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Boston Celtics guard Mike Conley is already working closely with Payton Pritchard, including regular one-on-one sessions and conversations about scoring reads, according to Souichi Terada of MassLive. The 38-year-old signed a one-year deal with Boston after averaging career lows of 4.5 points and 2.9 assists in 18.4 minutes across 54 games with Minnesota. Conley is expected to play a complementary role while providing another ball handler behind Pritchard and Derrick White. His own fantasy ceiling is limited, but the veteran guidance could benefit Pritchard as he looks to build on career highs of 17.0 points and 5.2 assists.

Free-agent forward/center Montrezl Harrell completed a post-practice workout with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Houston Rockets' G-League affiliate, on Sept. 12 as he continues his NBA comeback attempt. Harrell told Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson that the session with the coaching staff "went really well." The 32-year-old hasn't played in the NBA since 2022-23 but stayed active this year, averaging 17.3 points for Atleticos de San German in Puerto Rico and setting a BIG3 single-game record with 42 points. Harrell still believes his rim-running and screen-setting can translate, but there is no contract on the table yet. For now, the workout is simply another step toward getting back into the league.

The Charlotte Hornets have waived guard Bez Mbeng, the team announced Sunday. Charlotte signed the former Ivy League Player of the Year to an Exhibit 10 deal earlier this month after he finished last season with Utah. Mbeng averaged 8.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.3 steals in 32.8 minutes across 15 NBA appearances, but his shooting remains a concern after hitting 19.4 percent from three and 64.0 percent at the line. With Coby White, Dennis Schroder, and Kon Knueppel already in Charlotte's guard rotation, Mbeng faced a tough path to minutes. His steals remain intriguing, but he needs another NBA opportunity before entering the fantasy conversation.

Sacramento Kings guard/forward Zach LaVine (hand) is looking for a bounce-back season after undergoing surgery on his right pinky finger in February. LaVine told Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints that his standards remain "extremely high" while acknowledging that his exact role is still taking shape. The 31-year-old averaged 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists across 39 games last season while shooting 39.0 percent from three. No. 7 pick Darius Acuff Jr. adds another ballhandler to Sacramento's mix, so LaVine's usage is worth watching in camp. His scoring and efficiency should remain useful if he keeps a prominent offensive role.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward/center Joan Beringer is positioned for a larger role behind Rudy Gobert after Naz Reid was traded to Charlotte. Head coach Chris Finch told Britt Robson of MinnPost that the 19-year-old still needs to control his aggressiveness and avoid taking himself out of plays. Beringer averaged 3.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 7.9 minutes as a rookie but flashed more upside in the G-League, posting 15.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. The opportunity is there for more minutes, though Finch's comments suggest his workload could fluctuate while he adjusts to a bigger role.

Free-agent center Dwight Powell is expected to receive a formal training camp invitation from the Dallas Mavericks, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line. The 35-year-old joined the Kyrie Irving-led minicamp in Los Angeles this week after averaging 3.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 14.3 minutes across 63 games last season. Dallas already has 15 players on standard contracts, leaving Powell without a clear path to the opening-night roster. The Mavericks also have Daniel Gafford, Santi Aldama (knee), Moussa Cisse, and rookie Morez Johnson Jr. in the frontcourt, while Dereck Lively II (foot) works back from surgery. Powell carries little fantasy appeal, while Lively's recovery is the bigger situation to watch in camp.

Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward Vit Krejci will enter training camp as a contender for the backup wing role, according to Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. The 26-year-old's contract is only partially guaranteed until opening night, adding some stakes to the competition. Krejci shot 42.3 percent from three across 46 games with Atlanta last season before slipping to 7.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 19.2 minutes after joining Portland. Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara remain established ahead of him, but Krejci's shooting and playmaking could earn him a place in the rotation. For fantasy purposes, Krejci needs to rediscover the three-point shooting he showed in Atlanta before he can become a reliable option.

Charlotte Hornets forward Dorian Finney-Smith has surfaced in trade talks with Atlanta, with Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reporting that discussions have included a deal involving Buddy Hield. Finney-Smith joined Charlotte from Houston in July after averaging 3.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists across 37 games while shooting 27.0 percent from three last season. His $13.3 million salary for 2027-28 is non-guaranteed, giving Atlanta added flexibility if a deal comes together. Still, a move to Atlanta would drop Finney-Smith into a crowded perimeter rotation featuring Dyson Daniels, Luguentz Dort, and Aaron Wiggins, limiting his chances of carving out a meaningful fantasy role.

Atlanta Hawks guard/forward Buddy Hield has surfaced in on-and-off trade talks with the Charlotte Hornets, with Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reporting that discussions have included Dorian Finney-Smith. Hield averaged 7.6 points in 16.1 minutes across 51 games last season while shooting a career-low 34.9 percent from three. He barely featured after arriving in Atlanta, and the additions of Luguentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins add more competition for perimeter minutes. Charlotte is crowded on the wing as well, with Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale, and Liam McNeeley among the options. A trade alone would not revive Hield's fantasy value; he still needs a steady rotation role and a bounce-back shooting season.

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (wrist) is at 80 to 85 percent in his recovery from July surgery and is expected to have no restrictions when training camp opens Sept. 29, ESPN's Vincent Goodwill reports. Brunson is back to basketball activities and no longer wearing a brace after playing through the injury during New York's title run. The reigning Finals MVP averaged 26.0 points and 6.8 assists across 74 regular-season games before putting up 32.6 points per game against San Antonio. The positive update eases most fantasy concerns, though his shooting touch is worth monitoring early after surgery on his left wrist.

