NBA Player News

Vučević fractured his right ring finger during the first quarter of Friday’s game against the Mavericks and exited moments later. The reported four-week absence means that he won’t be a factor in fantasy basketball outside of leagues that run through the final week of the NBA’s regular season. Luka Garza has moved into the backup center role, but he should only be considered in extremely deep fantasy leagues.

Jokić has repeatedly said that he plans to spend his entire NBA career in Denver, and nothing has changed in that regard. Following Serbia’s FIBA World Cup qualifying win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, the three-time NBA MVP said he plans to sign his extension next summer. The question now is whether he’ll opt into the final season of his current deal, 2027-28, and then ink an extension, or sign one after declining it. The final year of Jokić’s current deal would pay him just under $63 million if he were to opt in. Simply put, Nuggets fans and fantasy managers have little to worry about regarding the 6-foot-11 center’s NBA future.

The 76ers had until Monday to waive Bona without incurring any financial penalty, but they have reportedly decided to hold on to the former second-round pick. As a result, he’s guaranteed to make a shade under $2.3 million next season. In his second NBA season, Bona averaged 4.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 17.4 minutes per game. He’ll combine with offseason signing Ariel Hukporti to provide depth behind Joel Embiid, which makes both players non-factors in fantasy basketball.

The second-year man out of Kentucky appeared in 12 games for Phoenix as a rookie and erupted for a 20 points in the season finale against Oklahoma City. He’s unlikely to see enough run in Year 2 to warrant consideration in fantasy basketball leagues.

Unsurprisingly, the six-time All Star will enter free agency as Sacramento looks to the future with a rebuild centered around young talent like Darius Acuff Jr. and Nique Clifford. DeRozan is now free to sign with the team of his choosing. Teams to keep an eye on include the Warriors, Heat, Lakers and Raptors. He could also team up with LeBron James, depending on where James ultimately decides to sign.

Post is a restricted free agent, and the Warriors will have until 11:59 PM on Tuesday to match the offer. If Golden State doesn’t match, Post will join a crowded Grizzlies frontcourt featuring Zach Edey, Isaiah Stewart and Cameron Boozer.

According to Charania, the Lakers didn’t cooperate on a potential sign-and-trade, so Hachimura took his talents across town to Inglewood. The Clippers have Derrick Jones Jr. and limited depth at PF, so Hachimura should be an immediate starter. In three full seasons with the Lakers, Hachimura averaged 12 points and 4.2 rebounds while knocking down 42.6% of his three-point attempts.

Limited to 25 NBA appearances as a rookie, Thiero may be able to earn a larger role within the Lakers’ rotation next season. LeBron James has informed the team that he won’t be back, and Rui Hachimura remains a free agent. The Lakers have a clear need for athleticism on the wing, and Thiero can certainly provide that. He didn’t have his best shooting game against the Spurs, but his ability to influence the action defensively was on display at times. While Walker Kessler will provide the rim protection, he can’t be the only player who provides cover for the Lakers’ subpar perimeter defenders. Thiero isn’t someone to target in redraft leagues, but he is worth tracking this summer for dynasty leagues.

Watson is a restricted free agent, and like a few other players in his position, he’s been made to wait thanks to a market lacking suitors with available cap space. Denver views him as a key player for the franchise’s future, but there is also a significant gap between what Watson wants, reportedly $25 million per year, and what the team is willing to pay. As a result, the Nuggets are reportedly open to a sign-and-trade as they look to avoid going into the second apron. At this point, only the Nets and Clippers have the cap space to provide Watson an offer sheet without needing to negotiate a trade.

After making all six of his shot attempts in his summer debut on Friday, Lendeborg cooled off in Sunday’s 98-69 victory. However, the ability to do a little bit of everything was on display, showing why the Warriors selected him 11th overall in last month’s draft. Lendeborg grabbed eight rebounds and recorded three “stocks” while also shooting 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. His fantasy outlook for 2026-27 is in a bit of a holding pattern for now, as the Warriors are among the teams in the mix for free agent LeBron James. If Golden State strikes out on adding the 41-year-old, Lendeborg’s role will take on added importance during his rookie season.

With the Bulls refusing to tender a qualifying offer, Olbrich is an unrestricted free agent with the Warriors, hoping to earn a contract or a training camp invite. Golden State coasted to the 98-69 victory on Sunday thanks to a balanced offense, with the 6-foot-10 Olbrich coming off the bench to lead five double-digit scorers. His progress this summer won’t do much for Olbrich’s fantasy outlook in 2026-27, but a good performance may be enough to earn him another opportunity in the NBA after playing in 37 games as a rookie last season.