NBA Player News

Usually, James Harden (nine points, five rebounds and six assists) shooting 2-of-10 from the field would spell doom for his team. That wasn’t the case on Sunday, with Merrill’s performance among the reasons why. Shooting 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, Merrill was one of four Cavaliers to finish the 125-94 rout with at least 20 points. Max Strus (9/3/2/3 with one three-pointer) was the fifth starter on Sunday, replacing Dean Wade, but there’s room for Merrill to step up as well. Cleveland visits New York on Tuesday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Nelson performed well enough for the Nets’ G League affiliate to earn a 10-day contract in late February. In four appearances for Brooklyn, Nelson averaged 4.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 8.8 minutes. While the two-way deal gives him a more concrete opportunity than the one he received last season, Nelson is unlikely to impact fantasy basketball in 2026-27.

Giddey, who missed 28 games last season with the majority of his absences due to a strained left hamstring, underwent right ankle surgery in May. Given a three-month re-evaluation timeline, the Bulls’ starting point guard recently resumed playing 5-on-5 and has not been restricted in any way. With Giddey now a full go, fantasy managers can approach their drafts with the mindset that he’ll be able to hit the ground running. With the additions of Caleb Wilson and Nic Claxton to the Bulls’ roster, Giddey is a legitimate threat to push his assist average into double figures next season (he averaged 9.1 helpers per game in 2025-26).

The first overall pick in the 2016 draft, Simmons is back in the NBA after sitting out the entire 2025-26 season. In his most recent action, the 6-foot-10 point forward appeared in 51 games during the 2024-25 season for the Nets and Clippers. In those appearances, Simmons averaged 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 22.0 minutes per game. While he’s had his moments as an effective fantasy option in the past, despite his limited scoring ability, fantasy managers should not expect too much from Simmons in Sacramento. However, keep an eye on him during the preseason to see if Simmons can earn a consistent role.

DiVincenzo suffered a ruptured right Achilles tendon during the Timberwolves’ first-round series against the Nuggets. While there were some external questions about whether the team would entertain trading him in order to upgrade the roster this offseason, it was reported that the Timberwolves would not move DiVincenzo. According to Lloyd, the guard has been a fixture at the team facility as he attacks his rehab. While the Timberwolves’ general manager refused to provide a concrete return timeline for DiVincenzo, he did express optimism that the guard would be able to play at some point next season. Fantasy managers can afford to leave him on the waiver wire in drafts due to the uncertainty.

Branham, the 20th overall pick in the 2022 draft, has seen his NBA opportunities decrease after serving as an occasional starter in his first two seasons with the Spurs. In 2025-26, his lone season with the Wizards, the guard averaged 9.8 minutes per game in 28 appearances. As for Davison, the 53rd overall pick in the 2022 draft, he appeared in 28 games for the Rockets last season. While both will have an opportunity to compete for a roster spot in training camp, neither Branham nor Davison is likely to be in a position to impact fantasy basketball next season.

The fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft, Thompson has emerged as a key figure within the Rockets’ current build. His scoring output has increased in each of his three seasons, with the 6-foot-7 wing averaging 18.3 points per game in 2025-26. Thompson, who finished eighth in NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting, also accounted for 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 53.4 percent from the field. Despite the lack of three-point production, Thompson does enough in other areas to provide top-50 fantasy value. With Thursday’s contract extension and Kevin Durant set to turn 38 in late September, Thompson’s role should only grow in the years to come.

Leonard will reportedly also have to pay $700,000 in restitution for improper benefits by the Clippers for his uncle and former business representative Dennis Robertson, who has also been banned from all business dealings in the NBA. Both Ballmer and Rucker have been suspended for a year, while Frank’s suspension is for six months. The picks the Clippers will lose are from 2029-2033, though they have a few extra picks during that stretch from the Kawhi and Ivica Zubac trades. The Leonard trade should officially go through now that the investigation is complete.

Cleveland selected Diop with the 39th pick in 2022, but he has remained in Spain since then. Now, they’ll finally bring him over, though the only the first year of his contract is guaranteed at $1.3 million. This is a low-risk move for the Cavs to add to their depth.

Reed’s contract of $5.6 million for this upcoming season wasn’t guaranteed previously, but now he is locked in well before the deadline. This, as well as trading Isaiah Stewart, shows the Pistons value Reed and plan to utilize him in a big way next season. However, they still have to sign Jalen Duren to solidify their center rotation.

Fall last played in the NBA in 2022, but he’ll get another shot after playing professionally in China. Fall could make an impact as a backup big man if he sees the court, but he’ll compete with Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti for minutes behind the oft-injured Joel Embiid. Thomas and Nelson Jr. are unlikely to see many minutes this season, barring multiple injuries up the depth chart.