Nikola Jokic anchors day one for Serbia, pouring in 18 points with crisp decision-making and a +39 impact, signaling Serbia’s depth and a potential repeat run. Franz Wagner steps into the Germany spotlight, dropping 22 and looking like the franchise centerpiece as Schroder and Mo Wagner provide a ready-made supporting cast. Alperen Sengun shows his EuroBasket floor vision for Turkey, mixing scoring with playmaking in a way that could translate to a bigger role when he returns to the NBA. Luka Doncic and Giannis factor as high-end X-factors, with the EuroBasket field underscoring how depth and cohesion can challenge even the sport’s best stars.

Three high-stakes teams loom large as the post-cutoff phase kicks in: the Kings, the Raptors and the Bulls. Malik Monk’s name heads a flurry of whispers around Sacramento, with rumors tying him to a Russell Westbrook bid and a sign-and-trade that could reshape the rotation and free cap space for bigger moves. The discussion probes whether giving Monk up makes sense if it unlocks a veteran ballhandler or a longer-term fit, all while weighing Dennis Schroder as a potential backcourt upgrade and the mystery surrounding Jonathan Kuminga as a trade asset.

In Toronto, RJ Barrett’s name surfaces as a potential target or trade chip, depending on how the Raptors orchestrate their core around Scotty Barnes, Jakob Poeltl, Grady Dick, and Emanuel Quickley. The panel weighs Barrett’s fit against the long-term plan, the dollar figures at stake, and the chance Toronto could parallel the Nuggets’ approach with a move that upgrades the roster without crippling its cap ladder. Grady Dick’s arrival and Purle/Quickley depth add intrigue to the roster math.

Meanwhile Chicago’s path is framed by the LaVine–DeRozan cap reality and the need to balance value with flexibility. The group reviews whether the Bulls should pursue paths that preserve core talent while extracting surplus value to add shooting and wing defense, especially as the league’s apron-era finances tighten and every dollar matters for fantasy lineups.

Yahoo’s top-10 for 9-cat fantasy basketball is out, led by Nikola Jokic at No. 1. Giannis Antetokounmpo sat at No. 2, with Victor Wembanyama at No. 3 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at No. 4. Luka Dončić sits at No. 5, followed by Anthony Edwards, Cade Cunningham, Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Domantas Sabonis completing the top 10. The host argues Jokic’s multi-category supremacy makes him a safe, productivity-saturated anchor, while projecting upside and risk across the board for the rest. Giannis’ placement sparks debate due to severe free-throw penalties in nine-category formats, making him a mid-first-round pick in some builds. Wembanyama’s ceiling is enormous, but he’s not a foolproof path in every format, especially if you’re not punting certain categories. The discussion then pivots to building around the big names with eye-catching durability, with attention paid to how health, games played, and category emphasis shape value for Edwards, Cunningham, Davis, Towns, and Sabonis. The host also dives into scoring profiles, field-goal efficiency, and the tricky balance between punting and balancing categories in both nine-cat and roto setups, offering practical draft-landing zones and pairing strategies for a season that demands both steady floor and ceiling bets.