Fantasy Basketball roundup and analysis for NBA Free Agency: Myles Turner, LeBron James and more

The dust has settled from the end of the 2024-25 NBA season and the 2025 NBA Draft. That means NBA Free Agency will be in full swing in July and we should continue to get plenty of news, rumors and trades circulating. NBA teams can officially begin negotiating deals with players starting Monday, June 30 at 6 p.m. ET. Contracts can’t become official until July 6, so we should get plenty of reports coming through, including where unrestricted free agents will be signing this offseason. We’ll also be monitoring any big restricted free agent news.

For fantasy-relevant news, we’ll be providing quick analysis, looking at how the move might impact said player and team for the 2025-26 campaign — as well as the fantasy impact. Follow along here for Yahoo’s live coverage of NBA Free Agency.

NBA Free Agency Fantasy Basketball analysis

Myles Turner leaving Pacers for rival Bucks

The Indiana Pacers are losing their anchor down low with Turner opting to join the Central Division rival Milwaukee Bucks via free agency. The Bucks are signing Turner to a four-year, $107 million deal. In a stunning move, the Bucks are also waiving PG Damian Lillard, who had two seasons left on his deal with a player option in the second.

Turner, 29, averaged 15.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game last season in 72 starts. He finished with 48/39/77 shooting splits, his percentage from the field dropping from 52.4% a season ago. Turner also averaged 2.8 stocks per game, one of the premier defenders down low.

Fantasy basketball analysis: There’s a bit to unpack here. We also know Giannis Antetokounmpo has been in the trade rumor mill quite a bit this offseason. Is this a precursor to the Bucks trading Giannis? Right now, Milwaukee has Antetokounmpo, Turner, Bobby Portis and Kyle Kuzma in the frontcourt. That’s a lot of mouths to feed.

If the Bucks trade Giannis, that would be huge for Turner’s fantasy prospects. He could see an uptick in minutes and his ability to cover 3s from the center position is very appealing in all formats. If Antetokounmpo stays in Milwaukee, it’ll be interesting to see how the two operate together. Turner was never a great rebounder for his position/size, so that would seemingly continue with the two down low. It could leech a bit from Turner’s blocks depending on the rotations. Turner may still be a top-20 center for fantasy but there are a lot of question marks/concerns.

We’ll keep an eye out for any word on where Dame could land.

LeBron James opts into Lakers contract

LeBron has decided to opt into his player option for the 2025-26 season and remain in Los Angeles, rather than hit the free agent market. King James is owed around $52 million this upcoming season; then, his future becomes a bit murky. We’ve heard rumblings of retirement for James, who will turn 41 in December. There’s also a chance the Lakers trade LeBron in hopes of adding some pieces to build around Luka Dončić for the future.

Fantasy basketball analysis: It’s still early in the offseason, so this may not be the last move involving James before the season starts. But for now, James returning to the Lakers means he’ll be teamed up with Dončić. This would have a big impact on how we approach each in fantasy basketball. The offense would run through Dončić, so that would have LeBron playing off the ball more, which isn’t ideal for his assist numbers and usage rate. We also know that both dealt with injuries last season and then had to figure out how to play with each other in a pinch. A full offseason to prep for 2025-26 will be helpful. The two future Hall of Famers are too good not to be able to co-exist. Both should continue to be top-25 fantasy assets but we’ll see how the rest of L.A.’s roster shakes out.

James Harden, Clippers agree on deal

The Beard and Los Angeles have agreed to terms on a two-year, $81.5 million deal, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. Harden led the Clippers in scoring last season, averaging 22.8 points per game on 41/35/87 shooting splits. He also averaged 8.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds with 1.5 steals per game. The Clips would lose to the Denver Nuggets in seven games in the first round of the playoffs. The new deal helps keep Los Angeles’ current core together for at least a few more seasons before the team can start to think “rebuild.”

Fantasy basketball analysis: Harden isn’t the type of volume scorer from his MVP days with the Rockets. But he’s still valuable in fantasy as a stat-stuffer on a Clippers’ team that should remain competitive in the Western Conference. Harden’s fantasy value is also linked to the health and performance of Kawhi Leonard, who missed most of last season. In 37 games, Leonard averaged 21.5 points per game. Kawhi came on strong at the end of the season, averaging around 26 PPG over the last two months. That tangentially elevated Harden’s performances. With the Clippers, Harden remains a safe pick in the second or third round of drafts.

Timberwolves keeping the band together

Minnesota is going to retain two frontcourt bodies in the form of Julius Randle and Naz Reid. Randle and the T-Wolves are in agreement on a three-year, $100 million deal, per ESPN. Reid is set to sign a five-year, $125 million contract, per reports.

