Fantasy Basketball Invitational

LeBron James and Jaylen Brown join Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. Maxey may trade some assists for cleaner off-ball chances; Brown’s career-high 28.7 points per game should come down in a crowded creation tree.

Giannis Antetokounmpo moves to Miami after 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists on 62.4% shooting—but only 36 games. Bam Adebayo returns to center and could lose scoring and assist volume.

Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton both enter camp without restrictions after Achilles recoveries. Tatum is more than 16 months removed; Indiana still plans to monitor Haliburton’s pace.

After a 64–18 season, Oklahoma City moved Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins in cost-cutting deals. That thinner rotation should concentrate work around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.

LaMelo Ball becomes the primary creator, allowing Anthony Edwards to return to shooting guard. The trade may trim Edwards’ assists but sharpen his efficiency and defensive energy; Ball’s missed-time history still demands a discount.

AJ Dybantsa projects as Washington’s starting small forward and immediate second or third option; Darryn Peterson has a featured Utah role; Cameron Boozer is expected to start in Memphis. Caleb Wilson projects to start in Chicago, Keaton Wagler has a path to the Clippers’ starting backcourt, Mikel Brown Jr. can share Brooklyn creation and Darius Acuff Jr. should claim significant Kings guard minutes.

Luka Dončić says he has no restrictions after the Grade 2 hamstring strain that ended his postseason. With LeBron gone, Austin Reaves becomes the full-time co-star after averaging 28.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 16 games without James last season.

Kawhi Leonard arrives as the first scoring option after a career-best 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals on 50.5/38.7/89.2% shooting. Scottie Barnes remains the point-forward and defensive hub, while 65 games marked only Kawhi’s second season in nine years at that threshold.

Ja Morant joins Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson in a four-guard logjam. Lillard is unrestricted after missing last season with an Achilles tear but does not expect 35 minutes per game; Morant says he can accept starting or coming off the bench.

Will Riley gives the Wizards another long, skilled scoring project alongside AJ Dybantsa, Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, Kyshawn George and Alex Sarr. The dynasty question is which members of Washington’s deep young core can earn enough touches to separate as Trae Young and Anthony Davis command the veteran usage.

Donovan Mitchell signed for four years and $273 million after 27.9 points and 5.7 assists per game, while James Harden re-signed for three years and $96.5 million. With Darius Garland gone, Mitchell keeps the lead-scoring lane and Harden the distributing burden.

Jaylen Brown’s exit opens real rotation opportunity for Payton Pritchard, Baylor Scheierman, Hugo González and Neemias Queta. Boston plans to lean harder on its youth and depth: Pritchard averaged 17.0 points and 5.2 assists last season, while Scheierman and González have room to grow into larger roles.

Los Angeles sent Utah unprotected first-rounders in 2031 and 2033 plus swaps in 2028 and 2030, then signed Walker Kessler to a four-year, $130 million deal. Fully cleared after last season’s shoulder surgery, the elite rim protector and lob threat should gain immediate fantasy value beside Luka Dončić.

Josh Giddey posted 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.1 assists and was back to unrestricted five-on-five after May ankle arthroscopy. Rookie Caleb Wilson is projected to start beside him, but Wilson’s 25.9% college three-point shooting is the lineup’s swing skill.

Dylan Harper averaged 11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 22.6 minutes as a rookie. His expected second-year leap gives the Finals-tested Spurs another creator, but it also forces a larger minutes-and-usage decision alongside De’Aaron Fox in a team still built around Victor Wembanyama.

Devin Booker remains the primary point guard after 26.1 points and 6.0 assists per game, but he shot only 33% from three. Miles Bridges and Luke Kennard arrive, and Jalen Green returns from hamstring problems, giving Booker more shooting help without changing his central role.

Amen Thompson is the Rockets’ lineup hinge: a disruptive multi-position defender, force in transition and secondary creator who can fill gaps around Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün. His fantasy ceiling comes from heavy minutes and across-the-board production rather than needing the offense built around him.

