Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace remains unsigned to a rookie-scale extension, with the 2023 draft class deadline set for Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. CT, according to Clemente Almanza of OKC Thunder Wire. The 22-year-old is coming off his best season, averaging 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.9 steals in 26.6 minutes across 77 games. Wallace led the NBA with 150 total steals and earned All-Defensive Second Team honors, giving him a fantasy floor even without heavy usage. Luguentz Dort's trade to Atlanta creates a clearer path to start next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, though Wallace still needs more scoring consistency to become more than a defensive-category anchor.

Indiana Pacers guard/forward Ben Sheppard is likely to open the season in the third unit, according to Alex Golden of Pacers On SI. The 25-year-old is entering the final year of his rookie-scale contract after averaging 7.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.6 steals in 21.4 minutes across 65 games last season. The path back to steady minutes is tighter with Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) returning and Kelly Oubre Jr. added to the wing mix. Golden expects Sheppard and Jarace Walker to battle for rotation minutes in camp. Sheppard's best argument is the jumper, as he shot 42.3 percent from three from Dec. 1 on. He needs that shooting to stick to avoid falling off the fantasy radar.

Indiana Pacers forward Kelly Oubre Jr. could play the most minutes off the bench this season, according to Pacers On SI's Alex Golden. Oubre signed a two-year deal worth nearly $17 million in July, giving Indiana a veteran wing to help replace the role Bennedict Mathurin left behind in the Ivica Zubac trade. The 30-year-old averaged 14.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 50 games with Philadelphia last season while shooting a career-best 36.0 percent from three. Tyrese Haliburton's return and Zubac's interior role should push Oubre toward more cutting, corner shooting, and defensive work than shot creation. His steals can travel, but the fantasy ceiling depends on minutes and whether the shooting holds.

Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard enters his fifth season with a different offensive setup as Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) returns after missing 2025-26. Nembhard handled lead-guard duties well last season, setting career highs with 16.9 points and 7.7 assists while adding 2.8 rebounds and 0.9 steals in 31.3 minutes across 57 games. He also shot 36.1 percent from three. The assists and usage should come down if Haliburton is close to full strength, but Nembhard's defense, secondary playmaking, and off-ball shooting should keep him in a steady role. His chemistry with Ivica Zubac in the pick-and-roll is one camp storyline to watch, though the fantasy ceiling is lower than it was when Indiana had no Haliburton.

Sacramento Kings guard/forward Zach LaVine said his offseason is going well and that he is excited about the team's younger group, according to Logan Struck of Sports Illustrated. LaVine also touched on his leadership role, saying he already texted rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr. and plans to connect with more of Sacramento's young players closer to camp. The two-time All-Star picked up his $49 million player option this summer after hand surgery ended his season at 39 games. LaVine averaged 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 47.9 percent from the field and 39.0 percent from three. He should have scoring volume if healthy, but Acuff's arrival and Domantas Sabonis' playmaking keep LaVine more valuable for points and threes than assists.

Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell is deserving of the starting point guard job, but Miami's depth behind him remains a question, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel wrote in his latest mailbag. Dru Smith projects as the backup, while two-way rookie Tre Donaldson is the next internal option if injuries hit. That setup helps Mitchell's minutes outlook after he started all 70 of his appearances last season, averaging 9.3 points, 6.5 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 28.6 minutes while shooting 49.0 percent from the field and 39.5 percent from three. He will not carry fantasy teams with scoring, but the assists, steals, and secure role keep him useful if Miami does not add another veteran guard.

Los Angeles Clippers guard Darius Garland enters 2026-27 positioned to run the offense for a full season, with Yahoo Sports' Kelly Iko writing that whatever optimism remains around the team starts there. Garland was still managing a lingering toe issue when he arrived from Cleveland in February, but he averaged 19.9 points and 6.4 assists in 19 games while helping L.A. reach the play-in tournament. Kawhi Leonard's expected move to Toronto leaves Garland with a clearer on-ball role, though Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick are expected back in the deal. Iko noted the Clippers ranked 23rd in three-point attempts last season, so Garland's creation should help shooters like Max Strus and Dick. If the toe cooperates, Garland has a strong fantasy setup built around points, assists, and threes.

