Up: 2026-27 Fantasy Basketball Encyclopedia
Related: 2026-27 fantasy basketball player projections · 2026-27 NBA minutes projections · 2026-27 fantasy basketball projection methodology · 2026-27 fantasy basketball evidence and confidence policy
Information cutoff: 2026-07-18, America/New_York. The full 2026-27 game-by-game schedule had not been published at the cutoff; the NBA had published key dates and selected international games. No fantasy-playoff schedule edge is assumed yet. NBA 2026-27 key dates
How to read the ledger
This note separates evidence from modeling rather than hiding both in one sentence.
- Fact: an official transaction, surgery, dated medical update, games-played record, contract state or reported procedural hold. The evidence/recheck column points to the team desk and, for the highest-leverage items, the primary or stable source.
- Inference: every projected GP/MPG, rank movement, rest policy, starter, closer, trade likelihood, return workload and branch consequence. Base lines come from 2026-27 fantasy basketball player projections and the 30 team desks; they are not consensus ADP.
- S sensitivity: can change a first-three-round player, move one player by roughly 50-plus ranks, or rewire three or more standard-league players.
- A sensitivity: can move a player roughly 25-50 ranks or change a clear draft/waiver decision.
- B sensitivity: usually 10-25 ranks, streaming value, or one narrow category specialist.
- C sensitivity: mainly deep redraft, two-way or long-horizon dynasty liquidity.
The labels measure decision leverage, not the probability that the downside occurs. A low-probability transaction can still be S if it would invalidate two entire depth charts.
Top-25 high-leverage watchlist
9C below is the current mechanical per-game rank in 2026-27 fantasy basketball player projections, included only as a base anchor. It is not ADP or a promise of realized value.
| # | Watch | Primary tier | Base anchor | Why it can break ranks | Decisive recheck |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles Clippers / Toronto Raptors — held Kawhi Leonard trade | Contract/trade | Leonard 9C #5 on the verified-LAC branch | Leonard, Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, Darius Garland, Keaton Wagler and both teams' forward rotations change at once | NBA investigation result and formal transaction wire |
| 2 | Golden State Warriors — Curry/Butler/Moody/Porziņģis health cluster | Injury/availability | Curry #11 at 52 GP; Butler #109 at 30; Porziņģis #40 at 54 | Opening usage, first-half waiver value and the team outcome all depend on four different medical timelines | Camp medical briefings; Butler/Moody on-court phase; Curry contact workload |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers — Joel Embiid availability | Injury/availability | #30 at 44 GP and 31 MPG | A 35-game season versus 55-plus changes Embiid totals and Maxey/Brown/Edgecombe/backup-center usage | Unrestricted camp, back-to-back policy and consecutive preseason games |
| 4 | Dallas Mavericks — Kyrie and Lively returns | Injury/availability | Irving #29 at 60 GP; Lively #107 at 38 | Irving changes every creator; Lively changes Gafford, Aldama and Morez Johnson minutes | Five-on-five clearance, running/contact milestones and preseason load |
| 5 | Miami Heat — Giannis Antetokounmpo knee/calf availability | Injury/availability | #21 at 60 GP; first-round punt-FT profile | A healthy 65-game Giannis supports Miami's whole hierarchy; another 35-45 game season raises Bam/Portis/Wiggins usage | Full camp, back-to-backs and first dense schedule segment |
| 6 | Los Angeles Lakers — Dončić hamstring and Kessler shoulder | Injury/availability | Dončić #4 at 66 GP; Kessler #7 at 65 | Two first-round category anchors plus Reaves/Sexton/Looney roles move together | Kessler contact/back-to-back clearance; Dončić consecutive full practices |
| 7 | Houston Rockets — VanVleet ACL ramp | Injury/availability | VanVleet #101 at 62 GP/27 MPG; Sheppard #54 | A normal 30-minute return suppresses Sheppard/Smart/Bogdanović; a delay creates an immediate guard breakout lane | Five-on-five clearance and opening-month cap |
| 8 | Indiana Pacers — Haliburton ramp | Injury/availability | #12 at 66 GP/32 MPG | A back-to-back ban or sub-28-minute start pushes him out of the early rounds and lifts Nembhard/McConnell | Camp restriction and consecutive 30-plus-minute preseason games |
| 9 | Boston Celtics — Tatum post-Achilles/knee workload | Injury/availability | #8 at 72 GP/34 MPG | First-round value, Pritchard/George usage and Boston's late-season rest posture all move | Unrestricted camp, consecutive preseason games, explicit back-to-back policy |
| 10 | Cleveland Cavaliers — Harden contract and LeBron branch | Contract/trade | Mitchell #16; Mobley #34; Harden #50 | Harden leaving adds about 31 minutes and major assists; LeBron arriving compresses three stars and multiple wings | Signed Harden terms; any official LeBron transaction, not rumor |
| 11 | Minnesota Timberwolves — Ball/Edwards knees and DiVincenzo Achilles | Injury/availability | Edwards #17; Ball #24; DiVincenzo outside base | Ball's 72-game rebound may or may not hold; Edwards' knee changes usage; a Donte return reshuffles five wings | Camp workload, Achilles five-on-five milestone, early back-to-backs |
| 12 | Washington Wizards — Davis/Young/Sarr clearance | Injury/availability | Davis #26 at 50 GP; Young #55 at 62; Sarr #56 at 64 | Three top-60 model assets share a crowded veteran/youth roster and each carries a distinct medical branch | Full-contact camp plus starting/closing frontcourt tests |
| 13 | Portland Trail Blazers — Lillard Achilles and Morant pairing | Injury/availability + role | Lillard #80 at 58 GP; Morant #131; Avdija #77 | Return timing, back-to-backs and whether two small guards can close determine five players' creation | Lillard clearance/minute cap and Nori's first three preseason closes |
| 14 | New Orleans Pelicans — Zion/Murray availability | Injury/availability | Zion #90 at 60 GP; Murray #58 at 64 | Their overlap determines Fears, Queen, Murphy and Poole usage; either absence creates top-100 volume elsewhere | Unrestricted camp, conditioning and no recurring hand/hamstring/hip management |
| 15 | Sacramento Kings — veteran trade and medical branch | Contract/trade + injury | Sabonis #68; LaVine #102; Acuff #158 | Moving Sabonis or LaVine redistributes 25-30 minutes and high usage; keeping them caps the youth wave | Transaction wire and unrestricted camp for Sabonis/LaVine/Hunter/Murray |
| 16 | Orlando Magic — Wagner/Suggs clearance | Injury/availability | Wagner #93 at 58 GP; Suggs #60 at 60 | Health affects Banchero/Bane usage, Black's closing role and the center/wing balance | Wagner ankle/calf and Suggs knee unrestricted camp work |
| 17 | Oklahoma City Thunder — Jalen Williams bilateral hamstrings | Injury/availability | #44 at 58 GP/30 MPG | Per-game rates are strong, but a failed ramp boosts Ajay Mitchell, Wallace and McCain while changing SGA workload | Full-speed bilateral clearance and early back-to-back policy |
| 18 | Phoenix Suns — Mark Williams foot and Jalen Green hamstring | Injury/availability | Williams #63 at 55 GP; Green #170 at 61 | Williams changes Ighodaro/Maluach; Green changes Gillespie/Goodwin/Kennard and Booker's creation load | Full-contact camp, preseason availability and no recurring foot/hamstring management |
| 19 | Atlanta Hawks — Jalen Johnson durability | Injury/availability | #22 at 68 GP/35 MPG | First-round per-game value and the rookie/veteran creation split depend on his games total | Unrestricted camp and first dense month; update any hip/knee/calf management |
| 20 | Brooklyn Nets — Porter contract/trade plus Mikel Brown back | Contract/trade + injury | Porter #35; Brown #148 | A Porter trade opens lead usage; Brown's back determines whether the rookie can absorb it | Extension or trade; Brown's unrestricted camp and starting-PG reps |
| 21 | Charlotte Hornets — Brandon Miller shoulder and three roster cuts | Injury + contract | Miller #25 at 62 GP; Knueppel #33 | Miller is the first scorer, while the mandatory cuts can clear or congest center/wing development lanes | Contact clearance and final 15-man roster |
| 22 | Milwaukee Bucks — Herro health and rebuild timing | Injury + contract/trade | Herro #62 at 60 GP; Ware #47; Turner #127 | Milwaukee must cut two standard contracts and may trade veterans; March roles can diverge radically from October | Herro camp clearance, opening roster, December/February transaction posture |
| 23 | Memphis Grizzlies — Edey recovery and five-player roster squeeze | Injury + contract | Edey #53 at 57 GP; Boozer #49 | Edey's ankle/elbow changes Post/Stewart; roster cuts decide the guard and rookie runway | Unrestricted camp plus final 15-player roster |
| 24 | Denver Nuggets — Gordon/Jokić availability and Watson RFA | Injury + contract | Jokić #1 at 66 GP; Gordon #124 at 55; Watson #150 | Denver's shallow bench magnifies every missed game; Watson's status changes both forward defense and minutes | Gordon full camp, Jokić rest plan, Watson contract/sign-and-trade |
| 25 | Detroit Pistons — Jalen Duren contract | Contract/trade | #28 at 68 GP/29.5 MPG | Re-signing preserves a top-30 center model; holdout/departure moves Reed, Collins and Smith sharply | Signed terms, qualifying-offer decision or sign-and-trade |
Tier: injury and availability
All base assumptions and branches in the next table are inferences. The dated event and current status in the evidence column are facts unless explicitly labeled otherwise.
