NBA Player News

Washington's selection of AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft likely won't significantly alter Sarr's (foot) role heading into his third NBA season.

The 21-year-old big man is currently recovering from foot surgery but is expected to be ready for training camp after averaging 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 48 regular-season appearances last year. Sarr remains a major part of the franchise's long-term plans, although the additions of established veterans could reduce some offensive responsibilities. His defensive upside should continue to provide substantial fantasy value if he can stay healthy.

The Wizards selected AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, adding another high-usage scorer to the roster alongside Davis (finger).

Davis remains a cornerstone of Washington's frontcourt and should be the team's primary interior presence when he makes his Wizards debut. However, playing with Dybantsa and Trae Young could slightly reduce Davis' offensive workload while improving the overall quality of his scoring opportunities. Assuming he stays healthy, and that's a big assumption, Davis still projects as one of the league's most productive fantasy big men.

The Nuggets selected Reed with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and traded his rights to the Spurs, Jake Fischer of BleacherReport.com reports.

The Nuggets will receive the 35th overall pick in this year's draft and two additional second-round picks in exchange for Reed. The 22-year-old center appeared in 35 outings for UConn in 2025-26, averaging 14.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.0 blocks and 0.9 steals while shooting 60.7 percent from the field in 27.3 minutes per game. He also earned All-Big East First Team honors. The big man isn't guaranteed a meaningful role in his rookie season, as the Spurs still have Luke Kornet behind Victor Wembanyama and selected Jayden Quaintance (knee) with the 20th overall pick in this year's draft.

Ejiofor was selected by the Hawks with the No. 23 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Ejiofor dominated the interior during his senior season at St. John's, posting averages of 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.1 blocks per game. He's an elite defender and solid passer, but he still needs to develop a three-point shot. Ejiofor could have a tough time finding minutes in the rotation during his rookie season, as he seems likely to battle for reserve big-man minutes. However, the Hawks may not be done adding to their frontcourt behind Onyeka Okongwu this offseason.

Quaintance (knee) was selected by the Spurs with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Quaintance represents the definition of a high-risk, high-reward gamble for San Antonio, slipping to the 20th pick due to significant medical red flags. The 6-foot-10 big man put himself firmly on the NBA radar during an impressive freshman season at Arizona State, where he showcased dynamic rim-protecting upside by averaging 9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game. However, his trajectory shifted dramatically after suffering a torn ACL and meniscus in February 2025. After transferring to Kentucky for his sophomore year, Quaintance rushed back to make his debut in December but faced severe complications and persistent knee swelling. He managed just four games for the Wildcats, looking hampered while averaging 5.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks on 57.1 percent shooting before being shut down for the remainder of the season. The primary concern for Quaintance at the next level is durability and medical stability, as his reliance on raw, explosive athleticism makes his knee issues a major talking point for front offices. He skipped the athletic portion of the pre-draft combine, adding to the narrative that he's still a ways away from full strength. San Antonio is uniquely positioned to take this swing, as they can afford to be patient and treat his rookie year as a medical redshirt and developmental season if needed. If the Spurs' training staff can fully rehab his knee, Quaintance's immense defensive upside and vertical spacing could eventually give San Antonio an incredibly intimidating frontcourt partner alongside Victor Wembanyama.

Mara was selected by the Thunder with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Mara joins Morez Johnson (No. 9 to Dallas) and Yaxel Lendeborg (No. 11 to Golden State) as the third Michigan player selected in the lottery. The 7-foot-3 center spent the first two years of his collegiate career at UCLA, where he played a limited role before transferring to Michigan. In 40 games (39 starts) with the Wolverines in 2025-26, Mara averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.4 assists in 23.5 minutes per contest. He earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors and was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team en route to winning a national championship. It should be an eventful offseason in Oklahoma City as the club navigates its salary-cap situation, particularly in the frontcourt with a pending club option on Isaiah Hartenstein. Mara's exact role remains to be seen, but he projects as a strong contributor in the paint, especially on the defensive end.

The Heat traded Ware, Tyler Herro (foot), Jaime Jaquez, Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, one pick swap and one second-round pick to the Bucks on Monday in exchange for Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) and Bobby Portis (wrist), Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

After spending the first two seasons of his career in Miami, Ware will get a fresh start in Milwaukee. The 22-year-old center saw similar playing time in his second season compared to his first, though he still took a step forward in 2025-26. Over 77 regular-season appearances (34 starts) last season, the big man averaged 11.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 0.8 steals and 0.7 assists in 22.1 minutes per contest. With Antetokounmpo no longer in Milwaukee, the future of Myles Turner (ankle) is up in the air. Ware could see a larger role in Milwaukee than he did in Miami, especially if Turner is traded.

The Nets traded Claxton (finger) and the No. 33 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft to the Bulls and Timberwolves, respectively, in exchange for Julius Randle and the No. 28 overall pick in this year's draft, Shams Charania of ESPN reports Monday.

Claxton will head to Chicago after spending the first seven years of his career with the Nets. The big man appeared in 69 regular-season games (68 starts) in 2025-26, averaging 11.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 blocks and 0.7 steals in 27.8 minutes per contest. He missed the team's final five games with a sprained finger, though he's expected to be ready for training camp. Claxton is under contract through the 2027-28 campaign.

Williams (foot) received a qualifying offer from the Suns on Thursday, Keith Smith of Spotrac.com reports.

Williams will now become a restricted free agent ahead of the offseason. His first season in Phoenix was a bit of a mixed bag, as he was limited to 55 regular-season appearances with averages of 11.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 23.6 minutes per contest.

Sarr underwent surgery to repair a fractured right foot Monday, per Shams Charania of ESPN.

Despite the procedure, Sarr is expected to be ready for the start of the 2026-27 season. The 2024 No. 2 overall pick was limited to 48 regular-season appearances in 2025-26, averaging 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.0 blocks in 27.2 minutes per game.