Philadelphia nabbed V.J. Edgecombe with the No. 3 pick, betting on a 6-5 two-way wing who can contribute early as McCain heals. Edgecombe enters a veteran-heavy mix led by Embiid, George, Lowry, Gordon and Oubre, with Drummond praising his confidence.

His NBA learning curve will hinge on consistent defense, pace, and finishing in transition. If he earns minutes and can space the floor, Edgecombe could become a flexible plug-and-play piece in a playoff-caliber core.

League-wide notes touch on Randle’s Timberwolves trade talk, Lillard’s return timeline, Irving and Thompson’s tribute, and Durant’s Rockets moment, framing a season where edge-of-rotation bets carry real upside for fantasy managers.

Giannis Antetokounmpo anchors fantasy forward rankings for 2025-26, with Milwaukee’s post-overhaul outlook shaping his ceiling and free-throw risk intact. Anthony Davis and Kevin Durant headline the next tier, but durability and new-team contexts temper their floors. A rising wave—led by Jalen Williams, Jalen Johnson and Cooper Flagg—adds high-end upside, while Zion Williamson’s health and Franz Wagner’s shooting loom large for category formats. The top-50 blends proven stars with a robust rookie-class, emphasizing workload, efficiency and health in a crowded landscape.

A year after the Knicks acquired Karl-Anthony Towns in a blockbuster swap with Minnesota, fantasy managers should recalibrate. Towns recounted the trade as a tough breakup after nine seasons in Minnesota, a move that sparked two teams to fresh playoff runs. Minnesota rode its core into a deep 2023-24 postseason and New York rode that momentum to the Conference Finals in 2024-25. With Towns now in Knicks colors and a coaching shift on the horizon, Towns and Edwards loom as big fantasy needs as the season nears.

Expect Towns to anchor the Knicks offensively while Edwards remains the engine for Minnesota. The roster shakeup puts Towns’ usage in focus and raises questions about fit with the Knicks guard corps. For fantasy players, tracking offensive efficiency, pace, and the new playbook approach will be key as both teams chase higher ceilings this season.