| Team / affected players | Base assumption | Downside branch / upside branch | Rank sensitivity | Evidence and recheck trigger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks — Jalen Johnson, Jock Landale, Mouhamed Gueye | Johnson 68 GP/35 MPG; Landale healthy enough for 66 games; Gueye outside opening rotation | Johnson misses 20-plus games and NAW/Flemings gain creation; Landale's ankle lingers / Johnson repeats 70-plus games and anchors first-round totals | S for Johnson; B for centers | Johnson had multiple minor absences after prior shoulder surgery; Gueye had July foot surgery and a three-to-four-month reevaluation. Recheck unrestricted camp and the October/November Gueye update. Reuters, 2026-07-16 |
| Boston Celtics — Jayson Tatum, Paul George | Tatum 72 GP/34 MPG; George 55/27 with routine maintenance | Knee/Achilles restrictions cut Tatum below 65 and George below 45 / full camps support 75 Tatum games and 60-plus George games | S | Tatum returned from right-Achilles repair then missed Game 7 with left-knee stiffness; George's suspension is complete but knee/age risk remains. Recheck camp and back-to-back policy. NBA Tatum knee report · NBA George suspension |
| Brooklyn Nets — Mikel Brown Jr., Egor Dëmin, Nolan Traoré, Day'Ron Sharpe | Brown starts or leads guard minutes at 68 GP; Dëmin plays 67; Traoré is camp-ready; Sharpe handles 25 MPG | Brown's back or Dëmin's foot recurs and Brooklyn cycles creators / all four clear camp and roles stabilize early | A | Brown's Louisville season was limited by a back injury; Dëmin ended 2025-26 with plantar fasciitis; Traoré had knee arthroscopy; Sharpe had thumb surgery. Recheck full-contact camp. Nets Dëmin update · Nets Sharpe update |
| Charlotte Hornets — Brandon Miller, Grayson Allen | Miller 62 GP/32.5 MPG after shoulder clearance; Allen 58/22 | Miller has a slow contact/shooting ramp and Knueppel/White usage spikes / Miller is unrestricted and reaches 68-plus games | S for Miller; B for Allen | The healthy rotation explicitly assumes Miller clearance; no final unrestricted-camp proof existed at cutoff. Recheck medical day, contact practice and preseason starts. Charlotte Hornets |
| Chicago Bulls — Josh Giddey, Zach Collins, Dailyn Swain, Noa Essengue | Giddey 72 GP/32 MPG; Collins available but behind Smith; rookies/development forwards available by camp | Ankle/toe/shoulder setbacks extend a volatile rotation / Giddey is unrestricted and Collins earns the backup-center job | A | Giddey had May right-ankle arthroscopy; Collins returned from right-toe surgery; Essengue lost most of 2025-26 to shoulder surgery. Recheck unrestricted camp. NBA Giddey surgery · NBA Collins extension |
| Dallas Mavericks — Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, Santi Aldama | Irving 60 GP/31 MPG; Lively 38/20; Aldama 62/24 | Irving is managed or delayed, Lively cannot progress to running/contact, and Gafford/Flagg absorb roles / all three clear camp and Dallas consolidates the frontcourt | S | Irving missed all of 2025-26 after ACL reconstruction; Lively had foot surgery and had not started running by June 26; Aldama had March knee arthroscopy. Recheck five-on-five and preseason. Dallas Mavericks |
| Denver Nuggets — Nikola Jokić, Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson | Jokić 66 GP; Gordon 55; Braun 63; Johnson 58 | another multi-player injury season creates unstable waiver value / normal availability restores a tight seven-man fantasy hierarchy | S because Jokić is model #1; A for Gordon | Jokić played 65 after a knee injury; Gordon played 36 with hamstring/calf trouble. Recheck camp and any explicit maintenance plan. Denver Nuggets |
| Golden State Warriors — Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III, Moses Moody, Kristaps Porziņģis | Curry 52 GP/30.5 MPG; Butler returns midseason for 30 games; Moody is not assumed early; Porziņģis 54/25.5 | Butler slips past February, Moody misses most/all year, Curry knee recurs and Porziņģis stays below 45 / Butler returns early and Curry/Porziņģis clear normal work | S, league-high breadth | Butler had February ACL surgery; Moody had March patellar-tendon surgery; Curry had right-knee patellofemoral pain; Porziņģis played 32 games. Recheck rehab phases and contact. NBA Butler surgery · NBA Moody surgery · NBA Curry update |
| Houston Rockets — Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams, Kevin Durant, Bogdan Bogdanović | VanVleet 62 GP/27 MPG with a measured ramp; Adams 55; Durant 66; Bogdanović 55 | VanVleet/Adams are delayed and Durant rest rises, creating volatile Sheppard/Eason/Smart/Capela value / VanVleet returns near 30 MPG and organizes a stable rotation | S | VanVleet had ACL reconstruction plus both menisci repaired; Adams had ankle surgery; Bogdanović missed 59 games. Recheck five-on-five and opening cap. Rockets VanVleet update · NBA Adams surgery |
| Indiana Pacers — Tyrese Haliburton, Johnny Furphy | Haliburton 66 GP/32 MPG; Furphy not assumed before January | explicit back-to-back ban or sub-28-minute ramp moves Haliburton outside top 25; Furphy has a setback / full camp and consecutive 32-minute games support 70 GP and late-first value | S | No unrestricted-camp proof existed at cutoff. Recheck official restriction, preseason cap and Furphy contact clearance. Indiana Pacers |
| Los Angeles Lakers — Luka Dončić, Walker Kessler, Austin Reaves | Dončić 66 GP/34 MPG; Kessler 65/30 after reported full clearance; Reaves 67/34 | recurring hamstring/shoulder/oblique issues remove two first-round anchors / all three complete camp and maintain top-20 rates | S | Dončić had a Grade 2 hamstring strain; Kessler had labrum surgery; Reaves had calf and Grade 2 oblique injuries. Recheck consecutive contact days and back-to-backs. NBA Dončić update · NBA Kessler surgery |
| Memphis Grizzlies — Zach Edey, Scotty Pippen Jr., Ty Jerome, Richie Saunders, Karim Lopez | Edey 57 GP/26 MPG; Pippen 55/17; Jerome 58/24; Saunders rehabs; Lopez development role | Edey is capped and guard recoveries fail, opening Post/Stewart and replacement-guard minutes / Edey is unrestricted and one lead guard wins a stable role | S through Edey plus roster breadth | Edey had ankle and elbow procedures; Pippen had toe procedures; Jerome played 15 after calf trouble; Saunders tore an ACL. Recheck full-contact camp. Memphis Edey update |
