NBA Player News

Capela is feeling healthy after trimming down his weight this offseason, per Ben DuBose of USA Today.

Capela could occupy the backup center role to open the season due to the uncertainty surrounding the status of Steven Adams, who's coming off ankle surgery. Alperen Sengun will handle the lion's share of the minutes at center, likely leaving Capela to fight for scraps off the bench in any event.

Durant pushed back Monday on the idea of playing reduced minutes in his 20th season, per Ben DuBose of USA Today.

The future Hall of Famer logged 78 regular-season appearances last year, his most since 2018-19 with the Warriors. Durant also averaged 36.4 minutes per game before going down with an ankle injury and missing five of Houston's six playoff contests. However, it doesn't sound like the 37-year-old perennial All-Star is ready to take it easy for the contending Rockets in 2026-27. Durant trails only LeBron James among the NBA's active minutes leaders.

Simons is set to play a pivotal reserve role for the 76ers, per Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice.com.

Simons ended 2025-26 on the shelf with the Bulls due to a fractured wrist, but he's prepping for a significant bench role with his new team. The sharpshooter made a grand total of five starts all of last year, and he's likely to play a similar role in 2026-27 behind VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey. Simons has never averaged more than four rebounds or one steal in a season and has averaged more than five assists just once, so his style of play remains more conducive to points leagues.

Cunningham is getting ready for his sixth season in the league, per Coty M. Davis of The Detroit News.

Cunningham, 24, finds himself now being the longest-tenured player on the Pistons after the team traded veteran big man Isaiah Stewart to Memphis this offseason. The move puts more of an emphasis on Cunningham as a leader, and the star guard remains worthy of a first-round pick in most fantasy drafts this fall after averaging 23.9 points, 9.9 assists, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks per game last regular season.

Sabonis (knee) remains a trade candidate heading into the 2026-27 regular season, per Matt George of ABC 10 Sacramento.

After sitting out for Lithuania during the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, Sabonis is ready for the start of Sacramento's training camp. The Kings could be preparing for a full-fledged rebuild after waiving veteran DeMar DeRozan over the summer, leaving Sabonis as a prime trade candidate. The star big man's market value isn't at its highest after he averaged 15.8 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, all his lowest marks since 2018-19, before undergoing season-ending knee surgery in February. However, he's primed for as much usage as he can handle as long as he's with the Kings.

Ingram had surgery on his foot/heel during the offseason, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported Tuesday.

"We're going to hear at Media Day where he's at with his heel," Windhorst added. This update is certainly ominous, and there's been no mention of this by the Clippers. Fantasy managers will want to monitor this closely in case it impacts Ingram's availability for Opening Night.

Suder signed a training camp contract with the Bulls on Tuesday, per Paul Garcia of ProjectSpurs.com.

Suder was let go by the Lakers earlier this offseason but is getting a chance in Chicago ahead of camp. He could eventually be waived and moved to the G League's Windy City Bulls.

The Hornets are expected to waive Nembhard, Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN reports Tuesday.

The Hornets sent Dorian Finney-Smith to Atlanta on Tuesday in exchange for Buddy Hield, Nembhard and cash considerations. However, the 23-year-old guard is expected to be waived after being traded twice this summer. Nembhard appeared in 60 regular-season games (27 starts) for Dallas last season, averaging 6.6 points, 5.3 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per showing.

Mbeng was claimed off waivers Tuesday by the Heat, who intend to sign him to an Exhibit 10 deal, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports.

Mbeng presumably signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Hornets before they waived him Sunday, and he's now expected to compete for a spot on Miami's regular-season roster. The 23-year-old guard appeared in 15 regular-season games (five starts) with Utah last season, averaging 8.1 points, 4.1 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals while shooting 50.0 percent from the field in 32.8 minutes per showing.

The Hawks are trading Buddy Hield, Nembhard and cash to the Hornets for Dorian Finney-Smith on Tuesday, per Shams Charania of ESPN.

Nembhard was initially set to play for the Hawks this season after coming over from Dallas as part of the Zaccharie Risacher trade. Nembhard will now head over to Charlotte, where he'll help provide the Hornets with depth at point guard behind Coby White, Dennis Schroder and rookie first-rounder Christian Anderson.