The Nuggets entered the 2021-22 season needing to rely even more heavily on Jokic with Jamal Murray still recovering from a torn ACL. Murray would ultimately end up sitting out the entire season, and things got even worse for the Nuggets with Michael Porter Jr. (back) being limited to just nine games. Not only did Jokic average a career-high 27.1 points per game, but he also hauled in a whopping 13.8 rebounds, which shattered his previous career best of 10.8 per game. Add in his averages of 7.9 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.9 blocks and 1.3 three-pointers, to go along with 58.3 percent shooting from the field and 81.0 percent from the free-throw line, and Jokic was the top player in fantasy. He added another MVP award to his resume in the process. Murray and Porter should be back this season, so it might be difficult for Jokic to duplicate his 31.9 percent usage rate. Still, Jokic is still firmly in the discussion for the first overall pick and is one of the safest fantasy options, regardless of position. He's been incredibly healthy, playing at least 72 games every season of his career.
The Nuggets entered the 2021-22 season needing to rely even more heavily on Jokic with Jamal Murray still recovering from a torn ACL. Murray would ultimately end up sitting out the entire season, and things got even worse for the Nuggets with Michael Porter Jr. (back) being limited to just nine games. Not only did Jokic average a career-high 27.1 points per game, but he also hauled in a whopping 13.8 rebounds, which shattered his previous career best of 10.8 per game. Add in his averages of 7.9 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.9 blocks and 1.3 three-pointers, to go along with 58.3 percent shooting from the field and 81.0 percent from the free-throw line, and Jokic was the top player in fantasy. He added another MVP award to his resume in the process. Murray and Porter should be back this season, so it might be difficult for Jokic to duplicate his 31.9 percent usage rate. Still, Jokic is still firmly in the discussion for the first overall pick and is one of the safest fantasy options, regardless of position. He's been incredibly healthy, playing at least 72 games every season of his career.
Doncic entered last season firmly in the discussion among the top players to select in fantasy. He came through with another monster stat line, averaging 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 3.1 three-pointers per game. He had a career-high 37.4 percent usage rate, which was also the highest mark in the NBA. If there was a downside, it's that his 45.7 percent shooting from the field and 74.4 percent shooting from the free-throw line are nothing to write home about. The Mavericks bolstered their frontcourt over the summer by adding Christian Wood and JaVale McGee, filling an area of significant need. However, they lost Jalen Brunson to the Knicks and didn't make any noteworthy additions at the guard spot, leaving Spencer Dinwiddie and Tim Hardaway Jr. as Doncic's top running mates. If he could improve his free-throw shooting percentage to around 80 percent, Doncic could be the top player in all of fantasy. Even if he doesn't, he's still a top target who should be gone by the end of the first round of all leagues. His floor is as high as anyone's, and his ceiling is a player who could average 30 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 3.0 three-pointers.
Doncic entered last season firmly in the discussion among the top players to select in fantasy. He came through with another monster stat line, averaging 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 3.1 three-pointers per game. He had a career-high 37.4 percent usage rate, which was also the highest mark in the NBA. If there was a downside, it's that his 45.7 percent shooting from the field and 74.4 percent shooting from the free-throw line are nothing to write home about. The Mavericks bolstered their frontcourt over the summer by adding Christian Wood and JaVale McGee, filling an area of significant need. However, they lost Jalen Brunson to the Knicks and didn't make any noteworthy additions at the guard spot, leaving Spencer Dinwiddie and Tim Hardaway Jr. as Doncic's top running mates. If he could improve his free-throw shooting percentage to around 80 percent, Doncic could be the top player in all of fantasy. Even if he doesn't, he's still a top target who should be gone by the end of the first round of all leagues. His floor is as high as anyone's, and his ceiling is a player who could average 30 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 3.0 three-pointers.
The 2021-22 campaign was another dominant one for Antetokounmpo. He earned his fourth consecutive All-NBA First Team honor as well as a fourth consecutive All-Defensive First Team. He also finished among the top four in MVP voting for a fourth straight season. The Greek Freak hasn't stopped improving, reaching new highs in points per game (29.9) and free-throw attempts per game (11.4). In addition, he averaged 11.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals. His three-point shooting remains shaky (29.3 percent), but he still knocked down 1.1 per game - his third straight year making at least one per contest. While he'll likely never ascend much in that department, he at least improved his free-throw shooting from 68.5 percent in 2020-21 to 72.2 percent last season. Antetokounmpo's poor performance from the charity stripe ultimately prevents him from being a better fantasy asset in category leagues. He ranked 10th last season in per-game fantasy production despite being arguably the best player in basketball. It's hard to imagine the two-time MVP slipping out of the top five in any league, given his ridiculously-high floor and clear upside to be the best player in fantasy if he can become a better shooter. Fantasy managers shouldn't hold their breath on that front, but any serious critics of Antetokounmpo are nitpicking at this point.
The 2021-22 campaign was another dominant one for Antetokounmpo. He earned his fourth consecutive All-NBA First Team honor as well as a fourth consecutive All-Defensive First Team. He also finished among the top four in MVP voting for a fourth straight season. The Greek Freak hasn't stopped improving, reaching new highs in points per game (29.9) and free-throw attempts per game (11.4). In addition, he averaged 11.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals. His three-point shooting remains shaky (29.3 percent), but he still knocked down 1.1 per game - his third straight year making at least one per contest. While he'll likely never ascend much in that department, he at least improved his free-throw shooting from 68.5 percent in 2020-21 to 72.2 percent last season. Antetokounmpo's poor performance from the charity stripe ultimately prevents him from being a better fantasy asset in category leagues. He ranked 10th last season in per-game fantasy production despite being arguably the best player in basketball. It's hard to imagine the two-time MVP slipping out of the top five in any league, given his ridiculously-high floor and clear upside to be the best player in fantasy if he can become a better shooter. Fantasy managers shouldn't hold their breath on that front, but any serious critics of Antetokounmpo are nitpicking at this point.
Last season was the best of Embiid's career, thanks, in large part, to his ability to stay healthy. The center played a career-high 68 games while averaging career highs in points (30.6), assists (4.2) and steals (1.1) and adding 11.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 33.8 minutes. Embiid ranked second in MVP voting and was second-team All-NBA for a second straight season. In fantasy, Embiid ranked third in both total and per-game production. In raw totals production, 2021-22 marked the first time Embiid ranked higher than 13th due to issues staying on the court. Those concerns remain, but Embiid's upside ensures that he's worth a first-round pick, especially given that the only center better in fantasy basketball is Nikola Jokic, and center is a position of scarcity. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect much to change for Embiid in 2022-23. An entire season from a reportedly revitalized James Harden could, in theory, decrease Embiid's usage. Tyrese Maxey is also bound to make strides. But, Embiid is the offense's driving force and can dominate the game from any area of the court. He had the second-highest usage rate (37.2%) in the NBA last season.
Last season was the best of Embiid's career, thanks, in large part, to his ability to stay healthy. The center played a career-high 68 games while averaging career highs in points (30.6), assists (4.2) and steals (1.1) and adding 11.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 33.8 minutes. Embiid ranked second in MVP voting and was second-team All-NBA for a second straight season. In fantasy, Embiid ranked third in both total and per-game production. In raw totals production, 2021-22 marked the first time Embiid ranked higher than 13th due to issues staying on the court. Those concerns remain, but Embiid's upside ensures that he's worth a first-round pick, especially given that the only center better in fantasy basketball is Nikola Jokic, and center is a position of scarcity. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect much to change for Embiid in 2022-23. An entire season from a reportedly revitalized James Harden could, in theory, decrease Embiid's usage. Tyrese Maxey is also bound to make strides. But, Embiid is the offense's driving force and can dominate the game from any area of the court. He had the second-highest usage rate (37.2%) in the NBA last season.
For the second time in as many seasons, Harden found himself on the move. He wanted out of Brooklyn after having just landed there the prior season. Whether it was his relationship with Kyrie Irving and/or Kevin Durant, or frustration with the front office, things just didn't work out as the Nets had planned when they united the star trio. He was ultimately dealt to the 76ers -- a move that landed Ben Simmons with the Nets. Overall, Harden had a down season offensively by averaging 22.0 points per game -- his lowest mark since the 2011-12 season when he was still with the Thunder. His efficiency also cratered, with him shooting 41.0 percent from the field and 33.0 percent from behind the arc. Still, he wasn't exactly a fantasy dud with his averages of 7.7 rebounds, 10.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.3 three-pointers. He signed a two-year extension with the 76ers this summer, taking less money so that they could build up the roster around him and Joel Embiid. If he shows renewed energy and comes into training camp in shape, a very productive season could be on the horizon. Even if he continues to struggle with his efficiency, he does enough across the board to likely make him a mid-to-late first-round pick.
For the second time in as many seasons, Harden found himself on the move. He wanted out of Brooklyn after having just landed there the prior season. Whether it was his relationship with Kyrie Irving and/or Kevin Durant, or frustration with the front office, things just didn't work out as the Nets had planned when they united the star trio. He was ultimately dealt to the 76ers -- a move that landed Ben Simmons with the Nets. Overall, Harden had a down season offensively by averaging 22.0 points per game -- his lowest mark since the 2011-12 season when he was still with the Thunder. His efficiency also cratered, with him shooting 41.0 percent from the field and 33.0 percent from behind the arc. Still, he wasn't exactly a fantasy dud with his averages of 7.7 rebounds, 10.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.3 three-pointers. He signed a two-year extension with the 76ers this summer, taking less money so that they could build up the roster around him and Joel Embiid. If he shows renewed energy and comes into training camp in shape, a very productive season could be on the horizon. Even if he continues to struggle with his efficiency, he does enough across the board to likely make him a mid-to-late first-round pick.
After an impressive first campaign that netted him first First Team All-Rookie in 2021, Haliburton improved as a sophomore last year. He began the season with the Kings, where he started slow but picked things up in December and January, which coincided with De'Aaron Fox missing significant chunks of time. During his final 31 appearances with Sacramento in December through February, he averaged 16.1 points, 8.9 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals. However, the promising young guard was shockingly traded to the Pacers at the deadline for Domantas Sabonis. Haliburton quickly became the focus of Indiana's rebuild, and he saw his usage increase the rest of the way. In his 26 appearances with the Pacers, Haliburton averaged 17.5 points on 50/42/85 shooting, 9.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 36.1 minutes. Heading into 2022-23, the point guard will remain at the center of Indiana's rebuild, along with No. 6 overall pick Bennedict Mathurin. Across 2021-22, Haliburton ranked 22nd in per-game fantasy production, but his ceiling is clearly higher than that since he'll remain in a very high usage role and will continue developing as a 22-year-old. It appears he'll be a consistent source of efficient 20-and-10 double-doubles with steals thrown in, making him one of the best point guard options for fantasy. It won't be surprising come draft day if Haliburton is off the board in the early-to-middle stages of the second round.
After an impressive first campaign that netted him first First Team All-Rookie in 2021, Haliburton improved as a sophomore last year. He began the season with the Kings, where he started slow but picked things up in December and January, which coincided with De'Aaron Fox missing significant chunks of time. During his final 31 appearances with Sacramento in December through February, he averaged 16.1 points, 8.9 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals. However, the promising young guard was shockingly traded to the Pacers at the deadline for Domantas Sabonis. Haliburton quickly became the focus of Indiana's rebuild, and he saw his usage increase the rest of the way. In his 26 appearances with the Pacers, Haliburton averaged 17.5 points on 50/42/85 shooting, 9.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 36.1 minutes. Heading into 2022-23, the point guard will remain at the center of Indiana's rebuild, along with No. 6 overall pick Bennedict Mathurin. Across 2021-22, Haliburton ranked 22nd in per-game fantasy production, but his ceiling is clearly higher than that since he'll remain in a very high usage role and will continue developing as a 22-year-old. It appears he'll be a consistent source of efficient 20-and-10 double-doubles with steals thrown in, making him one of the best point guard options for fantasy. It won't be surprising come draft day if Haliburton is off the board in the early-to-middle stages of the second round.
Tatum returns to the Celtics after an All-NBA First Team season in 2021-22. The three-time All-Star is the unquestioned scoring leader for Boston. The durable star forward set career highs last season in points (26.9), rebounds (8.0), assists (4.4) and made three-pointers (3.0) per game. At only age 24, we see no reason for Tatum to slow down. Tatum also played a career-high 35.9 minutes per game last season, which might be the one stat Boston would like to curtail. With Malcolm Brogdon now in the fold, plus a full season of Derrick White, coach Ime Udoka is provided with more small-ball options that allow Tatum and veteran Al Horford to get a tad more rest. Otherwise, all systems should be go for Tatum and a Celtics squad with championship aspirations. Few players rank in the Top 12 of fantasy points per game while also shooting 45-plus percent from the field and 85-plus percent from the charity stripe. Oh, did we mention durability? Tatum has averaged only five missed games per season over his five-year NBA career.
Tatum returns to the Celtics after an All-NBA First Team season in 2021-22. The three-time All-Star is the unquestioned scoring leader for Boston. The durable star forward set career highs last season in points (26.9), rebounds (8.0), assists (4.4) and made three-pointers (3.0) per game. At only age 24, we see no reason for Tatum to slow down. Tatum also played a career-high 35.9 minutes per game last season, which might be the one stat Boston would like to curtail. With Malcolm Brogdon now in the fold, plus a full season of Derrick White, coach Ime Udoka is provided with more small-ball options that allow Tatum and veteran Al Horford to get a tad more rest. Otherwise, all systems should be go for Tatum and a Celtics squad with championship aspirations. Few players rank in the Top 12 of fantasy points per game while also shooting 45-plus percent from the field and 85-plus percent from the charity stripe. Oh, did we mention durability? Tatum has averaged only five missed games per season over his five-year NBA career.
Morant made a massive leap forward in production last season. After averaging 19.1 points and shooting 44.9 percent from the field during the 2020-21 season, he averaged 27.4 points and shot 49.3 percent last season. His usage rate skyrocketed to 33.7 percent, and he dazzled on a nightly basis with his ability to finish at the rim. He wasn't just a scorer, either, providing 5.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game. However, two red flags cap his fantasy upside. First, he only shot 76.1 percent from the free-throw line -- an area where you usually need stellar production from a guard in fantasy to help offset the deficiencies of some forwards and centers. Second, he was limited to 57 games because of injuries. Injury risk comes with using an early-round selection on Morant due to his high-flying, reckless style, but when he's on the floor, he's one of the most valuable fantasy assets out there.
Morant made a massive leap forward in production last season. After averaging 19.1 points and shooting 44.9 percent from the field during the 2020-21 season, he averaged 27.4 points and shot 49.3 percent last season. His usage rate skyrocketed to 33.7 percent, and he dazzled on a nightly basis with his ability to finish at the rim. He wasn't just a scorer, either, providing 5.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game. However, two red flags cap his fantasy upside. First, he only shot 76.1 percent from the free-throw line -- an area where you usually need stellar production from a guard in fantasy to help offset the deficiencies of some forwards and centers. Second, he was limited to 57 games because of injuries. Injury risk comes with using an early-round selection on Morant due to his high-flying, reckless style, but when he's on the floor, he's one of the most valuable fantasy assets out there.
Siakam directed a strong 2021-22 season, making Third Team All-NBA - his second time earning an All-NBA nod. The forward set new career highs in rebounds (8.5), assists (5.3) and steals (1.3) while leading the NBA in minutes per game (37.9). He also added 22.8 points on 49/34/75 shooting. Siakam's improved rebounding was largely due to him playing more center than ever before. The Raptors went with a small-ball approach for most of the season, which resulted in him seeing 37 percent of his minutes at the five. The franchise didn't add any competition at the position during the offseason, so Siakam should continue to start there so OG Anunoby and Scottie Barnes can also start. Siakam's realignment to center has also authorized him to shoot fewer threes - an area where he's posted mixed results. His three-point attempts have declined over the past two seasons, and he tallied just 1.1 triples per game last year. It's possible that starts to trend up, but fantasy managers shouldn't bank on it. By usage rate (25.8%), Siakam claimed the No. 1 spot for Toronto last season, and that should still be the case this season. Barnes' emergence as a playmaker will be an important trend to watch, and Fred VanVleet carries plenty of responsibilities as well, but Siakam has a high floor as a fantasy player given his role on the team. He ranked 33rd in per-game fantasy value in 2021-22.
Siakam directed a strong 2021-22 season, making Third Team All-NBA - his second time earning an All-NBA nod. The forward set new career highs in rebounds (8.5), assists (5.3) and steals (1.3) while leading the NBA in minutes per game (37.9). He also added 22.8 points on 49/34/75 shooting. Siakam's improved rebounding was largely due to him playing more center than ever before. The Raptors went with a small-ball approach for most of the season, which resulted in him seeing 37 percent of his minutes at the five. The franchise didn't add any competition at the position during the offseason, so Siakam should continue to start there so OG Anunoby and Scottie Barnes can also start. Siakam's realignment to center has also authorized him to shoot fewer threes - an area where he's posted mixed results. His three-point attempts have declined over the past two seasons, and he tallied just 1.1 triples per game last year. It's possible that starts to trend up, but fantasy managers shouldn't bank on it. By usage rate (25.8%), Siakam claimed the No. 1 spot for Toronto last season, and that should still be the case this season. Barnes' emergence as a playmaker will be an important trend to watch, and Fred VanVleet carries plenty of responsibilities as well, but Siakam has a high floor as a fantasy player given his role on the team. He ranked 33rd in per-game fantasy value in 2021-22.
Last season, Gilgeous-Alexander provided stellar all-around averages of 24.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists. 1.3 steals and 1.6 three-pointers per game. His shooting percentage declined from the season prior, but it still wasn't bad at 45.3 percent, and he also shot 81.0 percent from the charity stripe. Even his 30.8 percent usage rate was the highest mark of his career. The problem was that he only played in 56 games. Over the last two seasons, he's combined to play 91 games. Some of his absences have been because of legitimate injuries, but others were likely the Thunder using "injuries" as an excuse to sit their star player and improve their draft positioning. Will they change those ways this season, especially with Chet Holmgren set to miss his entire rookie campaign? Given the prize jewel that is Victor Wembanyama on the horizon for the 2023 Draft, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Thunder again try to lose as many games as possible. With that in mind, Gilgeous-Alexander could continue to be a risky fantasy option.
Last season, Gilgeous-Alexander provided stellar all-around averages of 24.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists. 1.3 steals and 1.6 three-pointers per game. His shooting percentage declined from the season prior, but it still wasn't bad at 45.3 percent, and he also shot 81.0 percent from the charity stripe. Even his 30.8 percent usage rate was the highest mark of his career. The problem was that he only played in 56 games. Over the last two seasons, he's combined to play 91 games. Some of his absences have been because of legitimate injuries, but others were likely the Thunder using "injuries" as an excuse to sit their star player and improve their draft positioning. Will they change those ways this season, especially with Chet Holmgren set to miss his entire rookie campaign? Given the prize jewel that is Victor Wembanyama on the horizon for the 2023 Draft, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Thunder again try to lose as many games as possible. With that in mind, Gilgeous-Alexander could continue to be a risky fantasy option.
Sabonis provides a rare skillset for a player of his size. He's a walking double-double, averaging at least 18.5 points and 12.0 rebounds in each of the last three seasons. Although he doesn't provide much in the way of blocks, he makes up for it with his ability to rack up assists. He averaged a career-high 6.7 dimes during the 2020-21 season, further cementing himself as a top fantasy option. The Pacers decided it was time to move on from him, though, sending him to the Kings before the trade deadline last season. The Kings hoped he could help propel them to the playoffs, but they fell short yet again. Sabonis was not the reason they failed in their mission, considering he averaged 18.9 points, 12.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists over 15 games with the team. He'll now have a full offseason to adjust to his new surroundings and will be playing alongside another shot maker in Keegan Murray, who is expected to immediately step in as a significant contributor from behind the arc during his rookie season. The Kings also added Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk, two additional shooters who could boost Sabonis' assist totals. Sabonis has one of the highest floors in fantasy among big men, making him an excellent selection in the second or third round of drafts.
Sabonis provides a rare skillset for a player of his size. He's a walking double-double, averaging at least 18.5 points and 12.0 rebounds in each of the last three seasons. Although he doesn't provide much in the way of blocks, he makes up for it with his ability to rack up assists. He averaged a career-high 6.7 dimes during the 2020-21 season, further cementing himself as a top fantasy option. The Pacers decided it was time to move on from him, though, sending him to the Kings before the trade deadline last season. The Kings hoped he could help propel them to the playoffs, but they fell short yet again. Sabonis was not the reason they failed in their mission, considering he averaged 18.9 points, 12.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists over 15 games with the team. He'll now have a full offseason to adjust to his new surroundings and will be playing alongside another shot maker in Keegan Murray, who is expected to immediately step in as a significant contributor from behind the arc during his rookie season. The Kings also added Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk, two additional shooters who could boost Sabonis' assist totals. Sabonis has one of the highest floors in fantasy among big men, making him an excellent selection in the second or third round of drafts.
There's little debate that Davis is among the game's most talented big men, but his inability to stay healthy has put a significant dent in his fantasy value during the past two campaigns. Last season, he played in only 40 of the Lakers' 82 contests after missing exactly half of the team's games in 2020-21. The impact of his absences was especially painful in fantasy last season, as he played in only three contests beyond the All-Star break. When he was on the court, Davis' offensive numbers -- 23.2 points per game on 53.2 percent shooting from the field -- were in line with his career output. However, he has inexplicably fallen off as a free-throw shooter over the past two years, shooting a then-career-worst 73.8 percent from the line two campaigns ago before falling even further to 71.3 percent last season. His three-point shooting has also taken a hit, and he made an ugly 18.6 percent of his tries from beyond the arc during his most recent campaign. On a positive note, Davis bounced back from a down season in the blocks department in 2020-21 to register 2.3 swats per contest last year, and he pulled down nearly 10 rebounds per game. Davis is one of the few players on the Lakers who is locked in with the organization for multiple seasons, and the team's success next year should again primarily ride on the shoulders of him and LeBron James. From a fantasy perspective, Davis' combination of offensive production and difference-making defensive numbers are salivating. Any questions about his value revolve far more around health than talent.
There's little debate that Davis is among the game's most talented big men, but his inability to stay healthy has put a significant dent in his fantasy value during the past two campaigns. Last season, he played in only 40 of the Lakers' 82 contests after missing exactly half of the team's games in 2020-21. The impact of his absences was especially painful in fantasy last season, as he played in only three contests beyond the All-Star break. When he was on the court, Davis' offensive numbers -- 23.2 points per game on 53.2 percent shooting from the field -- were in line with his career output. However, he has inexplicably fallen off as a free-throw shooter over the past two years, shooting a then-career-worst 73.8 percent from the line two campaigns ago before falling even further to 71.3 percent last season. His three-point shooting has also taken a hit, and he made an ugly 18.6 percent of his tries from beyond the arc during his most recent campaign. On a positive note, Davis bounced back from a down season in the blocks department in 2020-21 to register 2.3 swats per contest last year, and he pulled down nearly 10 rebounds per game. Davis is one of the few players on the Lakers who is locked in with the organization for multiple seasons, and the team's success next year should again primarily ride on the shoulders of him and LeBron James. From a fantasy perspective, Davis' combination of offensive production and difference-making defensive numbers are salivating. Any questions about his value revolve far more around health than talent.
Durant was the talk of the town this offseason, demanding a trade off the Nets in early August, something that has since been rescinded. From a fantasy perspective, Durant is coming off another strong season in which he compiled 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.9 blocks and 2.1 three-pointers per game. Those numbers were good enough to see him end the campaign as the second-best player in fantasy basketball on a per-game basis in eight-category leagues. Now seemingly locked in with the Nets, Durant feels like a relatively safe target. Although the team has added some depth pieces, such as T.J. Warren and Royce O'Neale, Durant is clearly still going to demand the ball, and along with Kyrie Irving, he forms one of the best one-two punches in the NBA. With the team pushing hard for an NBA title, Durant should be able to replicate his 2021-22 production, placing him firmly at the top of draft boards as a top-five target. From there, managers will need to cross their fingers that he can stay relatively healthy throughout the season.
Durant was the talk of the town this offseason, demanding a trade off the Nets in early August, something that has since been rescinded. From a fantasy perspective, Durant is coming off another strong season in which he compiled 29.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.9 blocks and 2.1 three-pointers per game. Those numbers were good enough to see him end the campaign as the second-best player in fantasy basketball on a per-game basis in eight-category leagues. Now seemingly locked in with the Nets, Durant feels like a relatively safe target. Although the team has added some depth pieces, such as T.J. Warren and Royce O'Neale, Durant is clearly still going to demand the ball, and along with Kyrie Irving, he forms one of the best one-two punches in the NBA. With the team pushing hard for an NBA title, Durant should be able to replicate his 2021-22 production, placing him firmly at the top of draft boards as a top-five target. From there, managers will need to cross their fingers that he can stay relatively healthy throughout the season.
When the Bulls turned things over to new management, they wasted no time trying to remake the roster. The first significant move they made was acquiring center Nikola Vucevic from the Magic during the 2020-21 season. While he couldn't get them into the playoffs, he immediately added legitimacy to the team, forming a formidable one-two punch with Zach LaVine. The Bulls weren't done yet and made two big splashes heading into the 2021-22 season. One was acquiring point guard Lonzo Ball in a sign-and-trade with the Pelicans. The other was bringing over DeRozan from the Spurs in another sign and trade. He would have arguably the best season of his career, which is not something you normally see from a player who had been in the league for more than a decade. With averages of 27.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists while shooting 50.4 percent from the field, DeRozan was one of the biggest pleasant surprises in fantasy. However, it should be noted that Ball played in only 35 games because of a knee injury, and LaVine also battled a knee injury that limited him at times. Expecting DeRozan to duplicate his scoring average and 31.8 percent usage rate with a healthy Ball and LaVine in tow might be unwise. Still, he's going to have a leading role for the Bulls, making him a worthy early-round selection.
When the Bulls turned things over to new management, they wasted no time trying to remake the roster. The first significant move they made was acquiring center Nikola Vucevic from the Magic during the 2020-21 season. While he couldn't get them into the playoffs, he immediately added legitimacy to the team, forming a formidable one-two punch with Zach LaVine. The Bulls weren't done yet and made two big splashes heading into the 2021-22 season. One was acquiring point guard Lonzo Ball in a sign-and-trade with the Pelicans. The other was bringing over DeRozan from the Spurs in another sign and trade. He would have arguably the best season of his career, which is not something you normally see from a player who had been in the league for more than a decade. With averages of 27.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists while shooting 50.4 percent from the field, DeRozan was one of the biggest pleasant surprises in fantasy. However, it should be noted that Ball played in only 35 games because of a knee injury, and LaVine also battled a knee injury that limited him at times. Expecting DeRozan to duplicate his scoring average and 31.8 percent usage rate with a healthy Ball and LaVine in tow might be unwise. Still, he's going to have a leading role for the Bulls, making him a worthy early-round selection.
Curry added to his already-Hall-of-Fame resume last season, claiming the 2022 Finals MVP award - his first. That said, Curry's regular season was a bit up and down. He still finished seventh in per-game fantasy production, but December and January were tough months for managers leaning on Curry. In those 27 games, he shot just 39.4 percent from the field. Curry made up for it with a scorching hot February and March (49.8 percent), but the full-season result was still just 43.7 percent shooting from the field - the lowest mark of his career and a significant drop-off from the 48.2 percent mark he hit in 2020-21. The veteran guard also took fewer shots, with Klay Thompson returning to the fold after two years on the sidelines. Decreased efficiency and volume led to Curry's points per game dropping from 32.0 to 25.5, which is what caused him to rank outside of the top five in per-game fantasy production for the first time since 2011-12. It's understandable if fantasy managers have concerns about Curry heading into his age-34 season, especially coming off his worst shooting year from the field and three. However, he demonstrated in the playoffs that he's still one of the league's best players. In the vast majority of fantasy drafts, he'll be selected in the top five, where he's finished most of his career.
Curry added to his already-Hall-of-Fame resume last season, claiming the 2022 Finals MVP award - his first. That said, Curry's regular season was a bit up and down. He still finished seventh in per-game fantasy production, but December and January were tough months for managers leaning on Curry. In those 27 games, he shot just 39.4 percent from the field. Curry made up for it with a scorching hot February and March (49.8 percent), but the full-season result was still just 43.7 percent shooting from the field - the lowest mark of his career and a significant drop-off from the 48.2 percent mark he hit in 2020-21. The veteran guard also took fewer shots, with Klay Thompson returning to the fold after two years on the sidelines. Decreased efficiency and volume led to Curry's points per game dropping from 32.0 to 25.5, which is what caused him to rank outside of the top five in per-game fantasy production for the first time since 2011-12. It's understandable if fantasy managers have concerns about Curry heading into his age-34 season, especially coming off his worst shooting year from the field and three. However, he demonstrated in the playoffs that he's still one of the league's best players. In the vast majority of fantasy drafts, he'll be selected in the top five, where he's finished most of his career.
Even in a massively disappointing season for the Lakers, James once again defied Father Time, putting together one of his finest campaigns on a per-game statistical basis. The ageless veteran averaged 30.3 points per contest -- his first season over the 30-point threshold since 2007-08. James earned that mark by averaging a career-best 2.9 three-pointers per game and shooting an efficient 52.4 percent from the field. He even improved from the charity stripe, making 75.6 percent of his free throws -- his highest rate since 2011-12. Though his playmaking dipped a bit to 6.2 assists per game, James put up his usual substantial numbers on the boards (8.2 RPG) and even averaged over a block per contest for the first time in 12 seasons. That said, James' fantasy value was impacted by his inability to stay healthy. He often played hurt and sat out 26 games, marking the third time in four seasons that he's played in fewer than 60 contests. The impact of his injuries was especially felt during the fantasy playoffs, as James missed eight of the Lakers' final 10 games. Los Angeles appears increasingly unlikely to make any major additions in the offseason, so James will probably be counted on to carry a heavy load again next to the similarly injury-plagued Anthony Davis and the enigmatic Russell Westbrook. Until he shows tangible signs of a decline in play, it would be imprudent to count James out of being a prodigiously productive player when he's on the court. The question fantasy managers have to wrestle with in deciding how high to draft him is whether the injury risk is worth the per-game reward.
Even in a massively disappointing season for the Lakers, James once again defied Father Time, putting together one of his finest campaigns on a per-game statistical basis. The ageless veteran averaged 30.3 points per contest -- his first season over the 30-point threshold since 2007-08. James earned that mark by averaging a career-best 2.9 three-pointers per game and shooting an efficient 52.4 percent from the field. He even improved from the charity stripe, making 75.6 percent of his free throws -- his highest rate since 2011-12. Though his playmaking dipped a bit to 6.2 assists per game, James put up his usual substantial numbers on the boards (8.2 RPG) and even averaged over a block per contest for the first time in 12 seasons. That said, James' fantasy value was impacted by his inability to stay healthy. He often played hurt and sat out 26 games, marking the third time in four seasons that he's played in fewer than 60 contests. The impact of his injuries was especially felt during the fantasy playoffs, as James missed eight of the Lakers' final 10 games. Los Angeles appears increasingly unlikely to make any major additions in the offseason, so James will probably be counted on to carry a heavy load again next to the similarly injury-plagued Anthony Davis and the enigmatic Russell Westbrook. Until he shows tangible signs of a decline in play, it would be imprudent to count James out of being a prodigiously productive player when he's on the court. The question fantasy managers have to wrestle with in deciding how high to draft him is whether the injury risk is worth the per-game reward.
Towns again shined last season, averaging 24.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.0 three-pointers. Though those numbers were slightly down compared to the previous campaign, the big man was a more valuable fantasy asset because he stayed healthy. After missing significant time each of the prior two seasons, Towns played in 74 of Minnesota's 82 games last year, with most of his missed time coming from entering the league's health and safety protocols in late December. Though Towns doesn't put up the assist numbers of Nikola Jokic and falls a little short of the scoring output of Joel Embiid, his ability to shoot the ball from deep exceeds that of his fellow elite big men. Towns proved his shooting prowess in last year's Three-Point Contest during All-Star Weekend, becoming the first center ever to win the shootout. During the regular season, he was one of only three players -- and the only center -- to average at least two triples per contest and shoot over 50 percent from the field overall. And Towns contributes on defense as well; he's averaged over a block per contest in each of his seven NBA seasons and posted a steal per game last year, to boot. The big question fantasy managers will need to consider when deciding where to draft Towns for the coming campaign is how the addition of Rudy Gobert will impact his numbers. Gobert tends to clog up the lanes and dominate the boards, so it wouldn't be surprising for Towns' rebounds and blocks to dip a bit. On the other hand, Towns should have even more opportunities to space the floor and fire away from deep, which could be a boon if he can keep his percentage from three-point range above 40 percent, as he has four of the past five seasons.
Towns again shined last season, averaging 24.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.0 three-pointers. Though those numbers were slightly down compared to the previous campaign, the big man was a more valuable fantasy asset because he stayed healthy. After missing significant time each of the prior two seasons, Towns played in 74 of Minnesota's 82 games last year, with most of his missed time coming from entering the league's health and safety protocols in late December. Though Towns doesn't put up the assist numbers of Nikola Jokic and falls a little short of the scoring output of Joel Embiid, his ability to shoot the ball from deep exceeds that of his fellow elite big men. Towns proved his shooting prowess in last year's Three-Point Contest during All-Star Weekend, becoming the first center ever to win the shootout. During the regular season, he was one of only three players -- and the only center -- to average at least two triples per contest and shoot over 50 percent from the field overall. And Towns contributes on defense as well; he's averaged over a block per contest in each of his seven NBA seasons and posted a steal per game last year, to boot. The big question fantasy managers will need to consider when deciding where to draft Towns for the coming campaign is how the addition of Rudy Gobert will impact his numbers. Gobert tends to clog up the lanes and dominate the boards, so it wouldn't be surprising for Towns' rebounds and blocks to dip a bit. On the other hand, Towns should have even more opportunities to space the floor and fire away from deep, which could be a boon if he can keep his percentage from three-point range above 40 percent, as he has four of the past five seasons.
Young continued to shine as one of the league's top point guards last season, ranking fourth among qualified players with 27.2 points per game and third with 9.7 assists per contest. He enjoyed his most efficient shooting campaign to date, making 46.0 percent of his attempts from the field, 38.2 percent from three-point range and 90.4 percent from the charity stripe -- each of which was a career-best mark. The increased percentages and general good health -- Young played in 76 of 82 games -- pushed the fourth-year star into top-five territory in terms of overall fantasy production. However, it may be difficult for Young to replicate his numbers in the coming campaign now that Atlanta has added Dejounte Murray to its backcourt. The move was partially made to give the Hawks another ballhandler and playmaker, which sounds good from a team perspective but not so much from a fantasy angle. That's not to say that Young should be expected to experience a steep statistical drop -- he's too good for that. However, he probably isn't going to post a 33.3 percent usage rate (fourth-highest in the league) again now that he's sharing the backcourt with Murray, whose usage was at 26.8 percent last season. If Young can maintain his increased shooting efficiency and mesh well with Murray, he should still rank among the league's most productive point guards. Still, it's logical to anticipate a slight reduction from last season's gaudy stats.
Young continued to shine as one of the league's top point guards last season, ranking fourth among qualified players with 27.2 points per game and third with 9.7 assists per contest. He enjoyed his most efficient shooting campaign to date, making 46.0 percent of his attempts from the field, 38.2 percent from three-point range and 90.4 percent from the charity stripe -- each of which was a career-best mark. The increased percentages and general good health -- Young played in 76 of 82 games -- pushed the fourth-year star into top-five territory in terms of overall fantasy production. However, it may be difficult for Young to replicate his numbers in the coming campaign now that Atlanta has added Dejounte Murray to its backcourt. The move was partially made to give the Hawks another ballhandler and playmaker, which sounds good from a team perspective but not so much from a fantasy angle. That's not to say that Young should be expected to experience a steep statistical drop -- he's too good for that. However, he probably isn't going to post a 33.3 percent usage rate (fourth-highest in the league) again now that he's sharing the backcourt with Murray, whose usage was at 26.8 percent last season. If Young can maintain his increased shooting efficiency and mesh well with Murray, he should still rank among the league's most productive point guards. Still, it's logical to anticipate a slight reduction from last season's gaudy stats.
The Pelicans underwent significant changes last season. Lonzo Ball was sent to the Bulls in a sign-and-trade, Jonas Valanciunas came over from the Grizzlies, and Zion Williamson started out on the sidelines. Williamson would end up not appearing in a single game, leaving Ingram to shoulder more of the scoring load. New Orleans eventually brought in CJ McCollum to help offset the loss of Ball, but Ingram still finished with terrific averages of 22.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.3 three-pointers per game. With a full season of McCollum in the fold, and Williamson looking ready to return, Ingram could see a decline in two areas. First, it will likely be difficult for him to duplicate what was a career-high 29.3 percent usage rate. Second, his assists totals could decline. Not only is McCollum a good passer, but Williamson averaged 3.7 assists during the 2020-21 season. Ingram's overall averages could still make him a valuable fantasy option, but asking him to match his numbers from last season might be too much. On the bright side, he's an asset with his efficiency, shooting at least 46.1 percent from the field and 82.6 percent from the free-throw line in each of the last three seasons.
The Pelicans underwent significant changes last season. Lonzo Ball was sent to the Bulls in a sign-and-trade, Jonas Valanciunas came over from the Grizzlies, and Zion Williamson started out on the sidelines. Williamson would end up not appearing in a single game, leaving Ingram to shoulder more of the scoring load. New Orleans eventually brought in CJ McCollum to help offset the loss of Ball, but Ingram still finished with terrific averages of 22.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.3 three-pointers per game. With a full season of McCollum in the fold, and Williamson looking ready to return, Ingram could see a decline in two areas. First, it will likely be difficult for him to duplicate what was a career-high 29.3 percent usage rate. Second, his assists totals could decline. Not only is McCollum a good passer, but Williamson averaged 3.7 assists during the 2020-21 season. Ingram's overall averages could still make him a valuable fantasy option, but asking him to match his numbers from last season might be too much. On the bright side, he's an asset with his efficiency, shooting at least 46.1 percent from the field and 82.6 percent from the free-throw line in each of the last three seasons.
Booker is coming off his third straight All-Star appearance and first All-NBA selection (First Team). The Suns have leaned on Booker his entire career, and he's delivered as one of the most consistent shooting guards over the past four years. He was ninth in usage rate last year (32.0%), and he has the sixth-highest usage rate of all active NBA players (30.1%). Last season, in 34.5 minutes per game, he averaged career highs in points (26.8), rebounds (5.0) and steals (1.1). He also added 4.8 assists and matched his career high for made threes per game (2.7). For fantasy managers playing in nine-category leagues, it's also noteworthy that Booker is learning to cut down on his turnovers. After averaging 3.5 giveaways in the prior five seasons, Booker handed the ball over just 2.4 times per game last year. As Chris Paul ages, Booker will likely take on more responsibilities, and he has room to improve since he's just 25 years old. Whether that manifests in more points or assists is unclear at this point, but we should see more from Booker this year than last. He ranked 21st in per-game fantasy production during 2021-22 - his fourth time in the top 25. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable taking him in the mid-to-late second round, given his high floor and room for growth.
Booker is coming off his third straight All-Star appearance and first All-NBA selection (First Team). The Suns have leaned on Booker his entire career, and he's delivered as one of the most consistent shooting guards over the past four years. He was ninth in usage rate last year (32.0%), and he has the sixth-highest usage rate of all active NBA players (30.1%). Last season, in 34.5 minutes per game, he averaged career highs in points (26.8), rebounds (5.0) and steals (1.1). He also added 4.8 assists and matched his career high for made threes per game (2.7). For fantasy managers playing in nine-category leagues, it's also noteworthy that Booker is learning to cut down on his turnovers. After averaging 3.5 giveaways in the prior five seasons, Booker handed the ball over just 2.4 times per game last year. As Chris Paul ages, Booker will likely take on more responsibilities, and he has room to improve since he's just 25 years old. Whether that manifests in more points or assists is unclear at this point, but we should see more from Booker this year than last. He ranked 21st in per-game fantasy production during 2021-22 - his fourth time in the top 25. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable taking him in the mid-to-late second round, given his high floor and room for growth.
Butler had another regular season in which he missed a lot of time. He appeared in just 57 games, marking the third straight season in which he has failed to play at least 60 games. He hasn't topped 65 games since the 2018-19 season and hasn't played at least 70 games since he was a member of the Bulls. When he was on the floor last season, he was great, averaging 21.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He was an asset with his percentages, shooting 48.0 percent from the field and 87.0 percent from the free-throw line. There are limitations to his game, though, such as him averaging exactly 0.5 three-pointers per game in each of the last three seasons. The Heat want to win a title, so they want to make sure Butler is healthy for when the playoffs roll around, not push him to play in as many games as possible during the regular season. That makes him a somewhat risky fantasy option since his name recognition alone will likely require managers to select him early in drafts if they want him on their squad.
Butler had another regular season in which he missed a lot of time. He appeared in just 57 games, marking the third straight season in which he has failed to play at least 60 games. He hasn't topped 65 games since the 2018-19 season and hasn't played at least 70 games since he was a member of the Bulls. When he was on the floor last season, he was great, averaging 21.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He was an asset with his percentages, shooting 48.0 percent from the field and 87.0 percent from the free-throw line. There are limitations to his game, though, such as him averaging exactly 0.5 three-pointers per game in each of the last three seasons. The Heat want to win a title, so they want to make sure Butler is healthy for when the playoffs roll around, not push him to play in as many games as possible during the regular season. That makes him a somewhat risky fantasy option since his name recognition alone will likely require managers to select him early in drafts if they want him on their squad.
Fantasy managers who drafted Lillard last year got burned. The All-Star point guard played in just 29 games in a lost year for the Trail Blazer, who was dealing with chronic abdominal pain that clearly affected him when he played. He shot just 40.2 percent from the field and 32.4 percent from three - both career lows. He underwent surgery in mid-January and never returned to the court. When it was clear Lillard wasn't returning, Portland made some major roster changes to tank the remainder of the season. The biggest move was dealing Lillard's longtime backcourt mate, CJ McCollum, to the Pelicans. Josh Hart represented the best returning player in the deal and Hart could start at small forward in 2022-23. Portland also dealt for Jerami Grant while re-signing both Anfernee Simons and Jusuf Nurkic. With McCollum out of the picture, optimistic fantasy managers could entertain the idea of Lillard walking into the highest usage rate of his career. His prior two years were excellent, averaging 29.4 points on 46/40/91 shooting, 7.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 36.6 minutes. That resulted in him ranking fifth in per-game fantasy production in 2019-20 and seventh in 2020-21. Given that the 32-year-old returned first-round value for four straight years before last, it's reasonable to draft him in the late first round. Some managers may be scared off by his injury and age, but his floor is extremely high given his skill and role within the Blazers' offense.
Fantasy managers who drafted Lillard last year got burned. The All-Star point guard played in just 29 games in a lost year for the Trail Blazer, who was dealing with chronic abdominal pain that clearly affected him when he played. He shot just 40.2 percent from the field and 32.4 percent from three - both career lows. He underwent surgery in mid-January and never returned to the court. When it was clear Lillard wasn't returning, Portland made some major roster changes to tank the remainder of the season. The biggest move was dealing Lillard's longtime backcourt mate, CJ McCollum, to the Pelicans. Josh Hart represented the best returning player in the deal and Hart could start at small forward in 2022-23. Portland also dealt for Jerami Grant while re-signing both Anfernee Simons and Jusuf Nurkic. With McCollum out of the picture, optimistic fantasy managers could entertain the idea of Lillard walking into the highest usage rate of his career. His prior two years were excellent, averaging 29.4 points on 46/40/91 shooting, 7.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 36.6 minutes. That resulted in him ranking fifth in per-game fantasy production in 2019-20 and seventh in 2020-21. Given that the 32-year-old returned first-round value for four straight years before last, it's reasonable to draft him in the late first round. Some managers may be scared off by his injury and age, but his floor is extremely high given his skill and role within the Blazers' offense.
