NBA Dynasty Digest: 07/06/2025 - Kessler Potential Suitors, Kuminga Next Team
Here’s your curated weekly dynasty digest specific to NBA content published this week by The Scrolling Scout, enjoy!
NBA Rookie Ranks 2025 2.0 went live, see results below:
| Players | 2.0 Rank | 1.0 Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Cooper Flagg | 1 | 1 |
| Dylan Harper | 2 | 2 |
| V.J. Edgecombe | 3 | 3 |
| Kon Knueppel | 4 | 4 |
| Ace Bailey | 5 | 5 |
| Khaman Maluach | 6 | 6 |
| Tre Johnson | 7 | 7 |
| Thomas Sorber | 8 | 11 |
| Egor Demin | 9 | 8 |
| Collin Murray-Boyles | 10 | 10 |
| Derik Queen | 11 | 9 |
| Kasparas Jakucionas | 12T | 16 |
| Jeremiah Fears | 12T | 15 |
| Cedric Coward | 14 | 12 |
| Carter Bryant | 15 | 13 |
| Noa Essengue | 16 | 14 |
| Danny Wolf | 17 | 17 |
| Joan Beringer | 18 | 20 |
| Walter Clayton Jr | 19 | 23 |
| Nique Clifford | 20 | 19 |
| Noah Traore | 21 | 22 |
| Maxime Raynaud | 22 | 24 |
| Rasheer Fleming | 23 | 25 |
| Ryan Kalkbrenner | 24 | 18 |
| Asa Newell | 25 | 21 |
| Hansen Yang | 26 | 26 |
| Jase Richardson | 27 | NR |
| Kam Jones | 28 | NR |
| Ben Saraf | 29 | 30 |
| Adou Thiero | 30 | 28 |
Tuesday Trends
Thomas Sorber – OKC – C
📈 Trending Up
Coming in as high as #6 overall on Locked-In's (CBS) dynasty rankings. The opportunity in OKC is real, and the Thunder are incredibly intentional with their picks. While the Jaylin Williams re-signing adds some crowding, Sorber’s upside and skill set still point to a meaningful role early.
Jeremiah Fears – NOP – G
📈 ADP vs Rankings Discrepancy
He’s being drafted solidly inside the top 10 in many rookie drafts, but he’s ranked lower on my board. This is a case where market momentum (and the Pelicans' belief in him) is outpacing my evaluation — for now.
Kasparas Jakucionis – MIA – G
📈 Late First Round Value
Currently going at the back end of the first in 12-team leagues. Managers are buying into the wide-open point guard role in Miami. While Damion Mitchell is still around and Pat Riley is never passive, Jakucionis is being viewed as the heir apparent — and that narrative is fueling his rise.
The Utah Jazz are actively exploring the market for their young center, Walker Kessler. Long rumored as a target of the Los Angeles Lakers, the Jazz’s asking price was recently reported by Jovan Buha: two first-round picks and one young player.
That steep price narrows the field of suitors, but several teams stand out as logical fits — both from a roster and an asset‑management perspective. Here are the four best destinations for Kessler as trade talks heat up.
Golden State Warriors
With Kevon Looney departing in free agency, the Warriors’ big-man rotation currently consists of Quentin Post and Trayce Jackson‑Davis. While Golden State has two young players in Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga, it’s unclear if either interests Utah.
What the Warriors do have, however, is draft capital: they control five of their next six first‑round picks. This could allow them to package two future firsts far enough down the road to appeal to Utah without gutting their young core — offering the upside of draft flexibility over immediate youth.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers lost Myles Turner in free agency and are left with only Isaiah Jackson and a handful of power forwards capable of playing small‑ball five. Indiana arguably has the best combination of young talent and draft capital: Bennedict Mathurin and Johnny Furphy headline the young player pool, while the team also controls all six of its next six first‑round picks.
Trading for Kessler would be an uncharacteristic win‑now move for Indiana, but with a glaring hole at center, desperate times might justify it.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers parted ways with Anthony Davis last season and signed Deandre Ayton to fill the void, but Ayton no longer appears to be the kind of centerpiece you build around. Adding Kessler could stabilize the frontcourt and raise the team’s ceiling.
The Lakers have Dalton Knecht, whose name has already surfaced in rumors involving Miami’s Andrew Wiggins, as well as four of their next six first‑round picks. They could craft a competitive package while maintaining enough depth for a playoff push.
Boston Celtics
Boston’s offseason has been defined by subtraction, not addition. The Celtics moved Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday in cap‑cutting moves, leaving gaping holes — especially at center. While Boston can’t match the Warriors or Pacers in young talent, their draft capital is intriguing: they own five of their next six picks, including a swap with San Antonio and an additional 2029 first.
A deal for Kessler could help Boston reset its identity while shoring up its biggest weakness.
Final Thoughts
Walker Kessler remains one of the league’s most intriguing young bigs — a defensive anchor with untapped offensive upside. While Utah’s asking price is high, these four teams all have the means and motivation to make a deal happen. Whether it’s Golden State’s future‑focused flexibility, Indiana’s mix of youth and picks, the Lakers’ urgency to compete, or Boston’s strategic reset, Kessler could quickly become a centerpiece elsewhere.
The coming weeks will tell if one of these teams is willing to meet Utah’s price — and just how much they believe in Kessler’s potential.