| Miami Heat — Giannis Antetokounmpo | Giannis 60 GP/34 MPG, with Bam staggered and Portis first injury replacement | another 35-45-game season pushes Bam/Portis/Wiggins usage up and Miami down / 65-plus games produces first-turn category value and stable secondary roles | S | Giannis played 36 games amid knee/calf problems; no July source established unrestricted camp. Recheck medical day, back-to-backs and first four-game week. Miami Heat |
| Minnesota Timberwolves — Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Donte DiVincenzo, Jaden McDaniels | Edwards 68 GP; Ball 62 despite a 72-game rebound; DiVincenzo zero base minutes after Achilles rupture | Ball returns to chronic absences, Edwards' knee needs management and Donte does not return / Ball validates 70-game health and Donte returns late without disruption | S | Minnesota's desk records Edwards runner's knee, Ball's long prior missed-game history and DiVincenzo's official Achilles surgery. Recheck camp and Achilles five-on-five. Minnesota Timberwolves |
| New Orleans Pelicans — Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III, Yves Missi, Karlo Matković | Zion 60 GP/30 MPG; Murray 64/30; Murphy 68/34; bigs share center | another multi-player injury season accelerates Fears/Queen and trade volatility / Zion and Murray complete normal camp and the hierarchy holds | S | Murray returned after Achilles repair; Zion had foot, hamstring, hip and knee issues; Murphy, Missi and Matković had late injuries. Recheck unrestricted camp and conditioning. NBA Murray return · NBA Zion injury |
| New York Knicks — Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride | Brunson 70 GP/34 MPG; McBride 64/23 as lead bench guard | wrist/core recovery lowers efficiency and expands Alvarado/Hart creation / both are unrestricted and Brown uses a stable nine-man group | A | Brunson had July 7 wrist surgery; McBride returned from core-muscle surgery. Recheck contact shooting, mobility and preseason guard order. NBA Brunson surgery |
| Oklahoma City Thunder — Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell, Isaiah Hartenstein, Thomas Sorber, Nikola Topić | Williams 58 GP/30 MPG; Mitchell 61/24; Hartenstein 58/23; Sorber/Topić conditional | hamstring/soleus recurrence and slow rookie rehabs deepen the rotation but erase totals / full clearances give OKC four top-120 model players | S | Williams had right then left hamstring strains; Mitchell ended hurt; Sorber had July arthroscopy after ACL rehab; Topić returned from ACL and cancer treatment. Recheck camp. NBA Williams diagnosis · NBA Topić return |
| Orlando Magic — Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs | Wagner 58 GP/33 MPG; Suggs 60/29 | recurrent ankle/calf/knee issues raise Banchero/Bane/Black usage and deepen center/wing substitutions / both reach 65-plus games and Orlando's top six stabilize | S | Wagner played 34 games after ankle soreness and a playoff calf strain; Suggs played 57 after knee surgery plus new injuries. Recheck unrestricted camp. Orlando Magic |
| Philadelphia 76ers — Joel Embiid, Anfernee Simons | Embiid 44 GP/31 MPG; Simons 60/23 as sixth guard | Embiid remains below 40 and Simons' wrist delays him, lifting Maxey/Brown/Edgecombe and rotating backup centers / Embiid reaches 55 and Simons closes regularly | S | Embiid played 38, had an appendectomy and later ankle/hip issues; Simons fractured his wrist. Recheck camp and back-to-back language. NBA Embiid report · NBA Simons player update |
| Phoenix Suns — Mark Williams, Jalen Green, Haywood Highsmith | Williams 55 GP/26 MPG; Green 61/30; Highsmith conditional only | foot/hamstring recurrence promotes Ighodaro, Maluach, Gillespie and Kennard / full camp supports a stable starting five | S | Williams had a metatarsal stress reaction; Green recurring hamstring trouble; Highsmith a meniscus-surgery setback. Recheck full-contact practice and preseason. Suns injury preview · NBA Green update |
| Portland Trail Blazers — Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Robert Williams III | Lillard 58 GP/29 MPG after Achilles repair; Morant 60/31; Robert Williams 52/15 | delayed Lillard ramp and Morant availability put Scoot/Holiday/Sharpe back in play / both stars tolerate the pairing and close consistently | S | Lillard turns 36 in his first post-Achilles season; Morant elbow/discipline monitoring remains. Recheck clearance, caps and back-to-backs. Portland Trail Blazers |
| Sacramento Kings — Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, De'Andre Hunter, Keegan Murray | Sabonis/LaVine 62 GP; Hunter 64; Murray 68 | knee/pinky/eye/ankle recovery lingers and youth is forced early / all four are unrestricted and veteran roles suppress rookies | S | Sabonis had meniscus surgery, LaVine pinky repair, Hunter retinal surgery and Murray a major ankle sprain. Recheck unrestricted camp. NBA surgery report · NBA Hunter report |
| Toronto Raptors — Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl, Brandon Ingram | Quickley 68 GP/32 MPG; Poeltl 60/24; Ingram 67/33 on current-roster branch | hamstring/back issues recur and the held trade compounds uncertainty / all three clear camp or the transaction resolves cleanly | A, elevated to S with trade | Quickley aggravated a hamstring in rehab; Poeltl had a 24-game back-strain absence; Ingram carried a heel monitor. Recheck camp and trade status. NBA Quickley report |
| Utah Jazz — Jaren Jackson Jr., Darryn Peterson | Jackson 63 GP/31 MPG; Peterson 72/29 | Jackson's knee needs management and Peterson's hamstring/ankle history slows his lead role / both are unrestricted and Utah's core becomes draftable at current bands | A | Jackson had February surgery to remove a localized PVNS growth; Peterson missed college time. Recheck full-contact camp. NBA Jackson surgery |
| Washington Wizards — Anthony Davis, Trae Young, Alex Sarr, Cam Whitmore | Davis 50 GP/28 MPG; Young 62/32; Sarr 64/28; Whitmore outside secure rotation | multiple clearances fail and youth/veteran substitutions become unpredictable / all three stars clear camp and Whitmore earns a defined lane | S | Sarr had June foot surgery; Young played 15 games; Davis had hand/groin issues; Whitmore had an upper-extremity DVT. Recheck full-contact camp and medical language. NBA Sarr report · NBA Young report |
Tier: contract and trade state
The current-roster branch is the base unless the transaction is official or credibly agreed without a procedural hold. Rumors are triggers to monitor, not players to insert into 240-minute models.
