The mud has settled from the top of the 2024-25 NBA season and the 2025 NBA Draft. Which means NBA Free Company can be in full swing in July and we must always proceed to get loads of information, rumors and trades circulating. NBA groups can formally start negotiating offers with gamers beginning Monday, June 30 at 6 p.m. ET. Contracts cannot grow to be official till July 6, so we must always get loads of reviews coming by means of, together with the place unrestricted free brokers can be signing this offseason. We’ll even be monitoring any large restricted free agent information.
For fantasy-relevant information, we’ll be offering fast evaluation, how the transfer may impression stated participant and crew for the 2025-26 marketing campaign — in addition to the fantasy impression. Comply with alongside right here for Yahoo’s stay protection of NBA Free Company.
Fantasy Basketball evaluation throughout NBA Free Company
LeBron James opts into Lakers contract
LeBron has determined to decide into his participant choice for the 2025-26 season and stay in Los Angeles, moderately than hit the free agent market. King James is owed round $52 million this upcoming season; then, his future turns into a bit murky. We have heard rumblings of retirement for James, who will flip 41 in December. There’s additionally an opportunity the Lakers commerce LeBron in hopes of including some items to construct round Luka Dončić for the long run.
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Fantasy basketball evaluation: It is nonetheless early within the offseason, so this might not be the final transfer involving James earlier than the season begins. However for now, James returning to the Lakers means he’ll be teamed up with Dončić. This is able to have a huge impact on how we strategy every in fantasy basketball. The offense would run by means of Dončić, so that may have LeBron taking part in off the ball extra, which is not very best for his help numbers and utilization price. We additionally know that each handled accidents final season after which had to determine the right way to play with one another in a pinch. A full offseason to prep for 2025-26 can be useful. The 2 future Corridor of Famers are too good not to have the ability to co-exist. Each ought to proceed to be top-25 fantasy belongings however we’ll see how the remainder of L.A.’s roster shakes out.
James Harden, Clippers agree on deal
The Beard and Los Angeles have agreed to phrases on a two-year, $81.5 million deal, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. Harden led the Clippers in scoring final season, averaging 22.8 factors per sport on 41/35/87 taking pictures splits. He additionally averaged 8.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds with 1.5 steals per sport. The Clips would lose to the Denver Nuggets in seven video games within the first spherical of the playoffs. The brand new deal helps maintain Los Angeles’ present core collectively for not less than a couple of extra seasons earlier than the crew can begin to assume “rebuild.”
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Fantasy basketball evaluation: Harden is not the kind of quantity scorer from his MVP days with the Rockets. However he is nonetheless worthwhile in fantasy as a stat-stuffer on a Clippers’ crew that ought to stay aggressive within the Western Convention. Harden’s fantasy worth can also be linked to the well being and efficiency of Kawhi Leonard, who missed most of final season. In 37 video games, Leonard averaged 21.5 factors per sport. Kawhi got here on robust on the finish of the season, averaging round 26 PPG over the past two months. That tangentially elevated Harden’s performances. With the Clippers, Harden stays a protected choose within the second or third spherical of drafts.
Timberwolves preserving the band collectively
Minnesota goes to retain two frontcourt our bodies within the type of Julius Randle and Naz Reid. Randle and the T-Wolves are in settlement on a three-year, $100 million deal, per ESPN. Reid is ready to signal a five-year, $125 million contract, per reviews.
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In his first season in Minnesota, Randle averaged 18.7 factors per sport because the secondary scoring choice behind Anthony Edwards. Randle was barely extra environment friendly from the ground, taking pictures 48.5% whereas getting his 3-point proportion again nearer to his profession common with 34.4% on the season. Reid set profession marks just about throughout the board with 14.2 PPG, 6.0 RPG and a pair of.3 APG over 27.5 minutes per contest in 80 video games.
Fantasy basketball evaluation:
Jazz commerce Collin Sexton to Hornets for Jusuf Nurkić
The Utah Jazz despatched Sexton and a second-round choose to Charlotte in change for Nurkić. Sexton lands on the Hornets, who might use him to offer some scoring. Nurkić provides the Jazz extra dimension and he could possibly be bridge to Walker Kessler because the full-time beginning middle after 2025-26. Buying and selling Sexton might clear extra minutes for rookie guards Ace Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr., who had been each chosen within the first spherical of the 2025 NBA Draft.
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You’ll want to take a look at Yahoo’s commerce grades for the Sexton-Nurkić swap.
Fantasy basketball evaluation: This could possibly be a transfer to appease Bailey, who’s popping up in reviews about being sad he landed in Utah. Whether or not or not that is true, with Sexton gone, Bailey ought to see elevated backcourt minutes, which improves his fantasy outlook in 12 months 1 and for dynasty. Nurkić is on an expiring contract however he ought to begin at middle for the Jazz, which ought to negatively impression Kessler’s worth, not less than for 2025-26. Nurk is not the identical fantasy asset from his Path Blazer days but when he can keep wholesome, he is not a nasty late-round choice for rebounds.
