NBA Player News

Lerner said that Sheppard is participating to help him prepare to play a larger role in his second season. After Houston selected him with the No. 3 pick in 2024, Sheppard played just 12.6 minutes per game across his 52 appearances, though all signs point to Sheppard playing more in year two. How well he performs in Summer League should be a solid indicator of how much he will play for the Rockets next season, though the other moves this team could make will also open up minutes for him.

No surprise here as Collins opts in to the final year of a multiyear contract he originally signed with the Atlanta Hawks in 2021. The 27-year-old power forward averaged 19 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game, but did so in a career-low 40 games played last year. Collins would seem to be a trade candidate for the Jazz now that he’s officially on an expiring contract.

Givony’s report also indicates that Bailey continues to decline workouts for Philadelphia, Charlotte and Utah. This doesn’t mean that Bailey will surely slip outside the first five picks; one of his preferred teams may have to trade up to nab him. It has been an interesting process for Bailey entering the draft, and it will be interesting to see how it impacts where he ends up.

Charania’s report indicated there is a lot of “uncertainty” in Boston with Jayson Tatum (Achilles) set to miss at least most of next season. The 39-year-old Horford could opt to sign elsewhere to try and win another ring, since the Celtics may not be able to put together a strong enough team to make that happen this season. Horford would play a significant role if he remains in Boston now that Kristaps Porzingis is in Atlanta. If he chooses to leave, multiple contenders should have plenty of interest.

The Rockets will decline VanVleet’s $44.9 million team option for the upcoming season to put the new deal in place. He has a player option for the second season of this deal, so he could opt out again next summer. If he accepts the option, he’ll be under contract through the 2026-27 season. VanVleet is the best point guard option on a team that is looking to win a championship after trading for Kevin Durant, adding the lethal scorer to the team that finished as the No. 2 seed in the West this past season.

Filling the void left by trading away franchise point guard De’Aaron Fox is not an easy task, and Schroder certainly isn’t a long-term solution. However, he is a legitimate lead playmaking option and could run the offense. That would likely result in both Malik Monk and Keon Ellis coming off the bench, barring other moves. Sacramento would be a strong landing spot for Schroder to provide fantasy value, especially as a source of assists.

Irving is now tied to Dallas through the 2027-28 season. He also has security as he rehabs from the left ACL tear that he suffered in March. The Mavericks have a talented roster that will center around Irving, Anthony Davis and the expect No. 1 overall pick in Cooper Flagg, which will help them be one of the best teams in the West over the next few seasons. Reports from April indicated that Irving could return by January, which would give this core plenty of time to mesh ahead of the postseason.

Niang was traded to Atlanta at the trade deadline last season and immediately provided a veteran presence in the rotation. He had some big nights from beyond the arc, and with Jayson Tatum (Achilles) set to miss at least most of next season, Niang could be part of the rotation in Boston. However, this was simply a move for the Celtics to avoid the second apron.

Mann spent most of his career with the Clippers before being sent to Atlanta at the trade deadline in February. Now, he’ll find a new home in Brooklyn, where he’ll provide perimeter defense and a veteran presence in the locker room on a young team that is looking to establish an identity over the next few seasons. Assuming he isn’t moved again, Mann should play a decent-sized role for the Nets, but he won’t be prioritized over the young players, especially with Brooklyn now having five first-round picks.

Rumors had been heating up shortly before the deal went down, and now it’s official: Porzingis is headed to Atlanta. It’s unclear how he’ll fit into the rotation; Onyeka Okongwu thrived as a starter down the stretch of last season. It will likely result in another minutes split at center in Atlanta, which is what Okongwu just got out of after years of sharing time with Clint Capela. The Hawks would’ve had multiple center options available with the 22nd pick, but none of them would make the impact that Porzingis will be ready to make next season. Atlanta loses some forward depth, but they can address that with the 13th pick.

Thybulle is in the final year of a three-year, $33 million deal he signed with Portland in 2023, and he’ll be back for at least one more season. The French forward is a three-and-D specialist who holds much more value on the basketball court than he does in fantasy lineups. He can be left on the waiver wire in 2025-26 fantasy drafts.