| Team / decision | Base assumption | Downside branch / upside branch | Rank sensitivity | Evidence and recheck trigger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks — excess standard contract | One of the duplicate veteran shooters or end-roster players leaves; core top-four roles hold | a cut/trade clears 10-18 minutes for Hield, Kispert or Wiggins / delay creates a camp rotation too wide to draft | B | The team desk reconciles one mandatory standard-contract reduction. Recheck official transaction log and final 15. Atlanta Hawks |
| Boston Celtics — two-way slots and Dillon Mitchell | Standard 14 remains intact; Dillon/Uzan/DeVries decisions affect only deep dynasty | one wins a two-way and gains Maine/NBA liquidity / no contract leaves all three outside ordinary value | C | Dillon was unsigned and two slots open at cutoff. Recheck transaction ledger after Summer League/camp. Boston Celtics |
| Brooklyn Nets — Michael Porter Jr. extension/trade | Porter remains the 32-minute first scorer at 65 GP | trade removes the #35 model player and raises Brown/Dëmin/Randle usage / extension locks the high-volume role | S | Porter entered the final contract year; a July 17 report said extension talks were planned. Recheck signed extension or official trade, not agent chatter. Brooklyn Nets |
| Charlotte Hornets — three-player standard-roster reduction | Veterans Allen/O'Neale stay in the opening rotation while Finney-Smith exits | veterans remain and squeeze Salaün/McNeeley/Anderson / broader sell-off creates immediate youth minutes | A | The verified roster exceeds the regular-season standard limit by three. Recheck final 15 and guarantees. Charlotte Hornets |
| Cleveland Cavaliers — James Harden contract; LeBron scenario | Harden returns for 31 MPG; no LeBron is projected | Harden leaves and Mitchell/Tyson/Schröder gain creation / LeBron arrives and compresses Harden/Mitchell/Mobley plus Strus/Tyson | S | Harden terms were unresolved; LeBron reporting was a scenario rather than transaction. Recheck official contract and transaction wire. Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Dallas Mavericks — frontcourt consolidation and Mohamed Cissé offer sheet | Washington/Gafford/Lively/Aldama/Morez all remain but accept suboptimal minutes | two-for-one trade sharply lifts survivors / no move preserves a seven-big logjam and suppresses Lively/Aldama/Morez | A | Team desk documents the positional arithmetic and July 20 Cissé decision. Recheck match/decline and transaction wire. Dallas Mavericks |
| Denver Nuggets — Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones RFA outcomes | Watson returns for 26 MPG; Jones is depth | sign-and-trade removes Watson and lifts Braun/Cam Johnson/bench forwards / multiyear return stabilizes top-eight roles | A | Both RFA resolutions were open at cutoff. Recheck offer sheets, qualifying offers and any salary-clearing trade. Denver Nuggets |
| Detroit Pistons — Jalen Duren contract | Duren re-signs and starts at 29.5 MPG | holdout/departure moves Reed/Collins/Smith up and lowers Cade's lob environment / long-term deal cements Duren as model #28 | S | Terms and structure were unresolved. Recheck signed contract, qualifying offer or sign-and-trade. Detroit Pistons |
| Golden State Warriors — Draymond Green return and major acquisition | Green returns on a lower multiyear deal; no unnamed acquisition enters projections | Green leaves and Lendeborg/Santos/Horford gain minutes but team efficiency falls / a significant acquisition squeezes every young wing | A | Green declined his player option; reporting expected a return, but no completed agreement was found. NBA option tracker |
| Houston Rockets — depth consolidation | Current deep roster stays; Smart/Bogdanović/Capela take the first squeeze | two-for-one trade opens stable 28-plus-minute roles / no move leaves Sheppard/Eason/Smith/Smart/Capela matchup-dependent | A | Smart and Bogdanović signings made the logjam factual; the trade branch is inference. Recheck transaction wire. Rockets Smart signing · NBA Bogdanović signing |
| Los Angeles Clippers / Toronto Raptors — Kawhi Leonard hold | Leonard remains a Clipper; Ingram/Dick remain Raptors; both alternate rotations stay documented | deal closes and six projections change teams/roles / deal collapses and verified-roster branches become durable | S, highest-leverage transaction | Toronto placed the agreed deal on hold pending an outside-counsel NBA investigation, with no timetable. Recheck daily until the NBA and both teams post the result. NBA/AP hold report |
| Los Angeles Clippers — Bennedict Mathurin RFA | No base minutes until he signs; a return branch gives about 22 MPG | prolonged holdout/sign-and-trade removes him from the rotation / multiyear return squeezes Dick/Sanders/Jordan Miller/Dunn | A | LA issued a qualifying offer; no new contract was found by cutoff. Recheck RFA wire. Los Angeles Clippers |
| Miami Heat — two or three open standard slots | Current 12-player standard core; no invented point guard or center | veteran guard/center cuts Davion/Dru or Portis/Goldin minutes / low-impact depth preserves current hierarchy | A | Miami must add players before the season; identities were unknown. Recheck each signing rather than projecting rumors. Miami Heat |
| Milwaukee Bucks — 17 standard contracts and deadline direction | At least two contracts leave; Herro/Rollins/Ware/Turner survive; 30-win bridge base | early or February sell-off lifts Burries/Jakučionis/Dieng/Ament / veterans stay for a play-in chase and cap youth | S across the roster | RealGM roster count was 17; the team desk gives a 45% youth-forward rebuild branch. Recheck final 15, December 15 and deadline signals. Milwaukee Bucks |
| New Orleans Pelicans — Trey Murphy III / Jordan Poole trade state | Both remain through opening night; Murphy plays 34 MPG | Murphy trade erases a top-10 model line from New Orleans and raises Fears/Jones/Bey / no deal preserves the core hierarchy | S if Murphy moves | Team desk labels both as monitoring items, not reported departures. Recheck transaction wire through deadline. New Orleans Pelicans |
| New York Knicks — Nickel/Kayil contract forms | Neither enters the healthy base without a signed deal | one wins a two-way and gains dynasty liquidity / both stay unsigned or overseas | C | Draft participation does not establish contract form. Recheck NBA/two-way/Exhibit 10 transactions. New York Knicks |
| Portland Trail Blazers — excess guard and center inventory | Morant/Lillard start; Scoot gets 16 minutes; Holiday 20; Sharpe 25 | guard trade creates a top-150 role for Scoot/Sharpe / no trade keeps the closing group unstable | A | Extension/trade decisions for Sharpe and Henderson and camp cuts among centers remained open. Recheck before opening night. Portland Trail Blazers |
| Sacramento Kings — Sabonis/LaVine/Hunter market | All remain and suppress Acuff/Clifford/Raynaud ceilings | any veteran exit moves 25-30 minutes and major usage to the youth / no deal preserves a veteran-first competitive bridge | S | Sacramento reportedly listened on Sabonis and LaVine; no transaction was official. Recheck official wire, not destination rumors. Sacramento Kings |
| San Antonio Spurs — final standard slot | No major addition; current guard/forward minute map holds | a veteran forward/center signing squeezes Harris/Champagnie/Keldon/Carter/Reed / low-impact depth preserves development | B | One standard vacancy remained. Recheck final roster and any camp conversion. San Antonio Spurs |
| Utah Jazz — competitive direction after February | Core veterans play normal workloads while Utah chases the Play-In | poor start triggers development/rest, lifting Peterson/Bailey/Collier/Filipowski / competitive season preserves Markkanen/Jackson/Nurkić totals | A late-season | The tank/Play-In choice is inference, not announced policy. Recheck record and transactions at December 15 and the deadline. Utah Jazz |
| Washington Wizards — Davis/Ayton/Middleton veteran logjam | Davis starts at reduced minutes; Ayton is 20-minute reserve; Middleton remains but youth still plays | veterans stay and compress Johnson/Riley/Coulibaly / trades create large post-deadline youth roles | S across multiple players | Davis, Ayton and Middleton acquisitions are official; later trades are not. Recheck opening roster and deadline wire. Wizards Davis trade · Wizards Ayton trade |
Tier: role and minutes
These are the highest-leverage healthy-roster allocation questions. Starter labels matter only when they imply a real difference in minutes, usage or closing possessions.
