With Summer League play in the rearview mirror and most major transactions completed, now is a good time to look back at some players whose fantasy values have been affected by the changes. After looking at the players whose fantasy outlooks have improved earlier this week, we look at some whose values may have taken a hit, some through no fault of their own. Kicking things off are two players in Philadelphia who are well-positioned to contend for an NBA title, at the expense of their respective fantasy outlooks.
NBA: Toronto Raptors at Memphis Grizzlies
Cedric Coward, AJ Dybantsa among the summer ‘stock risers’
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A look back on what’s happened so far this summer and players whose fantasy values should increase.
Returnees
G VJ Edgecombe and G/F Jaylen Brown, Philadelphia 76ers
Obviously, no front office worth its salt would ever consider fantasy value when making moves that could improve the roster. Between the acquisition of Brown and the recent signing of LeBron James, the 76ers are well-positioned to contend for an NBA title next season. However, a stronger starting lineup also means that some individual sacrifices will need to be made.
As the least experienced player in the 76ers’ starting five, Edgecombe may be the one who’s asked to sacrifice the most offensively when everyone is healthy. The athletic guard is coming off an excellent rookie season in which he provided sixth-round per-game value in eight- and nine-cat formats, as well as points leagues. Edgecombe’s usage (20.1) wasn’t too high, but that number may decrease with Brown and James on board, especially with both proving to be more durable than Paul George was.
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As for Brown, he’s coming off the most productive individual season of his NBA career. With Boston not having Jayson Tatum for most of the season as he recovered from a ruptured Achilles tendon, Brown’s usage was a career-high 36.2. With the trade to Philadelphia, that number was already going to take a hit. Add in LeBron, and that is something else for fantasy managers to consider. Hopefully, Brown will be able to clean up the turnovers (3.6 per game), which factored into him finishing outside the top-50 in nine-cat formats.
G/F Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers
Avdija is coming off the best season of his NBA career to date, having earned his first All-Star Game appearance. He posted career-high averages in points, assists and three-pointers while offering third-round per-game value in eight-cat formats. However, between the departure of head coach Tiago Splitter, the return of Damian Lillard and the acquisition of Ja Morant, Avdija’s usage (29.3 last season) is bound to decrease. He can still offer reliable fantasy value, especially if the three-point accuracy improves and the turnovers decrease. However, Avdija’s ceiling took a significant hit this offseason.
G Ryan Rollins, Milwaukee Bucks
While he did enter last season with a top-100 ADP, few expected Rollins to be as productive as he was for the injury-riddled Bucks. He recorded career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and three-pointers while shooting 47.2 percent from the field, 40.6 percent from three and 79.6 percent from the foul line. The Bucks’ chances of being a factor in the East took a significant hit with Giannis Antetokounmpo being traded to Miami. Still, there are even more perimeter options for new head coach Taylor Jenkins to sift through.
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In addition to Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. return, with the latter having signed a deal that shocked many (four years, $64 million). Among the players Milwaukee received from Miami were guards Tyler Herro and Kasparas Jakučionis, and lottery pick Brayden Burries was one of the best performers at the Vegas Summer League. While he won’t fall off the face of the earth, the increased number of guards on the roster may not do Rollins’ fantasy value any favors.
F Andrew Wiggins, Miami Heat
Speaking of the Antetokounmpo trade, his arrival in Miami may mean that Wiggins’ usage takes a hit. Despite Herro and Norman Powell (who’s now in Chicago) missing extended periods of time due to injury, Wiggins still averaged just 15.4 points per game last season, a decrease of more than three points when compared to his 2024-25 average (19.0). The positive is that Wiggins shot a career-high 41.4 percent from three on 4.9 attempts per game; if he can maintain that accuracy, it would help preserve some of his category-league value.
C Alex Sarr and G/F Kyshawn George, Washington Wizards
After years of stockpiling young talent, the Wizards began to shift the franchise’s approach with the acquisitions of Trae Young and Anthony Davis last season. Add in AJ Dybantsa, who was selected with the first overall pick in June’s draft, and some of the other young Wizards stand to take hits to their fantasy values in 2026-27. Sarr may be better equipped to preserve his fantasy value, especially if Washington decides to start him alongside Davis.
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And in that scenario, players like George, Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson and Will Riley would lose their luster as fantasy options. Of those four, George’s overall profile gives him the highest category-league ceiling, but it would be challenging to expect a top-100 season out of him.
F/C Santi Aldama, Dallas Mavericks
While he finished last season with career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists (tie), steals and blocks, injuries limited Aldama to 43 games for the Grizzlies. The move from Memphis to Dallas puts Aldama on a team headlined by Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving, and there’s a surplus of bodies in the post as well. Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford remain on the roster, as does Moussa Cissé after the Mavericks matched the offer sheet he signed with the Knicks. Add in lottery pick Morez Johnson Jr., and Aldama’s fantasy value stands to take a hit unless someone is traded.
Rookies
G Darryn Peterson, Utah Jazz
After finishing the Salt Lake City portion of Utah’s summer league run on a positive note, Peterson played three games in Las Vegas. In those appearances, the second overall pick in June’s draft averaged 20.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 three-pointers. However, the efficiency was lacking, with Peterson shooting 30.8 percent from the field while averaging 4.7 turnovers.
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Long-term, Peterson should be fine; there is too much talent for the Jazz to work with in the former Kansas guard. Short-term, does he start alongside Keyonte George or come off the bench? George, who is extension eligible this summer, is coming off the best season of his NBA career and appears to be Utah’s answer at point guard. There’s also Ace Bailey to consider, as he made 61 starts as a rookie. Peterson should still be one of the first rookies taken in drafts, but managers may need to temper their expectations early on.
G Darius Acuff Jr., Sacramento Kings
Similar to Peterson, Acuff put up good averages this summer, but the efficiency was an issue. In three games in Las Vegas, the seventh-overall pick averaged 19.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.0 blocks and 1.7 three-pointers while shooting 36.8 percent from the field, 26.3 percent from three and 64.3 percent from the foul line. Between the 4.7 turnovers per game and limited defensive value, Acuff has some areas to clean up going into his rookie campaign. The good news is that managers who can withstand the efficiency concerns should be fine, as Acuff should be the Kings’ starting point guard on Opening Night.
F Nate Ament, Milwaukee Bucks
Ament did not play in the California Classic, but he did appear in all five of Milwaukee’s games in Las Vegas. In those appearances, the former Tennessee forward averaged 11.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.4 blocks and 1.4 three-pointers per game. Ament posted solid percentages, but his overall impact was somewhat muted. Once training camp opens, he will face significant competition for minutes. Miami added Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel’el Ware via the Giannis trade while also re-signing Ousmane Dieng. Add in returnee Kyle Kuzma, and Ament’s rookie year fantasy outlook may not be great.
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F Dailyn Swain, Chicago Bulls
While fellow first-round pick Caleb Wilson was one of the standouts in Las Vegas, Swain struggled. In four games, he averaged 4.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.8 steals, shooting just 12.9 percent from the field. While Summer League is nowhere near the level of play Swain and the other rookies will face in the fall/winter, the inability to get things done offensively in his first NBA experience is a concern.
F Alex Karaban, Sacramento Kings
Karaban’s summer got off to a rough start, as a sprained ankle sidelined him for the entirety of the California Classic. That injury likely factored into his slow start in Las Vegas, with the former UConn standout averaging 8.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.6 three-pointers per game in four appearances. Karaban shot just 38.1 percent from the field, and there’s no guarantee that the quality of looks he gets will improve once the regular season begins, with the Kings likely starting fellow rookie Darius Acuff Jr. at the point.
