There remains significant uncertainty surrounding his return timeline, as his injury typically carries a nine-to-12-month recovery window. A return sometime between Christmas and March appears to be a reasonable range for now, though fantasy managers shouldn't put much stock into a specific target date until Butler progresses further in his rehab.
It's a tough blow to the Trail Blazers' depth on the wing ahead of training camp. Sharpe, who is now likely to be sidelined until after the All-Star break, had been ticketed for a reserve role behind Toumani Camara following an injury-plagued 2025-26 campaign, which saw average a career-high 20.8 points, 1.4 steals and 2.1 three-pointers per game over 50 regular-season appearances. The door is now open for Vit Krejci and Jeremy Sochan to compete for bench minutes during camp.
DiVincenzo will have his surgery done by Dr. Martin O'Malley, the same surgeon who repaired the torn right Achilles of Jayson Tatum in May of 2025. The fact that the procedure is taking place within 24 hours of DiVincenzo's injury should help with the recovery, though it would be unfair to expect the veteran guard to return as quickly as Tatum did, which took approximately 10 months for the latter. It seems more likely that DiVincenzo will miss the entire 2026-27 season, though if he does progress enough to return, it wouldn't be until late in the regular season. The Timberwolves will also be without Anthony Edwards (knee) for multiple weeks, so the team will turn to Ayo Dosunmu, Mike Conley and Bones Hyland to carry more of the load for the rest of the postseason.
This is a tough blow for the center with training camp right around the corner. With his status for Opening Night in jeopardy, this will put a lot of eyes on Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach, with the latter already drawing buzz during the Summer League. More clarity on Williams' timeline should be known in the coming weeks.
The diagnosis ends Moody's season, and he'll require a long recovery period. Through 60 regular-season appearances, the fifth-year swingman averaged a career-high 12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steals in 25.7 minutes per game. With Moody's campaign now over, De'Anthony Melton and Gary Payton should continue to help pick up the slack in the Golden State backcourt down the stretch.
It's a tough break for Miller, who had an opportunity to battle for a reserve role during training camp in the fall. The timeline for a return is likely to keep him on the shelf until after the All-Star break. Miller's extended stay on the sidelines gives Kobe Sanders a chance to crack the Clippers' rotation.
Watkins, a two-way player for the Wizards, suffered the injury during the Summer League. Although Washington has yet to offer a timetable for a return, a typical recovery time for the procedure is approximately 9-to-12 months. That leaves Watkins in serious jeopardy of missing most, if not all, of the 2026-27 season, and it remains to be seen if the team will continue keeping him around on a two-way roster spot while he's injured.
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"Brunson is at about 80 to 85 percent after the wrist surgery that he had in July," Goodwill said. "He'll have no restrictions when training camp begins in a couple of weeks." Brunson had surgery back in early July following New York's championship run, but his status for Opening Night was never in any real doubt.
Porter (knee) had a quality 2025-26 season from a statistical standpoint, averaging 17.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 0.5 blocks and a career-high 2.2 steals across 33.2 minutes. However, the 26-year-old logged only 38 games and underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in April. It's unknown when Porter will be cleared to suit up, though durability concerns could keep him on the bench regularly for the Bucks during the 2026-27 campaign, especially with Ryan Rollins and Tyler Herro in the equation. Still, if Porter stays healthy, he can provide valuable minutes for a team that no longer has Giannis Antetokounmpo on the roster.
Chicago has focused primarily on frontcourt additions so far this offseason with their recent moves, setting up Giddey with plenty of talent around him for playmaking opportunities. Anfernee Simons (wrist) and Collin Sexton are both unrestricted free agents this summer, potentially leaving Giddey with a ton of usage on his plate in the backcourt next season.
The 21-year-old big man is currently recovering from foot surgery but is expected to be ready for training camp after averaging 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 48 regular-season appearances last year. Sarr remains a major part of the franchise's long-term plans, although the additions of established veterans could reduce some offensive responsibilities. His defensive upside should continue to provide substantial fantasy value if he can stay healthy.
The deal, which was agreed in principle June 30, was held up over two months due to the league's investigation involving salary-cap circumvention by Leonard and the Clippers. Ingram underwent surgery in early May to address ongoing right heel pain, so his health will be worth monitoring when he reports to Los Angeles training camp later in September.
