NBA Player News

Jones could be in danger of moving into a reserve role in 2026-27 due to the selection of Keaton Wagler with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

If Wagler can win a starting job this offseason, it's likely that either Jones or Kris Dunn would be the odd man out of the first unit. The Clippers could move Dunn to small forward and Kawhi Leonard to power forward more often in small-ball lineups in this case, which would further jeopardize Jones' playing time. Jones started all but five of his 50 regular-season appearances a year ago, so he may at least open the new season in the first unit as the incumbent veteran.

Dunn could be at risk of handling a reserve role in 2026-27 due to the selection of Keaton Wagler with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Dunn might be a loser from a fantasy perspective after the Clippers added Wagler, who would likely supplant Dunn from the first unit at shooting guard if he plays well during training camp. The defensive-minded Dunn was essentially a full-time starter last regular season, making 68 starts over 82 games, so his status as the incumbent veteran could also work in his favor if Wagler struggles in Summer League or at camp.

Mathurin could be set for a reserve role if he remains with the Clippers in 2026-27 due to the selection of Keaton Wagler with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Mathurin operated almost exclusively off the bench for Los Angeles in 2025-26, making just one start after being traded away from the Pacers. The 2022 first-rounder is slated to become a restricted free agent, so the Clippers do have the ability to match any offer sheet he receives from other teams. If Mathurin sticks around, he'll likely be competing with Wagler and Kris Dunn for the starting spot at shooting guard during training camp in the fall.

Garland could face more competition for ballhandling duties at point guard after the Clippers drafted Keaton Wagler with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Garland came off the bench just twice for the Clippers last year, and that was likely done to ease him back into action due to nagging toe injuries. It's hard to envision the star guard seeing a noticeable decline in playing time due to the addition of Wagler, and Los Angeles must believe the two guards will mesh well alongside one another in the long run. If Wagler starts at shooting guard right away, his presence could help alleviate some of the ballhandling duties on Garland's plate.

The Clippers added another playmaker to deploy alongside Leonard by choosing Keaton Wagler with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

The Clippers will have to decide whether or not to start Wagler alongside Darius Garland in the backcourt in 2026-27, but the rookie guard is nonetheless set to serve as a key contributor right off the bat. Leonard's usage could see a slight dip if Wagler starts immediately, as that would likely translate into the defensive-minded Kris Dunn moving to the second unit. Regardless, Leonard is locked in as Los Angeles' definitive No. 1 scoring option next year.

Jones is in a position to begin the 2026-27 season as a starter after the Bulls drafted Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain on Tuesday.

Jones appears to be a big winner from a fantasy standpoint of Chicago's early offseason moves. Wilson and Swain should occupy their time at the forward spots, while Anfernee Simons (wrist) and Collin Sexton could also be on the move this summer as unrestricted free agents. Last regular season, Jones averaged 15.5 points, 5.6 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 28.2 minutes per tilt in 41 games as a starter, and a similar role could be on the horizon next year, especially if both Simons and Sexton walk.

Smith (calf) is in line to open 2026-27 as the backup center behind Nic Claxton (finger).

Smith got a chance to start for the Bulls at times in 2025-26 as they searched for Nikola Vucevic's replacement, averaging 12.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.8 blocks in 24.6 minutes per tilt across 21 regular-season games as a starter last season. Now that Claxton is in the picture, Smith appears primed to revert to the No. 2 center role in 2026-27, which could cap his upside from a fantasy perspective. Availability has also been a concern for Smith throughout his career, as he's never reached the 70-game mark in any of his first six seasons.

Essengue (shoulder) appears to be buried on the depth chart in the frontcourt after the Bulls picked Caleb Wilson at No. 4 and Dailyn Swain at No. 15 during the 2026 NBA Draft.

Essengue's rookie campaign was ruined due to shoulder surgery in December of 2025, limiting him to just two appearances at the NBA level. However, the 2025 first-rounder averaged 23.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 three-pointers, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals in 30.8 minutes per game over four appearances for the Windy City Bulls. Essengue stands out as a prime candidate to begin the 2026-27 season in the G League due to all of Chicago's frontcourt additions.

Buzelis (ankle) will have more competition for usage in the frontcourt following the selections of Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain as well as Chicago's acquisition of Nic Claxton (finger).

After trading away Nikola Vucevic at the deadline last year, the Bulls addressed a thin center position by acquiring Claxton ahead of Tuesday's draft. Wilson and Swain, however, pose even more significant threats to Buzelis' role at the forward spots. Buzelis could see less action as a small-ball center in 2026-27, but he certainly appears to be locked into a starting role to open the new year.

Giddey (ankle) could benefit from the selections of Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain as well as Chicago's acquisition of Nic Claxton (finger) in 2026-27.

Chicago has focused primarily on frontcourt additions so far this offseason with their recent moves, setting up Giddey with plenty of talent around him for playmaking opportunities. Anfernee Simons (wrist) and Collin Sexton are both unrestricted free agents this summer, potentially leaving Giddey with a ton of usage on his plate in the backcourt next season.