Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard should be worth about $22 million per year on his next contract, Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe said on the Big 3 NBA podcast. Washburn called Pritchard one of the league's biggest bargains, and the 2024-25 Sixth Man of the Year has a three-year extension window worth roughly $67 million opening in October. Pritchard is making $7.8 million this season and $8.3 million in 2027-28, so a raise is coming if Boston wants to lock him in early. He earned it with career highs of 17.0 points, 5.2 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 32.4 minutes last season. The fantasy concern is usage. Jayson Tatum is back, and Paul George arrived in the Jaylen Brown trade, so Pritchard may not match last year's scoring volume. The threes and assists should still travel, but 17.0 points reads more like a ceiling than a baseline.

Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Ziaire Williams believes he has a real chance to win the team's open starting spot, according to Ron Gutterman of LakersNation.com, who cited Williams' comments to Ryan Ward of Lakers On SI. Asked whether Jonathan Kuminga's move to Minnesota created a real opportunity in Los Angeles, Williams said, "Yeah, I do," though he added that the failed pursuit of Kuminga did not change his mindset. Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler are expected to start when healthy, while Quentin Grimes appears likely to claim another spot, leaving Williams in a battle with Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt, Matisse Thybulle, and Sandro Mamukelashvili. Williams averaged 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 22.9 minutes with Brooklyn last season, so the defensive role and steals upside are the clear fantasy hooks. He still needs JJ Redick to choose him before the watch-list case turns into draft-day value.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (knee) could see his offensive role shrink in 2026-27, according to PhillyVoice's Adam Aaronson. Embiid's usage rate has dropped from 39.6 percent in 2023-24 to 34.2 percent and 33.5 percent over the last two seasons, and Aaronson sees a real chance it falls below his career-low 32.9 percent with LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe alongside him. The former MVP may spend more possessions as a facilitator, decoy, or occasional spot-up option, and the shooting is worth watching after he hit 32.2 percent from deep over the last two seasons. Embiid still averaged 26.9 points in 38 games last season, but that number is harder to bank on in this lineup. A slimmer offseason frame could help his mobility, though availability remains the bigger fantasy concern than usage.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Labaron Philon Jr. has a tougher path to rookie-year minutes than he appeared to have on draft night, according to PhillyVoice's Adam Aaronson. The No. 22 overall pick's best current NBA skill is creating with the ball, but Tyrese Maxey, LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, VJ Edgecombe, and Joel Embiid (knee) all sit ahead of him in the touch hierarchy, while Anfernee Simons and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope give Nick Nurse veteran backcourt options. Philon's quickest route to the floor may be catch-and-shoot threes, movement shooting, and attacking closeouts. Strength is another hurdle, as the 20-year-old is listed at 177 pounds and still needs to add weight. He averaged 22.0 points and 5.0 assists at Alabama, then scored 24 points in a Summer League overtime win over Indiana, so the scoring feel is real. He is a player to monitor, not draft, unless injuries open guard minutes.