Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter expects to have a starting role this season, Chris Fedor of the Plain Dealer reports. "I feel like that's a role I will probably have," Hunter said during media day on Monday. After arriving from the Atlanta Hawks as part of a mid-season trade, Hunter started only five of 27 appearances with the Cavaliers last term. He still made a positive impact, averaging 14.3 points in 25.0 minutes, but Hunter should be even more productive as a starter. The 27-year-old last played an entire campaign as a starter in 2022-23, averaging 15.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 31.7 minutes with the Hawks. Given the potential absence of Darius Garland (toe), Hunter could have a major role in the Cavaliers' offense at the start of the season.

Los Angeles Clippers guard Bradley Beal (knee) is healthy for the start of the season, Law Murray of The Athletic reports. Last season, Beal dealt with inflammation in his right knee and had it scoped during the summer. He now feels "good" and is ready to go for the 2025-26 campaign. Beal's fantasy stock has nose-dived in recent years, and it will be interesting to see how he performs with the Clippers. He hasn't been available for more than 60 games in six consecutive seasons, so staying healthy will be key for the former All-Star.

Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (Achilles) told reporters during media day that he doesn't plan to play this season. "I don't plan on it," Lillard said. "I feel like if this team is a one seed [without me], they probably got it. I'm trying to be as healthy as possible." Lillard underwent surgery to repair his left Achilles tendon in early May. There's no reason to rush back from such a serious injury, and it makes sense for him to sit out the entire 2025-26 campaign. With Scoot Henderson (hamstring) also unavailable, Jrue Holiday and Shaedon Sharpe will have a massive role to play in the Portland backcourt at the start of the season.

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant is planning a multi-year stay in Texas. "I do see myself signing a contract extension," Durant told reporters during Monday's media day. "I can't tell you exactly when that will happen, but I do see it happening." Durant is eligible to sign a two-year extension worth over $120 million. However, there have been suggestions that the Rockets aren't willing to offer him a max deal. Durant turned 37 on Monday, but if last year is any indication, he appears poised to remain a top-tier fantasy producer this season.

Milwaukee Bucks forward/center Giannis Antetokounmpo (illness) was absent from Monday's media day due to COVID-19, ESPN's Jamal Collier reports. "I'm just waiting for a negative test, so I can leave my house and get on a plane and travel," Antetokounmpo said via Zoom. "I don't want to put anybody at risk." The Bucks start training camp without Antetokounmpo, but this shouldn't impact his readiness for the season too much. Antetokounmpo had a busy summer, helping Greece win bronze at EuroBasket 2025, and he should be in good condition. On Monday, Antetokounmpo confirmed reports that he's open-minded about a move elsewhere. "The same thing I've been saying my whole career, I want to be in a team that allows me and gives me a chance to win a championship," the former MVP said. "I think it's a disservice to basketball, just to the game, to not want it to compete in a high level, to want your season to end in April."

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic decided not to sign an extension this offseason, but he still sees his long-term future with the team. "My plan is to be with the Nuggets forever," Jokic told reporters during Monday's media day. Jokic was eligible for a three-year, $212-million max extension during the offseason. Next summer, he can sign a four-year extension worth nearly $300 million, so financial reasons mainly drove his decision to turn down the extension this year. Jokic appears happy in Denver, and that can only benefit fantasy managers. The three-time MVP averaged a triple-double last season and looks bound to crush it again if he avoids injuries.

Chicago Bulls executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas stated Monday that guard Coby White (calf) will be limited in training camp, K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network reports. White sustained a calf strain in August. Karnisovas hopes the 25-year-old will be cleared to play by the end of the preseason. Once available, White should have a significant role in the Bulls' rotation. He averaged a career-high 20.4 points, 4.5 assists and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 37.0 percent from beyond the arc during 74 contests last season.

San Antonio guardDe'Aaron Fox(hamstring) shared with the media on Monday that he does not expect to be ready for the start of the regular season, according toSpurs' broadcaster Jacob Tobey. Fox has been involved in basketball activities and is feeling well, but he is still experiencing issues with his right hamstring. He also had surgery on his left pinkie finger back in March. With the 27-year-old likely missing in action early in the regular season, rookie guard Dylan Harper could get extra minutes on the floor.

According to Joey Mistretta of ClutchPoints, Dallas Mavericks forward/centerAnthony Davis(eye) has been cleared for training camp. Davis underwent surgery back in July to repair a detached retina. The 32-year-old averaged 24.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.2 blocks and 1.2 steals across 51 regular-season contests last campaign between the Lakers and Mavericks. Despite still performing at an All-Star level, Davis has dealt with nagging injuries in the past few seasons. Questions about his health may prompt fantasy managers to explore other options as the upcoming season approaches.

On Monday at Media Day, Clemente Almanza of USA Today reports that Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (wrist) said hestill has a way to go with his wrist recovery. Williams underwent offseason surgery due to a ligament tear in his right wrist. There is no timetable for when he will return, despite recently dribbling with both hands and shooting in practice.The 23-year-old averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per contest while shooting 36.5 percent from beyond the arc during the 2024-25 campaign. Only time will tell if Williams will be available for the Thunder on Opening Night as they host the Rockets on Oct. 21.

According to K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network, Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (shoulder) has been cleared for training camp on Monday. In March, Dosunmu underwent surgery due to instability in his left shoulder. The 25-year-old is no longer the subject of trade rumors and had a career year with his hometown team during the 2024-25 season, averaging 12.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. However, health issues limited him to 46 outings.Now healthy, Dosunmu has extra motivation and could be a solid contributor for fantasy managers, as he is in the final year of his contract.

