Detroit Pistons forward Isaiah Livers appears to have a chance at earning a starting spot next season. As of right now, Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Saddiq Bey, and Isaiah Stewart are expected to be four of the starters. However, the final spot could very well come down to Livers and Marvin Bagley III. This could be an interesting positional battle, but Livers might have a slight edge. He played well in the Summer League and defends well for a player at his position. Regardless, Livers should get consistent playing time whether he's a starter or not. He could be someone worth thinking about in deep leagues.

Washington Wizards forward Will Barton has the inside track to the starting gig, according to Josh Robbins of The Athletic. Barton was acquired by Washington alongside Monte Morris earlier this offseason. As of right now, Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma, and Kristaps Porzingis are penciled in as starters. Both Barton and Morris are expected to battle for starting spots next season. The biggest competition for Barton will be Deni Avdija. Honestly, Avdija might be a better fantasy option even if he does lose the positional battle. He has improved on offense and is an excellent defensive player. Barton might be a starter, but he'll be a shaky late-round option in fantasy leagues.

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving is reportedly in a good place with the organization, according to Ian Begley. The Los Angeles Lakers appear to be the top designation for Irving. Outside of that, there doesn't seem to be much movement on the trade front for the All-Star guard. There is a chance that Irving remains with the organization and plays out his final season in Brooklyn. The Nets are still attempting to move superstar forward Kevin Durant. Irving would be asked to be the top option in Brooklyn, assuming the Nets do move Durant. Fantasy managers will have to wait and see what happens over the next few months.

Washington Wizards guard Monte Morris could emerge in the starting five right away with his new team. Morris and Will Barton were traded to Washington as part of a trade with the Denver Nuggets earlier this offseason. The Wizards do have Delon Wright, but it sounds like Morris has the edge over Wright. Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. is familiar with Morris, so that could help him in his positional battle. It's also worth noting that Morris did start for the injured Jamal Murray last season. On paper, Morris does appear to have the higher long term upside.. The winner of this positional battle should be able to provide late-round value.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kendrick Nunn (knee) is expected to take the court to begin the 2022-2023 season. He missed all of last season due to a lingering knee issue. However, Nunn has accepted his player option and will remain with the Lakers for at least one more season. When healthy, Nunn averaged nearly 15 points per game and 2.1 triples during his first two seasons with the Miami Heat. There is no doubt that Nunn could be a legitimate asset to the Lakers rotation. First, Nunn must get clearance for 5-on-5 drills with contact. Although, it sounds like Nunn could be ready by the beginning of training camp.

Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam has looked absolutely spectacular, according to head coach Nick Nurse. Siakam is coming off third-round fantasy value with the Raptors last season. "His athleticism is electric, his focus, his shot is smooth and soft. He looks great," said Nurse. There is a chance that Siakam does lose some touches to Scottie Barnes. Regardless, it sounds like Siakam is looking solid, so he shouldn't slip past the third round in fantasy drafts.

Shooting guard/small forward Rayjon Tucker saw his tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks come to an end Tuesday. Tucker appeared in two games off the bench with the Bucks last season and combined for 15 points; he also got minutes in three outings with the Nuggets, albeit in a more limited fashion. The 24-year-old from Little Rock went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft and has also appeared with Utah and Philadelphia during his career, although much of his professional time has come in the G League. Tucker will head to Australia for the upcoming '22-23 season, where he will play for Melbourne United.

Free-agent guard Goran Dragic officially signed a one-year, $2.9 million contract with Chicago on Tuesday, nearly a month after reaching an agreement to join the team. The veteran has been in the league since 2008 and last suited up for the Nets in 2021-22, averaging 7.3 points, 4.8 assists, 3.2 boards, and 1.0 steals throughout 16 appearances. The Bulls have plenty of depth in the backcourt, albeit young and unproven, to fill in for Lonzo Ball (knee), who may not be ready for training camp. However, considering Dragic's experience, he may earn plenty of minutes early in 2022-23, potentially even holding things down in the starting lineup until Ball is healthy enough to return.

Detroit Pistons guard Rodney McGruder has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the team. The 31-year-old appeared in 51 games for Detroit last season, averaging 5.4 points and 2.2 boards while shooting 39.7% from deep. McGruder has a way to go before becoming relevant in any fantasy league. However, he may make an occasional start this season, so there could be some streaming potential for the taking.

Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant is expected to meet with team governor Joe Tsai in the coming days. It's unknown what will be discussed or what will come from it. However, not only could it determine Durant's future in Brooklyn, but it could have ramifications for Kyrie Irving as well. The 33-year-old is coming off an MVP-caliber season, averaging 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists. He also shot 38.3% from deep while draining 91.0% of his free throws. Without a doubt, Durant is the complete package and is capable of being a top-five fantasy producer in any format, no matter what uniform he wears in 2022-23. He does have trouble staying healthy, though, which is his only downfall as far as fantasy managers are concerned.

