Philly pivots from last season’s chaos toward youth and athleticism. Embiid’s health and minutes loom as the defining risk, while a reshaped supporting cast—Edgecombe, Broome, Edwards—adds upside alongside Maxey’s growing two-way impact. Re-signings and shrewd, cheap adds hint at a faster, deeper rotation. If Embiid returns to form and health cooperates, the 2025-26 Sixers could contend, but durability remains the big question mark.

The fallout is a real fantasy pivot: younger wings with two-way potential, a better defensive profile, and a path to bigger minutes for Edgecombe and the two-way guards. The plan hinges on health and consistency, turning a nightmare season into a springboard for a more versatile, playoff-ready roster.

NBA GM Survey signals strong optimism for Oklahoma City, with 80% naming the Thunder as champions and 87% selecting them as West champs. Nikola Jokic is the MVP favorite (67%), while Victor Wembanyama dominates rookie talks and the franchise-start vote (83%). Amen Thompson is pegged as a breakout (30%), Durant to Houston leads offseason moves, and Damian Lillard’s waiver is a jaw-dropper. Curry as the league’s top leader sparks debate. The tax-apron rule is the hot roster-management topic. For fantasy, lean into OKC depth and Wembanyama’s impact, monitor Durant’s destination, and watch the evolving coaching landscape.

LeBron James will miss 3-4 weeks with sciatic nerve pain, forcing the Lakers to lean on depth and adjust nightly lineups in fantasy basketball early in the season.

Nikola Jokić tops GM MVP chatter, while Victor Wembanyama is viewed as a franchise builder by the vast majority of evaluators. Erik Spoelstra is set to coach Team USA, creating cross-league implications for player workloads. MLB playoff drama, USMNT notes, and a sprawling weekend slate across football, hoops, and tennis round out the picture.

From New York’s title drought to WNBA Finals pacing and a robust NFL Week 6 schedule, this edition blends injury pivots, rookie ceilings, and bullpen/rotation whispers into a compact forecast for fantasy managers and bettors alike.