Dallas is poised to extend P.J. Washington with a four-year, just-under-$90 million pact, per Marc Stein, as Cooper Flagg arrives as the No.1 pick. Washington’s expiring deal sits around $14.15 million, a pivot point for Dallas’ frontcourt plan as Flagg joins the rotation.

Washington has been a dependable 13.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG contributor when healthy. If inked, Dallas would control him through age 30, anchoring a growing frontline with Lively II and Flagg and keeping fantasy floor solid while upside depends on minutes and health.

Flagg’s presence could shift Washington’s ceiling, but the extension signals patience and a potent core in a crowded big-man league.

Kobe Bryant’s pre-draft era is the focal point as Warner Bros. eyes a film called With the 8th Pick, per The Hollywood Reporter. The project centers on the 1996 draft where New Jersey Nets weighed Bryant with the eighth pick, a pivot that could have rewritten an NBA dynasty. Bryant ultimately went 13th to Charlotte and was traded to the Lakers, where he built a legendary Five-Championship run. The picture is likened to Moneyball, The Social Network, and Air, with producers Tim and Trevor White and Gotham Chopra steering the project.

The film sharpens the high-stakes draft decision-making that shapes teams and futures, reframing the pre-draft process as a turning point in basketball history. It also underscores how one decision—Bryant’s destination—could have altered franchises and fantasy trajectories alike, offering a fresh lens for fans and bettors tracking draft-value shifts.

Fantasy minds should watch for the ripple effects on early-draft value and risk assessment in mocked scenarios, as this story highlights how front offices weigh raw talent, fit, and leverage before a signature pick is sealed.

LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges could lift Charlotte's fantasy ceiling as the Hornets look to rebound; Ball's playmaking and Bridges' scoring should move rotation and waivers. Cavs, Knicks and Magic shifts add East upside.

Boucher signs with Boston, adding rim protection and frontcourt versatility that could boost fantasy in the Celtics' depth chart. Derrick Rose's jersey retirement with Chicago stirs nostalgia and hints at guard-depth moves that may ripple into late-season value.

Stephen Curry is gearing up for his 17th NBA season as Golden State maps the 2025-26 schedule, weighing travel flow, family-friendly stops, and pacing. He highlights New York, Charlotte, and Toronto as cities that demand planning for long road stretches while keeping flexibility for rest. Golden State eyes another championship, but depth behind Curry and Kuminga’s unresolved contract status could shape the year’s trajectory.

The schedule and West competition loom large, with Curry carrying the offense while the team waits on Kuminga’s contract to unlock roster moves. How well the Warriors supplement Curry’s brilliance will determine their title odds and the effectiveness of a revamped depth chart in a demanding season.