Sacramento Kings guard/forward Ben Simmons could be open to staying beyond his one-year deal if the fit works, ESPN's Marc J. Spears told Sactown Sports 1140. Spears described Simmons as a loyal player and said, "I think he'd want to stay" if both sides are happy after this season. Simmons agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract Friday after sitting out all of 2025-26 while working back from chronic back issues. He last played in 2024-25, averaging 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 0.7 steals in 22.0 minutes across 51 games with Brooklyn and the Clippers. His fantasy value depends on whether Doug Christie gives him real second-unit ball-handling work behind Darius Acuff Jr. The assists, rebounds, and steals still help, but the absent jumper and year away keep the risk high.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Collin Sexton said the chance to win and make an impact on a big stage drove his free-agent decision, according to ESPN LA. "I feel like I just fit right in," the former No. 8 pick said. Sexton signed a two-year, $19 million deal with a player option after averaging 17.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in 26 games with Chicago last season while shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 41.0 percent from three. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves still control the offense, leaving Sexton as a bench scorer whose fantasy value depends on minutes, efficiency, and whether his defensive stats hold.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (knee) still has some lingering concern around the injury that cost him a long stretch last season, Monte Poole said on NBC Sports Bay Area's Dubs Talk podcast. Poole said the issue can be managed and that Curry and his trainers have built ways to work around it. The 38-year-old missed 27 straight games with patellofemoral pain syndrome, finishing with 43 appearances while averaging 26.6 points, 4.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 4.4 threes in 30.9 minutes. Curry recently became extension-eligible, but the fantasy issue is health, not his contract. With Jimmy Butler III (knee) and Moses Moody (knee) also working back from major injuries, Curry's workload still looks heavy if he is cleared for his usual role. His 70-game target is possible, but managers should price in real games-played risk.

Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg is in the mix for a starting spot entering training camp, head coach Steve Kerr told NBC Sports Bay Area's Monte Poole. Kerr floated the idea of Lendeborg playing the three next to Draymond Green, with Kristaps Porzingis or Al Horford at center. The No. 11 pick earned the conversation after winning Summer League MVP while averaging 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. He also posted 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists at Michigan, giving Golden State a ready-made connector on the wing. With Jimmy Butler III (knee) and Moses Moody (knee) working back from major injuries, Lendeborg has a clearer early path than most rookies.

Free-agent guard/forward Bruce Brown could be an option for the New York Knicks before training camp, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, via Ryan Anderson of the New York Post. Brown remains one of the more proven veterans left on the market, and his defensive versatility and connector skill set would fit a Knicks team looking to round out its final roster spots. The 30-year-old averaged 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.0 steal in 24.4 minutes with Denver last season while shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three. New York already has Josh Hart, Landry Shamet, and Jordan Clarkson in its perimeter mix, so a Knicks deal would likely leave Brown fighting for bench minutes rather than fantasy relevance. The Lakers have also been mentioned, but New York looks like the cleaner fit.

Denver Nuggets guard/forward Christian Braun pushed back on doubts about Denver's offseason, telling Sean Keeler of The Denver Post that the Nuggets still have "everything we need" as long as Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon are in place. Braun tore ligaments in his left ankle last November and never fully regained his 2024-25 form, finishing last season with 12.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 31.8 minutes across 44 games while shooting 30.1 percent from three. Peyton Watson's sign-and-trade to Cleveland keeps Braun in a major role, but DeMar DeRozan's reported arrival gives Denver another late-game scorer. Braun's fantasy value comes down to health, minutes, and whether his jumper rebounds.

Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green could land on the trade block with a slow start or another early playoff exit, Donnie Druin of Sports Illustrated writes, citing Blake Silverman's analysis. The former No. 2 overall pick has a $36 million player option for 2027-28, leaving Phoenix to decide how much it wants to commit to him as Devin Booker's long-term running mate. Green was limited to 32 games last season by a right hamstring issue, averaging 17.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 2.2 threes in 25.9 minutes. Miles Bridges adds another scorer next to Booker and Dillon Brooks, so Green's fantasy value depends on shot volume, health, and whether he can hold off Collin Gillespie for key guard minutes. He still helps mainly in points and made threes, but the role risk is higher than usual.

