NBA Transaction Roundup and Fantasy Basketball Fallout: Beal, Brooks and More

The NBA transactions have really slowed over the past couple weeks, but there's been enough notable moves to do an article here today.

We have a few signings and trades to discuss, so let's get right to it!

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Cavs, Hornets Complete Swap

The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Tre Mann from the Charlotte Hornets, getting Dennis Schroder in return.

Mann is 25 years old and has already played five years in the league. He will be joining his third team already. Mann has averaged 8.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.1 blocks over 19.3 minutes over his career.

Schroder is 32 years old and has been in the NBA for 13 years. He will be joining his 12th team. He's averaged 13.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.1 blocks over 27.1 minutes a game in his career.

Mann looks destined for a big role in Cleveland, but when James Harden re-signs, he'll be just a backup option. Donovan Mitchell is the other guard, so unless there's injuries ahead of him, Mann likely isn't going to be a big fantasy asset in Cleveland. He will be a deep-league asset to open the season, and we'll see if he can ever be productive enough to be more than that.

Schroder has a chance at a decent role in Charlotte, but again, he's just a bench option unless injuries hit. Coby White is the point guard, while Kon Knueppel is the shooting guard. Schroder will battle Christian Anderson, Grayson Allen and others for backup minutes.

He's another deep-league fantasy option only, but if he plays enough and produces in his time on the court, could sneak into some standard leagues here and there.

Beal Signs with Clippers

Bradley Beal is returning to Los Angeles on a two-year deal worth $13.2 million. There's a player option in the second year of the deal.

Beal is 33 years old now and will be heading into his 15th NBA season in 2026-27. He only played in six games last year, and has a long injury history.

He should be coming off the bench for LA this coming year, but could play enough to have some fantasy value. Darius Garland and Keaton Wagler are the projected guard starters, with Kris Dunn, Bennedict Mathurin and others among the other depth options.

Beal has mostly been a scorer over his career, but if he can add in some rebounds and assists and play around 20 minutes a game, he could have some fantasy value. I like him best in deeper leagues at this point, but we'll see if his outlook changes at all before next season starts.

Marshall Re-Ups with Mavs

Naji Marshall is staying in Dallas for the time being after signing a three-year extension worth $52.2 million. It's a fully guaranteed deal that keeps him there through 2029-30.

Marshall is 28 years old and has been in the NBA for six years. He's coming off a career year, when he averaged 15.2 points, 4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.2 blocks over 29.5 minutes a game.

I don't love his outlook going forward though, as Kyrie Irving is back, and the Mavericks added some talent over the offseason. Irving, Max Christie and Cooper Flagg are the 1-3 projected starters, with P.J. Washington and Dereck Lively II as the other starters. Throw in Klay Thompson, Zaccharie Risacher, rookie Morez Johnson Jr., Daniel Gafford, Santi Aldama and others and the overall team is better, which could mean less production for Marshall starting this coming year.

We'll have to see his ADP before letting you know if he's going too early or late in fantasy drafts. I think he'll be a better deep-league fantasy asset, but injuries, or changes to the roster around him, could elevate him to a widely-owned fantasy asset again.

Brooks Re-Signs with Suns; Highsmith Back Too

Dillon Brooks also signed a three-year extension, but with the Suns. His extension is worth $73 million. He is now in Phoenix through 2029-30 on a guaranteed deal.

Haywood Highsmith was brought back to Phoenix on a one-year deal.

Brooks is coming off a career year in his first year with the Suns. He averaged 20.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1 steal and 0.2 blocks over 30.4 minutes a game. 

He's projected to start at small forward for Phoenix in 2026-27. I like his fantasy outlook and think he'll be a pretty good fantasy asset if he can stay on the court - he only played in 56 games this past year.

Brooks should be a very good deep-league asset, and also worth standard league utilization in that projected role, and based on what he did a season ago.

Highsmith only got in seven games last season for Phoenix. He just looks like a depth forward option, so he'll be behind Brooks, Miles Bridges and others.

I only see Highsmith as a deep-league fantasy asset, and only multiple injuries could change him into a standard league threat. 

Payton Back with Warriors

Gary Payton II re-signed with the Warriors, signing for $3.9 million for the 2026-27 season.

Payton is a 33-year-old who can play the 1-3 positions. He averaged 7.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.3 blocks over 15.6 minutes across his 73 games (one start) he made last season.

He too is a depth option for Golden State. He could play enough to have a little deep-league fantasy value, but only injuries could thrust him into a larger role, and into potentially a standard league fantasy asset.

Sochan Joins Portland

Jeremy Sochan signed a one-year deal with the Trail Blazers.

Sochan is now 23 years old, but he's already headed toward playing for his third team across his first five years in the league. 

He played 44 games last season, only averaging 10.7 minutes a contest. Sochan averages 9.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.4 blocks over 24.1 minutes for his career.

He'll be a depth forward option for Portland. Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija are the projected forward starters, with Sidy Cissoko, Shaedon Sharpe and others among the other depth options.

Again, I only see Sochan being a deep-league fantasy asset, and probably not owned or started in too many of those. Injuries could change things, so we'll see if Sochan can surprise at all in 2026-27.

Walker Signs with Nuggets

Lonnie Walker IV signed a one-year deal worth $3.3 million to sign with Denver. He was last in the NBA in 2024-25, and played last year in the EuroLeague.

He has seven years of NBA experience, playing in 342 games and averaging 20.5 minutes a contest. Walker has averaged 10 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.3 blocks in his time in the NBA so far.

Walker gives the Nuggets another wing option. The Nuggets have Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson as the projected 2 and 3 starters, and Julian Strawther, Spencer Jones, Peyton Watson are some other options.

So again, we have another depth option who is a better deep-league fantasy asset for the coming year. Injuries could change Walker's fortunes, but he's likely to top out as a deep-league asset.

Watford Lands in New Orleans

Trendon Watford signed a one-year deal worth $2.9 million with the Pelicans.

Watford is 25 years old and has five years of NBA experience under his belt. He will be on his fourth team when he plays his first game with New Orleans.

He's averaged 7.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.3 blocks over 17.3 minutes in his NBA career so far.

You guessed it: he'll be a depth option for the Pelicans. The forward will be pretty buried on the depth chart, so we'll see if he can carve out a big enough role in time.

Saddiq Bey and Zion Williamson are the projected 3 and 4 starters for the Pelicans. Herbert Jones, Derik Queen, Micah Peavy, Karlo Matkovic and Jordan Hawkins are among the players who Watford will be battling for playing time with.

He's a deep-league fantasy asset only, but he could rise if he's playing a consistent role, and producing enough each night. Again though, expect him to top out as a deep-league fantasy asset.