The fantasy basketball waiver wire is buzzing with late-season injury news on June 21, 2026, and managers chasing playoff matchups need to act fast. A wave of high-severity updates dropped across multiple teams, reshaping roster decisions for the final stretch. Here is everything fantasy managers need to know about the latest NBA player news and which pickups make sense right now.

Nick Richards (CHI) — Injury Update

Nick Richards will miss the remainder of Chicago's season as he continues to recover from a right elbow sprain. Head coach Billy Donovan confirmed that Richards — along with Josh Giddey, Guerschon Yabusele, Jalen Smith, and Anfernee Simons — will be held out for the Bulls' final two games. That is a significant chunk of the Chicago rotation sitting out, which opens minutes for any available Bulls big men still rostered.

For fantasy managers, Richards' absence this late in the season means there is virtually no streaming value left to extract. If you were holding him for a potential return, it is time to move on. The bigger question is whether any of the other Bulls players being rested — particularly Giddey or Simons — have waiver wire value in deeper leagues depending on your schedule.

Early signal (high severity)

P.J. Washington (DAL) — Injury Update

P.J. Washington is listed as doubtful for Dallas, and his confirmed absence comes as little surprise. He has missed three straight games and appeared in only one of the Mavericks' previous seven contests. With Naji Marshall (hip) and Caleb Martin (foot) also unavailable, Dallas' frontcourt is extremely thin heading into their final games.

The silver lining for fantasy managers is the opportunity this creates for Khris Middleton and Klay Thompson, both of whom are expected to see elevated usage with so many bodies out. If either is available on your fantasy basketball waiver wire, they represent legitimate streaming options given the volume they should absorb. Dallas is in full tank mode at 19-35, but counting stats are counting stats.

Early signal (high severity)

Kyrie Irving (DAL) — Injury Update

Kyrie Irving will not return this season as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL. The Mavericks are 19-35 and openly pivoting toward a rebuild, so there is no incentive to rush Irving back. By waiting until the 2026-27 season, Irving can ensure he is fully healthy before returning. He remains under contract for one more year.

From a fantasy perspective, Irving's season is over and he holds zero waiver wire relevance for current-year leagues. However, dynasty and keeper managers should note that his timeline for a full return points to the start of next season, which is an encouraging sign for long-term roster planning. Monitor his rehab progress closely as the offseason develops.

Early signal (high severity)

Moses Moody (GSW) — Out

Moses Moody's season is officially over after suffering an injury that will require a lengthy recovery period. It is a tough blow for the fifth-year swingman, who was having a career-best campaign — averaging 12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.0 steals in 25.7 minutes across 60 appearances. He had clearly earned a larger role and was one of the more productive streamers on the fantasy basketball waiver wire earlier in the season.

With Moody out, De'Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II are the names to target in Golden State for any remaining games. Check your waiver wire immediately if either is available. Dynasty managers should not panic on Moody — his underlying numbers before the injury were excellent — but the recovery timeline bears watching carefully.

Confidence: 30%

Danny Wolf (BKN) — Injury Update

The Brooklyn Nets are taking a cautious approach with rookie first-rounder Danny Wolf as they play out a lost season. Wolf showed flashes of promise in his debut year, averaging 8.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.2 three-pointers in 20.8 minutes across 57 regular-season appearances. The Nets have no reason to rush him back for meaningless games.

For redraft leagues, Wolf's day-to-day status and Brooklyn's tank mode make him a low-priority fantasy basketball pickup at best. However, dynasty managers should be keeping a close eye on his development arc — the per-minute production and three-point shooting from a big man are encouraging early indicators. His workload next season could be substantially larger on a rebuilding Nets squad.

Confidence: 25%

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