Herro has spent his entire career with the Heat, averaging 19.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.2 blocks, 0.7 steals and 38.2 percent shooting from deep across 32.5 minutes in 394 regular-season appearances. Without question, the 26-year-old is a capable scorer, though his defensive limitations can be a problem. Herro has also had issues staying healthy over the years, most recently logging only 33 regular-season games during the 2025-26 campaign. He underwent a minor foot procedure in April, but he should be ready to go for training camp. Herro is also set to hit free agency in 2027, assuming he can't work out a long-term agreement with the Bucks.
Jackson was traded from Memphis to Utah in February, though he appeared in only three regular-season games for the Jazz before undergoing surgery due to a growth in his left knee. The 2022-23 Defensive Player of the Year will look to make his presence felt on that end of the floor and anchor a now Kessler-less Jazz frontcourt. Jackson's two-way production will be crucial for a Utah team that's looking to return to playoff contention, and he hasn't averaged fewer than 18.6 points per game since the 2021-22 campaign, when he averaged 16.3 points per tilt for the Grizzlies.
Sabonis was limited to just 19 regular-season appearances for Sacramento last season due to injuries but remained productive when available, averaging 15.8 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists while shooting 54.3 percent from the field. The 30-year-old remains a major part of the Kings' frontcourt entering 2026-27 and should continue providing strong production in rebounds, assists and field-goal percentage.
With Miller coming off May surgery to address left shoulder instability, any rehab update is notable as Charlotte prepares for training camp. "It's going good, going good," Miller said. "I'm getting stronger. That's all I can ask for. The stronger I get, the more mobile I am with the shoulder and that is the most important thing." He wasn't ready to commit to a timetable, and he's still awaiting full clearance for basketball activities with training camp a little over a month away.
The young center has shown encouraging development during his first two seasons and still projects to receive significant frontcourt minutes. However, Memphis now possesses additional depth in the frontcourt, creating some uncertainty regarding lineup combinations. Injuries have limited Edey to 66 regular-season appearances through two years, so his health is a far bigger concern.
Aldama's 2025-26 campaign was cut short due to a right knee injury, which resulted in an arthroscopic procedure in mid-March. The Mavericks are able to start practice prior to Sept. 29 because they have preseason games abroad, and it sounds like Aldama could have a good chance of featuring in those.
Watkins believes De'Andre Hunter will start at small forward next to Murray ahead of Alex Karaban. Murray underwent an arthroscopic procedure to remove loose bodies in his left ankle back in May, though he's expected to be ready in time for training camp.
Pippen will have to gain clearance ahead of training camp after undergoing a toe procedure in March, but he certainly appears to be a winner of the team's offseason moves. Ty Jerome (ankle) poses a significant risk to Pippen's role, however, and the two guards figure to engage in a battle for the top role at the point this fall. Pippen is looking to bounce back following an injury-ruined 2025-25 campaign, during which he averaged 11.4 points, 4.7 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.9 steals in 21.2 minutes per game across 10 regular-season appearances (six starts).
Murray-Boyles will miss all the Raptors' Las Vegas Summer League games due to a sprained finger. The 21-year-old big man was productive on both ends of the floor in his rookie campaign, and he figures to continue seeing meaningful playing time in 2026-27.
Wells' defensive ability and complementary skill set could help him carve out a role alongside the Grizzlies' established core. However, increased competition for minutes may make consistent opportunities more difficult to secure. In addition to Boozer, the Grizzlies also added forward Karim Lopez in the first round.
Collins will return to Chicago on a multi-year deal rather than testing free agency. The big man was limited to just 10 games during the 2025-26 campaign, averaging 9.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 18.4 minutes per contest while dealing with a left wrist fracture early in the season before suffering a right toe sprain that ultimately required surgery. Collins figures to provide center depth off the bench alongside Jalen Smith (calf) behind the recently acquired Nic Claxton (finger).
Adams was already viewed as out indefinitely with a Grade 3 sprain, but now he won't be able to return during the 2025-26 campaign. The veteran big man is under contract with Houston through the 2027-28 season. With Adams' year now over, Clint Capela and Dorian Finney-Smith are set to split the backup center duties behind Alperen Sengun.
Lively is walking and lifting weights, though he's not quite ready to enter the next phase of his rehab. The 22-year-old big man is recovering from right foot surgery, which cut his season short in December of last yar, and it remains uncertain if he'll be a full participant in training camp this fall. The Mavericks did take Morez Johnson with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft to improve its frontcourt, but Lively remains the most likely candidate to open next season as Dallas' starting center.
