Sleepers, breakouts and busts for the 2025-26 fantasy season: Castle, Sarr, Porter Jr., Murphy III and Buzelis offer high upside as sleepers, with Castle perched outside the top 100 but ready to contribute across points, dimes, and boards. Breakouts like Miller, Flagg, Giddey, Wells, and Ware carry league-winning potential as their roles loom larger. Busts include George, Morant, Zubac, Claxton and VanVleet, where durability, minutes, and surrounding talent may cap upside.

LAKERS upgrade with Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart, giving the roster a polished two-way core as LeBron continues to influence the championship window. Luka Doncic is in peak shape, while Austin Reaves faces a pivotal free-agent summer that could reshape the Lakers’ cap and core. San Antonio is watching closely, armed with De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and Dylan Harper, signaling a serious backcourt rebuild. Reaves posted 20.2 PPG, 5.8 APG on 46% FG and 37.7% from deep last season.

Cooper Flagg headlines a deep 2025-26 rookie class, with Ace Bailey, Kon Knueppel, Dylan Harper, and Khaman Maluach poised for immediate fantasy impact. Flagg is projected to start for Dallas and contribute across points, rebounds, assists and defensive stats, while Jazz, Hornets, Spurs and Suns lean on rookies for early workload. Knueppel and Bailey offer reliable shooting and scoring floor, Harper carries exciting upside despite potential early limitations, and Maluach is a high-risk, high-reward rim protector with room to grow.

Brooklyn reshapes its guard group by adding Kobe Bufkin in a trade with Atlanta and then waiving Keon Johnson, signaling a push for more youth and depth behind Cam Thomas. Johnson’s strong defensive role and multi-year scoring upside were weighed against the crowded backcourt and looming rookie integration.

Bufkin brings another quick, versatile guard to Brooklyn, potentially easing Thomas and offering defensive length. The Nets stay under the cap as they balance minutes among five first-round rookies and a young core, with Johnson hitting free agency unless claimed off waivers.