Utah Jazz forward/center Kevin Love is expected to attend the team's training camp, Grant Afseth of RG reports. Love arrived in Salt Lake City as part of a three-team trade, and his future has been uncertain since the 37-year-old doesn't fit into the Jazz's rebuilding plans. It has been speculated that the Jazz would buy out Love's contract to let him join a contender for his 18th NBA season. However, it appears that Love will begin preparing for the season with the Jazz. Love provides veteran experience but lacks significant fantasy value. He averaged 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 10.9 minutes last season. The former All-Star has an expiring contract worth $4.2 million this year.

The Miami Heat exercised their $4.7 million team option on forward/center Kel'el Ware, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports. The option will come into effect for the 2026-27 season, and in a year's time, the Heat must decide whether to pick up a $7.1 million fourth-year option in Ware's contract for the 2027-28 campaign. Considering Ware's impact during his rookie year, it's safe to assume that he will remain in Miami for the foreseeable future. The 21-year-old notched 9.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 22.2 minutes last season. He was a double-double machine as a starter, and Ware's role on the team is expected to grow further in 2025-26.

According to ESPN's Tim Bontemps, New York Knicks forward Josh Hart will play through his finger injury this season and address it next offseason. Hart underwent finger surgery during the offseason, but unfortunately, he re-aggravated the injury. The 30-year-old will likely elect to wear a splint during the upcoming campaign. Hart averaged 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.5 steals across 77 games last season. Despite the setback, he should continue to provide plenty of value to fantasy managers.

Shams Charania of ESPN reports that free agent point guard Monte Morris has agreed to a one-year deal with the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. The 29-year-old appeared in 45 regular-season games with Phoenix last season, averaging 5.2 points, 1.6 assists and 1.5 rebounds across 12.7 minutes per contest. Despite providing the Pacers with backcourt depth, Morris will not be a fantasy asset for fantasy managers during his ninth campaign in the NBA.

James L. Edwards III of The Athletic reports that New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns dismissed recent rumors on Tuesday, clarifying that he did not undergo any procedures on his finger or knee this summer despite speculation to the contrary. Speaking at media day, Towns told reporters, "No, I did not have a knee [procedure]. Where are you hearing this?" If fully healthy, Towns could be a significant fantasy asset across all formats. In his first season with the Knicks, he averaged 24.4 points, 12.8 rebounds, and shot an impressive 42.0% from three-point range.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson expects new executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars to be hard on him this season. "He's going to hold me accountable, and as he holds me accountable, he's going to give me a lot of responsibility as well, which I'm excited for, " Williamson said regarding Dumars on Tuesday. The 6-foot-6, 284-pound power forward has struggled with injuries, missing 268 games over five seasons in the NBA. However, when he is available to suit up, Williamson is a fantasy force across all formats, averaging 24.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.0 steals in 214 regular-season contests.

According to Ashish Mathur of DallasHoopsJournal.com, Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving (knee) is "ahead of schedule" in his ACL recovery efforts. Mathur also reports that neither side has put a timetable on when Irving will return to the floor. During the 2024-25 regular season, he posted averages of 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists across 50 contests before suffering a torn ACL in March that required surgery. The 33-year-old All-Star agreed to a three-year, $119 million contract in the offseason after declining his $43 million player option. The Mavs expect Irving to return this upcoming season and he is worth drafting and stashing in all fantasy formats until he is available.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (Achilles) could be back this season if his recovery continues. He made it clear on ESPN's First Take that he has not ruled out a return this season and stated that "I don't go to rehab six days a week for nothing." He also clarified that a full recovery is the top priority and that he will not rush back. Tatum suffered his torn Achilles against the Knicks in May, but it is clear he is still looking to return this season. Whether he'll be able to do that or not still remains to be seen, though, and if he does get back will the Celtics be in a place where he can be effective enough to make a difference. His recovery will be a key storyline to follow throughout the season.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (toe) remains without a timetable to return, according to Cavaliers' President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman. Altman said, "He had a really good offseason. He focused on weight room. He's stronger. He's back on the court now and doing basketball activities. Toe looks good, he feels good. But we're not putting a timetable on it." Garland is expected to miss the start of the season after he underwent surgery in June following a big toe injury at the end of last season. He tried to play through the injury in the second round against the Pacers, but he was not close to 100%. Donovan Mitchell will likely carry the load to start the year, although Lonzo Ball has also been cleared to start camp and could be in the mix for playing time with Craig Porter Jr. and second-round pick Tyrese Proctor.

Brooklyn Nets forward Haywood Highsmith (knee) said the plan is for him to be ready for the start of the regular season after he had meniscus surgery on August 8. Highsmith was traded this offseason from the Heat to the Nets following that surgery in what seems to be a cost-cutting move for Miami. Highsmith started his career with the 76ers but has played the last four seasons in Miami. He started 42 of his 74 games in 2024-25 with a career-high average of 24.6 minutes per game. He contributed 6.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.9 steals per game as a solid rotational piece. How he fits in the Nets' rotation remains to be seen, but the first step to figuring that out is his return to full health.

