According to senior NBA writer Sam Amick of The Athletic, Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (finger) reported he underwent surgery on Monday. The reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year injured his finger during a recent practice for France and only logged three minutes during Tuesday's win over Canada. However, French head coach Vincent Collet disputed Gobert's surgery claim and stated he was limited for strategic reasons only. Regardless, this is something fantasy managers will need to monitor, especially if it carries over into training camp. But the question regarding Gobert's health could be answered when France plays Germany in a semifinal matchup on Thursday. If anything, his time on the court will shed light on just how severe the injury is.

Chicago Bulls guard Coby White is ready to take over as the leader after the team lost DeMar DeRozan in free agency. "We got a younger team this year," said White in an interview. "DeMar always led by example. It shed light on the things I'm looking forward to when I get older. And that can start now for me." The 24-year-old is coming off his best season to date, averaging 19.1 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.5 rebounds. Even better, he appeared in 79 games. The Bulls still have Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic on the roster. However, with LaVine and Vucevic potentially on the way out, White could emerge as the team's top-scoring option during the 2024-25 campaign.

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson was named the team captain on Tuesday. Brunson, the first Knicks' captain since the 2018-19 campaign, finished last season by averaging a career-high 28.7 points and 6.7 assists, adding 3.6 rebounds. He also shot 40.1% from deep, his third time shooting over 40.0% in the last four seasons. The 27-year-old agreed to a discounted contract extension this offseason, allowing New York to have the cash needed for other moves. While the Knicks' roster is loaded, Brunson has top-10 fantasy potential, making him a first-round option for managers heading into the season.

According to The Athletic, Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen is expected to agree to a "massive, long-term contract extension" with the team. The deal is anticipated to be well over $200 million over the next five years. It will also make him ineligible to be traded next season. The 27-year-old has been at his best since joining the Jazz, recently finishing the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting 39.9% from behind the arc. Without question, Markkanen is expected to remain the No. 1 scoring option in Utah throughout the 2024-25 season. However, his presence will mean fewer scoring opportunities for the supporting cast.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James scored 12 points to help Team USA cruise to an easy win over Brazil on Tuesday. He added nine assists and three steals. The multi-time All-Star had 10 points, eight dimes, and six boards in the United States' previous victory over Puerto Rico, so he picked up right where he left off. Unfortunately, James took an elbow to the eye in the third quarter and exited the contest for stitches. However, he didn't seemed concerned about it while speaking postgame, stating he was fine. With another win in the books, Team USA will meet Serbia in a semifinal matchup on Thursday. James should be good to go.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (ankle) scored 14 points in Team USA's win over Brazil. He added nine rebounds and one block. Despite playing only 12 minutes, Embiid had one of his better performances so far during the 2024 Summer Olympics. Unfortunately, his day was cut short after he rolled his ankle. However, Team USA head coach Steve Kerr didn't seem concerned, indicating the 30-year-old was held out for the remainder of the game for precautionary reasons. The United States will meet Serbia in a semifinal contest on Thursday. While it appears Embiid will play, there's a chance he will sit if he experiences any residual issues.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (finger) grabbed one rebound in three minutes during Tuesday's Olympic quarterfinal 82-73 France win over Canada. He suffered a left ring finger injury during practice before the knockout rounds. Gobert's minutes were also limited due to player matchups in the contest. With the big man sitting out, Victor Wembanyama finished with just seven points, going 2-of-10 shooting from the field. However, Guerschon Yabusele and Isaia Cordinier stepped up for France, combining for 42 points in the winning effort. The four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year has a day to rest his ailing finger before Thursday's semifinal game against Germany.

Oklahoma City Thunder's star point guard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, scored 27 points for Canada in their Olympic 82-73 quarterfinal loss to France on Tuesday. Gilgeous-Alexander was crucial in reducing France's lead from 19 points to 71-66 in the third quarter. However, France maintained their lead and closed out the game. In addition to his impressive scoring, the 26-year-old contributed five rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block. Even though Canada suffered a tough loss, fantasy managers should strongly consider selecting Gilgeous-Alexander with their first pick in the upcoming NBA fantasy drafts, as he will bounce back.

Victor Wembanyama, center for the San Antonio Spurs, grabbed 12 rebounds as France defeated Canada 82-73 on Tuesday, securing a spot in the men's Olympic basketball semifinals for the second consecutive time. Wembanyama also contributed seven points, five assists, three steals, and one block. Although Canada managed to limit the 20-year-old's offensive opportunities, forward Guerschon Yabusele and Isaia Cordinier stepped up, scoring a combined total of 42 points. Wembanyama will need to elevate his offensive game as France prepares to face Germany on Thursday.

Nikola Jokic, center for the Denver Nuggets, scored 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, leading Serbia to a 95-90 overtime victory over Australia and securing a spot in the Paris Olympic basketball semifinals on Tuesday. Jokic and his Serbian teammates were behind by 24 points at halftime but managed to take the lead 61-60 after a remarkable 40-14 scoring run in the third quarter. In addition, he contributed eight assists, four steals, and one block during his 39 minutes on the court. Despite a busy summer, Jokic is expected to continue to be a massive fantasy contributor once the NBA season begins.

Power forward Luka Samanic has linked up with Turkish club Fenerbahce, signing a two-year deal. The 24-year-old Croatian heads back to Europe after making 86 NBA appearances across four seasons. He averaged 4.1 points and 2.4 rebounds in 9.4 minutes with the Utah Jazz in 2023-24. Samanic never got his NBA career going despite being dominant in the G League. He will definitely get more playing opportunities with Fenerbahce, which came close to its second EuroLeague title last season.

