Quinton Grimes’ restricted free-agent saga ends with a one-year, $8.7 million qualifying offer and a no-trade clause, keeping him in Philadelphia for now but leaving him an unrestricted free agent next summer. The Sixers’ cap discipline and luxury-tax position color every move, and the group debates whether Philly should have locked him in earlier or pursued a more tradable path.

The episode then sketches two big lineup puzzles: a hypothetical Warriors big-to-small shift around Curry and a bold Rockets jumbo unit featuring Amen Thompson, Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Sengun and Steven Adams. A Jazz–Wizards tank comparison underscores who’s positioned to maximize youth and assets this season and who might still bottom out to chase future drafts.

Detroit two way wings Assar Thompson and Amen Thompson energize a Pistons rebuild with explosive defense and versatility, while Jaylen Duren anchors a potentially dynamic front court if health cooperates and minutes rise. Toronto emphasizes elite defense and versatile movement, with Scotty Barnes, Jakob Poeltl and Darko Rajakovic shaping an adaptable offense that can punch up tempo when needed.

In the East, Anthony Edwards grows as a mid post scorer and initiator for Minnesota, with Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels adding veteran gravity and length. The West centers Giannis and LeBron as anchors with Kawhi providing primary access to top level defense and scoring breadth, while Luka Doncic and James Harden push championship timelines whenever health aligns. Overall, lineup balance, health, and continuity set the fantasy stage for breakout candidates and high upside plays.

Contenders mix offense and defense in ways that matter for fantasy reps, from Grady Dick and Grady Dicks production paths in Toronto to Miles Turner laddering as a high end big, to LaMelo Ball leveraging improved strength for rim pressure in Charlotte. The conversations around Dinwiddie on a blossoming Hornets squad and Edwards led Wolves give bettors and fantasy players clear paths for upside with the right timing and lineup synergy.

Kevin Porter Jr. surges up the ADP board as late-round value with a potential Bucks backcourt role, while Zion Williamson climbs into early middle rounds; Santi Aldama and Donovan Klingan see boosts from frontcourt injuries and big-man workloads. Jaylen Green’s jump sparks debate about punt-build strategies; Amen Thompson, Josh Giddy, and Ausar/Assar Thompson carry high upside alongside Mark Williams and Payton Pritchard. Miles Turner and KD push into solid mid-round spots as Desmond Bane and Damian Lillard influence narratives around Milwaukee and Memphis.

Plus, the episode digs into ADP dynamics driven by Yahoo’s default scoring and the shift toward points leagues, with the Bucks’ win-total chatter and a two-part show format hinting at evolving drafting strategies for 9-cat and 8-cat leagues alike. Fantasy players are urged to weigh upside against injury risk and team context as the season nears.

Old Man Squad’s preseason session leans into an efficiency-first fantasy blueprint, weighing Anthony Davis as a high-upside first-round bet despite injury risk and pairing him with Evan Mobley for a dominant, efficient backbone. Desmond Bane emerges as a safe third-round floor, while OG Anunoby and Deni Avdija offer upside at reasonable costs. The duo also roams through Thompson twins Amen and Ausar, plus promising late-round flyers such as Jalen Suggs, Shane Sharp, Scoot Henderson, D’Angelo Russell, Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown, and Donovan Clingan to craft versatile rosters.

The conversation centers on punting a few categories strategically, optimizing field-goal and free-throw efficiency, and leveraging defense-heavy tracks to win turnovers and blocks. Mock drafts fuel their planning, but the core takeaway is to build around efficient contributors who can shoulder multi-category loads, while keeping explosive upside in reserve for late-round swing bets.