After coming over from the Kings in an offseason trade, Carter is being let go by Atlanta before getting the chance to report for training camp. The 2024 first-rounder averaged a career-high 8.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 0.9 steals in 18.4 minutes per contest across 38 regular-season appearances for Sacramento in 2025-26, so he should draw some interest on the open market provided he clears waivers.
With VanVleet having missed the entire 2025-26 campaign after suffering a torn ACL late last offseason, it's encouraging to hear he's back on the court as a notable step in his recovery. The veteran point guard is almost a full calendar year removed from the surgery, so there's optimism he'll be ready for Opening Night in late October. His levels of participation in training camp and the preseason remain a question mark, though.
The 2025 first-rounder is coming off a promising Summer League run, averaging 19.5 points, 12.8 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 53.2 percent from the floor over four appearances. Williams is expected to miss around five months, so the runway with Phoenix's top spot at center could be a long one. Maluach does have Oso Ighodaro to overcome for the role, so fantasy managers should keep close tabs on what projects to be a fierce camp competition.
The Lakers' depth at center behind Kessler appears to be razor-thin, including veteran Kevon Looney as his primary backup, so Los Angeles could lean on Kessler during his debut season in Los Angeles. He's slotting in as a distant tertiary scoring option behind Doncic and Austin Reaves, though the prospect of being the top lob threat for the dynamic backcourt duo bodes well for his efficiency; Deandre Ayton shot a career-high 67.1 percent from the field in that role last season. Kessler also seemed to be adding a three-point shot to his arsenal before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery last year, averaging 1.2 threes to go with a career-high 3.0 assists per game over his five appearances in Utah, so he looks to have plenty of nine-category fantasy upside if he's able to shoot a reasonable percentage from the foul line.
The expectation is that Williams will be on the shelf for about five months, likely ruling out the big man until sometime around the All-Star break. Ighodaro filled in serviceably when Williams was injured in 2025-26, averaging a productive 8.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks in 27.4 minutes per game while shooting 67.4 percent from the field over 22 appearances with Williams unavailable, but he did shoot a paltry 40.8 percent from the free-throw line over that period. Benjamin Garcia of the Locked On Suns Podcast is hearing internal praise directed toward Khaman Maluach, who just averaged 19.5 points, 12.8 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.2 steals per game across four appearances in a dominant Summer League run, so the Suns appear to have an intense camp battle brewing for the top center spot in Williams' stead.
This is a tough blow for the center with training camp right around the corner. With his status for Opening Night in jeopardy, this will put a lot of eyes on Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach, with the latter already drawing buzz during the Summer League. More clarity on Williams' timeline should be known in the coming weeks, and while nothing official has come from the Suns, Phoenix radio host John Gambadoro reports that the center could potentially miss around five months.