The brief flashes that we've seen of Williamson have been impressive. He showed he can be a dominant fantasy force during the 2020-21 season, averaging 27.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 61.1 percent from the field. However, injuries have been a problem. He only appeared in 24 games during his rookie season, 61 during his sophomore campaign, and he didn't play at all last season. It appeared late in the season that he might have been healthy enough to play, and there was speculation that he might try to force his way out of New Orleans at some point. Those worries have been put to rest with him signing a five-year, $231 rookie maximum contract this summer. With big money in hand, all signs point to him being ready to play at the beginning of the season. He'll have the most talented group around him yet, with Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas all in the fold. There is plenty of injury concern that comes with drafting him, and he could sit out one game of back-to-back sets to begin the season. If you want him, though, you'll likely need to spend a second or third-round selection to add him to your roster.
The brief flashes that we've seen of Williamson have been impressive. He showed he can be a dominant fantasy force during the 2020-21 season, averaging 27.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 61.1 percent from the field. However, injuries have been a problem. He only appeared in 24 games during his rookie season, 61 during his sophomore campaign, and he didn't play at all last season. It appeared late in the season that he might have been healthy enough to play, and there was speculation that he might try to force his way out of New Orleans at some point. Those worries have been put to rest with him signing a five-year, $231 rookie maximum contract this summer. With big money in hand, all signs point to him being ready to play at the beginning of the season. He'll have the most talented group around him yet, with Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas all in the fold. There is plenty of injury concern that comes with drafting him, and he could sit out one game of back-to-back sets to begin the season. If you want him, though, you'll likely need to spend a second or third-round selection to add him to your roster.
During Boston's playoff run to the NBA Finals, it was often Jaylen Brown, and not Jayson Tatum, who led the Celtics. That said, both stars struggled with turnovers during the team's playoff success, demonstrating the need for Boston to acquire more playmaking skills. Enter Malcolm Brogdon, who should provide plenty of backcourt relief for both Marcus Smart and Brown. The addition might cause Brown's assists and turnovers to decline while opening up more easy scoring opportunities for the 2020-21 All-Star. With Brogdon and deadline acquisition Derrick White both in Boston for a full season, Brown might finally be able to play fewer than 33 minutes per game -- something that hasn't happened since 2018-19. Deep rosters are great for playoff runs but difficult for fantasy. In Brown's favor is coach Ime Udoka's preference for shallow rotations. At only 26 years of age come October, Brown still has upside and will be eager to return to the All-Star game after missing it last season. Look for continued production across the board from Brown in 2022-23. How many other ballers can provide 23-plus points, 6-plus rebounds, 2.5 made treys, 47-plus percent shooting and 1.1 steals per contest?
During Boston's playoff run to the NBA Finals, it was often Jaylen Brown, and not Jayson Tatum, who led the Celtics. That said, both stars struggled with turnovers during the team's playoff success, demonstrating the need for Boston to acquire more playmaking skills. Enter Malcolm Brogdon, who should provide plenty of backcourt relief for both Marcus Smart and Brown. The addition might cause Brown's assists and turnovers to decline while opening up more easy scoring opportunities for the 2020-21 All-Star. With Brogdon and deadline acquisition Derrick White both in Boston for a full season, Brown might finally be able to play fewer than 33 minutes per game -- something that hasn't happened since 2018-19. Deep rosters are great for playoff runs but difficult for fantasy. In Brown's favor is coach Ime Udoka's preference for shallow rotations. At only 26 years of age come October, Brown still has upside and will be eager to return to the All-Star game after missing it last season. Look for continued production across the board from Brown in 2022-23. How many other ballers can provide 23-plus points, 6-plus rebounds, 2.5 made treys, 47-plus percent shooting and 1.1 steals per contest?
Randle led the Knicks to an unexpected playoff run two seasons ago, setting career highs in points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers per game. He took a step backward in the scoring department last season, averaging 20.1 points and 1.7 three-pointers per game. The biggest culprit was his decline in efficiency, shooting 41.1 percent from the field, 75.6 percent from the free-throw line and 30.8 percent from three-point land. His decline from behind the arc was drastic because it was more than 10 percentage points lower than the previous season. Still, for those who played in points leagues, his averages of 20.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists were excellent. Things have changed in New York this summer, with Jalen Brunson being brought over from the Mavericks. Although he's not a traditional pass-first point guard, he'll have the ball in his hands a lot, which could lead to fewer assists for Randle. The Knicks are also armed with a bevy of first-round draft picks, which means more big moves could be on the horizon. With the team not needing to rely so much on Randle, he could see his usage rate decline. However, if he can improve his shooting percentages, his drop off in production might not be all that noteworthy.
Randle led the Knicks to an unexpected playoff run two seasons ago, setting career highs in points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers per game. He took a step backward in the scoring department last season, averaging 20.1 points and 1.7 three-pointers per game. The biggest culprit was his decline in efficiency, shooting 41.1 percent from the field, 75.6 percent from the free-throw line and 30.8 percent from three-point land. His decline from behind the arc was drastic because it was more than 10 percentage points lower than the previous season. Still, for those who played in points leagues, his averages of 20.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists were excellent. Things have changed in New York this summer, with Jalen Brunson being brought over from the Mavericks. Although he's not a traditional pass-first point guard, he'll have the ball in his hands a lot, which could lead to fewer assists for Randle. The Knicks are also armed with a bevy of first-round draft picks, which means more big moves could be on the horizon. With the team not needing to rely so much on Randle, he could see his usage rate decline. However, if he can improve his shooting percentages, his drop off in production might not be all that noteworthy.
After spending nine years in Utah, the Jazz traded Gobert to the Timberwolves this offseason in a blockbuster deal that netted the rebuilding Jazz a wealth of draft picks. The 27th overall in 2013 has established himself as an elite defensive center over the past six years. During that timespan, Gobert led the NBA in blocks once, rebounds once and field-goal percentage three times. Overall, he's averaged 14.8 points, 13.1 boards, 2.3 blocks and 1.4 assists on 67.3 percent shooting since 2016-17. In fantasy, he's held a fairly consistent per-game production ranking between 23rd and 39th. The new situation is interesting for the three-time All-Star, but his role will likely remain unchanged, especially on defense. He'll camp at the rim and swat away opponent shots with ease. Gobert's rebounding could dip slightly playing next to Karl-Anthony Towns, but he will likely still rank near the league leaders. Offensively, he'll remain a pick-and-roll option and an easy lob target for high-efficiency looks at the basket. Once again, he'll likely be a staple in most fantasy drafts' second or third rounds.
After spending nine years in Utah, the Jazz traded Gobert to the Timberwolves this offseason in a blockbuster deal that netted the rebuilding Jazz a wealth of draft picks. The 27th overall in 2013 has established himself as an elite defensive center over the past six years. During that timespan, Gobert led the NBA in blocks once, rebounds once and field-goal percentage three times. Overall, he's averaged 14.8 points, 13.1 boards, 2.3 blocks and 1.4 assists on 67.3 percent shooting since 2016-17. In fantasy, he's held a fairly consistent per-game production ranking between 23rd and 39th. The new situation is interesting for the three-time All-Star, but his role will likely remain unchanged, especially on defense. He'll camp at the rim and swat away opponent shots with ease. Gobert's rebounding could dip slightly playing next to Karl-Anthony Towns, but he will likely still rank near the league leaders. Offensively, he'll remain a pick-and-roll option and an easy lob target for high-efficiency looks at the basket. Once again, he'll likely be a staple in most fantasy drafts' second or third rounds.
Last season marked the center's first full campaign with the Bulls after he was traded to Chicago during the 2020-21 trade deadline. While he continued to put up strong counting stats -- 17.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks -- his efficiency took a significant and surprising step backward. In 2020-21, he slashed 48/40/84, and that dropped to 47/31/76 last year. However, most of that damage was done early in the season. In October, November and December, he shot just 42/35/64 for 15.8 points per game, which increased to 18.7 points per game on 50/29/82 shooting from January onward. Optimistic fantasy managers could assume the start of the year was simply an adjustment period for Vucevic, and his numbers in the final months of the season will be more representative of his future production. Ultimately, he'll still be a high-usage offensive option and is a walking 15-and-10 with a few assists thrown in. He ranked 37th in fantasy for per-game production last year, so managers who want to secure a high-floor center in the first few rounds can turn to the veteran.
Last season marked the center's first full campaign with the Bulls after he was traded to Chicago during the 2020-21 trade deadline. While he continued to put up strong counting stats -- 17.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks -- his efficiency took a significant and surprising step backward. In 2020-21, he slashed 48/40/84, and that dropped to 47/31/76 last year. However, most of that damage was done early in the season. In October, November and December, he shot just 42/35/64 for 15.8 points per game, which increased to 18.7 points per game on 50/29/82 shooting from January onward. Optimistic fantasy managers could assume the start of the year was simply an adjustment period for Vucevic, and his numbers in the final months of the season will be more representative of his future production. Ultimately, he'll still be a high-usage offensive option and is a walking 15-and-10 with a few assists thrown in. He ranked 37th in fantasy for per-game production last year, so managers who want to secure a high-floor center in the first few rounds can turn to the veteran.
Despite speculation that Beal would ask out of Washington, the three-time All-Star signed a five-year, $251 max contract with the Wizards during the offseason. After averaging a career-high 31.3 points per game in 2020-21, Beal crashed back down to Earth last season. He averaged just 23.2 points, and all of his shooting percentages dropped significantly. He also sprained his wrist and needed surgery in February, keeping him out for the remainder of the campaign. The result was 40 games played for Beal, and he ranked 46th in per-game fantasy production - a massive decline from the prior three seasons of top-13 finishes. Last season wasn't all bad - Beal reached a new career high for assists per game (6.6) - but it's possible his value needs to be recalibrated. He'll still be the No. 1 option in Washington, though the team traded for Kristaps Porzingis at last year's deadline, and Kyle Kuzma showed some nice upside, so Beal won't have to save the offense every possession. The 29-year-old guard probably won't be adding anything to his game, but he's not quite old enough for a serious decline to start, either. So, it's possible last season was a bit of a fluke, and he ups his efficiency in 2022-23. Beal's role is one of the most secure in the league, as well, so fantasy managers shouldn't worry about a small reach for him in the middle of the second round.
Despite speculation that Beal would ask out of Washington, the three-time All-Star signed a five-year, $251 max contract with the Wizards during the offseason. After averaging a career-high 31.3 points per game in 2020-21, Beal crashed back down to Earth last season. He averaged just 23.2 points, and all of his shooting percentages dropped significantly. He also sprained his wrist and needed surgery in February, keeping him out for the remainder of the campaign. The result was 40 games played for Beal, and he ranked 46th in per-game fantasy production - a massive decline from the prior three seasons of top-13 finishes. Last season wasn't all bad - Beal reached a new career high for assists per game (6.6) - but it's possible his value needs to be recalibrated. He'll still be the No. 1 option in Washington, though the team traded for Kristaps Porzingis at last year's deadline, and Kyle Kuzma showed some nice upside, so Beal won't have to save the offense every possession. The 29-year-old guard probably won't be adding anything to his game, but he's not quite old enough for a serious decline to start, either. So, it's possible last season was a bit of a fluke, and he ups his efficiency in 2022-23. Beal's role is one of the most secure in the league, as well, so fantasy managers shouldn't worry about a small reach for him in the middle of the second round.
The Spurs decided to take their franchise in another direction heading into the 2021-22 season, trading DeMar DeRozan to the Bulls. They were left with a stripped-down roster that clearly had an eye on the future. Murray became the team leader, logging 35 minutes per game and recording a 27.3 percent usage rate. With the ball in his hands so much, he was a fantasy force with averages of 21.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 9.2 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.4 three-pointers per game. While many teams would love to build around a young player like Murray, the Spurs decided to descend further into the basement of the Western Conference by shipping Murray to the Hawks for, essentially, a bevy of draft picks. Murray now finds himself not only on a team with championship aspirations, but playing alongside a usage rate monster in Trae Young. It's fair to expect Murray to see a significant decline in his usage rate, as well as a drop in assists without the ball in his hands as often. If fantasy managers draft him with the expectation that he can match the numbers that he produced with the Spurs, they will likely be disappointed.
The Spurs decided to take their franchise in another direction heading into the 2021-22 season, trading DeMar DeRozan to the Bulls. They were left with a stripped-down roster that clearly had an eye on the future. Murray became the team leader, logging 35 minutes per game and recording a 27.3 percent usage rate. With the ball in his hands so much, he was a fantasy force with averages of 21.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 9.2 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.4 three-pointers per game. While many teams would love to build around a young player like Murray, the Spurs decided to descend further into the basement of the Western Conference by shipping Murray to the Hawks for, essentially, a bevy of draft picks. Murray now finds himself not only on a team with championship aspirations, but playing alongside a usage rate monster in Trae Young. It's fair to expect Murray to see a significant decline in his usage rate, as well as a drop in assists without the ball in his hands as often. If fantasy managers draft him with the expectation that he can match the numbers that he produced with the Spurs, they will likely be disappointed.
Bridges can sometimes be overlooked in the Suns' rotation that includes Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton. Still, Bridges proved once again last season that he can provide reliable fantasy results. Durability wasn't a concern for the 25-year-old last year, as he appeared in all 82 games, marking the second time he's done so over four seasons in the NBA. He also averaged a career-high 34.8 minutes per game -- the highest mark on the team. After shooting 42.5 percent from beyond the arc during the 2020-21 campaign, Bridges regressed slightly last season, converting 36.9 percent of his attempts from three-point range. However, he was still efficient from the floor overall, draining 53.4 percent of his field-goal attempts despite attempting a career-high 10.5 field goals per game. As a result, the 2018 first-rounder averaged a career-high 14.2 points to go with 4.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Bridges cooled off slightly during the postseason last year, but he was consistently productive during the regular season. Bridges is among the top three-and-D options in the league and should have ample opportunities to contribute during the 2022-23 season.
Bridges can sometimes be overlooked in the Suns' rotation that includes Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton. Still, Bridges proved once again last season that he can provide reliable fantasy results. Durability wasn't a concern for the 25-year-old last year, as he appeared in all 82 games, marking the second time he's done so over four seasons in the NBA. He also averaged a career-high 34.8 minutes per game -- the highest mark on the team. After shooting 42.5 percent from beyond the arc during the 2020-21 campaign, Bridges regressed slightly last season, converting 36.9 percent of his attempts from three-point range. However, he was still efficient from the floor overall, draining 53.4 percent of his field-goal attempts despite attempting a career-high 10.5 field goals per game. As a result, the 2018 first-rounder averaged a career-high 14.2 points to go with 4.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Bridges cooled off slightly during the postseason last year, but he was consistently productive during the regular season. Bridges is among the top three-and-D options in the league and should have ample opportunities to contribute during the 2022-23 season.
Allen looks like one of the best young centers in the league and an important building block for the Cavaliers. He averaged a career-high 32 minutes per game last season, putting up averages of 16.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. He also shot an impressive 67.7 percent from the field, while not hurting fantasy managers with his 70.8 percent mark from the free-throw line. Although many teams in the league have shifted towards deploying smaller lineups, the Cavaliers are locked into going big with Allen starting alongside Evan Mobley. They clearly had success with that formula, making the playoffs last season despite a rash of injuries. Allen was no exception, playing just 56 games of his own. He doesn't have a history of injuries, though, playing at least 70 games in each of his first three seasons in the league. Allen might not be in the top-tier of fantasy centers, but he comes with an extremely high floor, making him someone worthy of an early-round selection.
Allen looks like one of the best young centers in the league and an important building block for the Cavaliers. He averaged a career-high 32 minutes per game last season, putting up averages of 16.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. He also shot an impressive 67.7 percent from the field, while not hurting fantasy managers with his 70.8 percent mark from the free-throw line. Although many teams in the league have shifted towards deploying smaller lineups, the Cavaliers are locked into going big with Allen starting alongside Evan Mobley. They clearly had success with that formula, making the playoffs last season despite a rash of injuries. Allen was no exception, playing just 56 games of his own. He doesn't have a history of injuries, though, playing at least 70 games in each of his first three seasons in the league. Allen might not be in the top-tier of fantasy centers, but he comes with an extremely high floor, making him someone worthy of an early-round selection.
Edwards made significant improvements during his second season in the NBA. He increased his production defensively and as a passer, averaging 1.5 steals and 3.8 assists per game. His efficiency also leaped forward -- 44.1 percent from the field and 78.6 percent from the free-throw line. Plus, after shooting 32.9 percent from behind the arc during his rookie campaign, he improved to 35.7 percent last season. The result was a playoff run that seems to have invigorated the franchise. Edwards didn't slow down in the six-game series against the Grizzlies, where he averaged 25.2 points on 46/40/82 shooting, 4.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks in 37.8 minutes. The Wolves continued to build up the roster around him, acquiring defensive-minded center Rudy Gobert from the Jazz. As far as fantasy goes, Gobert is a nice addition for Edwards in that he won't eat into his usage rate. Their other noteworthy addition was Kyle Anderson -- another player who doesn't look for his own shot often. Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns are the clear driving forces behind the Timberwolves' offensive attack, and fantasy managers should expect Edwards to continue improving during his third season. He's on an All-Star trajectory and will probably be a consistent pick in the second and third rounds of most fantasy drafts.
Edwards made significant improvements during his second season in the NBA. He increased his production defensively and as a passer, averaging 1.5 steals and 3.8 assists per game. His efficiency also leaped forward -- 44.1 percent from the field and 78.6 percent from the free-throw line. Plus, after shooting 32.9 percent from behind the arc during his rookie campaign, he improved to 35.7 percent last season. The result was a playoff run that seems to have invigorated the franchise. Edwards didn't slow down in the six-game series against the Grizzlies, where he averaged 25.2 points on 46/40/82 shooting, 4.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks in 37.8 minutes. The Wolves continued to build up the roster around him, acquiring defensive-minded center Rudy Gobert from the Jazz. As far as fantasy goes, Gobert is a nice addition for Edwards in that he won't eat into his usage rate. Their other noteworthy addition was Kyle Anderson -- another player who doesn't look for his own shot often. Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns are the clear driving forces behind the Timberwolves' offensive attack, and fantasy managers should expect Edwards to continue improving during his third season. He's on an All-Star trajectory and will probably be a consistent pick in the second and third rounds of most fantasy drafts.
Last year, for the fifth consecutive season, Adebayo increased his points per game, shots per game and steals per game. He averaged a double-double at 19.1 points and 10.1 rebounds to go along with 3.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks per night. Playing a huge role in Miami's perennial success, Adebayo stands as the lone source of interior grit after P.J. Tucker's migration to Philadelphia. Dewayne Dedmon marks the only source of floor spacing depth behind Adebayo. Playing time could hit an all-time high for the 26-year-old. If Miami asks him to anchor the basket more often, an uptick in rebounding and shot blocking is likely. He's ranked between 21st and 34th in eight-category per-game fantasy production over the past three years, so drafting him in that range again -- probably closer to the higher end -- makes sense this season.
Last year, for the fifth consecutive season, Adebayo increased his points per game, shots per game and steals per game. He averaged a double-double at 19.1 points and 10.1 rebounds to go along with 3.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks per night. Playing a huge role in Miami's perennial success, Adebayo stands as the lone source of interior grit after P.J. Tucker's migration to Philadelphia. Dewayne Dedmon marks the only source of floor spacing depth behind Adebayo. Playing time could hit an all-time high for the 26-year-old. If Miami asks him to anchor the basket more often, an uptick in rebounding and shot blocking is likely. He's ranked between 21st and 34th in eight-category per-game fantasy production over the past three years, so drafting him in that range again -- probably closer to the higher end -- makes sense this season.
After having never averaged more than 25 minutes per game during his first three seasons in the league, the Mavericks unleashed Brunson by letting him average 32 minutes last season. He made the most of his expanded role, providing 16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.2 three-pointers per game. From a fantasy perspective, what really set him apart is that he shot 50.2 percent from the field and 84.0 percent from the free-throw line. When the Mavericks began their playoff run, they did so with Luka Doncic injured. Brunson stepped up in his absence, averaging 32.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.3 three-pointers across three games against the Jazz, shooting 50.7 percent from the field in the process. It showed the type of upside he could have in a leading role, which may have been a key factor in him ultimately cashing in with a big payday with the Knicks. Now, he's an undisputed starter who will be one of the vital building blocks for the Knicks going forward. Julius Randle and RJ Barrett will be his main running mates, and while both are very good players, neither of them garner anywhere near the usage that Doncic does. As the starting point guard and No. 1 option for the Knicks, Brunson will command a significant draft day price.
After having never averaged more than 25 minutes per game during his first three seasons in the league, the Mavericks unleashed Brunson by letting him average 32 minutes last season. He made the most of his expanded role, providing 16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.2 three-pointers per game. From a fantasy perspective, what really set him apart is that he shot 50.2 percent from the field and 84.0 percent from the free-throw line. When the Mavericks began their playoff run, they did so with Luka Doncic injured. Brunson stepped up in his absence, averaging 32.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.3 three-pointers across three games against the Jazz, shooting 50.7 percent from the field in the process. It showed the type of upside he could have in a leading role, which may have been a key factor in him ultimately cashing in with a big payday with the Knicks. Now, he's an undisputed starter who will be one of the vital building blocks for the Knicks going forward. Julius Randle and RJ Barrett will be his main running mates, and while both are very good players, neither of them garner anywhere near the usage that Doncic does. As the starting point guard and No. 1 option for the Knicks, Brunson will command a significant draft day price.
The fourth overall pick out of Florida State in the 2021 NBA Draft, Barnes played his way into 2021-22 Rookie of the Year honors. He came out of the gates hot, scoring in double figures in his first eight appearances, and he didn't slow down The versatile forward averaged 15.3 points on 49/30/74 shooting, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 combined steals-plus-blocks. He had plenty of big games, most notably a performance in a 36-point win over the Nets where the rookie posted 28 points (12-14 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 3-4 FT), 16 rebounds (nine offensive), five steals, four assists and one block in 34 minutes. The overall result was Barnes ranking 70th in per-game fantasy value. The next step for the 21-year-old will be improving his shooting. He took a modest 2.6 threes per game and made them at 30.1 percent, and his free-throw percentage (73.5) leaves a bit to be desired. With the rest of his game already polished and the Raptors running a lot of small-ball, his lack of floor-spacing isn't a major issue for the team. He should make improvements overall this season, but Barnes' ceiling is a bit capped given that Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet are above him in the pecking order, and OG Anunoby gets his fair share of touches as well. Barnes should be drafted before pick 70, but expecting a leap into All-Star status might be unrealistic.
The fourth overall pick out of Florida State in the 2021 NBA Draft, Barnes played his way into 2021-22 Rookie of the Year honors. He came out of the gates hot, scoring in double figures in his first eight appearances, and he didn't slow down The versatile forward averaged 15.3 points on 49/30/74 shooting, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 combined steals-plus-blocks. He had plenty of big games, most notably a performance in a 36-point win over the Nets where the rookie posted 28 points (12-14 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 3-4 FT), 16 rebounds (nine offensive), five steals, four assists and one block in 34 minutes. The overall result was Barnes ranking 70th in per-game fantasy value. The next step for the 21-year-old will be improving his shooting. He took a modest 2.6 threes per game and made them at 30.1 percent, and his free-throw percentage (73.5) leaves a bit to be desired. With the rest of his game already polished and the Raptors running a lot of small-ball, his lack of floor-spacing isn't a major issue for the team. He should make improvements overall this season, but Barnes' ceiling is a bit capped given that Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet are above him in the pecking order, and OG Anunoby gets his fair share of touches as well. Barnes should be drafted before pick 70, but expecting a leap into All-Star status might be unrealistic.
Ball immediately impacted fantasy basketball during his rookie season, showing that he can be a significant contributor in multiple categories. He took his game to another level during his second season in the league, averaging 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game. While his 42.9 percent shooting from the field was underwhelming, he shot 87.2 percent from the free-throw line, which was an increase of more than 11 percentage points compared to his rookie season. He also put up 2.9 three-pointers per game while shooting 38.9 percent from deep. To top it off, he played in 75 games, making his contributions even more valuable. The Hornets have not made any significant moves around him during the offseason, with their most notable addition being the selection of center Mark Williams in the draft. They are also now dealing with uncertainty surrounding restricted free agent Miles Bridges, who was arrested for felony domestic violence. All of the stars looked to be aligning for another big season from Ball, but a preseason Grade 2 ankle sprain figures to cost him some time to open 2022-23, likely dinging his fantasy value. Still, there's plenty of risk/reward with targeting Ball in the second or third round.
Ball immediately impacted fantasy basketball during his rookie season, showing that he can be a significant contributor in multiple categories. He took his game to another level during his second season in the league, averaging 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game. While his 42.9 percent shooting from the field was underwhelming, he shot 87.2 percent from the free-throw line, which was an increase of more than 11 percentage points compared to his rookie season. He also put up 2.9 three-pointers per game while shooting 38.9 percent from deep. To top it off, he played in 75 games, making his contributions even more valuable. The Hornets have not made any significant moves around him during the offseason, with their most notable addition being the selection of center Mark Williams in the draft. They are also now dealing with uncertainty surrounding restricted free agent Miles Bridges, who was arrested for felony domestic violence. All of the stars looked to be aligning for another big season from Ball, but a preseason Grade 2 ankle sprain figures to cost him some time to open 2022-23, likely dinging his fantasy value. Still, there's plenty of risk/reward with targeting Ball in the second or third round.
The No. 3 overall pick last season, Mobley put together an excellent rookie campaign. He was voted to First Team All-Rookie and came in second place in one of the closest Rookie of the Year award races in recent memory -- Scottie Barnes claimed the award. Mobley got out of the gates strong and was consistent month over month. Overall, he saw 33.8 minutes per game and averaged 15.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.7 blocks and 0.8 steals. That was good for rank 75 in per-game fantasy production. Mobley's shooting efficiency (51/66/25) was a mixed bag, but clearing the 50 percent mark as a rookie is encouraging. He took just 1.3 three-point attempts per game, but improving in that area will be important while playing alongside a traditional center like Jarrett Allen. It will be more important for fantasy managers if Mobley can improve his efficiency from the charity stripe. He shot 69.4 percent on freebies during his lone season at USC compared to 66.3 percent as a rookie, so there's room for improvement, but it seems unlikely he'll be great in that area. The strongest part of Mobley's game is his defense. He's a great rim protector but also has the coordination and footspeed to hang on the perimeter against guards and wings. He also showed some passing ability, but he'll only handle the ball so much with Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell running the show. This season, fantasy managers have a right to be optimistic and select Mobley much earlier than he ranked last season. It's important to keep in mind that his rebounding and shot-blocking upside -- while great in the long term -- is a bit capped for next season given the presence of Allen on the inside, as he's a more traditional rebounding and shot-blocking big himself. But Mobley still has an opportunity to improve in that area, and with some offensive strides, he could quickly turn into one of the better two-way bigs in the game.
The No. 3 overall pick last season, Mobley put together an excellent rookie campaign. He was voted to First Team All-Rookie and came in second place in one of the closest Rookie of the Year award races in recent memory -- Scottie Barnes claimed the award. Mobley got out of the gates strong and was consistent month over month. Overall, he saw 33.8 minutes per game and averaged 15.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.7 blocks and 0.8 steals. That was good for rank 75 in per-game fantasy production. Mobley's shooting efficiency (51/66/25) was a mixed bag, but clearing the 50 percent mark as a rookie is encouraging. He took just 1.3 three-point attempts per game, but improving in that area will be important while playing alongside a traditional center like Jarrett Allen. It will be more important for fantasy managers if Mobley can improve his efficiency from the charity stripe. He shot 69.4 percent on freebies during his lone season at USC compared to 66.3 percent as a rookie, so there's room for improvement, but it seems unlikely he'll be great in that area. The strongest part of Mobley's game is his defense. He's a great rim protector but also has the coordination and footspeed to hang on the perimeter against guards and wings. He also showed some passing ability, but he'll only handle the ball so much with Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell running the show. This season, fantasy managers have a right to be optimistic and select Mobley much earlier than he ranked last season. It's important to keep in mind that his rebounding and shot-blocking upside -- while great in the long term -- is a bit capped for next season given the presence of Allen on the inside, as he's a more traditional rebounding and shot-blocking big himself. But Mobley still has an opportunity to improve in that area, and with some offensive strides, he could quickly turn into one of the better two-way bigs in the game.
Last season marked Valanciunas' first with the Pelicans after he signed a two-year, $30.1 million extension with the team following a trade from the Grizzlies. Zion Williamson missing the entire season allowed Valanciunas to see plenty of usage, and he picked up right where he left off in Memphis. Last season was arguably the best of his career, and he reached career highs in points (17.8), assists (2.6) and made threes (0.8) per game, as well as free-throw percentage (82.0%). That resulted in the center ranking 43rd in eight-category fantasy on a per-game basis -- his third straight year in the top 55. His numbers may take a slight dip this season while playing next to the high-usage trio of Williamson, CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram. We also may see Valanciunas shoot more threes to help space the floor for Williamson, who does all of his damage at the rim. Playing alongside Williamson could lead to more competition for rebounds, too, but Valanciunas should still be a walking 15-and-10, making him a high-floor option in the early-middle rounds of most fantasy drafts.
Last season marked Valanciunas' first with the Pelicans after he signed a two-year, $30.1 million extension with the team following a trade from the Grizzlies. Zion Williamson missing the entire season allowed Valanciunas to see plenty of usage, and he picked up right where he left off in Memphis. Last season was arguably the best of his career, and he reached career highs in points (17.8), assists (2.6) and made threes (0.8) per game, as well as free-throw percentage (82.0%). That resulted in the center ranking 43rd in eight-category fantasy on a per-game basis -- his third straight year in the top 55. His numbers may take a slight dip this season while playing next to the high-usage trio of Williamson, CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram. We also may see Valanciunas shoot more threes to help space the floor for Williamson, who does all of his damage at the rim. Playing alongside Williamson could lead to more competition for rebounds, too, but Valanciunas should still be a walking 15-and-10, making him a high-floor option in the early-middle rounds of most fantasy drafts.
After discussions between Utah and New York failed to gain necessary traction, Cleveland emerged as a suitor for the three-time All-Star guard. Mitchell joins a talented young roster with All-Star point guard Darius Garland, All-Star center Jarrett Allen and an extremely promising forward in Evan Mobley. It may take some time for Garland and Mitchell to figure out the give-and-take in usage, but neither player should take a massive hit. Mitchell is coming off his age 25 season with averages of 25.6 points on 45/36/85 shooting, 5.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 33.8 minutes. He ranked 18th in fantasy last season on a per-game basis, which figures to take a hit playing next to Garland, but Mitchell has never ranked worse than 44th. As a result, managers should still feel comfortable selecting Mitchell in the third round.
After discussions between Utah and New York failed to gain necessary traction, Cleveland emerged as a suitor for the three-time All-Star guard. Mitchell joins a talented young roster with All-Star point guard Darius Garland, All-Star center Jarrett Allen and an extremely promising forward in Evan Mobley. It may take some time for Garland and Mitchell to figure out the give-and-take in usage, but neither player should take a massive hit. Mitchell is coming off his age 25 season with averages of 25.6 points on 45/36/85 shooting, 5.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 33.8 minutes. He ranked 18th in fantasy last season on a per-game basis, which figures to take a hit playing next to Garland, but Mitchell has never ranked worse than 44th. As a result, managers should still feel comfortable selecting Mitchell in the third round.
The Hornets chose Williams with the 15th overall pick in the 2022 Draft. During his second and final season at Duke in 2021-22, he averaged 11.2 points on a whopping 72.1 percent shooting from the field and 72.7 percent from the charity stripe, 7.4 rebounds (2.6 offensive) and 2.8 blocks in 23.5 minutes. The center was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and also claimed Third Team All-ACC honors. Though Williams struggled with his shot in five Summer League games (44.1 percent), he demonstrated his rebounding and defensive upside with 7.4 boards and 2.4 combined blocks-plus-steals in 19.4 minutes. His smooth and explosive athleticism and 7-foot-7 wingspan should translate to the NBA right away, and good offensive rebounding is always a nice bonus. The quality free-throw shooting will also help keep him on the court and help fantasy managers, and he may possess some perimeter shooting upside given his proficiency. Even if that doesn't develop and Williams is limited to being a pick-and-roll big on offense, he'll be a great lob target. He should have an opportunity to contribute immediately as a rookie in Charlotte. His main competition is Mason Plumlee, who saw just 24.6 minutes per game last season. P.J. Washington may also spend some time at center, but he projects as the team's starting power forward and should see most of his minutes there. Fantasy managers who want to take a gamble at the end of a draft on a shot-blocking big can look to Williams, though he's probably best suited for deeper formats as a rookie. There could be a true payoff in dynasty/keeper formats as soon as next year with Plumlee's contract expiring.
The Hornets chose Williams with the 15th overall pick in the 2022 Draft. During his second and final season at Duke in 2021-22, he averaged 11.2 points on a whopping 72.1 percent shooting from the field and 72.7 percent from the charity stripe, 7.4 rebounds (2.6 offensive) and 2.8 blocks in 23.5 minutes. The center was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and also claimed Third Team All-ACC honors. Though Williams struggled with his shot in five Summer League games (44.1 percent), he demonstrated his rebounding and defensive upside with 7.4 boards and 2.4 combined blocks-plus-steals in 19.4 minutes. His smooth and explosive athleticism and 7-foot-7 wingspan should translate to the NBA right away, and good offensive rebounding is always a nice bonus. The quality free-throw shooting will also help keep him on the court and help fantasy managers, and he may possess some perimeter shooting upside given his proficiency. Even if that doesn't develop and Williams is limited to being a pick-and-roll big on offense, he'll be a great lob target. He should have an opportunity to contribute immediately as a rookie in Charlotte. His main competition is Mason Plumlee, who saw just 24.6 minutes per game last season. P.J. Washington may also spend some time at center, but he projects as the team's starting power forward and should see most of his minutes there. Fantasy managers who want to take a gamble at the end of a draft on a shot-blocking big can look to Williams, though he's probably best suited for deeper formats as a rookie. There could be a true payoff in dynasty/keeper formats as soon as next year with Plumlee's contract expiring.
The 2021-22 season was a big one for LaVine as he prepared to enter free agency. The Bulls made significant moves around him, bringing in DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso to make a push for a playoff spot. It was by far the best collection of talent that LaVine had ever played with, especially when you also factor in that they traded for Nikola Vucevic the season prior. The Bulls accomplished their mission, finally making it back into the playoffs. However, injuries hampered them by the time they got there. Lavine dealt with a nagging injury for much of the regular season. Due to the knee injury and the influx of talent around him, LaVine saw his scoring average drop to 24.4 points per game, three points lower than the previous season. He was also less efficient, shooting 47.6 percent from the field. Still, it's difficult to complain about his production for fantasy, considering he also chipped in averages of 4.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.8 three-pointers. The Bulls' moves enticed LaVine to stick around in the Windy City, signing him to a max contract extension in the offseason. He had surgery to correct his knee issue, which should not prevent him from being ready for the beginning of the 2022-23 season. He's still worthy of an early selection in fantasy drafts, but he hasn't played more than 67 games in a season since 2015-16 when he was still on the Timberwolves.
The 2021-22 season was a big one for LaVine as he prepared to enter free agency. The Bulls made significant moves around him, bringing in DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso to make a push for a playoff spot. It was by far the best collection of talent that LaVine had ever played with, especially when you also factor in that they traded for Nikola Vucevic the season prior. The Bulls accomplished their mission, finally making it back into the playoffs. However, injuries hampered them by the time they got there. Lavine dealt with a nagging injury for much of the regular season. Due to the knee injury and the influx of talent around him, LaVine saw his scoring average drop to 24.4 points per game, three points lower than the previous season. He was also less efficient, shooting 47.6 percent from the field. Still, it's difficult to complain about his production for fantasy, considering he also chipped in averages of 4.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.8 three-pointers. The Bulls' moves enticed LaVine to stick around in the Windy City, signing him to a max contract extension in the offseason. He had surgery to correct his knee issue, which should not prevent him from being ready for the beginning of the 2022-23 season. He's still worthy of an early selection in fantasy drafts, but he hasn't played more than 67 games in a season since 2015-16 when he was still on the Timberwolves.
Maxey was one of the most notable breakout players of the 2021-22 season. Ben Simmons' absence before the trade deadline allowed Maxey to step in as the starting point guard, and his role remained stagnant after the Sixers dealt Simmons for James Harden. The 21st overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Maxey averaged 17.5 points, 4.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 35.3 minutes in his second NBA campaign. His shooting efficiency was excellent, especially considering the considerable increase in role and his age (just 21), with the point guard slashing 49/43/87. Impressively, Maxey also minimized his turnovers (1.2), making him a sneaky target in nine-category fantasy leagues. Maxey also played at a high level into the playoffs during the 76ers' series against the Raptors and Heat. Over 12 postseason games, the Kentucky product averaged 20.8 points on 48/38/94 shooting, 3.9 assists, 3.5 rebounds and just 1.8 turnovers in 40.4 minutes per game. Maxey's role will likely remain the same for this upcoming season, though fantasy managers can expect some improvement given his age. Ultimately, Maxey's usage will be capped given the presence of Harden and Joel Embiid. Still, he has already established himself as the Sixers' No. 3 option and someone capable of running a bench unit.
Maxey was one of the most notable breakout players of the 2021-22 season. Ben Simmons' absence before the trade deadline allowed Maxey to step in as the starting point guard, and his role remained stagnant after the Sixers dealt Simmons for James Harden. The 21st overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Maxey averaged 17.5 points, 4.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 35.3 minutes in his second NBA campaign. His shooting efficiency was excellent, especially considering the considerable increase in role and his age (just 21), with the point guard slashing 49/43/87. Impressively, Maxey also minimized his turnovers (1.2), making him a sneaky target in nine-category fantasy leagues. Maxey also played at a high level into the playoffs during the 76ers' series against the Raptors and Heat. Over 12 postseason games, the Kentucky product averaged 20.8 points on 48/38/94 shooting, 3.9 assists, 3.5 rebounds and just 1.8 turnovers in 40.4 minutes per game. Maxey's role will likely remain the same for this upcoming season, though fantasy managers can expect some improvement given his age. Ultimately, Maxey's usage will be capped given the presence of Harden and Joel Embiid. Still, he has already established himself as the Sixers' No. 3 option and someone capable of running a bench unit.
The 2021-22 season presented a changing of the guard for the Raptors after Kyle Lowry departed for the Heat. They turned the backcourt over to VanVleet, who had already proven to be a valuable running mate when Lowry was still in town. He took his game to another level with Lowry gone, averaging career-highs in points (20.3), rebounds (4.4), assists (6.7) and three-pointers (3.7) per game. For those who play in leagues that count turnovers, he was also an asset in that area by averaging just 2.6 of them per game. That's nothing for a player who has the ball in his hands as much as VanVleet does. The Raptors were extremely deep at forward, but their limited options behind VanVleet at the guard spot contributed to him averaging a whopping 38 minutes per game. The Raptors made no significant additions at guard during the offseason. Scottie Barnes is an excellent passing forward, so he'll likely be asked to continue to help VanVleet facilitate the offense for his teammates. However, with his hefty playing time and leading role, VanVleet comes with an incredibly high floor in fantasy.
The 2021-22 season presented a changing of the guard for the Raptors after Kyle Lowry departed for the Heat. They turned the backcourt over to VanVleet, who had already proven to be a valuable running mate when Lowry was still in town. He took his game to another level with Lowry gone, averaging career-highs in points (20.3), rebounds (4.4), assists (6.7) and three-pointers (3.7) per game. For those who play in leagues that count turnovers, he was also an asset in that area by averaging just 2.6 of them per game. That's nothing for a player who has the ball in his hands as much as VanVleet does. The Raptors were extremely deep at forward, but their limited options behind VanVleet at the guard spot contributed to him averaging a whopping 38 minutes per game. The Raptors made no significant additions at guard during the offseason. Scottie Barnes is an excellent passing forward, so he'll likely be asked to continue to help VanVleet facilitate the offense for his teammates. However, with his hefty playing time and leading role, VanVleet comes with an incredibly high floor in fantasy.
Gordon had a successful first full season in Denver. It was the most efficient year of his career, with the forward averaging 15.0 points on 52/34/74 shooting. He added 5.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists in his 31.7 minutes per game. Gordon's usage has taken a dip from his time in Orlando. Denver utilizes him as a defensive-minded forward who can make athletic cuts for easy dunks from Nikola Jokic's gravity and passing. He's an average three-point shooter, but Jokic's floor-spacing ability at center allows the Nuggets' offense to remain unclogged despite Gordon's subpar longball. Gordon ranked 120th in per-game fantasy production for eight-category leagues last season. Fantasy managers should feel relatively comfortable drafting him around there again this season. However, his usage may decrease with Michael Porter back in the fold following a season-ending back injury early last season. In shallow to standard-sized leagues, Gordon likely isn't worth drafting given his very low upside, but in deeper leagues, he's worth considering as a solid starting forward.
Gordon had a successful first full season in Denver. It was the most efficient year of his career, with the forward averaging 15.0 points on 52/34/74 shooting. He added 5.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists in his 31.7 minutes per game. Gordon's usage has taken a dip from his time in Orlando. Denver utilizes him as a defensive-minded forward who can make athletic cuts for easy dunks from Nikola Jokic's gravity and passing. He's an average three-point shooter, but Jokic's floor-spacing ability at center allows the Nuggets' offense to remain unclogged despite Gordon's subpar longball. Gordon ranked 120th in per-game fantasy production for eight-category leagues last season. Fantasy managers should feel relatively comfortable drafting him around there again this season. However, his usage may decrease with Michael Porter back in the fold following a season-ending back injury early last season. In shallow to standard-sized leagues, Gordon likely isn't worth drafting given his very low upside, but in deeper leagues, he's worth considering as a solid starting forward.
Capela was one of the better traditional starting bigs in the NBA last season. However, his workload was slightly reduced as the Hawks tried Onyeka Okongwu out more at the position, while Danilo Gallinari and John Collins also got some small-ball minutes at the position. Even so, Capela averaged a double-double for the fifth straight season and shot over 60 percent (61.3%) for the fourth time during that stretch. Over 27.6 minutes, he averaged 11.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.2 assists. While it was a good season overall, a few things contributed to Capela losing fantasy value besides a reduced workload. First, his usage dropped a sharp 4.1 percent to a relatively low 13.2%. His blocks simultaneously fell from 2.0 to 1.3, and he shot 10 percent worse from the charity stripe (47.3%). That combination ranked him 97th in per-game fantasy production compared to his 2020-21 rank of 45. Capela's ranking in 2021-22 was his lowest since his second year in the NBA (2015-16). Not much is expected to change for Capela this season, though having another skilled passer in the backcourt with Dejounte Murray next to Trae Young should generate more easy buckets around the rim. That said, Atlanta seems interested in examining what it has in Okongwu - drafted No. 6 overall in 2020 - and Collins will presumably catch occasional minutes at center again. As a result, fantasy managers shouldn't necessarily expect a bounceback season for Capela. He may have a better year if he can improve his free-throw percentage, though, so drafting him sooner than his rank of 97 last season is justifiable.