In his first season in Minnesota, Randle averaged 18.7 points per game as the secondary scoring option behind Anthony Edwards. Randle was slightly more efficient from the floor, shooting 48.5% while getting his 3-point percentage back closer to his career average with 34.4% on the season. Reid set career marks pretty much across the board with 14.2 PPG, 6.0 RPG and 2.3 APG over 27.5 minutes per contest in 80 games.

Fantasy basketball analysis: There’s not too much to add here. The Timberwolves are planning on keeping mostly the same roster together for 2025-26 pending some type of big move. Unless that happens, expect more of the same from both Randle and Reid in terms of fantasy. Randle was a fringe top-25 PF asset last season after seeing his numbers fall since the season before with the Knicks. He’s still the second scoring option behind Ant Man for Minnesota, helping in points and 3s while having decent catty coverage overall. Reid is nothing more than a backup center off your bench. He can help with 3s, which is a plus, but doesn’t shoot a high percentage from the floor and isn’t a great rebounder.

Jazz trade Collin Sexton to Hornets for Jusuf Nurkić

The Utah Jazz sent Sexton and a second-round pick to Charlotte in exchange for Nurkić. Sexton lands on the Hornets, who could use him to provide some scoring. Nurkić gives the Jazz more size and he could be a good bridge to Walker Kessler as the full-time starting center after 2025-26. Trading Sexton could clear more minutes for rookie guards Ace Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr., who were both selected in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft.

Be sure to check out Yahoo’s trade grades for the Sexton-Nurkić swap.

Fantasy basketball analysis: This could be a move to appease Bailey, who is popping up in reports about being unhappy he landed in Utah. Whether or not that’s true, with Sexton gone, Bailey should see increased backcourt minutes, which improves his fantasy outlook in Year 1 and for dynasty. Nurkić is on an expiring contract but he should start at center for the Jazz, which should negatively impact Kessler’s value, at least for 2025-26. Nurk isn’t the same fantasy asset from his Trail Blazer days but if he can stay healthy, he isn’t a bad late-round option for rebounds.

Deandre Ayton to become free agent

The Portland Trail Blazers are finalizing a buyout of Ayton, who will become an unrestricted free agent so long as he clears waivers, per reports. This gives us another name on the free-agent market, which is looking to be very, very thin this offseason. Ayton should have plenty of suitors and the Lakers are expected to be one of them, per Dan Woike of The Athletic. The veteran center was set to make $35.5 million this upcoming season, per Salary Swish.

Fantasy basketball analysis: This move could have a big-ish impact on the fantasy landscape. If Ayton lands in Los Angeles with LeBron and Luka, that could vault him back into relevancy at the center position. Missing half the season, Ayton averaged a double-double with 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game for Portland in 2024-25. He finished outside the top-30 centers in fantasy as a result. If healthy and in a good situation, Ayton isn’t a bad one-trick pony as a rebounder. He’d also get more easy buckets playing off James and Dončić, though his inability to stretch the floor is an issue. Ayton isn’t exactly a viable option in shallow leagues but could be an interesting late-round pick in deeper formats.

Jordan Clarkson plans to sign with Knicks after Jazz buyout

Utah continues its busy offseason by getting rid of another veteran guard, this time Clarkson, who was set to make just over $14 million this upcoming season. Instead, the Jazz are reportedly buying out Clarkson’s final year and he’s going to sign with the New York Knicks, per Chris B. Haynes. Entering his 12th NBA season, Clarkson remains a serviceable scorer, averaging 16.2 points per game last season in just 37 games for Utah. Back in 2020-21, Clarkson averaged 16 PPG to win 6th Man of the Year with the Jazz.

Fantasy basketball analysis: Clarkson was exactly what the Knicks needed last season in the playoffs — a reliable scorer off the bench. New York gets Clarkson at a discount, which is also a plus. Because of injuries, Clarkson didn’t really register on anyone’s fantasy radar last season. He still posted decent numbers in a small sample. On the Knicks, Clarkson will have some value as a bench stash in deeper formats. If anything were to happen to Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart or Mikal Bridges, that would thrust Clarkson into a more prominent role. Clarkson is also just a specialist really for points, 3s and assists if he gets enough playing time.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker lands with Hawks

The Timberwolves and Hawks executed a sign-and-trade on Monday night that sends NAW to Atlanta on a four-year, $62 million deal, per reports. He had spent the past two-plus seasons with the T-Wolves as a 3-and-D wing. Alexander-Walker averaged just 25.3 minutes per game last season but scored 9.4 PPG while shooting 38.1% from distance. His per 36 numbers were also pretty impressive and there’s reason to believe a breakout could be in NAW’s future.