NBA Player News

Irving has not appeared in a game since suffering a torn left ACL in March 2025. While there was some optimism last summer that the point guard was ahead of schedule, he did not play at all during the 2025-26 campaign. Based on Irving’s words during a recent livestream, he’s on track to be good to go for the start of the 2026-27 season. “I am definitely close to being over at 100% in terms of my ACL recovery,” Irving said on Friday. “It’s been a while now…I’m so grateful that I’ve had the time to heal and just experiment with my body more on the court and off the court in the weight room & just pushing myself to the limit.” With Cooper Flagg coming off a Rookie of the Year season and the Mavericks adding another lottery pick to the mix this summer, it will be interesting to see where Irving fits in the rebuild under new lead executive Masai Ujiri. A healthy Irving can provide top-25 fantasy value, but his playing time could be limited early on for injury management reasons.

Porziņǵis has appeared in only 74 games across the last two seasons, and availability will be a major concern heading into the 2026-27 season. Al Horford and Draymond Green are well past their primes, and Jimmy Butler is still on the mend after tearing his right ACL in January. With so many frontcourt minutes up for grabs, rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is a fascinating late-round selection with upside.

Acquired from the Bucks in early July in the trade that sent Caris LeVert and future draft capital to Milwaukee, Harris faced long odds to crack the Pistons’ rotation had he made the Opening Night roster. Injuries have limited the veteran guard to 54 games or fewer each of the last four seasons, and Harris has not exceeded 65 games since 2017-18. The Pistons’ decision to waive Harris will not affect fantasy basketball.

Under normal circumstances, an Exhibit 10 contract would guarantee a player the opportunity to compete in training camp. However, the Heat have signed Smith to such a contract to retain his G League rights after the former lottery pick finished last season with the Sioux Falls SkyForce. Smith, who won’t participate in Heat training camp, is eligible to receive a bonus of up to $91,000 if he remains with Sioux Falls for 60 days.

Days before training camp begins, the Knicks have officially filled two of their three available two-way slots. McCullar, the 56th overall pick in the 2024 draft, has spent most of his time with the Knicks’ G League affiliate, appearing in 25 NBA games over two seasons. McCullar played 21 NBA games last season, averaging 2.4 points in 7.4 minutes per appearance. As for Nickel, the 6-foot-6 wing out of Vanderbilt was the 47th overall pick in the most recent draft. Known for his perimeter shooting ability, Nickel was one of the Knicks’ best performers in Summer League.

Irving has not appeared in a basketball game since suffering a torn left ACL on March 31, 2025. During Mavericks media day, the veteran point guard said that he’s “ready to kick some butt,” which is great news for Dallas and fantasy managers. However, Irving has not played more than 65 regular-season games since the 2018-19 campaign. The team may place early restrictions on Irving’s playing time, but he can still offer high value in any fantasy format.

The Bulls also acquired cash as part of the deal. Chicago gets a veteran shooter in Hield, who was traded by the Hawks earlier this week. He averaged 7.6 points in 51 games last season. Hield can still shoot, but doesn’t offer much more to fantasy managers at this point in his career.

The Hornets create a $9.4 million trade exception as part of the deal. The Bulls get cash to make up for the difference in salaries. Dillingham averaged 9.6 points in 30 games with the Bulls last season. He should have a regular bench role with the Hornets.

The new contract includes a player option for the 2028-29 season, and all but ensures that Curry will end his NBA career with the only franchise he’s played for. Injuries limited him to 43 games last season, but the future Hall of Fame guard appeared in 70 or more in each of the two seasons before that. As long as Curry can remain relatively healthy, he should once again provide fantasy managers with excellent value.

Williams is one of two Hornets ruled out for the preseason due to hamstring injuries; Kon Knueppel is the other. The 6-foot-6 forward suffered a right hamstring injury during an offseason on-court activity and will be re-evaluated during the first week of the regular season. While Williams’ injury leaves the Hornets down an option in the frontcourt, it does not significantly impact fantasy basketball.

Given how well Knueppel played as a rookie and the Hornets’ decision to move on from LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, Friday’s news gives his 2026-27 season a brutal start. At a minimum, the runner-up for Rookie of the Year will be sidelined for four weeks, and that’s just for him to be re-evaluated. According to the Hornets, Knueppel suffered the left hamstring injury during an offseason on-court activity. His absence boosts the early-season values of Brandon Miller and Coby White while also making Grayson Allen a more viable late-round option in drafts.