamba is still looking to cement himself as a pro after an inconsistent run in Orlando to begin his NBA career. He’s appeared in 36 NBA games over the last two seasons, including four in 2025-26. Signed to a 10-day deal by the Jazz in March, Bamba played two games for Utah, corralling 20 rebounds. He made a good enough impression to earn a contract from Utah, but Bamba’s return is unlikely to affect fantasy basketball.

News of the Pacers’ decision to move on from Potter came to light shortly after the team’s reported signing of veteran forward/center Larry Nance Jr. In his lone season with the Pacers, Potter started seven of the 47 games he appeared in, averaging 9.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 three-pointers in 19.3 minutes. While Wednesday’s reported transaction does not affect fantasy basketball, Potter was productive enough last season to land elsewhere as a backup for the 2026-27 campaign.

The Nuggets had until the end of Wednesday to decide whether to fully guarantee Valančiūnas’ $10 million contract for next season. The veteran center had a $2 million partial guarantee before July 9; Wednesday’s reported transaction makes Valančiūnas a free agent once he clears waivers, saving the Nuggets some money. He appeared in 65 games last season, averaging 8.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 13.4 minutes. Given last summer’s rumors that Valančiūnas was interested in returning to Europe, it may not be a lock that he remains in the NBA next season.