NBA Player News

Dybantsa (rest) will be competing for a starting role during training camp this fall.

After Dybantsa went first overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, there's a good chance the Wizards will want to showcase him in the first unit immediately. That said, Bilal Coulibaly was a full-time starter a year ago, and Washington also has incumbent veteran Khris Middleton on the roster. Regardless, Dybantsa finds himself in a rather favorable situation playing alongside veteran stars Trae Young (quad) and Anthony Davis (finger).

Riley has more competition for playing time with the Wizards in 2026-27.

Riley will suit up for a new-look Washington squad this year, one that doesn't closely resemble the 2025-26 late-season bunch nearly at all. All of Trae Young (quad), Anthony Davis (finger), AJ Dybantsa, Kyshawn George and Alex Sarr (foot) weren't part of the team's lineup to close last season but are set to make up the starting five for 2026-27, likely leaving Riley to contend with Khris Middleton and Bilal Coulibaly for minutes in the second unit.

Johnson (rest) is likely to revert to a bench role to open 2026-27 after finishing last season as a starter.

The Wizards are set to send out a new starting lineup this year, now headlined by veteran stars Trae Young (quad) and Anthony Davis (finger) as well as rookie No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa, and they're also set to get Kyshawn George and Alex Sarr (foot) back in the fold. Washington does have a rather thin backcourt behind Young and George, however, so both Johnson and Bub Carrington should remain involved to a significant extent off the bench in 2026-27.

Vukcevic (knee) is unlikely to have a significant role to begin the 2026-27 season.

The Wizards didn't have Anthony Davis (finger) or Alex Sarr (foot) available late last year, allowing Vukcevic to make a career-high 12 starts. This time around, however, Washington boasts a revamped frontcourt that is not only set to feature Davis and Sarr, but it also includes Deandre Ayton as a new face down low. As a result, Vukcevic is likely to be hard-pressed to squeeze into the Opening Night rotation.

Peterson (rest) is set to compete for a starting role during training camp in the fall.

The rookie No. 2 overall pick has Ace Bailey to overcome for the top spot at shooting guard with the Jazz. Whether he starts or comes off the bench right off the bat, Peterson is certainly primed for a significant role for Utah in 2026-27. Over five Summer League appearances, the 19-year-old stood out with averages of 23.0 points, 5.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 1.0 steals per game.

Bailey's (back) role is undetermined heading into the 2026-27 campaign.

The addition of No. 2 overall pick Darryn Peterson may leave Bailey without a spot in Utah's starting lineup to begin the new year. The Jazz are also getting Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen back in the lineup after the two stars sat out the final stretch of a losing season in 2025-26. Bailey began to blossom late last year, averaging 18.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 blocks per game in 23 regular-season appearances (all starts) after the All-Star break, so he should have a chance to battle with Peterson for an Opening Night starting position.

Filipowski (back) is likely to settle for a bench role to begin 2026-27 after ending last season as a starter.

Filipowski filled the void left behind by Jusuf Nurkic, who underwent season-ending nose surgery in February, but the Jazz are expected to get reinforcements for Opening Night. Nurkic is the early favorite to start at center. Utah also added Jaxson Hayes to the frontcourt mix, and Jaren Jackson (knee) figures to be healthy when training camp opens this fall, leaving Filipowski with plenty of obstacles to climb to maintain fantasy relevance in 2026-27.

Williams (illness) is in line to compete for a reserve role during training camp this fall.

Williams closed last season as a starter for a Jazz team that was looking ahead to 2026-27, but they should have most of their key players healthy for Opening Night and added Darryn Peterson with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Williams, who started a career-high 41 regular-season games a year ago, failed to stand out in any one particular area, averaging 8.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.8 steals in 24.3 minutes per game in 2025-26.

Raynaud enters his second NBA season after flashing intriguing offensive versatility during his rookie campaign.

The seven-footer can stretch the floor and facilitate from the frontcourt, giving Sacramento a unique developmental option. However, as long as Domantas Sabonis is in town, Raynaud will likely be competing for reserve minutes. Another year of development could help Raynaud carve out a consistent role in the Kings' rotation, and if he continues to impress, the Kings may be more willing to part ways with Sabonis.

Clifford enters his second NBA season after showing flashes as a versatile two-way wing during his rookie campaign.

His ability to defend multiple positions and contribute as a rebounder should keep him in the mix for rotation minutes, though Sacramento's wing depth could make consistent playing time difficult to secure. Continued improvement as a perimeter shooter would go a long way toward expanding his role in 2026-27 after he hit 33.3 percent from beyond the arc over 75 regular-season games as a rookie.