Miami Heat at Washington Wizards

While Adebayo may sacrifice some scoring volume, Antetokounmpo's ability to collapse defenses should create more efficient scoring opportunities, and the duo projects to form one of the league's premier defensive frontcourts. Adebayo nursed a back issue to end the 2025-26 season, but he should be a full go for training camp.

Antetokounmpo's absence wasn't due to restrictions from Miami, as Greece's federation indicated the decision was made as part of his preparation for the upcoming season. The 31-year-old will begin a new chapter with the Heat after being acquired from Milwaukee in a blockbuster trade this offseason.

Gardner's Summer League is over because of an ankle sprain he suffered in Friday's California Classic opener in San Francisco against the Spurs. The swingman is missing out on valuable reps as he competes for a rotation spot with the Heat, but he does have plenty of time to recuperate for training camp in the fall.

Hip

Davis was limited to only 20 regular-season appearances with Dallas last season due to health issues, but Dawkins said the 10-time All-Star is currently in a "great frame of mind." Washington also views Davis as a starting-caliber center in a revamped frontcourt featuring Alex Sarr and Deandre Ayton. Davis and the Wizards reportedly postponed contract extension discussions earlier this offseason, but Dawkins declined to specifically address those talks Thursday.

General manager Will Dawkins said Thursday that Sarr is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season, so the limited workload to begin camp appears precautionary. Sarr underwent surgery in mid-June, and his progress during the preseason will be worth monitoring, but there currently doesn't appear to be significant concern about his availability for Opening Night.

With Young limited to 15 regular-season appearances in 2025-26 due to injuries, any sign of offseason rehab progress is notable. This report points to active conditioning work after his quadriceps issue, though it does not provide a return timeline or formal clearance update ahead of training camp for Washington.

Watkins, a two-way player for the Wizards, suffered the injury during the Summer League. Although Washington has yet to offer a timetable for a return, a typical recovery time for the procedure is approximately 9-to-12 months. That leaves Watkins in serious jeopardy of missing most, if not all, of the 2026-27 season, and it remains to be seen if the team will continue keeping him around on a two-way roster spot while he's injured.