Guest of the League
Saturday special
Slam Dunk - $50.00 - Contest Completed | NBA Week 26

Victor Wembanyama, France excited to face Team USA in Olympics

Thu Jun 27 4:19pm ET
Field Level Media

NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama expects France to be ready for Team USA should the squads meet again at the Paris Olympics.

Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert of the Timberwolves anchor the French team that finished with the silver medal at Tokyo in 2021. New Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson is an assistant coach for France.

"I can't wait to face them," said Wembanyama, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, who was 16 and not a member of the French team in Tokyo where the United States claimed gold. "As a basketball player, it's also a dream to play against Team USA and even against all those players, all those legends."

The host country and Team USA are not in the same pool to begin the Olympics.


But a snapshot of the promising basketball foundation of France was prominently displayed on Wednesday night. French forward Zaccharie Risacher was selected No. 1 overall in the draft by the Atlanta Hawks and Alexandre Sarr went second to the Washington Wizards. Tidjane Salaun was the No. 6 pick (Hornets) and Pacome Dadiet went 25th to the Knicks.

Wembanyama committed to the Olympics before entering the NBA, and the France roster doesn't include Risacher, Sarr or other members of the 2024 rookie class. But there are multiple NBA peers on his team. They include 20-year-old Bilal Coulibaly of the Wizards, the only player on the team younger than Wembanyama and 35-year-old Nicolas Batum (76ers), the oldest player on the France roster.

France beat the United States 89-79 and snapped the country's 58-game FIBA winning streak in the World Cup quarterfinals in 2019 behind 21 points and 16 rebounds from Gobert. Evan Fournier had 22 points.

Two-time gold medalist LeBron James said in 2023 after the United States lost to Canada in the FIBA World Cup that he was "in communication" with several players about participating in the 2024 Olympics.

Managing director of Team USA Grant Hill and head coach Steve Kerr have referred to this year's Olympic roster as the most decorated since the Dream Team, comprised of the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone and Patrick Ewing.

Kerr said Thursday that the current Olympic basketball team won't have an easy road, echoing Hill's position on the international pecking order.

"The game is different," Hill said. "Our game in the NBA is starting to be more like their game. The talent and shooting have improved. Now, 30 percent of the NBA is international players. There's still respect, but there's not the sort of fear or the awe that was there 27 years ago."

Player Notes
Russell Westbrook Mon Jul 1 8:00pm

Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook has received interest from the Denver Nuggets, with Nikola Jokic reportedly pushing "behind the scenes" for a deal to get done. The 35-year-old is coming off his worst season, finishing the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. He recently picked up his $4 million player option with the Clippers. However, a move to Denver could help Westbrook get back on track from a statistical standpoint, considering the Nuggets recently lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency, meaning there are minutes up for grabs.

Lauri Markkanen Mon Jul 1 7:50pm

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo.com, the Utah Jazz are "welcoming calls" on forward Lauri Markkanen. With Klay Thompson and Paul George no longer available, many teams around the National Basketball Association remain hopeful of upgrading their rosters. As a result, teams have expressed interest in the 27-year-old, with Golden State specifically mentioned as the club with the most interest. Markkanen finished last season by averaging 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting 39.9% from behind the arc. It appears he's found his footing with the Jazz, so his fantasy outlook may not be as bright if he gets moved to another team. Fantasy managers also hope Markkanen can figure out how to stay on the floor, considering he has missed 43 games due to injury since joining the Jazz.

Donovan Mitchell Mon Jul 1 6:20pm

According to Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Cavaliers still believe guard Donovan Mitchell will agree to a contract extension with the team. "We feel good about Donovan," said president of basketball operations Koby Altman, who recently flew out to Los Angeles with new head coach Kenny Atkinson to visit Mitchell. "He's really invested in what we're doing, and hopefully soon we'll have more of a decisive answer." The 27-year-old appeared in 55 games in 2023-24, averaging 26.6 points, 6.1 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.8 steals. He's eligible to sign a four-year deal worth over $200 million. But regardless of what happens with his future in Cleveland, Mitchell is expected to remain at least a top-20 fantasy option. However, he is capable of cracking the top-10, although he'll need to stay healthy, which has been an issue.