| Team / role question | Base assumption | Downside branch / upside branch | Rank sensitivity | Evidence and recheck trigger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks — Kingston Flemings versus veteran guards; backup center | Flemings 19 MPG/3.8 assists; Landale 17; Ejiofor/Veesaar developmental | veterans keep Flemings below 16 and rookies out / Flemings closes and approaches 25 MPG; center injury makes one young big streamable | A for Flemings dynasty; B redraft | Draft capital and Summer League organizing are facts; opening hierarchy is inferred. Recheck first three preseason rotations. Hawks draft release |
| Boston Celtics — Pritchard starter; Queta/Robinson split; five-wing order | Pritchard 30, Queta 23, Robinson 17; Gonzalez/Scheierman/Hauser all rotate | Robinson starts/closes and Pritchard returns to sixth man; one wing disappears / Queta reaches 27-plus and Gonzalez earns on-ball work | A | NBA said the center order was unclear. Recheck opening/closing groups, not nominal depth-chart labels. NBA Robinson signing |
| Brooklyn Nets — Brown/Traoré/Dëmin initiation; Sharpe as starting center | Brown leads the nominal PG role; Sharpe 25 MPG | committee lowers every guard's assists and Sharpe's defense caps him / Brown wins 30 MPG and Sharpe closes regularly | A | No official starting five existed. Recheck preseason on-ball share and close-game center usage. Brooklyn Nets |
| Charlotte Hornets — Reid/Diabaté/Steinbach/Kalkbrenner frontcourt | Reid 30, Diabaté 24, Steinbach 17; Kalkbrenner conditional | matchup starts and foul trouble erase stable streams / one center clearly wins 27-plus minutes and becomes top-120 | A | Four different skills compete for 48 center minutes. Recheck starters and closers across varied preseason matchups. Charlotte Hornets |
| Chicago Bulls — Jalen Smith versus Zach Collins; youth wing order | Smith retains backup C; Collins is injury/spacing alternative; Wilson/Buzelis secure, Swain/Okoro/Dillingham compete | Collins wins 20-plus and cuts Smith/forwards; development rotation spreads too wide / one reserve wing earns a fixed 24-minute role | A | Contracts keep the battle real; no coach resolution at cutoff. Recheck substitution order. Chicago Bulls |
| Cleveland Cavaliers — Strus versus Jaylon Tyson; Thomas development | Strus starts 26; Tyson still gets 27 as sixth wing; Thomas 5 | full health compresses Tyson below 24 / Tyson closes and reaches 30, becoming top-130 viable | A | Strus returned only in March; current ordering is a model choice. Recheck opening and closing fives. Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Dallas Mavericks — seven-player frontcourt | Flagg 36; Washington 28; Gafford 24; Lively 20; Aldama 24; Morez 17 | healthy depth produces nightly volatility / injury or consolidation gives Lively/Aldama/Morez top-100 paths | S across five draftable players | Arithmetic, not coach announcement, drives the squeeze. Recheck transactions and three preseason competitive rotations. Dallas Mavericks |
| Denver Nuggets — backup center and reserve creation | Bagley leads reserve center; Watson returns; Brazile/Nnaji/Holmes are conditional | no reserve creates offense and starters absorb excessive load / Brazile shooting or another reserve wins a stable 18-plus-minute role | B | Camp backup-center order was unresolved. Recheck Watson contract and preseason second unit. Denver Nuggets |
| Detroit Pistons — Ausar Thompson shooting and closers | Thompson starts 29 MPG; spacing wings rotate around him | jumper remains unplayable and Robinson/Joe/Huerter close / playable shot locks Thompson into 32-plus and top-60 stocks upside | S in punt builds; A overall | The shot is the explicit swing case, not a resolved skill claim. Recheck preseason volume, willingness and late-game lineups. Detroit Pistons |
| Golden State Warriors — Yaxel Lendeborg immediate role | Lendeborg starts/plays 25.5 MPG while Butler is out; Santos 27 | veteran signing or poor shooting cuts him below 18 / defense/rebounding translate and he holds 28-plus after Butler returns | A, especially dynasty | College/Summer evidence supports tools, not an NBA role. Recheck first-unit reps and guarded threes. Golden State Warriors |
| Houston Rockets — Sheppard/Smart/Bogdanović and Adams/Capela | Sheppard 26; Smart/Bogdanović first squeezed; Capela behind Şengün/Adams | Udoka favors veterans/double-big and cuts Sheppard/Eason/Smith / Sheppard closes and one center leaves rotation | S across five players | Signings are official; minute priority is inference. Recheck closing units and any consolidation. Houston Rockets |
| Indiana Pacers — Oubre/Nesmith/Walker wing order; Zubac/Huff split | Oubre 25, Nesmith 26, Walker 22; Zubac 30, Huff limited | Oubre starts and squeezes both younger wings; Zubac 32 erases Huff / fixed sixth-man Oubre usage and 18-minute Huff role create two values | A | Carlisle had not declared order. Recheck first substitution and closing five. Indiana Pacers |
| Los Angeles Clippers — official-roster versus post-trade wing order | Leonard branch uses Garland/Wagler/Leonard; conditional branch adds Ingram/Dick; Mathurin at zero until signed | transaction plus Mathurin return crowds six wings / deal collapse gives Leonard and Wagler clearer roles | S | Two exact 240-minute branches exist because the transaction is on hold. Recheck only after procedural resolution. Los Angeles Clippers |
| Los Angeles Lakers — starting four and final wing cut | Mamukelashvili 24 and LaRavia 22 as split-beat co-favourites at PF; Grimes 30; Ziaire/Vanderbilt/Carr share the rest | defense-first forward cuts Mamu; Yahoo's LaRavia-starts branch / Carr forces 15-20 and becomes a dynasty riser | A | No official starters and several zero-base wings. Recheck starts and closes; a consolidation trade is capacity-constrained (roster full at 15, first-apron hard cap, firsts conveyed). Los Angeles Lakers |
| Memphis Grizzlies — Boozer/Grant usage; Post/Stewart backup-center order | Boozer leads development at 30 MPG; Grant 20; Post and Stewart split | veterans keep Boozer secondary and Edey/Grant absorb usage / Boozer becomes first option; one backup big wins 20 minutes | A, with dynasty S | The roster was recently rebuilt and must still be cut. Recheck final 15 and preseason usage. Memphis Grizzlies |
| Miami Heat — Hardaway versus Larsson; Giannis/Bam stagger | Hardaway starts 25; Larsson 24 and often closes; one star stays on court | veteran guard signing cuts both; poor spacing forces rigid star overlap / Larsson closes and stagger preserves Davion/Bam assists | A | No official starting lineup; open roster slots can change it. Recheck signings and closing groups. Miami Heat |
| Milwaukee Bucks — Turner/Ware pairing and crowded guard wings | Ware 24, Turner 23; Rollins 27, Herro 28; rookies get limited early minutes | two-big lineup fails and one center falls below 20; nine-wing cluster destroys consistency / veteran cuts create 25-plus for Burries/Jakučionis | S across rebuild | Roster count and overlapping archetypes are facts; Jenkins rotation is unknown. Recheck first preseason halves. Milwaukee Bucks |
| Minnesota Timberwolves — fifth starter and guard creation split | Dosunmu starts at 31; Shannon 22; Ball/Edwards share initiation | Ball dominates and Edwards assists fall; wing rotation widens / shot quality improves for both and Dosunmu closes consistently | A | No official fifth starter; DiVincenzo return is a later overlay. Recheck opening/closing groups. Minnesota Timberwolves |
