Atlanta

Hawks

Kuminga hit unrestricted free agency after the Hawks declined to pick up his $24.3 million option for the 2026-27 season. The former Warriors lottery pick remains without a team, but there has been interest. While a return to Atlanta is possible, the Lakers and Cavaliers also expressed interest in signing Kuminga, but both teams would likely require a sign-and-trade to get a deal done. Now, Minnesota has reportedly joined the mix after missing out on LeBron James, who chose to sign with the 76ers. With the departures of Julius Randle and Naz Reid, the Timberwolves can use another forward, even if Kuminga does not have the size of a traditional power forward. And going to Minnesota could give Kuminga a chance to start, which may not be the case with the other reported options.

The 51st overall pick in the 2023 draft, Wilson spent three seasons in Brooklyn before becoming a free agent this summer. The 6-foot-6 wing appeared in 55 games in 2025-26, averaging 6.4 points and 2.1 rebounds in 15.9 minutes. Wilson fills Atlanta’s third two-way contract slot, joining Keshon Gilbert and RayJ Dennis. He is unlikely to get the minutes needed to affect fantasy basketball, especially after the Hawks acquired Luguentz Dort from Oklahoma City.

Nembhard carved out a role for himself on Dallas last season after going undrafted and proved he could be a reliable table-setter. Atlanta brought back CJ McCollum, drafted Kingston Flemings and traded for Devin Carter, so Nembhard will likely be competing with Carter for a few minutes off the bench in the backcourt. However, if injuries pop up, Nembhard will be able to fill in temporarily and provide plenty of assists.

Thunder GM Sam Presti continues to restructure his roster, and instead of declining Dort’s team option, he has found a new home for him in Atlanta. Dort will be another strong defender for Atlanta, alongside Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kingston Flemings on the perimeter. Dort will have a chance to fill in as a starter on the wing, though he should at least play a significant role off the bench.

The former No. 1 overall pick wasn’t able to figure things out in Atlanta, but he’ll get a fresh start in Dallas. With Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz running the show for the Mavs, they have rebuilt this roster around Cooper Flagg by adding multiple new players in the frontcourt, including Risacher, Santi Aldama and Morez Johnson. Risacher’s role will likely be limited off the bench to start his tenure with Dallas, though a fresh start on a rebuilding team could yield him the opportunity to develop into the player the Hawks hoped he would become. The three second-round picks heading to OKC are Chicago’s 2027 pick from Dallas and most favorable picks in 2031 and 2032 from Atlanta.

After going off for 20 points in a win over the Celtics on Monday, Veesaar struggled in his final two games of Summer League. In losses to the Grizzlies and Wizards, the 6-foot-11 center shot a combined 3-of-14 from the field. However, Veesaar did offer some production in the defensive categories. His outlook for next season changed somewhat when Mouhamed Gueye suffered a foot injury that will keep him out for three to four months. Fellow rookie Zuby Ejiofor likely has the leg up in the competition to back up Onyeka Okongwu, but there may also be opportunities for Veesaar to contribute, especially early in the season.

The Hawks once again sat first-round picks Kingston Flemings and Zuby Ejiofor, so it’s clear that qualifying for Saturday’s semifinals was not a priority. Memphis jumped out to a huge lead, and that was it, with Veesaar offering limited production in his second start in Las Vegas. Veesaar has played well throughout the summer when sharing the court with a solid point guard, so Thursday’s effort should not cause too much concern. While Ejiofor is likely to be the priority in the competition for frontcourt minutes, Mouhamed Gueye’s foot injury opens the door for Veesaar when training camp opens in the fall.

Gueye sustained a fractured left foot during a workout last week and underwent surgery on Tuesday, according to a release from the Hawks. The 23-year-old power forward is set to miss the next 3-4 months at least. It’s another obstacle Gueye will have to overcome this year as he battles with Zuby Ejiofor and Henri Veesaar for playing time.

The Hawks did not have Zuby Ejiofor or Asa Newell for Monday’s game, which opened a spot in the starting lineup for Veesaar. The second-round pick, who many believed could have gone in the first round, shot 4-of-6 from beyond the arc and recorded a complete stat line. Veesaar’s contract has not been finalized yet, so he could be on a two-way or standard deal once the season begins. However, he has the offensive tools and rebounding ability to provide added value off the bench for the Hawks, who need more size in the frontcourt.

The younger brother of Hawks star Jalen Johnson, Kobe spent last season with the team’s G League affiliate after going undrafted. He’s an unrestricted free agent and the Hawks have one two-way contract available, so Monday’s performance came at the right time for Kobe. With no Kingston Flemings or Zuby Ejiofor, there was more room for Johnson and others to step up offensively, and he took advantage. There’s no need to consider Johnson for fantasy drafts, but a few more good performances may be enough to land either a two-way or Exhibit 10 contract.