Sacramento Kings at Memphis Grizzlies

Watkins believes De'Andre Hunter will start at small forward next to Murray ahead of Alex Karaban. Murray underwent an arthroscopic procedure to remove loose bodies in his left ankle back in May, though he's expected to be ready in time for training camp.

LaVine underwent season-ending surgery on his right hand before the 2025-26 All-Star break. He averaged 19.2 points in 39 regular-season games and was a two-time All-Star before being traded to the Kings in February of 2025. The Kings are listening to trade offers for LaVine and Domantas Sabonis, but their hefty contracts are making things difficult. If LaVine stays in Sacramento, he'll likely take a back seat, as the Kings try to develop 2026 No. 7 overall pick Darius Acuff.

Fantasy managers weren't quite able to get a clear idea about Hunter's role after his move to Sacramento, as the forward made just two appearances for the Kings before undergoing season-ending eye surgery. While Acuff is expected to play a big role and see plenty of ball-handling duties right away, Hunter could still move up the depth chart and benefit from a usage perspective if DeMar DeRozan (hamstring) winds up going elsewhere in 2026-27.

The young center has shown encouraging development during his first two seasons and still projects to receive significant frontcourt minutes. However, Memphis now possesses additional depth in the frontcourt, creating some uncertainty regarding lineup combinations. Injuries have limited Edey to 66 regular-season appearances through two years, so his health is a far bigger concern.

Wells' defensive ability and complementary skill set could help him carve out a role alongside the Grizzlies' established core. However, increased competition for minutes may make consistent opportunities more difficult to secure. In addition to Boozer, the Grizzlies also added forward Karim Lopez in the first round.

Pippen will have to gain clearance ahead of training camp after undergoing a toe procedure in March, but he certainly appears to be a winner of the team's offseason moves. Ty Jerome (ankle) poses a significant risk to Pippen's role, however, and the two guards figure to engage in a battle for the top role at the point this fall. Pippen is looking to bounce back following an injury-ruined 2025-25 campaign, during which he averaged 11.4 points, 4.7 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.9 steals in 21.2 minutes per game across 10 regular-season appearances (six starts).

Undisclosed

Clayton is still dealing with a sprained right knee and will end up missing the entirety of Summer League play. The 23-year-old guard will now turn his attention toward thre 2026-27 campaign, and he's expected to provide backcourt depth during his second season in the Association.