How values shift for Kessler, Powell, Collins on n...

Eric Moody

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Eric Moody

ESPN Writer

Eric Moody is a writer for fantasy football, men's and women's basketball, and sports betting at ESPN. Eric joined ESPN in 2021 after working as a senior fantasy analyst at Pro Football Network. Prior to that, he spent much of his career as a manager at a Fortune 100 financial services company.

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André Snellings

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André Snellings

ESPN Senior Writer

Dr. André Snellings is a senior writer for men's and women's fantasy basketball and sports betting at ESPN. André has a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Michigan. He joined ESPN in 2017 after a 16-year career as a neural engineer, during which time he was also a writer and analyst for Rotowire.

Jul 1, 2026, 01:27 PM ET

The NBA never stops, even in the offseason. Trades and free agent signings shake up rosters and change fantasy values.

Throughout the summer, our fantasy analysts Andre Snellings and Eric Moody will break down the biggest moves and their fantasy impact.

Check back regularly as we update this tracker with fresh reactions and fantasy takeaways.

See more: Trade tracker | Play fantasy basketball

July 1: Kessler provides fantasy value as Luka's big man running mate

Snellings: The Lakers acquired center Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz for future draft considerations and immediately signed him to a nine-figure contract as the first major piece in this new era. Kessler is exactly the style of big man that has worked well next to Luka Doncic in the past: strong finisher in the paint and offensive rebounder on offense, elite rim protector and paint control on defense.

While Deandre Ayton opted into his player option to return to the Lakers as well, Kessler is likely to get starter minutes and play the larger role for the Lakers. When healthy, Kessler is a walking double-double, should get plenty of high percentage finishes from Doncic dimes and is the best shot-blocker in the NBA outside of Victor Wembanyama. This move makes Kessler a top-80 prospect in points leagues and potentially as high as top-50 in category leagues.

July 1: Powell's move to Bulls is big opportunity to build on All-Star season

Moody: Norman Powell gives the Bulls a proven scorer. He earned his first All-Star selection last season after averaging 21.7 PPG, 3.5 RPG and 2.5 APG in Miami while shooting 47% from the field and 38% from beyond the arc. Powell was also very efficient, averaging 0.48 points per touch, third in the league among qualified players. The Bulls badly needed offensive firepower after finishing last season ranked 25th in offensive rating, and the veteran swingman gives Chicago's young roster a proven scorer. For Miami, losing Powell thins the rotation after the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade left the Heat with limited flexibility.

July 1: Collins has clearer path to minutes in Detroit

Moody: John Collins finds a new home and a nice deal with the Pistons, who needed frontcourt help after losing Isaiah Stewart and with Jalen Duren's future still uncertain. Collins averaged 13.6 PPG and 5.3 RPG with the LA Clippers last season while shooting 55% from the field and 40% from 3-point range. Collins should have a clearer path to minutes with the Pistons, and his ability to space the floor both vertically as a lob threat and from deep makes him an intriguing fit next to Cade Cunningham. Collins profiles as an interesting forward in the later rounds with upside if he locks down a starting role. The Clippers lose frontcourt depth and athleticism.

July 1: Sexton signing gives Lakers scoring depth, limits fantasy ceiling

Moody: Collin Sexton gives the Lakers another scoring guard after he agreed to a two-year deal. Sexton averaged 15.4 PPG, 2.3 RPG and 3.3 APG last season between the Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls, but was better after the midseason move to the Bulls, averaging 17.5 PPG while shooting 48.2% from the field and 41% from beyond the arc. Sexton helps replace some of the guard depth lost with Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard leaving, while giving Los Angeles another guard who can attack the rim and score from the perimeter. The fit is useful in real life, but his fantasy ceiling is limited in a crowded Lakers backcourt.

June 30: Leonard trade boosts Toronto, hurts teammates' usage

Moody: Kawhi Leonard is headed back to Toronto, and the fantasy basketball impact is significant for both the Raptors and LA Clippers. Leonard returns to the franchise he led to its only championship in 2019, when he won Finals MVP and averaged 26.6 PPG, the third-highest single-season scoring average in Raptors history.

He's also coming off a career-best 27.9 PPG with the Clippers, so when he is on the floor, the fantasy ceiling remains elite. For Toronto, this move raises the team's real-life upside and gives the Raptors a proven half-court scorer who can help immediately. Leonard should slot in at small forward next to Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl.

Leonard's three-level scoring, defensive production and efficiency make him valuable in both points and category formats. Last season, Leonard averaged 27.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.6 APG and 1.9 SPG while shooting 50.5% from the field. The obvious concern is availability. Leonard has played 331 of a possible 554 regular-season games with the Clippers. He has played at least 65 games only twice since leaving Toronto. Managers should still view him as an early-round producer when healthy, but the injury history keeps some risk attached to his fantasy profile.

For Barnes, Leonard's arrival reduces his usage but should also improve efficiency and spacing. Quickley may lose some creation opportunities, while Barrett could see his shot volume become less stable. Poeltl's role should remain relatively safe as a rebounds, field-goal percentage and blocks option in category formats.