Capela was one of the better traditional starting bigs in the NBA last season. However, his workload was slightly reduced as the Hawks tried Onyeka Okongwu out more at the position, while Danilo Gallinari and John Collins also got some small-ball minutes at the position. Even so, Capela averaged a double-double for the fifth straight season and shot over 60 percent (61.3%) for the fourth time during that stretch. Over 27.6 minutes, he averaged 11.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.2 assists. While it was a good season overall, a few things contributed to Capela losing fantasy value besides a reduced workload. First, his usage dropped a sharp 4.1 percent to a relatively low 13.2%. His blocks simultaneously fell from 2.0 to 1.3, and he shot 10 percent worse from the charity stripe (47.3%). That combination ranked him 97th in per-game fantasy production compared to his 2020-21 rank of 45. Capela's ranking in 2021-22 was his lowest since his second year in the NBA (2015-16). Not much is expected to change for Capela this season, though having another skilled passer in the backcourt with Dejounte Murray next to Trae Young should generate more easy buckets around the rim. That said, Atlanta seems interested in examining what it has in Okongwu - drafted No. 6 overall in 2020 - and Collins will presumably catch occasional minutes at center again. As a result, fantasy managers shouldn't necessarily expect a bounceback season for Capela. He may have a better year if he can improve his free-throw percentage, though, so drafting him sooner than his rank of 97 last season is justifiable.
Holiday continues to demonstrate that he's one of the best two-way guards in the NBA. Behind his 2.0 combined steals-plus-blocks per game, the veteran was named to the All-Defensive Second Team last season after being on the First Team in 2020-21. His offensive production remained steady last year, too, as he averaged 18.3 points, 6.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds, marking the fifth straight season he's put up at least 17 points, six assists and four rebounds per game. Holiday has also become more efficient in the Bucks' offense than at previous stops in Philadelphia and New Orleans. Last year, the UCLA product put up splits of 50/41/76. The total package resulted in Holiday ranking 28th in per-game fantasy value for eight-category leagues -- his fifth straight campaign in the top 30. There's no expectation that the 32-year-old's role will change in 2022-23. The Bucks are bringing back essentially the same roster, with Holiday acting as option 2B with Khris Middleton behind superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Holiday continues to demonstrate that he's one of the best two-way guards in the NBA. Behind his 2.0 combined steals-plus-blocks per game, the veteran was named to the All-Defensive Second Team last season after being on the First Team in 2020-21. His offensive production remained steady last year, too, as he averaged 18.3 points, 6.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds, marking the fifth straight season he's put up at least 17 points, six assists and four rebounds per game. Holiday has also become more efficient in the Bucks' offense than at previous stops in Philadelphia and New Orleans. Last year, the UCLA product put up splits of 50/41/76. The total package resulted in Holiday ranking 28th in per-game fantasy value for eight-category leagues -- his fifth straight campaign in the top 30. There's no expectation that the 32-year-old's role will change in 2022-23. The Bucks are bringing back essentially the same roster, with Holiday acting as option 2B with Khris Middleton behind superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Fox's 2021-22 season got off to a slow start. In October and November, he averaged a solid 20.1 points, but it was on poor shooting splits of 43/26/74. He also averaged just 5.5 assists and 1.2 steals compared to his 2020-21 mark of 7.2 dimes and 1.5 swipes. Fox's decrease in usage coincided with the emergence of second-year guard Tyrese Haliburton. However, the Kings made a big shake-up at the trade deadline, moving Haliburton to the Pacers and getting Domantas Sabonis in return. Fox no longer had to share backcourt playmaking responsibilities with Haliburton, facilitating his reemergence toward the end of the campaign. During Fox's 16 appearances in the final two months of the season, he averaged 28.9 points on 50/38/77 shooting, 6.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 38.5 minutes. Sacramento did bring in more backcourt help for this season - Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk - but neither player should remotely challenge Fox for playmaking responsibilities. Fox ended last season as the 62nd-best fantasy player per game, his lowest rank since he was a rookie. However, he's ranked as high as 46th before, so optimistic fantasy managers can explore drafting him around that range. He's established a relatively high floor, but to reach the next level, Fox will need to prove his improved three-point shooting at the end of last season was real. His poor free-throw shooting also drags his rank down. Over the past three years, Fox has shot just 31.6 percent from three and 72.2 percent from the charity stripe. The upside is clear, but it won't materialize unless he can correct the shooting woes.
Fox's 2021-22 season got off to a slow start. In October and November, he averaged a solid 20.1 points, but it was on poor shooting splits of 43/26/74. He also averaged just 5.5 assists and 1.2 steals compared to his 2020-21 mark of 7.2 dimes and 1.5 swipes. Fox's decrease in usage coincided with the emergence of second-year guard Tyrese Haliburton. However, the Kings made a big shake-up at the trade deadline, moving Haliburton to the Pacers and getting Domantas Sabonis in return. Fox no longer had to share backcourt playmaking responsibilities with Haliburton, facilitating his reemergence toward the end of the campaign. During Fox's 16 appearances in the final two months of the season, he averaged 28.9 points on 50/38/77 shooting, 6.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 38.5 minutes. Sacramento did bring in more backcourt help for this season - Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk - but neither player should remotely challenge Fox for playmaking responsibilities. Fox ended last season as the 62nd-best fantasy player per game, his lowest rank since he was a rookie. However, he's ranked as high as 46th before, so optimistic fantasy managers can explore drafting him around that range. He's established a relatively high floor, but to reach the next level, Fox will need to prove his improved three-point shooting at the end of last season was real. His poor free-throw shooting also drags his rank down. Over the past three years, Fox has shot just 31.6 percent from three and 72.2 percent from the charity stripe. The upside is clear, but it won't materialize unless he can correct the shooting woes.
Last season was a breakout campaign for Garland, who made his first All-Star team. He set career bests across the board, averaging 21.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.6 three-pointers per game. What is just as impressive is that he shot 46.2 percent from the field and 89.2 percent from the free-throw line, making him a force in fantasy when combined with his averages. That said, he was aided by injuries to Collin Sexton and, to a lesser extent, Ricky Rubio that forced Garland into an even larger role out of the backcourt. Sexton is out of the picture this season, but he's been replaced by Donovan Mitchell, who the Cavs traded for while sending out Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji and picks. However, Garland will remain the driving force of the offense and has clear room to grow, given that he's just 22 years old. After ranking 23rd in eight-category per-game fantasy production last year, managers will likely still need to pay into the late second round to get him this year, even with Mitchell entering the fold.
Last season was a breakout campaign for Garland, who made his first All-Star team. He set career bests across the board, averaging 21.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.6 three-pointers per game. What is just as impressive is that he shot 46.2 percent from the field and 89.2 percent from the free-throw line, making him a force in fantasy when combined with his averages. That said, he was aided by injuries to Collin Sexton and, to a lesser extent, Ricky Rubio that forced Garland into an even larger role out of the backcourt. Sexton is out of the picture this season, but he's been replaced by Donovan Mitchell, who the Cavs traded for while sending out Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji and picks. However, Garland will remain the driving force of the offense and has clear room to grow, given that he's just 22 years old. After ranking 23rd in eight-category per-game fantasy production last year, managers will likely still need to pay into the late second round to get him this year, even with Mitchell entering the fold.
Many anticipated that George would have a monster campaign sans Kawhi Leonard last season, but those who used a prime fantasy draft pick on him were sorely disappointed. Sure, many of the veteran's per-game stats (24.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.2 steals) were up slightly, but George also shot just 42.1 percent from the field and committed a career-high 4.1 turnovers per contest. Far worse, he again had trouble staying on the court, playing in just 31 games due to an elbow injury that sidelined him for three months. To his credit, George returned for a handful of contests late in the season and put up big numbers, but he was forced to miss the Clippers' second play-in game while in health and safety protocols, and Los Angeles ultimately failed to qualify for the playoffs. George has now played in under 60 percent of regular-season contests in his three seasons in Los Angeles, so the injury risk must be considered seriously if you target him for your fantasy squad. Leonard is expected to be back to full health for the coming campaign, which will take some of the load off George's shoulders and should help him register better efficiency and fewer turnovers. There's little doubt that George is a fantasy stud when he's on the court, but you're justified in looking elsewhere if durability is what you're after in the early rounds of your fantasy drafts.
Many anticipated that George would have a monster campaign sans Kawhi Leonard last season, but those who used a prime fantasy draft pick on him were sorely disappointed. Sure, many of the veteran's per-game stats (24.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.2 steals) were up slightly, but George also shot just 42.1 percent from the field and committed a career-high 4.1 turnovers per contest. Far worse, he again had trouble staying on the court, playing in just 31 games due to an elbow injury that sidelined him for three months. To his credit, George returned for a handful of contests late in the season and put up big numbers, but he was forced to miss the Clippers' second play-in game while in health and safety protocols, and Los Angeles ultimately failed to qualify for the playoffs. George has now played in under 60 percent of regular-season contests in his three seasons in Los Angeles, so the injury risk must be considered seriously if you target him for your fantasy squad. Leonard is expected to be back to full health for the coming campaign, which will take some of the load off George's shoulders and should help him register better efficiency and fewer turnovers. There's little doubt that George is a fantasy stud when he's on the court, but you're justified in looking elsewhere if durability is what you're after in the early rounds of your fantasy drafts.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 Draft was so good in Las Vegas that the Magic opted to shut him down after seeing what they needed to see in just two Summer League games. For the most part, Banchero arrived as advertised. He's a jumbo-sized forward who handles the ball like a guard and is more than happy to facilitate in the halfcourt. Banchero's field goal and three-point percentages will likely go through major swings throughout the season. Still, he projects to have a well-rounded stat profile buoyed by above-average passing for his size and position. Rebounding and scoring shouldn't be a concern, though it remains to be seen how much of an impact Banchero will make at the defensive end. He's also a below-average free throw shooter (72.9% FT as a freshman at Duke), which may be a concern if he can get to the line anywhere close to the rate he did in Vegas (20 FTA in 60 total minutes). There may also be some concern about where Banchero fits in on a Magic roster that includes Franz Wagner and 2021 No. 5 pick Jalen Suggs, as well as other recent first-rounders in Cole Anthony, Markelle Fultz, Jonathan Isaac and Chuma Okeke. Orlando indeed has more talent than most teams that historically pick No. 1 overall, but Banchero is easily the highest-upside piece of that group, so fantasy managers should not be overly concerned about the team failing to prioritize his development as a future No. 1 option.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 Draft was so good in Las Vegas that the Magic opted to shut him down after seeing what they needed to see in just two Summer League games. For the most part, Banchero arrived as advertised. He's a jumbo-sized forward who handles the ball like a guard and is more than happy to facilitate in the halfcourt. Banchero's field goal and three-point percentages will likely go through major swings throughout the season. Still, he projects to have a well-rounded stat profile buoyed by above-average passing for his size and position. Rebounding and scoring shouldn't be a concern, though it remains to be seen how much of an impact Banchero will make at the defensive end. He's also a below-average free throw shooter (72.9% FT as a freshman at Duke), which may be a concern if he can get to the line anywhere close to the rate he did in Vegas (20 FTA in 60 total minutes). There may also be some concern about where Banchero fits in on a Magic roster that includes Franz Wagner and 2021 No. 5 pick Jalen Suggs, as well as other recent first-rounders in Cole Anthony, Markelle Fultz, Jonathan Isaac and Chuma Okeke. Orlando indeed has more talent than most teams that historically pick No. 1 overall, but Banchero is easily the highest-upside piece of that group, so fantasy managers should not be overly concerned about the team failing to prioritize his development as a future No. 1 option.
The 2021-22 season marked Wood's second season as the Rockets' starting center. Though his points per game (17.9) decreased compared to the previous year, he increased his rebounds (10.1) and assists (2.3) while maintaining efficiency from the field (50.1 FG%) and from three (1.9 makes on 39.0%). His free-throw percentage (62.3%) remains a concern, though he's shot better in prior seasons -- as high as 74.4 percent in 2019-20 with the Pistons. During the offseason, Wood was traded to the Mavericks, and he'll be pairing up with superstar Luka Doncic. With Jalen Brunson out of the picture, Wood will, in theory, be a candidate to become Dallas' No. 2 option, competing mainly with Tim Hardaway for that role. However, oddly, both are expected to come off the bench. Given that Wood has managed to be efficient despite being on bad teams, fantasy managers can expect the big man to see more open looks than ever before, which could increase his field-goal percentage. Wood's ability to play both power forward and center due to his three-point shooting should help keep him on the court for a Mavs team that's not particularly deep, even if he's beginning the year as a reserve. Last season, he ranked 74th in per-game fantasy production, so he's a great option for managers who need a mid-to-late-round frontcourt boost.
The 2021-22 season marked Wood's second season as the Rockets' starting center. Though his points per game (17.9) decreased compared to the previous year, he increased his rebounds (10.1) and assists (2.3) while maintaining efficiency from the field (50.1 FG%) and from three (1.9 makes on 39.0%). His free-throw percentage (62.3%) remains a concern, though he's shot better in prior seasons -- as high as 74.4 percent in 2019-20 with the Pistons. During the offseason, Wood was traded to the Mavericks, and he'll be pairing up with superstar Luka Doncic. With Jalen Brunson out of the picture, Wood will, in theory, be a candidate to become Dallas' No. 2 option, competing mainly with Tim Hardaway for that role. However, oddly, both are expected to come off the bench. Given that Wood has managed to be efficient despite being on bad teams, fantasy managers can expect the big man to see more open looks than ever before, which could increase his field-goal percentage. Wood's ability to play both power forward and center due to his three-point shooting should help keep him on the court for a Mavs team that's not particularly deep, even if he's beginning the year as a reserve. Last season, he ranked 74th in per-game fantasy production, so he's a great option for managers who need a mid-to-late-round frontcourt boost.
Markkanen's addition to Cleveland last season on a four-year, $64 million contract was a bit odd given the presence of Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and Kevin Love already in the frontcourt. However, the team made it work by giving Markkanen most of his minutes at small forward -- a new development in his career. Previously, the seventh overall pick from 2017 only spent meaningful time at the four and five. The change didn't affect Markkanen's numbers much compared to the prior two seasons. In 30.8 minutes per game, he averaged 14.8 points on 45/36/87 shooting, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists. That was good for rank 100 in per-game fantasy production. Markkanen has failed to capitalize on the upside he showed as a sophomore with the Bulls in 2018-19. He ranked 54th in per-game fantasy production that season behind 18.7 points on 43/36/87 shooting, 9.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 32.3 minutes. However, with the rebuilding Jazz, who will presumably aim to feature him, it's possible Markkanen trends closer to those numbers again. A bounceback year may be in store.
Markkanen's addition to Cleveland last season on a four-year, $64 million contract was a bit odd given the presence of Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and Kevin Love already in the frontcourt. However, the team made it work by giving Markkanen most of his minutes at small forward -- a new development in his career. Previously, the seventh overall pick from 2017 only spent meaningful time at the four and five. The change didn't affect Markkanen's numbers much compared to the prior two seasons. In 30.8 minutes per game, he averaged 14.8 points on 45/36/87 shooting, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists. That was good for rank 100 in per-game fantasy production. Markkanen has failed to capitalize on the upside he showed as a sophomore with the Bulls in 2018-19. He ranked 54th in per-game fantasy production that season behind 18.7 points on 43/36/87 shooting, 9.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 32.3 minutes. However, with the rebuilding Jazz, who will presumably aim to feature him, it's possible Markkanen trends closer to those numbers again. A bounceback year may be in store.
After tearing his ACL late in the 2020-21 campaign, Leonard was given an initial return timetable for February 2021, but he never saw the floor last season. The cautious approach is understandable, given Leonard's extensive injury history. He's appeared in 70-plus games just twice in his decade-long career, and he's topped out at 60 games since leaving San Antonio for the 2018-19 season with Toronto, where he won an NBA title. In addition to the Clippers' staff, fantasy managers should also exercise caution with Leonard. The veteran playing more than 60 games would be considered a win, which makes him a tough player to roster. He'll presumably be sitting out plenty of back-to-back sets, which sets him up for significant missed time before the possibility of injury is considered. When available, he's productive -- there's no question about that. He's finished as a top-10 fantasy asset on a per-game basis in six consecutive seasons (discounting 2017-18 when he played nine games and last year when he didn't play at all). The two-time Finals MVP is one of the best two-way players in the NBA, and during his 109 appearances with LA, he's averaged 26.0 points on 49/39/89 shooting, 6.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.5 blocks. Drafting Leonard is a massive risk/reward game, but he shouldn't make it past the third round, given his talent.
After tearing his ACL late in the 2020-21 campaign, Leonard was given an initial return timetable for February 2021, but he never saw the floor last season. The cautious approach is understandable, given Leonard's extensive injury history. He's appeared in 70-plus games just twice in his decade-long career, and he's topped out at 60 games since leaving San Antonio for the 2018-19 season with Toronto, where he won an NBA title. In addition to the Clippers' staff, fantasy managers should also exercise caution with Leonard. The veteran playing more than 60 games would be considered a win, which makes him a tough player to roster. He'll presumably be sitting out plenty of back-to-back sets, which sets him up for significant missed time before the possibility of injury is considered. When available, he's productive -- there's no question about that. He's finished as a top-10 fantasy asset on a per-game basis in six consecutive seasons (discounting 2017-18 when he played nine games and last year when he didn't play at all). The two-time Finals MVP is one of the best two-way players in the NBA, and during his 109 appearances with LA, he's averaged 26.0 points on 49/39/89 shooting, 6.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.5 blocks. Drafting Leonard is a massive risk/reward game, but he shouldn't make it past the third round, given his talent.
Kuzma seems to have finally found a home with the Wizards. After struggling to live up to expectations during his Lakers tenure, he was traded to Washington during the 2021-22 offseason and responded with a career-best campaign. Even though he failed to play at least 70 games for the third year in a row, Kuzma still averaged 17.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 combined steals-plus-blocks, posting career-best numbers in rebounds, assists and blocks. Despite the roster changes, all signs point to Kuzma being part of the Wizards' starting five next season, though it wouldn't be surprising if his numbers take a hit considering the presence of Kristaps Porzingis and the return of Bradley Beal, who should operate as the undisputed go-to guy on offense. Kuzma could be worth a shot as a mid-to-late-round selection in most fantasy formats.
Kuzma seems to have finally found a home with the Wizards. After struggling to live up to expectations during his Lakers tenure, he was traded to Washington during the 2021-22 offseason and responded with a career-best campaign. Even though he failed to play at least 70 games for the third year in a row, Kuzma still averaged 17.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 combined steals-plus-blocks, posting career-best numbers in rebounds, assists and blocks. Despite the roster changes, all signs point to Kuzma being part of the Wizards' starting five next season, though it wouldn't be surprising if his numbers take a hit considering the presence of Kristaps Porzingis and the return of Bradley Beal, who should operate as the undisputed go-to guy on offense. Kuzma could be worth a shot as a mid-to-late-round selection in most fantasy formats.
Portis is coming off the best season of his career. With Brook Lopez missing nearly the entire year due to a back injury that required surgery, Portis started 59 of his 72 appearances and saw 28.2 minutes per game. That resulted in averages of 14.6 points, 9.1 rebounds 1.2 assists and 1.4 combined steals-plus-blocks. He continued to be a great three-point shooter, hitting 1.8 per game at 39.3 percent, though it was a significant drop-off from the unsustainable 47.1 percent he made in 2020-21. Those numbers resulted in Portis ranking 80th in per-game fantasy production, clearing his previous high of 117 from 2018-19. With Lopez healthy, Portis should revert back to a sixth-man-light role in the frontcourt, playing power forward and center behind Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The organization cemented that role by handing him a four-year, $49 million contract in the offseason. Fantasy managers can draft Portis in standard leagues with a final pick knowing there's not much upside if everyone stays healthy. He's unquestionably valuable for deeper leagues as a high-floor big.
Portis is coming off the best season of his career. With Brook Lopez missing nearly the entire year due to a back injury that required surgery, Portis started 59 of his 72 appearances and saw 28.2 minutes per game. That resulted in averages of 14.6 points, 9.1 rebounds 1.2 assists and 1.4 combined steals-plus-blocks. He continued to be a great three-point shooter, hitting 1.8 per game at 39.3 percent, though it was a significant drop-off from the unsustainable 47.1 percent he made in 2020-21. Those numbers resulted in Portis ranking 80th in per-game fantasy production, clearing his previous high of 117 from 2018-19. With Lopez healthy, Portis should revert back to a sixth-man-light role in the frontcourt, playing power forward and center behind Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The organization cemented that role by handing him a four-year, $49 million contract in the offseason. Fantasy managers can draft Portis in standard leagues with a final pick knowing there's not much upside if everyone stays healthy. He's unquestionably valuable for deeper leagues as a high-floor big.
The rebuilding Rockets selected Sengun with the 16th pick in the 2021 draft, slotting him into their frontcourt that also contained Christian Wood. Wood's presence certainly impacted Sengun during his rookie season, limiting him to 21 minutes per game. Despite relatively limited run, he still averaged 9.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.9 blocks and 0.4 three-pointers per game. Across the six games he logged at least 30 minutes, he provided 14.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.0 blocks. With plenty of potential in Sengun, and the team going nowhere fast, the Rockets dealt Wood to the Mavericks this offseason, which should open up the starting center job for Sengun. A young, exciting core is starting to take shape between Sengun, Jalen Green and Jabari Smith. With Sengun likely to play around 30 minutes per game in his new role, he can provide enough production across the board to be extremely valuable. He'll likely be a trendy pick to have a breakout season, so he could be long gone by the time the middle rounds roll around.
The rebuilding Rockets selected Sengun with the 16th pick in the 2021 draft, slotting him into their frontcourt that also contained Christian Wood. Wood's presence certainly impacted Sengun during his rookie season, limiting him to 21 minutes per game. Despite relatively limited run, he still averaged 9.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.9 blocks and 0.4 three-pointers per game. Across the six games he logged at least 30 minutes, he provided 14.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.0 blocks. With plenty of potential in Sengun, and the team going nowhere fast, the Rockets dealt Wood to the Mavericks this offseason, which should open up the starting center job for Sengun. A young, exciting core is starting to take shape between Sengun, Jalen Green and Jabari Smith. With Sengun likely to play around 30 minutes per game in his new role, he can provide enough production across the board to be extremely valuable. He'll likely be a trendy pick to have a breakout season, so he could be long gone by the time the middle rounds roll around.
Zubac became the Clippers' full-time starting center last season, and he put together a career year with Kawhi Leonard out for the entire campaign. In 24.4 minutes per game, Zubac averaged 10.3 points on 62.6 percent shooting, 8.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 combined blocks-plus-steals. He's one of the better offensive rebounders in the NBA, with his 12.1 offensive rebounding percentage (4.2 ORB per 36 minutes) ranking in the 84th percentile for big men. Overall, the center ranked 131st in per-game fantasy production, making him a viable bench option in standard leagues, with center being a position of scarcity. Given Zubac's chance of being the Clippers' only center on the roster after training camp, he boasts a sturdy floor for next season. It's unlikely he sees minutes in the high-20s to low-30s consistently, however, as the team projects to often utilize small-ball lineups with Robert Covington, Marcus Morris or Nicolas Batum at center. Ultimately, fantasy managers should expect Zubac to be a back-end center option in most formats, though he's better suited for deep leagues given his minimal upside.
Zubac became the Clippers' full-time starting center last season, and he put together a career year with Kawhi Leonard out for the entire campaign. In 24.4 minutes per game, Zubac averaged 10.3 points on 62.6 percent shooting, 8.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 combined blocks-plus-steals. He's one of the better offensive rebounders in the NBA, with his 12.1 offensive rebounding percentage (4.2 ORB per 36 minutes) ranking in the 84th percentile for big men. Overall, the center ranked 131st in per-game fantasy production, making him a viable bench option in standard leagues, with center being a position of scarcity. Given Zubac's chance of being the Clippers' only center on the roster after training camp, he boasts a sturdy floor for next season. It's unlikely he sees minutes in the high-20s to low-30s consistently, however, as the team projects to often utilize small-ball lineups with Robert Covington, Marcus Morris or Nicolas Batum at center. Ultimately, fantasy managers should expect Zubac to be a back-end center option in most formats, though he's better suited for deep leagues given his minimal upside.
Playing guard on a team that already features Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson doesn't seem like the best opportunity for a young player to carve out a career-changing campaign, but Poole did just that last season, making a massive impact on the Warriors' path to an NBA title and emerging as one of the league's most dynamic rising stars. The 2019 first-round pick showed some promise in his first two NBA campaigns, but he didn't put it all together until last year, when he finished with per-game averages of 18.5 points, 4.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2.8 three-pointers while shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 92.5 percent from the charity stripe. Much of Poole's work was done as a starter. He began the campaign in the starting five as Thompson rehabbed his Achilles injury, and he filled in for Curry when the point guard missed nearly a month due to a foot injury late in the season. Poole was especially effective during the latter stretch, averaging 25.8 points, 6.2 dimes, 5.0 boards and 4.1 triples during Curry's 12-game absence. Golden State will, of course, hope that both Curry and Thompson can remain healthy next season, likely resulting in Poole playing primarily off the bench. The 23-year-old performed well as a reserve last season, but it's logical to expect that such a role will result in a dent in his overall production. It may be tempting to grab Poole in the middle rounds of fantasy drafts based on his sustained periods of brilliance last season, but be wary of overlooking the fact that his opportunities may not be as favorable if the Warriors' superstars maintain good health.
Playing guard on a team that already features Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson doesn't seem like the best opportunity for a young player to carve out a career-changing campaign, but Poole did just that last season, making a massive impact on the Warriors' path to an NBA title and emerging as one of the league's most dynamic rising stars. The 2019 first-round pick showed some promise in his first two NBA campaigns, but he didn't put it all together until last year, when he finished with per-game averages of 18.5 points, 4.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2.8 three-pointers while shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 92.5 percent from the charity stripe. Much of Poole's work was done as a starter. He began the campaign in the starting five as Thompson rehabbed his Achilles injury, and he filled in for Curry when the point guard missed nearly a month due to a foot injury late in the season. Poole was especially effective during the latter stretch, averaging 25.8 points, 6.2 dimes, 5.0 boards and 4.1 triples during Curry's 12-game absence. Golden State will, of course, hope that both Curry and Thompson can remain healthy next season, likely resulting in Poole playing primarily off the bench. The 23-year-old performed well as a reserve last season, but it's logical to expect that such a role will result in a dent in his overall production. It may be tempting to grab Poole in the middle rounds of fantasy drafts based on his sustained periods of brilliance last season, but be wary of overlooking the fact that his opportunities may not be as favorable if the Warriors' superstars maintain good health.
Rozier enters his fourth season in Charlotte coming off back-to-back stout offensive campaigns. He's recorded similar production in each season, combining to average 19.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.3 steals across 142 contests. Last season his three-point percentage dropped to 37.4 percent, but that's a healthy clip, above the league average and alongside a hearty 8.1 attempts per game. His consistency should be valued heading into his age-28 campaign. With a lengthy suspension presumably looming for Miles Bridges, regardless of his future destination, Rozier will be relied on for additional offensive production. An emergence from James Bouknight is the only factor that could detract from Rozier filling the majority of that void. It's a sizable hole, as Bridges was one of Charlotte's highest usage players. Combined with his versatile stats and turnover-averse production, Rozier is a high-floor asset with a boosted ceiling.
Rozier enters his fourth season in Charlotte coming off back-to-back stout offensive campaigns. He's recorded similar production in each season, combining to average 19.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.3 steals across 142 contests. Last season his three-point percentage dropped to 37.4 percent, but that's a healthy clip, above the league average and alongside a hearty 8.1 attempts per game. His consistency should be valued heading into his age-28 campaign. With a lengthy suspension presumably looming for Miles Bridges, regardless of his future destination, Rozier will be relied on for additional offensive production. An emergence from James Bouknight is the only factor that could detract from Rozier filling the majority of that void. It's a sizable hole, as Bridges was one of Charlotte's highest usage players. Combined with his versatile stats and turnover-averse production, Rozier is a high-floor asset with a boosted ceiling.
Ayton entered restricted free agency with lukewarm interest from clubs around the league before eventually receiving a max offer from the Pacers. His tumultuous offseason ended when the Suns elected to match the four-year, $133 million offer to keep the big man in the desert. Ayton's traditional center style of playing almost exclusively around the rim doesn't have quite the same draw as it once did. However, what he does, he does very well. Ayton connected on a career-best 63.4 percent of his shots from the field and averaged a double-double for a fourth consecutive campaign. Ayton's efficiency (65.6 TS%) and ability on the boards present his primary contributions from a fantasy standpoint, but he's also cut down on his turnovers and shot well enough from the free-throw line (74.6 percent) not to hurt fantasy managers in those areas. On the downside, Ayton attempted just 19 threes last season (seven makes), averaged just 1.4 assists and wasn't exactly a rim protector either, tallying just 0.7 swats per contest. While the Suns' financial investment should guarantee big minutes for Ayton, he only excels in two categories -- rebounds and field goal percentage. His limited spectrum of fantasy offerings leads to a fantasy value tumbling into the middle rounds in most standard formats.
Ayton entered restricted free agency with lukewarm interest from clubs around the league before eventually receiving a max offer from the Pacers. His tumultuous offseason ended when the Suns elected to match the four-year, $133 million offer to keep the big man in the desert. Ayton's traditional center style of playing almost exclusively around the rim doesn't have quite the same draw as it once did. However, what he does, he does very well. Ayton connected on a career-best 63.4 percent of his shots from the field and averaged a double-double for a fourth consecutive campaign. Ayton's efficiency (65.6 TS%) and ability on the boards present his primary contributions from a fantasy standpoint, but he's also cut down on his turnovers and shot well enough from the free-throw line (74.6 percent) not to hurt fantasy managers in those areas. On the downside, Ayton attempted just 19 threes last season (seven makes), averaged just 1.4 assists and wasn't exactly a rim protector either, tallying just 0.7 swats per contest. While the Suns' financial investment should guarantee big minutes for Ayton, he only excels in two categories -- rebounds and field goal percentage. His limited spectrum of fantasy offerings leads to a fantasy value tumbling into the middle rounds in most standard formats.
Adams and Jonas Valanciunas were traded for each other last summer, and both succeeded in their new environments. With the Grizzlies, Adams continued to produce rebounds at a healthy rate (10.0) in fantasy despite playing just 26.3 minutes per game. He also added a new passing wrinkle to his game, averaging a career-high 3.4 assists. The veteran also posted 6.9 points on 54.7 percent shooting from the field and 54.3 percent from the charity stripe, not to mention 1.7 combined steals-plus-blocks. This resulted in Adams ranking 164th in per-game fantasy production - similar to his 2020-21 rank of 187. Adams has poor touch around the hoop and wasn't featured as much as a pick-and-roll threat he had been in the past because the Grizzlies had superior options. He generated most of his offense through nabbing offensive rebounds and tossing the ball back up, averaging a ridiculous 6.3 offensive boards per 36 minutes. It's understandable for fantasy managers to have some reservations about drafting Adams since he was used so inconsistently in the postseason, drawing four consecutive DNPs in the middle of the Grizzlies' playoff run and averaging just 16.2 minutes in his seven appearances. However, Adams' presence will be needed with Jaren Jackson (foot) out for potentially half the season. Xavier Tillman, Santi Aldama and other frontcourt players figure to see time at center as well, but Adams' ability to set punishing brick-wall screens and dominate the offensive glass will always keep him relevant during the regular season. He's a fringe standard league option at this point, but he's a justifiable late pick given the scarcity of serviceable centers.
Adams and Jonas Valanciunas were traded for each other last summer, and both succeeded in their new environments. With the Grizzlies, Adams continued to produce rebounds at a healthy rate (10.0) in fantasy despite playing just 26.3 minutes per game. He also added a new passing wrinkle to his game, averaging a career-high 3.4 assists. The veteran also posted 6.9 points on 54.7 percent shooting from the field and 54.3 percent from the charity stripe, not to mention 1.7 combined steals-plus-blocks. This resulted in Adams ranking 164th in per-game fantasy production - similar to his 2020-21 rank of 187. Adams has poor touch around the hoop and wasn't featured as much as a pick-and-roll threat he had been in the past because the Grizzlies had superior options. He generated most of his offense through nabbing offensive rebounds and tossing the ball back up, averaging a ridiculous 6.3 offensive boards per 36 minutes. It's understandable for fantasy managers to have some reservations about drafting Adams since he was used so inconsistently in the postseason, drawing four consecutive DNPs in the middle of the Grizzlies' playoff run and averaging just 16.2 minutes in his seven appearances. However, Adams' presence will be needed with Jaren Jackson (foot) out for potentially half the season. Xavier Tillman, Santi Aldama and other frontcourt players figure to see time at center as well, but Adams' ability to set punishing brick-wall screens and dominate the offensive glass will always keep him relevant during the regular season. He's a fringe standard league option at this point, but he's a justifiable late pick given the scarcity of serviceable centers.
Coming off a second consecutive season in which his time was cut short due to injury, Turner comes into the 2022-23 season with a point to prove. While he is slated to be the starting center in Indiana, trade rumors continue to swirl as much as they have for the past couple of years. Turner ended the 2021-22 campaign as the 25th ranked player when considering per-game value in eight-category leagues, thanks mainly to his league-leading 2.8 blocks per game. Add to that the fact he shot a career-high 51 percent from the field while connecting on a career-best 1.5 triples, and you have a player who still has a lot to offer. Based on what we know right now, he should be able to replicate those numbers. However, managers will want to keep in mind that his value primarily relies on one category. If his block numbers fall significantly, his overall value will take a hit. He remains an elite fantasy target but is better suited to category leagues, especially for those chasing early blocks.
Coming off a second consecutive season in which his time was cut short due to injury, Turner comes into the 2022-23 season with a point to prove. While he is slated to be the starting center in Indiana, trade rumors continue to swirl as much as they have for the past couple of years. Turner ended the 2021-22 campaign as the 25th ranked player when considering per-game value in eight-category leagues, thanks mainly to his league-leading 2.8 blocks per game. Add to that the fact he shot a career-high 51 percent from the field while connecting on a career-best 1.5 triples, and you have a player who still has a lot to offer. Based on what we know right now, he should be able to replicate those numbers. However, managers will want to keep in mind that his value primarily relies on one category. If his block numbers fall significantly, his overall value will take a hit. He remains an elite fantasy target but is better suited to category leagues, especially for those chasing early blocks.
After injury-riddled 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, Nurkic stayed relatively healthy last year, though he was shut down at the end of the year with the Trail Blazers tanking, so he appeared in just 56 games in the end. He had a solid bounceback season, ranking 73rd in per-game fantasy production. Nurkic's first 32 games (October through December) were relatively modest, with the center averaging 13.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 25.6 minutes. However, with Damian Lillard shutting down due to an abdominal injury once the calendar flipped to 2022, Nurkic shouldered a larger role. In his final 24 appearances, Nurkic averaged 17.4 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.0 combined steals-plus-blocks in 31.7 minutes. Fantasy managers should be encouraged by his strong finish to the season, though that was largely due to his filling a usage gap left by Lillard. With the star point guard back in the fold, plus Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant around to take touches as well, Nurkic's production could decline to closer to his production at the beginning of last season. He's a quality option for fantasy managers looking to bolster the center position with a legitimate starter in the later rounds of drafts, but his ceiling is relatively low unless the Blazers' key players are hit by more injuries.
After injury-riddled 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, Nurkic stayed relatively healthy last year, though he was shut down at the end of the year with the Trail Blazers tanking, so he appeared in just 56 games in the end. He had a solid bounceback season, ranking 73rd in per-game fantasy production. Nurkic's first 32 games (October through December) were relatively modest, with the center averaging 13.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 25.6 minutes. However, with Damian Lillard shutting down due to an abdominal injury once the calendar flipped to 2022, Nurkic shouldered a larger role. In his final 24 appearances, Nurkic averaged 17.4 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.0 combined steals-plus-blocks in 31.7 minutes. Fantasy managers should be encouraged by his strong finish to the season, though that was largely due to his filling a usage gap left by Lillard. With the star point guard back in the fold, plus Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant around to take touches as well, Nurkic's production could decline to closer to his production at the beginning of last season. He's a quality option for fantasy managers looking to bolster the center position with a legitimate starter in the later rounds of drafts, but his ceiling is relatively low unless the Blazers' key players are hit by more injuries.
Last offseason, Dinwiddie signed a three-year, $54 million deal with the Wizards after spending the previous half decade with the Nets. He was coming off a severe knee injury, limiting him to just three games in 2020-21. The veteran's performance with Washington was up and down, with the lows being awful. During a 14-game stretch from Nov. 17 through Dec. 18, he shot just 30.9 percent for 8.2 points per game. During a seven-game stretch from Jan. 23 through Feb. 17, he shot just 25.6 percent for 6.7 points per game. However, his performances picked up more consistently after he was traded to the Mavericks for Kristaps Porzingis. During the guard's 23 games with the Mavs, he averaged 15.8 points on 50/40/73 shooting, 3.9 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 28.3 minutes. He continued solid play throughout the playoffs, hitting 41.7 percent of his 5.3 three-point attempts per game. Fantasy managers have a right to be skeptical about Dinwiddie's post-trade production since it was some of the best basketball of his career following some of the worst basketball of his career. However, the workload should at least remain steady. Dinwiddie doesn't have massive upside, but managers in deeper leagues can justify grabbing Dinwiddie towards the end of drafts.
Last offseason, Dinwiddie signed a three-year, $54 million deal with the Wizards after spending the previous half decade with the Nets. He was coming off a severe knee injury, limiting him to just three games in 2020-21. The veteran's performance with Washington was up and down, with the lows being awful. During a 14-game stretch from Nov. 17 through Dec. 18, he shot just 30.9 percent for 8.2 points per game. During a seven-game stretch from Jan. 23 through Feb. 17, he shot just 25.6 percent for 6.7 points per game. However, his performances picked up more consistently after he was traded to the Mavericks for Kristaps Porzingis. During the guard's 23 games with the Mavs, he averaged 15.8 points on 50/40/73 shooting, 3.9 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 28.3 minutes. He continued solid play throughout the playoffs, hitting 41.7 percent of his 5.3 three-point attempts per game. Fantasy managers have a right to be skeptical about Dinwiddie's post-trade production since it was some of the best basketball of his career following some of the worst basketball of his career. However, the workload should at least remain steady. Dinwiddie doesn't have massive upside, but managers in deeper leagues can justify grabbing Dinwiddie towards the end of drafts.
Irving was one of the more talked about players last season, missing a substantial chunk of games because he was unvaccinated. That decision cost him 53 games and will undoubtedly have an impact as managers prepare for the 2022-23 season. If there was a positive to come from his shortened season, it has to be that he will be fully healthy come opening night. While there have been seemingly constant rumors surrounding his playing future, it appears he will be suiting up for the Nets, with or without Kevin Durant. Irving ended 2021-22 as the fifth-ranked player on a per-game basis, highlighting just how good he can be when healthy. There is no reason to think he won't be able to put up top-five numbers once again. If, in fact, Durant is traded away, that only opens up more opportunities for Irving to thrive, especially on the offensive end of the court. The hesitation comes when attempting to ascertain how many games he will actually play. Assuming there are no off-court issues to deal with, he would only need to play in 65 games to still be a first-round player from a totals perspective. He is a perfect example of risk vs. reward. Given the risk, he is unlikely to be drafted in the first round of most drafts. Snaring him with a second-round pick seems justifiable, and it's a move that could be a real difference maker come April.
Irving was one of the more talked about players last season, missing a substantial chunk of games because he was unvaccinated. That decision cost him 53 games and will undoubtedly have an impact as managers prepare for the 2022-23 season. If there was a positive to come from his shortened season, it has to be that he will be fully healthy come opening night. While there have been seemingly constant rumors surrounding his playing future, it appears he will be suiting up for the Nets, with or without Kevin Durant. Irving ended 2021-22 as the fifth-ranked player on a per-game basis, highlighting just how good he can be when healthy. There is no reason to think he won't be able to put up top-five numbers once again. If, in fact, Durant is traded away, that only opens up more opportunities for Irving to thrive, especially on the offensive end of the court. The hesitation comes when attempting to ascertain how many games he will actually play. Assuming there are no off-court issues to deal with, he would only need to play in 65 games to still be a first-round player from a totals perspective. He is a perfect example of risk vs. reward. Given the risk, he is unlikely to be drafted in the first round of most drafts. Snaring him with a second-round pick seems justifiable, and it's a move that could be a real difference maker come April.
Murray missed all of last season due to an ACL tear suffered at the end of the 2020-21 campaign. That season was his best, as Murray finished 31st in eight-category roto leagues on a per-game basis. He saw 35.5 minutes per game and averaged 21.2 points on 48/41/87 shooting, 4.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals. Though he's a point guard, Murray's assist ceiling will always be relatively low while playing alongside two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who runs the offense. Still, that's opened Murray up to launch plenty of high-percentage catch-and-shoot threes (2.7 makes two years ago). Plus, he's able to make cuts to the basket and finish at an elite level (72 percent at the rim, in the 97th percentile for combo guards). Fantasy managers should exercise a bit of caution drafting Murray since he'll need to shake off some rust, but his upside is clear, and he could end up returning third-round value if he can bounce back quickly.
Murray missed all of last season due to an ACL tear suffered at the end of the 2020-21 campaign. That season was his best, as Murray finished 31st in eight-category roto leagues on a per-game basis. He saw 35.5 minutes per game and averaged 21.2 points on 48/41/87 shooting, 4.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals. Though he's a point guard, Murray's assist ceiling will always be relatively low while playing alongside two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who runs the offense. Still, that's opened Murray up to launch plenty of high-percentage catch-and-shoot threes (2.7 makes two years ago). Plus, he's able to make cuts to the basket and finish at an elite level (72 percent at the rim, in the 97th percentile for combo guards). Fantasy managers should exercise a bit of caution drafting Murray since he'll need to shake off some rust, but his upside is clear, and he could end up returning third-round value if he can bounce back quickly.
With the ups and downs Porzingis has encountered thus far in his career, it can be easy to overlook the depth of his talent and the uniqueness of his skill set. The 7-foot-3 center was one of four players to average at least 1.5 three-pointers and 1.5 blocked shots per game last season, and he's hit both of those marks in four of his six NBA campaigns. Porzingis also averaged 20.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 45.9 percent from the field and a career-best 86.7 percent from the charity stripe. It's not like these numbers were unexpected- they align with his career output thus far. Unfortunately, Porzingis' statistical consistency is mirrored by a consistent inability to remain on the court. He played in only 51 games last season, marking the sixth consecutive campaign (including 2018-19, which he sat out completely) during which he has missed a significant chunk of the schedule. If not for the injury concerns, Porzingis would likely be an easy second-to-third-round fantasy draft pick, but it'll take courage to select him there for the coming season given his history of getting hurt. If there's reason to gamble, it's in remembering that Porzingis looked good after joining Washington via trade last season, posting per-game averages of 22.1 points, 8.8 boards, 2.9 assists, 1.7 triples and 1.5 blocks. We haven't seen Porzingis play with Bradley Beal yet, but the trio of those two and forward Kyle Kuzma theoretically complement one another. Porzingis should put up big numbers again when healthy next season, but the caveat of "when healthy" is plenty of reason to pause on draft day.
With the ups and downs Porzingis has encountered thus far in his career, it can be easy to overlook the depth of his talent and the uniqueness of his skill set. The 7-foot-3 center was one of four players to average at least 1.5 three-pointers and 1.5 blocked shots per game last season, and he's hit both of those marks in four of his six NBA campaigns. Porzingis also averaged 20.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 45.9 percent from the field and a career-best 86.7 percent from the charity stripe. It's not like these numbers were unexpected- they align with his career output thus far. Unfortunately, Porzingis' statistical consistency is mirrored by a consistent inability to remain on the court. He played in only 51 games last season, marking the sixth consecutive campaign (including 2018-19, which he sat out completely) during which he has missed a significant chunk of the schedule. If not for the injury concerns, Porzingis would likely be an easy second-to-third-round fantasy draft pick, but it'll take courage to select him there for the coming season given his history of getting hurt. If there's reason to gamble, it's in remembering that Porzingis looked good after joining Washington via trade last season, posting per-game averages of 22.1 points, 8.8 boards, 2.9 assists, 1.7 triples and 1.5 blocks. We haven't seen Porzingis play with Bradley Beal yet, but the trio of those two and forward Kyle Kuzma theoretically complement one another. Porzingis should put up big numbers again when healthy next season, but the caveat of "when healthy" is plenty of reason to pause on draft day.