New coach Sean Sweeney inherits Paolo Banchero’s 3.1 turnovers per game, Franz Wagner’s 23.4 points before a high-ankle sprain and Desmond Bane’s 82-game season at 20.1 points on 39.1% from three. Cleaner Paolo decisions could decide how much room remains for Wagner’s usage.

Domantas Sabonis is healthy and pain-free after a back injury limited him to 19 games, but trade speculation persists. No. 7 pick Darius Acuff Jr. adds backcourt creation, while sophomore Maxime Raynaud closed last season at 17.8 points on 60.2% shooting over the final two months.

No. 5 pick Keaton Wagler averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists at Illinois while shooting 39.7% from three. The polished perimeter creator enters a post-Kawhi roster with the Clippers’ starting backcourt job described as his to lose, giving him one of the clearest immediate roles in the rookie class.

The champion Knicks retained their starting five after Jalen Brunson led the postseason at 28.4 points per game and scored 45 in the Finals clincher. With Mitchell Robinson now in Boston, Karl-Anthony Towns should handle most center minutes and facilitate more from the elbow.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis join Bam Adebayo after the Heat sent Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis and Nate Ament to Milwaukee. The frontcourt is deeper and more versatile, while the redistributed perimeter work is the fantasy tension.

No. 11 pick Yaxel Lendeborg arrives after an NCAA championship season at Michigan, where he averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks. Steve Kerr says the versatile forward will “play a ton,” with a starting job or major bench role to be settled in camp.

No. 6 pick Mikel Brown Jr. joins Egor Demin in a backcourt built for development, with both young playmakers getting room to grow alongside veteran scorers Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. Their progress—and how quickly those touches become efficient creation—will define the Nets’ ceiling.

No. 8 pick Kingston Flemings arrives from Houston after averaging 16.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists on 47.6% shooting. His downhill playmaking and 38.7% three-point mark give Atlanta a versatile young guard, though CJ McCollum, Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker make the first-year rotation crowded.

Tyrese Haliburton returns after missing all of 2025–26 with the right Achilles rupture he suffered in the 2025 Finals. He enters camp without restrictions, but Rick Carlisle’s measured ramp-up will determine how quickly the Pacers can restore the pace, passing and spacing that drive their offense.

Donovan Clingan averaged 12.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks across 77 games, ranking third in rebounds and fifth in blocks. The 7-foot-2 center also led the NBA in offensive rebounds and contested shots, making him the Trail Blazers’ interior foundation as his offense catches up to his defense.

Kon Knueppel’s rookie-record 273 threes at 42.5% make him the proven spacing anchor as Brandon Miller and the young guards absorb more creation. The frontcourt is less settled: Ryan Kalkbrenner, Moussa Diabaté, Naz Reid and No. 14 pick Hannes Steinbach all need minutes.

No. 9 pick Morez Johnson Jr. leads a Mavericks class that also includes Sergio de Larrea and Tobi Lawal. Johnson’s reunion with college coach Dusty May gives him the clearest early path, while de Larrea’s playmaking and Lawal’s athleticism give Dallas two more distinct development bets.

Sean Sweeney takes over a Magic core led by Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane. Orlando’s next step hinges on turning that size and shot creation into cleaner offense, with Banchero’s 3.1 turnovers per game and overall efficiency the immediate swing points.

Zach Edey is cleared for full-speed, full-court work and expected to be ready for the season opener after two ankle procedures limited him to 11 games. He still averaged 13.6 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in only 25.8 minutes, an emphatic reminder of how completely the 7-foot-4 center can control the glass when healthy.

Darius Garland and Brandon Ingram now lead the post-Kawhi roster. Bradley Beal re-signed for two years and $13.2 million after a hip injury ended his season after six games, while rookie Keaton Wagler is being asked to supply immediate young creation.