Free Agent center Thomas Bryant has agreed to a one-year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and he'll back up the big men in Cleveland after spending last year with the Heat and the Pacers. He'll be starting his ninth NBA season after playing some important minutes down the stretch last season for Indiana. He made eight starts in his 56 games with the Pacers, averaging 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and 0.6 blocks in 15.1 minutes per game. He will serve as depth behind Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley with his new team, but he could be worth a look if either goes down due to injury. Bryant has been productive for short stretches throughout his career, but doesn't typically log heavy minutes.

Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams (knee) will not participate in training camp, Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer reports. Williams tore his right ACL in late November of last year and needs more time to rehabilitate before he can rejoin the action. The 26-year-old does not have a specific timeline for his recovery, but Boone notes that he may not be "far off" from returning. Before injuring his knee, Williams enjoyed a decent start to life in Charlotte, posting 10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. However, due to the serious nature of the injury, it might take some time before Williams can consistently produce similar numbers.

Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Josh Green (shoulder) has not recovered in time to be ready for training camp, Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer reports. Green had surgery in June to address instability in his left shoulder. With Kon Knueppel and Collin Sexton in the mix, Green faces additional competition for playing time this season, and it's a bad blow for him that he can't battle for his position during training camp. During his first year in Charlotte, Green averaged 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals, starting 67 of 68 contests.

New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (Achilles) does not have a timeline for his return, head of basketball operations Joe Dumars confirmed on Monday. The versatile guard tore his right Achilles tendon on Jan. 31 during a contest against the Boston Celtics. While it's unclear when Murray will be able to return to the court, Dumars mentioned that he is "deep" into rehab and his recovery is going "very well." Murray had his first campaign with the Pelicans last season, averaging 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 2.0 steals. Jordan Poole will lead the Pelicans' backcourt at the start of the campaign without Murray.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (shoulder) is completely healthy as the new season begins. The Pelicans' head of basketball operations, Joe Dumars, confirmed that Jones is back at 100 percent after his 2024-25 season was cut short due to a torn right labrum. Jones has been participating in scrimmages with the team for several weeks, working at full speed. Before landing on the shelf in February, Jones demonstrated impressive two-way quality, averaging 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.9 steals. Jones agreed to a three-year, $68 million contract extension during the offseason, cementing his place among the Pelicans' core.

New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Trey Murphy III (shoulder) has been cleared for training camp. The Pelicans' head of basketball operations, Joe Dumars, noted on Monday that Murphy III is 100 percent healthy. He has been scrimmaging at the club's practice facility for the past 2-3 weeks at full speed, playing five-on-five. This is excellent news for the Pelicans and fantasy managers alike. Murphy III's season ended early in 2024-25 due to a right shoulder injury sustained in March. The 25-year-old is capable of providing outstanding fantasy value, having averaged 21.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.1 steals last term.

Houston Rockets point guard Fred VanVleet (knee) has suffered a torn ACL and is expected to miss the 2025 season. VanVleet was a key piece of Houston's 52-win campaign last year, averaging 14.1 points, 5.6 assists, and 1.6 steals. His absence leaves a major hole in the backcourt for a Rockets team that entered the season with championship aspirations after adding veteran Kevin Durant. Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson are expected to take over point guard duties, though the loss of VanVleet's steady playmaking could dampen the ceilings of Durant, Alperen Sengun, and the rest of Houston's offense.

Charlotte Hornets rookie forward Kon Knueppel, the fourth overall pick in this year's draft, is expected to be a major focal point of the team's rebuild. The 6'7" sharpshooter brings polished scoring ability, having knocked down 40.6% of his threes and 91.4% of his free throws in college. With Charlotte prioritizing player development, Knueppel should see heavy usage from the start, giving him one of the highest fantasy ceilings among this rookie class. His fit alongside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller gives the Hornets a young trio to build around, while also putting Knueppel in position to thrive as both a spot-up shooter and secondary scorer. Fantasy managers should view Knueppel as one of the top rookies to target in drafts, with early playing time and scoring volume likely to make him a valuable contributor right away.

Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser is expected to take on a much larger role this season with Jayson Tatum (Achilles) likely to miss the entire 2025-26 campaign. Hauser started 19 games last season and proved to be a reliable floor spacer, shooting 41.6% from beyond the arc. His ability to stretch defenses should help open driving lanes for Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, while also giving Boston another perimeter weapon in the starting lineup. While Hauser lacks the all-around scoring and playmaking that Tatum provided, his three-point shooting could make him a valuable complementary piece. Fantasy managers in deeper formats should keep Hauser in mind as a potential streaming option for threes and efficiency, though his overall ceiling remains limited with Brown and White set to shoulder most of the offensive load.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Dallas Mavericks forward/center Anthony Davis (eye) recently participated in five-on-five games. The 32-year-old was dealt to the Mavericks ahead of the deadline in the trade that sent superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers. Unfortunately, Davis had trouble staying on the floor for the Mavs, mostly due to a strained adductor muscle. He would go on to average 20.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in nine appearances. Davis underwent surgery back in July to repair a detached retina, although his involvement in five-on-five contests was his first taste of "game-speed action" since the procedure. It appears AD is on track to be ready for the opener. However, while he is certainly an All-Star caliber performer, nagging injuries over the years will force managers to look for other options in fantasy drafts heading into the 2025 campaign.