"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.
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.