NBA Player News

The Jazz are signing Hayes to a two-year, $12 million deal Wednesday, per Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com.

The second season on the contract has a team option as well. Hayes spent his last three years with the Lakers, but now he's lined up to compete for the backup center role behind Jusuf Nurkic with Kyle Filipowski next year. Hayes averaged 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.8 blocks in 18.3 minutes over 66 regular-season contests in 2025-26.

Carter's outlook becomes more uncertain following Orlando's acquisition of Nikola Vucevic.

While Carter has served as the Magic's starting center in recent seasons, Vucevic's return could cut into his playing time and potentially shift him into a reduced role depending on how Orlando structures its frontcourt rotation. Carter is likely to remain with the first unit, but his fantasy value may take a hit if the two centers split minutes consistently.

Nurkic (nose) is projected as Utah's top starting center for the 2026-27 season after the Jazz lost Walker Kessler to the Lakers this offseason, Jared Koch of SI.com reports.

Nurkic was highly productive when available for the Jazz, averaging 10.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.3 steals in 26.4 minutes per game across 41 regular-season games (36 starts) last year. The veteran big man will have a new partner in the frontcourt with Jaren Jackson now in the fold, so it'll be interesting to see how the two big men mesh in 2026-27. Nurkic should be ready for the start of training camp after undergoing season-ending nose surgery in February.

The Jazz traded Kessler (shoulder) to the Lakers on Wednesday in exchange for two first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps, Shams Charania of ESPN reports. Kessler will sign a four-year, $130 million deal with Los Angeles.

LeBron James is leaving Los Angeles, and the Lakers are building around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Doncic expressed his desire to play with a top-tier center, and it appears he got his wish, though Deandre Ayton is still under contract after picking up his player option. Kessler missed most of the 2025-26 campaign after undergoing left shoulder surgery, but he's expected to be healthy to start his Los Angeles tenure.

Robinson agreed to a three-year, $47.4 million deal to sign with the Celtics on Wednesday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

The Knicks were priced out of a reunion due to their tax concerns, so the Celtics will swoop in and sign the defensive-minded center. Robinson does have durability concerns related to his ankles, but he will likely be the favorite to start on Opening Night ahead of Neemias Queta. This move could be great news for Robinson's fantasy appeal moving forward.

Wagner agreed to a two-year, $19 million deal with the Nets on Wednesday, Michael Scotto of USA Today reports.

Wagner will move on from Orlando after six seasons with the franchise. The deal is fully guaranteed and includes a second-year mutual option. During the 2025-26 regular season, after successfully recovering from an ACL injury, Wagner averaged 6.9 points and 3.2 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per contest.

Vucevic will sign a one-year deal to join the Magic, Shams Charania of ESPN reports Wednesday.

Vucevic will head back to Orlando, where he previously played for nine total seasons. Vucevic will be 36 in October, and the Magic are almost certainly picturing him as their backup center behind Wendell Carter. In 64 total regular-season appearances between the Bulls and Celtics in 2025-26, Vucevic averaged 15.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists.

Hukporti agreed to a one-year, $3.4 million deal with the 76ers on Wednesday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

The 76ers will add some athletic frontcourt depth behind Joel Embiid and Adem Bona, with Andre Drummond set for unrestricted free agency. Hukporti was used sparingly by the Knicks during the 2025-26 regular season, appearing in 54 games with 2.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.5 blocks in 9.2 minutes per contest.

Collins (toe) agreed to a two-year, $17 million extension with Chicago on Tuesday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Collins will return to Chicago on a multi-year deal rather than testing free agency. The big man was limited to just 10 regular-season games during the 2025-26 campaign, averaging 9.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 18.4 minutes per contest while dealing with a left wrist fracture early in the season before suffering a right toe sprain that ultimately required surgery. Collins figures to provide center depth off the bench alongside Jalen Smith (calf) behind the recently acquired Nic Claxton (finger).

Carlson signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Trail Blazers on Tuesday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Carlson spent the first two years of his career in the Thunder organization, making four starts across 74 regular-season appearances. He averaged 5.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 11.6 minutes per game in 2025-26, and he will add depth at the center position for Portland. He's not expected to be a major factor in most fantasy formats, however, as he'll probably compete with Yang Hansen and Sidy Cissoko for the third-string center role behind Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams.