Oklahoma City Thunder sit at the top of a strongly contending West in 2026, with Denver, Houston, and Minnesota close behind as the field shapes up. In the East, Cleveland and New York are locks, Orlando is primed for a big leap after bold moves, and Detroit, Atlanta, and the Bucks jockey for position behind them. The Lakers, Clippers, Spurs, and Warriors hover as plausible playoff entrants; the Spurs–Warriors debate sticks the bubble in a tight race. For fantasy, Sengun and Amen Thompson pop as breakout bets in Houston, Durant redefines load in a revamped Rockets roster, and superstars like LeBron and Doncic carry heavy workloads on star-studded teams.

The piece emphasizes risk and opportunity: high-usage stars will bear heavy minutes, rest plans loom for veterans, and rising young cores could flip standings. Desmond Bane’s move, Porzingis’ fit, and the continued evolution of Orlando’s engine around Banchero, Wagner, and Suggs create structural shifts that fantasy managers can exploit, from ceiling plays to reliable floor leaders.

ESPN Fantasy Basketball 101 lays out a fast lane into fantasy hoops: pick a league that fits your vibe, master draft prep, and stay active all season with smart waivers, trades, and lineups. It spotlights the era’s big names—Wembanyama, Edwards, SGA—alongside Jokic and Giannis anchoring the top, while Luka reshapes his role with the Lakers. The guide stresses customizing settings, using mock drafts, and valuing etiquette to keep fun and competition balanced.

Beyond the basics, it dives into draft prep, autopick strategies, and in-season moves—from weekly to daily lineup tweaks and the waiver wire—so even newcomers can build a winning roster. The message is clear: have fun, stay engaged, and let the league become your nightly obsession.

Kawhi Leonard reportedly didn’t want to play with LeBron James in 2019, leaving the Lakers as a third wheel in the summer sweepstakes. The Clippers then paired Leonard with Paul George, reshaping the West’s horizon but not delivering a clean title run. The Lakers thrived anyway, with James and Anthony Davis capturing a championship, while the Clippers’ long-term outlook stayed murky after that summer of big moves. Sweetening the deal, the Lakers later leveraged assets to add Luka Dončić to the rumor mill, signaling a bright but unsettled future for Los Angeles.

The 2019 decision’s ripple effects kept the league in flux: the Thunder reaped value from those Clippers picks, producing stars like Jalen Williams, while the Raptors’ championship memory loomed in Leonard’s past. Fantasy managers should note the shift in usage and minutes across squads: Lakers’ path to another title, Clippers’ uncertain ceiling, and the Thunder’s emerging core. In short, a move that reshaped trajectories and fantasy targets across the conference remains a reference point for markup-style rosters and risk assessments.