Brandon Ingram, the key piece coming back to the Clippers in the deal, averaged 21.5 PPG, 5.6 RPG and 3.7 APG with Toronto last season while shooting 47.7% from the field. He does not offer the same across-the-board production as Leonard, he but should step into a significant offensive role with the new-look Clippers. That gives him a path to top-50 fantasy value.

June 29: Morant trade fantasy fallout: Blazers backcourt gets crowded, Grizzlies reset begins

Moody: The Ja Morant era in Memphis is over, and from a fantasy standpoint, this trade creates more uncertainty than excitement. Morant heads to the Portland Trail Blazers after being traded by the Grizzlies for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. The talent is obvious, but the red flags are just as clear.

Morant has played in only 79 of a possible 246 games over the past three seasons. He has reached 65 games only once in his seven-year career, and that came as a rookie. Availability has become the biggest issue. When Morant is on the floor, he is still productive. He averaged 19.5 PPG, 8.1 APG, 3.3 RPG and 1.0 SPG last season. Without a games-played minimum, those 8.1 APG would have ranked fifth in the league. Morant also averaged 15.7 drives per game, sixth in the league, and has ranked in the top six in drives every season of his career.

The concern is that his efficiency has slipped. Morant shot a career-low 23.5% from 3-point range last season, generated a career-worst 0.97 points per drive and shot under 50% in the paint for the first time in his career. The Trail Blazers' rotation suddenly becomes congested. Morant joins a backcourt that already includes Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, while Deni Avdija also handled playmaking duties last season. That hurts Morant's fantasy ceiling unless another move follows. He remains more appealing in points leagues than category formats because of his assists and scoring, but turnovers, poor 3-point shooting and injury risk make him hard to trust as an early-round pick.

For Portland, this move hurts the outlook of its guards. Lillard, Holiday, Henderson and Sharpe all face more usage and assist competition. Avdija could also lose some on-ball reps. Memphis is clearly resetting. The Grizzlies have now moved Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane since their 2025 playoff exit. Grant gives them a veteran forward who averaged 18.8 PPG and shot 39% from beyond the arc across four seasons in Portland, but he might not be the best fit as part of a team built around Cameron Boozer. If Grant stays, he profiles as a late-round option. Murray belongs on your watch list in deeper leagues.

June 29: Bridges trade opens the door in Charlotte

Moody: This trade is more interesting in real life than it is exciting for fantasy basketball, but there are still some important fantasy implications to discuss.

Miles Bridges gives the Suns a true forward who can score, rebound and defend multiple spots. Last season with the Hornets, he averaged 17.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.2 APG and 1.9 3PG while shooting 46% from the floor. That's useful fantasy production, but the move to Phoenix lowers his ceiling. Bridges now joins a lineup that features Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams, so his usage is unlikely to be as high as it was in Charlotte.

Bridges remains a solid middle-round fantasy option, especially because he contributes across points, rebounds, assists and 3-pointers, but he looks more like a stable complementary player than one with breakout potential. For Booker, this deal does not change much. He remains the offensive engine in Phoenix after posting a career-high 33.4% usage rate last season, and he's the safest fantasy standout on the Suns.

Green might take the bigger hit if Bridges eats into shot volume, while Brooks becomes more of a streamer in points and category. Williams remains intriguing in category formats because of his field goal percentage, rebounding and shot blocking, but his fantasy ceiling depends on getting enough touches alongside Booker, Green and Bridges.

Charlotte is where the fantasy intrigue opens up. The Hornets have now moved both LaMelo Ball and Bridges, two of their top four scorers from last season. That points to bigger offensive roles for Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel and Coby White.

Miller is the clear winner and could emerge as the team's No. 1 option. Knueppel should also have more room to grow as a scorer and shooter, while White could carry solid value in points, assists and triples if he runs the offense. Grayson Allen should fit the Hornets' 3-point-heavy style and could have late-round value for triples and points. Royce O'Neale is more of a deep-league streamer. Naz Reid might also benefit with Bridges gone, especially if he settles in as the starting power forward.

June 23: Randle's trade to Brooklyn raises his ceiling

Moody: The Nets acquired Julius Randle from the Timberwolves in a three-team trade that also sent Nic Claxton to Chicago. Randle's move to Brooklyn should raise his ceiling slightly. He averaged 21.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG and 5.0 APG last season while playing on a crowded Minnesota roster and now joins a Nets team where he should have a much larger offensive role.

Michael Porter Jr. is still a major part of the Nets offense after averaging 24.2 PPG and 7.1 RPG last season with a 29.2% usage rate, but Randle should also be near the top of the team in usage and minutes. That makes him a solid target in fantasy points leagues and a player who should finish inside the top 40.

The main concern is team context. If Brooklyn falls out of playoff contention, managers will need to monitor Randle's shutdown risk later in the season.

The trade also creates an opportunity in Minnesota. With Randle gone, Naz Reid should have a clearer path to starter level minutes and a bigger offensive role. His ceiling rises immediately. Claxton fills a need for the Bulls and remains a useful option for managers in category leagues willing to punt free throw percentage. He averaged 11.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG and 1.1 BPG last season and playing with Josh Giddey could help his efficiency around the rim if Giddey remains on the roster.

Day'Ron Sharpe and Noah Clowney are names to monitor as potential sleepers since the Nets will need to fill the void at center.