Los Angeles Lakers point guard D'Angelo Russell faces an uncertain future, with the team reportedly shopping him around. According to Lakers insider Anthony Irwin, Russell is drawing interest from the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets. However, Irwin notes that both teams are interested in acquiring Russell for his expiring contract, not his playing ability. The 28-year-old is on a $18.7 million deal for the 2024-25 after picking up a player option on his contract. A move to a team that isn't particularly fond of Russell's talents on the court could have a negative impact on his fantasy stock.

Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant has been in trade rumors this summer, but he reportedly isn't keen on switching teams. According to Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer, Grant is enjoying the stability he's having in Portland. The 30-year-old has spent two seasons with the Trail Blazers, averaging 20.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists with 40.2 percent shooting from three-point range. Grant was signed to a five-year, $160 million extension last offseason. The Trail Blazers are reportedly seeking two first-round draft picks for Grant, who has mostly been linked with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo posted a game-high 22 points in Greece's matchup against Germany at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday but couldn't save his squad from a 76-63 loss in the quarterfinals. Germany managed to limit Antetokounmpo to two rebounds and three assists, which played a big part in the team's success. The Bucks superstar finished with 9-for-14 shooting and was 4-for-6 at the line. Antetokounmpo was in fine form throughout the tournament but clearly lacked support, as Greece barely even made it into the quarterfinals. He averaged 25.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. The two-time MVP can now head off for a vacation before gearing up for another NBA campaign. Antetokounmpo has a chance to average a 30-point double-double for a third consecutive season.

Brooklyn Nets point guard Dennis Schroder produced 13 points and eight assists on Tuesday in Germany's 76-63 victory over Greece at the 2024 Summer Olympics. The veteran guard hit three three-point bombs and finished with 5-for-12 shooting while collecting one steal. Schroder has once again been one of the keys to success for Germany, which has booked a semifinal spot at an Olympics tournament for the first time ever. In four games, Schroder has averaged 18.0 points, 8.8 assists, and 1.5 steals with 41.4 percent three-point shooting. We could see similar numbers from Schroder in the 2024-25 NBA campaign if he locks down a starting role on a rebuilding Brooklyn team.

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner scored a team-high 18 points as Germany reached the Olympics semifinals for the first time in men's basketball by beating Giannis Antetokounmpo's Greece 76-63 on Tuesday. Wagner's three-point shot was off, as he finished 1-for-6 from downtown, but the Magic star went a decent 8-for-17 overall from the field. The 22-year-old made an impact defensively as well, with three steals. His work included three rebounds and two assists. It was another good all-around performance from Wagner, who sits among the top scorers in Paris with 20.8 points per game and averages 1.8 steals with 4.5 rebounds. Wagner has looked excellent at the Olympics, which should be an encouraging sign for the Magic and fantasy managers alike ahead of the new NBA campaign.

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine remains on the roster despite months of trade rumors. While the lack of movement would appear to suggest LaVine is no longer in danger of being moved, that's not the case, with Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times reporting the team is still looking to trade him. Several things are holding up a potential swap involving the veteran, including the length and amount owed on his current deal. He's also played fewer than 67 games in seven of the last eight seasons. With most teams trying to keep costs down in hopes of avoiding the dreaded first and second aprons, LaVine's asking price could drop even more moving ahead. If he stays in Chicago, he'll have a chance to become the No. 1 scoring option now that DeMar DeRozan took his talents to Sacramento.

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen remains at the top of the Golden State Warriors' trade wishlist. However, the team has yet to come up with an attractive offer for the 2023 All-Star. NBA insider Marc Stein wrote in his most recent Substack post that Golden State has pursued Markkanen with trade packages laden with future draft compensation without including Brandin Podziemski or Jonathan Kuminga in the offers. Both players are highly regarded by the Warriors hierarchy. However, as it's turned out, it's proven to be extremely difficult to get a deal done without including either of them in any offers. Markkanen will be entering the final season of his contract and is eligible for a four-year, $113 million extension. If he signs it after Aug. 6, Markkanen will be officially off the market, as he then won't be eligible to be traded before the 2024-25 trade deadline has passed.

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen is expected to remain in trade rumors despite recently signing a contract extension. NBA insider Marc Stein has noted on Substack that Allen becomes trade-eligible on Feb. 2, 2025, a few days before the 2024-25 trade deadline. Stein adds that the Cavaliers will continue to get calls on Allen because of "league-wide belief" that he and Evan Mobley are a bad fit long-term. Allen signed a three-;year, $91 million max extension with Cleveland last week following a very productive campaign. He averaged career-highs with 16.5 points and 2.7 assists while grabbing 10.5 rebounds and swatting away 1.1 shots.

Forward Jordan Nwora has joined EuroLeague's Anadolu Efes Istanbul for the upcoming campaign. The 25-year-old also has an option to remain with the Turkish team next season. Nwora won the NBA title with Milwaukee in 2021 and has played for Indiana and Toronto as well, averaging 7.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 206 career games. The Louisville product split 52 games between the Pacers and Raptors in 2023-24, posting 7.0 points and 2.9 rebounds in 13.7 minutes. Nwora has looked decent when given opportunities at the NBA level, but there haven't been regular minutes available to him anywhere he has been, which has limited his fantasy impact.