San Antonio Spurs forward/center Zach Collins (shoulder) was cleared to participate in all basketball activities. Even better, he's anticipated to be ready for the Spurs opener in Dallas on October 24. The 26-year-old is a pivotal piece of the rotation and most recently averaged 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 2023-24. However, he tore his labrum in April, resulting in surgery. As expected, Victor Wembanyama should see more minutes this season, likely meaning less work for Collins. Yet, the veteran will likely get more than a handful of starts in the 2024-25 campaign, so he should gain streaming attention.

New York Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo won't be able to play with the full Villanova squad this season as he was part of a trade package to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that DiVincenzo, along with Julius Randle and a first-round pick, are being traded to the Timberwolves in return for star big man Karl-Anthony Towns. Reportedly, neither side of the trade requested a move, which is important to note as Towns has played all nine seasons of his career for Minnesota. DiVincenzo, on the other hand, came off of his best season yet as he averaged 15.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 44.3% from the floor and 40.1% from beyond the arc. He proved to be an important and talented role player while seeing a changing role with the team that went from sixth man to starting guard. Now, he'll look to continue that supporting guard role alongside Anthony Edwards in the Timberwolves' quest to make another deep playoff run.

New York Knicks forward Julius Randle will head back to the Western Conference as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves in a blockbuster deal that included Karl-Anthony Towns. As reported by Shams Charania, the three-time All-Star has been traded along with Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for star big man Karl-Anthony Towns. Randle missed most of last season with a shoulder injury and the Knicks went on to have an explosive playoff run that ended ultimately due to more injury issues. It seemed like Randle was primed to play some more minutes at center since Mitchell Robinson (foot) would still be on the mend, but instead, he'll now play alongside Rudy Gobert and Anthony Edwards. In 46 games last year, Randle averaged 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game with shooting splits of .472/.311/.781.

Minnesota Timberwolves center/forward Karl-Anthony Towns is on his way to New York as a trade is finalized to send him to play with the new-look Knicks. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the star big man will be reunited with his old head coach as Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and a first-round pick head to Minnesota. The Knicks are also sending salary, as well as DaQuan Jeffries, and draft compensation to the Charlotte Hornets as part of this deal. There hasn't been any word if the Hornets are sending any assets to either team in this trade. Towns has played all nine years of his career in Minnesota and was a key piece to the team's success this past season which saw them come one series away from the NBA Finals. The Knicks were in need of a big man after Mitchell Robinson (foot) was ruled out for the first couple of months, and now they land a star center to go along with Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and OG Anunoby.

San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (foot) is anticipated to miss the start of the season. The 2020 No. 11 overall pick averaged a career-high 19.5 points last season. Unfortunately, he suffered a stress fracture in his right foot and was sidelined near the end of the 2023-24 campaign. An update on Vassell's status isn't expected until November 1, although it's unknown when he'll be back on the floor. Without question, the latest update won't earn him attention from fantasy managers heading into the year, especially since he remains without a firm return date. To make matters worse, it should take him time to ramp up to his usual workload once cleared. But until Vassell is back, Malaki Branham, averaging 11.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 29 starts last season, will likely take his place in the rotation.

Charlotte Hornets center Nick Richards has reportedly been on the New York Knicks' radar this offseason. The Knicks lack frontcourt options and have been linked with multiple big men. Richards is among them, and he could come in on a team-friendly contract, as the seven-foot Jamaican is only due to be paid $5 million in each of the next two seasons. Richards, a former second-round pick, had a solid campaign with the Hornets in 2023-24, averaging 9.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 26.3 minutes. He boosted his numbers to 10.1 points, 8.8 boards, and 1.2 swats as a starter.

Following Paul George's departure to Philadelphia, the Los Angeles Clippers have a starter's spot open, and head coach Tyronn Lue expects to see multiple players competing for the role. The most obvious candidates to fill it are Derrick Jones Jr., Amir Coffey, and Norman Powell. A starting role always boosts a player's fantasy value. However, Jones Jr. wasn't very productive in the role during his stay in Dallas last season, averaging 8.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in 23.5 minutes. Coffey had 11 starts with the Clippers last season and posted 11.8 points with 3.7 rebounds as a member of the first unit. Powell is a very valuable bench scorer but started three games in 2023-24, averaging only slightly more points than his season average of 13.9.

Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart has been mentioned as a possible trade target for the New York Knicks. "New York has spent a good portion of the last few months scouring the league to address its lack of depth at the position, according to league sources," notes James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. "The team has shown interest in trading for Detroit's Isaiah Stewart, among others." The Knicks are short of quality under the rim after losing Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency and Mitchell Robinson (foot) to injury. Stewart is a serviceable big man who posted 10.9 points and 6.6 rebounds in 30.9 minutes on a struggling Pistons team last season. On paper, he looks like a good addition to the Knicks' frontcourt, but Stewart's $15 million salary means the team will need to give up some pieces to acquire him.

Boston Celtics guard/forward Jaylen Brown has let it known that he is in great shape ahead of the 2024-25 NBA campaign. Speaking during the Celtics' Media Day, Brown noted that "this is the best he's ever felt" and "this summer was the hardest he has ever worked." Brown had plenty of time to invest in improving himself as a player after being left off the Team USA Olympics team. After being named the NBA Finals MVP 2024, he appears to be gearing up for a big regular season, which should excite fantasy managers.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum spent some of the offseason working on his shooting, telling the media on Tuesday that he has worked through "a few mechanical things" on his jumper with trainer Drew Hanlen. Tatum has developed into one of the best scorers in the league, but his numbers dipped in 2023-24. The five-time All-Star went from averaging 30 points a night to getting 26.9 points. Tatum shot a career-low 28.3 percent from three-point range in the 2024 playoffs and couldn't get anything to fall from deep at the Paris Olympics. The Celtics star enters the new season after signing the biggest extension in NBA history and is expected to be out to prove his worth after being largely overlooked by Team USA in the summer.

