Portland Trail Blazers guard Vit Krejci had $250,000 of his 2026-27 salary become guaranteed, per Keith Smith of Spotrac. It is still only a small guarantee, and his roughly $2.67 million salary does not fully lock in until opening night, so Krejci is not out of the woods on a crowded roster. The 26-year-old remains a useful floor-spacing piece when his shot is falling, hitting 42.3 percent from three across 46 games with Atlanta last season before slipping to 30.3 percent after his trade to Portland. He profiles as a deep-bench shooter and has no standard-league fantasy appeal.

Sacramento Kings forward/center Domantas Sabonis should not be traded just to accelerate a rebuild, former Kings coach and executive Jerry Reynolds told Frankie Cartoscelli of Sactown Sports. Reynolds' point is that Sacramento still needs productive veterans, either to anchor a competitive roster or to hold real trade value later. Sabonis, 30, is a three-time All-Star and one of the league's best rebounding and passing bigs, but a torn left meniscus limited him to 19 games last season. He averaged 15.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists before surgery. When healthy, Sabonis remains an early-round fantasy center because of his scoring, boards, assists, and efficiency, though the knee recovery and Sacramento's uncertain direction keep risk attached.

Sacramento Kings guard/forward Zach LaVine should remain a featured part of the offense rather than ceding minutes to younger players like Nique Clifford and Emanuel Sharp, former Kings coach and executive Jerry Reynolds told Frankie Cartoscelli of Sactown Sports. Reynolds' logic is that strong production could rebuild LaVine's trade value before the deadline, while his $49 million expiring deal can simply come off the books after the season. LaVine, 31, exercised that player option after right-hand surgery ended his 2025-26 campaign at 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 39.0 percent from three across 39 games. For fantasy, a showcase role would protect his points-and-threes appeal, though the injury recovery, youth movement, and possible trade keep some risk attached.

Detroit Pistons forward Isaac Jones is determined to earn a standard contract, telling Coty Davis of The Detroit News that he does not want to stay on a two-way deal forever. Jones, 26, has been far more productive in the G-League than the NBA, winning a title with Stockton in 2025 before making the 2025-26 All-NBA G-League First Team with Motor City. He averaged 22.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.9 blocks for the Cruise, then helped his case with a strong Summer League. Jones brings motor, size, and finishing, but until Detroit gives him a full roster spot and real minutes, he is just a watch-list name for fantasy managers.

Free-agent forward/center Kelly Olynyk is drawing interest from the Golden State Warriors as they look to fill out the back end of the roster, per Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. Olynyk, 35, would give Golden State another stretch-big option behind Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, with his passing and floor spacing fitting the offense around Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. The concern is how much he has left. He averaged just 3.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists with San Antonio last season, and Golden State would be adding him as depth rather than a locked-in rotation piece. Olynyk would need injuries ahead of him to regain fantasy relevance.

Dallas Mavericks guard/forward Klay Thompson remains a Miami Heat target, but the Heat are more likely to wait on a possible buyout than trade for him, per Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. Miami could use the remainder of its midlevel exception if Thompson reaches the market, but Dallas reportedly prefers to find a trade for the four-time champion rather than let him walk for nothing. Thompson, 36, is owed roughly $17.5 million in the final year of his deal and is coming off a diminished season, averaging 11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while still hitting around 38 percent from three. He would help Miami's spacing, but his low usage and fading all-around production leave him as a deep-league threes specialist at best.

Sacramento Kings forward De'Andre Hunter is expected to claim the final starting spot over Maxime Raynaud, per Kings beat writer Chris Watkins. That would round out a projected five of Darius Acuff Jr., Zach LaVine, Hunter, Keegan Murray, and Domantas Sabonis, giving Sacramento more perimeter defense and spacing than a two-big look with Raynaud. Hunter, 28, arrived from Cleveland at the deadline and finished last season averaging 13.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.7 threes across 45 games. His low defensive stats and limited playmaking cap the fantasy ceiling, so even with a starting role, he profiles more as a points-and-threes streamer than a stable standard-league option.

Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II has agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million deal to return to the Bay Area, per Shams Charania of ESPN. The 33-year-old defensive specialist remains in a familiar bench role under Steve Kerr, giving Golden State another low-usage defender around Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Payton is coming off one of his best seasons, averaging a career-high 7.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.9 steals while shooting 58.3 percent across 73 games. His finishing and defense help the Warriors, but limited touches and low three-point volume keep him off most fantasy boards.

Free-agent forward Jeremy Sochan has agreed to a one-year, non-guaranteed deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, per Shams Charania of ESPN. The former No. 9 pick was waived by the Spurs in February, then joined the Knicks and played a limited role during their championship run. Sochan, 23, owns career averages of 9.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, but his 28.6 percent career mark from three has capped his offensive fit. In Portland, he will try to stick behind Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara on the wing. His defensive versatility gives him a path to minutes, but he is more of a watch-list name than a draft target.

Denver Nuggets forward/center Zeke Nnaji could be included as a salary piece in a potential sign-and-trade that would send restricted free-agent forward Peyton Watson to the Milwaukee Bucks, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Milwaukee has not offered a first-round pick, so taking on the $14.93 million left on Nnaji's contract over the next two seasons could be its clearest way to help Denver cut salary near the second apron. Nnaji is not a fantasy factor, but Watson's landing spot carries more weight. The 23-year-old averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and shot 41.1 percent from deep last season. A post-Giannis reset in Milwaukee could give him more minutes and usage than he had in Denver.

Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Pat Connaughton is a waiver candidate as the team works through a crowded roster, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Connaughton, 33, had his $3.8 million team option picked up in June, but his salary does not become fully guaranteed until Jan. 31, 2027, giving Charlotte flexibility if it needs to trim down before opening night. The 11-year veteran and 2021 NBA champion has seen his role fade, averaging 2.6 points and 1.5 rebounds in 7.1 minutes across 42 games last season. His contract and locker-room presence may be more useful than his on-court production, but he has no fantasy relevance.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey wants to play for Team USA at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, per Evan Sidery. Maxey, 25, has not suited up for the national team, but he would be 27 by the next Olympics and fits as a prime-age scoring guard in a younger American backcourt mix. He is coming off his first All-NBA season after averaging career highs of 28.3 points, 6.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 3.1 three-pointers across 70 games. The Olympic note is not a fantasy factor, but it reinforces Maxey's rise. His scoring, assists, steals, threes, and free-throw percentage keep him firmly in the early-round fantasy conversation.

Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams is reportedly being shopped, with the team willing to attach draft compensation to move his contract, per Evan Sidery. Williams, 24, has three years left on the five-year, $90 million extension he signed in 2024, including an $18 million player option for 2028-29. Moving him would give Chicago more flexibility amid its reported interest in the Clippers' restricted free-agent Bennedict Mathurin, though that pursuit may not be as aggressive as first believed. Williams posted career lows of 7.0 points and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 34.7 percent from three last season, leaving him off the redraft radar unless a new team gives him a cleaner role.

Dallas Mavericks guard/forward Cooper Flagg intends to commit to Team USA for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, per Evan Sidery. Flagg, 19, is already tracking as one of the program's top young options after a historic rookie season in Dallas. He averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals while leading the Mavericks in total points, rebounds, assists, and steals, joining Michael Jordan as the only rookies to do so since steals became official. The Olympic news is not directly actionable for fantasy, but it reinforces Flagg's long-term ceiling. He remains an elite dynasty cornerstone and a strong early-round target this season.

The Memphis Grizzlies are reportedly nearing a buyout with guard D'Angelo Russell. According to Evan Sidery, the Mavs are expected to finalize this buyout soon. There are no plans for Russell to play for the Grizzlies this upcoming season. The 30-year-old was acquired in part of a six-team blockbuster trade earlier this offseason. After the buyout is finished, Russell would enter free agency as an unrestricted player who is free to sign anywhere. Last season, Russell averaged 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists across 19.0 minutes per game in 26 contests with the Dallas Mavericks. He'll likely sign with a contending team as a bench piece, so his fantasy value will probably be limited.

The Brooklyn Nets could potentially use the rest of their remaining cap space to give Michael Porter Jr. a long-term extension. They could raise his 2026-2027 salary to $45.3 million and add four additional seasons to his contract. Porter is entering the final year of his deal and is coming off a career-year with the Nets. He averaged a career-high 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists across 32.5 minutes per game in 52 contests. The 28-year-old is going to set himself up for a hefty payday if he puts together similar stats again in 2026. The Nets would be smart to lock up Porter now, assuming they believe he's going to be a key piece to the future of this roster.

The New Orleans Pelicans and Chicago Bulls are both reportedly interested in restricted free-agent Bennedict Mathurin. The Los Angeles Clippers tendered a qualifying offer to Mathurin, so they do retain his restricted rights. The Clippers intend to keep Mathurin, but that hasn't slowed teams down from showing interest. He averaged 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists across 28.0 minutes per game in 26 games with the Clippers this past season. There seems to be a handful of suitors for Mathurin, but the Clippers are unlikely to let him leave. We'll see if the Pelicans or Bulls make an offer to Mathurin this offseason.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly interested in signing free-agent forward Jonathan Kuminga. He became an unrestricted free agent after the Atlanta Hawks decided to decline his $24.3 million option for the 2026 season. A return to Atlanta is possible, but the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly showing interest as well. Now, Minnesota is putting its hat into the mix after missing out on the LeBron James sweepstakes. The Wolves could use another forward or center after the departure of Julius Randle and Naz Reid this offseason. His overall fantasy value will be dependent on where he lands this offseason.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Anfernee Simons is expected to provide second-unit scoring and three-point shooting, per Paul Hudrick of Liberty Ballers. Simons, 27, signed a two-year, $12.3 million deal after splitting last season between Boston and Chicago, where he averaged 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists and shot 38.5% from three. He gives Philadelphia a needed bench scorer after Quentin Grimes left for the Lakers, but his usage could be squeezed behind Tyrese Maxey, LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, and Joel Embiid. For fantasy, Simons is mainly a points-and-threes option with spike-game appeal if the Sixers manage injuries or rest their stars.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Cason Wallace could be the biggest fantasy winner from the team's offseason salary-shedding moves, per Bryan Toporek of Forbes. Oklahoma City traded Isaiah Joe to Detroit and moved Aaron Wiggins and Luguentz Dort to Atlanta, opening up perimeter minutes after Dort spent years as a starter. Wallace, who started 58 games last season, already brings strong steals, low turnovers, and usable threes, but his scoring ceiling still depends on how much on-ball work he gets next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He looks like a clear redraft riser, especially in nine-category builds. The Thunder can extend Wallace before the season, or he will be on track for restricted free agency in 2027.