NBA Player News

Mathurin could be set for a reserve role if he remains with the Clippers in 2026-27 due to the selection of Keaton Wagler with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Mathurin operated almost exclusively off the bench for Los Angeles in 2025-26, making just one start after being traded away from the Pacers. The 2022 first-rounder is slated to become a restricted free agent, so the Clippers do have the ability to match any offer sheet he receives from other teams. If Mathurin sticks around, he'll likely be competing with Wagler and Kris Dunn for the starting spot at shooting guard during training camp in the fall.

Garland could face more competition for ballhandling duties at point guard after the Clippers drafted Keaton Wagler with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Garland came off the bench just twice for the Clippers last year, and that was likely done to ease him back into action due to nagging toe injuries. It's hard to envision the star guard seeing a noticeable decline in playing time due to the addition of Wagler, and Los Angeles must believe the two guards will mesh well alongside one another in the long run. If Wagler starts at shooting guard right away, his presence could help alleviate some of the ballhandling duties on Garland's plate.

The Clippers added another playmaker to deploy alongside Leonard by choosing Keaton Wagler with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

The Clippers will have to decide whether or not to start Wagler alongside Darius Garland in the backcourt in 2026-27, but the rookie guard is nonetheless set to serve as a key contributor right off the bat. Leonard's usage could see a slight dip if Wagler starts immediately, as that would likely translate into the defensive-minded Kris Dunn moving to the second unit. Regardless, Leonard is locked in as Los Angeles' definitive No. 1 scoring option next year.

Jones is in a position to begin the 2026-27 season as a starter after the Bulls drafted Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain on Tuesday.

Jones appears to be a big winner from a fantasy standpoint of Chicago's early offseason moves. Wilson and Swain should occupy their time at the forward spots, while Anfernee Simons (wrist) and Collin Sexton could also be on the move this summer as unrestricted free agents. Last regular season, Jones averaged 15.5 points, 5.6 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 28.2 minutes per tilt in 41 games as a starter, and a similar role could be on the horizon next year, especially if both Simons and Sexton walk.

Smith (calf) is in line to open 2026-27 as the backup center behind Nic Claxton (finger).

Smith got a chance to start for the Bulls at times in 2025-26 as they searched for Nikola Vucevic's replacement, averaging 12.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.8 blocks in 24.6 minutes per tilt across 21 regular-season games as a starter last season. Now that Claxton is in the picture, Smith appears primed to revert to the No. 2 center role in 2026-27, which could cap his upside from a fantasy perspective. Availability has also been a concern for Smith throughout his career, as he's never reached the 70-game mark in any of his first six seasons.

Essengue (shoulder) appears to be buried on the depth chart in the frontcourt after the Bulls picked Caleb Wilson at No. 4 and Dailyn Swain at No. 15 during the 2026 NBA Draft.

Essengue's rookie campaign was ruined due to shoulder surgery in December of 2025, limiting him to just two appearances at the NBA level. However, the 2025 first-rounder averaged 23.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 three-pointers, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals in 30.8 minutes per game over four appearances for the Windy City Bulls. Essengue stands out as a prime candidate to begin the 2026-27 season in the G League due to all of Chicago's frontcourt additions.

Buzelis (ankle) will have more competition for usage in the frontcourt following the selections of Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain as well as Chicago's acquisition of Nic Claxton (finger).

After trading away Nikola Vucevic at the deadline last year, the Bulls addressed a thin center position by acquiring Claxton ahead of Tuesday's draft. Wilson and Swain, however, pose even more significant threats to Buzelis' role at the forward spots. Buzelis could see less action as a small-ball center in 2026-27, but he certainly appears to be locked into a starting role to open the new year.

Giddey (ankle) could benefit from the selections of Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain as well as Chicago's acquisition of Nic Claxton (finger) in 2026-27.

Chicago has focused primarily on frontcourt additions so far this offseason with their recent moves, setting up Giddey with plenty of talent around him for playmaking opportunities. Anfernee Simons (wrist) and Collin Sexton are both unrestricted free agents this summer, potentially leaving Giddey with a ton of usage on his plate in the backcourt next season.

The Grizzlies' selection of Cameron Boozer with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft creates additional frontcourt competition, but Hendricks (thumb) should still have an opportunity to carve out a significant role entering 2026-27.

Acquired from Utah in the Jaren Jackson trade, the 22-year-old showed encouraging flashes after arriving in Memphis, averaging double figures while displaying his defensive versatility and floor-spacing ability. Boozer's arrival could reduce some of Hendricks' offensive opportunities, but the former lottery pick remains an intriguing developmental piece as the Grizzlies continue building their young core.

Wells (toe) should continue competing for rotation minutes on the wing despite Memphis adding Cameron Boozer with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Wells' defensive ability and complementary skill set could help him carve out a role alongside the Grizzlies' established core. However, increased competition for minutes may make consistent opportunities more difficult to secure. In addition to Boozer, the Grizzlies also added forward Karim Lopez in the first round.