Kawhi Leonard case with the Los Angeles Clippers shines a light on cap circumvention and the shadow deals that could distort rosters under a salary cap. The NBA’s response will shape how fantasy managers value players and how teams juggle guarantees, taxes, and incentives in a soft-cap era.

Across leagues, owners who want to win may flirt with off-book structures; the logic is simple: higher payrolls can tilt championships. If Silver sets a precedent, expect more scrutiny, creative contracts, and sharper risk assessment for fantasy and betting strategies in both NBA and NHL markets.

Jack Eichel is entering the final year of his eight-year, $80 million contract with Vegas, with an extension expected to be settled soon. His career-best 94-point season keeps him as a fantasy anchor, and stabilization on a new deal should preserve high-end production regardless of timing.

Rasmus Andersson’s Calgary future is murky amid trade chatter and long-term fit questions, while Calgary’s pipeline of Parekh, Brzustewicz, and Mews adds complexity to his valuation. Toronto’s Nick Robertson also surfaces in rumors, underscoring how extensions and deadline moves are reshaping fantasy value league-wide.