After spending the past two weeks analyzing dynasty prospects from the first and second rounds of the 2025 NBA Draft, it's time to shift our focus to how the early stages of free agency have reshaped the fantasy landscape.
While we're still in the thick of roster movement and signings, several players have already seen their dynasty stocks surge thanks to new opportunities and/or departed competition. Here are five Dynasty Risers from Early NBA Free Agency who should provide exceptional value in 2025-26 and beyond. (Statistics as of July 8, 2025)
1. Jay Huff
(C, Indiana Pacers)
2024-25 stats: 6.9 PPG, 2.0 RPG
0.6 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.9 BPG
51.5 FG%, 40.5 3P%, 78.6 FT%
In one of the more surprising moves of the offseason so far, longtime Indiana Pacer Myles Turner signed a four-year, $107 million contract to join the rival Milwaukee Bucks. The Pacers retained backup centers Tony Bradley and James Wiseman, but are expected to move on from Thomas Bryant, who played a key role in Indiana’s run to the finals.
With considerable minutes available at the five-spot, Indiana traded for Grizzlies’ center Jay Huff. Huff’s advanced numbers measure well as a spot-up shooter and solid rim protector, and he is a popular pick to break out next season for good reason.
Despite playing just 11.7 minutes per game last season for Memphis, he averaged 3.9 threes per 36 minutes on 40.5% from beyond the arc, while posting 2.7 blocks per 36 minutes. The trade was well-reviewed by Pacers fans and NBA experts alike, who expect the 7’1 center to fit in well on an Indiana team that is projected to have a down season without its best player, Tyrese Haliburton.
If Huff can win the starting job over Bradley in a fast-paced offense that suits his skill set, he has a chance to be one of 2025-26’s biggest risers.
2. Neemias Queta
(C, Boston Celtics)
2024-25 stats: 5.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG
0.7 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG
65.0 FG%, 0.0 3P%, 75.4 FT%
Similarly to Indiana, the Celtics are entering a projected down season after the devastating second-round Achilles injury to Jayson Tatum, and have been among the more active offseason teams thus far. They freed up cap space by trading Jrue Holiday to Portland and Kristaps Porzingis to the Hawks, while allowing Luke Kornet to depart to San Antonio via free agency.
Veteran center Al Horford is also widely expected to sign elsewhere to a contender, leaving Boston with minimally-experienced frontcourt depth next season. The Celtics signed Minnesota’s backup center Luka Garza to a two-year deal last week, and general manager Brad Stevens remarked that the team has long been a fan of his.
This leaves Garza as the starting center for Boston on paper going into the season, but the fourth-year big man and former National Player of the Year at Iowa has been below average since entering the league. He shot just 49.5 FG% last season, and his three-point percentage, PPG, and rebound rate have all trended in the wrong direction.
While Stevens praised Garza, he also noted that Neemias Queta, a 2021 second-round pick, “has a great chance to be impactful here.” The seven-footer has gotten limited burn at the NBA level, but his playtime increased significantly last season, and he even earned a smattering of garbage time play in the postseason.
The potential appears to be there, as Queta shot 65.0 FG% and 75.4 FT% in 2024-25, while rebounding and protecting the rim well, according to advanced metrics. An expanded offensive skill set beyond finishing at the rim in pick-and-roll actions would increase his value, but the opportunity is certainly there for a low-risk, high-reward 25-year-old.
3. Rob Dillingham
(PG, Minnesota Timberwolves)
2024-25 stats: 4.5 PPG, 1.0 RPG
2.0 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.0 BPG
44.1 FG%, 33.8 3P%, 53.3 FT%
With Mike Conley turning 38 this offseason and point guard as a glaring weakness in Minnesota’s lineup for several years now, the Timberwolves were expected to make a move for a ball-handler this offseason, but have stood pat both in the draft and free agency. Even if they do add a point guard at this point, the free agent market is decidedly weak.
Having made the Western Conference Finals for two straight seasons as Anthony Edwards approaches his prime years, Minnesota would be foolish to leave such a critical gap unfilled. The logical conclusion is that the front office has faith in Rob Dillingham’s continued development.
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Dillingham was the eighth-overall pick in last year’s draft, but played sparingly in his rookie season. He shot solid rates of 44.1 FG% and 33.8 3P% and showed flashes as a speedy, dynamic dribbler, but his weaknesses and youthfulness were also on full display.
Playing just 10.5 minutes per game, his defensive impact was among the worst in the league and kept him off the court in critical situations. Still, the 6’1 guard was one of the top freshman guards at Kentucky in 2023-24, and his combination of shooting and dribbling bodes well for his NBA future.
4. John Collins
(PF, Los Angeles Clippers)
2024-25 stats: 19.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG
2.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG
52.7 FG%, 39.9 3P%, 84.8 FT%
Despite featuring on one of the worst teams in the league and missing more than half the year, John Collins had one of his strongest statistical seasons for the Jazz in 2024-25. He now joins the Clippers in a three-team deal that sent Norman Powell to Miami.
On a squad featuring forwards Derrick Jones Jr., Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Kawhi Leonard, Collins is the most traditional power forward of the bunch and figures to get considerable playtime. It’s unclear whether he will start at the PF slot or play more of a sixth man role, but Leonard’s inability to remain on the court should give him a prominent role regardless.
Collins had terrific shooting splits of 53/40/85 last season, and while he’s not an elite defender, he brings outstanding versatility and activity on that end, leading to around a block and a steal per game.
The fit in Los Angeles makes even more sense considering Collins’ abilities as a lob threat. He had tremendous alley-oop success with Trae Young in Atlanta and should be reinvigorated in that area, being paired with one of the all-time great lob passers in James Harden.
To top it off, Collins is a consistently solid rebounder for his size and is coming off of his best free-throw shooting season. All signs point to a big season for the veteran power forward.
5. Cam Whitmore
(SF, Washington Wizards)
2024-25 stats: 9.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG
1.0 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG
44.4 FG%, 35.5 3P%, 75.0 FT%
After receiving little playtime on a stacked Houston depth chart, Cam Whitmore got a fresh start when the Rockets dealt him to Washington in a three-team deal on Sunday and takes the final spot among our Dynasty Risers from Early NBA Free Agency. A 2023 first-round pick, Whitmore put up solid numbers in Houston, but was unlikely to get the experience he needs to maximize his potential, stuck behind forwards Kevin Durant, Tari Eason, Dorian Finney-Smith, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr.
Whitmore is a big wing who has shot 44.9% from the field and 35.7% from three over two NBA seasons. Scouts love his offensive upside, and the Villanova product will now get his chance on a Wizards roster full of unproven talent.
Although Washington’s lineup won’t scare any opponents next season, Whitmore does fill a key need in their young core. The Wizards already have their young creator in Bub Carrington, a rising shot-blocker in Alex Sarr, and a do-it-all defensive forward in Bilal Coulibaly.
Alongside the number six pick in the 2025 draft, Tre Johnson, Whitmore can immediately slot in to form a dynamic scoring combination, while learning from veteran scorers in CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton. The upside and opportunity are there for Whitmore; now, he has to prove it.