NBA Offseason Review: Biggest Moves and Fantasy Ramifications for 2025-26

Discover the biggest moves of the NBA offseason and their consequences for 2025-26 fantasy basketball. Adam King highlights player trades and fantasy value shifts for the new season.

August 14, 2025

NBA Offseason Review: Biggest Moves and Fantasy Ramifications for 2025-26

By:

Adam King

August 14, 2025

NBA Offseason

The 2024-25 season came and went, bringing with it a new champion, plenty of new superstars and what promised to be an intriguing trade deadline. We are almost two months removed from the end of the postseason and for many, our focus has already shifted to the 2025-26 season. Let's take a look at some of the biggest player moves heading into the new campaign, as well as the possible fantasy ramifications.

Hawks poised for postseason push

Atlanta looks set to make the most of what could be an even weaker Eastern Conference, making a number of key acquisitions. The biggest name to arrive is Kristaps Porzingis, moving from Boston after what was a somewhat disappointing 2024-25 season. Although his per-game numbers put him inside the top-25 for the season, nagging injuries limited him to just 42 games. He closed the season averaging 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.5 blocks and 2.5 three-pointers, production that Atlanta would love to see replicated.

Luke Kennard and Nickeil Alexander-Walker were both added to the roster, providing the Hawks with some much-needed depth. The final piece of the puzzle is one that was already there, that being Jalen Johnson, who was also limited during the most recent campaign as a result of multiple shoulder injuries. Dyson Daniels, the reigning Most Improved Player, will look to build on his breakout season, while Trae Young finally has a team around him worthy of national attention.

With an influx of talent, fantasy value is almost certainly

Hawks poised for postseason push

With an influx of talent, fantasy value is almost certainly going to change. Both Johnson and Young are worth second-round targets, while Porzingis isn't far behind, assuming you are confident he will stay on the court. Daniels poses a conundrum for managers, with his 2024-25 rank of 14 masking the fact that his overall game remains somewhat limited. Grabbing him in the fourth round makes sense, although it is likely someone will reach into the third round to secure his services, given his proven defensive upside.

The odd man out here is Onyeka Okongwu, who is also coming off a breakout season, during which he finally supplanted Clint Capela as the starting center. It is unclear whether the Hawks will run Okongwu as the backup center behind Porzingis or have the two on the court at the same time. No matter the final decision, there is a chance we see Okongwu limited when it comes to playing time. He finished as the 61st-ranked player last season, logging 27.9 minutes per game. Managers should view that as his ceiling, making him a decent mid-round fantasy target.

Should managers target the Eastern Conference?

Long-term injuries to multiple players have resulted in a temporary change in direction for multiple franchises. Boston and Indiana are two such teams, both losing players who are viewed as superstars, those being Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton. These injuries will likely see both teams slide in the standings, allowing other players to stand up, both in fantasy and reality.

For Boston, while Jaylen Brown and Derrick White are the obvious beneficiaries, we could see a couple of other players push into the fantasy discussion. One such player is Luka Garza, who was acquired from the Timberwolves. Despite having a somewhat fantasy-friendly game, Garza has yet to play a sizeable role during his career. With Porzingis gone, the starting center spot is up for grabs. Garza will likely be competing with Neemias Queta and Xavier Tillman, both of whom are undersized and, if we're being honest, quite limited when it comes to upside. There is no reason to reach for Garza, but he makes for an interesting final-round pick, especially if we get word that he could be starting come opening night.

Meanwhile, Indiana has made its intentions clear, parting ways with Myles Turner, while adding very little in terms of center depth. At this stage, it appears as though the position could be wide open, with Isaiah Jackson, Tony Bradley and Jay Huff all in the running. Of the three players, Jackson has arguably the most fantasy upside, although Huff was able to flash some upside of his own during short stints during his time in Memphis. Much like the situation in Boston, this is not a case of certainty, meaning managers shouldn't spend anything more than a final-round pick.

Kevin Durant finds a new home in Houston

Another team that has made its intentions clear is the Rockets, adding to what was already a highly motivated roster. Durant will slide in alongside Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith and Alperen Sengun, giving Houston one of, if not the best starting five in the NBA. Given the sample size we have when it comes to Durant's fantasy value, there is no reason to think too much will change despite the talent around him.

Shifting our focus to the remaining players, there is going to have to be some give and take. VanVleet is coming off a subpar season, ending as the 74th-ranked player, averaging 14.1 points, 5.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.7 three-pointers. After being a relatively safe third or fourth-round target in the past, managers are likely going to be able to snag VanVleet closer to pick 80, which feels safe enough.

Despite a slow start to his sophomore season, Thompson was one of the biggest surprises last year, proving to be an elite defensive presence while scoring efficiently and handling the ball at times. The arrival of Durant is almost certainly going to put a cap on what Thompson can do offensively, meaning his value will once again be reliant on other categories. With that said, he will likely be a popular target in the third round of a lot of drafts, a selection that makes sense, especially for those punting points.

Finally, we have Sengun, who has transformed himself into one of the best point-centers in the NBA. Although he finished outside the top 80 in per-game value, managers are going to have to go a lot higher than that to secure his services again this season. With averages of 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.1 steals, Sengun is perfect for anyone that is willing to overlook free-throw percentages. There is a chance his assist numbers plateau this season, given Durant will replace Jalen Green, who was definitely not renowned for his passing game. With that said, Sengun makes for a safe target inside the top 40, with his all-around skills making him a versatile fantasy asset.