NBA Player News

The Hornets traded Finney-Smith to the Hawks on Tuesday in exchange for Buddy Hield and Ryan Nembhard, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Finney-Smith has now been traded twice this offseason after Houston shipped him to Charlotte in a salary-dump move. The veteran forward has been a solid defender and floor spacer in his career, but he struggled mightily, mostly due to injuries, during his brief tenure with the Rockets. In Atlanta, Finney-Smith will compete for a reserve role, limiting his fantasy appeal.

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

Hield struggled to carve out a meaningful role for Atlanta, making just seven regular-season appearances with the Hawks last year, so the move to Charlotte gives him a chance for a fresh start. The veteran sharpshooter gives the Hornets wing depth but still doesn't appear likely to have an Opening Night role.

Leonard agreed to a two-year, $115 million contract extension with the Raptors on Tuesday, per Shams Charania of ESPN.

The deal also has a player option for the 2028-29 season. After spending most of this past offseason in a holding pattern, Leonard is settling back in with Toronto for his second stint with the team following a six-year tenure with the Clippers that was tumultuous at times. The star forward is coming off one of the best campaigns of his illustrious career in 2025-26 with Los Angeles, during which he averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game over 65 regular-season appearances.

Hardaway is expected to compete for the Heat's starting shooting guard job during the preseason, but Klay Thompson is considered the clear front-runner for the role, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports.

Miami is prioritizing perimeter shooting around Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Thompson's combination of size, volume and efficiency from beyond the arc gives him an edge entering camp. If Thompson claims the starting spot as expected, Hardaway would likely begin the season as one of Miami's primary perimeter options off the bench.

Larsson is expected to compete for Miami's starting shooting guard job during the preseason, though Klay Thompson enters camp as the clear front-runner, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports.

Thompson's high-volume perimeter shooting makes him an especially appealing fit alongside Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo, potentially leaving Larsson in a reserve role to begin the campaign. Larsson could still have an opportunity to carve out a meaningful spot in the Heat's rotation even if he doesn't win the starting job.

Thompson is the clear front-runner to open the season as Miami's starting shooting guard, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports.

While the Heat are expected to hold a competition for the job during the preseason, Thompson's floor-spacing ability makes him a natural fit alongside Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The veteran sharpshooter made 38.3 percent on 7.6 three-point attempts per game with Dallas last regular season and has converted 38.7 percent from deep over the past three regular seasons.

VanVleet (knee) has been cleared for full practice, coach Ime Udoka said Tuesday, according to Will Guillory of The Athletic.

Udoka also said VanVleet has already been participating in five-on-five scrimmages, suggesting he's close to 100 percent after missing the entire 2025-26 season. Still, the point guard says his knee isn't back to where it was before the injury. Regardless, Fantasy managers can anticipate that VanVleet will miss one game of back-to-back sets based on Udoka's comments, at least early on in the season.

Carroll signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Hornets on Tuesday.

Based on previous transactions, the Hornets will likely waive Carroll shortly to acquire his G League rights. Look for him to suit up for the Greensboro Swarm this season.

The Hornets waived Mbeng on Sunday.

Mbeng was expected to join the Hornets at training camp, but the team has pivoted and he'll now look for an opportunity elsewhere. Mbeng put some solid play on tape while filling in as a starter for the Jazz towards the end of the 2025-26 regular season, posting averages of 13.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.8 steals per game. Therefore, he should be able to secure a camp invite from an NBA club.

Veesaar was diagnosed with a torn right ACL and is expected to miss the 2026-27 season, the Hawks announced Monday.

Veesaar suffered the injury during a Sept. 15 workout, and an MRI confirmed the diagnosis. The No. 52 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Veesaar was expected to spend a lot of time with Atlanta's G League affiliate this season.