With Fred VanVleet (knee) expected to miss the 2025-26 season, the Houston Rockets will rely on a committee approach to handle point guard duties, with Amen Thompson taking on a key role. Thompson and Reed Sheppard are likely to see the most time initiating the offense, while head coach Ime Udoka also plans to lean on Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant as secondary playmakers. That versatility gives Houston multiple options to keep the offense flowing, but Thompson's usage and development will be under the spotlight. The 22-year-old guard impressed last season, averaging 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, and his ability to push the pace and distribute should make him a focal point in VanVleet's absence. Thompson's value is trending up heading into the season.

The Denver Nuggets may experiment with more lineup flexibility this season thanks to the unique skill set of Nikola Jokic. The three-time MVP averaged a triple-double last year with 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists, showcasing his ability to stretch the floor and initiate offense. That versatility could open the door for Denver to pair Joki with new addition Jonas Valaninas in certain lineups. With Joki drawing defenders outside and creating space in the paint, Valaninas would have room to operate inside while providing additional size and rebounding. The 33-year-old big man split time with the Wizards and Kings last season, averaging 10.4 points and 7.7 rebounds in just 18.8 minutes per game. Deploying both centers together would also give the Nuggets more defensive coverage options as they look to pursue another title.

Washington Wizards point guard Bub Carrington has noticeably bulked up this offseason, adding 11 pounds of muscle to bring his frame from 193 to 204 pounds. The 20-year-old second-year guard admitted that attacking the rim and finishing in traffic was the "weakest part" of his game, and his added strength should help address that area. Carrington started 57 of 82 games as a rookie, averaging 9.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per contest while flashing versatility across multiple categories. However, his 40.1% shooting from the field highlighted an area in need of improvement as he transitions into a larger role. Entering his sophomore campaign, Carrington will look to take a step forward as he teams with fellow second-year standout Alex Sarr to headline Washington's youth-driven rebuild.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kenrich Williams (knee) is set to undergo surgery on his left knee, leaving his availability for opening night on October 21 in question. The Thunder have not provided a clear timetable for his recovery, but the versatile forward could be sidelined to begin the season. Williams played in 69 games last year, making seven starts, and averaged 6.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per contest. The 30-year-old also missed time at the start of last season due to back spasms, emphasizing durability concerns heading into 2025-26. With Williams out, Oklahoma City may look to spread his minutes across several young players, including Dillon Jones, Ousmane Dieng, and Jaylin Williams.

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (knee) was reportedly looking like he was recovering "ahead of schedule," but head coach Jason Kidd states that it was "bad reporting." Kidd also said that Irving is recovering "quite well," and it seems he is on schedule, but both sides are not applying any kind of timetable on his return yet. The 33-year-old appeared in 50 games last season before his ACL tear derailed his season, and he finished with a stat line of 24.7 points, 4.6 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. The Mavericks look quite different from before he got hurt to when he'll return, though. While he's on the mend, D'Angelo Russell, Jaden Hardy, Dante Exum, Brandon Williams, Max Christie, and Klay Thompson will all be sharing minutes in the backcourt.

Orlando Magic center Moritz Wagner (knee) was in the midst of his best season last year before suffering an ACL tear in late December. He was in the early running for Sixth Man of the Year and was putting up career highs in points (12.9) and rebounds (4.9) per game. During media day on Monday, the Magic's president of basketball operations, Jeff Weltman, said that Wagner was "further away" from Jalen Suggs (knee) returning to the court. They're targeting opening night for Suggs, but Wagner is "on a different timeline," according to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel. This likely means more minutes for Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze in the meantime, with the possibility of some small-ball lineups with Paolo Banchero.

Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (knee) last played on January 25 of last season and underwent knee surgery in early March to address a torn ligament in his left knee. Last week, he told the Orlando Sentinel that he was "feeling good" ahead of training camp, and now the team is looking towards opening day as a potential return date. The Sentinel's Jason Beede reports that the Magic's Jeff Weltman said, "There's still a long way to go before we get there." So, it looks like there are still some question marks as the team kicks off training camp, and Suggs' health will be something to monitor as the regular season gets closer. The Magic made a big move to bring in Desmond Bane, so when Suggs returns, the rotation will look quite different with him and Bane in the backcourt, along with Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero in the frontcourt.

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (foot) underwent a foot/ankle surgery recently that addressed an impingement he first noticed in July. After treatment and injections weren't making the pain go away, surgery was deemed necessary so that he could jump and move without pain. During media day, Herro gave an update and said that he will likely miss 8-to-12 weeks, but he told head coach Erik Spoelstra that he would be back in six weeks. If he misses the maximum amount of time in that timetable, that would mean he returns around the end of December. In the meantime, the Heat will likely roll out some different lineup combinations with Norman Powell, Terry Rozier, Davion Mitchell, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Andrew Wiggins.

Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller only appeared in 27 games before his second season was cut short due to a torn ligament in his right wrist. Around July, Miller said he was around "90-95%" healed, which put him on track for training camp. At media day on Monday, General Manager Jeff Peterson stated that Miller was healthy and ready to participate in training camp. The former second-overall pick looked primed to make a leap in his second year after averaging 21.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, so he'll look to build off of that while the rest of the team tries to get healthy as well.