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Luka Doncic, Slovenia won't advance to Paris Olympics

Sat Jul 6 3:19pm ET
Field Level Media

After falling just short in the NBA Finals, Luka Doncic will not be in the Olympics either after Slovenia was eliminated in a 96-68 loss Saturday to Greece, which is led by Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Doncic scored 21 points, but Slovenia fell in the semifinals of the Paris Olympics qualifying tournament at Piraeus, Greece.

Antetokounmpo scored 13 points in 21 minutes, while Thomas Walkup scored 19 points as Greece advanced to the tournament final to face the winner of a semifinal between the Dominican Republic and Croatia. The winner of the final will advance to Paris.

Other men's basketball qualifying tournaments are taking place at Puerto Rico, Spain and Latvia.


Doncic, who was hobbled by multiple injuries throughout the NBA playoffs, helped the Mavericks to one victory in the NBA Finals before they were overcome by the Boston Celtics.

Greece took control early Saturday, taking a 13-0 lead and were never threatened after leading by as many as 23 in the opening half. Greece led by 16 points at the start of the fourth quarter, allowing the team to take it easy on Antetokounmpo in advance of the tournament final.

Player Notes
Jordan Clarkson Fri Jul 26 8:20pm

According to Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune, Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson isn't drawing trade interest from other teams around the National Basketball Association. The 2021 NBA Sixth Man of the Year was a coveted player by contending clubs over the last few seasons. However, after a decline in statistical contributions during the 2023-24 campaign, teams no longer have him on the radar. Clarkson has two years remaining on his current deal. But with many teams in the NBA strapped for cash, he may end up staying in Utah. Unfortunately, his path for playing time could be compromised with Collin Sexton, Keyonte George, and 2024 No. 29 overall pick Isaiah Collier on the roster.

David Roddy Fri Jul 26 7:50pm

The Phoenix Suns traded forward David Roddy to Atlanta in exchange for forward EJ Liddell. The 23-year-old began his career in Memphis but was traded to Phoenix ahead of last season's deadline. He played sparingly in Phoenix, averaging only 1.3 points in 17 games. With that in mind, Roddy likely won't see much action with the Hawks. However, he could be worth adding to fantasy rosters if Atlanta needs to put him on the floor during the 2024-25 campaign.

Trey Jemison Fri Jul 26 7:30pm

The Pelicans claimed center Trey Jemison off waivers. He was recently waived by the Grizzlies after spending time with the team last season. In 23 games in Memphis, Jemison averaged 7.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks. While the 24-year-old will likely spend time in the G League, the Pelicans may require his services at some point during the 2024-25 campaign, so the streaming potential is there for fantasy managers.

David Duke Jr. Fri Jul 26 3:20pm

The San Antonio Spurs have signed guard David Duke Jr. to a two-way contract. The young guard signed a two-way deal with the organization last December. However, Duke only ended up playing in four games with the Spurs. Before that, Duke spent two seasons with the Brooklyn Nets. This is looking more like a depth move than anything else. The assumption is that Duke will spend a majority of his time in the G-League.

Kessler Edwards Fri Jul 26 3:20pm

The Dallas Mavericks have signed forward Kessler Edwards to a two-way contract for the upcoming season. Edwards didn't make much of an impact on the court last season. He averaged 5.1 minutes per game across 54 appearances with the Sacramento Kings. Edwards started his career with the Brooklyn Nets but has played each of the last two seasons in Sacramento. He's a decent depth option but will likely spend most of his time in the G-League with the Mavs.

Russell Westbrook Fri Jul 26 3:10pm

The Denver Nuggets have signed guard Russell Westbrook to a two-year deal. The veteran guard will receive $6.8 million over the next two seasons. Westbrook officially joins the Nuggets after being waived by the Utah Jazz following a trade from the Los Angeles Clippers. This was expected to happen after Utah waived the star guard. The assumption is that Westbrook is going to see significant minutes off the bench in Denver. He should immediately upgrade this bench that struggled to produce last season.

Brook Lopez Fri Jul 26 11:50am

According to Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst, the team doesn't plan on trading center Brook Lopez. "Brook is so core to who we are," said Horst during an interview. "Of course, he has value around the league. That's a credit to him. But we've not engaged in any real conversations about trading Brook. I hope Brook retires as a Milwaukee Buck." The 36-year-old has been with the Bucks since the 2018-19 campaign. Since then, he's appeared in at least 68 games in all but one season. While Lopez's production has decreased over the years, he remains a double-double threat and one of the most durable big men in the National Basketball Association, giving him value for fantasy managers heading into the 2024-25 season. His abilities from deep and as a shot-blocker also give him a higher ceiling for category participants.

Draymond Green Thu Jul 25 8:10pm

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been instrumental to the team's success over the years. It's known his career is nearing an end. Yet, he added some clarity recently, stating during an interview he's "probably got two more" seasons left before he hangs it up. The 34-year-old has spent his entire career with the Warriors since entering the National Basketball Association, averaging 8.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.0 blocks. He's also a four-time All-Star, four-time NBA champion, and the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year. Without question, Green has a Hall of Fame resume. While he should have more than a few quality showings for fantasy managers on the horizon, his days of consistent production are likely over, even with Klay Thompson now in Dallas.

Stephen Curry Thu Jul 25 8:00pm

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry wants to finish his career with the team. While it's hard to envision the multi-time NBA champion playing for another club, he seemingly hasn't ruled it out. "I've always said I want to be a Warrior for life," Curry said during an interview with Marc J. Spears. "I'm taking it one step at a time, to be honest. I want to win. Let's put it this way, it's a long-winded way of saying that if it is a situation where you're a bottom feeder and it's just because you want to stay there, I'd have a hard time with that." The 36-year-old is entering the final phase of his Hall of Fame career. However, he's still playing at an All-Star level, most recently averaging 26.4 points and 5.1 assists while shooting 40.8% from deep during the 2023-24 campaign. It's a new era in Golden State, with Klay Thompson now a member of the Dallas Mavericks. But Curry has a chance to remain productive for fantasy managers, so he has a good chance of remaining a top-20 option in nearly every format imaginable.