Clayton is still dealing with a sprained right knee and will end up missing the entirety of Summer League play. The 23-year-old guard will now turn his attention toward thre 2026-27 campaign, and he's expected to provide backcourt depth during his second season in the Association.
Although Traore won't play in Summer League, he's expected to be 100 percent by training camp. During his rookie campaign, Traore averaged 8.9 points, 3.8 assists and 1.8 rebounds while shooting 38.0 percent from the field in 22.2 minutes per showing across 56 regular-season games (31 starts).
With the Thunder's season over, Topic underwent a minimally invasive lumbar microdiscectomy procedure, and the operation shouldn't impact his availability for the start of the 2026-27 campaign. The guard played sparingly during the postseason after appearing in 10 regular-season games for Oklahoma City, averaging 5.2 points, 4.4 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 16.0 minutes per contest.
This is a tough blow for Niederhauser, who suffered the injury during Wednesday's matchup against the Pacers. It's still too early to talk about whether the big man will be available for the start of next season, though the team could provide an estimate following the procedure.
The severity of the finger injury is unknown, though it kept Diawara from playing in New York's final three Las Vegas Summer League outings. Over two outings in Las Vegas this summer, he averaged 3.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in 24.7 minutes per tilt.
After losing to Tyler Herro (ribs) in 2025, Lillard won his third 3-Point Contest in four years. The star point guard posted 27 points in the first round and 29 in the second, beating Booker by two and Knueppel by 12 in the final round. Lillard is still recovering from a torn left Achilles tendon he sustained with the Bucks in the opening round of the playoffs last season, and he'll hope to return to action for Portland by the start of the 2026-27 campaign.
With VanVleet having missed the entire 2025-26 campaign after suffering a torn ACL late last offseason, it's encouraging to hear he's back on the court as a notable step in his recovery. The veteran point guard is almost a full calendar year removed from the surgery, so there's optimism he'll be ready for Opening Night in late October. His levels of participation in training camp and the preseason remain a question mark, though.
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Hepburn will be held out of the Raptors' Summer League finale, marking his third consecutive contest on the inactive list. The 23-year-old point guard appeared in two Las Vegas Summer League games, averaging 6.5 points, 6.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 29.1 minutes per contest.
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Antetokounmpo's absence wasn't due to restrictions from Miami, as Greece's federation indicated the decision was made as part of his preparation for the upcoming season. The 31-year-old will begin a new chapter with the Heat after being acquired from Milwaukee in a blockbuster trade this offseason.
He also helped lead the Rockets to a 52-30 record and a playoff berth despite battling injuries late in the year. Houston made no major changes to its core during the offseason, so Durant should once again operate as the club's primary scoring option while chasing another deep postseason run.
Davis (finger) remains a cornerstone of Washington's frontcourt and should continue operating as the team's primary interior presence. However, the additions of Dybantsa and Trae Young could slightly reduce Davis' offensive workload while improving the overall quality of his scoring opportunities. Assuming he stays healthy, and that's a big assumption, Davis still projects as one of the league's most productive fantasy big men.
While George remains an effective two-way wing, he's unlikely to command the same offensive workload as Brown at this stage of his career, potentially leading to even greater scoring and playmaking responsibilities for Tatum. Assuming he returns to full health, Tatum has a legitimate path to career-best usage in 2026-27.
While Adebayo may sacrifice some scoring volume, Antetokounmpo's ability to collapse defenses should create more efficient scoring opportunities, and the duo projects to form one of the league's premier defensive frontcourts. Adebayo nursed a back issue to end the 2025-26 season, but he should be a full go for training camp.
Young declined his $49 million player option and was initially going to test the waters in free agency.
Chris Haynes of NBA TV reported when the trade went down that the Trail Blazers had a Morant and Lillard backcourt pairing in mind, so it'll be interesting to see how the ball-handling responsibilities are divvied up in 2026-27 should they stick to that plan. Morant endured yet another injury-plagued campaign in 2025-26 with the Grizzlies, making just 20 appearances while shooting a career-low 41.0 percent from the floor and 23.5 percent from deep, and he's reached the 60-game mark just one time over his past five seasons. With plenty of questions surrounding his fit in his new digs, the dynamic 27-year-old point guard is shaping up as a difficult fantasy player to rank as a high-risk, high-reward gamble in the second half of drafts.
Williams aggravated his left hamstring injury in Game 2 and missed the next three contests before returning for Thursday's Game 6 loss. The star forward played just 10 minutes and took only one shot, chipping in one point and one assist. He's now being ruled out for Game 7 due to injury management, so his next chance to play will come in the NBA FInals if the Thunder win Saturday. With Williams sidelined, Jared McCain, Kenrich Williams and Cason Wallace will likely see increased run in Game 7.
