Wed Jun 25 1:25am ET
Field Level Media
Nine-time All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving will decline his $43 million player option and instead plans to sign a three-year, $119 million contract to remain with the Dallas Mavericks, ESPN reported on Tuesday night.
Irving, who will have a player option for the 2027-28 season, per the report, is recovering from a torn ACL which ended his season in March. He spoke with ESPN on Tuesday night and said that there is a long-term commitment from himself and the Dallas organization and he wants to build a legacy with the Mavericks, believing the franchise can win a league championship.
Irving, 33, could return from the left knee injury as soon as January, per the report.
He averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 36.1 minutes in 50 games (all starts) last season.
In parts of three seasons with the Mavericks, Irving has averaged 25.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 35.9 minutes in 128 regular-season games (all starts).
He averaged 22.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 40.0 minutes in starting all 22 playoff games as the Mavs advanced to 2024 NBA Finals, where they lost to Boston Celtics in five games.
For his career, Irving is averaging 23.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 34.5 minutes in 779 games (all starts) for the Cleveland Cavaliers (2011-17), Celtics (2017-19), Brooklyn Nets (2019-23) and Mavericks. (2023-present). He won an NBA title with the Cavaliers in 2016.
The Cavaliers selected Irving with the No. 1 pick of the 2011 NBA Draft after his freshman season at Duke. He was the NBA Rookie of the Year with Cleveland. Dallas has the No. 1 pick of the 2025 draft, which starts on Wednesday night, and is expected to pick All-America Cooper Flagg, a freshman out of Duke.
The Mavericks, who could build around Irving, Flagg and 10-time All-Star big man Anthony Davis, 32, will need a point guard while Irving is sidelined. ESPN reported that Irving's three-year deal could allow Dallas the financial flexibility to open up a $5.7 million taxpayer midlevel exception.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (knee) is declining his $43 million player option. Instead, he agreed to a three-year, $119 million contract extension. Without question, Irving is as good as it gets. In 779 regular-season appearances for the Cavs, Celtics, Nets, and Mavericks, the 33-year-old has averaged 23.7 points, 5.6 assists, and 1.3 steals while shooting 39.4% from behind the arc. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in March. The Mavs are optimistic Irving will be able to get back on the floor in January, although the lengthy absence has caused his fantasy value to drop considerably. With that said, fantasy managers can consider stashing him until he is healthy, considering his services should be useful later on in the season.
According to Dan Wolke of The Athletic, Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic is "incredibly committed to his conditioning this offseason." This has been a topic of discussion, considering the Mavericks apparently had concerns about his dedication to keeping himself in shape. While Doncic has repeatedly stated those reports were blown out of proportion, it appears he's made it a point to squash any doubts. The 26-year-old, who has been on a "strict diet," has appeared "visibly slimmer" of late. With that in mind, Doncic is arguably the best player in the National Basketball Association. In 28 games with the Lakers, he averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 1.6 steals. Although there's no denying his abilities on the court, fantasy managers have been frustrated by his numerous injuries over the years. Hopefully, the new training regimen works out. If it does, Doncic has an excellent chance of finishing the season with an MVP award.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Washington Wizards are trading forward Saddiq Bey (knee) to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for guard CJ McCollum and forward/center Kelly Olynyk. New Orleans will also receive guard Jordan Poole. Bey has shown flashes of promise during his time in the National Basketball Association. He appeared in 292 games for the Detroit Pistons before making a stop in Atlanta with the Hawks, averaging 14.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. He signed a three-year deal with the Wizards last offseason. Unfortunately, the 26-year-old never got on the floor because of a torn ACL sustained near the end of his stint in Atlanta. All things considered, Bey should have a meaningful role in the rotation once he's healthy. He may also get a few starts. Still, Bey has some work to do before earning trust from fantasy managers.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Atlanta Hawks are acquiring forward/center Kristaps Porzingis from the Boston Celtics as a part of a three-team trade. Included in the deal, guard Terance Mann will be moved to Brooklyn, while forward Georges Niang will head to Boston. The Celtics were expected to make some moves this offseason, with the club also recently sending guard Jrue Holiday to Portland in exchange for guard Anfernee Simons. As far as Porzingis is concerned, he averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks last season. He also shot a career-high 41.2% from deep. However, the 29-year-old was limited to only 42 games due to injury and a virus. It's reasonable to believe Porzingis will remain in the starting lineup in Atlanta. Still, he's not the player he once was. Injuries are also a major concern for fantasy managers, which will lead to many looking in other directions during fantasy drafts.