Four third-year breakout bets populate the 2025-26 fantasy landscape: Brandon Miller, Cam Whitmore, Gradey Dick, and Scoot Henderson. Miller aims to flourish as Charlotte pairs him with LaMelo Ball and navigates competition from new teammates, hoping for bigger touches and a true 2A role. Whitmore lands in Washington, where a low-pressure environment and veteran guidance could unlock consistent minutes and shooting gravity. Dick battles back from knee issues in Toronto, dialing in conditioning and pace to reclaim a reliable role. Henderson, finally in a lead guard perch in Portland with Holiday and a reshaped roster, has a clear path to big-scoring and playmaking gains.

These arcs highlight how third-year leaps—driven by minutes, usage, and improved efficiency—can translate into serious fantasy upside, even for players on teams not traditionally viewed as elite. The message: monitor minutes, stay wary of health, and gauge how coaching and roster moves unlock each player's ceiling this season.

Sleepers, breakouts and busts for the 2025-26 fantasy season: Castle, Sarr, Porter Jr., Murphy III and Buzelis offer high upside as sleepers, with Castle perched outside the top 100 but ready to contribute across points, dimes, and boards. Breakouts like Miller, Flagg, Giddey, Wells, and Ware carry league-winning potential as their roles loom larger. Busts include George, Morant, Zubac, Claxton and VanVleet, where durability, minutes, and surrounding talent may cap upside.

Ted Leonsis floated a DC-centered consolidation plan, eyeing the Washington Nationals or D.C. United to join his Capitals and Wizards on a single platform with shared data, payroll, and HR. The Lerners have not sold the Nationals despite market chatter. Leonsis also emphasized staying local, recounting a Chelsea bid as inauthentic and underscoring a commitment to the District’s sports landscape.

Brooklyn reshapes its guard group by adding Kobe Bufkin in a trade with Atlanta and then waiving Keon Johnson, signaling a push for more youth and depth behind Cam Thomas. Johnson’s strong defensive role and multi-year scoring upside were weighed against the crowded backcourt and looming rookie integration.

Bufkin brings another quick, versatile guard to Brooklyn, potentially easing Thomas and offering defensive length. The Nets stay under the cap as they balance minutes among five first-round rookies and a young core, with Johnson hitting free agency unless claimed off waivers.