Free-agent forward Noah Vonleh signed a training camp deal with the Celtics. The 26-year-old has suited up for seven teams since being selected as the No. 9 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, averaging 5.1 boards and 4.9 points. Even if he makes the team, he'll likely have to scratch and claw to see the floor. However, if Robert Williams III, Al Horford, or Grant Williams goes down with an injury in 2022-23, Vonleh may earn a few minutes here and there. Still, it probably won't be enough to make a difference for fantasy managers.

San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson isn't looking to tone things down after signing a four-year, $80 million extension. "I was in the gym the next day," Johnson said, "I'm in the best shape of my life, the strongest I have been in my life." The 22-year-old has averaged 14.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists since entering the league in 2019. He will have a lot on his plate this season, primarily after the Spurs traded superstar Dejounte Murray to the Hawks. As a result, Johnson has more upside than ever and may end up in the All-Star conversation. His shooting percentages have also improved, so his stock in category formats is trending in the right direction.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke is the favorite to hold things down at the four spot until Jaren Jackson Jr. (foot) can return. However, considering head coach Taylor Jenkins values the boost the 25-year-old has provided off the bench since he entered the league in 2019, he may retain that role in 2022-23. Yet, with the Grizzlies lacking experience, Clarke may still end up with the job by default. The former Gonzaga Bulldog has been a reliable producer for the club over the years, averaging 10.9 points and 5.6 rebounds throughout 181 games. If Clarke doesn't start this year, he'll probably get his fair share of minutes, making him an effective fantasy option in all formats.

Phoenix Suns guard Cameron Johnson has been working hard to become a reliable option late in games as a ball-dominant player. Johnson mentioned that he focused on other areas once he got into the league. Now, the 26-year-old wants to get back to being a dominant player like he was in high school. It's great to hear that Johnson wants more responsibility next season. Although, he'll still likely have a reserve role, so it could be tough for him to get significant minutes. That being said, Johnson seems like a risky choice for standard leagues heading into the season. Time will tell if the Suns actually trust Johnson enough to be a late-game option.

Chicago Bulls guard Coby White wants to improve his ball-handling while also adding some muscle this offseason. The hope is that adding muscle will help him on the defensive side of the ball. However, it could be tough for White to find consistent minutes in the Bulls rotation. They have Alex Caruso, Ayo Dosunmu and Goran Dragic all competing for minutes alongside White. It seems possible that the Bulls would look to trade White, considering the depth they have at guard. There is a good amount of upside in White's game, but it's tough to imagine him getting significant minutes in Chicago. He'll be worth watching in fantasy leagues, but probably won't have fantasy value right away.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson recently signed a $231 million extension with the organization. However, Williamson could lose some of that money if he doesn't stay below a certain weight. In fact, the former No. 1 overall pick must have his combined weight and body fat not exceed 295. He is currently listed at 284 pounds, but is reportedly weighing more than 300 pounds in training camp. Williamson is coming off a foot injury that forced him to miss all of last season. The potential is certainly there, but the excessive weight is a concern. Now, the Pelicans will put some pressure on Williamson to stay in shape or he'll risk losing some money. It remains to be seen if this will be enough to motivate Williamson to get in better shape.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram has been mentioned as the potential headliner of a trade package that could be sent to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for star forward Kevin Durant. However, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports that the Pelicans have given no indication that they are willing to trade Ingram. Scotto reports that the Nets are looking for accomplished younger players like Ingram to receive in a return for Durant. Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes was also mentioned by Scotto as someone who the Nets would highly covet, but as is the case with the Pelicans and Ingram, the Raptors don't appear to have any interest in moving Barnes.

New York Knicks forward RJ Barrett has been brought up as a potential piece in a trade that would send star Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell to the Big Apple. However, the Knicks have stated that they are not interested in dealing Barrett at this time, and now we have a new report suggesting that the Jazz wouldn't even be targeting Barrett in a deal. During his "Please Don't Aggregate This" podcast this week, Jake Fischer stated that the Jazz aren't interested in acquiring Barrett, mostly due to the fact that they don't want to be responsible for his next contract. Barrett is locked up for about $11 million this year, then he has a qualifying offer for $14 million in 2023-24. After that, he's set to be a restricted free agent and there's a good chance he'll be due for a big payday.

According to Mike Scotto of HoopsHype, in order for the Los Angeles Lakers to complete a trade involving Russell Westbrook, the Lakers will have to include a pair of future first-round picks. The 33-year-old is due to make $47 million this year, making him a massive burden on any team's books. On the bright side, he has just one more year on his contract before he becomes a free agent. The likelihood of a Westbrook deal seems minimal at this point, and there have been reports that the team's trio of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Westbrook is eager to make things work in Los Angeles.

Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden recently signed a two-year deal with the organization. The All-Star guard took a deal worth nearly $69 million, which is actually a paycut. Harden wanted to take less money than his original contract in order for the Sixers to be able to bring in more talent around him. Harden played part of the season with the Sixers last year. The 31-year-old clearly believes this roster is ready to win right now. He recently mentioned that Philly is where he wants to be, so Sixers fans shouldn't have to worry about Harden trying to leave mid-season. The Beard look solid in a Sixers' uniform last season, so his fantasy value should continue to be top tier in 2022.