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (leg) is progressing in his return from the torn medial retinaculum suffered in the postseason. During Celtics' media day, the veteran reported feeling "really good," adding he's been running and doing "light contact work." Porzingis finished his first season in Boston by averaging 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.9 blocks. However, he appeared in only 57 regular-season contests, which limited his fantasy contributions. While the 29-year-old hopes to return sooner than anticipated, fantasy managers should still be prepared to keep him stashed on their roster. Yet, once he is fully healthy, he'll be a difference-maker for fantasy managers come the playoffs. With that in mind, Al Horford will hold things down in the middle until Porzingis is back on the court, giving him value in all formats early in the 2024-25 campaign.

According to Los Angeles Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, forward Kawhi Leonard (knee) is still dealing with swelling in his right knee. While the veteran's condition has improved, it will still limit him during training camp. Most assumed the issue would be behind him. However, it doesn't appear to be the case. Leonard finished last season by averaging 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals. Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like Leonard is a lock to be ready to begin the 2024-25 campaign, so his fantasy stock will suffer until there is more clarity regarding his health. For now, it may be best for managers to look in another direction during fantasy drafts, at least in the first few rounds.

Boston Celtics general manager Brad Stevens said on Tuesday that center Luke Kornet had offseason wrist surgery, but he's 100 percent heading into training camp, per Jared Weiss of The Athletic. Kornet will likely see an uptick in early-season minutes with Kristaps Porzingis (foot) sidelined. In the 2023-24 regular season, the big man suited up for 63 contests and logged averages of 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 15.6 minutes per game.

According to Jared Weiss of The Athletic, Boston Celtics general manager Brad Stevens said on Tuesday that center Kristaps Porzingis (foot) is progressing well since his foot surgery in June. Stevens didn't give a timetable on when Porzingis will likely return, but he is optimistic and said he is surprised at how quickly he is improving. Once healthy, the big man will significantly impact fantasy as he averaged 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 29.6 minutes last regular season.

Atlanta Hawks forward/center Larry Nance Jr. believes he will have a great time playing under the guidance of Quin Snyder. "Quin is a basketball mastermind," Nance Jr. told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Lauren L. Williams. "I was a huge fan of his when he was at Utah, and obviously, these past few years in Atlanta. Now I'm excited to play for him, and we're gonna get along really well. Yeah, I consider myself a high-IQ basketball player, and he's very high IQ." Nance Jr.'s production has dipped in recent years, and he will attempt to produce a bounce-back campaign under a new coach on a different team. However, he needs to avoid health troubles to make it happen. The 31-year-old has never played more than 67 games in a single NBA campaign.

Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis has made a good impression in minicamp sessions ahead of training camp. "It was one thing for the 11th pick to impress in summer league, but the word out of minicamp sessions is the 19-year-old is holding his own in team activities. Buzelis has impressed with his passing and ability to attack the rim," wrote The Athletic's Darnell Mayberry. Buzelis is expected to be one of the top rookies in the league this season, and based on Mayberry's words, he looks ready to make an instant impact. Buzelis' fantasy value could get a further boost if Patrick Williams (foot) isn't fully healthy for the start of the year.

Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Josh Green will likely be a starter on his new team. According to Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer, "all indications" show that Green will line up on the backcourt alongside LaMelo Ball. Green started only 62 of his 223 games with the Dallas Mavericks across the past four seasons. He has posted 9.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in his career as a member of the first unit. Going from an NBA finalist to one of the worst teams in the league isn't a career path any player will want to take. But Green looks set to play a much larger role with his new squad, giving him extra fantasy value.

Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Ben Simmons (back) is fully healthy ahead of training camp. "Ben is fully cleared and is a full participant for the start of camp. He is excited to get started," Simmons' agent Bernie Lee told NBA insider Chris Haynes. Simmons had a second back surgery in three years in March, which ended his 2023-24 campaign. He also missed a large chunk at the start of the season, finishing with only 15 appearances. Simmons, a three-time All-Star in 2019-2021, remains an enigmatic player who is naturally gifted in many areas but who can't stay healthy. Hopefully, the story will be different this season.

Forward Nassir Little is joining the Miami Heat on a one-year deal. According to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, Little's deal is expected to be partially guaranteed or non-guaranteed. The 24-year-old was available as a free agent after the Phoenix Suns waived Little four weeks ago. He saw very little action in Phoenix last season, averaging 10.2 minutes across 45 games. The former first-round pick has previously proven that he can contribute at this level, but Little's chances of carving out a significant role in Miami don't appear high.

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (knee) is healthy heading into the 2024-25 campaign. He sprained his right MCL in the Heat's Play-In loss to the Philadelphia 76ers and missed the remainder of the postseason. Injuries have been an issue for Butler over the years, with the veteran appearing in 64 games or fewer in each of his five seasons in South Beach. When healthy, he's as good of a fantasy producer as it gets. But until Butler stays on the floor, his fantasy value is capped. Still, the 35-year-old warrants top-25 fantasy consideration in all scoring formats.