Wagner was limited to 34 regular-season appearances for Orlando last season but remained productive when available, averaging 20.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 30.0 minutes per game. The 25-year-old remains one of the centerpieces of the Magic's offense and should continue handling a significant scoring and playmaking workload alongside Paolo Banchero. Wagner's well-rounded production gives him considerable fantasy upside entering his sixth NBA season.
Hartenstein sat out FIBA qualifiers with Germany to nurse an ankle injury he sustained earlier this summer, so it's encouraging to see him back on the court ahead of training camp in the fall. The 28-year-old big man appears to be firmly on track for the start of the regular season in October, barring any setbacks along the way.
The Nuggets extended a qualifying offer at the end of July, but the team will now move on from Watson, who averaged a career-high 14.6 points, 2.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks across 29.6 minutes in 54 regular-season games in 2026. The 23-year-old, who also agreed to a four-year, $88 million contract with Cleveland, could make an immediate impact for a team looking to compete in a loaded Eastern Conference. While it's unknown if Watson will start consistently for the Cavs, he will likely receive plenty of minutes off the bench.
LaVine underwent season-ending surgery on his right hand before the 2025-26 All-Star break. He averaged 19.2 points in 39 regular-season games and was a two-time All-Star before being traded to the Kings in February of 2025. The Kings are listening to trade offers for LaVine and Domantas Sabonis, but their hefty contracts are making things difficult. If LaVine stays in Sacramento, he'll likely take a back seat, as the Kings try to develop 2026 No. 7 overall pick Darius Acuff.
Mitchell (calf) had a breakout campaign in his second NBA season and could earn a larger role in 2026-27 though he'll still have to compete with Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso and Jared McCain for consistent playing time. His continued development as a secondary playmaker could determine whether he becomes a reliable fantasy contributor.
Fantasy managers weren't quite able to get a clear idea about Hunter's role after his move to Sacramento, as the forward made just two appearances for the Kings before undergoing season-ending eye surgery. While Acuff is expected to play a big role and see plenty of ball-handling duties right away, Hunter could still move up the depth chart and benefit from a usage perspective if DeMar DeRozan (hamstring) winds up going elsewhere in 2026-27.
After exercising his $21.6 million player option in June, Caldwell-Pope is set to join LeBron James and the 76ers for the 2026-27 campaign. Caldwell-Pope was traded from Orlando to Memphis in June 2025 and appeared in 51 regular-season games (14 starts) with the club before undergoing surgery on his right pinky finger in February. He averaged 8.4 points, 2.7 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 0.8 steals across 21.3 minutes per contest with the Grizzlies. The 33-year-old is now expected to compete with Anfernee Simons, Labaron Philon and Justin Edwards for playing time off the bench.
McGowens will miss the final game of the 2025-26 season, though to be fair, he hasn't played for the Pelicans since March 8 due to a fractured toe. He appeared in 42 games for New Orleans and made 13 starts, averaging 8.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists across 21.0 minutes per game.
Alexander was taken off the court on a stretcher in Monday's 80-63 win over the Bulls due to a left rib contusion, and Utah is taking a cautious approach in its Summer League finale. The two-way player has plenty of time to recuperate ahead of training camp in the fall.
Irving suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in March 2025 and did not play in the 2025-26 campaign. The veteran point guard has had plenty of time to recover and will enter training camp having played in pickup games this summer. It wouldn't be surprising to see the 34-year-old enter the season on a minutes restriction, though it appears likely he'll be ready to play by Opening Night. Irving appeared in 50 regular-season games in 2024-25 before suffering the knee injury, averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.8 combined steals-plus-blocks in 36.1 minutes per contest.
Haliburton torched the nets in the opening quarter of Indiana's Game 7 loss to the Thunder in the Finals, though he tore his Achilles before the end of the frame. The star floor general resumed 5-on-5 work in early April and said in late June that he felt like he was operating like a "healthy NBA player," per Scott Agness of FieldhouseFiles.com. Although he's had plenty of time to recover since undergoing Achilles surgery, Haliburton may still need time to ramp up to a full workload after such a serious injury. The 26-year-old will look to return to form after appearing in 73 regular-season games in 2024-25, during which he averaged 18.6 points, 9.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 0.7 blocks while shooting 38.8 percent from three-point range in 33.6 minutes per tilt.