Anthony Edwards
Edwards agreed to a five-year designated rookie maximum contract extension that could become worth $260 million, his agents, Bill Duffy and Joe Branch with WME Sports, told ESPN on Monday. He averaged career highs in points (24.6), rebounds (5.8), assists (4.4), steals (1.6), blocks (0.7), and minutes (36.0). Edwards has scored 4,871 points over his career, the fourth most by a player before turning 22 years old. The only players he trails are LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Carmelo Anthony. Edwards turns 22 in August and is just scratching the surface of his potential.
Jordan Clarkson
Clarkson and the Jazz finalized a three-year, $55 million contract extension Sunday, according to reports. As a regular starter for the Jazz last season. Clarkson averaged career highs in points (20.8), assists (4.4) and rebounds (4.0). He should continue to be vital part of the Utah's rotation moving forward.
LaMelo Ball
Ball agreed to a five-year, $260 million max extension with the Charlotte Hornets, Sam Permut of Roc Nation Sports told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Saturday. While his season was derailed by ankle injuries, Ball's fantasy future looks very promising. He has averaged 20 PPG, 6.0 RPG, and 6.0 APG over the past two seasons. Ball became the third player in NBA history to accumulate 3,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists before turning 22, joining Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
Austin Reaves
The Los Angeles Lakers agreed to a max extension with Austin Reaves starting at $12.4 million next season which includes raises each season, netting out to $54 million over four years, sources told ESPN on Saturday. Reaves will be a solid fantasy option and Los Angeles will likely start him. His numbers improved significantly across the board compared to his rookie season. This improvement was on full display during the 2023 postseason where he had seven games with 20 or more points, the most by a Lakers player in his first career postseason since James Worthy (8) in 1984.
D'Angelo Russell
Russell agreed to a two-year, $37 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, co-heads of CAA Basketball Austin Brown and Aaron Mintz along with Antonio Russell told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Saturday. He set career highs in field goal (46.7%) and three-point (41.4%) last season and Laker went 12-5 with Russell during the regular season compared to 31-34 without him. He averaged 17.4 PPG and 6.1 APG in 30.9 MPG. Russell should be able to replicate those averages in 2023-24.
Brook Lopez
Lopez agreed to a two-year, $48 million deal to stay with the Milwaukee Bucks, a source told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Lopez provided excellent value in fantasy basketball leagues last season, averaging 15.9 PPG and 6.7 RPG. He also led the NBA with a career-high 193 blocks. Lopez shouldn't fly under the radar in 2023 fantasy drafts.
Desmond Bane
Bane agreed to a five-year, $207 million max contract extension with the Memphis Grizzlies, his agents Jim Tanner, Max Wiepking and Terrence Felder of Tandem Sports + Entertainment told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Bane is positioned for great fantasy success this season, especially without Ja Morant for the first 25 games of the season. Bane averaged career-highs in points (21.5), rebounds (5.0), assists (4.4), and field goal percentage (47.9%) last season.
Cameron Johnson
Cameron Johnson agreed on a four-year, $108 million deal to stay with the Brooklyn Nets, his agents Steven Heumann and Ty Sullivan of CAA Basketball told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday. Fantasy managers shouldn't overlook Johnson in the middle rounds. He averaged 16.6 PPG in the 25 games he played for the Nets after being traded from Phoenix last season.
Khris Middleton
Khris Middleton has agreed on a new three-year, $102 million deal to stay with the Milwaukee Bucks, his agents Mike Lindeman and Jeff Schwartz told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday. While injuries derailed Middleton's fantasy potential last season, he is a top-50 player in category formats when healthy. Middleton ranks among the top players in Bucks franchise history in games played, points, 3-point field goals and assists.
Kyrie Irving
Irving agreed to three-year, $126 million deal to return to the Dallas Mavericks, his agent Shetellia Riley-Irving told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne on Friday. Irving should provide fantasy managers with first round value when he is active. He was one of seven players to average 25 PPG, 5 RPG and 5 APG last season.
Jerami Grant
Grant agreed to a five-year, $160 million contract to stay with the Portland Trail Blazers, his agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne on Friday. With Damian Lillard moving on, the Trail Blazer will have to rely on Grant. He was one of 11 players to average 20 points and shoot 40% from beyond the arc last season (minimum of 40 games played). Grant is also one of eight players to record at least 5,000 points and 300 blocks over the past five seasons.
Gabe Vincent
The Lakers and Gabe Vincent agreed on a three-year, $33 million contract, a source told ESPN's Dave McMenamin on Friday. Vincent made 117 triples last season while the Lakers were near the bottom of the league in 3-point shooting. Fantasy managers shouldn't overlook Vincent in the later rounds of drafts. Only LeBron James made more 3-pointer than Vincent last season (121).