Portland’s first-round pick Hansen Yang is drawing fantasy buzz — but is it warranted?
- Cooper Flagg
- Dylan Harper
- Kon Knueppel
- V.J. Edgecombe
- Ace Bailey
- Jeremiah Fears
- Khaman Maluach
- Tre Johnson
- Derik Queen
- Hansen Yang
This stands in sharp contrast to our dynasty rankings, where Yang comes in at No. 26 overall — well outside of the first-round range in 12-team leagues.
On the Locked In (CBS) podcast, Josh Lloyd expressed skepticism that Yang will ever earn a meaningful role in Portland. Dynasty analyst Matt Lawson echoed this, ranking Yang as a mid-to-late second-round pick at best.
We’re issuing a clear warning:
Don’t get swept up in the Sleeper hype.
Avoid using a late first-rounder on Yang when there are better prospects with stronger opportunity and upside.
Starting Point Guard Dennis Schröder
A starting role awaits Dennis Schröder in Sacramento. After spending last season with a handful of teams—being traded twice in the process—Schröder now seems set to stay in Sac-Town.
Schröder joins a Kings team still looking for answers at the point guard position after shipping away De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs. At least to start Year One, Schröder looks like the starting guard and primary ball handler alongside DeMar DeRozan.
The Kings have been running Keon Ellis as their starting point guard in the wake of the Fox trade, but Schröder offers more offensive upside. His role won’t be massive—the aforementioned Ellis and rookie Devin Carter are both ready for plenty of NBA minutes—but Schröder is still a tier above those two in terms of offensive polish.
Schröder looks like a screaming buy in deep leagues if he’s sitting on a rebuilder’s roster right now, and he’s an add wherever available—except for the shallowest of leagues. He’s someone I’ll be targeting in the late rounds of fantasy drafts.
Last season, Schröder averaged 13.1 points, 5.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in 28 minutes per game.
Jonathan Kuminga Trade Rumors: Would Sacramento Unlock His Fantasy Value?
Jonathan Kuminga has been a mainstay on the NBA trade rumor mill almost since the day he was drafted. Taken in the top 10 by Golden State, many envisioned him sliding in behind Draymond Green and eventually becoming his heir apparent at forward.
That never materialized. Kuminga has struggled to mesh with Steph Curry’s playstyle and is not expected to re‑sign with the Warriors, prompting Golden State to explore trade options for better‑fitting pieces.
The Latest Rumor: Kings Involved
The current buzz is around a potential sign‑and‑trade deal, reportedly involving at least the Kings and Warriors, with the Pistons also mentioned. The key piece? Kuminga heading to Sacramento.
Fit With the Kings
On paper, Sacramento has a place for Kuminga in the starting lineup alongside DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis, and Dennis Schröder.
But his exact role and usage remain murky.
- DeRozan is a high‑usage wing.
- Sabonis runs much of the offense through the post.
- Schröder tends to be a shoot‑first guard.
- Keegan Murray already fills a scorer’s role.
That leaves questions about who does what — and how much opportunity Kuminga would actually have to grow in Sacramento.
Fantasy Outlook
Despite the uncertainty, a move away from Golden State can only help Kuminga unlock his potential.
In yearly leagues: He becomes a mid‑round target — someone with upside but risk depending on how the Kings deploy him.
In dynasty: If I’m a contender, I’d be willing to send a future 1st and 2nd rookie pick to acquire him, banking on his upside finally coming through in a new environment.
Final Word
This situation is one to monitor closely. If Kuminga does land in Sacramento, it may not be the perfect landing spot — but it’s certainly better than languishing in a poor fit with the Warriors. The potential is still there, and now it might have room to grow.
Bradley Beal Buyout Negotiations
Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reported Thursday:
“The Phoenix Suns have been discussing a possible buyout for guard Bradley Beal, league sources have informed The Arizona Republic.”
He added:
“Beal has two years left on his contract totaling $110 million. A buyout would make Beal a free agent. Teams can officially begin signing players to contracts July 6.”
Beal, once a perennial All-Star, has more recently been viewed as a financial albatross than a franchise cornerstone. A buyout would free him from the massive contract that’s limited his market and perhaps renew his perception around the league — and in fantasy basketball circles.
In 2024–25, Beal averaged 17.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game — a far cry from his 31.3 ppg peak with Washington in 2020–21. Dynasty managers know what they have at this point: he’s still talented, but his age, injury history, and contract uncertainty have weighed heavily on his long-term outlook.
What it means for fantasy:
Perception matters. If Beal lands in a better situation, flourishes in a more defined role, and people start singing his praises again, managers will want a piece of that hype. A buyout and a fresh start could change the narrative around his career — and his dynasty value.
What it means for you:
Beal is a sell — if you get the right offer.
If I can move him for a top-9 rookie pick in dynasty, I’m probably taking it. I’d prefer prospects like Tre Johnson or Egor Demin over Beal at this stage, and many managers will too. But there’s always someone who still believes in the name value and wants to gamble on a bounce-back year.
The reality? Beal is likely headed for a mid-level exception (MLE) type deal, which means a one-year prove-it contract and fragile roster security if injuries strike again. I don’t mind someone betting on his past production — but I’d rather turn him into an asset for a contender if I can.
If you’re holding Beal, shop him around before the buyout buzz peaks.
NBA Summer League Previews
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