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Washington Wizards are trading guard Jordan Poole to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for guard CJ McCollum and forward/center Kelly Olynyk. The Pelicans will also receive forward Saddiq Bey (knee). Poole is coming off his best season in the league, averaging 20.5 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals while shooting 37.8% from behind the three-point line. The 26-year-old will get a fresh start in New Orleans after spending time in Golden State before his stint in Washington. With that said, he may have a tough time staying as productive, especially if forwards Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III (shoulder) are healthy. Still, Poole should remain a viable fantasy option as it relates to his prowess as a scorer. Outside of that, he isn't very consistent in other statistical areas.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the New Orleans Pelicans are trading guard CJ McCollum to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Jordan Poole and Saddiq Bey (knee). The Wizards will also receive forward/center Kelly Olynyk. McCollum averaged 21.1 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.6 rebounds last season. However, he shot a career-low 37.3% from behind the arc while being limited to only 56 appearances. McCollum's inability to stay on the floor should be the biggest concern for fantasy managers. There's also a chance he'll take a reduced role on a young team that's obviously in rebuilding mode. That's not to say McCollum won't have productive fantasy showings during the 2025 campaign, but his ceiling isn't nearly as high as it once was.
Phoenix Suns guard/forward Grayson Allen could be off to a new team this offseason. According to HoopsHype, Phoenix has "gauged" the trade market on Allen and Royce O'Neale. The team has just traded Kevin Durant to Houston and appears ready to make more moves after missing the playoffs in 2025. Allen has spent two seasons in Phoenix, but his role declined in 2024-25, as he made only seven starts. The veteran sharpshooter, who is a 41.4 percent career shooter from deep, averaged 10.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 24.1 minutes. While the Suns consider moving on from Allen, he should attract a lot of interest, as efficient three-point shooters are highly sought after in the league.
Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk finds his name in trade rumors just a year into a four-year, $78 million contract extension. Sources told HoopsHype that the Kings have "gauged" the trade market for Monk and fellow guard Devin Carter. Monk had a career year with the Kings in 2024-25, averaging 17.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists. However, with the newly appointed general manager, Scott Perry, reportedly active in trade talks, no one appears safe in Sacramento. Monk has been a microwave scorer off the bench for most of his career. But this season, he proved he can perform well as a starter and should remain a valuable fantasy contributor even if he changes teams in the summer.
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford is poised to sign a three-year extension with the team. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Gafford has agreed to a deal valued at nearly $60 million. The new contract will extend through the 2028-29 NBA season. Gafford has just completed his first full season with the Mavericks, averaging a career-high 12.3 points with 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. The 26-year-old, who has shot 70.9 percent from the field throughout his career, has been an excellent fit in Dallas and is expected to continue playing an integral role next season.
The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired guard Jrue Holiday from the Boston Celtics in exchange for guard Anfernee Simons and two second-round draft picks. The Celtics are trading Holiday just a year after he won the NBA championship with the team and signed a big four-year, $135 million contract extension. Moving Holiday helps Boston save money since Simons joins on an expiring contract. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Portland "aggressively" wanted to acquire Holiday, so it seems the team has big plans with the 35-year-old veteran, and we might see a strong bounce-back campaign from him in 2025-26.
The Boston Celtics have acquired guard Anfernee Simons and two second-round draft picks from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for guard Jrue Holiday. Simons is on the move after spending his entire seven-year NBA career in Portland. He will be on an expiring $27.7 million contract next season. The 26-year-old has been one of Portland's top scorers in recent years and could continue to fill a similar role in Boston, with Jayson Tatum (Achilles) sidelined. As a trigger-happy three-point shooter, Simons appears to be a good fit for Boston's offense, having averaged 8.5 attempts beyond the arc this season. Simons shot 36.3 percent from deep and notched 19.3 points with 4.8 assists.
According to NBA reporter Jake Fischer,Chicago Bulls point guard Jevon Carter will exercise his $6.8 million player option for the 2025-26 campaign. The 29-year-old finished with averages of 4.3 points, 1.1 assists and 1.1 rebounds in 8.9 minutes per contest across 36 games during his second season in a Bulls uniform. Carter will likely not be a fantasy factor during the upcoming season and could potentially have a tough time finding a regular rotation role.