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed center Jake Stephens, the team announced Thursday, filling the final spot on their 21-man offseason roster. The 26-year-old spent last season with KK Split in Croatia, averaging 9.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 16.1 minutes across 61 games while shooting 54.2 percent from the field. Stephens faces a crowded path to NBA minutes with Myles Turner, Kel'el Ware, and Jericho Sims already in Milwaukee's frontcourt, while John Butler Jr. is also in camp. Stephens carries little fantasy appeal and appears more likely to wind up with the Wisconsin Herd than secure a regular-season role.

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed forward Anton Watson to an Exhibit 10 contract, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic. The 25-year-old also went through camp with Los Angeles last year before being waived ahead of the regular season. Watson spent 2025-26 with the South Bay Lakers, averaging 11.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.4 steals in 27.2 minutes across 50 games. Los Angeles already has 16 guaranteed contracts and all three two-way spots filled, leaving Watson with a difficult path to the NBA roster. Another stint with the Lakers' G League affiliate, now the Coachella Valley Lakers, looks more realistic and keeps him off the fantasy radar.

Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson has agreed to a four-year, $60 million extension with a mutual option for 2030-31, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. The deal keeps the 25-year-old out of restricted free agency next summer after he averaged 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 26.4 minutes across 70 games, including 54 starts. Larsson shot an efficient 49.6 percent from the field but just 32.3 percent from three. Miami added Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr. to provide more shooting around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, creating more competition for perimeter minutes. Larsson's playmaking and efficiency should keep him involved, but a crowded rotation could limit another jump in fantasy value.

Detroit Pistons guard/forward Ausar Thompson has agreed to a five-year, $155 million rookie-scale extension, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. The fully guaranteed deal follows a season in which Thompson earned All-Defensive First Team honors and finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting. The 23-year-old averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.9 blocks across 73 games while shooting 52.5 percent from the field. His 6-for-24 mark from three and 57.1 percent free-throw shooting remain fantasy concerns, but Thompson's elite steals production gives him considerable value even without much scoring. More minutes would only raise his defensive-stat ceiling.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Denver Nuggets are signing forward Cam Whitmore to a two-way contract. The 22-year-old has already joined the team for workouts after Cleveland waived him following an August multi-team trade. Whitmore averaged 9.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in 16.9 minutes across 21 games with Washington last season before a blood clot in his right shoulder ended his year. He posted 12.3 points per game as a Houston rookie, so the scoring upside is there. DeMar DeRozan gives Denver a proven second-unit scorer, leaving Whitmore to fight for spot minutes. He is worth monitoring but needs a regular rotation role before carrying fantasy value.

Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George has agreed to a five-year, $157.5 million rookie-scale extension, ESPN's Shams Charania and Tim MacMahon report. The deal includes no player or team options. The 22-year-old earned the payday after averaging career highs of 23.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.1 steals across 54 games while shooting 45.6 percent from the field, 37.1 percent from three, and 89.2 percent at the line. His usage could take a hit with No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson joining Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Ace Bailey, but George's playmaking and strong free-throw shooting should help preserve his fantasy value even if his scoring dips.

Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona (foot) was diagnosed with a sprain after getting hurt while playing for Turkey in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers and will be reevaluated at the start of training camp. Bona averaged 8.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks across four qualifiers and is expected to resume on-court workouts within the first two weeks of camp. The 23-year-old posted 4.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 17.4 minutes last season. Ariel Hukporti should get an early opportunity to compete for backup minutes behind Joel Embiid, but Bona's shot-blocking gives him fantasy appeal whenever his role expands.

Free agent guard Trevor Keels has agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with the Washington Wizards, according to Spotrac's Keith Smith. The Capital City Go-Go recently acquired his G-League rights, giving Keels a likely landing spot if he is waived after camp. The Clinton, Maryland, native averaged 20.1 points and 3.3 assists while shooting 40.2 percent from three across 27 regular-season games for Sioux Falls last season. He later earned a two-way deal with Miami but played only 15 NBA minutes across eight appearances. With Trae Young, Tre Mann, and several young guards already in Washington's backcourt, Keels will need to earn a two-way spot before carrying any fantasy relevance.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Saddiq Bey has agreed to a three-year, $55.5 million extension, ESPN's Shams Charania reports. The fully guaranteed deal includes a trade kicker and runs through 2029-30. Bey missed all of 2024-25 after tearing his left ACL, then returned to average a career-high 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.1 threes in 31.2 minutes across 72 games. He finished third on New Orleans in scoring. Bennedict Mathurin's arrival gives new coach Jamahl Mosley another wing scorer alongside Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones, which could trim Bey's touches. Still, Bey should retain a steady role and remain a useful source of points and threes.

The Phoenix Suns are signing forward/center Duop Reath (foot), ESPN's Shams Charania reports, with Arizona Sports' John Gambadoro adding that it's a one-year, veteran-minimum deal. Reath adds depth with Mark Williams (shoulder), expected to miss several months following labrum surgery. The 30-year-old hasn't played since Jan. 18 after a right-foot stress fracture required season-ending surgery, but he shot 41.8 percent from three in limited action last season. Reath can provide a floor-spacing option, though Khaman Maluach and Oso Ighodaro have the clearer paths to meaningful minutes and fantasy value while Williams is sidelined.