NBA Player News

Zikarsky was selected by the Bulls with the No. 45 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The Bulls then traded his rights to the Timberwolves.

A 7-foot-3 center with a 9-foot-7 standing reach, Zikarsky offers tremendous potential as a rim protector. The 18-year-old from Australia possesses good mobility for his size and is a strong finisher, but a lack of lateral speed and an unreliable outside shot could prevent him from emerging as a starter at the NBA level. With Rudy Gobert on the books for at least two more seasons and with the Timberwolves investing a first-round pick in another center in Joan Beringer, Zikarsky won't be needed to contribute right away. According to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.com, Zikarsky will sign a two-year, two-way deal with Minnesota, meaning that he'll likely see most of his playing time over the next two seasons in the G League with the Iowa Wolves.

Raynaud was selected by the Kings with the No. 42 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Raynaud didn't start playing basketball until his final year of high school, making his continued progression as a player even more impressive. He had a monster year at Stanford in 2024-25, averaging 20 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 blocks and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 35 percent from deep on 5.5 attempts per contest. The Kings have Domantas Sabonis as their starting center and Jonas Valanciunas as the backup, but Raynaud should find a way to see minutes in the rotation. He isn't expected to do much in fantasy in the early stages of his career, but he might be a prospect worth stashing in some formats if he finds a way to crack the rotation on a steady basis.

Broome was selected by Philadelphia with the No. 35 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Broome is fresh off a strong senior season at Auburn, where he earned First Team All-American honors and was named the SEC Player of the Year while leading his team to a Final Four. The 6-10 big man averaged 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.9 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 0.9 steals over 36 appearances during his final collegiate campaign. Broome's skillset may not translate to him becoming an above-the-rim player at the NBA level, but he's an excellent offensive rebounder and manages to create space near the hoop.

Kalkbrenner was selected by the Hornets with the No. 34 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Kalkbrenner, out of Creighton, wrapped up his college career as one of the most accomplished defenders in Big East history, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors four times. During the 2024-25 season, he posted 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game while shooting an efficient 65.3 percent over 35 contests. Though concerns about his athleticism may have kept him out of the first round, Kalkbrenner's production and defensive pedigree give him a strong chance to contribute right away for a Hornets team that recently dealt Mark Williams.

Niederhauser was selected by the Clippers with the No. 30 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Niederhauser flew under the radar on a struggling Penn State team in 2024-25 but still put together a solid season, averaging 12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks while shooting 61.1 percent over 29 games. His offensive game is still a work in progress, but his blend of size and athleticism gives him real potential as a rim protector. With Ivica Zubac entrenched as the starting center, the Clippers can afford to bring Niederhauser along gradually.

Embiid (knee) is planning to be "ready to go" for training camp, Ky Carlin of USA Today reports Wednesday.

Embiid underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in April, and he's been progressing well in his recovery. The expectation is that the 31-year-old will be ready to go for training camp. Even though Embiid should be fully recovered ahead of the 2025-26 season, the 76ers could ease him back into game action, considering he appeared in 58 combined regular-season games over his last two seasons.

Beringer was selected by the Timberwolves with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Beringer boasts plenty of experience despite his age, as he has represented France at the youth level and posted decent numbers in Slovenia. The 18-year-old averaged 5.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 18.2 minutes across 54 appearances while helping Cedevita Olimpija win the 2024-25 Slovenian Basketball Cup. Beringer needs to fill out his frame and adjust to the physicality of the NBA to make an impact at the next level, but he should have a good mentor in Rudy Gobert, another Frenchman. Beringer figures to be a depth option in the frontcourt for Minnesota and isn't expected to make a major impact in fantasy as a rookie.

Yang was selected by the Trail Blazers with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

The pick was technically made by the Grizzlies, who traded the No. 16 pick, a 2028 first-round pick and two second-round picks in exchange for Cedric Coward, Shams Charania of ESPN reports. Yang was a late riser in the 2025 Draft cycle after averaging 16.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.7 blocks for the Qingdao Eagles of the Chinese Basketball Association. The 7-foot-1, 20-year-old is a strong passer who is a quality finisher and capable shooter. He may have some difficulties adapting to NBA spacing on the defensive side, but Yang has plenty of upside if he can put it all together. With Deandre Ayton (calf), Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams (knee) on the roster, Yang has a murky path to minutes in Year 1.

Sorber was selected by the Thunder with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Sorber's freshman season at Georgetown was cut short by a left foot injury, but his potential still earned him a spot in the top half of the 2025 NBA Draft. In 24 games, the center averaged 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 steals. With Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein anchoring the Thunder's frontcourt, Sorber will have the opportunity to develop at his own pace -- though his talent could push him into the rotation sooner than expected.

Queen was selected by the Pelicans with the No. 13 overall pick in the NBA Draft.

Atlanta made the pick for New Orleans, so Queen is headed to the Pelicans as part of a trade that sent the 23rd pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and a 2026 first-rounder to the Hawks, Shams Charania of ESPN reports. Queen is a bit undersized for the center position, standing at 6-foot-9, but he's a skilled passer and an excellent finisher with both hands. The Maryland product was comfortable putting the ball on the floor and excelled as a rebounder. His jumper is a big question mark, as he shot just 20 percent from three at the college level. Additionally, Queen could be targeted in pick-and-roll actions early in his NBA career, considering his lack of size and somewhat sluggish movement. He'll likely begin his professional career as Yves Missi's (ankle) backup, but there isn't much more competition at center outside of Missi.