According to Kelly Iko of The Athletic, the Houston Rockets will likely decline point guard Fred VanVleet's$44.9 million team option. However, Iko reports that the two sides are currently discussing a multi-year contract extension. During the 2024-25 regular season, the 31-year-old posted averages of 14.1 points, 5.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 3.7 rebounds in 35.2 minutes per contest. If VanVleet stays in a Rockets uniform, he will play alongside newly acquired star Kevin Durant during the upcoming season.
Shams Charania of ESPN reports that Washington Wizards forwardKhris Middleton (knee) has picked up his $33.3 million player option for the 2025-26 season. The 33-year-old will likely not be a significant fantasy contributor next season, as the Wizards' younger players are expected to assume additional responsibilities for the upcoming season. Middleton averaged 10.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 22.1 minutes per game across 37 games during the 2024-25 regular season campaign. He missed the final nine contests due to a right knee contusion.
According to Grant Afseth of RG.org, Indiana Pacers guardTyrese Haliburton(Achilles) will travel to New York City on Monday and is expected to undergo surgery to repair a torn right Achilles tendon. Haliburton exited the first quarter of Sunday's 103-91 loss to the Thunder in Game 7 of the NBA Finalsafter suffering the injury. He finished with nine points in seven minutes of action before being forced out of the contest. The 25-year-old could miss the entire 2025-26 regular season as recovery time is typically 9-12 months after Achilles surgery. With Haliburton out for the foreseeable future, shooting guardAndrew Nembhard will likely take on a larger role for the upcoming season.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) won't return to Sunday's NBA Finals meeting with OKC. The 25-year-old has been dealing with a calf issue, which is nothing new. As a result, he was limited to only 23 minutes in Game 6. While Haliburton tried to give it a go for Game 7, it's evident he's not healthy. He finished with nine points in seven minutes of action before exiting. There is concern for a more significant injury, with ESPN's Lisa Salters reporting that Haliburton is dealing with an Achilles issue. He'll likely undergo further testing as soon as possible. However, if Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles, he could miss the 2025-26 campaign. DFS managers should expect more work for T.J. McConnell for the remainder of Game 7.
Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks was traded as part of a blockbuster trade to land Kevin Durant on Sunday. The Rockets are trading Brooks, Jalen Green, the 10th overall pick in 2025, and five future second-round picks in exchange for Durant. Brooks played a majority of his career with the Memphis Grizzlies before landing in Houston two seasons ago. He averaged 14.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists last season. Brooks is more known for his defensive ability, which should help this Suns team that was awful on defense last season. His offensive numbers might take a hit in Phoenix, but Brooks should still be able to offer standard league value, assuming he gets regular playing time.
Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green has traded to the Phoenix Suns as part of a blockbuster trade on Sunday. The Rockets will trade Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th overall pick in 2025, and five second-round picks in exchange for Kevin Durant. This is a great move for the Suns to acquire a young guard in Green and a handful of picks to restock their draft capital. The biggest problem is that the Suns still have Devin Booker and Bradley Beal on their roster. Last season, Green averaged 21 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists with the Rockets. He was the primary scoring option, but is no longer going to be that in Phoenix. His production will likely go down in Phoenix, but maybe less shots will help with his inefficiency problems. This move will probably decrease his usage, but Green will still find a way to be a valuable asset.
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant was traded to the Houston Rockets in exchange for guard Jalen Green, forward Dillon Brooks, and the No. 10 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Also, the Suns acquired five future second-round picks as well. The drama is finally over as Durant lands with one of his preferred teams. The other two teams he was interested in were the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat. Durant has bounced around quite a bit over the last 10 years. However, Durant remains productive averaging 26 points per game or more in each of the last eight seasons. He remains one of the most consistent players in the league, so the 36-year-old will remain a top tier fantasy option regardless of the jersey he wears. The Rockets appear ready to go all-in and Durant could help give them the boost they need.
According to Michael Grange of Sportsnet, the Toronto Raptors are unwilling to include center Jakob Poeltl in a potential trade for Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant. While that could mean players like Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett aren't safe from being moved, it appears Poeltl has a secure spot on the roster, at least for now. The 29-year-old is coming off the best season of his career in his second stint in Toronto, averaging 14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 1.2 steals, and 67.4% shooting from the free throw line. Unfortunately, Poeltl appeared in 57 games or fewer in the last two seasons, so he'll need to figure out how to stay off the injury report before he earns more respect from fantasy managers.
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