Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton is expected to be a big piece for the team in 2025-26. "I've always witnessed him competing at a really high level," Hornets head coach Charles Lee said about Sexton during an appearance on WFNZ radio. "Since he's been around our group, he's elevated the intensity. He's definitely a sociable and in-your-face type guy, but I love it. I think he's going to add a lot to our group and our culture." Sexton has proven himself as a reliable scorer, but was traded for a second time in his career this offseason. He'll have plenty to prove in Charlotte, especially since he will be in the final year of his contract.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura is not expected to get a contract extension from the team before the season starts. "With the current intel I have, I do not expect Rui to be extended by the Lakers in the next six weeks," Lakers insider Jovan Buha reported on Buha's Block. "It's certainly possible that something happens, but I would say most of what's been out there is them wanting to keep the books clean and wanting to see whether he starts or whether he's their sixth man and how the pieces fit this year." Hachimura is entering the last season of a three-year, $51 million deal and has been eligible for an extension since July 6. Since Hachimura is likely to be playing for his Lakers future in 2025-26, managers might get some extra fantasy value from the Japanese forward.

Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry is healthy and ready to go for the new season. Curry missed the end of the 2025 playoffs due to a hamstring injury, but he's now feeling "great" and is nearing the end of his offseason training. "Pacing myself nice," Curry told reporters at his Under Armour Camp. "Ready to finish the summer strong. ... When you see me whenever Media Day is, should be primed and ready to go." Curry is gearing up for Year 17 in the Association. He might no longer be an MVP candidate, but the 37-year-old is still very capable of making an impact in fantasy basketball. Last season, Curry averaged 24.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.1 steals, shooting 39.7 percent from downtown.

Shooting guard Lester Quinones has signed a deal with the Orlando Magic to join the team for training camp, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Quinones has made 54 career appearances in the NBA and suited up 11 times last season with the Philadelphia 76ers and New Orleans Pelicans. He had some good performances in New Orleans, averaging 8.6 points and 2.6 assists in 18.4 minutes. While in the G League, Quinones crushed it as a member of the Pelicans-affiliated Birmingham Squadron, notching 21.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. The 24-year-old has struggled to find a consistent role in the NBA and will probably have to mainly settle for G League minutes again in 2025-26.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (knee) will play on Tuesday night versus Great Britain. The 26-year-old was injured during Slovenia's EuroBasket exhibition against Latvia on Saturday. Fortunately, he only sustained a contusion and was able to practice on Monday. He appeared in 28 games for the Lakers last season after being traded by the Dallas Mavericks. He played well, averaging 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 1.6 steals. Doncic is reportedly in excellent shape, so the increased focus on his diet and conditioning this offseason could go a long way in keeping him healthy for most of the 2025 campaign.

Shams Charania of ESPN reports that the New Orleans Pelicans and free agent forward Jalen McDaniels have agreed to a deal on Monday. McDaniels has posted averages of 3.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 0.7 steals while shooting 44.9 percent from the field. He's recorded 252 career regular-season outings during six NBA seasons spent with Charlotte, Philadelphia, Toronto, and, most recently, with Washington last season. The 27-year-old is not a player that should be on fantasy managers' radar going into the upcoming campaign.

Michael Scotto of USA Today reports that restricted free-agent center N'Faly Dante and the Atlanta Hawks agreed to a two-way deal worth $4.5 million for two seasons. The 23-year-old made four appearances last season for the Rockets, posting averages of 6.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per contest. He also shot 76.9 percent from the field during 12.8 minutes. Dante spent the majority of the 2024-25 campaign in the G League with Rio Grande Valley, leading the team with 2.2 blocks per contest.

According to Michael Scotto of USA Today, point guard Dru Smith (Achilles) agreed to a three-year, $7.9 million deal with the Miami Heat. Smith has played in 28 regular-season games across three NBA campaigns, mostly with Miami. In 2023-24, his season was cut short due to a torn ACL after just nine outings. His injury woes continued into last season as he had surgery to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon. The 27-year-old played in 14 games, averaging 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.5 steals during 19.1 minutes per contest before suffering the injury. Once available to suit up, Smith will likely make a minimal impact on fantasy as he will have to battle for minutes with Davion Mitchell, Terry Rozier, and rookie Kasparas Jakucionis.

According to Ashish Mathur of Dallas Hoops Journal, "multiple teams" have attempted to acquire Chicago Bulls guard Coby White. However, Chicago has "shot down all inquiries." The Bulls have made several moves in the last few seasons that indicates the club is heading in a new direction. Still, it appears the front office isn't looking to move White, who is entering the final season of the three-year deal he signed back in 2023. He is coming off a productive year, averaging a career-high 20.4 points, adding 4.5 assists and 3.7 rebounds. With that in mind, White is expected to improve even more moving ahead, making him an even bigger asset for fantasy managers. He's also an excellent free throw shooter and has improved his shot from deep, which is a plus for category participants.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (knee) was injured during Saturday's EuroBasket exhibition versus Latvia after a Slovenian teammate fell on his right knee. Fortunately, the injury "is not believed to be serious," with NBA insider Marc Stein reporting Doncic was diagnosed with a contusion. The 26-year-old was moved to the Lakers ahead of last season's trade deadline after spending his entire career with the Dallas Mavericks. He appeared in 28 regular-season contests for Los Angeles, averaging 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 1.6 steals. With that in mind, he is arguably the top fantasy option in any format heading into the 2025 campaign, especially after he focused on his diet and conditioning this offseason. As far as his immediate future is concerned, he should be considered day-to-day, so there's a good chance he'll be ready to go when Slovenia faces Poland on August 28.

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) is making progress toward an eventual return to the court. The 25-year-old suffered a torn right Achilles tendon during the Game 7 NBA Finals loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, resulting in surgery. He will miss the entire 2025 campaign. However, there is some good news, with Haliburton recently revealing that he's no longer using a scooter or crutches. Instead, he's been able to walk in a boot. The 2020 No. 12 overall pick averaged 18.6 points, 9.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 38.8% shooting from behind the arc last season. He won't receive any attention in redraft formats heading into the new season due to the injury. Still, managers in dynasty leagues shouldn't consider any low-ball offers, especially since Haliburton is predicted to remain in the All-Star conversation for many years moving ahead. While he's off the floor, Andrew Nembhard could see a bump in usage at the one. Bennedict Mathurin should also be in line for an increase in fantasy production, considering he's slotted to move into the starting lineup.

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Miami Heat traded forward Haywood Highsmith and a 2032 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for a protected 2026 second-round pick on Friday. Highsmith will get a fresh start in Brooklyn after he recovers from a torn meniscus in his right knee, which he suffered while training recently. He underwent surgery last week and is expected to be sidelined for at least eight weeks. The 28-year-old started in 42 games for the Heat throughout the 2024-25 campaign. However, he wasn't a reliable contributor on the fantasy end overall, averaging 6.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 74 regular-season contests. Highsmith is considered questionable to open the season and will likely come off the bench for the Nets when he is available.

On Thursday, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the Milwaukee Bucks signed free agent forward Amir Coffey to a one-year contract. Coffey joins the Bucks after spending his first six NBA seasons in Los Angeles with the Clippers. In 2024-25, the 28-year-old appeared in 72 regular-season contests, posting averages of 9.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists during 24.3 minutes per game. He had been a helpful piece in the rotation for the Clippers most recently and could benefit from a fresh start in Milwaukee.

According to NBA insider Grant Afseth, Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard is expected to move into the starting lineup this season, with Anfernee Simons anticipated to be used as a "high-scoring option off the bench." The Celtics are projected to take a step back, with superstar Jayson Tatum (Achilles) in line to miss the entire season. The team also traded Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday during the offseason. As a result, Pritchard appears to be getting a chance to roll with the first five moving ahead. The 27-year-old averaged a career-high 14.3 points throughout the 2025 campaign, earning him a Sixth Man of the Year award. He also amassed 21.7 points in three starts. All things considered, Pritchard might very well be entering what could be the best year of his career. He's an excellent shooter from behind the arc, and he's only missed two games in the last two seasons. Pritchard's ceiling should rise even more if Jaylen Brown, who has struggled with injuries over the years, misses time.

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant is poised to significantly enhance the team's title hopes in 2025-26. But the leadership in Houston reportedly isn't interested in offering him a maximum contract extension. "Certainly, I think both sides want that to be more than a one-year window," ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported on Wednesday. "But it's not going to be a max extension. If that was the priority for Kevin Durant, it would have been done in conjunction with the trade and he probably wouldn't have ended up in Houston." The veteran superstar is entering the final season of a four-year, $198 million deal. He is currently eligible to sign a two-year, $118 million extension. MacMahon added that Houston's priority at the moment is to extend Tari Eason.

Power forward Isaiah Mobley has moved to Europe for the season, signing a deal with Manisa Basket in Turkey. Manisa joined the Turkish championship just a few years ago, so this is quite a coup for the team. Mobley will pause his NBA career after making 23 appearances in the league. Following a couple of campaigns with his brother Evan in Cleveland, Mobley suited up once for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2024-25. He's made minimal impact as a player in the Association, averaging 2.6 points and 1.5 rebounds in 7.5 minutes. Mobley has done well in the G League, though, posting 18.2 points and 8.0 rebounds per game for his career.

Forward Cole Swider has inked a deal with Turkish team Anadolu Efes for the upcoming campaign. Anadolu Efes, which won consecutive EuroLeague titles in 2021 and 2022, picked up Swinder following a standout G League season. The 26-year-old averaged 20.7 points with 44.3 percent shooting from three-point range and grabbed 5.9 rebounds. In the NBA, Swinder was limited to 10 outings with the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors. The sharpshooter from Rhode Island has also seen time on the court with the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, averaging 3.1 points in 35 career NBA appearances.

Shooting guard Ethan Thompson will join the Miami Heat for training camp, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports. The 26-year-old has agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract, meaning Miami now has 18 of its 21 preseason roster spots filled. Thompson, who went undrafted in 2021, is looking to finally break into the NBA after a productive season with the Osceola Magic in the G League. Across 31 regular-season appearances, Thompson averaged 18.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, shooting 39.1 percent from downtown. The Heat had one of the lowest three-point percentages in the NBA last season, so Thompson could definitely help the team improve in that aspect.

Point guard Jason Preston has signed a training camp deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to Keith Smith of Spotrac.com. The 26-year-old will try to earn a roster spot in the NBA after missing the entire 2024-25 campaign with a calf strain. Preston started his pro career with the Clippers in 2022-23 and has also suited up for the Utah Jazz, making 21 total career appearances. The former Ohio Bobcat hasn't seen any success at this level so far, averaging only 2.5 points and 2.0 assists in 9.3 minutes. However, Preston has been impressive in the G League, notching 16.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.

Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta has a big season coming up, during which he's likely to take on a much bigger role than in previous years. He is focused on improving in 2025-26. "Obviously, I think it's making sure I get in great shape," the Portuguese big man said in an interview with CLNS Media's Bobby Manning. "Go out there and make elite decisions with the ball in my hands and making sure I get great finishes this year. I also want to raise up my free throw attempts this year." Queta added that he's also trying to improve his 62.7 career free-throw percentage and is "always" working on three-point shooting. Boston is expected to use Queta as its starting center in the new season, which will significantly increase his fantasy value.