While Cunningham wasn't as heralded as some of the previous No.1 picks, the 2021 NBA Draft first overall selection didn't disappoint as a rookie, earning All-Rookie First Team honors. Cunningham finished the campaign hot, averaging 21.1 points, 6.5 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals over his last 20 games. While Cunningham struggled to consistently connect from beyond the arc (31.4 percent) in 2021-22, he fared much better in his lone collegiate campaign (40.0 percent), so there's room for growth in that area heading into his second professional campaign. Likely aiding Cunnigham's development is an infusion of young talent that includes 2022 No. 5 overall pick Jaden Ivey and No. 13 pick Jalen Duren, who both pieced together solid Summer League showings. Ivey, in particular, should help take some of the pressure off of Cunningham in the backcourt. The Pistons also return most of their production from a season ago, retaining seven of the eight players that played at least 1,000 total minutes last. The lone exception is Jerami Grant, who Detroit shipped to Portland this offseason for a protected 2025 first-round pick. The rebuilding Pistons figure to rely heavily on their youth again this season, so look for Cunnigham to be front-and-center in the rotation and set to supply a diverse set of fantasy contributions.
While Cunningham wasn't as heralded as some of the previous No.1 picks, the 2021 NBA Draft first overall selection didn't disappoint as a rookie, earning All-Rookie First Team honors. Cunningham finished the campaign hot, averaging 21.1 points, 6.5 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals over his last 20 games. While Cunningham struggled to consistently connect from beyond the arc (31.4 percent) in 2021-22, he fared much better in his lone collegiate campaign (40.0 percent), so there's room for growth in that area heading into his second professional campaign. Likely aiding Cunnigham's development is an infusion of young talent that includes 2022 No. 5 overall pick Jaden Ivey and No. 13 pick Jalen Duren, who both pieced together solid Summer League showings. Ivey, in particular, should help take some of the pressure off of Cunningham in the backcourt. The Pistons also return most of their production from a season ago, retaining seven of the eight players that played at least 1,000 total minutes last. The lone exception is Jerami Grant, who Detroit shipped to Portland this offseason for a protected 2025 first-round pick. The rebuilding Pistons figure to rely heavily on their youth again this season, so look for Cunnigham to be front-and-center in the rotation and set to supply a diverse set of fantasy contributions.
Last season marked the third consecutive year Poeltl saw increased minutes, and it marked the best season of his career by a significant margin. He started all but one of his 68 appearances and averaged 13.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.7 blocks in 29.0 minutes. His field-goal percentage (61.8) was fantastic, but his 49.5 percent mark from the charity stripe was downright awful and quite damaging to his fantasy value, though he took only 2.8 attempts per game. Poeltl's increased production wasn't simply a product of more minutes, as Poeltl's 18.3 percent usage rate was significantly higher than his previous high mark of 14.8 percent in 2017-18. The center ranked 79th in per-game fantasy production. This season, he should have room to grow yet again. The Spurs are in one of the best tanking situations in the NBA, with their best player arguably being Keldon Johnson. Poeltl can only handle so much usage as a traditional center without much of a post game, but he's displayed upside as a passer and could handle the ball more frequently than ever before. Fantasy managers should temper expectations given Poeltl's limitations as a player, but he deserves a selection earlier than his ranking from the end of last season.
Last season marked the third consecutive year Poeltl saw increased minutes, and it marked the best season of his career by a significant margin. He started all but one of his 68 appearances and averaged 13.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.7 blocks in 29.0 minutes. His field-goal percentage (61.8) was fantastic, but his 49.5 percent mark from the charity stripe was downright awful and quite damaging to his fantasy value, though he took only 2.8 attempts per game. Poeltl's increased production wasn't simply a product of more minutes, as Poeltl's 18.3 percent usage rate was significantly higher than his previous high mark of 14.8 percent in 2017-18. The center ranked 79th in per-game fantasy production. This season, he should have room to grow yet again. The Spurs are in one of the best tanking situations in the NBA, with their best player arguably being Keldon Johnson. Poeltl can only handle so much usage as a traditional center without much of a post game, but he's displayed upside as a passer and could handle the ball more frequently than ever before. Fantasy managers should temper expectations given Poeltl's limitations as a player, but he deserves a selection earlier than his ranking from the end of last season.
Herro made significant strides in his third season, netting him the 2021-22 Sixth Man of the Year award. He reached career highs in nearly all metrics. The 22-year-old averaged 20.7 points on 45/40/87 shooting, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 32.6 minutes. He also set a new career-high single-game scoring performance with 35 points against the Hornets. Miami wasn't shy about leaning on him as the leader of the bench unit, as his 28.8 percent usage rate (18th in the league) would suggest. The fantasy result was Herro ranking 66th in per-game value. With Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry aging and prone to rest days and injury, fantasy managers should feel confident targeting the young and rising Herro. He'll boast a major production boost when one or both of Lowry and Butler miss games, and he's entrenched as a high-usage offensive option even when the pair are available. Combine Herro's potential for boosted stats with an assumed improvement, and he will go off the board much earlier than last season's rank. He will have trouble reaching elite levels due to his current role and lack of defensive stats, but the Kentucky product is a high-floor option in the early-to-mid rounds of drafts.
Herro made significant strides in his third season, netting him the 2021-22 Sixth Man of the Year award. He reached career highs in nearly all metrics. The 22-year-old averaged 20.7 points on 45/40/87 shooting, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 32.6 minutes. He also set a new career-high single-game scoring performance with 35 points against the Hornets. Miami wasn't shy about leaning on him as the leader of the bench unit, as his 28.8 percent usage rate (18th in the league) would suggest. The fantasy result was Herro ranking 66th in per-game value. With Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry aging and prone to rest days and injury, fantasy managers should feel confident targeting the young and rising Herro. He'll boast a major production boost when one or both of Lowry and Butler miss games, and he's entrenched as a high-usage offensive option even when the pair are available. Combine Herro's potential for boosted stats with an assumed improvement, and he will go off the board much earlier than last season's rank. He will have trouble reaching elite levels due to his current role and lack of defensive stats, but the Kentucky product is a high-floor option in the early-to-mid rounds of drafts.
Middleton has been one of the most consistent players in the NBA over the past three seasons. His average points have been 20.9, 20.4 and 20.1; his average rebounds have been 6.2, 6.0 and 5.4; and his average assists have been 4.3, 5.4 and 5.4. That's also come along with consistent shooting percentages. Last season, he slashed 44/37/89. The veteran also made his third All-Star game in four years. Nothing is expected to change this year. He'll be option 2A with Jrue Holiday as 2B behind Giannis Antetokounmpo. The only thing fantasy managers need to be wary about is that Middleton tore a ligament in his wrist and underwent surgery in July. However, he's expected to be ready near the start of the regular season, so he shouldn't have a significant draft day discount. Last year, Middleton ranked 35th in per-game fantasy production in eight-category leagues, and he should again be a strong target in the 30-40 range of most fantasy drafts.
Middleton has been one of the most consistent players in the NBA over the past three seasons. His average points have been 20.9, 20.4 and 20.1; his average rebounds have been 6.2, 6.0 and 5.4; and his average assists have been 4.3, 5.4 and 5.4. That's also come along with consistent shooting percentages. Last season, he slashed 44/37/89. The veteran also made his third All-Star game in four years. Nothing is expected to change this year. He'll be option 2A with Jrue Holiday as 2B behind Giannis Antetokounmpo. The only thing fantasy managers need to be wary about is that Middleton tore a ligament in his wrist and underwent surgery in July. However, he's expected to be ready near the start of the regular season, so he shouldn't have a significant draft day discount. Last year, Middleton ranked 35th in per-game fantasy production in eight-category leagues, and he should again be a strong target in the 30-40 range of most fantasy drafts.
After three years of toiling in a bench role for the Trail Blazers, Simons finally graduated to a starting job midway through 2021-22 and took advantage of the opportunity, averaging 23.4 points, 5.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds over 35.5 minutes per game in a 27-game stretch before a knee injury prematurely ended his campaign. Simons' efforts earned him a four-year, $100 million contract extension this offseason and position him for a consistently large role heading into 2022-23. Simons should pair with Damian Lillard to form the team's primary backcourt, though 2022 NBA Draft seventh overall pick Shaedon Sharpe also joins the mix. Simons also blossomed from a fantasy perspective last season, shooting 44.3 percent from the field, 40.5 percent from deep and 88.8 percent from the charity stripe while knocking down 3.1 three-point shots per contest (4.4 in the final 27). While he may not match his output with Lillard back and set to start on the ball, Simons should still see plenty of usage with CJ McCollum out of the picture. His multi-category contributions should be enough to make him an intriguing option in many draft formats.
After three years of toiling in a bench role for the Trail Blazers, Simons finally graduated to a starting job midway through 2021-22 and took advantage of the opportunity, averaging 23.4 points, 5.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds over 35.5 minutes per game in a 27-game stretch before a knee injury prematurely ended his campaign. Simons' efforts earned him a four-year, $100 million contract extension this offseason and position him for a consistently large role heading into 2022-23. Simons should pair with Damian Lillard to form the team's primary backcourt, though 2022 NBA Draft seventh overall pick Shaedon Sharpe also joins the mix. Simons also blossomed from a fantasy perspective last season, shooting 44.3 percent from the field, 40.5 percent from deep and 88.8 percent from the charity stripe while knocking down 3.1 three-point shots per contest (4.4 in the final 27). While he may not match his output with Lillard back and set to start on the ball, Simons should still see plenty of usage with CJ McCollum out of the picture. His multi-category contributions should be enough to make him an intriguing option in many draft formats.
The No. 11 pick from 2020 made strides as a sophomore last season. With DeMar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay out of the picture, Vassell stepped into more minutes (17.0 MPG to 27.3 MPG) and more usage (14.3% to 18.9%). He also started 32 of his 71 appearances. Overall, the Florida State product averaged 12.3 points on 43/36/84 shooting, 4.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals. While those numbers don't jump off the page, Vassell increased his shooting efficiency and assist percentage while decreasing his turnover percentage - an impressive feat as a young player taking on more usage. However, he still relied on others to create for him, with 80 percent of his baskets going assisted - in the 37th percentile for wing players. He also settles for jumpers often, with just 17 percent of his shots coming at the rim. And while he leans on long twos more often than is ideal, he shot 43 percent from that range, which is solid. Right now, he's flashed upside as a three-and-D wing, but it's possible coach Gregg Popovich will look to get Vassell more involved this season. San Antonio is in one of the deepest rebuilds in the NBA, and Vassell is one of the best players on the roster after Dejounte Murray was traded away to Atlanta over the summer. Vassell ranked 121st in per-game production last season, so fantasy managers will likely need to cough up a top-100 pick to get the third-year wing.
The No. 11 pick from 2020 made strides as a sophomore last season. With DeMar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay out of the picture, Vassell stepped into more minutes (17.0 MPG to 27.3 MPG) and more usage (14.3% to 18.9%). He also started 32 of his 71 appearances. Overall, the Florida State product averaged 12.3 points on 43/36/84 shooting, 4.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals. While those numbers don't jump off the page, Vassell increased his shooting efficiency and assist percentage while decreasing his turnover percentage - an impressive feat as a young player taking on more usage. However, he still relied on others to create for him, with 80 percent of his baskets going assisted - in the 37th percentile for wing players. He also settles for jumpers often, with just 17 percent of his shots coming at the rim. And while he leans on long twos more often than is ideal, he shot 43 percent from that range, which is solid. Right now, he's flashed upside as a three-and-D wing, but it's possible coach Gregg Popovich will look to get Vassell more involved this season. San Antonio is in one of the deepest rebuilds in the NBA, and Vassell is one of the best players on the roster after Dejounte Murray was traded away to Atlanta over the summer. Vassell ranked 121st in per-game production last season, so fantasy managers will likely need to cough up a top-100 pick to get the third-year wing.
It's fair to say that Oubre's first season in Charlotte was full of both ups and downs, seeing him end the campaign as the 156th-ranked player in per-game production in eight-category roto leagues. While he did serve as a sixth man for the majority of the season, he slid into the opening lineup from time to time, usually at times when others around him were injured. His averages of 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 2.6 three-pointers, while nothing to turn your nose up at, align with what he produced the previous season in Golden State. Looking ahead to the 2022-23 season, Oubre's exact role remains a little clouded, thanks mainly to the uncertainty surrounding Miles Bridges. If Bridges is scratched for the season, Oubre could see his playing nudge 30 minutes per night, assuming he can maintain steady production. As of right now, he is a player to consider taking a flier on late in drafts, given his proven track record and the fact his floor should remain relatively safe.
It's fair to say that Oubre's first season in Charlotte was full of both ups and downs, seeing him end the campaign as the 156th-ranked player in per-game production in eight-category roto leagues. While he did serve as a sixth man for the majority of the season, he slid into the opening lineup from time to time, usually at times when others around him were injured. His averages of 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 2.6 three-pointers, while nothing to turn your nose up at, align with what he produced the previous season in Golden State. Looking ahead to the 2022-23 season, Oubre's exact role remains a little clouded, thanks mainly to the uncertainty surrounding Miles Bridges. If Bridges is scratched for the season, Oubre could see his playing nudge 30 minutes per night, assuming he can maintain steady production. As of right now, he is a player to consider taking a flier on late in drafts, given his proven track record and the fact his floor should remain relatively safe.
During his first year with the Hornets, Plumlee was the team's full-time starting center, getting the nod in all 73 of his appearances. However, his numbers suffered with his role in the offense being reduced compared to his time in Detroit in 2020-21. Plumlee's 12.7 percent usage rate was the lowest of his career. His value also plummeted due to his atrocious free-throw shooting -- 39.2 percent on 2.3 attempts per game -- which was so bad that he changed his shooting hand late in the year. Overall, he ranked 243rd in per-game fantasy value behind 6.5 points on 64.1 percent shooting, 7.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 combined steals-plus-blocks in 24.6 minutes. Plumlee should be in the same role again this season. He has upside for standard-league relevance if he can break out of his free-throw slump. He managed to rank 163rd in 2018-19 in just 21.1 minutes, but his free-throw percentage was a much-better 56.1 percent. It's much less risky to select Plumlee in points leagues due to the issue.
During his first year with the Hornets, Plumlee was the team's full-time starting center, getting the nod in all 73 of his appearances. However, his numbers suffered with his role in the offense being reduced compared to his time in Detroit in 2020-21. Plumlee's 12.7 percent usage rate was the lowest of his career. His value also plummeted due to his atrocious free-throw shooting -- 39.2 percent on 2.3 attempts per game -- which was so bad that he changed his shooting hand late in the year. Overall, he ranked 243rd in per-game fantasy value behind 6.5 points on 64.1 percent shooting, 7.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 combined steals-plus-blocks in 24.6 minutes. Plumlee should be in the same role again this season. He has upside for standard-league relevance if he can break out of his free-throw slump. He managed to rank 163rd in 2018-19 in just 21.1 minutes, but his free-throw percentage was a much-better 56.1 percent. It's much less risky to select Plumlee in points leagues due to the issue.
After spending the entirety of his career with the Trail Blazers, McCollum found himself on the trade block last season with them floundering without the injured Damian Lillard. He was ultimately dealt, landing with an up-and-coming young team in the Pelicans. He thrived with his new squad, averaging 24.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.7 three-pointers per game. His most noteworthy difference with New Orleans was him shooting 49.3 percent from the field, compared to 43.6 percent over 36 games with Portland. Now with a full offseason to build relationships with his new teammates, McCollum will be tasked with helping the Pelicans make a playoff run. One big difference, though, will be that he should be playing alongside a healthy Zion Williamson, who sat out all of last season. It's possible that Williamson's return could result in a decline in points and assists for McCollum, but he's still a reliable guard option in fantasy who can contribute in multiple areas. Playing alongside Lillard, he had six straight seasons in which he averaged at least 20.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
After spending the entirety of his career with the Trail Blazers, McCollum found himself on the trade block last season with them floundering without the injured Damian Lillard. He was ultimately dealt, landing with an up-and-coming young team in the Pelicans. He thrived with his new squad, averaging 24.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.7 three-pointers per game. His most noteworthy difference with New Orleans was him shooting 49.3 percent from the field, compared to 43.6 percent over 36 games with Portland. Now with a full offseason to build relationships with his new teammates, McCollum will be tasked with helping the Pelicans make a playoff run. One big difference, though, will be that he should be playing alongside a healthy Zion Williamson, who sat out all of last season. It's possible that Williamson's return could result in a decline in points and assists for McCollum, but he's still a reliable guard option in fantasy who can contribute in multiple areas. Playing alongside Lillard, he had six straight seasons in which he averaged at least 20.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
The Spurs undertook the first stage of a rebuild last season after losing DeMar DeRozan to the Bulls. Dejounte Murray was the clear leader of the team, but Johnson also proved to be one of his top running mates. He stepped up his production, averaging 17.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.1 three-pointers across 32 minutes per game. While his 21.3 percent usage rate was the highest of his career, it was still a fairly modest mark. The main reason for his spike in points per game was that he shot 39.8 percent from behind the arc on 5.3 attempts per game. The season prior, he shot 33.1 percent on 2.6 attempts per game. This offseason saw Murray get dealt to the Hawks, further thrusting the Spurs into their rebuild. They have not added any significant veterans, so Johnson has a chance to lead the team in usage rate. If he can maintain his efficiency from behind the arc with an increased workload, he could become extremely valuable. There is some risk that comes with drafting him, though, as the Spurs could be one of the teams that sit some of their better players down the stretch of the season to improve their chances of obtaining the top pick in the 2023 Draft.
The Spurs undertook the first stage of a rebuild last season after losing DeMar DeRozan to the Bulls. Dejounte Murray was the clear leader of the team, but Johnson also proved to be one of his top running mates. He stepped up his production, averaging 17.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.1 three-pointers across 32 minutes per game. While his 21.3 percent usage rate was the highest of his career, it was still a fairly modest mark. The main reason for his spike in points per game was that he shot 39.8 percent from behind the arc on 5.3 attempts per game. The season prior, he shot 33.1 percent on 2.6 attempts per game. This offseason saw Murray get dealt to the Hawks, further thrusting the Spurs into their rebuild. They have not added any significant veterans, so Johnson has a chance to lead the team in usage rate. If he can maintain his efficiency from behind the arc with an increased workload, he could become extremely valuable. There is some risk that comes with drafting him, though, as the Spurs could be one of the teams that sit some of their better players down the stretch of the season to improve their chances of obtaining the top pick in the 2023 Draft.
Despite taking managers through the rookie roller coaster of ups and downs, Giddey rounded into form toward the end and compiled a successful rookie campaign with the Thunder. In his first 30 games (October through December), he averaged 10.8 points on 39/25/65 shooting, 7.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 30.2 minutes. But the new year brought about new efficiency. In his 24 games in 2022, he averaged 14.5 points on 45/28/78 shooting, 8.6 rebounds and 6.8 assists in 33.4 minutes. Giddey exhibited tremendous upside as a passer as a 19-year-old, though his 47.8 true shooting percentage was awful and tracked with the pre-draft concerns that he may never be a great scorer. He had a heavy diet of floaters, with 33 percent of his shot attempts coming between 4-14 feet from the rim. Encouragingly, he hit 45 percent of those looks, and his improved free-throw percentage as the year wore on sparks some hope that he can consistently nail threes. Giddey should make strides this season while sharing playmaking responsibilities with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. His ceiling is only so high while sharing a team with someone as talented as Gilgeous-Alexander, but SGA's ability off the ball benefits Giddey's usage. Giddey ranked 95th in per-game production last season, so fantasy managers should undoubtedly look to draft him sooner this year.
Despite taking managers through the rookie roller coaster of ups and downs, Giddey rounded into form toward the end and compiled a successful rookie campaign with the Thunder. In his first 30 games (October through December), he averaged 10.8 points on 39/25/65 shooting, 7.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 30.2 minutes. But the new year brought about new efficiency. In his 24 games in 2022, he averaged 14.5 points on 45/28/78 shooting, 8.6 rebounds and 6.8 assists in 33.4 minutes. Giddey exhibited tremendous upside as a passer as a 19-year-old, though his 47.8 true shooting percentage was awful and tracked with the pre-draft concerns that he may never be a great scorer. He had a heavy diet of floaters, with 33 percent of his shot attempts coming between 4-14 feet from the rim. Encouragingly, he hit 45 percent of those looks, and his improved free-throw percentage as the year wore on sparks some hope that he can consistently nail threes. Giddey should make strides this season while sharing playmaking responsibilities with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. His ceiling is only so high while sharing a team with someone as talented as Gilgeous-Alexander, but SGA's ability off the ball benefits Giddey's usage. Giddey ranked 95th in per-game production last season, so fantasy managers should undoubtedly look to draft him sooner this year.
The eighth overall pick in 2021, Wagner had a successful season with the Magic that earned him All-Rookie First Team honors. He started all 79 appearances and averaged 15.2 points on 47/35/86 shooting, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 30.7 minutes. He posted some big efforts along the way, most notably his performance against the Bucks on Dec. 28, when the forward posted a career-high 38 points (12-20 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 10-10 FT), seven rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block. He posted other highs of 11 rebounds, 10 assists, six steals, five three-point makes and two blocks - demonstrating a well-rounded skillset. He was also effective off the ball as a cutter and corner three-point shooter, hitting 44 percent of his 66 three-point attempts from that area. Wagner should start at forward again this season, though there will be more competition for touches. Markelle Fultz will be back in the fold, and the Magic selected Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 pick in the 2022 Draft. Banchero is also a forward, and he, like Wagner, is a capable playmaker with the ball in his hands. But the assumption should be that the organization will prioritize Banchero's development and touches over Wagner's. Wagner will still play a significant role in the offense, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect a huge leap out of him in his second year despite the promising rookie campaign. Last year, Wagner ranked 103rd in per-game fantasy production and he should be drafted earlier than that this season, but there are plenty of players with higher upside.
The eighth overall pick in 2021, Wagner had a successful season with the Magic that earned him All-Rookie First Team honors. He started all 79 appearances and averaged 15.2 points on 47/35/86 shooting, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 30.7 minutes. He posted some big efforts along the way, most notably his performance against the Bucks on Dec. 28, when the forward posted a career-high 38 points (12-20 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 10-10 FT), seven rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block. He posted other highs of 11 rebounds, 10 assists, six steals, five three-point makes and two blocks - demonstrating a well-rounded skillset. He was also effective off the ball as a cutter and corner three-point shooter, hitting 44 percent of his 66 three-point attempts from that area. Wagner should start at forward again this season, though there will be more competition for touches. Markelle Fultz will be back in the fold, and the Magic selected Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 pick in the 2022 Draft. Banchero is also a forward, and he, like Wagner, is a capable playmaker with the ball in his hands. But the assumption should be that the organization will prioritize Banchero's development and touches over Wagner's. Wagner will still play a significant role in the offense, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect a huge leap out of him in his second year despite the promising rookie campaign. Last year, Wagner ranked 103rd in per-game fantasy production and he should be drafted earlier than that this season, but there are plenty of players with higher upside.
A combination of nagging injuries and Detroit's rebuilding mission resulted in a shortened season for Grant. When active, he supplied 19.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.9 combined steals-plus-blocks across 47 contests. Jettisoned from Detroit to Portland in a pre-draft trade, Grant slots in as a pivotal starter at the power forward position and stands to make a huge two-way impact for the Trail Blazers. Grant has excelled when operating as a key contributor on playoff-caliber squads. Across 2018-19 with Oklahoma City and 2019-20 with Denver, Grant shot 48.9 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from beyond the arc. His time in Detroit showcased his volume scoring abilities, and he'll now join Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons and Jusuf Nurkic in a talented starting lineup. The upcoming season could be Grant's best -- a culmination of bulk scoring and efficiency. His playing time should be healthy, and Grant can stuff the box score.
A combination of nagging injuries and Detroit's rebuilding mission resulted in a shortened season for Grant. When active, he supplied 19.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.9 combined steals-plus-blocks across 47 contests. Jettisoned from Detroit to Portland in a pre-draft trade, Grant slots in as a pivotal starter at the power forward position and stands to make a huge two-way impact for the Trail Blazers. Grant has excelled when operating as a key contributor on playoff-caliber squads. Across 2018-19 with Oklahoma City and 2019-20 with Denver, Grant shot 48.9 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from beyond the arc. His time in Detroit showcased his volume scoring abilities, and he'll now join Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons and Jusuf Nurkic in a talented starting lineup. The upcoming season could be Grant's best -- a culmination of bulk scoring and efficiency. His playing time should be healthy, and Grant can stuff the box score.
Hart stepped into the biggest role of his career last season, thanks, in part, to the Pelicans' sign-and-trade of Lonzo Ball and the failure to secure great backcourt replacements. Zion Williamson's full-season absence also opened up 30-plus minutes on the wing, and Brandon Ingram appeared in just 55 games. In Hart's 41 appearances (40 starts) with New Orleans, he averaged 13.4 points on 51/32/75 shooting, 7.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals in 33.5 minutes. Despite the 27-year-old's impressive development, he was traded at the deadline to bring in CJ McCollum from Portland. The Trail Blazers were tanking, allowing Hart to see plenty of minutes and usage. Over his 13 appearances (all starts) with his new team, he averaged 19.9 points on 50/37/77 shooting, 5.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.2 steals in 32.1 minutes - by far the biggest role of his career. The overall result of Hart's production was him ranking 67th in per-game fantasy value - a huge leap from his previous high of rank 131. This year, he'll have another chance to play a significant role for the Blazers, given his multi-position versatility and lack of roster depth. However, he won't be posting numbers like he did at the end of last season. Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant and Jusuf Nurkic will all sit above him on the offensive totem pole. There's still a strong chance Hart sees 30-plus minutes and stuffs the stat sheet, but it will probably look more like his New Orleans production. Either way, fantasy managers should feel comfortable selecting Hart inside the top 100 given what he displayed in 2021-22.
Hart stepped into the biggest role of his career last season, thanks, in part, to the Pelicans' sign-and-trade of Lonzo Ball and the failure to secure great backcourt replacements. Zion Williamson's full-season absence also opened up 30-plus minutes on the wing, and Brandon Ingram appeared in just 55 games. In Hart's 41 appearances (40 starts) with New Orleans, he averaged 13.4 points on 51/32/75 shooting, 7.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals in 33.5 minutes. Despite the 27-year-old's impressive development, he was traded at the deadline to bring in CJ McCollum from Portland. The Trail Blazers were tanking, allowing Hart to see plenty of minutes and usage. Over his 13 appearances (all starts) with his new team, he averaged 19.9 points on 50/37/77 shooting, 5.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.2 steals in 32.1 minutes - by far the biggest role of his career. The overall result of Hart's production was him ranking 67th in per-game fantasy value - a huge leap from his previous high of rank 131. This year, he'll have another chance to play a significant role for the Blazers, given his multi-position versatility and lack of roster depth. However, he won't be posting numbers like he did at the end of last season. Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant and Jusuf Nurkic will all sit above him on the offensive totem pole. There's still a strong chance Hart sees 30-plus minutes and stuffs the stat sheet, but it will probably look more like his New Orleans production. Either way, fantasy managers should feel comfortable selecting Hart inside the top 100 given what he displayed in 2021-22.
Robinson has now put up top-100 value for the past four seasons, although his overall ranking in 2021-22 did take a minor hit, as did his playing time. After recently agreeing to a new four-year deal with the Knicks, the front office appears invested in Robinson as their long-term center. That bodes well for his fantasy value and leaves the possibility that he maintains his run of top-100 seasons. However, even with Nerlens Noel out of the picture, the Knicks acquired Isaiah Hartenstein, a much more well-rounded fantasy player, in free agency. Robinson is poised to claim a starting spot and to be honest, it's a role he should be able to hold onto, barring a significant change in fortunes. Foul trouble remains an issue for Robinson when it comes to logging heavy minutes, which somewhat caps his overall upside. With Hartenstein now an accomplished backup, we could see situations where he sees more court time than Robinson, despite coming off the bench. Until we see otherwise, Robinson should be a relatively safe target in the ninth or tenth round, keeping in mind that his value is tied heavily to his high block rate and elite field goal percentage.
Robinson has now put up top-100 value for the past four seasons, although his overall ranking in 2021-22 did take a minor hit, as did his playing time. After recently agreeing to a new four-year deal with the Knicks, the front office appears invested in Robinson as their long-term center. That bodes well for his fantasy value and leaves the possibility that he maintains his run of top-100 seasons. However, even with Nerlens Noel out of the picture, the Knicks acquired Isaiah Hartenstein, a much more well-rounded fantasy player, in free agency. Robinson is poised to claim a starting spot and to be honest, it's a role he should be able to hold onto, barring a significant change in fortunes. Foul trouble remains an issue for Robinson when it comes to logging heavy minutes, which somewhat caps his overall upside. With Hartenstein now an accomplished backup, we could see situations where he sees more court time than Robinson, despite coming off the bench. Until we see otherwise, Robinson should be a relatively safe target in the ninth or tenth round, keeping in mind that his value is tied heavily to his high block rate and elite field goal percentage.
Despite being loaded in the frontcourt, the Magic opted to sign Bol to a new contract. Since being drafted in 2019, Bol has yet to play a meaningful role, struggling to crack the rotation. Given his obvious limitations, there is little reason to think anything changes moving forward, making Bol a non-factor in all fantasy formats.
Despite being loaded in the frontcourt, the Magic opted to sign Bol to a new contract. Since being drafted in 2019, Bol has yet to play a meaningful role, struggling to crack the rotation. Given his obvious limitations, there is little reason to think anything changes moving forward, making Bol a non-factor in all fantasy formats.
Wiggins has etched consistent production in his two seasons with the Warriors, claiming a starting role as the team's third scoring option behind Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. While he hasn't quite lived up to his first-overall draft pick billing, Wiggins has pieced together a serviceable career and contributes enough across the board to warrant fantasy consideration in most formats. Wiggins saw a decline in his scoring efforts for a third consecutive season, averaging 17.2 points per contest, down from 18.6 per game in the previous campaign. He also saw dips in both rebounds and assists, though smaller and which can likely be accounted for by his drop in playing time. On the plus side, Wiggins matched a career-best average of 2.2 three-point makes per contest and converted at a career-best 39.2 percent clip -- an asset that hasn't been part of his bag for much of his career. Wiggins also reached the steal per contest mark for the first time since back in 2018-19, slightly boosting his fantasy value. Still only 27 years old, Wiggins should slot in as a regular in the starting five again this season in a similar role to what he saw last year.
Wiggins has etched consistent production in his two seasons with the Warriors, claiming a starting role as the team's third scoring option behind Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. While he hasn't quite lived up to his first-overall draft pick billing, Wiggins has pieced together a serviceable career and contributes enough across the board to warrant fantasy consideration in most formats. Wiggins saw a decline in his scoring efforts for a third consecutive season, averaging 17.2 points per contest, down from 18.6 per game in the previous campaign. He also saw dips in both rebounds and assists, though smaller and which can likely be accounted for by his drop in playing time. On the plus side, Wiggins matched a career-best average of 2.2 three-point makes per contest and converted at a career-best 39.2 percent clip -- an asset that hasn't been part of his bag for much of his career. Wiggins also reached the steal per contest mark for the first time since back in 2018-19, slightly boosting his fantasy value. Still only 27 years old, Wiggins should slot in as a regular in the starting five again this season in a similar role to what he saw last year.
It's safe to say Harris took a step back in the 2021-22 season, as he posted his lowest scoring average since the 2016-17 campaign with only 17.2 points per game. That trend could be expected to continue in a negative trajectory in 2022-23 as well, as Harris is expected to be nothing more than the third-best -- or even fourth-best -- option for the Sixers on offense, behind MVP candidate Joel Embiid, star guard James Harden and promising scorer Tyrese Maxey. Even considering the likely dip in his scoring figures, Harris can still be a solid fantasy contributor since his passing, rebounding and peripheral defensive stats remain decent for a player of his position since he averaged 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and a combined 1.2 blocks and steals per game. It would be reasonable to expect similar figures again, as he has averaged at least 6.8 boards and 3.5 dimes per game -- a career-high mark -- in each of the last two campaigns. Harris could be a valuable mid-round to late-round selection in most formats, but fantasy managers need to be fully aware that he is not likely to be the offensive force he was back in the day, and that most of his contributions will now come due to his all-around ability rather than his scoring prowess.
It's safe to say Harris took a step back in the 2021-22 season, as he posted his lowest scoring average since the 2016-17 campaign with only 17.2 points per game. That trend could be expected to continue in a negative trajectory in 2022-23 as well, as Harris is expected to be nothing more than the third-best -- or even fourth-best -- option for the Sixers on offense, behind MVP candidate Joel Embiid, star guard James Harden and promising scorer Tyrese Maxey. Even considering the likely dip in his scoring figures, Harris can still be a solid fantasy contributor since his passing, rebounding and peripheral defensive stats remain decent for a player of his position since he averaged 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and a combined 1.2 blocks and steals per game. It would be reasonable to expect similar figures again, as he has averaged at least 6.8 boards and 3.5 dimes per game -- a career-high mark -- in each of the last two campaigns. Harris could be a valuable mid-round to late-round selection in most formats, but fantasy managers need to be fully aware that he is not likely to be the offensive force he was back in the day, and that most of his contributions will now come due to his all-around ability rather than his scoring prowess.
Carter compiled the best year of his career in his first full season with the Magic. The No. 7 overall pick from 2018 reached per-game highs nearly across the board. In 29.8 minutes, he averaged 15.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists. It was the most efficient year of Carter's career as well, as he registered 1.2 points per shot attempt - a nice boost from adding consistent three-point shooting (3.5 attempts at a 32.7 percent clip) to his repertoire. The three-pointers will likely keep coming, and an encouraging sign is that he also shot 50 percent on his 66 attempts from long-two range. His defense (0.7 blocks and 0.6 steals) leaves something to be desired, but his combined production in both categories is passable. Overall, Carter ranked 83rd in fantasy on a per-game basis - his first time inside the top 100. This season, not much should change for Carter. He'll remain Orlando's starting center. He may need to share more touches with No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero and a healthy Markelle Fultz, but Fultz, in particular, is a good playmaker and could get Carter better looks around the rim. All things considered, fantasy managers should be able to turn to the center once again for consistent 15-and-10 production, even if his defense is a bit lacking.
Carter compiled the best year of his career in his first full season with the Magic. The No. 7 overall pick from 2018 reached per-game highs nearly across the board. In 29.8 minutes, he averaged 15.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists. It was the most efficient year of Carter's career as well, as he registered 1.2 points per shot attempt - a nice boost from adding consistent three-point shooting (3.5 attempts at a 32.7 percent clip) to his repertoire. The three-pointers will likely keep coming, and an encouraging sign is that he also shot 50 percent on his 66 attempts from long-two range. His defense (0.7 blocks and 0.6 steals) leaves something to be desired, but his combined production in both categories is passable. Overall, Carter ranked 83rd in fantasy on a per-game basis - his first time inside the top 100. This season, not much should change for Carter. He'll remain Orlando's starting center. He may need to share more touches with No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero and a healthy Markelle Fultz, but Fultz, in particular, is a good playmaker and could get Carter better looks around the rim. All things considered, fantasy managers should be able to turn to the center once again for consistent 15-and-10 production, even if his defense is a bit lacking.
Green closed out the 2021-22 campaign on a hot streak, averaging 28.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists over 36.8 minutes per contest during his final nine games. While it's unlikely he will match that output, his line of 22.1 points, 3.8 boards and 4.2 assists per contest after the All-Star break seems like an attainable goal. The uber-athletic second-year talent should be given every opportunity to thrive on a rebuilding Rockets team full of youth. While Houston returns most of its roster from last season, it's a fairly youth-laden roster. Green should pair with Kevin Porter in the backcourt again. An uptick in Green's scoring column could make him a bit more intriguing from a fantasy standpoint. He should also supply a substantial volume of makes from beyond the arc, averaging 3.1 makes per contest in the second half. Green also limited his turnovers down the stretch (1.6 per game after the All-Star break), so he could feature more utility in leagues that include the category. Unless Green advances in other statistical areas, his fantasy value will likely remain somewhat limited, leaving him in mid-to-late-round territories depending on the draft format.
Green closed out the 2021-22 campaign on a hot streak, averaging 28.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists over 36.8 minutes per contest during his final nine games. While it's unlikely he will match that output, his line of 22.1 points, 3.8 boards and 4.2 assists per contest after the All-Star break seems like an attainable goal. The uber-athletic second-year talent should be given every opportunity to thrive on a rebuilding Rockets team full of youth. While Houston returns most of its roster from last season, it's a fairly youth-laden roster. Green should pair with Kevin Porter in the backcourt again. An uptick in Green's scoring column could make him a bit more intriguing from a fantasy standpoint. He should also supply a substantial volume of makes from beyond the arc, averaging 3.1 makes per contest in the second half. Green also limited his turnovers down the stretch (1.6 per game after the All-Star break), so he could feature more utility in leagues that include the category. Unless Green advances in other statistical areas, his fantasy value will likely remain somewhat limited, leaving him in mid-to-late-round territories depending on the draft format.
Tate's second season with Houston wasn't vastly different from his first. He started 77 of his 78 appearances and played a complementary role to the more talented young core. In 26.4 minutes per game, the forward averaged 11.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists. Though Tate isn't a magnificent three-point shooter (0.8 makes per game on 31.2 percent), he takes nearly all of his shots from the rim or three, as he attempted just five long twos last season. He sported a decent mark of 2.4 free-throw attempts per game when considering his workload and his 9.3 field-goal attempts overall, though he shot just 70.7 percent from the charity stripe. This season, there's a strong chance Tate comes off the bench, though that will probably depend on whether Eric Gordon starts or is brought off the bench as a scoring sixth man. Either way, Tate should continue seeing minutes in the mid-20s, though he's also now competing for time against No. 3 overall pick Jabari Smith and No. 17 overall pick Tari Eason, who looked great in Summer League. Kenyon Martin, another forward, also seems to own organizational trust. It's encouraging that Houston inked Tate to a three-year, $22.1 million deal over the summer, though it's not exactly the type of money that guilts a coach into handing him minutes without conditions. Tate ranked 144th in per-game production last season, so he's likely not worthy of a pick in most standard leagues this time around.
Tate's second season with Houston wasn't vastly different from his first. He started 77 of his 78 appearances and played a complementary role to the more talented young core. In 26.4 minutes per game, the forward averaged 11.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists. Though Tate isn't a magnificent three-point shooter (0.8 makes per game on 31.2 percent), he takes nearly all of his shots from the rim or three, as he attempted just five long twos last season. He sported a decent mark of 2.4 free-throw attempts per game when considering his workload and his 9.3 field-goal attempts overall, though he shot just 70.7 percent from the charity stripe. This season, there's a strong chance Tate comes off the bench, though that will probably depend on whether Eric Gordon starts or is brought off the bench as a scoring sixth man. Either way, Tate should continue seeing minutes in the mid-20s, though he's also now competing for time against No. 3 overall pick Jabari Smith and No. 17 overall pick Tari Eason, who looked great in Summer League. Kenyon Martin, another forward, also seems to own organizational trust. It's encouraging that Houston inked Tate to a three-year, $22.1 million deal over the summer, though it's not exactly the type of money that guilts a coach into handing him minutes without conditions. Tate ranked 144th in per-game production last season, so he's likely not worthy of a pick in most standard leagues this time around.
Bane assembled a breakout 2021-22 campaign and was one of the finalists for Most Improved Player. After demonstrating his upside as a shooter as a rookie, Bane took on an expanded offensive role, and his efficiency held firm. Notably, he increased his two-point attempts and added some playmaking responsibilities. Altogether, his increased responsibilities resulted in 18.2 points on shooting splits of 46/44/90, which included 3.0 three-point makes per game. In addition, he tallied 4.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 29.8 minutes, making him one of the biggest fantasy sleepers. After ranking 157th in per-game fantasy scoring as a rookie, Bane ascended to 29th last season. Encouragingly, that strong play translated to the postseason, where he averaged 18.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists across 35.7 minutes in 12 appearances. Expect Bane to maintain a similar role this year, though, given his age (24) and evident importance to the team, it's fair to expect statistical improvement. He'll fight a bit for touches with Dillon Brooks, who played just 32 games last year due to injury, but Bane's development tracks much better, so he'll likely take priority within the offense.
Bane assembled a breakout 2021-22 campaign and was one of the finalists for Most Improved Player. After demonstrating his upside as a shooter as a rookie, Bane took on an expanded offensive role, and his efficiency held firm. Notably, he increased his two-point attempts and added some playmaking responsibilities. Altogether, his increased responsibilities resulted in 18.2 points on shooting splits of 46/44/90, which included 3.0 three-point makes per game. In addition, he tallied 4.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 29.8 minutes, making him one of the biggest fantasy sleepers. After ranking 157th in per-game fantasy scoring as a rookie, Bane ascended to 29th last season. Encouragingly, that strong play translated to the postseason, where he averaged 18.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists across 35.7 minutes in 12 appearances. Expect Bane to maintain a similar role this year, though, given his age (24) and evident importance to the team, it's fair to expect statistical improvement. He'll fight a bit for touches with Dillon Brooks, who played just 32 games last year due to injury, but Bane's development tracks much better, so he'll likely take priority within the offense.
After a minor breakout in 2020-21, Clarkson regressed slightly during another underwhelming campaign for the Jazz, rounding out the season as the 157th-ranked player in eight-category roto. This was in line with where he'd been before his breakout, logging averages of 16.0 points and 2.4 triples. With the Jazz now looking to the future, Clarkson's long-term role is a little clouded. While he is a very solid scorer off the bench, his lack of production outside of the scoring column means his contributions are limited on a nightly basis. Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell are gone, so Clarkson could nudge 30 minutes per night should the Jazz simply opt to run him out there no matter what. His floor is relatively safe, and although his upside leaves a lot to be desired, Clarkson provides enough to be a viable late-round target.
After a minor breakout in 2020-21, Clarkson regressed slightly during another underwhelming campaign for the Jazz, rounding out the season as the 157th-ranked player in eight-category roto. This was in line with where he'd been before his breakout, logging averages of 16.0 points and 2.4 triples. With the Jazz now looking to the future, Clarkson's long-term role is a little clouded. While he is a very solid scorer off the bench, his lack of production outside of the scoring column means his contributions are limited on a nightly basis. Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell are gone, so Clarkson could nudge 30 minutes per night should the Jazz simply opt to run him out there no matter what. His floor is relatively safe, and although his upside leaves a lot to be desired, Clarkson provides enough to be a viable late-round target.
Barnes has not reached the status he had during his years with the Mavericks regarding his offensive numbers, but the veteran continues to be a consistent performer who can score at an above-average rate while also providing value in other categories. Such was the case during the 2021-22 season, when he averaged 16.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from three-point range. While Barnes is not going to stand out in any category, he's scored at least 16 points per game in five of the last six seasons, and with the Kings failing to make substantial moves in the offseason, it seems fair to expect those kinds of figures again for the veteran. He can be targeted in the final rounds of most fantasy drafts.
