Harper steps into a bigger role as Fox’s hamstring lingers, and ESPN hints he may be cleared for the opener while Fox may miss time. If Fox sits, Harper becomes the de facto lead guard with Castle, while Wembanyama spaces the floor and drives the Spurs’ pace. San Antonio’s guard depth will be tested early, with McLaughlin and Johnson ready to spell the youth movement as the team pursues seeding in a tough Western race.

Houston’s double-big burst with Alperen Şengün and Steven Adams redefines the Rockets’ ceiling, pairing elite rebounding with bruising interior defense. The league is chasing size, from Jokic-Valančiūnas in Denver to Orlando’s Carter Jr./Wagner/Banchero front line, while Udoka nods to Spurs and Celtics precedents. Durant lauds the versatility, yet spacing remains a concern as 3-point gravity and injuries shape early-season fantasy math.

Cooper Flagg headlines the 2025-26 Topps Basketball rookie class as the Mavericks prepare for the season, named the cover athlete in the NBA’s first exclusive trading-card deal since 2009-10. Boxes start at $109.99 and feature autographs with Flagg, Victor Wembanyama, and other rookies, signaling fresh fantasy hype around the class.

Early camp buzz centers on Flagg’s ceiling and a potential role in DAL’s rotation, while veteran-storylines around Anthony Davis and Daniel Gafford shape the health and depth picture for Dallas. The Topps rollout heightens player-tracking for fantasy managers who chase rookie breakout candidates and post-draft card-market momentum.

Victor Wembanyama reportedly grew to 7-4, a development that reshapes the Spurs’ defensive calculus and fans’ expectations as they pursue a playoff window in a strong Western Conference. The league’s height parade continues with Dereck Lively II nudging to 7-2/7-3, while a cadre of 7-footers—Bol Bol, Kristaps Porziņģis, and more—form a rare club atop the NBA height chart. Wembanyama remains the DPOY frontrunner as he returns from a shoulder clot and targets a bigger impact on both ends.