Josh Christopher Thu Jul 25 7:50pm

Free-agent guard Josh Christopher agreed to a two-way deal with the Miami Heat. The 22-year-old spent the last two years with the Rockets. In 138 games in Houston, he averaged 6.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. With that said, he likely won't see much work with the big club during the 2024-25 campaign. However, even if Christopher gets his chance with the main unit, he probably won't play often enough to be a relevant fantasy option.

Anthony Gill Thu Jul 25 7:40pm

Free-agent forward Anthony Gill re-signed with the Washington Wizards. The terms of the deal haven't been disclosed. The 31-year-old has spent his entire career with the Wizards. However, he hasn't done much, averaging 3.6 points in 179 regular season contests. Gill was decent in his three starts in 2023-24, averaging 13.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks. Yet, he'll presumably spend most of his time at the end of the bench this season, making him nearly irrelevant for fantasy purposes.

Killian Hayes Thu Jul 25 7:30pm

Free-agent guard Killian Hayes agreed to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract with the Brooklyn Nets. It's an Exhibit 10 deal, so he'll have a chance to compete for a roster spot during training camp. The 2020 No. 7 overall pick has spent his entire four-year career with the Pistons. In 210 games, he averaged 8.1 points, 5.2 assists, and 1.2 steals. With the Nets recently commencing a rebuild, there's a chance Hayes could get minutes and even start, giving him streaming value for fantasy managers. However, he'll need to make the team first.

Jarrett Allen Wed Jul 24 9:10pm

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen is drawing trade interest from teams around the NBA. This isn't anything new. However, Allen's name resurfaced in trade rumblings after Evan Mobley signed a five-year extension with the Cavs. The 2017 No. 22 overall pick has two years left on his current deal. But he's coming off the best year of his career, finishing 2023-24 by averaging a career-high 16.5 points with 10.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. Allen has a relationship with new head coach Kenny Atkinson dating back to their days in Brooklyn, so that could be enough to keep him on the roster. With that in mind, he's expected to remain a top fantasy producer no matter where he plays moving ahead.

Trey Jemison Wed Jul 24 8:50pm

The Grizzlies waived center Trey Jemison on Wednesday. The 24-year-old appeared in 23 games for Memphis last season. He showed promise, averaging 10.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in 14 starts. There are still teams around the National Basketball Association who have two-way spots available, so there's a chance Jemison will link up with a new team. However, he's far from being a relevant fantasy option, and that's not expected to change in the near future. Memphis signed center Jay Huff to a two-way contract in a corresponding move.

Jay Huff Wed Jul 24 8:50pm

Free-agent center Jay Huff agreed to a two-way contract with Memphis. The 26-year-old has spent time with the Lakers, Wizards, and Nuggets during his career. However, his most significant contributions came in the G League, most recently averaging 18.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks with the Greensboro Swarm last season. The Nuggets have Nikola Jokic in the middle, with Dario Saric, Peyton Watson, and DeAndre Jordan behind him on the depth chart. As a result, Huff isn't expected to be a relevant fantasy option anytime soon.

Orlando Robinson Wed Jul 24 8:40pm

Free-agent center Orlando Robinson agreed to a one-year deal to join the Sacramento Kings. He spent the last two seasons with the Miami Heat. However, Robinson averaged only 3.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 67 appearances for the team. His statistical contributions likely won't improve in Sacramento, especially with Domantas Sabonis being one of the most durable players in the National Basketball Association.

Kevin Durant Wed Jul 24 8:40pm

According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant has resumed practicing with Team USA ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics. However, Durant's playing status remains a mystery, with Team USA head coach Steve Kerr stating there will be a "big collaboration" regarding when he will play. Fortunately, it appears the multi-time All-Star is moving in the right direction. While Durant likely won't suit up versus Serbia on Sunday, it appears he has a chance to get on the floor soon.

DeAndre Jordan Wed Jul 24 8:30pm

Free-agent center DeAndre Jordan re-signed with the Denver Nuggets. The 36-year-old averaged a career-low 3.9 points and 4.4 rebounds last season. While his presence adds depth to a team looking to capture another NBA championship, he will likely spend most of his time on the bench, especially with Dario Saric, Peyton Watson, and Zeke Nnaji on the roster. With that in mind, Jordan did average 16.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks in two starts during the 2023-24 campaign, so there is streaming potential for fantasy managers if Nikola Jokic misses time.

James Johnson Wed Jul 24 8:30pm

Free-agent forward James Johnson agreed to a one-year, $3.3 million contract to return to Indiana. The 37-year-old has played for 10 teams throughout his decade-plus tenure in the National Basketball Association. He spent the last two seasons with the Pacers, most recently averaging 0.9 points during the 2023-24 campaign. Johnson's leadership is his biggest asset for Indiana. However, it won't do much for his fantasy value.

Nikola Topic Wed Jul 24 7:00pm

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topic (knee) underwent successful surgery to repair a partially torn ACL. He's still expected to miss the entire 2024-25 campaign. While teams around the National Basketball Association were aware of the injury, that didn't stop OKC from selecting him with the No. 12 pick of the 2024 NBA Draft. With that said, Topic won't have any value in redraft leagues this season. However, patient dynasty managers can draft the 18-year-old accordingly, although it may take him a few seasons to find his rhythm.