| New Orleans Pelicans — Missi/Queen/Matković center hierarchy; Fears next to Murray | Queen 27, Missi 16, Matković 17; Fears 26 as secondary guard | defense separates Zion/Queen and one center loses the rotation / Queen's passing and Fears' creation translate immediately | S for dynasty, A redraft | The Zion–Queen defensive fit was poor in a reported lineup sample. Recheck starts/closes and defensive assignments. CBS coaching/fit report |
| New York Knicks — nine-man versus 10-11-player rotation; backup center | McBride 23, Alvarado 16, Drummond 17; Brown uses some regular-season depth | ten/11-man pattern cuts Hart/McBride/Shamet; Drummond cannot defend enough / nine-man consolidation makes McBride/Hart stable and Drummond a rebound stream | A | Brown's rotation and emergency center plan were unannounced. Recheck preseason substitution count. New York Knicks |
| Oklahoma City Thunder — Dort versus Wallace starter; Mitchell/McCain creation | Wallace 27 and Dort 22 with Wallace favored in some lineups; Mitchell 24 | incumbent Dort starts/closes and caps Wallace; too many guards split creation / Wallace starts and Mitchell owns all non-SGA second-unit creation | A | No official lineup change. Recheck first and last five in preseason. Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Orlando Magic — Carter/Vucevic/Bitadze/Isaac; Anthony Black closing | Carter 25, Vucevic 16, Bitadze 5, Isaac 6; Black 25 | traditional two-big experiments crowd wings and still split centers / small closing group lifts Black above 28 and makes centers streamers only | A | Sean Sweeney has no Orlando regular-season sample. Recheck starts/closes against both big and small opponents. Orlando Magic |
| Philadelphia 76ers — four creators; Wade/Barlow; Embiid handcuff | Maxey/Edgecombe/Brown start; Simons sixth; Wade 23, Barlow 20; Bona first block center | Simons closes and cuts Edgecombe; small-ball removes Wade/Walker; Embiid absences fragment among four bigs / stable fifth starter and one handcuff emerge | S across top six | No announced pecking order; skill-fit evidence supports multiple plausible closes. Recheck high-leverage preseason possessions. Philadelphia 76ers |
| Phoenix Suns — Booker/Gillespie point structure; last forward | Booker initiates at 35; Gillespie 25 off bench; Fleming 12; Dunn zero base | Gillespie starts and Green becomes sixth man; Dunn/Peat displace Fleming / Booker remains lead and one defensive forward earns 20-plus | A | Local rotation analysis supports the base but is not a coach announcement. Recheck starters and first wing substitution. Phoenix Suns |
| Portland Trail Blazers — small-guard starts and closes; Scoot role | Morant/Lillard start; Holiday/Scoot split reserve organization; Avdija keeps 5.6 assists | defense forces stagger and one star loses closes; Scoot remains 16 / pairing works, but Avdija playmaking falls; a trade frees Scoot | S across backcourt | The stated pairing must survive game testing. Recheck first three preseason closing units. Portland Trail Blazers |
| Sacramento Kings — Acuff starting; Clifford/Hunter and Raynaud/Achiuwa | Acuff starts 31; Clifford 23; Hunter 25; Raynaud remains a reserve | Acuff struggles and Monk takes creation; veterans monopolize closes / Acuff reaches 34 and one rookie wins a stable closing role | A, dynasty S | External rookie analysis expects involvement, but no NBA sample exists. Recheck turnover rate and closing groups. Sacramento Kings |
| San Antonio Spurs — Fox/Castle/Harper trio; Harris/Champagnie | Fox and Castle start at 30; Harper sixth/closer at 27; Harris starts 24 with Champagnie 24 | Harper falls below 23 and one forward disappears / all three guards close, Harper hits 30 and Champagnie wins the spacing start | A | Three guards consume 87 base minutes; no official opening five. Recheck closing possessions and stagger pattern. San Antonio Spurs |
| Toronto Raptors — Murray-Boyles versus Poeltl closing center | Poeltl starts 24; Murray-Boyles plays 26 and closes switching matchups | Poeltl recovers to 28-plus and caps CMB / CMB starts or closes nightly and reaches top-100 stocks/rebounds value | A | Current roles and trade branch both support CMB, but exact center split is inferred. Recheck starts and closes. Toronto Raptors |
| Utah Jazz — George/Peterson/Collier creation; Nurkić/Filipowski/Hayes/Bamba | George 32 and 6.2 assists; Peterson 29; Collier 18; Nurkić 23 | Peterson's on-ball development cuts George/Collier; center quartet remains unstreamable / one guard and one center clearly win 28/24-plus | A | No announced hierarchy beyond roster construction. Recheck possession share and first center off bench. Utah Jazz |
| Washington Wizards — Young/Davis/Sarr/Ayton fit versus youth minutes | Young 32; Davis 28; Sarr 28; Ayton 20; Dybantsa 32 | veteran play-in push cuts Johnson/Riley/Coulibaly; spacing/health breaks the lineup / Davis plays center and opens Sarr/Dybantsa, or veteran trade frees youth | S | Acquisitions are official; starts/closes and organizational priority are not. Recheck preseason and deadline direction. Washington Wizards |
Tier: schedule and rest
No team receives a positive or negative fantasy-playoff schedule adjustment yet. Selected showcase games and season key dates are official, but the full team-by-team schedule, back-to-back counts and Weeks 19-22 density were not available at the cutoff. NBA 2026-27 key dates
| Team / affected players | Base assumption | Downside branch / upside branch | Rank sensitivity | Recheck trigger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| League-wide | GP projections use historical durability and role, not a known schedule edge | poor playoff-week density can move close draft calls; dense early travel can amplify rehab risk / four-game playoff weeks lift totals value | A for H2H, B roto | Rebuild the schedule grid immediately after the full NBA release; count back-to-backs, three-in-four sets, low-volume days and each platform's playoff weeks |
| Boston Celtics — Tatum, George | Tatum plays most back-to-backs; George receives selective maintenance | formal no-back-to-backs drops George below 55 GP and may trim Tatum / lighter early schedule supports current GP | A | Team media day plus official schedule density |
| Denver Nuggets — Jokić, Gordon | Jokić 66 and Gordon 55 without assuming blanket rest | dense travel after the Mexico City game or recurring soft-tissue management increases absences / favorable spacing preserves the shallow core | A | Full schedule and Nov. 7 Mexico City travel context |
| Golden State Warriors — Curry, Butler, Porziņģis, Horford | none is assumed to play every back-to-back; returns are medically led | clustered road sets make Curry/Porziņģis totals worse and Butler's ramp slower / separated games allow staggered veteran availability | S | Full schedule, then explicit team rest policy |
| Houston Rockets — Durant, VanVleet, Adams | Durant 66; rehab veterans managed case by case | early back-to-backs suppress VanVleet/Adams and create Sheppard/Capela streams / favorable opening month validates base | A | Full schedule and first injury-report pattern |
| Indiana Pacers — Haliburton | 66 GP with no full-season back-to-back ban assumed | an explicit ban moves him toward 58-62 and boosts Nembhard/McConnell / unrestricted consecutive sets support 70 | S | Camp announcement and first two back-to-backs |
