On June 22, Athlon published a piece highlighting the most underrated storylines of the NBA offseason. Fast-forward to June 30, and other undervalued scenarios have become overnight headlines.
Some potential storylines have come to fruition, while others have taken an unexpected turn. Plus, there are still narratives unfolding that nobody appears to be covering.
Let’s take a look at where things stand as the month changes to July, and how fantasy managers should be reacting.
The Milwaukee Rebuild Is Now Real — and the Fantasy Assets Are More Interesting Than the Headlines Suggest
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What gets overshadowed in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade aftermath is that the rebuild in Milwaukee is now very real, and there are some very interesting fantasy additions to the roster.
The trade haul brought Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, and the No. 13 pick in the draft to Milwaukee. (The Bucks selected Brayden Burries and Nate Ament in Round 1.) They join Ryan Rollins, Kyle Kuzma, and Myles Turner, who all put in extra minutes last season when Giannis was sidelined. Plus, the Bucks have a new head coach in Taylor Jenkins.
Managers should be extra aware of Ware’s path to starting minutes behind Turner because he’s only 21 and has a high upside after a developing rookie season. Burries isn’t expected to start Opening Night but can challenge for starting minutes alongside Rollins, especially if Herro gets flipped in another offseason deal. Owners in redraft leagues should monitor these roster battles through training camp to see who Jenkins is leaning on to start Milwaukee’s rebuild era.
LaMelo Ball to Minnesota — The Overnight Move That Reversed One Story and Created a New One
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Athlon’s previous piece pointed to Ayo Dosunmu as an underrated player to heavily target. He had an incredible 24-game stint after the trade deadline and was bound to inherit a ton of minutes alongside Anthony Edwards next season with Donte DiVincenzo out.
Then the LaMelo Ball trade came along and rewrote the entire script.
Dosunmu’s ball-dominant role will now be diminished because of the Edwards-Ball tandem in the backcourt. He can get big minutes playing Edwards’ wing, but his overall contributions could be capped when Ball is healthy. Meanwhile, the Hornets’ usage hierarchy will get shuffled since Ball left. Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller head up a young core who are coming off a breakout season, and they just got Naz Reid from Minnesota as a veteran anchor up front.
Offseason ADPs won’t reflect these roster shifts, so redraft managers need to monitor both the Timberwolves and Hornets into September before making any moves. Will Ball complement Edwards’ playing style in Minnesota? Will Knueppel take over down in Charlotte, or will Reid make the Hornets a frontcourt-facing team? These are the new underrated scenarios to follow.
The Draft Class Storyline Nobody Is Covering
The top-four selections have dominated headlines. Somehow, No. 5 overall pick Keaton Wagler and his impact on the Clippers rotation (and fantasy output) are flying under the radar.
The 2025-26 Big Ten Freshman of the Year shot 44.5% from the floor and 39.7% from beyond the arc at Illinois. He should add backcourt scoring depth alongside Darius Garland, but his projected impact can change in a snap if Kawhi Leonard leaves Los Angeles. There’s also the matter of Bennedict Mathurin, who would be Wagler’s biggest competition for minutes if he doesn’t leave LA when the market opens.
Wagler’s role as a rookie is in flux at this point in the offseason since the free-agent market can further change the Clippers’ rotation. This is a storyline managers can’t afford to pass over, so they should keep tabs on this development as the market opens.
Fantasy Basketball 2026-27 Responses to Stories Changing Overnight
The differences between our June 22 piece and the current state of the offseason aren’t a blip. The surprise storylines aren’t over. There will be plenty more underrated scenarios that surface as the free-agent market enters its summer frenzy.
The key for fantasy managers at this point of the offseason, especially those in redraft leagues, is to know which will immediately impact your fantasy draft boards and which need to be monitored further. Athlon’s guide to triaging NBA offseason decisions can help managers better curate their fantasy draft schemes. Stay up-to-date with Athlon’s offseason coverage so you don’t miss any top storylines or underrated plots as they unfold.
Questions About Underrated Fantasy Basketball Storylines, Answered
What are the most underrated fantasy basketball storylines after the Giannis trade and NBA Draft?
The biggest underrated storylines are Milwaukee's confirmed rebuild, LaMelo Ball's move to Minnesota changing the Timberwolves' fantasy outlook, and overlooked draft situations that could reshape fantasy value. Fantasy managers should focus on how these developments affect player roles and monitor them closely as training camp and free agency unfold.
What happens to Ayo Dosunmu's fantasy value with LaMelo Ball in Minnesota?
Dosunmu's fantasy outlook takes a hit if LaMelo Ball is Minnesota's primary ball-handler. Instead of inheriting a larger offensive role alongside Anthony Edwards, Dosunmu projects for fewer on-ball opportunities and more off-ball work, limiting his overall fantasy ceiling despite continued playing time.
Who are the best fantasy basketball assets from the Milwaukee Bucks rebuild?
Kel'el Ware stands out because he has a clear path to increased minutes and remains a high-upside young player. Ryan Rollins, Myles Turner, Tyler Herro, and rookie Brayden Burries are also worth monitoring as Milwaukee begins its rebuild under new head coach Taylor Jenkins and roles become more clearly defined.
Is Kel'el Ware a good fantasy basketball pick for 2026-27?
Ware is one of the more intriguing breakout candidates in Milwaukee's rebuild. At just 21 years old, he has a realistic opportunity to earn significant minutes behind Myles Turner, making him a player redraft managers should monitor closely throughout training camp.
What does LaMelo Ball to Minnesota mean for fantasy basketball?
LaMelo Ball's arrival reshapes Minnesota's backcourt. His presence reduces Ayo Dosunmu's projected usage while creating a new dynamic alongside Anthony Edwards. Fantasy managers should watch how responsibilities are divided before assigning draft value to either Minnesota guard.
How did the underrated offseason storylines from June 22 change after the Giannis trade and Draft?
Several quiet storylines quickly became major developments. Milwaukee's rebuild is now fully underway, LaMelo Ball's move to Minnesota reversed the outlook for Ayo Dosunmu, and additional draft developments created new fantasy situations that managers should continue tracking as free agency progresses.
