NBA Player News

Thompson has been working on his free throws and jumper with shooting coach Chip Engelland this offseason, and head coach Ime Udoka said his growth will initially focus on increasing his efficiency from the midrange, Varun Shankar of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Thompson turned in a career year in 2025-26 before landing a five-year, $208 million extension earlier this month. The 23-year-old averaged 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.6 blocks across 37.4 minutes per game in 79 regular-season appearances last year. However, his three-point shot remained a weakness, as he knocked down just 21.6 percent of his limited attempts from downtown. The 2023 No. 4 overall pick did shoot a career-best 77.9 percent from the free-throw line last season, though there's still room for improvement. Even if Thompson never develops into an above-average shooter, he's a well-rounded player who has already made strides as a playmaker. While his playmaking skills may be less utilized now that Fred VanVleet is back in the mix, Thompson should continue to play a key role while working to expand his offensive game.

Porter said his goal this season is to become the best off-ball player in the NBA, Sharif Phillips-Keaton of USA Today reports.

The forward believes his cutting and catch-and-shoot ability give him the tools to reach that level, though he emphasized that conditioning will be an important factor. Porter should have plenty of opportunities to showcase those skills as he looks to have another significant role with Brooklyn.

Sengun has been working with shooting coach Chip Engelland on his free throws and three-point shot, and the big man wants to make corner threes a bigger part of his game, Varun Shankar of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Sengun is coming off another impressive year, averaging 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks in 33.3 minutes per game across 72 regular-season appearances in 2025-26. However, the star center shot just 69.1 percent from the charity stripe and 30.5 percent from downtown. He's been focused on improving in those areas this offseason, and an uptick in efficiency would be a significant step toward becoming a more well-rounded player.

Zubac said he's already making progress developing chemistry with Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam after getting his first extended work with the duo during the Pacers' players-only minicamp, Alex Golden of SI.com reports.

The big man said playing with Haliburton felt "really natural" and doesn't expect it to take long for the two to jell due to the point guard's high basketball IQ. Zubac also focused on improving his conditioning during the offseason to better handle Indiana's pace and revealed that he's been working on expanding his shooting range, though his primary focus remains playing to his established strengths.

Tatum said he "feels great" as he continues his recovery, noting that he's now 16 and a half months removed from surgery, Zack Cox of the Boston Herald reports.

The extended offseason has allowed him to focus on getting stronger and becoming more explosive while working on his body as a whole. These are encouraging comments from a fantasy perspective as Tatum enters the 2026-27 season with a clean bill of health.

The Wizards signed Keels to an Exhibit 10 contract.

Keels is attending training camp with the Wizards but is considered a long shot to make the final roster. Presumably, the team will be eyeing him for their G League affiliate.

Reeves signed a contract with the Timberwolves on Sunday.

The exact terms of the deal are unclear, but it's presumably a training camp invite for Reeves. Minnesota now owns his G League rights, so the 25-year-old is likely to join the Iowa Wolves if he's waived by the parent club.

Collier's ball-handling and playmaking stand out among Utah's current personnel, president of basketball operations Austin Ainge said Monday, Ben Anderson of KSL News Salt Lake City reports.

Collier established himself as a high-level distributor in his second season, averaging 8.7 assists across 78 regular-season appearances in 2025-26. Utah added several new pieces during the offseason, but Collier's ability to create for others gives him a distinct skill set that could help him remain involved in the Jazz's backcourt rotation.

Braun said Monday that increasing both his three-point volume and efficiency was his biggest developmental focus during the offseason, Ryan Blackburn of MileHighSports.com reports.

"Shoot more. Make more. Don't hesitate to shoot, just let it go," Braun said. The 25-year-old connected on just 30.1 percent of his three-pointers across 44 regular-season appearances in 2025-26 after shooting 39.7 percent from deep the previous season. A return to form from beyond the arc would help Braun provide more reliable floor spacing alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.

Kennard said Monday that head coach Jordan Ott has encouraged him to significantly increase his three-point volume this season, Shane Young of the Suns' official site reports.

"They want me to shoot, and they want me to shoot a lot," Kennard said, adding that he's been given the green light to attempt both open and more difficult looks. Kennard led the NBA by shooting 47.8 percent from three during the 2025-26 regular season but attempted only 3.1 triples per game. Ott has already warned Kennard that the increased volume could prevent him from leading the league in three-point percentage again, but a more aggressive approach from beyond the arc could boost the veteran sharpshooter's scoring production in Phoenix.