Tre Jones
Tre Jones agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal to return to the San Antonio Spurs, his agent Kevin Bradbury of LIFT Sports told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday. Jones ranked seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio last season and is a great fantasy pick near the double-digit rounds. Jones could start for the Spurs and playing alongside Victor Wembanyama should benefit his assist numbers.
Jakob Poeltl
Poeltl agreed to a four-year, $80 million contract to stay with the Toronto Raptors, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday. Poeltl ranked among the top-75 players in category formats last season, a trend should continue in 2023-24.Poeltl also recorded 19 double-doubles, the second-most in his career.
Bruce Brown
Brown agreed to a two-year, $45 million deal with the Indiana Pacers, his agents Ty Sullivan and Steven Heumann of CAA Sports told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Malika Andrews on Friday. Brown should start in Indiana, which boosts his fantasy value. He averaged a career-high 11.5 points PPG in his first season with the Nuggets and he and Aaron Gordon became the first duo to score 20 points while shooting 70% from the field in a NBA Finals game since Michael Jordan and Horace Grant did so in 1991.
Coby White
White agreed to a three-year, $40 million deal to stay with Chicago Bulls, his agents Ty Sullivan and Steven Heumann of CAA Basketball told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday. White finished last season with a career-high 55% effective field goal percentage. He is worth targeting late in fantasy drafts, especially in deeper formats. With Lonzo Ball out for the season and Alex Caruso often plagued by injuries, it's possible that White functions as a solid scoring option for Chicago when other playmakers command defensive attention.
Kyle Kuzma
Kuzma agreed to a four-year, $102 million deal to return to the Washington Wizards, co-head of CAA Basketball Austin Brown told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday. Kuzma posted career-highs in points (21.2) and usage rate (27.9%) last season. He also averaged 7.2 RPG and 3.7 APG. While the additions of Jordan Poole, Tyus Jones, and first-round pick Bilal Coulibaly could impact Kuzma's production, he should still finish the season as a top-100 player.
Caris LeVert
LeVert agreed to new two-year, $32 million contract to stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, according to co-head of CAA Basketball Austin Brown. He played a career high 74 games and averaged 12.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 3.9 APG last season. LeVert also made a career-high 127 triples while shooting 39% from beyond the arc. Although his ceiling is limited playing alongside Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, LeVert's worth a late-round pick in fantasy drafts.
Draymond Green
Green agreed to a four-year, $100 million contract with a player option in the final season to return to the Warriors, sources told ESPN's Andscape on Friday. Last season, Green held opponents to 41.1% shooting when he was the closest defender, best among 152 players that defended at least 600 shots. Green also shot 52.7% from the field last season, the best in his 11-season career. He averaged 8.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG and 6.8 APG in 2022-23. Fantasy managers can expect similar production from Green next season.
Fred VanVleet
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Fred VanVleet agreed to a three-year, $130 million contract with the Houston Rockets. The 29-year-old declined a $22.8 million option to play for the Raptors next season and has the largest contract for any undrafted player in league history. Van Vleet is now the oldest player on the Rockets roster with Frank Kaminsky, D.J. Augustin, Boban Marjanovic and Willie Cauley-Stein all free agents.
VanVleet averaged 19.3 points, 7.2 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals last season while shooting 40% from the field. He averaged 36.7 minutes and played in 69 games, finishing the season as a top-30 fantasy option. One area where he should make an immediate impact in is helping the Rockets protect the ball. Houston ranked 29th in points allowed per 100 possessions and turnovers were a significant issue.
The Rockets finished last in turnover percentage. It was so bad that Houston allowed 20.6 points per game off turnovers, worst in the league. VanVleet ranked in the top 10 in assist-to-turnover ratio. The Rockets also ranked last in 3-point field goal percentage. VanVleet is one of two players with 1,000 career triples in Raptors history. He also ranks fourth in total steals.
The Rockets are trending in the right direction and VanVleet, who's still in his prime, will help them get back on track. Despite VanVleet teaming up with Jalen Green in the backcourt, Kevin Porter Jr. is expected to take on the role of backup point guard, which will diminish his fantasy value. VanVleet gives the Rockets the veteran presence they've been searching for, and his contract suggests he'll have a high usage rate in the upcoming season. A top-20 fantasy finish is possible. VanVleet can be a reliable source of points, assists, triples and steals for fantasy managers.
VanVleet's departure opens the door for Scottie Barnes to take center stage for the Raptors. During his exit interview, Barnes said conditioning is one area where he needs to improve before next season. Last season, he ranked just inside the top 100 in category formats. There is a chance he'll finish in the top 50 in 2023-24.
Wojnarowski also reported that the Raptors signed Dennis Schroder to a two-year, $26 million contract. That's pretty impressive for a guy who appeared to be on his way out of the league last offseason. As a member of the Lakers last season, Schroder averaged 12.6 points, 4.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 41.5% from the field. Schroder is fantasy-relevant, and don't fool yourself: The Raptors will run through Barnes and Pascal Siakam