Barnes has not reached the status he had during his years with the Mavericks regarding his offensive numbers, but the veteran continues to be a consistent performer who can score at an above-average rate while also providing value in other categories. Such was the case during the 2021-22 season, when he averaged 16.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from three-point range. While Barnes is not going to stand out in any category, he's scored at least 16 points per game in five of the last six seasons, and with the Kings failing to make substantial moves in the offseason, it seems fair to expect those kinds of figures again for the veteran. He can be targeted in the final rounds of most fantasy drafts.
Brown has established himself as one of the most unique guards in the NBA over the past two seasons. He was used more traditionally during his first two years in Detroit, but after heading to Brooklyn, he became a pick-and-roll guard primarily. He also spent time in the dunker's spot for easy dump-off passes and offensive rebounds. Brown possessed those roles despite standing just 6-foot-5. He's also shown to be a quality defender (1.8 combined steals-plus-blocks in 24.6 MPG) and has some three-point potential, shooting 88-for-249 (35.3%) over the past three years. That combination has kept him on the court as a versatile, multi-position option. The Nets opted to let Brown walk in free agency, and he signed a contract with the Nuggets over the summer. Brown figures to play a similar role with Denver, and he could form some reverse pick-and-roll combinations with Nikola Jokic as the ballhandler. Brown ranked 149th in per-game production last season behind 9.0 points on 50.6 FG%, 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists. It seems possible, if not likely, that he'll find himself seeing a similar workload, and a similar usage rate would make sense given that his unique skillset meshes perfectly with Jokic's playstyle. With that in mind, Brown is more of a late-round option in deep leagues, but he does have standard-league upside and will probably end up being a solid streaming option when the Nuggets have four-game weeks.
Brown has established himself as one of the most unique guards in the NBA over the past two seasons. He was used more traditionally during his first two years in Detroit, but after heading to Brooklyn, he became a pick-and-roll guard primarily. He also spent time in the dunker's spot for easy dump-off passes and offensive rebounds. Brown possessed those roles despite standing just 6-foot-5. He's also shown to be a quality defender (1.8 combined steals-plus-blocks in 24.6 MPG) and has some three-point potential, shooting 88-for-249 (35.3%) over the past three years. That combination has kept him on the court as a versatile, multi-position option. The Nets opted to let Brown walk in free agency, and he signed a contract with the Nuggets over the summer. Brown figures to play a similar role with Denver, and he could form some reverse pick-and-roll combinations with Nikola Jokic as the ballhandler. Brown ranked 149th in per-game production last season behind 9.0 points on 50.6 FG%, 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists. It seems possible, if not likely, that he'll find himself seeing a similar workload, and a similar usage rate would make sense given that his unique skillset meshes perfectly with Jokic's playstyle. With that in mind, Brown is more of a late-round option in deep leagues, but he does have standard-league upside and will probably end up being a solid streaming option when the Nuggets have four-game weeks.
After joining the Pacers midway through the 2021-22 season, Hield finds himself in a very familiar situation. Despite the upheaval, Hield ended the season inside the top 100 of eight-category fantasy producers thanks to averages of 15.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.9 steals and 3.2 three-pointers. After peaking at rank 38 in 2018-19, this feels like the safe range for Hield and dictates where managers should be targeting him. One thing he has in his favor is that he has been very durable over the past few years, no matter his role. He has played in at least 71 games in five straight seasons, making him a consistent top-50 asset when gauging total value. While he probably shouldn't be drafted in that range, it is reassuring to know that he will serve as a solid plug-and-play option on most nights.
After joining the Pacers midway through the 2021-22 season, Hield finds himself in a very familiar situation. Despite the upheaval, Hield ended the season inside the top 100 of eight-category fantasy producers thanks to averages of 15.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.9 steals and 3.2 three-pointers. After peaking at rank 38 in 2018-19, this feels like the safe range for Hield and dictates where managers should be targeting him. One thing he has in his favor is that he has been very durable over the past few years, no matter his role. He has played in at least 71 games in five straight seasons, making him a consistent top-50 asset when gauging total value. While he probably shouldn't be drafted in that range, it is reassuring to know that he will serve as a solid plug-and-play option on most nights.
Although Paul was 36 years old during the 2021-22 regular season, he didn't show many signs of slowing down and reiterated after the season that he has no plans to retire. His 10.8 assists per game marked his highest total since the 2008-09 season and ranked first in the NBA last year, but he averaged a career-low 14.7 points while seeing a slight decrease on the boards with 4.4 rebounds in 32.9 minutes per game. Paul's efficiency from long distance dropped last year, as he shot just 31.7 percent from three-point range -- his lowest rate since his rookie season. He started the first 58 games of the season before missing just under a month due to a thumb injury. Paul's absence likely alleviated some workload concerns down the stretch, and it was encouraging to see the veteran beat his return timetable of 6-to-8 weeks. He may see a few more rest days during his age-37 season, especially considering that he's played at least 65 games each of the last three years. However, Paul proved last season that he can handle 30-plus minutes on a nightly basis. As long as he can hold off Father Time for another year, Paul is an early-round option who should have the opportunity to provide consistent fantasy production again during the 2022-23 season.
Although Paul was 36 years old during the 2021-22 regular season, he didn't show many signs of slowing down and reiterated after the season that he has no plans to retire. His 10.8 assists per game marked his highest total since the 2008-09 season and ranked first in the NBA last year, but he averaged a career-low 14.7 points while seeing a slight decrease on the boards with 4.4 rebounds in 32.9 minutes per game. Paul's efficiency from long distance dropped last year, as he shot just 31.7 percent from three-point range -- his lowest rate since his rookie season. He started the first 58 games of the season before missing just under a month due to a thumb injury. Paul's absence likely alleviated some workload concerns down the stretch, and it was encouraging to see the veteran beat his return timetable of 6-to-8 weeks. He may see a few more rest days during his age-37 season, especially considering that he's played at least 65 games each of the last three years. However, Paul proved last season that he can handle 30-plus minutes on a nightly basis. As long as he can hold off Father Time for another year, Paul is an early-round option who should have the opportunity to provide consistent fantasy production again during the 2022-23 season.
With Jaren Jackson and Steven Adams healthy and Kyle Anderson and Ziaire Williams getting time at forward last season, Clarke's role reduced in size. Clarke logged the fewest minutes of his career (19.5 MPG), though he still made strides. He set new career highs in field-goal percentage (64.4%), offensive rebounds (2.1) and blocks (1.1) per game. The fourth-year forward has shot well inside the paint, making 75 percent of his 233 attempts at the rim and 54 percent of his 152 shots from floater range (91st percentile for players classified as bigs). Clarke also made some strides creating for himself. In 2020-21, only 17 percent of his baskets were unassisted. Last season, that number climbed to a solid 29 percent. Assuming his development continues, Clarke has the potential to compose the best season of his career in 2022-23. Jackson broke his foot in late June and is expected to be out 4-6 months, meaning he may miss about half the season. And given his extensive injury history, Memphis may exercise caution bringing him back. That could thrust Clarke into a starting role, or at the very least, a sixth-man role. It should give managers a little pause that the Grizzlies have been hesitant to hand Clark big minutes in the past. In his 181 career games, he's seen 30-plus minutes only 10 times. The numbers are encouraging - 16.3 points on 59.5 percent from the field, 6.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.0 blocks - but the sample is concerningly small. Still, the situation and the potential upside make Clarke a warranted selection near the end of standard fantasy drafts. He ranked only 160th in per-game production last season, but he ranked as high as 106th as a rookie seeing 22.4 minutes. It's still important to remember that elevated workload and usage will likely only last as long as Jackson is sidelined.
With Jaren Jackson and Steven Adams healthy and Kyle Anderson and Ziaire Williams getting time at forward last season, Clarke's role reduced in size. Clarke logged the fewest minutes of his career (19.5 MPG), though he still made strides. He set new career highs in field-goal percentage (64.4%), offensive rebounds (2.1) and blocks (1.1) per game. The fourth-year forward has shot well inside the paint, making 75 percent of his 233 attempts at the rim and 54 percent of his 152 shots from floater range (91st percentile for players classified as bigs). Clarke also made some strides creating for himself. In 2020-21, only 17 percent of his baskets were unassisted. Last season, that number climbed to a solid 29 percent. Assuming his development continues, Clarke has the potential to compose the best season of his career in 2022-23. Jackson broke his foot in late June and is expected to be out 4-6 months, meaning he may miss about half the season. And given his extensive injury history, Memphis may exercise caution bringing him back. That could thrust Clarke into a starting role, or at the very least, a sixth-man role. It should give managers a little pause that the Grizzlies have been hesitant to hand Clark big minutes in the past. In his 181 career games, he's seen 30-plus minutes only 10 times. The numbers are encouraging - 16.3 points on 59.5 percent from the field, 6.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.0 blocks - but the sample is concerningly small. Still, the situation and the potential upside make Clarke a warranted selection near the end of standard fantasy drafts. He ranked only 160th in per-game production last season, but he ranked as high as 106th as a rookie seeing 22.4 minutes. It's still important to remember that elevated workload and usage will likely only last as long as Jackson is sidelined.
Quickley was a sporadic producer during Year 2 and finished with nearly identical scoring numbers (11.3 points per game) to his rookie campaign, though he did increase his rebounding (3.2 per game) and assist (3.5) production. The No. 25 overall pick in 2020 struggled to consistently score the ball and shot just 39.2 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from three (5.1 attempts per game). However, the dynamic guard displayed his full potential when given an extended opportunity. Across three starts, the Kentucky product averaged 22.3 points, 6.3 assists and 4.7 rebounds, including a 34-point, 12-assist and 10-rebound triple-double during the regular-season finale -- his second triple-double of the campaign. With Kemba Walker and Alec Burks gone and Jalen Brunson now in the mix, Quickley will likely garner a similar role in Year 3, though he may be pushed for playing time from fellow youngsters Miles McBride, Quentin Grimes and Cam Reddish, who have all shown flashes early in their respective careers. Derrick Rose is still in the mix, but it's unclear what type of player he'll be after another devastating lower-body injury.
Quickley was a sporadic producer during Year 2 and finished with nearly identical scoring numbers (11.3 points per game) to his rookie campaign, though he did increase his rebounding (3.2 per game) and assist (3.5) production. The No. 25 overall pick in 2020 struggled to consistently score the ball and shot just 39.2 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from three (5.1 attempts per game). However, the dynamic guard displayed his full potential when given an extended opportunity. Across three starts, the Kentucky product averaged 22.3 points, 6.3 assists and 4.7 rebounds, including a 34-point, 12-assist and 10-rebound triple-double during the regular-season finale -- his second triple-double of the campaign. With Kemba Walker and Alec Burks gone and Jalen Brunson now in the mix, Quickley will likely garner a similar role in Year 3, though he may be pushed for playing time from fellow youngsters Miles McBride, Quentin Grimes and Cam Reddish, who have all shown flashes early in their respective careers. Derrick Rose is still in the mix, but it's unclear what type of player he'll be after another devastating lower-body injury.
Plagued by a slow start to begin the year, Barrett finished 2021-22 averaging 20.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists across 70 games. He also displayed great success getting to the free-throw line last season, ranking 16th in the league at 5.8 FTA per game. His final 40 games yielded 23.7 points per game on a 41.1/35.1/71.9 percent shooting slash. Nonetheless, last season marked a noticeable decline in productivity from Barrett. Salvaged by volume, the 22-year-old having ups and downs is natural. However, he shot 40.1 percent from deep two seasons ago -- and that sharp dip in three-point shooting is problematic. Additionally, his free-throw shooting has been below average throughout his young career. The Knicks added Jalen Brunson and possess an exciting young nucleus. Barrett's adjusted field-goal percentage jumps from 43.7 percent to 63.2 percent on catch-and-shoot opportunities when he's open. Given a good environment, it's a pivotal season for Barrett to showcase efficiency. With new weapons set to contribute in New York, Barrett's volume may dip slightly, but he should be in store for higher-quality looks. He also enters a contract year, which has historical precedence for stat production.
Plagued by a slow start to begin the year, Barrett finished 2021-22 averaging 20.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists across 70 games. He also displayed great success getting to the free-throw line last season, ranking 16th in the league at 5.8 FTA per game. His final 40 games yielded 23.7 points per game on a 41.1/35.1/71.9 percent shooting slash. Nonetheless, last season marked a noticeable decline in productivity from Barrett. Salvaged by volume, the 22-year-old having ups and downs is natural. However, he shot 40.1 percent from deep two seasons ago -- and that sharp dip in three-point shooting is problematic. Additionally, his free-throw shooting has been below average throughout his young career. The Knicks added Jalen Brunson and possess an exciting young nucleus. Barrett's adjusted field-goal percentage jumps from 43.7 percent to 63.2 percent on catch-and-shoot opportunities when he's open. Given a good environment, it's a pivotal season for Barrett to showcase efficiency. With new weapons set to contribute in New York, Barrett's volume may dip slightly, but he should be in store for higher-quality looks. He also enters a contract year, which has historical precedence for stat production.
After a solid rookie season, Anthony improved as a sophomore in 2021-22. He emerged as a full-time starting point guard, with Markelle Fultz sitting out nearly the entire year while recovering from a torn ACL. In 31.7 minutes per game, Anthony averaged 16.3 points on 39/34/85 shooting, 5.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds. His impressive assist numbers and quality efficiency from the free-throw line assisted his 94th overall rank in eight-category leagues per game. However, Anthony's field-goal percentage was an issue, and he only provided a combined 1.0 steals-plus-blocks. This year, his circumstances seem bound to change, and he may have trouble producing at the same rate. Fultz is healthy, and the franchise appears committed to installing him as the starting point guard. Orlando also invested a fifth overall pick in Jalen Suggs, a strong candidate to start at shooting guard. That leaves Anthony coming off the bench. If Suggs struggles again, Anthony may maneuver his way into near-starter minutes, but fantasy managers can't bank on that. Even if Anthony thrives as a sixth man, his upside is significantly capped as long as Fultz and Suggs are healthy. First overall pick Paolo Banchero will need his touches as well, further diluting his touches. Anthony could be worth a late-round flier, but prospective managers should temper expectations following a decent second season.
After a solid rookie season, Anthony improved as a sophomore in 2021-22. He emerged as a full-time starting point guard, with Markelle Fultz sitting out nearly the entire year while recovering from a torn ACL. In 31.7 minutes per game, Anthony averaged 16.3 points on 39/34/85 shooting, 5.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds. His impressive assist numbers and quality efficiency from the free-throw line assisted his 94th overall rank in eight-category leagues per game. However, Anthony's field-goal percentage was an issue, and he only provided a combined 1.0 steals-plus-blocks. This year, his circumstances seem bound to change, and he may have trouble producing at the same rate. Fultz is healthy, and the franchise appears committed to installing him as the starting point guard. Orlando also invested a fifth overall pick in Jalen Suggs, a strong candidate to start at shooting guard. That leaves Anthony coming off the bench. If Suggs struggles again, Anthony may maneuver his way into near-starter minutes, but fantasy managers can't bank on that. Even if Anthony thrives as a sixth man, his upside is significantly capped as long as Fultz and Suggs are healthy. First overall pick Paolo Banchero will need his touches as well, further diluting his touches. Anthony could be worth a late-round flier, but prospective managers should temper expectations following a decent second season.
Claxton has been a name to watch for the past two seasons. Claxton flashed his upside on both ends of the floor again last year. He ended with averages of 8.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 0.5 steals in just under 21 minutes per game. Projecting forward, it would appear as though the time is now for Claxton, especially given that he has little competition for minutes. The only other center on the roster is Day'Ron Sharpe, but he's undersized and spent significant time in the G League last year as a rookie. It's also possible Ben Simmons spends some time at center. In general, things look good for Claxton to have a career-best season, and for anyone drafting early, he is a viable top-100 target.
Claxton has been a name to watch for the past two seasons. Claxton flashed his upside on both ends of the floor again last year. He ended with averages of 8.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 0.5 steals in just under 21 minutes per game. Projecting forward, it would appear as though the time is now for Claxton, especially given that he has little competition for minutes. The only other center on the roster is Day'Ron Sharpe, but he's undersized and spent significant time in the G League last year as a rookie. It's also possible Ben Simmons spends some time at center. In general, things look good for Claxton to have a career-best season, and for anyone drafting early, he is a viable top-100 target.
A three-year forward out of Santa Clara, Williams was selected by the Thunder with the No. 12 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He was named to the WCC All-Conference First Team last year, averaging 18.0 points on 51/40/81 shooting, 4.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 34.8 minutes. Williams has good size - 6-foot-6, 209 pounds - but isn't an explosive athlete and only recently became a go-to player, so it could take him a bit to adjust to the NBA. Positively, he's a proven three-point shooter and has an excellent feel for the game. While his destiny may be primarily a role player, his on-the-ball talent - albeit at a mid-major - gives him the sort of upside searched for by OKC. He projects as a rotation player out of the gate, so there's reason for fantasy managers in deep leagues to consider him late. However, he's still competing against the Thunder's other prospects for reserve minutes.
A three-year forward out of Santa Clara, Williams was selected by the Thunder with the No. 12 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He was named to the WCC All-Conference First Team last year, averaging 18.0 points on 51/40/81 shooting, 4.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 34.8 minutes. Williams has good size - 6-foot-6, 209 pounds - but isn't an explosive athlete and only recently became a go-to player, so it could take him a bit to adjust to the NBA. Positively, he's a proven three-point shooter and has an excellent feel for the game. While his destiny may be primarily a role player, his on-the-ball talent - albeit at a mid-major - gives him the sort of upside searched for by OKC. He projects as a rotation player out of the gate, so there's reason for fantasy managers in deep leagues to consider him late. However, he's still competing against the Thunder's other prospects for reserve minutes.
Despite a somewhat intriguing skillset, Collins is yet to establish himself as a consistent producer from both a reality and a fantasy standpoint. Coming into the 2022-23 season, it appears he will come off the bench behind Jakob Poeltl -- a role that could see him nudge 20 minutes per night. Given his projected role and recent injury history, managers should avoid him in all standard league drafts. However, the Spurs' current trajectory has them battling for a high draft pick, which could eventually lead to more playing time for Collins. His ability to space the floor while still providing moderate rim protection does give the Spurs some flexibility. He would need the cards to fall his way, but should he somehow carve out a role where he sees minutes in the mid-20s, he could be worth grabbing later in the season.
Despite a somewhat intriguing skillset, Collins is yet to establish himself as a consistent producer from both a reality and a fantasy standpoint. Coming into the 2022-23 season, it appears he will come off the bench behind Jakob Poeltl -- a role that could see him nudge 20 minutes per night. Given his projected role and recent injury history, managers should avoid him in all standard league drafts. However, the Spurs' current trajectory has them battling for a high draft pick, which could eventually lead to more playing time for Collins. His ability to space the floor while still providing moderate rim protection does give the Spurs some flexibility. He would need the cards to fall his way, but should he somehow carve out a role where he sees minutes in the mid-20s, he could be worth grabbing later in the season.
It's fair to say the last two years have been rough for Bryant, having played a total of just 37 games across both campaigns. Having worked his way back from a significant knee injury, Bryant averaged 7.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in his 27 games during the 2021-22 season. As a typically efficient scorer who can rebound the ball and provide steady rim protection, Bryant could start at center next to Anthony Davis, who prefers to play power forward during the regular season. A starting role could see Bryant return standard league value. Although, given the risk, he is probably only worth a flier at the end of most drafts.
It's fair to say the last two years have been rough for Bryant, having played a total of just 37 games across both campaigns. Having worked his way back from a significant knee injury, Bryant averaged 7.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in his 27 games during the 2021-22 season. As a typically efficient scorer who can rebound the ball and provide steady rim protection, Bryant could start at center next to Anthony Davis, who prefers to play power forward during the regular season. A starting role could see Bryant return standard league value. Although, given the risk, he is probably only worth a flier at the end of most drafts.
Coming off easily the best season of his career, Vanderbilt now finds himself on a Utah team that appears to have shifted trajectory. The 2021-22 season was a breakout for Vanderbilt, spending much of the season as the starting power forward for the Timberwolves. While his production slowed as the season came to an end, his per-game numbers of 6.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 0.6 blocks in 25.4 minutes were enough to see him rank 128th in eight-category per-game fantasy production. Now in Utah, Vanderbilt should be able to see a similar workload on the rebuilding squad, if not more minutes. The frontcourt is a little jammed, but aside from Lauri Markkanen, the other options don't inspire confidence -- Kelly Olynyk, Walker Kessler, Cody Zeller and Udoka Azubuike head into camp as options at center. There's upside for Vanderbilt to make a meaningful impact as a rebounder and defender, but the preseason will help inform us on whether or not he can push 30 minutes per game.
Coming off easily the best season of his career, Vanderbilt now finds himself on a Utah team that appears to have shifted trajectory. The 2021-22 season was a breakout for Vanderbilt, spending much of the season as the starting power forward for the Timberwolves. While his production slowed as the season came to an end, his per-game numbers of 6.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 0.6 blocks in 25.4 minutes were enough to see him rank 128th in eight-category per-game fantasy production. Now in Utah, Vanderbilt should be able to see a similar workload on the rebuilding squad, if not more minutes. The frontcourt is a little jammed, but aside from Lauri Markkanen, the other options don't inspire confidence -- Kelly Olynyk, Walker Kessler, Cody Zeller and Udoka Azubuike head into camp as options at center. There's upside for Vanderbilt to make a meaningful impact as a rebounder and defender, but the preseason will help inform us on whether or not he can push 30 minutes per game.
Last season marked Russell's second full campaign with the Timberwolves, and he improved compared to his first season with the team. Notably, his assists per game increased from 5.8 APG to 7.1 APG, and he also upped his free-throw percentage from 76.5% to 82.5%. His other stats came out to 18.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 threes and 1.0 steals. The result was a per-game fantasy rank of 59 in eight-category roto leagues -- an improvement of 21 spots compared to 2020-21. Heading into 2022-23, Russell is expected to remain Minnesota's starting point guard, and he'll have a new lob target in Rudy Gobert, which should continue giving Russell a high floor as an assist man. However, Russell's scoring role may decrease given the presence of Gobert, plus continuing improvement from Karl-Anthony Towns and, especially, Anthony Edwards. Fantasy managers needing a starting-caliber point guard should feel confident taking Russell in the mid-rounds of most fantasy drafts. He'll continue being a 30-minute player with the primary distributing role in a fast-paced offense.
Last season marked Russell's second full campaign with the Timberwolves, and he improved compared to his first season with the team. Notably, his assists per game increased from 5.8 APG to 7.1 APG, and he also upped his free-throw percentage from 76.5% to 82.5%. His other stats came out to 18.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 threes and 1.0 steals. The result was a per-game fantasy rank of 59 in eight-category roto leagues -- an improvement of 21 spots compared to 2020-21. Heading into 2022-23, Russell is expected to remain Minnesota's starting point guard, and he'll have a new lob target in Rudy Gobert, which should continue giving Russell a high floor as an assist man. However, Russell's scoring role may decrease given the presence of Gobert, plus continuing improvement from Karl-Anthony Towns and, especially, Anthony Edwards. Fantasy managers needing a starting-caliber point guard should feel confident taking Russell in the mid-rounds of most fantasy drafts. He'll continue being a 30-minute player with the primary distributing role in a fast-paced offense.
After nine seasons in Toronto, Lowry signed a three-year, $85 million contract with Miami last summer. The now-36-year-old point guard saw a reduced role on the Heat, sharing more responsibilities with Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo. Lowry's 18.2 percent usage rate was his lowest since his third year in the NBA, and his 13.4 points per game were his fewest since 2009-10. However, his efficiency remained strong, as his 60.0 percent true shooting mark on 44/38/85 splits was the second highest of his career. Lowry also contributed 7.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 33.9 minutes. The result was Lowry ranking 51st in per-game fantasy production for eight-category leagues -- a solid mark but his lowest since 2012-13. His role should remain similar this season, as the Heat made few offseason changes. Another year older also puts Lowry at increased risk of injury and rest, plus general regression. As a result, fantasy managers likely won't have to pay up to the fifth round for Lowry, but he still provides a nice floor as a three-point shooter and passer.
After nine seasons in Toronto, Lowry signed a three-year, $85 million contract with Miami last summer. The now-36-year-old point guard saw a reduced role on the Heat, sharing more responsibilities with Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo. Lowry's 18.2 percent usage rate was his lowest since his third year in the NBA, and his 13.4 points per game were his fewest since 2009-10. However, his efficiency remained strong, as his 60.0 percent true shooting mark on 44/38/85 splits was the second highest of his career. Lowry also contributed 7.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 33.9 minutes. The result was Lowry ranking 51st in per-game fantasy production for eight-category leagues -- a solid mark but his lowest since 2012-13. His role should remain similar this season, as the Heat made few offseason changes. Another year older also puts Lowry at increased risk of injury and rest, plus general regression. As a result, fantasy managers likely won't have to pay up to the fifth round for Lowry, but he still provides a nice floor as a three-point shooter and passer.
Johnson made meaningful strides last season as a third-year pro, though he's already 26 years old. The Suns utilized Johnson in a sixth-man role, reaching career highs nearly across the board with 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 26.2 minutes per game. His 2.5 threes on 42.5 percent shooting from deep also represented career-best marks. He combined that with good efficiency from the field (46 percent) and the charity stripe (86.0 percent) to earn himself the league's 15th-best true shooting percentage (62.5 percent). The efficiency marks contributed to the North Carolina product ranking 126th in per-game fantasy production, making him a solid bench staple in standard formats. Johnson also advanced as a self-creator, notably when generating shots at the rim. As a sophomore, only 21 percent of his shots at the rim were unassisted. Last year, it increased to 39 percent - a meaningful bump. That said, there's only so much the Suns will ask Johnson to create for himself or others given how often Chris Paul and Devin Booker handle the ball. Johnson should continue to develop and improve and is slated for a starting role with Jae Crowder likely headed out of town. However, fantasy managers shouldn't expect a significant bump in usage. He's a decent option at the end of most standard fantasy leagues, especially if you're looking for three-pointers. However, his upside remains relatively low given the team around him.
Johnson made meaningful strides last season as a third-year pro, though he's already 26 years old. The Suns utilized Johnson in a sixth-man role, reaching career highs nearly across the board with 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 26.2 minutes per game. His 2.5 threes on 42.5 percent shooting from deep also represented career-best marks. He combined that with good efficiency from the field (46 percent) and the charity stripe (86.0 percent) to earn himself the league's 15th-best true shooting percentage (62.5 percent). The efficiency marks contributed to the North Carolina product ranking 126th in per-game fantasy production, making him a solid bench staple in standard formats. Johnson also advanced as a self-creator, notably when generating shots at the rim. As a sophomore, only 21 percent of his shots at the rim were unassisted. Last year, it increased to 39 percent - a meaningful bump. That said, there's only so much the Suns will ask Johnson to create for himself or others given how often Chris Paul and Devin Booker handle the ball. Johnson should continue to develop and improve and is slated for a starting role with Jae Crowder likely headed out of town. However, fantasy managers shouldn't expect a significant bump in usage. He's a decent option at the end of most standard fantasy leagues, especially if you're looking for three-pointers. However, his upside remains relatively low given the team around him.
It had been a long time since we saw Thompson on the floor. His last game action came during the 2019 playoffs. He still wasn't ready to take the floor at the start of last season, waiting until January to make his return. Understandably, he wasn't the shooter that he once was. He only shot 42.9 percent from the field, breaking a streak of five straight campaigns in which he shot at least 46.3 percent. In addition, he shot 38.5 percent from behind the arc, marking the first time he shot below 40 percent in that department in his career. His inconsistent shooting continued in the playoffs, but the Warriors still managed to bring home another title. Thompson could improve his efficiency with an entire, healthy offseason to try and work his way back into form. Given that he averaged 20.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 3.6 three-pointers even with his limitations last season, there is still plenty of fantasy appeal with him. While he may be limited in back-to-back game situations, it's also possible that he increases his average of 29 minutes per game he had last season. Before that, he had never logged fewer than 32 minutes per game after his rookie season.
It had been a long time since we saw Thompson on the floor. His last game action came during the 2019 playoffs. He still wasn't ready to take the floor at the start of last season, waiting until January to make his return. Understandably, he wasn't the shooter that he once was. He only shot 42.9 percent from the field, breaking a streak of five straight campaigns in which he shot at least 46.3 percent. In addition, he shot 38.5 percent from behind the arc, marking the first time he shot below 40 percent in that department in his career. His inconsistent shooting continued in the playoffs, but the Warriors still managed to bring home another title. Thompson could improve his efficiency with an entire, healthy offseason to try and work his way back into form. Given that he averaged 20.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 3.6 three-pointers even with his limitations last season, there is still plenty of fantasy appeal with him. While he may be limited in back-to-back game situations, it's also possible that he increases his average of 29 minutes per game he had last season. Before that, he had never logged fewer than 32 minutes per game after his rookie season.
Bamba is coming off his best season, posting career-best marks nearly across the board. Jonathan Isaac missing the whole season opened up time in the frontcourt, and coach Jamahl Mosley was comfortable playing Bamba alongside other bigs like Wendell Carter, Moritz Wagner and Robin Lopez to relative success. In his 25.7 minutes per game, Bamba averaged 10.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.2 assists. The big man encouragingly saw his points per game and efficiency climb last season, though his usage rate dipped below that of 2020-21. Bamba shot 48/38/78 for a career-high 58.2 true-shooting percentage - his second year in a row above the 55 percent benchmark. As good as last season was for Bamba - rank of 77 in per-game fantasy production - he's in line for significantly fewer minutes in 2022-23. The Magic selected forward Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 overall pick over the summer, and Jonathan Isaac will be back in the mix. Both players are practically locks to see 20-plus minutes per game (especially Banchero), and Orlando even has forwards Franz Wagner and Chuma Okeke to also log healthy minutes. That may force Bamba into a true backup center role behind Carter. Assuming that's the case, it's hard to target Bamba outside of deep leagues. Even then, he's a bit of a flier for fantasy managers in need of blocks.
Bamba is coming off his best season, posting career-best marks nearly across the board. Jonathan Isaac missing the whole season opened up time in the frontcourt, and coach Jamahl Mosley was comfortable playing Bamba alongside other bigs like Wendell Carter, Moritz Wagner and Robin Lopez to relative success. In his 25.7 minutes per game, Bamba averaged 10.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.2 assists. The big man encouragingly saw his points per game and efficiency climb last season, though his usage rate dipped below that of 2020-21. Bamba shot 48/38/78 for a career-high 58.2 true-shooting percentage - his second year in a row above the 55 percent benchmark. As good as last season was for Bamba - rank of 77 in per-game fantasy production - he's in line for significantly fewer minutes in 2022-23. The Magic selected forward Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 overall pick over the summer, and Jonathan Isaac will be back in the mix. Both players are practically locks to see 20-plus minutes per game (especially Banchero), and Orlando even has forwards Franz Wagner and Chuma Okeke to also log healthy minutes. That may force Bamba into a true backup center role behind Carter. Assuming that's the case, it's hard to target Bamba outside of deep leagues. Even then, he's a bit of a flier for fantasy managers in need of blocks.
Though rumors have swirled that Collins isn't happy in Atlanta, he remains on the team heading into 2022-23. His role has significantly decreased from 2019-20, when he was shockingly the 12th-best fantasy player on a per-game basis in eight-category leagues. Now, he's settled into a complementary role at power forward next to Clint Capela as the Hawks filled out the rest of the roster with playmakers and other scoring options. That's resulted in him ranking 62nd and 61st, respectively, over the past two seasons. Last year, he averaged 16.2 points on 53/36/79 shooting, 7.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 blocks in 30.8 minutes. His proficiency as a lob threat and three-point shooter keeps him constantly involved in the offense, though he's not often the first choice for either play. This season, his role isn't expected to change. The Hawks made a significant change in the offseason by acquiring Dejounte Murray to pair next to Trae Young, but the move shouldn't affect Collins. He's a high-floor option, but his ceiling is capped until he moves away from Atlanta.
Though rumors have swirled that Collins isn't happy in Atlanta, he remains on the team heading into 2022-23. His role has significantly decreased from 2019-20, when he was shockingly the 12th-best fantasy player on a per-game basis in eight-category leagues. Now, he's settled into a complementary role at power forward next to Clint Capela as the Hawks filled out the rest of the roster with playmakers and other scoring options. That's resulted in him ranking 62nd and 61st, respectively, over the past two seasons. Last year, he averaged 16.2 points on 53/36/79 shooting, 7.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.0 blocks in 30.8 minutes. His proficiency as a lob threat and three-point shooter keeps him constantly involved in the offense, though he's not often the first choice for either play. This season, his role isn't expected to change. The Hawks made a significant change in the offseason by acquiring Dejounte Murray to pair next to Trae Young, but the move shouldn't affect Collins. He's a high-floor option, but his ceiling is capped until he moves away from Atlanta.
To say Westbrook was disappointing in his first season in Los Angeles would be an understatement. Despite playing upwards of 34 minutes per game, Westbrook's production took a hit across the board, ending with season averages of 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists. Those numbers look fantastic, but when we dig a little deeper, the cracks begin to appear. To go with his impressive counting stats, Westbrook managed just 0.9 steals and 1.0 three-pointers, shooting 45 percent from the floor and a woeful 67 percent from the line. Throw in almost four turnovers per game, and you have yourself the 221st-ranked player in nine-category per-game production. After picking up his mammoth player option, it appears Westbrook will be sticking around for at least another season unless, of course, the Lakers can find a suitable trade partner. Based on what we saw last season, and the fact both Anthony Davis and LeBron James were hit by the injury bug, it is hard to see Westbrook upping his productivity. In points leagues, he should continue to have some limited value thanks to his ability to score, pass and rebound. However, for anyone seeking peripheral numbers or for those in roto formats, he makes for a risky target.
To say Westbrook was disappointing in his first season in Los Angeles would be an understatement. Despite playing upwards of 34 minutes per game, Westbrook's production took a hit across the board, ending with season averages of 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists. Those numbers look fantastic, but when we dig a little deeper, the cracks begin to appear. To go with his impressive counting stats, Westbrook managed just 0.9 steals and 1.0 three-pointers, shooting 45 percent from the floor and a woeful 67 percent from the line. Throw in almost four turnovers per game, and you have yourself the 221st-ranked player in nine-category per-game production. After picking up his mammoth player option, it appears Westbrook will be sticking around for at least another season unless, of course, the Lakers can find a suitable trade partner. Based on what we saw last season, and the fact both Anthony Davis and LeBron James were hit by the injury bug, it is hard to see Westbrook upping his productivity. In points leagues, he should continue to have some limited value thanks to his ability to score, pass and rebound. However, for anyone seeking peripheral numbers or for those in roto formats, he makes for a risky target.
Huerter's role with the Hawks last season was the same as the previous two. He saw 29.6 minutes per game and averaged 12.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists. Encouragingly, he reached a career-high 57.0 true-shooting percentage on splits of 45/39/81. He's shown some potential as a secondary ballhandler, but he's primarily been utilized as a perimeter shooter. During the offseason, the 24-year-old was dealt to the Kings. It seems likely he'll start at shooting guard, though he'll be competing for minutes with Malik Monk, Davion Mitchell, Jeremy Lamb and Terence Davis. Huerter's role doesn't figure to change much, as the Kings will run the offense through De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. Last season, Huerter ranked 151st in per-game fantasy production for eight-category leagues. He's never ranked higher than 105th, so there's no reason fantasy managers should gamble inside the top 100 for Huerter, who could end up as the fifth option in the Kings' offense.
Huerter's role with the Hawks last season was the same as the previous two. He saw 29.6 minutes per game and averaged 12.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists. Encouragingly, he reached a career-high 57.0 true-shooting percentage on splits of 45/39/81. He's shown some potential as a secondary ballhandler, but he's primarily been utilized as a perimeter shooter. During the offseason, the 24-year-old was dealt to the Kings. It seems likely he'll start at shooting guard, though he'll be competing for minutes with Malik Monk, Davion Mitchell, Jeremy Lamb and Terence Davis. Huerter's role doesn't figure to change much, as the Kings will run the offense through De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. Last season, Huerter ranked 151st in per-game fantasy production for eight-category leagues. He's never ranked higher than 105th, so there's no reason fantasy managers should gamble inside the top 100 for Huerter, who could end up as the fifth option in the Kings' offense.
Porter is talented, but health issues have plagued him throughout his career. It's the reason why he fell to the 14th pick in the 2018 Draft. When he was mostly healthy, he stood out by averaging 19.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.8 three-pointers during the 2020-21 season. He even shot 54.2 percent from the field and 79.1 percent from the free-throw line, making him a valuable option in fantasy. However, Porter's back issues cropped up against last season, and ultimately resulted in him needing surgery after appearing in just nine games. With a full offseason to recover, the expectation is that Porter will be ready at the start of the season. If there is a list of high risk, high reward players, he should be near, or at, the top of it. It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Nuggets take a cautious approach with him as the season moves along, including resting him for one half of back-to-back sets. If he can stay healthy, he should slot right back in as the third-best scoring option behind Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
Porter is talented, but health issues have plagued him throughout his career. It's the reason why he fell to the 14th pick in the 2018 Draft. When he was mostly healthy, he stood out by averaging 19.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.8 three-pointers during the 2020-21 season. He even shot 54.2 percent from the field and 79.1 percent from the free-throw line, making him a valuable option in fantasy. However, Porter's back issues cropped up against last season, and ultimately resulted in him needing surgery after appearing in just nine games. With a full offseason to recover, the expectation is that Porter will be ready at the start of the season. If there is a list of high risk, high reward players, he should be near, or at, the top of it. It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Nuggets take a cautious approach with him as the season moves along, including resting him for one half of back-to-back sets. If he can stay healthy, he should slot right back in as the third-best scoring option behind Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
The to-be third-year center missed the start of last season due to right shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum. Okongwu didn't make his season debut until mid-December and expectedly functioned as the backup center to Clint Capela. However, the USC product also stole some minutes from the veteran. Okongwu ended up seeing 20.7 minutes per game, averaging 8.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.9 combined blocks-plus-steals. He also shot an impressive 69.0 percent from the field and was fantastic on the offensive glass (4.1 ORB per 36 minutes). It's easy to forget Okongwu was the sixth overall pick in 2020 since he's been coming off the bench and has played only 98 total games, but the upside is there, and the Hawks are starting to feel more confident allotting him time over Capela. Despite playing hardly 20 minutes per night, Okongwu managed to rank 146th in per-game fantasy production, which made him viable as a streaming option in standard leagues given that center is a position of scarcity. Capela still figures to start this season, so Okongwu remains a late-round flier for standard leagues. However, Okongu's early returns have been encouraging and certainly warrant strong interest for fantasy managers in dyntasy/keeper leagues.
The to-be third-year center missed the start of last season due to right shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum. Okongwu didn't make his season debut until mid-December and expectedly functioned as the backup center to Clint Capela. However, the USC product also stole some minutes from the veteran. Okongwu ended up seeing 20.7 minutes per game, averaging 8.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.9 combined blocks-plus-steals. He also shot an impressive 69.0 percent from the field and was fantastic on the offensive glass (4.1 ORB per 36 minutes). It's easy to forget Okongwu was the sixth overall pick in 2020 since he's been coming off the bench and has played only 98 total games, but the upside is there, and the Hawks are starting to feel more confident allotting him time over Capela. Despite playing hardly 20 minutes per night, Okongwu managed to rank 146th in per-game fantasy production, which made him viable as a streaming option in standard leagues given that center is a position of scarcity. Capela still figures to start this season, so Okongwu remains a late-round flier for standard leagues. However, Okongu's early returns have been encouraging and certainly warrant strong interest for fantasy managers in dyntasy/keeper leagues.
After being drafted No. 16 overall in 2020, Stewart composed an encouraging rookie campaign where he ranked 153rd in per-game fantasy production over just 21.4 minutes. As a result, fantasy managers were hoping for a spike in output from Stewart last season. They didn't get it. While Gafford increased his minutes to 25.6 per game, Stewart shot worse from the field (51.0 percent) and his block rate decreased (1.1 per game). Combined with his 8.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists, the Washington product ranked worse in per-game value (172nd). Stewart is struggling to make an impact offensively. His weak finishing ability is a concern given that he plays as an undersized (6-foot-9) center. He shot just 58 percent at the rim - in the eighth percentile for players classified as bigs. A three-point shot might be coming - 36-for-109 (33.0%) for his career - but it's starting to feel more necessary than complementary. His main strength right now is offensive rebounding. He averaged 4.5 offensive boards per 36 minutes. But that alone doesn't guarantee him big minutes as the Pistons explore other options. Over the summer, Detroit traded for Nerlens Noel and Bojan Bogdanovic, signed Marvin Bagley and drafted Jalen Duren. It's reasonable to expect a player as young as Stewart to improve, but if it doesn't come with a minutes bump, it probably won't result in standard fantasy-league relevance.
After being drafted No. 16 overall in 2020, Stewart composed an encouraging rookie campaign where he ranked 153rd in per-game fantasy production over just 21.4 minutes. As a result, fantasy managers were hoping for a spike in output from Stewart last season. They didn't get it. While Gafford increased his minutes to 25.6 per game, Stewart shot worse from the field (51.0 percent) and his block rate decreased (1.1 per game). Combined with his 8.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists, the Washington product ranked worse in per-game value (172nd). Stewart is struggling to make an impact offensively. His weak finishing ability is a concern given that he plays as an undersized (6-foot-9) center. He shot just 58 percent at the rim - in the eighth percentile for players classified as bigs. A three-point shot might be coming - 36-for-109 (33.0%) for his career - but it's starting to feel more necessary than complementary. His main strength right now is offensive rebounding. He averaged 4.5 offensive boards per 36 minutes. But that alone doesn't guarantee him big minutes as the Pistons explore other options. Over the summer, Detroit traded for Nerlens Noel and Bojan Bogdanovic, signed Marvin Bagley and drafted Jalen Duren. It's reasonable to expect a player as young as Stewart to improve, but if it doesn't come with a minutes bump, it probably won't result in standard fantasy-league relevance.
Looney claimed a starting role for much of the 2021-22 postseason, averaging 8.8 points, 10.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists over 26.4 minutes per game in his nine straight games in the unit. He shifted back to the bench in favor of Otto Porter for the final three games against Boston in the Finals but still averaged north of 22 minutes in those contests. Porter has since moved on to the Raptors and Gary Payton II signed with the Trail Blazers, while Golden State picked up Jamychal Green and Donte DiVincenzo during the offseason. Looney's late-season showing earned him a three-year, $25.5 million deal with the Warriors, suggesting the team has sizable plans for him moving forward. Looney's biggest contribution comes on the glass, where he compiled 7.3 rebounds per game overall during the regular season and a major jump during the playoff stretch. While Looney doesn't contribute from beyond the arc, that does result in an efficient percentage from the field. Looney has connected on 54 percent or better of his shot attempts in the last two seasons. He's unlikely to be a major scoring threat but can contribute some in both blocks and steals, making the 26-year-old forward a viable option in some fantasy formats. However, fantasy managers need to be wary that James Wiseman will be in the fold after missing all of last season. The second overall pick from 2020 has the potential to cut into Looney's workload.
Looney claimed a starting role for much of the 2021-22 postseason, averaging 8.8 points, 10.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists over 26.4 minutes per game in his nine straight games in the unit. He shifted back to the bench in favor of Otto Porter for the final three games against Boston in the Finals but still averaged north of 22 minutes in those contests. Porter has since moved on to the Raptors and Gary Payton II signed with the Trail Blazers, while Golden State picked up Jamychal Green and Donte DiVincenzo during the offseason. Looney's late-season showing earned him a three-year, $25.5 million deal with the Warriors, suggesting the team has sizable plans for him moving forward. Looney's biggest contribution comes on the glass, where he compiled 7.3 rebounds per game overall during the regular season and a major jump during the playoff stretch. While Looney doesn't contribute from beyond the arc, that does result in an efficient percentage from the field. Looney has connected on 54 percent or better of his shot attempts in the last two seasons. He's unlikely to be a major scoring threat but can contribute some in both blocks and steals, making the 26-year-old forward a viable option in some fantasy formats. However, fantasy managers need to be wary that James Wiseman will be in the fold after missing all of last season. The second overall pick from 2020 has the potential to cut into Looney's workload.