| Los Angeles Clippers — Leonard, Garland | Leonard 60 and Garland 62 on current-roster branch, with ordinary maintenance | no-back-to-backs plus toe/ankle management cuts totals substantially / full consecutive-game availability supports current ranks | S | Transaction resolution, full schedule and first injury reports |
| Los Angeles Lakers — Dončić, Kessler, Reaves | no blanket restrictions in the median | three-in-four sets trigger Kessler/Dončić management and lift Sexton/Looney / normal consecutive appearances stabilize two first-round values | S | Full schedule, medical day and first dense week |
| Miami Heat — Giannis, Bam | Giannis 60 and Bam 72, with aggressive staggering but no automatic nights off modeled | Giannis sits most back-to-backs and Portis/Bam roles spike intermittently / full early availability raises Giannis totals | S | Schedule release and Miami's first back-to-back policy |
| Minnesota Timberwolves — Ball, Edwards | Ball 62 and Edwards 68; no schedule premium | dense early weeks expose Ball's durability and Edwards' knee / spaced slate helps both validate current GP | A | Schedule release and consecutive-game logs |
| Oklahoma City Thunder — Jalen Williams, Hartenstein, Caruso | selective maintenance within deep rotation | Oklahoma City uses depth to rest veterans and caps totals even when healthy / healthy core plays normal competitive stretches | A | Full schedule plus first two back-to-backs |
| Philadelphia 76ers — Embiid, Simons | Embiid 44 without assuming he plays consecutive nights | formal no-back-to-backs or scheduled rest lowers totals and creates rotating handcuffs / selective rather than blanket rest supports 50-plus ceiling | S | Nurse/media-day policy and first dense segment |
| Portland Trail Blazers — Lillard, Morant, Holiday | Lillard 58 with expected but unspecified maintenance | Lillard sits most back-to-backs and Portland staggers stars, raising Scoot/Holiday / favorable spacing makes 29 MPG sustainable | A | Full schedule and opening-month plan |
| Sacramento Kings — Sabonis, LaVine, Hunter | 62-64 GP medians already include ordinary recovery/maintenance | dense early slate or trade showcase/rest strategy lowers totals / healthy consecutive sets make veteran bridge more valuable | A | Full schedule and camp medical guidance |
| San Antonio Spurs / New Orleans Pelicans | no rank change from two January international games alone | travel around Paris/Manchester can create one-off rest / well-spaced Jan. 14 and Jan. 17 games have little effect | B | Full surrounding schedule; the international dates themselves are official |
| Washington Wizards — Davis, Young | Davis 50 and Young 62 without a known shutdown schedule | early back-to-backs and late lottery incentives reduce totals / competitive standing and spaced games sustain roles | S | Full schedule, back-to-back policy and post-deadline standings |
Tier: rookie translation
Summer League, draft capital and college production are skill evidence; they are not NBA rates. Unless otherwise stated, the base assumes a modest role and the upside requires preseason proof against rotation players.
| Team / rookies or prospects | Base assumption | Downside branch / upside branch | Rank sensitivity | Evidence and recheck trigger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks — Kingston Flemings, Zuby Ejiofor | Flemings 19 MPG as reserve organizer; Ejiofor behind Landale | veterans cap both / Flemings closes and Ejiofor wins injury-created center work | A dynasty; B redraft | Recheck turnover rate, rim pressure and first substitution. Hawks draft release |
| Boston Celtics — Chris Cenac Jr., Dillon Mitchell | Cenac one healthy-roster minute; Dillon conditional on contract | Maine-heavy development / Cenac's blocks earn second-half center minutes or Dillon's defense wins a two-way lane | C redraft; B dynasty | Recheck contract, fouls and guarded shooting. Boston Celtics |
| Brooklyn Nets — Mikel Brown Jr. | 68 GP/29 MPG with volatile efficiency and 5.2 assists | back history and NBA physicality force a slow ramp / clear starting role makes him a top-120 points/dynasty riser | A | Recheck unrestricted camp and lead-guard possessions. Brooklyn Nets |
| Charlotte Hornets — Hannes Steinbach, Christian Anderson Jr. | Steinbach 17-18 MPG; Anderson 12 | veteran/frontcourt depth keeps them below standard value / one becomes a 24-minute connector or lead guard | A dynasty | Recheck role against NBA starters rather than Summer League. Charlotte Hornets |
| Chicago Bulls — Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain | Wilson 29 MPG and top-140 model line; Swain outside stable role | shooting/processing lag widens development rotation / Wilson supplies stocks immediately and Swain earns 20-plus | A | Wilson returned from hand/thumb injuries; recheck preseason defense and Swain wrist. Chicago Bulls |
| Cleveland Cavaliers — Meleek Thomas | Five base minutes with likely G League development | veteran contender keeps him out / 42% college three and defense force a 15-minute role | B dynasty; C redraft | Recheck NBA team assignment and camp shooting. NBA draft profile |
| Dallas Mavericks — Morez Johnson Jr. | 17 MPG behind deep frontcourt, with blocks/stocks regression from Summer League | crowded roster leaves him below 12 / defense forces 24 MPG and makes a veteran expendable | A dynasty | Recheck foul rate, center/forward position and transaction wire. Dallas Mavericks |
| Denver Nuggets — Trevon Brazile and developmental bigs | 12 base minutes on the signed-only branch; Bagley starts ahead and a Watson return can cut the role sharply | Summer shooting does not hold / switch defense plus real shooting wins 15-18 minutes | B dynasty | Recheck guarded threes, Watson's contract and backup-center order. Denver Nuggets |
| Detroit Pistons — Ebuka Okorie | reserve-development role behind Cade and veteran shooters | processing/defense keep him out / immediate point-of-attack competence reduces Cade burden and creates 18-plus MPG | B | Recheck preseason ball security and defense. Detroit Pistons |
| Golden State Warriors — Yaxel Lendeborg | 25.5 MPG because Butler/Moody are unavailable | shooting is not respected and role falls below 18 / rebounds/stocks/spacing translate and he stays near 28 even after returns | A, dynasty S | Recheck first-unit role and guarded three-point volume. Golden State Warriors |
| Houston Rockets — Bruce Thornton, Quadir Copeland | Thornton two base minutes; Copeland two-way only | veteran depth blocks both / VanVleet delay and strong camp create emergency guard work | B deep/dynasty | Recheck two-way status and non-garbage preseason reps. Houston Rockets |
| Indiana Pacers — Braden Smith and two-way group | Smith has draft rights/reported two-way but no official slot; zero base | no contract / conversion creates a development PG lane but not standard value | C | Three two-way slots were occupied. Recheck waiver/conversion and official signing. Forbes Smith report |
| Los Angeles Clippers — Keaton Wagler, Yanic Konan Niederhauser | Wagler 28 MPG/secondary creation; Niederhauser eight conditional minutes after rehab | held trade/Mathurin and physical adjustment squeeze Wagler; Lisfranc return slips / trade youth branch gives Wagler 30-plus and Yanic reclaims backup C | A, dynasty S | Recheck transaction, Wagler on-ball share and Yanic contact clearance. Los Angeles Clippers |
| Los Angeles Lakers — Cameron Carr | Eight base minutes with a 15-20-minute upside path | wing crowd keeps him out / handle and defense translate, displacing Ziaire/LaRavia/Knecht | A dynasty; B redraft | Recheck pressure handling and closing auditions. Los Angeles Lakers |