Jayson Tatum Mon Jul 1 6:10pm

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum agreed to a five-year, $315 million supermax contract extension on Monday. It's the largest deal in NBA history, and it comes after the 2017 No. 3 overall pick led the Celtics to their first championship since 2008. Without question, Tatum is worth every penny. He finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists while shooting 37.6% from behind the arc. The 26-year-old is a first-round fantasy option heading into 2024-25, even more so since he's played at least 74 games in each of the previous three seasons.

Derrick White Mon Jul 1 3:00pm

Boston Celtics guard Derrick White will stay in Boston for another four years after agreeing to a new deal on Friday. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the former San Antonio Spur has agreed to a four-year, $125.9 million deal. He's proven to be an impact player the moment he was traded to Boston and has been named to the All-Defensive Second Team twice in a row. Last year, he averaged 15.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting .461/.396/.901. White has been a star role player and one of the best fantasy assets outside of the league's superstars. He'll likely remain in the same role as the Celtics look to run it back after a championship season.

Tyrese Maxey Mon Jul 1 8:50am

Philadelphia 76ers point guard Tyrese Maxey has committed himself long-term to the team. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Maxey has agreed in principle on a five-year, $204 million maximum contract extension with the 76ers. The 23-year-old lands himself a massive extension following a superb campaign that led to his first All-Star selection. Maxey boosted his scoring numbers by over five points per game to 25.9 and had career-highs across the board in rebounding (2.9), assists (6.2), and steals (1.0). He will be a huge piece for Philadelphia going forward, although the arrival of Paul George could mean fewer touches offensively for Maxey, which might hurt his fantasy value.

Naji Marshall Sun Jun 30 9:40pm

Free-agent forward Naji Marshall agreed to a three-year, $27 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks. The 26-year-old had spent the last four seasons with the Pelicans, where he averaged 7.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. Marshall will likely see routine minutes for Dallas moving ahead. However, he hasn't been a reliable fantasy contributor since entering the league, and that's not expected to change.

Cade Cunningham Sun Jun 30 9:30pm

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham agreed to a five-year, $226 million extension with the team. The Pistons are rebuilding. However, the franchise wants to keep Cunningham at the forefront. The 22-year-old averaged a career-high 22.7 points and 7.5 assists last season. But he logged 3.4 turnovers during the 2023-24 campaign, so that's an area that needs to improve. Cunningham also hasn't played more than 64 games in any of his three seasons, which will cause his fantasy value to drop until he proves he can stay healthy.

Andre Drummond Sun Jun 30 9:30pm

Free-agent center Andre Drummond agreed to a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Sixers. This will be Drummond's second stint with the Sixers, with the veteran suiting up for the franchise back in the 2021-22 campaign. He finished last season with the Bulls by averaging 8.4 points and 9.0 rebounds. The 30-year-old is arguably the best rebounder in the league, and there's a good chance he will get meaningful minutes in Philly, considering the team will focus on trying to keep Joel Embiid healthy moving ahead.

Russell Westbrook Sun Jun 30 9:30pm

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Los Angeles Clippers are working with guard Russell Westbrook on a trade. The 35-year-old picked up his $4 million player option on Saturday. However, it appears he's already played his final game for the franchise. Westbrook averaged 11.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.1 steals during the 2023-24 campaign. Although his best days are behind him, it's reasonable to believe his production will improve if given a chance to return to the starting lineup for whatever team he lands on next.

Eric Gordon Sun Jun 30 9:10pm

Free-agent guard/forward Eric Gordon agreed to a one-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. The veteran has bounced around since entering the league in 2008 as the No. 7 overall pick. While his production has dropped significantly, he still finished last season with the Phoenix Suns by averaging 11.0 points and 37.8% shooting from deep. Gordon won't be a consistent fantasy producer in Philly. However, he may have more than a few impactful performances, especially since he may start some games during the 2024-25 campaign.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Sun Jun 30 9:00pm

Free-agent guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope agreed to a three-year, $66 million contract with the Orlando Magic. The veteran has spent the last two seasons with the Denver Nuggets and was instrumental in helping the team capture an NBA title in 2022-23. He finished last season by averaging 10.1 points and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 40.6% from behind the arc. Orlando needed a reliable shooting guard, and Caldwell-Pope's championship experience could help the team advance deep into the postseason in 2024-25. His durability and efficiency from deep should continue to make him an attractive commodity for fantasy managers, especially those participating in category formats.

