Phoenix adds Dillon Brooks to anchor the Suns' defense and inject an edge they’ve missed since Jae Crowder’s exit. Brooks isn’t asked to explode for 20 a night; his value comes from toughness, on-ball insistence, and accountability that can lift the whole unit. If he stays on the floor for 72+ games and hits 37–40% from three, Phoenix could rely on him as the third scoring option behind Booker and a second scorer, with room to climb if the offense scales up.

His shot versatility matters, but the true barometer is energy and discipline—the ability to guard multiple positions, set the defensive tone, and keep teammates in line when things slip. Durant and Booker will carry the heavy load, while Brooks channels hostility into team identity. The balance between more offense and sustained defense will decide whether he becomes a stabilizing backbone or a flashpoint, and how high his fantasy value can realistically climb.

Rasheer Fleming is ready to stake his claim in Phoenix by maximizing defensive impact first, then letting the offense come. The 6-foot-8 wing/forward emphasizes slowing the game to his pace and using length to disrupt on-ball tasks, a nod to an NBA-ready defensive toolkit. Open runs against Devin Booker sharpen the test, while summer-league reps in Las Vegas showed a composure that fits a guard-turned-frontcourt contributor. Coaching plans under Jordan Ott stress possessions gained through steals, boards, and transition opportunities, aligning with Fleming’s multi-level scoring potential once comfort on defense is established.

Fleming’s path hinges on defensive work and high-IQ playmaking: the Suns see him as a defender who can guard multiple positions, then grow offensively as confidence and reps accumulate. His summer league numbers—near 50% shooting, strong rebounding and a few steals—mirror a player who can earn early minutes by doing the dirty work. Teammate ties, including fellow rookie Khaman Maluach, hint at a young, Klutch-backed group that values versatility, pace control, and a defense-first identity as the season opens against a challenging schedule.

Beyond on-court fit, Fleming’s idolization of LeBron and Durant signals aspirational ceiling and durability benchmarks. The piece nods to Fleming guarding Booker in open runs, a microcosm of the battle he expects in real NBA minutes. With Ott’s emphasis on generating possessions and his own pace discipline, Fleming could carve a niche as a defensive table-setter early, then expand offensively as he matures within the Suns’ system.

Phoenix Suns offload their big-three era in a dramatic 2025 makeover: Kevin Durant heads to Houston, Bradley Beal exits via buyout, and Devin Booker is signed to a max extension as the lone star remaining. In return, Phoenix adds Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and Mark Williams, plus three 2025 draft picks—Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koby Brea—locking in a new core around Booker. Green is cast as the primary secondary option, but questions linger about fit, defense, and playmaking alongside Booker. The swap signals a win-now pivot with a heavy youth infusion, aimed at restoring contention after a playoff drought.

The fantasy implications run deep: Booker remains the engine, while Green carries high-usage upside but efficiency and defensive concerns cloud ceiling. Beal’s departure reshapes rotation and minutes, and Williams provides a rookies-in-waiting floor with long-term upside. The incoming trio of teens signals upside-first bets in dynasty formats, while seasoned wings Brooks and Williams offer defensive traction and steady counting stats. In short, Phoenix is recalibrating for a return to relevance, leaning on Booker as the anchor with a volatile but exciting surrounding cast that could surprise if the pieces click.

The 2025-26 NBA schedule unfolds with a first-week blockbuster: Durant returns to Oklahoma City on opening night as Houston visits the Thunder, a banner-raising backdrop fueling a marquee start for both teams. The slate keeps delivering high-stakes drama—from a Dallas-Mavericks-Spurs mini-renaissance featuring Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, and Victor Wembanyama to a Christmas showdown in New York between the Knicks and Cavaliers that belts with star power. Throughout, the league leans into rosters rebuilt around youth movement and veteran splash, promising fantasy-friendly opportunities as players chase fresh glory.

Key early-season tests shape the calendar: OKC’s title-or-bust vibe clashes with Durant’s Rockets; Flagg and Wembanyama enter a rivalry-forwarded clash in Dallas; a Pacers rebuild meets OKC in Indy with Tyrese Haliburton sidelined; Nets face a Cavaliers squad that owned the regular season last year; Durant’s reunions with former teams dot the schedule, adding narrative fuel to fantasy workloads. The Christmas card—Cavaliers at Knicks—feels like a title preview, as Brunson, Towns, Mitchell, and Mobley showcase top-tier offensive firepower. By February, the OKC-Jokic duel and the SGA-MVP-era vibes push the season toward early benchmarks and broken-roster bets.

NBA 2K26 is teasing Specialist Ratings ahead of the full top-100 rollout (Aug 16–21), spotlighting a crop of elite shooters. Stephen Curry sits atop the 3-point list with a near-perfect 99, while Kevin Durant sits at 91 and Klay Thompson 89, followed by Desmond Bane, Isaiah Joe, Zach LaVine, Grayson Allen, Luke Kennard, Sam Hauser and Anthony Edwards, underscoring a wide spectrum of floor-spread threats. Mid-range ratings are even tighter, with Jokic and Kyrie Irving tied at 98, and Durant, Devin Booker, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Andrew Nembhard and Curry at 97. The ratings preview coincides with NBA 2K26’s Sept. 5, 2025 release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, plus seven‑day early access for preorder Superstar or Leave No Doubt editions, signaling a careful calibration of fantasy projection and in-game value.

As the full top-100 leaks approach, fantasy managers should track how these specialist ratings translate to in-game usage, efficiency and shot selection. Curry’s 99 and Jokic/Irving’s high mid-range marks hint at sustained, multi-category upside, while the surrounding 3PT tier suggests a clearer hierarchy for building rosters around elite shooters. The presence of multiple teams across the top-10 lists reinforces the need to tailor drafts to shooter volume, team context and the evolving MyTeam meta that 2K26 will influence.

With early access on the horizon and a strong emphasis on shooting profiles, the early data primes fantasy strategies for September. Expect adjustments in 3PT-heavy lineups, usage shifts among scorers, and new value plays as 2K26’s full ratings arrive and players’ archetypes begin to crystallize for fantasy leagues and daily fantasy allocations.