After opening his NBA career with consecutive solid campaigns, Washington took a small step back last season, posting his lowest per-game averages of 10.3 points and 5.2 rebounds. His other numbers -- 2.3 assists, 1.7 three-pointers, 0.9 blocks and 0.9 steals -- remained steady, but it certainly wasn't the breakout campaign one might hope for from a young player in his third season. Context matters, of course, and it is vital in Washington's case, as he spent much of the season adjusting to a new role as a reserve after starting in all but four of his first 122 NBA contests. The Kentucky product moved to the bench for the start of the campaign to make room for Miles Bridges, though Washington returned to a starting role for each of Charlotte's contests from Feb. 15 onward. With Bridges' NBA future in serious doubt following an offseason arrest on multiple felony charges of domestic violence, Washington appears poised to open next season back in the starting unit, which should allow him to build upon what has been an impactful-but-unspectacular opening to his professional career. Washington isn't going to carry fantasy squads in any one category, but he does multiple things well enough to make him a worthwhile target in the back half of upcoming drafts.
After opening his NBA career with consecutive solid campaigns, Washington took a small step back last season, posting his lowest per-game averages of 10.3 points and 5.2 rebounds. His other numbers -- 2.3 assists, 1.7 three-pointers, 0.9 blocks and 0.9 steals -- remained steady, but it certainly wasn't the breakout campaign one might hope for from a young player in his third season. Context matters, of course, and it is vital in Washington's case, as he spent much of the season adjusting to a new role as a reserve after starting in all but four of his first 122 NBA contests. The Kentucky product moved to the bench for the start of the campaign to make room for Miles Bridges, though Washington returned to a starting role for each of Charlotte's contests from Feb. 15 onward. With Bridges' NBA future in serious doubt following an offseason arrest on multiple felony charges of domestic violence, Washington appears poised to open next season back in the starting unit, which should allow him to build upon what has been an impactful-but-unspectacular opening to his professional career. Washington isn't going to carry fantasy squads in any one category, but he does multiple things well enough to make him a worthwhile target in the back half of upcoming drafts.
Trent has quietly become one of the better three-and-D guards in the NBA. Playing for coach Nick Nurse, who loves a short rotation, Trent saw a career-high 35.0 minutes, resulting in his most productive season yet. He averaged 18.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and, notably, 3.0 threes and 1.7 steals. Managers in eight-category leagues who rostered Trent were rewarded with the 60th-best per-game fantasy production. Managers in nine-cat leagues also benefited from his extremely-low turnover rate (1.0 per game). When not shooting threes, Trent struggles to get to the rim and convert efficiently, often settling for long-mid-range jumpers, though he hit those at a passable 41 percent last year on 233 attempts. It's possible that part of his game grows since he's just 23 years old, but managers shouldn't hold their breath in hopes of Trent becoming a more active on-ball player and driver to the basket. The Duke product should see nearly the exact same role this season. The Raptors didn't add any guards over the summer, with the biggest addition being forward Otto Porter. As a result, Trent can be targeted in the mid-to-late rounds of most fantasy drafts, especially if you're short on threes.
Trent has quietly become one of the better three-and-D guards in the NBA. Playing for coach Nick Nurse, who loves a short rotation, Trent saw a career-high 35.0 minutes, resulting in his most productive season yet. He averaged 18.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and, notably, 3.0 threes and 1.7 steals. Managers in eight-category leagues who rostered Trent were rewarded with the 60th-best per-game fantasy production. Managers in nine-cat leagues also benefited from his extremely-low turnover rate (1.0 per game). When not shooting threes, Trent struggles to get to the rim and convert efficiently, often settling for long-mid-range jumpers, though he hit those at a passable 41 percent last year on 233 attempts. It's possible that part of his game grows since he's just 23 years old, but managers shouldn't hold their breath in hopes of Trent becoming a more active on-ball player and driver to the basket. The Duke product should see nearly the exact same role this season. The Raptors didn't add any guards over the summer, with the biggest addition being forward Otto Porter. As a result, Trent can be targeted in the mid-to-late rounds of most fantasy drafts, especially if you're short on threes.
With Dejounte Murray being traded to Atlanta, a starting point guard spot has opened up in San Antonio. Jones appears to be the favorite to claim the job, and he could end up being a notable sleeper this season. Jones - the brother of Tyus - was selected with the 41st overall pick in 2020 out of Duke. He saw fringe NBA minutes as a rookie but excelled in the G League, where he was named to the 2020-21 All-G League Team. Last year, he was able to garner a consistent role as Murray's backup, averaging 6.0 points and 3.4 assists in 16.6 minutes. However, what fantasy managers should be interested in were his 11 starts. As a starter, Jones averaged 13.5 points on 48.8 percent shooting, 7.5 assists (1.1 turnovers!), 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 32.7 minutes. The turnovers need to be emphasized again. If you are in a nine-category league, Jones' lack of giveaways will be an absolutely massive factor in his fantasy value. One knock on his game is a lack of three-pointers. He averaged only 1.6 three-point attempts per 36 minutes last season and is a career 23.2 percent shooter from distance. There's potential there - he went 39-for-108 (36.1%) as a sophomore at Duke and shot 77.1 FT% as well - but he has yet to demonstrate it at the pro level. The positive is that with Jones living at the rim and floater range, his field-goal percentage stays high. He was prolific from floater range especially, going 64-for-126 (51%) from 4-14 feet. He shot 49.0 percent as a whole last year. It's understandable for fantasy managers to hesitate about drafting Jones inside the top 100, but the Spurs are without other suitable options at the position. Joshua Primo hasn't looked great, and he's also more of a shooting guard. Blake Wesley was selected with the No. 25 overall pick over the summer, but he may spend time in the G League. There should be a clear runway for Jones to be a 30-minute-per-game player with potential for semi-consistent 15-and-10 performances.
With Dejounte Murray being traded to Atlanta, a starting point guard spot has opened up in San Antonio. Jones appears to be the favorite to claim the job, and he could end up being a notable sleeper this season. Jones - the brother of Tyus - was selected with the 41st overall pick in 2020 out of Duke. He saw fringe NBA minutes as a rookie but excelled in the G League, where he was named to the 2020-21 All-G League Team. Last year, he was able to garner a consistent role as Murray's backup, averaging 6.0 points and 3.4 assists in 16.6 minutes. However, what fantasy managers should be interested in were his 11 starts. As a starter, Jones averaged 13.5 points on 48.8 percent shooting, 7.5 assists (1.1 turnovers!), 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 32.7 minutes. The turnovers need to be emphasized again. If you are in a nine-category league, Jones' lack of giveaways will be an absolutely massive factor in his fantasy value. One knock on his game is a lack of three-pointers. He averaged only 1.6 three-point attempts per 36 minutes last season and is a career 23.2 percent shooter from distance. There's potential there - he went 39-for-108 (36.1%) as a sophomore at Duke and shot 77.1 FT% as well - but he has yet to demonstrate it at the pro level. The positive is that with Jones living at the rim and floater range, his field-goal percentage stays high. He was prolific from floater range especially, going 64-for-126 (51%) from 4-14 feet. He shot 49.0 percent as a whole last year. It's understandable for fantasy managers to hesitate about drafting Jones inside the top 100, but the Spurs are without other suitable options at the position. Joshua Primo hasn't looked great, and he's also more of a shooting guard. Blake Wesley was selected with the No. 25 overall pick over the summer, but he may spend time in the G League. There should be a clear runway for Jones to be a 30-minute-per-game player with potential for semi-consistent 15-and-10 performances.
Lopez missed nearly all last season due to a back injury requiring surgery. He suffered the injury during the first game of the season and didn't see the court again until mid-March. Once back, Lopez was his usual self, though his workload was understandably reduced to avoid further damage. In 22.9 minutes per game, the center averaged 12.4 points on 47/36/87 shooting, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. He also stayed healthy throughout the playoffs, though he struggled from three (21.4 percent) and was often a non-factor offensively. The 2022-23 campaign marks Lopez's age 34 season and final year under contract with Milwaukee. He'll presumably slide back into a role where he consistently records minutes in the mid-to-high 20s. Much of Lopez's fantasy value depends on his shot-blocking ability. He averaged only 1.5 blocks in 2020-21, which brought his ranking down to 107th per game compared to 2019-20, where he ranked 77th behind 2.4 blocks per tilt. In 2018-19, he ranked 55th with 2.2 blocks per game, but he also knocked down a career-high 2.3 triples per game. Ultimately, Lopez is a serviceable option toward the end of most standard drafts as a relatively reliable source of blocks and threes from the center position.
Lopez missed nearly all last season due to a back injury requiring surgery. He suffered the injury during the first game of the season and didn't see the court again until mid-March. Once back, Lopez was his usual self, though his workload was understandably reduced to avoid further damage. In 22.9 minutes per game, the center averaged 12.4 points on 47/36/87 shooting, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. He also stayed healthy throughout the playoffs, though he struggled from three (21.4 percent) and was often a non-factor offensively. The 2022-23 campaign marks Lopez's age 34 season and final year under contract with Milwaukee. He'll presumably slide back into a role where he consistently records minutes in the mid-to-high 20s. Much of Lopez's fantasy value depends on his shot-blocking ability. He averaged only 1.5 blocks in 2020-21, which brought his ranking down to 107th per game compared to 2019-20, where he ranked 77th behind 2.4 blocks per tilt. In 2018-19, he ranked 55th with 2.2 blocks per game, but he also knocked down a career-high 2.3 triples per game. Ultimately, Lopez is a serviceable option toward the end of most standard drafts as a relatively reliable source of blocks and threes from the center position.
The 2021-22 season marked the first year Boston let Smart be its primary point guard. For the most part, the results were positive. Smart won Defensive Player of the Year, dished a career-high 5.9 assists per game and helped the C's reach the NBA Finals. But when the season ended, President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens admitted the team needed more playmaking. Stevens then traded for veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon, who also averaged 5.9 dimes per contest last year. Brogdon is expected to play a sixth-man role, backing up Smart and Jaylen Brown. With Brogdon, plus a full season of Derrick White, Boston is deeper in the backcourt than they have been recently. Smart might finally be able to play fewer than 32 minutes per game -- something that hasn't happened since 2018-19. It should also be noted that the veteran guard has improved his shooting from "worrisome" to "almost adequate". Last season, Smart shot better than 41 percent from the field, something he's only done twice in his eight-year career. That shooting is much tolerable when one remembers the DPOY can guard positions one through four, snag 1.7 steals and hit 1.7 triples per game. Look for Smart to continue as Boston's primary point guard while deferring to stars Brown and Jayson Tatum on the offensive end.
The 2021-22 season marked the first year Boston let Smart be its primary point guard. For the most part, the results were positive. Smart won Defensive Player of the Year, dished a career-high 5.9 assists per game and helped the C's reach the NBA Finals. But when the season ended, President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens admitted the team needed more playmaking. Stevens then traded for veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon, who also averaged 5.9 dimes per contest last year. Brogdon is expected to play a sixth-man role, backing up Smart and Jaylen Brown. With Brogdon, plus a full season of Derrick White, Boston is deeper in the backcourt than they have been recently. Smart might finally be able to play fewer than 32 minutes per game -- something that hasn't happened since 2018-19. It should also be noted that the veteran guard has improved his shooting from "worrisome" to "almost adequate". Last season, Smart shot better than 41 percent from the field, something he's only done twice in his eight-year career. That shooting is much tolerable when one remembers the DPOY can guard positions one through four, snag 1.7 steals and hit 1.7 triples per game. Look for Smart to continue as Boston's primary point guard while deferring to stars Brown and Jayson Tatum on the offensive end.
While the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft drew mixed reviews in Summer League, he will almost certainly open the year as Houston's starting power forward next to Alperen Sengun. In terms of his basketball situation, Smith should be in a great position to see a ton of minutes as a rookie. Houston moving on from Christian Wood clears the way for a Sengun-Smith frontcourt of the future, and there is not much depth beyond that pairing. However, Smith could begin the year as the No. 4 option behind Jalen Green, Kevin Porter and even Sengun. Smith is not an inherently ball-dominant player, so where he settles in that pecking order will be with monitoring very closely early in the season. Ultimately, he's a rookie with a relatively high floor but also a relatively low ceiling.
While the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft drew mixed reviews in Summer League, he will almost certainly open the year as Houston's starting power forward next to Alperen Sengun. In terms of his basketball situation, Smith should be in a great position to see a ton of minutes as a rookie. Houston moving on from Christian Wood clears the way for a Sengun-Smith frontcourt of the future, and there is not much depth beyond that pairing. However, Smith could begin the year as the No. 4 option behind Jalen Green, Kevin Porter and even Sengun. Smith is not an inherently ball-dominant player, so where he settles in that pecking order will be with monitoring very closely early in the season. Ultimately, he's a rookie with a relatively high floor but also a relatively low ceiling.
Smith's productivity took off last season following his Feb. 10 trade from Phoenix to Indiana. Prior to the move, the Maryland alum had shown flashes of upside -- most significantly, during a four-game stretch of starts around the turn of the new year during which he put up 17.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per contest -- but he moved in and out of the rotation and averaged under 14 minutes in the games during which he saw the court. The shift to the Pacers resulted in substantially more opportunity for Smith, as he averaged nearly 25 minutes per contest and produced 13.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.4 three-pointers and 1.0 blocks with a 53.1/37.3/76.0 shooting split. Those numbers gave him fantasy viability, and he could be on the radar as a late-round target in drafts this season. Smith took less money to re-sign with Indiana, expecting he'll get a shot as the team's starting power forward. It's worth noting that Smith never took the court with center Myles Turner last season, as the latter didn't play after mid-January due to a foot injury. There remains a strong possibility that Turner -- heading into the final season of an $80 million, four-year extension -- will be traded, which would further open an opportunity for Smith to blossom.
Smith's productivity took off last season following his Feb. 10 trade from Phoenix to Indiana. Prior to the move, the Maryland alum had shown flashes of upside -- most significantly, during a four-game stretch of starts around the turn of the new year during which he put up 17.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per contest -- but he moved in and out of the rotation and averaged under 14 minutes in the games during which he saw the court. The shift to the Pacers resulted in substantially more opportunity for Smith, as he averaged nearly 25 minutes per contest and produced 13.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.4 three-pointers and 1.0 blocks with a 53.1/37.3/76.0 shooting split. Those numbers gave him fantasy viability, and he could be on the radar as a late-round target in drafts this season. Smith took less money to re-sign with Indiana, expecting he'll get a shot as the team's starting power forward. It's worth noting that Smith never took the court with center Myles Turner last season, as the latter didn't play after mid-January due to a foot injury. There remains a strong possibility that Turner -- heading into the final season of an $80 million, four-year extension -- will be traded, which would further open an opportunity for Smith to blossom.
When he was on the floor, Anunoby was a unique fantasy option. He contributed in multiple categories, averaging 17.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.4 three-pointers per game. He also played a ton, averaging 36 minutes per game. However, it wasn't all positive for him. He shot a career-low 44.3 percent from the field, which included him shooting 36.3 percent from behind the arc. That was a disappointment after he shot 48.0 percent from the field and 39.8 percent from behind the arc the season prior. Also, injuries limited him to just 48 games, marking the second straight season in which he failed to play at least 50 games. The Raptors have a lot of depth in their frontcourt, especially after adding Otto Porter while retaining Chris Boucher and Thaddeus Young. With that being said, they were also deep last season and that didn't stop Anunoby from having a massive workload. He is one of the core players that the team plans to build around. If he can stay healthy, his ability to contribute on both ends of the floor will make him extremely valuable in fantasy.
When he was on the floor, Anunoby was a unique fantasy option. He contributed in multiple categories, averaging 17.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.4 three-pointers per game. He also played a ton, averaging 36 minutes per game. However, it wasn't all positive for him. He shot a career-low 44.3 percent from the field, which included him shooting 36.3 percent from behind the arc. That was a disappointment after he shot 48.0 percent from the field and 39.8 percent from behind the arc the season prior. Also, injuries limited him to just 48 games, marking the second straight season in which he failed to play at least 50 games. The Raptors have a lot of depth in their frontcourt, especially after adding Otto Porter while retaining Chris Boucher and Thaddeus Young. With that being said, they were also deep last season and that didn't stop Anunoby from having a massive workload. He is one of the core players that the team plans to build around. If he can stay healthy, his ability to contribute on both ends of the floor will make him extremely valuable in fantasy.
Porter advertised some intriguing upside during his 26-game 2020-21 sophomore season with the Rockets, where he notably produced a 50-point, 11-assist game against the Bucks. Last year, Porter didn't quite reach the heights that optimists were hoping for, but he still cracked the top 100 in per-game fantasy production (rank 96). Sharing the backcourt with No. 2 overall pick Jalen Green, Porter struggled early on. For the first three months of the season (21 appearances), he averaged 13.0 points on abysmal 36/32/63 shooting splits. However, the sophomore guard picked things up after the new year. In his final 40 appearances, he averaged 16.9 points on 44/40/65 shooting, 6.3 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 31.6 minutes. The 22-year-old should continue developing this season, but he'll need to keep sharing the ball with Green as well as No. 3 overall pick Jabari Smith and new starting center Alperen Sengun - an excellent passer for the position. Porter's usage may not increase, so interested fantasy managers will have to bank on improved efficiency when projecting his 2022-23 campaign. As it stands, he's a mid-to-late-round flier.
Porter advertised some intriguing upside during his 26-game 2020-21 sophomore season with the Rockets, where he notably produced a 50-point, 11-assist game against the Bucks. Last year, Porter didn't quite reach the heights that optimists were hoping for, but he still cracked the top 100 in per-game fantasy production (rank 96). Sharing the backcourt with No. 2 overall pick Jalen Green, Porter struggled early on. For the first three months of the season (21 appearances), he averaged 13.0 points on abysmal 36/32/63 shooting splits. However, the sophomore guard picked things up after the new year. In his final 40 appearances, he averaged 16.9 points on 44/40/65 shooting, 6.3 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 31.6 minutes. The 22-year-old should continue developing this season, but he'll need to keep sharing the ball with Green as well as No. 3 overall pick Jabari Smith and new starting center Alperen Sengun - an excellent passer for the position. Porter's usage may not increase, so interested fantasy managers will have to bank on improved efficiency when projecting his 2022-23 campaign. As it stands, he's a mid-to-late-round flier.
Richards compiled a productive Summer League, making a proper claim for more minutes entering the 2022-23 season. Unfortunately, he will be battling the likes of Mason Plumlee, P.J. Washington and Mark Williams, all of whom could be ahead of him in the rotation. Based on what is currently known, the best case scenario would be to view Richards as a potential streaming option if and when other players are sidelined.
Richards compiled a productive Summer League, making a proper claim for more minutes entering the 2022-23 season. Unfortunately, he will be battling the likes of Mason Plumlee, P.J. Washington and Mark Williams, all of whom could be ahead of him in the rotation. Based on what is currently known, the best case scenario would be to view Richards as a potential streaming option if and when other players are sidelined.
For the first time since his rookie season, Drummond came off the bench more than he started last year. He spent the beginning of the season as Joel Embiid's backup in Philadelphia before moving to Brooklyn in the James Harden deal. He started all of his 24 appearances with the Nets, but he still ended up with only 36 starts to 73 total games. As a whole, he averaged 7.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.0 combined steals-plus-blocks in 19.7 minutes. Despite the minimal playing time, he was still a fringe option in standard fantasy leagues, ranking 143rd in per-game value for eight-category formats. During the summer, he opted to join the Bulls -- his sixth team in four years. He'll come off the bench behind Nikola Vucevic, which will likely afford Drummond a similar workload compared to last season. He'll probably be viable as a streaming option in standard leagues when Chicago is on a four-game week. Otherwise, he's only worth drafting in deeper formats with some hope that Vucevic suffers an injury.
For the first time since his rookie season, Drummond came off the bench more than he started last year. He spent the beginning of the season as Joel Embiid's backup in Philadelphia before moving to Brooklyn in the James Harden deal. He started all of his 24 appearances with the Nets, but he still ended up with only 36 starts to 73 total games. As a whole, he averaged 7.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.0 combined steals-plus-blocks in 19.7 minutes. Despite the minimal playing time, he was still a fringe option in standard fantasy leagues, ranking 143rd in per-game value for eight-category formats. During the summer, he opted to join the Bulls -- his sixth team in four years. He'll come off the bench behind Nikola Vucevic, which will likely afford Drummond a similar workload compared to last season. He'll probably be viable as a streaming option in standard leagues when Chicago is on a four-game week. Otherwise, he's only worth drafting in deeper formats with some hope that Vucevic suffers an injury.
After his heroics in Houston to close the 2020-21 season, Olynyk came into last season with some hype. Unfortunately, he failed to live up to expectations, thanks partly to an injury that cost him a significant chunk of the season. His production was lacking when he was on the court, scoring in double digits in just seven of his final 28 games. He ended the season well outside the top 200, with averages of just 9.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and a combined 1.3 blocks and steals, logging 19.1 minutes per night. This offseason, Olynyk was dealt to the Jazz in the trade that landed Bojan Bogdanovic in Detroit. Olynyk is 31 years old and doesn't fit Utah's rebuild, but he's the best option the team has at center, unless Lauri Markkanen or Jarred Vanderbilt start at the position. We'll presumably learn more in preseason, but if Olynyk is going to consistently see minutes in the mid-to-high 20s, he could hold standard-league relevance.
After his heroics in Houston to close the 2020-21 season, Olynyk came into last season with some hype. Unfortunately, he failed to live up to expectations, thanks partly to an injury that cost him a significant chunk of the season. His production was lacking when he was on the court, scoring in double digits in just seven of his final 28 games. He ended the season well outside the top 200, with averages of just 9.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and a combined 1.3 blocks and steals, logging 19.1 minutes per night. This offseason, Olynyk was dealt to the Jazz in the trade that landed Bojan Bogdanovic in Detroit. Olynyk is 31 years old and doesn't fit Utah's rebuild, but he's the best option the team has at center, unless Lauri Markkanen or Jarred Vanderbilt start at the position. We'll presumably learn more in preseason, but if Olynyk is going to consistently see minutes in the mid-to-high 20s, he could hold standard-league relevance.
Selected fifth in the 2022 NBA Draft, Ivey wasted no time displaying his talent. He put on a show in his two Summer League appearances with 15.5 points, 4.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 1.5 threes over 18.8 minutes per game before suffering a minor ankle injury and being shut down for the remainder of exhibition play. He possesses elite quickness and athleticism, which should help him create his own shots at the NBA level. Ivey impressed as a freshman in college in 2020-21, but he took a major leap as a shooter last season, including an improvement to a respectable 35.8 percent conversion rate from beyond the arc. He figures to form a dynamic young tandem alongside second-year point guard Cade Cunningham, who pieced together an impressive rookie campaign last season for the Pistons. Ivey may not play on the ball as much as he did last season at Purdue, but the rookie should get plenty of opportunities to score and certainly can handle and distribute the rock when called upon. His landing spot on a rebuilding Pistons squad should afford him plenty of playing time as a rookie, and Ivey's athleticism should allow him to impact the game on both ends of the floor. That being said, Ivey should primarily be seen as a scorer for fantasy purposes, though ancillary box score production could materialize depending on how trusting coach Dwane Casey is of the rookie. It's understandable if fantasy managers in standard formats who are high on Ivey gamble on him with a late or final pick, but chances are, he'll be better suited for deep leagues and dynasty/keeper formats.
Selected fifth in the 2022 NBA Draft, Ivey wasted no time displaying his talent. He put on a show in his two Summer League appearances with 15.5 points, 4.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 1.5 threes over 18.8 minutes per game before suffering a minor ankle injury and being shut down for the remainder of exhibition play. He possesses elite quickness and athleticism, which should help him create his own shots at the NBA level. Ivey impressed as a freshman in college in 2020-21, but he took a major leap as a shooter last season, including an improvement to a respectable 35.8 percent conversion rate from beyond the arc. He figures to form a dynamic young tandem alongside second-year point guard Cade Cunningham, who pieced together an impressive rookie campaign last season for the Pistons. Ivey may not play on the ball as much as he did last season at Purdue, but the rookie should get plenty of opportunities to score and certainly can handle and distribute the rock when called upon. His landing spot on a rebuilding Pistons squad should afford him plenty of playing time as a rookie, and Ivey's athleticism should allow him to impact the game on both ends of the floor. That being said, Ivey should primarily be seen as a scorer for fantasy purposes, though ancillary box score production could materialize depending on how trusting coach Dwane Casey is of the rookie. It's understandable if fantasy managers in standard formats who are high on Ivey gamble on him with a late or final pick, but chances are, he'll be better suited for deep leagues and dynasty/keeper formats.
After being rested by OKC for the second half of the 2020-21 season, Big Al returned to Boston and generated 10.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.3 blocks over 29.1 minutes per game. Yes, Robert Williams is the more dynamic big in Boston, but Horford provides the steady day-to-day production down low that the Celtics crave. And with Daniel Theis now in Indiana, Boston might lean on Horford and Williams even more. Understandably, it was reported in July that Horford is expected to face multiple workload restrictions in 2022-23. Look for the veteran to miss the second of most back-to-backs. Plus, while Horford will still start, Boston would love for him to play fewer minutes per game and be fresh for the playoffs. Coach Ime Udoke will probably experiment with multiple small-ball lineups to keep Horford fresh.
After being rested by OKC for the second half of the 2020-21 season, Big Al returned to Boston and generated 10.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.3 blocks over 29.1 minutes per game. Yes, Robert Williams is the more dynamic big in Boston, but Horford provides the steady day-to-day production down low that the Celtics crave. And with Daniel Theis now in Indiana, Boston might lean on Horford and Williams even more. Understandably, it was reported in July that Horford is expected to face multiple workload restrictions in 2022-23. Look for the veteran to miss the second of most back-to-backs. Plus, while Horford will still start, Boston would love for him to play fewer minutes per game and be fresh for the playoffs. Coach Ime Udoke will probably experiment with multiple small-ball lineups to keep Horford fresh.
A late-second-round pick in 2017, Morris has gradually developed into one of the more reliable backup point guards in the NBA over the last few years. After posting 10.2 points and 3.2 assists per game in 2020-21, Morris moved into a more prominent role last season on the Nuggets with Jamal Murray (knee) unavailable. The Iowa State product started 74 of his 75 appearances, posting career bests in virtually every statistical category, including minutes (29.9), points (12.6) and assists (4.4) per game. That resulted in him ranking 133rd in per-game fantasy production in eight-category leagues. During the summer, he was dealt to Washington. Morris is under contract through the 2023-24 season, so the Wizards likely view him as a potential long-term piece alongside Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis, Kyle Kuzma and No. 10 overall pick Johnny Davis. Once camp begins in the fall, Morris may end up competing with Davis for the starting point guard job, though Davis' struggles in Summer League mean it's probably Morris' job to lose. Assuming that's the case, Morris might be worth considering as a later pick in deeper leagues, though it's possible he also has some standard league relevance. The upside is relatively low, however
A late-second-round pick in 2017, Morris has gradually developed into one of the more reliable backup point guards in the NBA over the last few years. After posting 10.2 points and 3.2 assists per game in 2020-21, Morris moved into a more prominent role last season on the Nuggets with Jamal Murray (knee) unavailable. The Iowa State product started 74 of his 75 appearances, posting career bests in virtually every statistical category, including minutes (29.9), points (12.6) and assists (4.4) per game. That resulted in him ranking 133rd in per-game fantasy production in eight-category leagues. During the summer, he was dealt to Washington. Morris is under contract through the 2023-24 season, so the Wizards likely view him as a potential long-term piece alongside Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis, Kyle Kuzma and No. 10 overall pick Johnny Davis. Once camp begins in the fall, Morris may end up competing with Davis for the starting point guard job, though Davis' struggles in Summer League mean it's probably Morris' job to lose. Assuming that's the case, Morris might be worth considering as a later pick in deeper leagues, though it's possible he also has some standard league relevance. The upside is relatively low, however
The Knicks traded Burks and Kemba Walker to the Pistons this offseason to create cap space to sign Jalen Brunson. However, due to the log jam in the backcourt, it remains unclear what Burks' role will be with Detroit, or if he even has a future with the Pistons at all. Recent lottery picks Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey are expected to be the team's starting guards, while Burks, Cory Joseph and Killian Hayes would operate off the bench. Burks outplayed Walker last year and ultimately earned the starting point guard role for the struggling Knicks and finished the campaign with averages of 11.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steals across 81 appearances. He underwent offseason foot surgery in June but is expected to be healthy by training camp. If Burks remains with the Pistons to start the regular season, he'll likely compete with Joseph for the top backup spot, though Hayes has the highest upside of the bench guards. Burks has shot over 36.0 percent from three in four consecutive campaigns, including back-to-back seasons over 40.0 percent. His three-point shooting could be a major key in creating space for Cunningham and Ivey to showcase their play-making skills, but barring injury, he doesn't have a clear path to substantial playing time in Detroit.
The Knicks traded Burks and Kemba Walker to the Pistons this offseason to create cap space to sign Jalen Brunson. However, due to the log jam in the backcourt, it remains unclear what Burks' role will be with Detroit, or if he even has a future with the Pistons at all. Recent lottery picks Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey are expected to be the team's starting guards, while Burks, Cory Joseph and Killian Hayes would operate off the bench. Burks outplayed Walker last year and ultimately earned the starting point guard role for the struggling Knicks and finished the campaign with averages of 11.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steals across 81 appearances. He underwent offseason foot surgery in June but is expected to be healthy by training camp. If Burks remains with the Pistons to start the regular season, he'll likely compete with Joseph for the top backup spot, though Hayes has the highest upside of the bench guards. Burks has shot over 36.0 percent from three in four consecutive campaigns, including back-to-back seasons over 40.0 percent. His three-point shooting could be a major key in creating space for Cunningham and Ivey to showcase their play-making skills, but barring injury, he doesn't have a clear path to substantial playing time in Detroit.
On Draft night, it looked as though Mathurin would be joining a fairly crowded backcourt, but the Pacers swiftly shipping Malcolm Brogdon to Boston seemingly clears the way for the No. 6 overall pick to start alongside Tyrese Haliburton. If the Pacers end up moving one or both of Myles Turner and Buddy Hield -- a distinct possibility -- then Mathurin would have an even clearer path to elevated usage in Year 1. The Arizona product was one of the standouts of Summer League, where he cobbled together averages of 19.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.7 made threes in just 22.4 minutes per game (three appearances). A very good athlete with prototypical size, Mathurin should be able to adapt well to the NBA game, and playing alongside a strong playmaker in Haliburton will only ease the transition. Like any rookie guard, Mathurin will have to prove that he's not a drag on field goal percentage, and ideally, his frame and aggressiveness would translate to a higher steal rate. But as long as Mathurin can shoot the ball even relatively efficiently, he'll be in an excellent position to play a ton of minutes and push for a top-100 finish.
On Draft night, it looked as though Mathurin would be joining a fairly crowded backcourt, but the Pacers swiftly shipping Malcolm Brogdon to Boston seemingly clears the way for the No. 6 overall pick to start alongside Tyrese Haliburton. If the Pacers end up moving one or both of Myles Turner and Buddy Hield -- a distinct possibility -- then Mathurin would have an even clearer path to elevated usage in Year 1. The Arizona product was one of the standouts of Summer League, where he cobbled together averages of 19.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.7 made threes in just 22.4 minutes per game (three appearances). A very good athlete with prototypical size, Mathurin should be able to adapt well to the NBA game, and playing alongside a strong playmaker in Haliburton will only ease the transition. Like any rookie guard, Mathurin will have to prove that he's not a drag on field goal percentage, and ideally, his frame and aggressiveness would translate to a higher steal rate. But as long as Mathurin can shoot the ball even relatively efficiently, he'll be in an excellent position to play a ton of minutes and push for a top-100 finish.
After three modest seasons in Boston, Robert "Time Lord" Williams finally broke out in 2021-22. The human pogo stick exploded for 10.0 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game last season -- all career highs. Williams' 134 total blocks were good for third in the Association. He also started all 61 games in which he appeared and added 2.0 dimes per contest while shooting a delightful 73.6 percent from the field. Add respectable free throw shooting, and Williams ranked 24th overall in nine-category rotisserie leagues. With Daniel Theis now in Indiana, Williams could see a slight bump in the 29.6 minutes per contest he played last season. Considering fellow big Al Horford is 36 years old, the C's seem thin at the four and five. There is room for improvement as Williams enters his age 25 season. However, injury woes have dampened his total impact early in his young career. That's continued to start this season, as he underwent knee surgery in September that may cost him some games to start the year.
After three modest seasons in Boston, Robert "Time Lord" Williams finally broke out in 2021-22. The human pogo stick exploded for 10.0 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game last season -- all career highs. Williams' 134 total blocks were good for third in the Association. He also started all 61 games in which he appeared and added 2.0 dimes per contest while shooting a delightful 73.6 percent from the field. Add respectable free throw shooting, and Williams ranked 24th overall in nine-category rotisserie leagues. With Daniel Theis now in Indiana, Williams could see a slight bump in the 29.6 minutes per contest he played last season. Considering fellow big Al Horford is 36 years old, the C's seem thin at the four and five. There is room for improvement as Williams enters his age 25 season. However, injury woes have dampened his total impact early in his young career. That's continued to start this season, as he underwent knee surgery in September that may cost him some games to start the year.
Despite a slow start to his rookie season, Jones ended as a must-roster player across all category leagues come April, thanks mainly to his productivity in the steals department. Playing in 78 of a possible 82 games, Jones compiled averages of 9.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.8 blocks in just under 30 minutes per game. His durability saw him end the campaign as a top-40 talent in total value -- an outcome that no one could have seen coming. The Pelicans have once again upgraded their roster, and while there will be more competition for minutes, Jones has established himself as an essential part of the rotation. His lack of peripheral contributions limits his overall upside, but he has a genuine chance of putting together another top-100 season despite the Pelicans' depth.
Despite a slow start to his rookie season, Jones ended as a must-roster player across all category leagues come April, thanks mainly to his productivity in the steals department. Playing in 78 of a possible 82 games, Jones compiled averages of 9.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.8 blocks in just under 30 minutes per game. His durability saw him end the campaign as a top-40 talent in total value -- an outcome that no one could have seen coming. The Pelicans have once again upgraded their roster, and while there will be more competition for minutes, Jones has established himself as an essential part of the rotation. His lack of peripheral contributions limits his overall upside, but he has a genuine chance of putting together another top-100 season despite the Pelicans' depth.
One of the more polarizing fantasy assets, Melton finds himself opening the season with a new team but potentially a very similar role. Despite clear upside, playing time has remained an issue for Melton throughout his career. In just 23 minutes per game, he ended the 2021-22 season just outside the top 100 in per-game eight-category fantasy production thanks to averages of 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.9 triples. While there is a chance he simply slides in as a direct replacement for Danny Green, many will be hoping that he can etch himself into Doc Rivers' good books, possibly warranting a few extra minutes. His ability to contribute on both ends of the floor should again lend itself to fantasy value. However, managers have every right to be cautious when targeting him in drafts. Given the element of uncertainty, he's best suited as a late-round flier in standard drafts for managers who need steals production.
One of the more polarizing fantasy assets, Melton finds himself opening the season with a new team but potentially a very similar role. Despite clear upside, playing time has remained an issue for Melton throughout his career. In just 23 minutes per game, he ended the 2021-22 season just outside the top 100 in per-game eight-category fantasy production thanks to averages of 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.9 triples. While there is a chance he simply slides in as a direct replacement for Danny Green, many will be hoping that he can etch himself into Doc Rivers' good books, possibly warranting a few extra minutes. His ability to contribute on both ends of the floor should again lend itself to fantasy value. However, managers have every right to be cautious when targeting him in drafts. Given the element of uncertainty, he's best suited as a late-round flier in standard drafts for managers who need steals production.
Despite ending his rookie season outside the top 350, Murphy played well during the playoffs and appears to be someone the Pelicans could prioritize moving forward. He suited up for two games in 2022 Summer League, averaging 26.5 points, shooting an impressive 50 percent from the floor and 88 percent from the line. His exact role remains a little clouded, although managers will want to keep an eye on where he fits during the preseason. If we can be relatively certain that he logs 25 minutes per night, he could be worth a look as a late-round flier, even in competitive drafts.
Despite ending his rookie season outside the top 350, Murphy played well during the playoffs and appears to be someone the Pelicans could prioritize moving forward. He suited up for two games in 2022 Summer League, averaging 26.5 points, shooting an impressive 50 percent from the floor and 88 percent from the line. His exact role remains a little clouded, although managers will want to keep an eye on where he fits during the preseason. If we can be relatively certain that he logs 25 minutes per night, he could be worth a look as a late-round flier, even in competitive drafts.
For much of the offseason, Sexton's future with the Cavs appeared to be up in the air, but the team shipped him to Utah as part of a multi-player deal that also includes Lauri Markkanen and 2022 first-round pick Ochai Agbaji, as well as three future first-round picks and two future pick swaps. As part of the transaction, Sexton will sign a four-year, $72 million contract with the Jazz, which is fully guaranteed. Sexton played in only 11 games last season due to a torn meniscus, but he's said to be fully recovered and should be a full go for the start of training camp. In 2020-21, Sexton enjoyed a career year, posting 24.3 points, 4.4 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.6 threes per game while shooting 47.5 percent from the field. With the Jazz now having moved on from both Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, they appear to be heading into a rebuild. While they'll likely find themselves near the bottom of the Western Conference standings this season, there should be plenty of opportunity for Sexton to flourish. If Utah opts to move on from veterans like Jordan Clarkson and Mike Conley, it would free up even more possessions for Sexton, who could very well end up operating as the team's No. 1 option.
For much of the offseason, Sexton's future with the Cavs appeared to be up in the air, but the team shipped him to Utah as part of a multi-player deal that also includes Lauri Markkanen and 2022 first-round pick Ochai Agbaji, as well as three future first-round picks and two future pick swaps. As part of the transaction, Sexton will sign a four-year, $72 million contract with the Jazz, which is fully guaranteed. Sexton played in only 11 games last season due to a torn meniscus, but he's said to be fully recovered and should be a full go for the start of training camp. In 2020-21, Sexton enjoyed a career year, posting 24.3 points, 4.4 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.6 threes per game while shooting 47.5 percent from the field. With the Jazz now having moved on from both Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, they appear to be heading into a rebuild. While they'll likely find themselves near the bottom of the Western Conference standings this season, there should be plenty of opportunity for Sexton to flourish. If Utah opts to move on from veterans like Jordan Clarkson and Mike Conley, it would free up even more possessions for Sexton, who could very well end up operating as the team's No. 1 option.
The clock is ticking for Bagley, who has failed to live up to expectations. Now in his fifth season in the NBA, the former number two pick finds himself in arguably the most favorable position of his career, outside of his rookie season. After falling out of the rotation with Sacramento during the 2021-22 campaign, Bagley was acquired by Detroit before the trade deadline. While his numbers were far from spectacular during his 25 games to close the season, he showed enough, earning himself a long-term deal with the Pistons. In those 25 games, Bagley averaged 14.2 points and 7.1 rebounds in just under 27 minutes per game. Unfortunately, he also managed only 0.9 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.5 blocks and 0.5 threes -- numbers that he will need to rectify should he hope to turn his career around. There is a chance Bagley slots into the Pistons' starting lineup, which could at least allow him to log significant minutes to open the season. His lack of peripheral production does not lend itself to fantasy value, however. So, while he may have moments of relevance, he is unlikely to be a viable target outside of deeper formats. However, he'll start the season injured, as a sprained knee will keep him sidelined for at least a few weeks.
The clock is ticking for Bagley, who has failed to live up to expectations. Now in his fifth season in the NBA, the former number two pick finds himself in arguably the most favorable position of his career, outside of his rookie season. After falling out of the rotation with Sacramento during the 2021-22 campaign, Bagley was acquired by Detroit before the trade deadline. While his numbers were far from spectacular during his 25 games to close the season, he showed enough, earning himself a long-term deal with the Pistons. In those 25 games, Bagley averaged 14.2 points and 7.1 rebounds in just under 27 minutes per game. Unfortunately, he also managed only 0.9 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.5 blocks and 0.5 threes -- numbers that he will need to rectify should he hope to turn his career around. There is a chance Bagley slots into the Pistons' starting lineup, which could at least allow him to log significant minutes to open the season. His lack of peripheral production does not lend itself to fantasy value, however. So, while he may have moments of relevance, he is unlikely to be a viable target outside of deeper formats. However, he'll start the season injured, as a sprained knee will keep him sidelined for at least a few weeks.
After an intriguing rookie season, Bey had a mixed sophomore campaign. The No. 19 overall pick out of Villanova in 2020 started the year struggling to shoot the ball. For the first three months of the season (32 appearances), Bey averaged 14.3 points on splits of 37/32/83. However, the new year brought newfound efficiency. From Jan. 1 onward (49 appearances), Bey averaged 17.2 points on 41/36/82 shooting. Notably, he even had a 51-point outburst against the Magic in mid-March, going 10-of-14 from three. The longball is Bey's specialty - he made 2.9 per game after the new year - but he's also displayed a more diverse skillset. During the season's home stretch, he added 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists in his 32.8 minutes per game, and he also got to the free-throw line a decent 3.2 times. Whether or not Bey can become a playmaker at the NBA level remains to be seen. Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey will handle the vast majority of the offensive initiation, though Jerami Grant shipping out to Portland opens up some usage that could go to Bey. However, it remains to be seen how much usage Bojan Bogdanovic will take on -- the Pistons trading for him late this offseason. Despite the spotty shooting, the 23-year-old ranked 108th in per-game fantasy production last season, so optimistic fantasy managers have reason to draft him sooner than that this time around.
After an intriguing rookie season, Bey had a mixed sophomore campaign. The No. 19 overall pick out of Villanova in 2020 started the year struggling to shoot the ball. For the first three months of the season (32 appearances), Bey averaged 14.3 points on splits of 37/32/83. However, the new year brought newfound efficiency. From Jan. 1 onward (49 appearances), Bey averaged 17.2 points on 41/36/82 shooting. Notably, he even had a 51-point outburst against the Magic in mid-March, going 10-of-14 from three. The longball is Bey's specialty - he made 2.9 per game after the new year - but he's also displayed a more diverse skillset. During the season's home stretch, he added 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists in his 32.8 minutes per game, and he also got to the free-throw line a decent 3.2 times. Whether or not Bey can become a playmaker at the NBA level remains to be seen. Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey will handle the vast majority of the offensive initiation, though Jerami Grant shipping out to Portland opens up some usage that could go to Bey. However, it remains to be seen how much usage Bojan Bogdanovic will take on -- the Pistons trading for him late this offseason. Despite the spotty shooting, the 23-year-old ranked 108th in per-game fantasy production last season, so optimistic fantasy managers have reason to draft him sooner than that this time around.
After spending the first four years of his career with the Hornets, the team didn't tender Monk a qualifying offer after drafting him 11th overall in 2017. That allowed Monk to become an unrestricted free agent, and he proceeded to ink a one-year deal with the Lakers. It seemed like he would face an uphill battle for minutes, but many of the Lakers' other options on the wing failed to contribute effectively. That, combined with injuries, allowed Monk to surprisingly record the best campaign of his career. He reached career highs nearly across the board, and it was also his most efficient season (59.7 true shooting percentage). The now-24-year-old averaged 13.8 points on 47/39/80 shooting, 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 28.1 minutes. This season, Monk joins anther new team, signing a two-year, $19 million contract with the Kings over the summer. He'll presumably compete with Kevin Huerter for the starting shooting guard spot. Whether he claims it or not, Monk should, at a minimum, see sixth-man minutes and compete for time against Huerter, Davion Mitchell, Jeremy Lamb and Terence Davis. He could replicate last season's numbers, which resulted in him ranking 119th in per-game fantasy production. However, Monk doesn't sport much upside given his place in the offense, so fantasy managers shouldn't have to reach inside the top 100 to secure him come draft day.