Chris Paul Sun Jun 30 8:50pm

Free agent guard Chris Paul will sign a one-year, $11 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs. After being in the league for nearly two decades, Paul's production has dipped significantly. He appeared in 58 games for the Warriors last season, finishing with averages of 9.2 points, 6.8 assists, and 1.2 steals. While the 39-year-old likely won't be a consistent producer for the up-and-coming Spurs, his presence will be invaluable for the development of reigning Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama and the rest of the young players on a team hoping at least to earn a Play-In bid in 2024-25.

Jonas Valanciunas Sun Jun 30 8:40pm

Free agent center Jonas Valanciunas agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal with the Washington Wizards. The 2011 No. 5 overall pick has been a double-double-caliber producer since entering the league. However, as expected with any aging player, his statistical contributions have declined over the years. He finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 12.2 points and 8.8 rebounds. While Valanciunas should have some productive showings in 2024-25, it will be difficult for him to be a routine fantasy contributor, considering Washington has guys like Alex Sarr, Richaun Holmes, and Marvin Bagley III on the roster.

Paul George Sun Jun 30 4:00pm

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, there is "growing optimism" that the Philadelphia 76ers will sign forward Paul George in free agency. The 34-year-old declined his $48.7 million player option with the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, putting him in line to hit the open market. He finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.5 steals while shooting 41.3% from behind the arc. While George isn't getting any younger, the 76ers will enhance their championship chances by adding him to the roster. Fantasy managers should continue to see top-25 production in 2024-25, regardless of where he signs, assuming he stays healthy.

Precious Achiuwa Sun Jun 30 10:00am

New York Knicks forward Precious Achiuwa won't be extended a qualifying offer by the organization. He'll become a free agent after averaging 7.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 24.2 minutes per game last season. Achiuwa was a reliable contributor but the Knicks appear to have other options. They've traded for Mikal Bridges and re-signed OG Anunoby, so we'll see if they attempt to bring back Achiuwa. He should be able to offer serviceable value to just about any team he joins this offseason.

Klay Thompson Sun Jun 30 10:00am

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson is reportedly headed to free agency this offseason. It sounds like the two sides weren't able to come to an agreement, which likely means the end of Thompson's tenure with the Warriors. Thompson has been with the Warriors since the beginning of the 2011-2012 season. His shooting percentage saw a decline last season, but Thompson is still a deadly option from beyond the arc. The Lakers, Clippers, and Mavericks are already reportedly interested in Thompson. He should have no shortage of suitors this offseason.

Chimezie Metu Sun Jun 30 9:50am

Detroit Pistons forward Chimezie Metu reportedly had his $2.65 player option declined on Saturday. This seems a little odd considering how well Metu played during his brief stint in Detroit. He averaged career highs with 10.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game in 14 contests. Perhaps, the Pistons are already overcrowded with big men so they simply just didn't have room for Metu on their roster. His fantasy value is going to be dependent on where he lands in free agency.

DeAndre Jordan Sun Jun 30 9:40am

Denver Nuggets center DeAndre Jordan is reportedly sticking around with the organization for at least one more season. The veteran big man has reportedly agreed to a one-year, $3.6 million deal for the 2024-2025 season. Jordan should serve as the primary backup center to Nikola Jokic. However, that role usually doesn't come with a ton of playing time as long as Jokic is healthy. Jordan is a solid rebounder but he doesn't offer much fantasy value outside of that.

Patrick Williams Sun Jun 30 9:30am

Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams reportedly intends to sign a massive extension with the organization. The Bulls extended a qualifying offer to Williams, but it sounds like the two sides have agreed on a new deal. Williams intends to sign a five-year, $90 million contract to remain in Chicago long term. The Bulls have high hopes for Williams despite him only playing 43 games last season due to injury. At the moment, it seems unlikely that the Bulls are going to bring back DeMar DeRozan which should mean an increased role for Williams next season.