Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready to start the 2025-26 season returning to his starring role with the Bucks, but just a few months ago, a trade was discussed that could have landed him with the Knicks. Milwaukee had a wild offseason, opting to waive and stretch Damian Lillard (Achilles) and signing Myles Turner to a huge free agent deal. General Manager Jon Horst made those moves and then met with Giannis in Greece to discuss the team's plans and Giannis' part of them going forward. While the Bucks and Knicks never got traction on a potential deal, it is noteworthy that they were the one team that emerged as the main place Antetokounmpo wanted to play outside of Milwaukee. If the season goes south in Milwaukee, the two teams could revisit the discussions, but for now, Giannis will start his 13th season in the NBA with the Bucks, who will have a very different feel this year. The star is keeping his options open for the future, according to ESPN's Shams Charania, and his contentment in Milwaukee is sure to be a huge storyline this season.

Free agent guard/forward Dalano Banton signed with the Mavs on Tuesday and will likely be competing for a roster spot, although the exact nature of the deal was not announced. Over the last few years, Banton has played for the Raptors, Celtics, and most recently, the Trail Blazers. The 25-year-old has had a few huge games when asked to carry a larger workload, but usually plays a role in the supporting cast off the bench. Last year, he started the final seven games of the year for Portland, averaging 16 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.7 three-pointers. Banton could be an interesting DFS or streaming option if he gets expanded work, but he'll need to make the roster first and doesn't look positioned for a large enough role to be a season-long fantasy contributor.

Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams has said that he'll play on opening night, and coach Jordan Ott seems comfortable with the big man's progress. Ahead of the team's trip to China for two exhibition games against the Nets, Ott said, "He's out here working. In a good place... He's in all of our drills... Things could change, but he's still right on plan." Williams has been very productive when healthy, but has been severely limited by a variety of injury issues throughout his career. Last season, Williams averaged 15.3 points and 10.2 rebounds in 26.6 minutes last year for Charlotte. The Suns are planning to rotate him with Nick Richards and No. 10 overall pick Khaman Maluach at center, but they're obviously playing it very cautiously with Williams' health leading up to the start of the season.

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (ankle) is "trending in the right direction," according to coach Jason Kidd. However, the big man was unable to practice on Sunday. He injured his ankle during the first practice of training camp and has been sidelined since then. Gafford inked an extension with the Mavs during the offseason after a career-best 2024-25 campaign. He posted a career-high 12.3 points with 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game but was limited to only 57 games due to injury. The Mavs are counting on him anchoring the middle of their lineup next to Anthony Davis this season, and the fact that he's trending in the right direction means he could be back in time for the regular-season opener on October 22nd. If he does miss time, Dereck Lively II would likely be the primary player to pick up extra work.

Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (shoulder) remained sidelined for Monday's scrimmage, Ben Anderson of KSL Sports reports. Kessler was also unavailable for practice over the weekend due to left shoulder soreness. Lauri Markkanen (wrist), Kyle Filipowski (back), Isaiah Collier (hamstring), and Georges Niang (foot) also remained sidelined on Monday. The Jazz are quite a bit banged up just a couple of weeks before the regular season starts. After he didn't reach an agreement with the team on a rookie-scale contract extension during the offseason, Kessler should be very determined to get healthy and perform well at the start of the campaign. The 24-year-old had a productive campaign in 2024-25 with averages of 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in 30.0 minutes.

Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (back) wasn't available for Monday's preseason matchup against the Denver Nuggets. According to TSN's Josh Lewenberg, Poeltl is dealing with back soreness. This doesn't sound like a serious issue, but Poeltl could miss some additional preseason action because of it. During the new campaign, Poeltl has a lot to live up to after enjoying a career year in 2024-25. He nearly averaged a double-double in 29.6 minutes per game, scoring 14.5 points and grabbing 9.6 rebounds. Following the productive season, the Austrian big man signed a four-year, $104 million contract extension.

Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (hamstring) is considered day-to-day, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press reports. Duren sat out Monday's preseason clash against the Memphis Grizzlies due to hamstring soreness. Isaiah Stewart joined the starting unit and had a productive day at the office, finishing with 12 points, four rebounds, and one block in 18 minutes. If Duren's injury starts lingering, Stewart's fantasy stock would significantly rise. However, there are still a couple of weeks to go until the regular season begins, giving Duren plenty of time to get healthy for opening night. The Pistons have their first game scheduled for Oct. 22 against the Chicago Bulls.

Denver Nuggets power forward Aaron Gordon sat out Monday's preseason game against the Toronto Raptors for maintenance purposes. According to Katy Winge of Altitude TV, Gordon still went through his usual intense game-speed warmup. This suggests that there is nothing specific bothering Gordon. However, it's not surprising to see the Nuggets being cautious with Gordon, considering he sat out 31 games last season due to various health issues. Peyton Watson took over Gordon's starting spot on Monday and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds in 22 minutes. Players like Watson and Bruce Brown will be in line for more work whenever Gordon misses action this season.

Milwaukee Bucks guard Cole Anthony (face) was forced to exit Monday's preseason affair against the Miami Heat early. He suffered a chin laceration and needed stitches. Anthony was a victim of friendly fire, as teammate Bobby Portis accidentally hit him in the face with his elbow while grabbing a rebound. In the game, Anthony was limited to two points in seven minutes. He might miss some preseason action due to the injury, but fantasy managers shouldn't worry about Anthony's availability for the start of the regular season. The Bucks plan to use Kevin Porter Jr. as their starting point guard, leaving Anthony in a reserve role. However, the 25-year-old could still provide fantasy value. He has averaged 10.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in a bench role during his career.

Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (hamstring) is close to being available for the team, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports. Green is dealing with a left hamstring strain and didn't play in Friday's preseason opener against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Suns now face a couple of contests against the Brooklyn Nets in China this week before finishing their preseason schedule with a rematch against the Lakers on Oct. 14. After spending his first four NBA campaigns with the Houston Rockets, Green has a fresh start in Phoenix. He'll be expected to lead the offense alongside Devin Booker.

Brandon Rahbar of DailyThunder.com reports that Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topic (groin) underwent testicular surgery on Monday and will be re-evaluated in 4-to-6 weeks. It's another tough break for the 20-year-old rookie, who already missed the entire 2024-25 campaign with a torn ACL. Topic was expected to compete for backup minutes behind star point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but this latest setback will delay his NBA debut. In his absence, guards Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace should log additional minutes early in the season.

According to Joey Linn of SI.com, Los Angeles Clippers guardBogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring) is expected to suit up for Thursday's preseason opener versus the Guangzhou Loong Lions. On Saturday, Bogdanovic competed in five-on-five scrimmages with no restrictions. The 33-year-old has spent several weeks recovering from a hamstring injury that occurred during EuroBasket in August. Barring any setbacks, it appears he will also be available for opening night on October 22nd versus the Utah Jazz.

Joey Linn of SI.com reports that Los Angeles Clippers guard Bradley Beal (knee) participated in a team scrimmage on Monday. Beal won't be on the floor for Thursday's preseason opener. However, Linn states that the 32-year-old veteran guard expects to be ready to start the regular season. Beal's fantasy value has tumbled in recent seasons as he hasn't played in over 60 contests in six straight campaigns. If he can stay healthy, it will be worth watching how he integrates into the Clippers' rotation as the season unfolds.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has announced that he will make "The Second Decision" on Tuesday, October 7, at 12 p.m. Eastern time. Entering his 23rd NBA season, the 40-year-old continues to defy age while maintaining elite production, earning All-NBA Second Team honors last year with averages of 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game. A 21-time All-Star, four-time champion, and four-time MVP, James' longevity and dominance remain unmatched in NBA history. While the nature of his upcoming announcement is unclear, it has already sparked speculation about his future and potential plans beyond Los Angeles. Fantasy managers should continue to view LeBron as a steady, high-floor option capable of stuffing the stat sheet every night.

New York Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns has reshaped his body this offseason to prepare for an expanded role at power forward. After averaging 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds across 72 games last year, Towns is expected to share the frontcourt with Mitchell Robinson, giving New York a dominant rebounding and defensive duo. The slimmer frame should help Towns adapt to guarding quicker forwards while maintaining his elite offensive touch. Shooting an impressive 42% from three last season, Towns' ability to stretch the floor will be vital for spacing around Jalen Brunson and the Knicks' backcourt. For fantasy managers, KAT's versatility and shooting efficiency make him a strong early-round selection capable of producing across multiple categories.

Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry isn't ready to discuss the end of his legendary career just yet. Entering his 17th NBA season at age 37, Curry told reporters he has "no clue" when retirement will come, admitting only that it's "closer than it was even yesterday." The four-time NBA champion and two-time MVP remains one of the league's elite players after earning All-NBA Second Team honors last season. As the Warriors gear up for another playoff push, Curry's leadership and shooting prowess continue to define their success. For fantasy basketball managers, Curry remains a reliable top-tier option capable of delivering elite scoring, assists, and efficiency -- even as whispers of the future begin to grow louder.

Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard (undisclosed) will not play in the team's first preseason game on Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Head coach Rick Carlisle didn't specify any type of injury that Sheppard is dealing with, but reporter Tony East states that it sounds like Sheppard will be able to play at some point in the preseason. Since Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) won't be playing any time soon, the Pacers' backcourt will likely have a lot of different rotations this season. Sheppard, who appeared in 63 games (nine starts) last season, will likely see an increase in minutes as well. Through two seasons, he averages 4.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game while shooting .407 from the floor and .330 from beyond the arc.

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels is eligible for his rookie extension as he enters his fourth year in the NBA and second season with the team. The 22-year-old was named the Most Improved Player of the Year last season and made the All-Defensive First Team, along with a second-place finish for Defensive Player of the Year. With that being said, Daniels and the Hawks have "some distance" in their extension negotiations, according to NBA Insider Jake Fischer. The deadline for rookie extensions falls on October 20, and Daniels received some more negotiating power after the deal that Nikola Jovic received with the Miami Heat. Either way, he'll likely remain in the starting five this year after averaging 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 3.0 steals per game while shooting .493 from the floor and .340 from deep.

The Washington Wizards are signing forward/center Skal Labissiere to an Exhibit 10 contract on Monday. The 29-year-old big man last played for the Sacramento Kings in the 2024-25 season, where he appeared in four games and only averaged three minutes per contest. Before that, his last season in the NBA was 2019-20 with the Portland Trail Blazers. Despite being drafted in the first round back in 2016, Labissiere has only played in five seasons and has averaged 7.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.0 assists across 17.2 minutes per game.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (ankle) has had quite the laundry list of injuries over the past few seasons. Unfortunately, there's another to add to the list as Michael Wallace of Grizzlies.com reports that Morant suffered a sprained ankle on Sunday at practice. The team spokesperson said that Morant is considered week-to-week, as they'll likely be very cautious with the season right around the corner. When healthy, Morant is a top fantasy asset in most formats, but he's only played a total of 59 games over the last two seasons. Now that Desmond Bane isn't in Memphis anymore, Scottie Pippen Jr., Ty Jerome, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope all could see bumps in value.