After spending the first four years of his career with the Hornets, the team didn't tender Monk a qualifying offer after drafting him 11th overall in 2017. That allowed Monk to become an unrestricted free agent, and he proceeded to ink a one-year deal with the Lakers. It seemed like he would face an uphill battle for minutes, but many of the Lakers' other options on the wing failed to contribute effectively. That, combined with injuries, allowed Monk to surprisingly record the best campaign of his career. He reached career highs nearly across the board, and it was also his most efficient season (59.7 true shooting percentage). The now-24-year-old averaged 13.8 points on 47/39/80 shooting, 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 28.1 minutes. This season, Monk joins anther new team, signing a two-year, $19 million contract with the Kings over the summer. He'll presumably compete with Kevin Huerter for the starting shooting guard spot. Whether he claims it or not, Monk should, at a minimum, see sixth-man minutes and compete for time against Huerter, Davion Mitchell, Jeremy Lamb and Terence Davis. He could replicate last season's numbers, which resulted in him ranking 119th in per-game fantasy production. However, Monk doesn't sport much upside given his place in the offense, so fantasy managers shouldn't have to reach inside the top 100 to secure him come draft day.
Aside from playing just 46 games due primarily to a back injury, Green composed a quality 2021-22 campaign. His assists (7.3), steals (1.3) and free-throw percentage (65.9%) dipped compared to the previous season, but he also made improvements in field-goal percentage (52.5%), blocks (1.1), points (7.5) and rebounds (7.3). The overall result was Green ranking 56th in per-game fantasy production. That's on par with his recent seasons, as he's ranked between 37-76 across the past four years. His shot diet changed a bit, which positively affected his field-goal percentage. He took a career-high 31 percent of his shots from floater range and a career-low 17 percent of his shots from three. The change makes sense, as Green has struggled to consistently connect on his attempts from beyond the arc (28.3 percent over the past six years), and he's valuable as a pick-and-roll option who is also adept at kicking to open shooters or tossing up a floater after catching the ball in the paint. Nothing should change this season. Green will continue to be the hub of Golden State's offense and a constant threat for low-end triple-doubles with defensive stats tossed in.
Aside from playing just 46 games due primarily to a back injury, Green composed a quality 2021-22 campaign. His assists (7.3), steals (1.3) and free-throw percentage (65.9%) dipped compared to the previous season, but he also made improvements in field-goal percentage (52.5%), blocks (1.1), points (7.5) and rebounds (7.3). The overall result was Green ranking 56th in per-game fantasy production. That's on par with his recent seasons, as he's ranked between 37-76 across the past four years. His shot diet changed a bit, which positively affected his field-goal percentage. He took a career-high 31 percent of his shots from floater range and a career-low 17 percent of his shots from three. The change makes sense, as Green has struggled to consistently connect on his attempts from beyond the arc (28.3 percent over the past six years), and he's valuable as a pick-and-roll option who is also adept at kicking to open shooters or tossing up a floater after catching the ball in the paint. Nothing should change this season. Green will continue to be the hub of Golden State's offense and a constant threat for low-end triple-doubles with defensive stats tossed in.
After initially being drafted by the Timberwolves, Kessler was abruptly traded to Utah as part of the Rudy Gobert deal. Landing with the Jazz, Kessler actually finds himself in what could be a favorable spot as the potential starting center. Coming out of college, Kessler was regarded as arguably the best rim protector in the draft, averaging 4.6 swats in just over 25 minutes per game last year at Auburn. His skillset could translate quite well into fantasy, especially if the Jazz opts to roll with him as their primary option. Currently, he will be battling Udoka Azubuike, Kelly Olynyk, Cody Zeller for center minutes heading into camp. Kessler is intriguing as a standard-league flier for fantasy managers who need help in that category at the end of drafts. However, he'll likely be a more practical draft pick in deeper formats.
After initially being drafted by the Timberwolves, Kessler was abruptly traded to Utah as part of the Rudy Gobert deal. Landing with the Jazz, Kessler actually finds himself in what could be a favorable spot as the potential starting center. Coming out of college, Kessler was regarded as arguably the best rim protector in the draft, averaging 4.6 swats in just over 25 minutes per game last year at Auburn. His skillset could translate quite well into fantasy, especially if the Jazz opts to roll with him as their primary option. Currently, he will be battling Udoka Azubuike, Kelly Olynyk, Cody Zeller for center minutes heading into camp. Kessler is intriguing as a standard-league flier for fantasy managers who need help in that category at the end of drafts. However, he'll likely be a more practical draft pick in deeper formats.
Bogdanovic has been one of the more consistent scorers in the league lately, putting up at least 17 points per game in four straight years. He ended 2021-22 as the 149th ranked player in eight-category per-game production, adding 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 three-pointers to his 17.7 points per game. After dealing two franchise centerpieces in Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, the wheels were in motion for the Jazz to continue selling off veteran assets, so Bogdanovic being dealt to the Pistons doesn't come as much of a surprise. Bogdanovic, whose contract expires after this coming season, could push for a starting spot in Detroit. For the Pistons, the decision will likely come down to whether they prioritize immediate results or the development of young players like Saddiq Bey and No. 5 overall pick Jaden Ivey. If the veteran can see 30-plus minutes, his upside is quite high given the lack of other proven options on the team -- Bogdanovic's best fantasy season being 2019-20 when he ranked 78th in 33.1 minutes per game. That said, his long-term season outlook is murky. He'll presumably be the target of trade discussions at the deadline.
Bogdanovic has been one of the more consistent scorers in the league lately, putting up at least 17 points per game in four straight years. He ended 2021-22 as the 149th ranked player in eight-category per-game production, adding 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 three-pointers to his 17.7 points per game. After dealing two franchise centerpieces in Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, the wheels were in motion for the Jazz to continue selling off veteran assets, so Bogdanovic being dealt to the Pistons doesn't come as much of a surprise. Bogdanovic, whose contract expires after this coming season, could push for a starting spot in Detroit. For the Pistons, the decision will likely come down to whether they prioritize immediate results or the development of young players like Saddiq Bey and No. 5 overall pick Jaden Ivey. If the veteran can see 30-plus minutes, his upside is quite high given the lack of other proven options on the team -- Bogdanovic's best fantasy season being 2019-20 when he ranked 78th in 33.1 minutes per game. That said, his long-term season outlook is murky. He'll presumably be the target of trade discussions at the deadline.
Last season was Fournier's first in New York, as he signed a four-year, $78 million deal with the Knicks during the summer. After spending the bulk of his career as one of the primary options for the Magic, the wing stepped into a reduced role on the more-competitive Knicks. He averaged his fewest points (14.1) and assists (2.1) per game since 2014-15. He also struggled from the charity stripe, with his 70.8 percent mark being the lowest of his career. The result was a rank of 153 in per-game fantasy production for eight-category roto leagues -- his lowest since 2014-15 and just his second time out of the top 100 in the past half-decade. The main difference in Fournier's offensive style on the Knicks is an increased diet of threes and a severe reduction of shots at the rim. He took just 12 percent of his attempts at the basket -- his previous low as a member of the Magic being 23 percent -- and he launched 62 percent of his shots from deep -- his previous high with the Magic being 48 percent. While that resulted in a career-high 3.0 makes from distance last season, it didn't help his fantasy profile. Nothing is expected to change for Fournier this season, barring the Knicks trading for Donovan Mitchell as has been rumored. With that being the case, Fournier can be ignored in standard fantasy drafts, though he could have some potential as a streaming option during the year.
Last season was Fournier's first in New York, as he signed a four-year, $78 million deal with the Knicks during the summer. After spending the bulk of his career as one of the primary options for the Magic, the wing stepped into a reduced role on the more-competitive Knicks. He averaged his fewest points (14.1) and assists (2.1) per game since 2014-15. He also struggled from the charity stripe, with his 70.8 percent mark being the lowest of his career. The result was a rank of 153 in per-game fantasy production for eight-category roto leagues -- his lowest since 2014-15 and just his second time out of the top 100 in the past half-decade. The main difference in Fournier's offensive style on the Knicks is an increased diet of threes and a severe reduction of shots at the rim. He took just 12 percent of his attempts at the basket -- his previous low as a member of the Magic being 23 percent -- and he launched 62 percent of his shots from deep -- his previous high with the Magic being 48 percent. While that resulted in a career-high 3.0 makes from distance last season, it didn't help his fantasy profile. Nothing is expected to change for Fournier this season, barring the Knicks trading for Donovan Mitchell as has been rumored. With that being the case, Fournier can be ignored in standard fantasy drafts, though he could have some potential as a streaming option during the year.
Fultz missed nearly all of last season while recovering from a torn ACL suffered early in 2020-21. He made his debut in late February and appeared in 18 games (three starts). The team remained cautious, not alloting him more than 29 minutes in any contest. He averaged 10.8 points on 47/24/81 shooting, 5.5 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 20.0 minutes. While those numbers don't jump off the page, they translate to an impressive 19.5 points, 9.9 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 2.0 steals per 36 minutes. There's only so much stock you can put into a small sample at the end of the season when many opponents are tanking, but it's encouraging play from Fultz, whose career has been marred by injury and a bizarre change in his shooting form. While his three-point stroke may never recover, he's proving to be a good finisher around the basket and an adequate mid-range shooter. His passing ability and defense will keep him productive even if his shot fails. More importantly, he's hit 75.6 percent of his free throws over his past 98 games, so teams can't resort to hacking him when he gets in close. This season, Fultz should take over as the Magic's starting point guard while Jalen Suggs slides over to shooting guard and Cole Anthony comes off the bench. Fultz will have to share the ball with No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero, but the rookie shouldn't dominate the rock. All things considered, the pieces are in place for Fultz to potentially produce the best season of his career. He's starting off injured, however, as he broke his toe before the year and could miss the first few weeks.
Fultz missed nearly all of last season while recovering from a torn ACL suffered early in 2020-21. He made his debut in late February and appeared in 18 games (three starts). The team remained cautious, not alloting him more than 29 minutes in any contest. He averaged 10.8 points on 47/24/81 shooting, 5.5 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 20.0 minutes. While those numbers don't jump off the page, they translate to an impressive 19.5 points, 9.9 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 2.0 steals per 36 minutes. There's only so much stock you can put into a small sample at the end of the season when many opponents are tanking, but it's encouraging play from Fultz, whose career has been marred by injury and a bizarre change in his shooting form. While his three-point stroke may never recover, he's proving to be a good finisher around the basket and an adequate mid-range shooter. His passing ability and defense will keep him productive even if his shot fails. More importantly, he's hit 75.6 percent of his free throws over his past 98 games, so teams can't resort to hacking him when he gets in close. This season, Fultz should take over as the Magic's starting point guard while Jalen Suggs slides over to shooting guard and Cole Anthony comes off the bench. Fultz will have to share the ball with No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero, but the rookie shouldn't dominate the rock. All things considered, the pieces are in place for Fultz to potentially produce the best season of his career. He's starting off injured, however, as he broke his toe before the year and could miss the first few weeks.
After three injury-riddled seasons in Indiana, the Pacers dealt Brogdon this summer as part of their rebuild. The return haul for Indy was modest, probably because Brogdon averaged only 49 games played per season as a Pacer. Last season, the versatile guard missed 40 of Indiana's last 50 games due to back issues and Indiana's tank-mode tactics. That said, Brogdon started every game he played and averaged 33.5 minutes per contest. And he's not far removed from the 2020-21 season where he averaged career-highs in points (21.2), rebounds (5.3) and made three-pointers (2.6) per contest. In addition to his injury woes, Brogdon is expected to come off the bench for Boston this season. The Celtics' starting five was dominant during the second half of last season's NBA Finals run. The C's would be foolish to mess with the lineup, and Brogdon stated in his first Celtics press conference that he's willing to "sacrifice" to win. A sixth-man role is forthcoming -- this team is deep. After Boston was eliminated in the Finals, President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens made it clear the team was looking for more playmaking. Brogdon's career average of 4.8 dimes per game certainly meets that need. But his scoring and outside shooting make him an excellent reserve on the wing, as well. At 6-foot-5, Brogdon provides the defensive flexibility required for Boston's switching defense, which should keep him on the floor. All in all, expect Brogdon to see a dip in minutes per game while he attempts to play 70-plus games, a feat he hasn't reached since his ROY season in 2016-17.
After three injury-riddled seasons in Indiana, the Pacers dealt Brogdon this summer as part of their rebuild. The return haul for Indy was modest, probably because Brogdon averaged only 49 games played per season as a Pacer. Last season, the versatile guard missed 40 of Indiana's last 50 games due to back issues and Indiana's tank-mode tactics. That said, Brogdon started every game he played and averaged 33.5 minutes per contest. And he's not far removed from the 2020-21 season where he averaged career-highs in points (21.2), rebounds (5.3) and made three-pointers (2.6) per contest. In addition to his injury woes, Brogdon is expected to come off the bench for Boston this season. The Celtics' starting five was dominant during the second half of last season's NBA Finals run. The C's would be foolish to mess with the lineup, and Brogdon stated in his first Celtics press conference that he's willing to "sacrifice" to win. A sixth-man role is forthcoming -- this team is deep. After Boston was eliminated in the Finals, President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens made it clear the team was looking for more playmaking. Brogdon's career average of 4.8 dimes per game certainly meets that need. But his scoring and outside shooting make him an excellent reserve on the wing, as well. At 6-foot-5, Brogdon provides the defensive flexibility required for Boston's switching defense, which should keep him on the floor. All in all, expect Brogdon to see a dip in minutes per game while he attempts to play 70-plus games, a feat he hasn't reached since his ROY season in 2016-17.
With Ben Simmons missing all of last season, Curry stepped into a more prominent role for the 76ers before they were both eventually dealt to the Nets for James Harden. Curry set new career highs in points (15.0), assists (3.6), rebounds (3.1) and made threes (2.5) per game in his career-high 33.4 minutes. He also maintained excellent efficiency while doing so, slashing 49/42/87. He held a similar role while in Brooklyn for 19 games. Heading into this season, the Nets are the most uncertain team in the NBA. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are threats to be traded at any given time, which could shake up everyone else's role. Still, for the time being, both players remain on the roster, as does Simmons. Curry will have a hard time getting touches outside of spot-up three-point opportunities, and he'll also be competing against Joe Harris, Cam Thomas and Patty Mills for those chances. As a result, it will be challenging for Curry to replicate his great 2021-22 campaign. Fantasy managers can consider him at the end of drafts, but since his upside is so low, he's better suited for deeper leagues.
With Ben Simmons missing all of last season, Curry stepped into a more prominent role for the 76ers before they were both eventually dealt to the Nets for James Harden. Curry set new career highs in points (15.0), assists (3.6), rebounds (3.1) and made threes (2.5) per game in his career-high 33.4 minutes. He also maintained excellent efficiency while doing so, slashing 49/42/87. He held a similar role while in Brooklyn for 19 games. Heading into this season, the Nets are the most uncertain team in the NBA. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are threats to be traded at any given time, which could shake up everyone else's role. Still, for the time being, both players remain on the roster, as does Simmons. Curry will have a hard time getting touches outside of spot-up three-point opportunities, and he'll also be competing against Joe Harris, Cam Thomas and Patty Mills for those chances. As a result, it will be challenging for Curry to replicate his great 2021-22 campaign. Fantasy managers can consider him at the end of drafts, but since his upside is so low, he's better suited for deeper leagues.
The Pistons selected Duren with the 13th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft following his lone season at Memphis, where the 6-foot-11 big averaged 12.0 points on 59.7 percent shooting, 8.1 rebounds (3.0 offensive), 2.1 blocks, 1.3 assists and 0.8 steals in 25.2 minutes. He was named AAC Freshman of the Year and to the All-AAC First Team. He finished with a successful Summer League venture, averaging 11.3 points on 65.0 percent shooting to go along with 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 assists. The 18-year-old is an excellent athlete known for his shot-blocking and interior scoring, the latter of which should prove especially useful in an offense with a capable lob-thrower in Cade Cunningham. The catch is that he is prone to mental lapses, such as missing box-outs and getting into foul trouble. His post game is also weak and his free-throw percentage (62.5%) is relatively poor, but these criticisms are common for most big men who end up in the late lottery. Duren is competing against Isaiah Stewart, Marvin Bagley and Nerlens Noel for minutes. Stewart had an underwhelming sophomore campaign and is undersized while Noel is a veteran (28 years old) and doesn't have any development upside for Detroit, so there's a path, in theory, for Duren to make an impact. However, early reports indicate Duren may spend significant time in the G League. If that's the case, he can't be drafted in standard leagues.
The Pistons selected Duren with the 13th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft following his lone season at Memphis, where the 6-foot-11 big averaged 12.0 points on 59.7 percent shooting, 8.1 rebounds (3.0 offensive), 2.1 blocks, 1.3 assists and 0.8 steals in 25.2 minutes. He was named AAC Freshman of the Year and to the All-AAC First Team. He finished with a successful Summer League venture, averaging 11.3 points on 65.0 percent shooting to go along with 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 assists. The 18-year-old is an excellent athlete known for his shot-blocking and interior scoring, the latter of which should prove especially useful in an offense with a capable lob-thrower in Cade Cunningham. The catch is that he is prone to mental lapses, such as missing box-outs and getting into foul trouble. His post game is also weak and his free-throw percentage (62.5%) is relatively poor, but these criticisms are common for most big men who end up in the late lottery. Duren is competing against Isaiah Stewart, Marvin Bagley and Nerlens Noel for minutes. Stewart had an underwhelming sophomore campaign and is undersized while Noel is a veteran (28 years old) and doesn't have any development upside for Detroit, so there's a path, in theory, for Duren to make an impact. However, early reports indicate Duren may spend significant time in the G League. If that's the case, he can't be drafted in standard leagues.
After five seasons as a staple on the wing with the Lakers, Caldwell-Pope was dealt to the Wizards last August. On a relatively shallow roster where star Bradley Beal ended up playing just 40 games, Caldwell-Pope took on a bigger role and had a bounceback fantasy season. He ranked 122nd in per-game fantasy production behind 13.2 points on 44/39/89 shooting, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals in 30.2 minutes - his first time ranking inside the top 170 since 2017-18. KCP created more shots for himself last season and took more mid-rangers than during his time in LA, where LeBron James often fed him open threes. Still, his shot diet mostly consists of a floor-spacer, as he took 46 percent of his shots from long range. Over the summer, Caldwell-Pope was dealt from Washington to Denver, where he signed a two-year, $30 million extension. He's expected to start at shooting guard, filling the gap left by Will Barton (sent to Washington) in the trade. KCP should continue seeing roughly 30 minutes per game and act as a three-and-D wing for the Nuggets. He may get more shots at the rim off of cuts from Nikola Jokic's passing, but things aren't expected to change too much for the veteran. He probably won't handle the ball as much as he did in Washington, however, so fantasy managers probably shouldn't expect a repeat of last year's ranking. Caldwell-Pope doesn't warrant a look in most standard leagues, but he's a passable late-round option in deeper formats.
After five seasons as a staple on the wing with the Lakers, Caldwell-Pope was dealt to the Wizards last August. On a relatively shallow roster where star Bradley Beal ended up playing just 40 games, Caldwell-Pope took on a bigger role and had a bounceback fantasy season. He ranked 122nd in per-game fantasy production behind 13.2 points on 44/39/89 shooting, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals in 30.2 minutes - his first time ranking inside the top 170 since 2017-18. KCP created more shots for himself last season and took more mid-rangers than during his time in LA, where LeBron James often fed him open threes. Still, his shot diet mostly consists of a floor-spacer, as he took 46 percent of his shots from long range. Over the summer, Caldwell-Pope was dealt from Washington to Denver, where he signed a two-year, $30 million extension. He's expected to start at shooting guard, filling the gap left by Will Barton (sent to Washington) in the trade. KCP should continue seeing roughly 30 minutes per game and act as a three-and-D wing for the Nuggets. He may get more shots at the rim off of cuts from Nikola Jokic's passing, but things aren't expected to change too much for the veteran. He probably won't handle the ball as much as he did in Washington, however, so fantasy managers probably shouldn't expect a repeat of last year's ranking. Caldwell-Pope doesn't warrant a look in most standard leagues, but he's a passable late-round option in deeper formats.
An athletic two-way wing out of Baylor, Sochan was selected with the No. 9 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Spurs. However, he sat out Summer League due to a hamstring injury and contracting COVID-19. As a freshman last season, he won Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year behind averages of 9.2 points on 47/30/59 shooting, 6.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.0 combined steals-plus-blocks in 25.0 minutes. Clearly, Sochan's shooting is a concern. He has a distinct lack of a reliable jumper for a forward, struggling from both the charity stripe and three-point line - a slow release doesn't help. But, he projects as an NBA-ready defender and has displayed upside as a playmaker and finisher around the basket. As a rookie, he'll fight for minutes against an underwhelming backup crew on the wing containing Josh Richardson, rookie Malaki Branham, Zach Collins and Keita Bates-Diop. There's a pathway to Sochan loggingg 25-plus minutes, but most of his fantasy value will probably be derived from his defensive stats. He's risky in standard leagues, but there's deep-league potential.
An athletic two-way wing out of Baylor, Sochan was selected with the No. 9 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Spurs. However, he sat out Summer League due to a hamstring injury and contracting COVID-19. As a freshman last season, he won Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year behind averages of 9.2 points on 47/30/59 shooting, 6.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.0 combined steals-plus-blocks in 25.0 minutes. Clearly, Sochan's shooting is a concern. He has a distinct lack of a reliable jumper for a forward, struggling from both the charity stripe and three-point line - a slow release doesn't help. But, he projects as an NBA-ready defender and has displayed upside as a playmaker and finisher around the basket. As a rookie, he'll fight for minutes against an underwhelming backup crew on the wing containing Josh Richardson, rookie Malaki Branham, Zach Collins and Keita Bates-Diop. There's a pathway to Sochan loggingg 25-plus minutes, but most of his fantasy value will probably be derived from his defensive stats. He's risky in standard leagues, but there's deep-league potential.
After some offseason issues, Harrell was picked up by the 76ers, where he will likely slot in as the backup behind Joel Embiid. Coming off his worst season in four years, Harrell fell outside the top 150, ending his run as a must-roster player. While he figures to soak up the bulk of the backup center minutes in Philadelphia, his role could decrease compared to 2021-22. His playing time could be capped at around 16 minutes per night, keeping him off the fantasy radar outside of deeper formats. Should Embiid miss any time throughout the season, Harrell could make for a viable streaming option, albeit short-term only.
After some offseason issues, Harrell was picked up by the 76ers, where he will likely slot in as the backup behind Joel Embiid. Coming off his worst season in four years, Harrell fell outside the top 150, ending his run as a must-roster player. While he figures to soak up the bulk of the backup center minutes in Philadelphia, his role could decrease compared to 2021-22. His playing time could be capped at around 16 minutes per night, keeping him off the fantasy radar outside of deeper formats. Should Embiid miss any time throughout the season, Harrell could make for a viable streaming option, albeit short-term only.
McConnell missed a significant portion of the 2021-22 season due to a wrist injury suffered in early December. However, he returned for three games to close the season, flashing his streaming appeal in the process. With the Pacers rebuilding for the future, it is unclear how much they intend to use McConnell. However, even if he can carve out a 20-minute role, he could flirt with top-200 value. His ability to contribute assists and steals in limited minutes also puts him firmly in the streaming conversation.
McConnell missed a significant portion of the 2021-22 season due to a wrist injury suffered in early December. However, he returned for three games to close the season, flashing his streaming appeal in the process. With the Pacers rebuilding for the future, it is unclear how much they intend to use McConnell. However, even if he can carve out a 20-minute role, he could flirt with top-200 value. His ability to contribute assists and steals in limited minutes also puts him firmly in the streaming conversation.
Bazley took a step back last season in terms of minutes (27.9 MPG) and usage (17.1%) as the Thunder accommodated rookie Josh Giddey, but he improved his fantasy value through better defense. Bazley averaged 1.0 blocks and 0.8 steals per game in addition to 10.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists. He's still struggling to generate efficient offense (42/30/69 shooting splits), but he's not asked to do that much. Bazley should retain his starting spot at power forward this season, but it won't be without competition for minutes. Aleksej Pokusevski, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Kenrich Williams, Mike Muscala and Ousmane Dieng can also see time at the four. Ultimately, Bazley hasn't exhibited enough to truly warrant priority over other options if those players start to show more upside. Bazley's 2022-23 season will go a long way in determining his future, as it's his last under his rookie deal. Fantasy managers who believe in his defense and potential for improved offense can take a chance on him toward the end of drafts, but his upside remains relatively low given the wealth of other, better offensive options that have more commitment from the Thunder front office.
Bazley took a step back last season in terms of minutes (27.9 MPG) and usage (17.1%) as the Thunder accommodated rookie Josh Giddey, but he improved his fantasy value through better defense. Bazley averaged 1.0 blocks and 0.8 steals per game in addition to 10.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists. He's still struggling to generate efficient offense (42/30/69 shooting splits), but he's not asked to do that much. Bazley should retain his starting spot at power forward this season, but it won't be without competition for minutes. Aleksej Pokusevski, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Kenrich Williams, Mike Muscala and Ousmane Dieng can also see time at the four. Ultimately, Bazley hasn't exhibited enough to truly warrant priority over other options if those players start to show more upside. Bazley's 2022-23 season will go a long way in determining his future, as it's his last under his rookie deal. Fantasy managers who believe in his defense and potential for improved offense can take a chance on him toward the end of drafts, but his upside remains relatively low given the wealth of other, better offensive options that have more commitment from the Thunder front office.
Last season, White was cruising through arguably his career-best season with the Spurs when, at the deadline, San Antonio dealt him to the surging Celtics. While White found himself in a winning situation, his role shifted from starter to reserve, with his minutes dipping from 30.3 to 27.4 per game. The bigger difference was, with Boston's loaded roster, White's shot attempts dropped from 11.6 to 8.8 per contest. However, his versatile skill set allowed White to play a sixth-man role for the Celtics through their Finals run. But this offseason, the C's acquired another versatile, tall guard. Former Pacer Malcolm Brogdon will probably bump White out of the sixth-man role, though the pair could come off the bench together as a formidable backup backcourt. Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart isn't going anywhere, so Brogdon's minutes will probably come from White and Payton Pritchard. Coach Ime Udoka will probably also experiment with small-ball lineups to give stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum more rest. That could also give veteran Al Horford a break and create more minutes for White and Brogdon. Excessive talent is a good problem for a team, but it may create inconsistent stats this season from White.
Last season, White was cruising through arguably his career-best season with the Spurs when, at the deadline, San Antonio dealt him to the surging Celtics. While White found himself in a winning situation, his role shifted from starter to reserve, with his minutes dipping from 30.3 to 27.4 per game. The bigger difference was, with Boston's loaded roster, White's shot attempts dropped from 11.6 to 8.8 per contest. However, his versatile skill set allowed White to play a sixth-man role for the Celtics through their Finals run. But this offseason, the C's acquired another versatile, tall guard. Former Pacer Malcolm Brogdon will probably bump White out of the sixth-man role, though the pair could come off the bench together as a formidable backup backcourt. Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart isn't going anywhere, so Brogdon's minutes will probably come from White and Payton Pritchard. Coach Ime Udoka will probably also experiment with small-ball lineups to give stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum more rest. That could also give veteran Al Horford a break and create more minutes for White and Brogdon. Excessive talent is a good problem for a team, but it may create inconsistent stats this season from White.
The No. 5 pick out of Gonzaga last season, Suggs' rookie campaign was mostly disappointing. Injuries limited him to 48 games (45 starts), which didn't help his case, but his play when available was a mixed bag at best. Things were bad out of the gate, with Suggs' first 13 games resulting in a 31.2 percent mark from the field and the same number of turnovers as assists. But throwing away those games only results in 11.9 points on 38/22/75 shooting, 4.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 26.9 minutes per game for the remainder of the year. The bad is obvious - his efficiency was awful. However, looking past that, there are signs that Suggs can have a strong sophomore season. He cut down his turnovers after his first 13 games (down to 2.8 per game). He also got to the free-throw line 3.4 times in his 26.9 minutes - a nice mark considering his overall workload and usage. Plus, his combined 1.8 steals-plus-blocks is a strong tally as well. Of course, much of that won't matter if he doesn't improve efficiency to adequate levels. That will have to be the focus of Suggs' sophomore season, especially since he'll likely have the ball in his hands less often than he did as a rookie. Markelle Fultz will be healthy, and No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero will need his share of the rock as a playmaker. Small forward Franz Wagner has also flashed some playmaking potential. It seems as if Orlando will run an egalitarian offense fueled on cuts and ball movement. That will keep Suggs involved, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect any sort of high-level assist production consistently. While Suggs should exceed his rank of 180th in per-game production he posted last season, he's probably still a late-round flier come draft day.
The No. 5 pick out of Gonzaga last season, Suggs' rookie campaign was mostly disappointing. Injuries limited him to 48 games (45 starts), which didn't help his case, but his play when available was a mixed bag at best. Things were bad out of the gate, with Suggs' first 13 games resulting in a 31.2 percent mark from the field and the same number of turnovers as assists. But throwing away those games only results in 11.9 points on 38/22/75 shooting, 4.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 26.9 minutes per game for the remainder of the year. The bad is obvious - his efficiency was awful. However, looking past that, there are signs that Suggs can have a strong sophomore season. He cut down his turnovers after his first 13 games (down to 2.8 per game). He also got to the free-throw line 3.4 times in his 26.9 minutes - a nice mark considering his overall workload and usage. Plus, his combined 1.8 steals-plus-blocks is a strong tally as well. Of course, much of that won't matter if he doesn't improve efficiency to adequate levels. That will have to be the focus of Suggs' sophomore season, especially since he'll likely have the ball in his hands less often than he did as a rookie. Markelle Fultz will be healthy, and No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero will need his share of the rock as a playmaker. Small forward Franz Wagner has also flashed some playmaking potential. It seems as if Orlando will run an egalitarian offense fueled on cuts and ball movement. That will keep Suggs involved, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect any sort of high-level assist production consistently. While Suggs should exceed his rank of 180th in per-game production he posted last season, he's probably still a late-round flier come draft day.
Hardaway began last season in the starting five before Reggie Bullock replaced him in the unit Dec. 1. Though his workload decreased by seven minutes per game while coming off the bench, his stats didn't suffer much, and he increased his efficiency. However, a fractured foot in late January cut his season short at just 42 games. It was a challenging year for fantasy managers who rostered Hardway. In addition to the missed time, he shot poorly from the field, hitting just 39.7 percent of his field goals - the second worst of his career - and 75.7 percent of his free throws - the worst of his career. This season, Hardaway figures to appear off the bench again, with Christian Wood also checking in after tipoff. The two could form an intriguing bench unit, and Hardaway may get more involved in some additional two-man game. When coming off the bench last year, the 30-year-old averaged 13.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 26.2 minutes. If his overall play improves from last season, Hardaway may have back-end standard league relevance, though he'll still probably be best as a streaming option rather than someone to invest in on draft day.
Hardaway began last season in the starting five before Reggie Bullock replaced him in the unit Dec. 1. Though his workload decreased by seven minutes per game while coming off the bench, his stats didn't suffer much, and he increased his efficiency. However, a fractured foot in late January cut his season short at just 42 games. It was a challenging year for fantasy managers who rostered Hardway. In addition to the missed time, he shot poorly from the field, hitting just 39.7 percent of his field goals - the second worst of his career - and 75.7 percent of his free throws - the worst of his career. This season, Hardaway figures to appear off the bench again, with Christian Wood also checking in after tipoff. The two could form an intriguing bench unit, and Hardaway may get more involved in some additional two-man game. When coming off the bench last year, the 30-year-old averaged 13.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 26.2 minutes. If his overall play improves from last season, Hardaway may have back-end standard league relevance, though he'll still probably be best as a streaming option rather than someone to invest in on draft day.
History dictates that fantasy managers should be inherently skeptical of any player drafted by the Kings, but the early returns on Murray are overwhelmingly positive. In four Summer League games, Murray turned in four 20-point efforts, averaging 23.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 3.5 made threes per contest. As he did at Iowa last season, Murray played within himself and consistently capitalized on fast breaks and advantage situations. The three-point shooting (40% 3PT, 8.8 3PA/G) was especially encouraging for a player who will likely have plenty of open catch-and-shoot looks as a rookie. He'll fall in line behind De'Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and perhaps one of Harrison Barnes or Kevin Huerter, but if Murray's defensive numbers at the college level (3.2 blocks/steals per game) translate, he could easily threaten for a top-75 fantasy season as a rookie.
History dictates that fantasy managers should be inherently skeptical of any player drafted by the Kings, but the early returns on Murray are overwhelmingly positive. In four Summer League games, Murray turned in four 20-point efforts, averaging 23.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 3.5 made threes per contest. As he did at Iowa last season, Murray played within himself and consistently capitalized on fast breaks and advantage situations. The three-point shooting (40% 3PT, 8.8 3PA/G) was especially encouraging for a player who will likely have plenty of open catch-and-shoot looks as a rookie. He'll fall in line behind De'Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and perhaps one of Harrison Barnes or Kevin Huerter, but if Murray's defensive numbers at the college level (3.2 blocks/steals per game) translate, he could easily threaten for a top-75 fantasy season as a rookie.
While he flashed upside, Boucher's 2021-22 season was a bit of a disappointment. After a breakout campaign only 12 months prior, Boucher saw his playing time fall from 24.2 minutes per game down to 21.1. This resulted in him sliding down the rankings, ending outside the top 150 per game in eight-category leagues. His durability has to be considered, given that he was one of only a handful of players to play in at least 80 games. That said, the Raptors have since acquired Otto Porter and Juancho Hernangomez while also retaining Thaddeus Young. It's fair to say the Raptors are loaded regarding frontcourt players, which could see Boucher minimized again. Given his proven upside when given extended run, he could be worth a gamble at the tail-end of drafts, but he's better suited for deeper leagues.
While he flashed upside, Boucher's 2021-22 season was a bit of a disappointment. After a breakout campaign only 12 months prior, Boucher saw his playing time fall from 24.2 minutes per game down to 21.1. This resulted in him sliding down the rankings, ending outside the top 150 per game in eight-category leagues. His durability has to be considered, given that he was one of only a handful of players to play in at least 80 games. That said, the Raptors have since acquired Otto Porter and Juancho Hernangomez while also retaining Thaddeus Young. It's fair to say the Raptors are loaded regarding frontcourt players, which could see Boucher minimized again. Given his proven upside when given extended run, he could be worth a gamble at the tail-end of drafts, but he's better suited for deeper leagues.
After a promising sophomore campaign with the Lakers, Horton-Tucker was given a two-year, $19.8 million contract in August 2021. The team was let down, however. While Horton-Tucker's counting stats mostly improved -- partially due to increased playing time -- he shot just 41.6 percent from the field and 26.9 percent from three. In win-now mode, the Lakers decided to move on from the young wing and trade him to the rebuilding Jazz. With Utah, Horton-Tucker should have increased opportunities to develop and show off his skillset rather than being a pure role player next to LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook. There's a scenario where Horton-Tucker is worth taking a flier on in standard leagues, but that will depend on who's on the roster before the season starts.
After a promising sophomore campaign with the Lakers, Horton-Tucker was given a two-year, $19.8 million contract in August 2021. The team was let down, however. While Horton-Tucker's counting stats mostly improved -- partially due to increased playing time -- he shot just 41.6 percent from the field and 26.9 percent from three. In win-now mode, the Lakers decided to move on from the young wing and trade him to the rebuilding Jazz. With Utah, Horton-Tucker should have increased opportunities to develop and show off his skillset rather than being a pure role player next to LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook. There's a scenario where Horton-Tucker is worth taking a flier on in standard leagues, but that will depend on who's on the roster before the season starts.
Mitchell appeared in 75 games as a rookie last year and averaged 11.5 points, 4.2 assists and 2.2 rebounds across 27.7 minutes per game. He shot 41.8 percent from the field, 31.6 percent from three and 65.9 percent from the free-throw line. However, he really saw an uptick in production during the stretch run while De'Aaron Fox was sidelined due to a hand injury, posting 18.8 points and 9.3 assists across the last 11 games of the season, including three double-doubles with assist totals of 17 and 15 in two of those games. As a starter (19 games), he averaged 18.0 points, 7.4 assists and 2.3 rebounds across 37.1 minutes per game. Despite the absence of Tyrese Haliburton, the No. 9 overall pick still figures to open the 2022-23 campaign as a backup after the additions of Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk this offseason. He also may face some competition from defensive-minded guard Matthew Dellavedova, who's returning to NBA action after playing in Australia last year. Still, the Kings will almost certainly prioritize Mitchell's development over playing time for the veteran.
Mitchell appeared in 75 games as a rookie last year and averaged 11.5 points, 4.2 assists and 2.2 rebounds across 27.7 minutes per game. He shot 41.8 percent from the field, 31.6 percent from three and 65.9 percent from the free-throw line. However, he really saw an uptick in production during the stretch run while De'Aaron Fox was sidelined due to a hand injury, posting 18.8 points and 9.3 assists across the last 11 games of the season, including three double-doubles with assist totals of 17 and 15 in two of those games. As a starter (19 games), he averaged 18.0 points, 7.4 assists and 2.3 rebounds across 37.1 minutes per game. Despite the absence of Tyrese Haliburton, the No. 9 overall pick still figures to open the 2022-23 campaign as a backup after the additions of Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk this offseason. He also may face some competition from defensive-minded guard Matthew Dellavedova, who's returning to NBA action after playing in Australia last year. Still, the Kings will almost certainly prioritize Mitchell's development over playing time for the veteran.
After breaking out during the 2021 playoffs (9.3 points, 3.2 assists and 2.5 rebounds across 22 games), Payne started the 2021-22 campaign with a sizable role, posting 10.5 points, 3.6 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 20.6 minutes across his first 39 games. However, he ultimately struggled with his efficiency late in the season, shooting just 34.6 percent from the field across his last 20 appearances. During the Suns' second-round loss to the Mavericks, the lefty point guard posted just 2.9 points (28.1 FG%) in 11.7 minutes across the seven-game series. Regardless, on the season, he still averaged 10.8 points -- career high for a full season -- and a career-high 4.9 assists per game. However, as mentioned, he struggled with his efficiency, shooting just 40.9 percent from the field and 33.6 percent from three after shooting 48.4 percent and 44.0 percent, respectively, a year prior. The Suns added Damion Lee and Josh Okogie this offseason, but neither should push Payne for the top backup spot behind Chris Paul. As a starter last year (12 games), Payne averaged 14.0 points, 9.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals across 29.8 minutes. Even if Payne doesn't garner a major role as a backup, he'll still be fantasy relevant as a fill-in for Paul, who figures to get periodic veteran rest days throughout his age-37 season.
After breaking out during the 2021 playoffs (9.3 points, 3.2 assists and 2.5 rebounds across 22 games), Payne started the 2021-22 campaign with a sizable role, posting 10.5 points, 3.6 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 20.6 minutes across his first 39 games. However, he ultimately struggled with his efficiency late in the season, shooting just 34.6 percent from the field across his last 20 appearances. During the Suns' second-round loss to the Mavericks, the lefty point guard posted just 2.9 points (28.1 FG%) in 11.7 minutes across the seven-game series. Regardless, on the season, he still averaged 10.8 points -- career high for a full season -- and a career-high 4.9 assists per game. However, as mentioned, he struggled with his efficiency, shooting just 40.9 percent from the field and 33.6 percent from three after shooting 48.4 percent and 44.0 percent, respectively, a year prior. The Suns added Damion Lee and Josh Okogie this offseason, but neither should push Payne for the top backup spot behind Chris Paul. As a starter last year (12 games), Payne averaged 14.0 points, 9.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals across 29.8 minutes. Even if Payne doesn't garner a major role as a backup, he'll still be fantasy relevant as a fill-in for Paul, who figures to get periodic veteran rest days throughout his age-37 season.
Hayward's numbers dipped a bit in his second season in Charlotte, as his per-game averages of 15.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.8 three-pointers and 1.0 steals were down from his previous campaign. The drop-off was due partly to a reduction from 34 to just under 32 minutes per contest of playing time, though it's also notable that the veteran forward recorded his lowest field-goal percentage (45.9 percent) in six seasons. More significantly, Hayward again had trouble staying on the court. He played in only 49 games, including just one after Feb. 7. It marked the third consecutive season during which he has missed a significant chunk of time, and he has played in only one contest during the period of fantasy playoffs over the past two campaigns. Fantasy managers tend to remember such things, and the combination of injuries and dropping numbers make it reasonable to expect him to fall further down draft boards for the coming season. There's still reason to like Hayward's well-rounded game, and the likely absence of restricted free agent Miles Bridges, who is facing serious legal consequences after being charged with three felony counts of domestic violence in the offseason, could result in Charlotte looking more to Hayward to fill the void. However, he will be 32 years old entering the 2022-23 campaign, which doesn't bode particularly well for his chances of suddenly regaining season-long health.
Hayward's numbers dipped a bit in his second season in Charlotte, as his per-game averages of 15.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.8 three-pointers and 1.0 steals were down from his previous campaign. The drop-off was due partly to a reduction from 34 to just under 32 minutes per contest of playing time, though it's also notable that the veteran forward recorded his lowest field-goal percentage (45.9 percent) in six seasons. More significantly, Hayward again had trouble staying on the court. He played in only 49 games, including just one after Feb. 7. It marked the third consecutive season during which he has missed a significant chunk of time, and he has played in only one contest during the period of fantasy playoffs over the past two campaigns. Fantasy managers tend to remember such things, and the combination of injuries and dropping numbers make it reasonable to expect him to fall further down draft boards for the coming season. There's still reason to like Hayward's well-rounded game, and the likely absence of restricted free agent Miles Bridges, who is facing serious legal consequences after being charged with three felony counts of domestic violence in the offseason, could result in Charlotte looking more to Hayward to fill the void. However, he will be 32 years old entering the 2022-23 campaign, which doesn't bode particularly well for his chances of suddenly regaining season-long health.
The Arizona State product was selected by the Rockets with the 24th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He saw a consistent bench role for the rebuilding squad. In 74 games (two starts), he averaged 7.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.9 steals in 18.0 minutes. He showed some encouraging upside as a passer and defender, though he struggled with turnovers. He also struggled with his three-pointer, going 56-for-189 (29.6%). That was expected, as he shot just 18-for-59 (30.5%) during his one season in college. Christopher played in Summer League again this year, averaging 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.4 combined steals-plus-blocks. Those are great counting stats, but he wasn't efficient. He shot just 39.6 percent from the field and 12.5 percent from three. This season, Christopher should remain in a reserve guard role. He'll compete for minutes with Trey Burke, TyTy Washington, Garrison Mathews and Eric Gordon. As a result, he's a deep-league flier or a dynasty/keeper option only. His chances of standard-league relevance are slim.
The Arizona State product was selected by the Rockets with the 24th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He saw a consistent bench role for the rebuilding squad. In 74 games (two starts), he averaged 7.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.9 steals in 18.0 minutes. He showed some encouraging upside as a passer and defender, though he struggled with turnovers. He also struggled with his three-pointer, going 56-for-189 (29.6%). That was expected, as he shot just 18-for-59 (30.5%) during his one season in college. Christopher played in Summer League again this year, averaging 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.4 combined steals-plus-blocks. Those are great counting stats, but he wasn't efficient. He shot just 39.6 percent from the field and 12.5 percent from three. This season, Christopher should remain in a reserve guard role. He'll compete for minutes with Trey Burke, TyTy Washington, Garrison Mathews and Eric Gordon. As a result, he's a deep-league flier or a dynasty/keeper option only. His chances of standard-league relevance are slim.