Chicago Bulls guard/forward Josh Giddey believes the roster has enough talent to reach the playoffs, but he told DJ Siddiqi of ClutchPoints that consistency will decide whether Chicago climbs the Eastern Conference. "I think it's a matter of doing it every night," Giddey said. The 23-year-old is coming off a career-best season, averaging 17.0 points, 9.1 assists, and 8.3 rebounds in 32.1 minutes across 54 games. He also underwent right ankle surgery in May but has since been cleared for 5-on-5 work with no restrictions. Norman Powell gives Chicago another scorer, while Nicolas Claxton and No. 4 pick Caleb Wilson should give Giddey more finishing targets. The missed games still matter, but his assists, rebounds, and role under Tiago Splitter keep the fantasy ceiling high.

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving has impressed new head coach Dusty May during summer workouts as he works back from the torn ACL that cost him all of last season. May told 105.3 The Fan's K&C Masterpiece that he has watched Irving work out and play pickup, adding that he has been "blown away" by Irving's preparation, attention to detail, and feel. The nine-time All-Star last played in 2024-25, averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.3 steals in 50 games. His return should lift a Dallas offense that ranked 27th last season and take creation pressure off reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg. The ceiling is still high, but managers need to account for the long layoff.

Free-agent forward/center Kelly Olynyk could return to the San Antonio Spurs as they weigh their 15th roster spot, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. Olynyk has spent time in San Antonio and worked out with former Spurs teammates this offseason, but tax concerns could push any deal into the season. The Spurs sit about $2.15 million below the luxury-tax line, while a veteran-minimum deal would carry a cap hit around $2.45 million. The 35-year-old played a limited role with San Antonio last season, averaging 3.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 8.6 minutes. Even if he signs, Victor Wembanyama, Luke Kornet, Tarris Reed Jr., and Jayden Quaintance (knee) leave Olynyk off fantasy radars.

Free-agent forward/center Kevin Love is open to returning to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the interest is mutual, according to The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski. Love spent his first six NBA seasons in Minnesota before being traded to Cleveland in 2014, so this would be more of a full-circle depth move than a fantasy-relevant signing. The veteran turns 38 this month and averaged 6.7 points and 5.8 rebounds in 37 games with Utah last season. Minnesota has room for another veteran voice after signing Jonathan Kuminga, but Rudy Gobert, Joan Beringer, and Trey Lyles already cover the frontcourt depth chart. Love would bring shooting, rebounding, and locker-room value, not a role worth chasing in fantasy.

Washington Wizards guard/forward Kyshawn George was seen working on his outside jumper in offseason workout footage that surfaced this week. The 22-year-old already made a real jump from deep last season, raising his three-point percentage from 32.2 percent as a rookie to 38.1 percent while averaging 14.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.0 steals, and 2.1 threes in 48 games. George missed the end of the season with a Grade 2 distal UCL tear in his left elbow, but he has since been cleared and played for Canada in World Cup qualifying. Washington's perimeter group is deeper with AJ Dybantsa, Bilal Coulibaly, and Tre Johnson competing for reps, so George's shooting will be key to protecting his minutes and fantasy value.

The Charlotte Hornets signed guard/forward Kobe Stewart to an Exhibit 10 contract, filling the roster spot created by Jarkel Joiner's waiver. Stewart went undrafted out of Presbyterian in 2025 and spent his first professional season bouncing between the Austin Spurs, Memphis Hustle, and Wisconsin Herd. The 24-year-old averaged 7.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 20.0 minutes across 46 G-League games, shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from three. He also played for Milwaukee in Summer League, averaging 4.8 points and 2.5 rebounds over six games. Charlotte is expected to waive Stewart before the season and steer him toward Greensboro, leaving him off fantasy radars unless his jumper makes a real leap.