| Memphis Grizzlies — Cameron Boozer, Karim Lopez, Richie Saunders | Boozer 30 MPG and model #49; Lopez development; Saunders rehab only | veterans or health cap the rookies / Boozer immediately leads usage and Lopez wins a wing role | S through Boozer | Recheck Boozer usage against starters, Lopez health and Saunders ACL milestones. Memphis Grizzlies |
| Miami Heat — Ryan Conwell, Tre Donaldson, Vladislav Goldin | Conwell six base minutes; Donaldson/Goldin two-way conditional | veteran signings remove NBA paths / shooting or positional need earns a real audition | B dynasty; C redraft | Recheck Miami's final signings and preseason rotation. Conwell draft profile |
| Milwaukee Bucks — Brayden Burries, Kasparas Jakučionis, Nate Ament | 17, 15 and five base minutes in a veteran-heavy October roster | veterans stay and all three are deep-only / rebuild trades create 25-plus for Burries and real lead reps for Jakučionis | S dynasty; A late-season redraft | Recheck final 15, preseason role and deadline. NBA Bucks rookie profile |
| Minnesota Timberwolves — Joan Beringer | Ten base minutes behind Gobert with Summer League back tightness | fouls/back and veteran signing cut him out / wins backup C and becomes blocks streamer | A | Recheck back clearance, foul rate and any center signing. Minnesota Timberwolves |
| New Orleans Pelicans — Jeremiah Fears, Derik Queen | Fears 26 MPG; Queen 27 and model #110 | Murray/Zion health plus defense restrict creation and closes / both start or close and become top-120 values | S dynasty; A redraft | Recheck Fears on-ball share and Queen's defensive fit with Zion. New Orleans Pelicans |
| New York Knicks — Tyler Nickel, Jack Kayil | unsigned draft-rights; zero base | no NBA contract / one wins a two-way and gains deep dynasty liquidity | C | Recheck contract form; Summer League participation alone is not a contract. New York Knicks |
| Oklahoma City Thunder — Bennett Stirtz, Aday Mara, Thomas Sorber, Nikola Topić | all outside the stable top ten; Sorber/Topić conditional rehab/development | champion depth and health keep them with the Blue / one creator or big wins a real second-unit role | A dynasty; B redraft only after injuries | Recheck camp health, mobility and NBA versus Blue assignment. Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Orlando Magic — Noah Penda, Izaiyah Nelson | Penda one base minute; Nelson two-way/injury contingency | deep forwards/centers block them / defensive versatility earns an injury-created ladder | B dynasty; C redraft | Recheck Sweeney's development rotation and Nelson rehab. Orlando Magic |
| Philadelphia 76ers — Labaron Philon Jr., Johni Broome | Philon seven base minutes; Broome outside healthy rotation | four creators and five bigs block them / Philon forces 15-plus or Broome becomes preferred Embiid handcuff | A dynasty; B redraft | Summer League readiness is not role proof. Recheck preseason second-unit creation and center order. Philadelphia 76ers |
| Phoenix Suns — Rasheer Fleming, Khaman Maluach, Koa Peat | Fleming 12, Maluach five, Peat zero base | veteran/health returns keep them developmental / Fleming wins last forward or Maluach becomes Williams handcuff | A dynasty; B redraft | Recheck defensive-forward competition and Williams health. Phoenix Suns |
| Portland Trail Blazers — Yang Hansen | Two base minutes in a surplus-center room | inactive/G League-heavy year / camp skill translation or center trade creates 10-15 minutes | B dynasty; C redraft | Recheck final center cuts and defensive mobility. Portland Trail Blazers |
| Sacramento Kings — Darius Acuff Jr., Nique Clifford, Maxime Raynaud | Acuff starts 31; Clifford 23; Raynaud reserve | veterans absorb creation and closes / Acuff wins lead usage and Clifford becomes closing two-way wing | S dynasty; A redraft | Recheck turnover/FG%, defensive assignments and veteran transactions. Sacramento Kings |
| San Antonio Spurs — Carter Bryant, Jayden Quaintance, Tarris Reed Jr. | Carter four base minutes; Quaintance no timetable; Reed three | deep contender rotation/redshirt / defense and health open a second-half role | A dynasty; C redraft | Quaintance had July knee surgery with no timetable. Recheck official rehab and Austin assignment. Spurs injury update |
| Toronto Raptors — Allen Graves | Eight base minutes with stocks/rebounding as the hook | veteran depth keeps him below ten / defense translates and he displaces a reserve wing for 16-plus | B dynasty | Recheck preseason stocks without over-weighting Summer League. Toronto Raptors |
| Utah Jazz — Darryn Peterson, Ace Bailey | Both 29 MPG; Peterson shares creation with George and Bailey starts on wing | efficiency/health make both volatile / one becomes a 20-point scorer and clear franchise initiator | S dynasty; A redraft | Recheck Peterson health and on-ball share, Bailey shot selection and closes. NBA Peterson profile |
| Washington Wizards — AJ Dybantsa, Will Riley | Dybantsa 32 MPG/model #132; Riley development behind veterans | play-in push and spacing cap the youth / veteran trades make Dybantsa a 20-point scorer and Riley a second-half riser | S dynasty; A redraft | Recheck starts, usage and whether veterans survive camp/deadline. Washington Wizards |
Recheck calendar
| Window | What to update | Rank-sensitive outputs |
|---|---|---|
| Daily through transaction resolution | Leonard investigation/held trade; Harden, Duren, Mathurin, Watson and other RFA/contract states; mandatory roster reductions | Team identities, 240-minute ledgers, top-100 board and dynasty liquidity |
| Late July to August | Surgery reevaluation milestones, two-way/Exhibit 10 outcomes, remaining veteran signings | Conditional GP, deep-league ranks and roster completeness |
| Full schedule release | Back-to-backs, three-in-four sets, low-volume days and fantasy-playoff Weeks 19-22 | H2H schedule modifiers and availability-adjusted ranks |
| Media day and first full-contact practice | Achilles/ACL/knee/foot/hamstring restrictions, explicit back-to-back policies | GP medians for every S injury row |
| First three preseason games | starters, first substitution, closers, on-ball share and center order | MPG, assists/usage, rookie translation and all role-battle rows |
| First two regular-season back-to-backs | actual maintenance rather than announced intent | Tatum, George, Embiid, Giannis, Curry, Butler, Porziņģis, Lillard, Leonard, Haliburton and Davis totals |
| December 15 to trade deadline | veteran consolidation and rebuild pivots | MIL, WAS, SAC, NOP, POR, BKN, UTA and every young-player second-half branch |
Open questions
- When will the NBA publish the complete 2026-27 schedule, and which common fantasy-playoff windows produce meaningful team-volume differences?
- Does the Leonard investigation resolve before drafts, or must rankings preserve two separate LAC/TOR branches into preseason?
- Which teams announce formal no-back-to-back or opening-month minute limits rather than informal maintenance?
- Which mandatory roster reductions create genuine 20-plus-minute roles instead of only moving the 14th player to 12th?
- Which rookies receive closing possessions against NBA rotation players, not merely Summer League usage?
- Which medical clearances include unrestricted contact and consecutive games, and which are only “on track” statements?
- How much should availability-adjusted ranks change after two weeks of actual games without overreacting to isolated rest or coach experimentation?