Jones has carved out a nice backup role in Memphis behind Ja Morant over the past three seasons. Last year, he ranked 216th in per-game fantasy production behind 8.7 points on 45/39/82 shooting, 4.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 0.9 steals. He's proven to be a nice deep-league option given his assists and steals upside when Morant misses time. Per 36 minutes across the past three seasons, he's averaged 7.8 dimes and 1.7 swipes. The Grizzlies furthered their commitment to Jones this summer, inking him to a two-year, $30 million contract, so fantasy managers should have no doubt that the point guard will remain in this role. In those deep leagues and best ball formats, he's a great option if you've drafted Morant and want to hedge against an injury.
Jones has carved out a nice backup role in Memphis behind Ja Morant over the past three seasons. Last year, he ranked 216th in per-game fantasy production behind 8.7 points on 45/39/82 shooting, 4.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 0.9 steals. He's proven to be a nice deep-league option given his assists and steals upside when Morant misses time. Per 36 minutes across the past three seasons, he's averaged 7.8 dimes and 1.7 swipes. The Grizzlies furthered their commitment to Jones this summer, inking him to a two-year, $30 million contract, so fantasy managers should have no doubt that the point guard will remain in this role. In those deep leagues and best ball formats, he's a great option if you've drafted Morant and want to hedge against an injury.
For the first time since his sophomore year in the NBA, Love appeared off the bench more than he started in 2021-22. The Cavaliers drafted Evan Mobley in the 2021 Draft, pushing Love to a reserve role, while Mobley and Jarrett Allen started in the frontcourt, and Lauri Markkanen got the nod at small forward. However, it was still a successful year for Love, who placed second in Sixth Man of the Year voting behind the Heat's Tyler Herro. Love tallied 22.5 minutes per game and averaged 13.6 points on 43/39/84 shooting, 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists. Notably, he played 74 games -- his first time appearing in more than 60 since 2015-16. Love also ranked 127th in per-game fantasy production, making him viable as a bench piece in standard leagues. Not much should change for the 34-year-old this season, though he remains an injury risk -- something that will only increase with age. Also, considering his severely reduced role and best-case scenario outcome last season, it makes sense for Love to go undrafted in many standard formats. There are plenty of players with higher upside. Even managers in deep leagues have reason to pause with late picks.
For the first time since his sophomore year in the NBA, Love appeared off the bench more than he started in 2021-22. The Cavaliers drafted Evan Mobley in the 2021 Draft, pushing Love to a reserve role, while Mobley and Jarrett Allen started in the frontcourt, and Lauri Markkanen got the nod at small forward. However, it was still a successful year for Love, who placed second in Sixth Man of the Year voting behind the Heat's Tyler Herro. Love tallied 22.5 minutes per game and averaged 13.6 points on 43/39/84 shooting, 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists. Notably, he played 74 games -- his first time appearing in more than 60 since 2015-16. Love also ranked 127th in per-game fantasy production, making him viable as a bench piece in standard leagues. Not much should change for the 34-year-old this season, though he remains an injury risk -- something that will only increase with age. Also, considering his severely reduced role and best-case scenario outcome last season, it makes sense for Love to go undrafted in many standard formats. There are plenty of players with higher upside. Even managers in deep leagues have reason to pause with late picks.
Houston selected Eason, a standout forward at LSU last year who started his collegiate career at Cincinnati, with the 17th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-8 rookie showed a unique mixture of perimeter skill (35.9 percent from three) and strength (5.7 free-throw attempts per game) on offense while also being a stalwart defender during his sophomore campaign. In his only season in the SEC, he averaged 16.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.1 blocks. Despite being drafted outside of the lottery, Eason made his presence felt during the Rockets' first Summer League contest, outplaying No. 3 overall pick Jabari Smith. Eason finished Summer League with averages of 17.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 1.6 assists and 1.0 blocks across five games, and the same things he excelled at in college (ability to space the floor and defensive energy) translated to the NBA level, though the regular season will provide a more difficult test. The former Tiger figures to compete with Jae'Sean Tate, who recently re-signed with Houston via a three-year, $22.1 million deal, for the top backup forward spot behind the aforementioned Smith.
Houston selected Eason, a standout forward at LSU last year who started his collegiate career at Cincinnati, with the 17th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-8 rookie showed a unique mixture of perimeter skill (35.9 percent from three) and strength (5.7 free-throw attempts per game) on offense while also being a stalwart defender during his sophomore campaign. In his only season in the SEC, he averaged 16.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.1 blocks. Despite being drafted outside of the lottery, Eason made his presence felt during the Rockets' first Summer League contest, outplaying No. 3 overall pick Jabari Smith. Eason finished Summer League with averages of 17.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 1.6 assists and 1.0 blocks across five games, and the same things he excelled at in college (ability to space the floor and defensive energy) translated to the NBA level, though the regular season will provide a more difficult test. The former Tiger figures to compete with Jae'Sean Tate, who recently re-signed with Houston via a three-year, $22.1 million deal, for the top backup forward spot behind the aforementioned Smith.
Hayes' second season was just as much of a mixed bag as his first, though he did make some meaningful improvements. What we know for sure is that he has talent as a passer and defender - 6.1 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.8 blocks per 36 minutes. But his inefficiency as a scorer is hurting his ability to fully develop as a playmaker, and it keeps him off the court when his defense could be of use more often. Hayes' shooting splits of 38/26/77 resulted in just 0.93 points per shot attempt - in the 12th percentile for point guards. It's especially concerning that his three-ball won't fall since they're nearly all catch-and-shoot looks, with 93 percent of his threes being assisted. One positive note in regards to his offense, however, is his improvement as a finisher around the basket. As a percentage of his overall attempts, he took seven percent more shots at the rim, and he converted those at a 61 percent clip - a massive improvement from his 39 percent as a rookie. He also maintained proficiency from floater range, hitting 40 percent of his 133 attempts from between 4-14 feet. Plus, he drew more shooting fouls, taking 1.6 free throws per 36 minutes compared to his rookie mark of 0.9. That rate is still extremely low, but we shouldn't gloss over progress. Hayes is still quite young (hardly 21 years old), but he needs to start making progress fast. The Pistons drafted Jaden Ivey - another guard - with the No. 5 overall pick. And while developing Hayes still has organizational importance, there will still likely be pressure to also play Cory Joseph, Alec Burks, Rodney McGruder and Hamidou Diallo. It's risky to draft Hayes in standard leagues. He ranked 190th in per-game production last season. If you're a believer and need some extra assists and steals, it's justifiable with a final pick. But at this point, Hayes still remains a better option for deeper leagues and keeper/dynasty formats.
Hayes' second season was just as much of a mixed bag as his first, though he did make some meaningful improvements. What we know for sure is that he has talent as a passer and defender - 6.1 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.8 blocks per 36 minutes. But his inefficiency as a scorer is hurting his ability to fully develop as a playmaker, and it keeps him off the court when his defense could be of use more often. Hayes' shooting splits of 38/26/77 resulted in just 0.93 points per shot attempt - in the 12th percentile for point guards. It's especially concerning that his three-ball won't fall since they're nearly all catch-and-shoot looks, with 93 percent of his threes being assisted. One positive note in regards to his offense, however, is his improvement as a finisher around the basket. As a percentage of his overall attempts, he took seven percent more shots at the rim, and he converted those at a 61 percent clip - a massive improvement from his 39 percent as a rookie. He also maintained proficiency from floater range, hitting 40 percent of his 133 attempts from between 4-14 feet. Plus, he drew more shooting fouls, taking 1.6 free throws per 36 minutes compared to his rookie mark of 0.9. That rate is still extremely low, but we shouldn't gloss over progress. Hayes is still quite young (hardly 21 years old), but he needs to start making progress fast. The Pistons drafted Jaden Ivey - another guard - with the No. 5 overall pick. And while developing Hayes still has organizational importance, there will still likely be pressure to also play Cory Joseph, Alec Burks, Rodney McGruder and Hamidou Diallo. It's risky to draft Hayes in standard leagues. He ranked 190th in per-game production last season. If you're a believer and need some extra assists and steals, it's justifiable with a final pick. But at this point, Hayes still remains a better option for deeper leagues and keeper/dynasty formats.
Nesmith was a non-factor during the 2021-22 season, but after being traded to Indiana, he could see a more consistent role coming his way. The Pacers are entering a rebuild and so the coaching staff are likely to experiment with their rotations throughout the season. Thus far in his career, Nesmith hasn't sniffed fantasy relevancy. While he will get an opportunity to impress this season, it is still hard to see him being anything more than a very, very deep consideration.
Nesmith was a non-factor during the 2021-22 season, but after being traded to Indiana, he could see a more consistent role coming his way. The Pacers are entering a rebuild and so the coaching staff are likely to experiment with their rotations throughout the season. Thus far in his career, Nesmith hasn't sniffed fantasy relevancy. While he will get an opportunity to impress this season, it is still hard to see him being anything more than a very, very deep consideration.
Bogdanovic started the 2021-22 season as a starter but eventually ended as a bench piece, playing 36 of his 63 regular-season contests and his six playoff appearances with the second unit. Regardless of the role, Bogdanovic had another strong season. The veteran averaged 15.1 points per game, making it the third year in a row in which he averaged at least 15 points per game while adding 4.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists per tilt. Efficiency has always been one of Bogdanovic's calling cards, but he took a step back since he shot 43.1 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from three-point range in 2021-22. While those are not awful numbers, they were his lowest shooting percentages of the past three seasons. Bogdanovic should still hold a sizable role off the bench for the Hawks in 2022-23, providing that he can fully recover from his kneecap injury, and it would be wise to expect him in a steady bench role now that the backcourt duo will be Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. Bogdanovic could be a decent late-round pick in 12-team or 14-team leagues, but he could also be seen as a solid streaming option in shallower formats.
Bogdanovic started the 2021-22 season as a starter but eventually ended as a bench piece, playing 36 of his 63 regular-season contests and his six playoff appearances with the second unit. Regardless of the role, Bogdanovic had another strong season. The veteran averaged 15.1 points per game, making it the third year in a row in which he averaged at least 15 points per game while adding 4.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists per tilt. Efficiency has always been one of Bogdanovic's calling cards, but he took a step back since he shot 43.1 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from three-point range in 2021-22. While those are not awful numbers, they were his lowest shooting percentages of the past three seasons. Bogdanovic should still hold a sizable role off the bench for the Hawks in 2022-23, providing that he can fully recover from his kneecap injury, and it would be wise to expect him in a steady bench role now that the backcourt duo will be Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. Bogdanovic could be a decent late-round pick in 12-team or 14-team leagues, but he could also be seen as a solid streaming option in shallower formats.
Powell finds himself in a crowded Los Angeles wing rotation. Operating as a part-time ball-handler will help, but the rotation still goes 10-deep. He's connected on 41.0 percent of his triples across the last three seasons while averaging 17.9 points per game. When healthy, he's a quality source of efficient, multi-level scoring. Powell suffered a foot fracture just three games into his Clippers' tenure but has showcased his ability to get buckets in both Toronto and Portland. Powell's style sometimes results in disappearances from the rest of the box score, but he's a good fit in Los Angeles. Injuries or load management for Clippers stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George is always on the table, which adds the potential for additional value to Powell's fantasy case.
Powell finds himself in a crowded Los Angeles wing rotation. Operating as a part-time ball-handler will help, but the rotation still goes 10-deep. He's connected on 41.0 percent of his triples across the last three seasons while averaging 17.9 points per game. When healthy, he's a quality source of efficient, multi-level scoring. Powell suffered a foot fracture just three games into his Clippers' tenure but has showcased his ability to get buckets in both Toronto and Portland. Powell's style sometimes results in disappearances from the rest of the box score, but he's a good fit in Los Angeles. Injuries or load management for Clippers stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George is always on the table, which adds the potential for additional value to Powell's fantasy case.
Jackson has the skillset to be an elite fantasy option. No, he's not a great rebounder for his size, never averaging more than 5.8 rebounds per game for his career. However, he provides an excellent mix of three-point shooting and defensive stats. Last season, he averaged 1.6 three-pointers, 0.9 steals and 2.3 blocks across 27 minutes per game. A deep Grizzlies roster and foul trouble often limited his playing time, but if he was ever unleashed for more than 30 minutes per game, the sky is the limit. Unfortunately for Jackson, he suffered a stress reaction in his right foot that required surgery. He had the procedure at the end of June, and the timetable for his return was 4-to-6 months. That means we might not see Jackson again until January. As previously mentioned, the Grizzlies have the depth to cover his loss, specifically with Brandon Clarke likely to step into an expanded role. That means when Jackson does eventually return, the Grizzlies can be cautious with him, slowly ramping up his minutes and potentially sitting him out of one half of back-to-back sets. While Jackson might be worth a late-round pick in leagues that have IR spots, it's difficult to justify selecting him any earlier than that.
Jackson has the skillset to be an elite fantasy option. No, he's not a great rebounder for his size, never averaging more than 5.8 rebounds per game for his career. However, he provides an excellent mix of three-point shooting and defensive stats. Last season, he averaged 1.6 three-pointers, 0.9 steals and 2.3 blocks across 27 minutes per game. A deep Grizzlies roster and foul trouble often limited his playing time, but if he was ever unleashed for more than 30 minutes per game, the sky is the limit. Unfortunately for Jackson, he suffered a stress reaction in his right foot that required surgery. He had the procedure at the end of June, and the timetable for his return was 4-to-6 months. That means we might not see Jackson again until January. As previously mentioned, the Grizzlies have the depth to cover his loss, specifically with Brandon Clarke likely to step into an expanded role. That means when Jackson does eventually return, the Grizzlies can be cautious with him, slowly ramping up his minutes and potentially sitting him out of one half of back-to-back sets. While Jackson might be worth a late-round pick in leagues that have IR spots, it's difficult to justify selecting him any earlier than that.
Gafford spent most of last season as Washington's starting center. The Arkansas product got the nod in his first 45 appearances but wasn't logging true starter's minutes, garnering just 21.2 per game. He averaged 9.2 points on 68.6 percent shooting, 6.1 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.0 assists in those first 45 games. Once Thomas Bryant was fully healthy and the Wizards traded for Kristaps Porzingis - both occurring in February - Gafford mostly appeared off the bench. His workload only saw a slight decline, as he played 18.2 minutes per game in his final 27 appearances. A similar situation should unfold this season. Kristaps Porzingis figures to start at center, leaving Gafford backup minutes at the five. Porzingis can also play power forward, so the two may spend some time on the court together. Ultimately, Gafford is unlikely to hold relevance in standard leagues, as he ranked 154th in per-game fantasy production last season. However, there's still some upside for Gafford if Porzingis gets injured, and he frequently does, so managers in deep leagues (especially best ball) can take a chance on him if he draws a decent number of starts.
Gafford spent most of last season as Washington's starting center. The Arkansas product got the nod in his first 45 appearances but wasn't logging true starter's minutes, garnering just 21.2 per game. He averaged 9.2 points on 68.6 percent shooting, 6.1 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.0 assists in those first 45 games. Once Thomas Bryant was fully healthy and the Wizards traded for Kristaps Porzingis - both occurring in February - Gafford mostly appeared off the bench. His workload only saw a slight decline, as he played 18.2 minutes per game in his final 27 appearances. A similar situation should unfold this season. Kristaps Porzingis figures to start at center, leaving Gafford backup minutes at the five. Porzingis can also play power forward, so the two may spend some time on the court together. Ultimately, Gafford is unlikely to hold relevance in standard leagues, as he ranked 154th in per-game fantasy production last season. However, there's still some upside for Gafford if Porzingis gets injured, and he frequently does, so managers in deep leagues (especially best ball) can take a chance on him if he draws a decent number of starts.
Okeke's delivered a mixed bag in his second season, though he improved his fantasy value compared to his rookie campaign. He ranked 189th in per-game value as a rookie and upped that to 132nd last year. Okeke's workload remained nearly the same (25.0 MPG), but he transitioned more into a catch-and-shoot, off-ball role. In his first year, 42 percent of his shots were threes, which increased to 61 percent in 2021-22. He also went from unassisted baskets at a 36 percent rate to just 23 percent. And even though his efficiency from the field (37.6 percent on all shots and 31.8 percent on threes) was poor, he increased his free-throw percentage to a quality 84.6 percent, so his true shooting percentage (50.1) wasn't affected too much. Still, the free-throw shooting could be considered a small sample, as he attempted just 65 last season. Okeke's defense guided his improved fantasy value. He averaged 1.4 steals and 0.6 blocks per game in addition to his 8.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists. That's encouraging, but Okeke will need to become a serviceable three-point shooter to find a consistent role with the Magic. The team simply has too many other options at forward at this point. Okeke will compete for minutes with Mo Bamba, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jonathan Isaac and Terrence Ross. Fantasy managers in keeper/dynasty leagues don't have to panic yet, but managers drafting in standard leagues can probably find greater upside elsewhere.
Okeke's delivered a mixed bag in his second season, though he improved his fantasy value compared to his rookie campaign. He ranked 189th in per-game value as a rookie and upped that to 132nd last year. Okeke's workload remained nearly the same (25.0 MPG), but he transitioned more into a catch-and-shoot, off-ball role. In his first year, 42 percent of his shots were threes, which increased to 61 percent in 2021-22. He also went from unassisted baskets at a 36 percent rate to just 23 percent. And even though his efficiency from the field (37.6 percent on all shots and 31.8 percent on threes) was poor, he increased his free-throw percentage to a quality 84.6 percent, so his true shooting percentage (50.1) wasn't affected too much. Still, the free-throw shooting could be considered a small sample, as he attempted just 65 last season. Okeke's defense guided his improved fantasy value. He averaged 1.4 steals and 0.6 blocks per game in addition to his 8.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists. That's encouraging, but Okeke will need to become a serviceable three-point shooter to find a consistent role with the Magic. The team simply has too many other options at forward at this point. Okeke will compete for minutes with Mo Bamba, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jonathan Isaac and Terrence Ross. Fantasy managers in keeper/dynasty leagues don't have to panic yet, but managers drafting in standard leagues can probably find greater upside elsewhere.
Holmes started most of last season, though he appeared in just 45 games due to various absences. However, he was moved into a bench role once Sacramento traded for Domantas Sabonis. That tanked Holmes' minutes and fantasy value. During his final eight appearances (all off the bench), he averaged 3.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.4 minutes. That situation should repeat itself this season. Sabonis is entrenched as the starting center, and the two likely won't spend much, if any, time on the court together. There's also some competition for backup center minutes between Holmes, Alex Len and Chimezie Metu, though Holmes should have the inside track. Holmes ranked 138th in per-game fantasy value in 23.9 minutes per game last season, and since he'll have a tough time finding that workload this year, he can probably be ignored in standard leagues. There's deep-league upside if Sabonis gets injured, especially since Holmes' numbers have historically translated well to fantasy production.
Holmes started most of last season, though he appeared in just 45 games due to various absences. However, he was moved into a bench role once Sacramento traded for Domantas Sabonis. That tanked Holmes' minutes and fantasy value. During his final eight appearances (all off the bench), he averaged 3.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.4 minutes. That situation should repeat itself this season. Sabonis is entrenched as the starting center, and the two likely won't spend much, if any, time on the court together. There's also some competition for backup center minutes between Holmes, Alex Len and Chimezie Metu, though Holmes should have the inside track. Holmes ranked 138th in per-game fantasy value in 23.9 minutes per game last season, and since he'll have a tough time finding that workload this year, he can probably be ignored in standard leagues. There's deep-league upside if Sabonis gets injured, especially since Holmes' numbers have historically translated well to fantasy production.
Anderson will be on a new team, the Timberwolves, this season after spending the past four with the Grizzlies. His workload fluctuated heavily throughout his time in Memphis, but this past year, he averaged 7.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.8 combined steals-plus-blocks in 21.5 minutes. Aptly nicknamed "Slo Mo", the UCLA product is a pacing, methodical, ground-bound forward, but he has a high basketball IQ and passes well. Despite a weak three-point shot (33.8 percent across the past three seasons on 2.2 attempts), Anderson's managed to thrive in floater range. An extremely-high 36 percent of his shots came from 4-14 feet, and he converted at a solid 43 percent last year. Sound defense also keeps Anderson relevant in fantasy. He averages 2.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per 36 minutes for his career. All things considered, he ranked 182nd in per-game fantasy production last season, though he ranked 78th in 27.3 minutes during 2020-21, and he ranked 90th in 26.7 minutes in 2017-18, so he holds standard-league upside when presented with sixth-man minutes. He appears positioned to handle that sort of role in Minnesota but will compete for minutes at forward, primarily with Jaden McDaniels and Taurean Prince. Anderson is also capable of playing shooting guard or small-ball center in certain lineup combinations, so he figures to possess a high minutes floor. He's risky given the unclear workload, but the potential for a top-100 season is there, and he should be a staple in deep league drafts.
Anderson will be on a new team, the Timberwolves, this season after spending the past four with the Grizzlies. His workload fluctuated heavily throughout his time in Memphis, but this past year, he averaged 7.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.8 combined steals-plus-blocks in 21.5 minutes. Aptly nicknamed "Slo Mo", the UCLA product is a pacing, methodical, ground-bound forward, but he has a high basketball IQ and passes well. Despite a weak three-point shot (33.8 percent across the past three seasons on 2.2 attempts), Anderson's managed to thrive in floater range. An extremely-high 36 percent of his shots came from 4-14 feet, and he converted at a solid 43 percent last year. Sound defense also keeps Anderson relevant in fantasy. He averages 2.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per 36 minutes for his career. All things considered, he ranked 182nd in per-game fantasy production last season, though he ranked 78th in 27.3 minutes during 2020-21, and he ranked 90th in 26.7 minutes in 2017-18, so he holds standard-league upside when presented with sixth-man minutes. He appears positioned to handle that sort of role in Minnesota but will compete for minutes at forward, primarily with Jaden McDaniels and Taurean Prince. Anderson is also capable of playing shooting guard or small-ball center in certain lineup combinations, so he figures to possess a high minutes floor. He's risky given the unclear workload, but the potential for a top-100 season is there, and he should be a staple in deep league drafts.
With Jaren Jackson set to miss at least a couple of months due to injury, Aldama should be able to step into a slightly increased role. His rookie season provided a few highlights but nothing to get too excited about. Given the limited sample size, managers should simply adopt a wait-and-see approach to open the season. Despite Jackson being sidelined, Aldama will still have to contend with Brandon Clarke, Steven Adams and Xavier Tillman, all of whom are probably ahead of him in the rotation.
With Jaren Jackson set to miss at least a couple of months due to injury, Aldama should be able to step into a slightly increased role. His rookie season provided a few highlights but nothing to get too excited about. Given the limited sample size, managers should simply adopt a wait-and-see approach to open the season. Despite Jackson being sidelined, Aldama will still have to contend with Brandon Clarke, Steven Adams and Xavier Tillman, all of whom are probably ahead of him in the rotation.
After his rookie season, the Heat dealt Achiuwa to the Raptors the following summer in the deal that sent Kyle Lowry to South Beach. Achiuwa saw more action in Toronto, garnering 28 starts in 73 games as the team contended with frontcourt injuries. Across his 23.6 minutes per game, the Memphis product averaged 9.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 combined blocks-plus-steals. The soon-to-be 23-year-old added a three-pointer to his arsenal, though it didn't result in more efficiency. His true shooting percentage fell to a rough 50.3 percent (especially bad for bigs), as he slashed 44/36/60 with 0.8 three-point makes per game. The variety will help keep the undersized 6-foot-8 center on the court in more lineup combinations, but his struggles shooting at the rim (59%, in the 13th percentile for bigs) need to be addressed. While it's encouraging that he was asked to do more last season than he did as a rookie, the results shouldn't give fantasy managers confidence that the Raptors view him as a valuable rotation piece. He'll still be in the fold, but he'll compete for backup frontcourt minutes with Khem Birch, Chris Boucher, Thaddeus Young, Otto Porter and Juancho Hernangomez. It's nearly a guarantee that Achiuwa will see fewer minutes this season under the assumption the team is healthier. As a result, Achiuwa can be ignored in standard fantasy drafts, and he doesn't present much upside for deep leagues, either. As it stands, he's mostly just a dynasty/keeper league flier.
After his rookie season, the Heat dealt Achiuwa to the Raptors the following summer in the deal that sent Kyle Lowry to South Beach. Achiuwa saw more action in Toronto, garnering 28 starts in 73 games as the team contended with frontcourt injuries. Across his 23.6 minutes per game, the Memphis product averaged 9.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 combined blocks-plus-steals. The soon-to-be 23-year-old added a three-pointer to his arsenal, though it didn't result in more efficiency. His true shooting percentage fell to a rough 50.3 percent (especially bad for bigs), as he slashed 44/36/60 with 0.8 three-point makes per game. The variety will help keep the undersized 6-foot-8 center on the court in more lineup combinations, but his struggles shooting at the rim (59%, in the 13th percentile for bigs) need to be addressed. While it's encouraging that he was asked to do more last season than he did as a rookie, the results shouldn't give fantasy managers confidence that the Raptors view him as a valuable rotation piece. He'll still be in the fold, but he'll compete for backup frontcourt minutes with Khem Birch, Chris Boucher, Thaddeus Young, Otto Porter and Juancho Hernangomez. It's nearly a guarantee that Achiuwa will see fewer minutes this season under the assumption the team is healthier. As a result, Achiuwa can be ignored in standard fantasy drafts, and he doesn't present much upside for deep leagues, either. As it stands, he's mostly just a dynasty/keeper league flier.
Despite playing just 17.9 minutes per game with the Clippers last season, Hartenstein was a fringe standard league option at center - a position of scarcity. His numbers excellently translate to fantasy, and he ranked 148th in per-game production behind 8.3 points on 62.6 percent shooting, 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.8 combined blocks-plus-steals. The 24-year-old big man also shot an acceptable 68.9 percent from the charity stripe on 1.9 attempts per game. He signed a contract with the Knicks this season, where he'll presumably claim the backup job behind Mitchell Robinson. That said, Robinson has never played more than 27.5 minutes per game in a season, so he and Hartenstein may end up more in a time split. If Hartenstein continues having a similar usage level as he did on the Clippers, he could fall in fantasy sleeper territory this season. When seeing minutes in the 20s last year, the center averaged 11.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.3 combined blocks-plus-steals - sizable numbers that would certainly hold standard-league relevance. Managers in standard leagues may have an opportunity to grab him off the waiver wire at some point, but he should be a staple as a draft-day flier in deeper leagues and best ball formats.
Despite playing just 17.9 minutes per game with the Clippers last season, Hartenstein was a fringe standard league option at center - a position of scarcity. His numbers excellently translate to fantasy, and he ranked 148th in per-game production behind 8.3 points on 62.6 percent shooting, 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.8 combined blocks-plus-steals. The 24-year-old big man also shot an acceptable 68.9 percent from the charity stripe on 1.9 attempts per game. He signed a contract with the Knicks this season, where he'll presumably claim the backup job behind Mitchell Robinson. That said, Robinson has never played more than 27.5 minutes per game in a season, so he and Hartenstein may end up more in a time split. If Hartenstein continues having a similar usage level as he did on the Clippers, he could fall in fantasy sleeper territory this season. When seeing minutes in the 20s last year, the center averaged 11.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.3 combined blocks-plus-steals - sizable numbers that would certainly hold standard-league relevance. Managers in standard leagues may have an opportunity to grab him off the waiver wire at some point, but he should be a staple as a draft-day flier in deeper leagues and best ball formats.
Avdija slotted in as a key bench piece for the Wizards for a second straight season in 2021-22 and saw a slight expansion of his playing time to 24.2 minutes per contest. He also increased his shot volume and efficiency across the board. Avdija's most notable jump in efficiency came at the free-throw line, where he knocked down his shots at a 75.7 percent clip compared to just 64.4 percent as a rookie. That improvement, combined with an increase from 0.8 to 1.7 free-throw attempts per contest, aided his bump from 6.3 points per game as a rookie in 2020-21 to 8.4 per game last year. That said, except for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Wizards return all of their biggest contributors from last season and added Johnny Davis with the 10th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Avdija presents fairly vanilla production across the board but shouldn't hurt managers in any particular area. Still, his mediocre production likely makes him a viable fantasy option primarily in deeper formats.
Avdija slotted in as a key bench piece for the Wizards for a second straight season in 2021-22 and saw a slight expansion of his playing time to 24.2 minutes per contest. He also increased his shot volume and efficiency across the board. Avdija's most notable jump in efficiency came at the free-throw line, where he knocked down his shots at a 75.7 percent clip compared to just 64.4 percent as a rookie. That improvement, combined with an increase from 0.8 to 1.7 free-throw attempts per contest, aided his bump from 6.3 points per game as a rookie in 2020-21 to 8.4 per game last year. That said, except for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Wizards return all of their biggest contributors from last season and added Johnny Davis with the 10th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Avdija presents fairly vanilla production across the board but shouldn't hurt managers in any particular area. Still, his mediocre production likely makes him a viable fantasy option primarily in deeper formats.
Porter spent most of the 2021-22 season appearing off the bench for the Warriors, averaging 22.2 minutes per game en route to 8.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per contest. He remained strong on defense, finishing with his second-best steals per 36 mark (1.01) of his career. Having moved north of the border this offseason, Porter seems most likely destined for a bench role for the Raptors, though he could be in line for more minutes. Porter was a valuable option as a scoring threat from beyond the arc for Golden State last year, knocking down 37.0 percent of his attempts from deep, where he connects on north of 40 percent for his career. That trait should earn him sizable minutes on a Toronto squad that ranked 23rd in the NBA (34.5 percent) from three last season, especially when compared to a Warriors team that sported to star scoring threats from deep in Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Porter doesn't stand out in any particular area from a fantasy perspective, but his well-rounded profile should grant him utility in some league formats.
Porter spent most of the 2021-22 season appearing off the bench for the Warriors, averaging 22.2 minutes per game en route to 8.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per contest. He remained strong on defense, finishing with his second-best steals per 36 mark (1.01) of his career. Having moved north of the border this offseason, Porter seems most likely destined for a bench role for the Raptors, though he could be in line for more minutes. Porter was a valuable option as a scoring threat from beyond the arc for Golden State last year, knocking down 37.0 percent of his attempts from deep, where he connects on north of 40 percent for his career. That trait should earn him sizable minutes on a Toronto squad that ranked 23rd in the NBA (34.5 percent) from three last season, especially when compared to a Warriors team that sported to star scoring threats from deep in Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Porter doesn't stand out in any particular area from a fantasy perspective, but his well-rounded profile should grant him utility in some league formats.
Martin remained in a reserve frontcourt role for the Rockets last season. He's undersized (6-foot-6, 215 pounds) but often plays a big-man role. He took 57 percent of his shots at the rim last year -- in the 96th percentile for players classified as forwards. He converted well (66 percent) from that range and shot well on threes, hitting 0.8 per game on 35.7 percent. That resulted in 8.8 points in his 21.0 minutes per game, and he added 3.8 rebounds (1.0 offensive), 1.3 assists and 0.9 combined blocks-plus-steals. That resulted in a fantasy rank of 293rd on a per-game basis. This season, Martin may have trouble reaching that workload. Alperen Sengun will start at center, and Jabari Smith will be at power forward. Backup minutes will be up for grabs, and Martin will compete against Jae'Sean Tate, Tari Eason, Willie Cauley-Stein, Boban Marjanovic and others. The tough situation makes it extremely unlikely Martin will be relevant in standard leagues.
Martin remained in a reserve frontcourt role for the Rockets last season. He's undersized (6-foot-6, 215 pounds) but often plays a big-man role. He took 57 percent of his shots at the rim last year -- in the 96th percentile for players classified as forwards. He converted well (66 percent) from that range and shot well on threes, hitting 0.8 per game on 35.7 percent. That resulted in 8.8 points in his 21.0 minutes per game, and he added 3.8 rebounds (1.0 offensive), 1.3 assists and 0.9 combined blocks-plus-steals. That resulted in a fantasy rank of 293rd on a per-game basis. This season, Martin may have trouble reaching that workload. Alperen Sengun will start at center, and Jabari Smith will be at power forward. Backup minutes will be up for grabs, and Martin will compete against Jae'Sean Tate, Tari Eason, Willie Cauley-Stein, Boban Marjanovic and others. The tough situation makes it extremely unlikely Martin will be relevant in standard leagues.
Kuminga put together a couple of nice stretches during his rookie season but was largely irrelevant in fantasy. Saddled with a team that will again be chasing a title, Kuminga may struggle again to play consistent minutes. There may be periods throughout the campaign during which he can be a 12-team asset, likely due to the Warriors managing the minutes for several of their veterans. Over the final three months of the 2021-22 season, Kuminga boosted his scoring to 12.2 points per game on an efficient 53 percent from the floor. Unfortunately, he offered very little else, and rostering a player who only offers upside in one or two categories is next to impossible. While he is another player to throw on your watchlist, especially in deep leagues and dynasty/keeper formats, there will be more appealing targets at the back end of standard drafts.
Kuminga put together a couple of nice stretches during his rookie season but was largely irrelevant in fantasy. Saddled with a team that will again be chasing a title, Kuminga may struggle again to play consistent minutes. There may be periods throughout the campaign during which he can be a 12-team asset, likely due to the Warriors managing the minutes for several of their veterans. Over the final three months of the 2021-22 season, Kuminga boosted his scoring to 12.2 points per game on an efficient 53 percent from the floor. Unfortunately, he offered very little else, and rostering a player who only offers upside in one or two categories is next to impossible. While he is another player to throw on your watchlist, especially in deep leagues and dynasty/keeper formats, there will be more appealing targets at the back end of standard drafts.
Coming off his most successful fantasy season, O'Neale now finds himself in Brooklyn as a member of the Nets. Across 77 games in 2021-22, O'Neale closed as the 134th ranked player in eight-category roto thanks to per-game numbers of 7.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals. While he was technically a viable asset in standard leagues, his lack of upside meant he could frequently be found on waiver wires. He does provide a steady option on the defensive end of the floor, and for that reason, he should be able to carve out a similar role, no matter the final roster configuration. If Keven Durant is moved on, it could open up a few more minutes for O'Neale, although that would depend on who came back in the trade. For now, O'Neale can be safely avoided in competitive drafts, given that his per-36 numbers are so underwhelming.
Coming off his most successful fantasy season, O'Neale now finds himself in Brooklyn as a member of the Nets. Across 77 games in 2021-22, O'Neale closed as the 134th ranked player in eight-category roto thanks to per-game numbers of 7.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals. While he was technically a viable asset in standard leagues, his lack of upside meant he could frequently be found on waiver wires. He does provide a steady option on the defensive end of the floor, and for that reason, he should be able to carve out a similar role, no matter the final roster configuration. If Keven Durant is moved on, it could open up a few more minutes for O'Neale, although that would depend on who came back in the trade. For now, O'Neale can be safely avoided in competitive drafts, given that his per-36 numbers are so underwhelming.
The Jazz are shifting into a rebuild, trading Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell over the summer. As of right now, Conley is the starting point guard, but he's presumably on the trade block as well, and it would be surprising if he was on the team to start the year. As a result, it's hard to project what's in store for the veteran. Last year, he appeared in 72 games and ranked 76th in per-game fantasy production behind 13.7 points, 5.3 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 28.6 minutes.
The Jazz are shifting into a rebuild, trading Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell over the summer. As of right now, Conley is the starting point guard, but he's presumably on the trade block as well, and it would be surprising if he was on the team to start the year. As a result, it's hard to project what's in store for the veteran. Last year, he appeared in 72 games and ranked 76th in per-game fantasy production behind 13.7 points, 5.3 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 28.6 minutes.
Alvarado surprised many last season, carving out a consistent role thanks to his tenacity on the defensive end of the court. In just 15.4 minutes per game during his rookie season, Alvarado averaged an impressive 1.3 steals, bumping that number to 1.8 over the final month. Add to that the fact he put up 4.4 assists per game over that same span, and it's fair to say that he will be a key piece for the Pelicans moving forward. Although he is likely to play fewer than 20 minutes per night, he is undoubtedly going to be a viable streaming option at points throughout the season.
Alvarado surprised many last season, carving out a consistent role thanks to his tenacity on the defensive end of the court. In just 15.4 minutes per game during his rookie season, Alvarado averaged an impressive 1.3 steals, bumping that number to 1.8 over the final month. Add to that the fact he put up 4.4 assists per game over that same span, and it's fair to say that he will be a key piece for the Pelicans moving forward. Although he is likely to play fewer than 20 minutes per night, he is undoubtedly going to be a viable streaming option at points throughout the season.
The Bulls made plenty of splashes prior to last season, including bringing in DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball. To improve their depth, they also signed Caruso away from the Lakers. After never having averaged more than 21 minutes per game with the Lakers, he logged 28 per night with the Bulls. He provided 7.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 three-pointers per game. His ability to defend multiple positions and play aggressive defense made him a vital team member, but he was only able to play in 41 games because of injuries. He's never played in more than 64 games during a season in his career, and his all-out style of play on the defensive end could lead to more injuries down the road. That said, the Bulls need him to have a significant role again this season, especially with Ball still battling a knee injury that forced him to have surgery. The team did sign Goran Dragic, but Caruso will be locked into plenty of minutes either way. For those in search of assists and steals past the middle rounds of the draft, Caruso is someone to pursue.
The Bulls made plenty of splashes prior to last season, including bringing in DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball. To improve their depth, they also signed Caruso away from the Lakers. After never having averaged more than 21 minutes per game with the Lakers, he logged 28 per night with the Bulls. He provided 7.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 three-pointers per game. His ability to defend multiple positions and play aggressive defense made him a vital team member, but he was only able to play in 41 games because of injuries. He's never played in more than 64 games during a season in his career, and his all-out style of play on the defensive end could lead to more injuries down the road. That said, the Bulls need him to have a significant role again this season, especially with Ball still battling a knee injury that forced him to have surgery. The team did sign Goran Dragic, but Caruso will be locked into plenty of minutes either way. For those in search of assists and steals past the middle rounds of the draft, Caruso is someone to pursue.
One of the most promising young wing players in The Association, Dort enjoyed a career year during the 2021-22 season -- his third campaign in the NBA. He averaged 17.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, both career-best numbers, and he supplemented that with 1.7 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.4 blocks per contest. He also posted career-best numbers in field goal percentage (40.4 percent) and free throw percentage (84.3 percent), though the durability remains a concern. He played in 51 games, and while his first two years in the league were during the shortened seasons due to the pandemic, it's worth noting that he hasn't played more than 52 games in any of the three years he's spent in the league so far. Regardless of those concerns, Dort is a solid pickup in most formats since he's widely expected to be one of the top contributors for the Thunder, especially now that Chet Holmgren will miss the entire season due to a foot injury. He could be in line for another strong year worthy of a late-round selection in standard leagues.
One of the most promising young wing players in The Association, Dort enjoyed a career year during the 2021-22 season -- his third campaign in the NBA. He averaged 17.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, both career-best numbers, and he supplemented that with 1.7 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.4 blocks per contest. He also posted career-best numbers in field goal percentage (40.4 percent) and free throw percentage (84.3 percent), though the durability remains a concern. He played in 51 games, and while his first two years in the league were during the shortened seasons due to the pandemic, it's worth noting that he hasn't played more than 52 games in any of the three years he's spent in the league so far. Regardless of those concerns, Dort is a solid pickup in most formats since he's widely expected to be one of the top contributors for the Thunder, especially now that Chet Holmgren will miss the entire season due to a foot injury. He could be in line for another strong year worthy of a late-round selection in standard leagues.
Formerly the No. 7 recruit in his high school class, McDaniels slipped to the 28th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft but displayed some upside. However, his improvements last year were modest, and he regressed as a three-point shooter (1.1 makes per game at 31.7 percent). He averaged 9.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.5 combined blocks-plus-steals in 25.8 minutes. The Washington product remains raw offensively and hasn't succeeded in creating for himself. He'll either need to improve there or as a three-point shooter to make an impact outside of his decent-but-not-great offensive rebounding (1.5 ORB per 36 minutes). For that reason, he often ended up in the corner -- 23 percent of his shots were corner threes -- though he only converted those at a sufficient 36 percent. If he can't make those necessary improvements, the Wolves may turn elsewhere for wing minutes. Adding Rudy Gobert in the offseason will push Karl-Anthony Towns to power forward, eating up minutes at the position. After that, McDaniels must consistently outplay Kyle Anderson and Taurean Prince to maintain his starting small forward spot. Anthony Edwards could also see time as a small forward in certain lineups. Believers in McDaniels could take a gamble on him with a flier in deeper leagues or keeper formats, but he's unlikely to become a meaningful asset in standard leagues. He ranked 188th last season in per-game fantasy production.
Formerly the No. 7 recruit in his high school class, McDaniels slipped to the 28th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft but displayed some upside. However, his improvements last year were modest, and he regressed as a three-point shooter (1.1 makes per game at 31.7 percent). He averaged 9.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.5 combined blocks-plus-steals in 25.8 minutes. The Washington product remains raw offensively and hasn't succeeded in creating for himself. He'll either need to improve there or as a three-point shooter to make an impact outside of his decent-but-not-great offensive rebounding (1.5 ORB per 36 minutes). For that reason, he often ended up in the corner -- 23 percent of his shots were corner threes -- though he only converted those at a sufficient 36 percent. If he can't make those necessary improvements, the Wolves may turn elsewhere for wing minutes. Adding Rudy Gobert in the offseason will push Karl-Anthony Towns to power forward, eating up minutes at the position. After that, McDaniels must consistently outplay Kyle Anderson and Taurean Prince to maintain his starting small forward spot. Anthony Edwards could also see time as a small forward in certain lineups. Believers in McDaniels could take a gamble on him with a flier in deeper leagues or keeper formats, but he's unlikely to become a meaningful asset in standard leagues. He ranked 188th last season in per-game fantasy production.
Coming off his best season to date, Connaughton looks set to resume his role as a glue guy off the Bucks' bench. Having signed a three-year extension, he should slot into the second unit as a steady source of points, threes and steals. Across the 65 games he played in 2021-22, Connaughton put up career-best averages of 9.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 2.2 three-pointers. While the stats certainly don't jump off the page, he carved out a fantasy-relevant role at times, typically when his teammates were sidelined due to injury. It's hard to see him being anything more than a deep league commodity, although managers in shallower formats could consider him as a short-term addition if and when he moves into a temporary starting role.
Coming off his best season to date, Connaughton looks set to resume his role as a glue guy off the Bucks' bench. Having signed a three-year extension, he should slot into the second unit as a steady source of points, threes and steals. Across the 65 games he played in 2021-22, Connaughton put up career-best averages of 9.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 2.2 three-pointers. While the stats certainly don't jump off the page, he carved out a fantasy-relevant role at times, typically when his teammates were sidelined due to injury. It's hard to see him being anything more than a deep league commodity, although managers in shallower formats could consider him as a short-term addition if and when he moves into a temporary starting role.
During his first season in Milwaukee, Allen surprised many, carving out a consistent role on a team with championship aspirations. That said, much of his success came early in the season when the Bucks were battling a couple of injuries to key pieces such as Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez. Allen's production ebbed and flowed throughout the season, ending the campaign as a fringe option in standard fantasy formats. This production was enough to earn him a two-year deal with the Bucks, locking him into a similar role, at least for the foreseeable future. As we have seen in the past, the Bucks are not afraid to rest players in their quest for postseason success, which could again afford Allen some additional playing time. While he may have periods of relevance, it is hard to see him being anything more than an occasional short-term a
