The Scoop: Drummond missed the last 17 games of the 2024-25 season due to a toe injury. The veteran big man's future in Philadelphia was uncertain, as testing free agency or opting in for the 2025-26 campaign were both viable options, especially with Joel Embiid's status being put into question after he played only 19 games and undergoing left knee surgery. Drummond played in 40 games last season and averaged 7.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting 50 percent from the floor.

 The Scoop: Embiid underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in April, and he's been progressing well in his recovery. The expectation is that the 31-year-old will be ready to go for training camp. Even though Embiid should be fully recovered ahead of the 2025-26 season, the 76ers could ease him back into game action, considering he appeared in 58 combined regular-season games over his last two seasons.

 The Scoop: Micic returns to Charlotte after spending the first half of the 2024-25 campaign with the club before being sent to Phoenix ahead of the deadline. The 31-year-old guard averaged 6.6 points, 3.1 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game across 41 appearances (36 with Charlotte, five with Phoenix). He's likely being included in Wednesday's trade strictly for salary-matching purposes, as Phoenix picked up his $8.1 million team option for 2025-26 before dealing him to Charlotte, according to Marks. Micic will add depth to the Charlotte backcourt, but he'll likely have difficulty cracking the rotation when the Hornets are at full strength.

 The Scoop: Back and ankle injuries limited Collins down the stretch of the 2024-25 season, as the Jazz had no reason to rush him back onto the court amid a league-worst 17-65 record. He ended up appearing in just 40 regular-season games, averaging an efficient 18.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks in 30.5 minutes. The 27-year-old is now on an expiring contract, so don't be surprised if the front office looks to shop him at some point. In the meantime, he projects as the Jazz's starting power forward ahead of Taylor Hendricks (leg) and Kyle Filipowski.

 The Scoop: In order to do this, the Rockets will officially decline VanVleet's $44.9 million team option for 2025-26. His new two-year deal will include a player option for 2026-27. A reunion always seems like the most likely outcome, with both sides seemingly motivated to get this done right away. In 60 regular-season contests in 2024-25, VanVleet shot just 37.8 percent from the field with averages of 14.1 points, 5.6 assists and 3.7 rebounds.

 The Scoop: Irving was long expected to stay with the Mavericks, and he's now set to sign a multi-year extension that includes a player option for the 2027-28 season. The point guard tore the ACL in his left knee March 3 and isn't expected to return to game action until January 2026, though a firmer timeline should emerge in the fall. Prior to the injury, Irving averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from beyond the arc over 50 regular-season games.

 The Scoop: Niang was traded from the Cavaliers to the Hawks in February of 2025 and averaged 12.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 23.0 minutes across his 28 regular-season appearances for Atlanta. Due to Jayson Tatum (Achilles) potentially being out for all of 2025-26, Niang could compete for a starting role in the Celtics' forward rotation. This trade, combined with swapping Jrue Holiday for Anfernee Simons, has dropped the Celtics below the second apron.

 The Scoop: After being a key contributor to Boston's title charge in 2023-24, Porzingis played just 42 regular-season games in 2024-25, and an illness made him a relative non-factor in the team's playoff loss to the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. While Porzingis has consistently dealt with injuries throughout his career, he is an elite floor-spacing big man with efficient scoring and premier shot-blocking abilities when healthy. In Atlanta, Porzingis will likely be a prominent pick-and-roll partner with Trae Young and could play alongside either Jalen Johnson or Onyeka Okongwu in the frontcourt. Porzingis is under contract for only one more season.

 The Scoop: Smith, who was on a two-way contract with Miami in 2024-25, is now set to become a restricted free agent. Smith underwent surgery to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon back in December, putting his status for Opening Night of 2025-26 in doubt. It's not a surprise that the Heat want to keep him around, however, as he was outstanding in 14 regular-season appearances with 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 steals on 50.8 percent shooting from the field in 19.1 minutes per contest.