Steve “Dr. A” Alexander is a fantasy basketball pioneer with close to 25 years of service and experience in the industry. He has also covered the NFL, PGA Tour and other sports for various news sites and organizations. When he’s not writing or talking about sports, you can find him at the golf course or in front of a Golden Tee machine.
Dr. A gets you ready for your NBA fantasy leagues
Tiers can help fantasy managers determine exactly when it’s time to take the player they’re looking at. If you’re torn between a shooting guard and a center and the center you’re looking at is a Tier 2 player, while the SG is a Tier 1 player, we’d recommend taking the SG. Players with similar values are grouped in tiers together, so getting the higher-tiered player is the way to go in most cases. Here are our Point Guard Tiers.
These guys are why you want a Top 5 pick in your fantasy draft.
Rock steady first-round players.
We’re all expecting a Trae Young bounce-back and Devin Booker could be a beast.
More on the NBA:
Tier 4 is stacked with talent and they’re all going to be very solid fantasy options this season.
You can’t go wrong with any of these Tier 5 players.
Can you wait for Ja Morant for 25 games? It may be worth it. The Jones bros are going to be quality value for where they’ll be drafted.
Tier 7 will contribute across the board in fantasy, Schroder could run the show all season in Toronto and Thompson could win Rookie of the Year if the stars align.
Deeper league point guards or back-up insurance for your starters.
Dr. A's top 200 rankings for NBA points leagues
In points leagues, poor free throw shooters and high turnover players don't hurt fantasy managers as much as they in other leagues, while players who don't score a lot of points lose some value. Those low scorers can make up for it by doing things by stealing the ball, blocking shots or crashing the boards, but the main difference between category scoring vs. points scoring is that the glaring weaknesses of poor free throw shooters and high turnover guys don't ruin your team.
In a points league, you want guys who are going to score a lot while contributing in other categories. If a player doesn't score a lot, but does other things well, he will generally struggle to be a big contributor in points leagues in most cases.
Players who don't score much rank lower in this format than in others. But every scoring format is different and you have to know yours well. Even if a player doesn't score a ton of points, if your league rewards steals or blocks with 3.0 or more points per steal or block, players who excel there can overcome a low-scoring average.
These rankings below highly ignore statistics that negatively impact players in other formats. Players who turn the ball over or can't make free throws, but score a lot of points nightly, really excel in this format.
Points leagues were built for players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shaquille O'Neal back in the day, throwing their poor free throw shooting and lack of 3-pointers out the window.
Here are our rankings for points-based scoring systems for the 2023-24 NBA season:
Dr. A gets you ready for your NBA fantasy leagues
Here are our 9-cat Fantasy NBA Rankings for the 2023-24 season. Nine categories take into consideration points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, 3-pointers, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and turnovers. These rankings can also be loosely used for other scoring systems.
More on the NBA:
In a points league, poor free throw shooters, like Giannis Antetokounmpo, and high turnover players (most of the high-volume scorers) can be given a boost as those categories don't really matter in that format. And if you play in an 8-cat league, eliminating the turnovers also gives a little more value to those high-volume scorers.
Good luck in your drafts!
'Dr. A' gives you his top NBA sleepers for the season
Believe it or not, the NBA season tips off Oct. 24 with the Lakers at Nuggets and Suns at Warriors on a TNT doubleheader. The season is less than a month away and fantasy draft season is officially upon us.
There are few things better than NBA opening night. Your team’s record is unblemished, there is nothing but hope and excitement in your future and maybe there aren’t a bunch of red crosses littering your roster.
Sleepers in fantasy hoops are becoming a thing of the past as managers have a ton of information at their fingertips. Reaching for guys we like is becoming more prevalent. In any case, here’s my attempt at unearthing some sleepers that may not be on everyone’s hot list.
I’m not sure he qualifies as a sleeper after he blew up in Brooklyn last season. This is not as much of a sleeper alert as it is a note of caution. Bridges averaged 26.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.6 blocks and 2.5 3-pointers in 27 games with Brooklyn last season. But in 56 games with Phoenix he averaged just 17.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 dimes, 1.2 steals, 0.8 blocks and 1.2 triples. He’s determined to play all 82 games again, and he’ll build on the confidence he gained last year and continue to dominate in Brooklyn.
However, Kevin Durant was hurt for a big chunk of his run, I’m not really sure Bridges can score more than he did last year, and his steals aren’t anything to write home about. I love his game, and while I’m hoping to draft him heavily this season there is a chance that he’s going to go earlier than he should. In fact, he ranked at No. 27 in eight-cat for his time in Brooklyn last season. The point is that taking him in Round 2 is a definite reach and after some lengthy discussion and more thought, I’m not going to grab him until Round 3.
Harden’s a tricky one after he blasted Daryl Morey this summer and said he won’t play another game for the 76ers. The rant cost him $100,000 and it doesn’t sound like the Sixers have much interest in moving him to another team.
Is Harden going to cave and play, or sit out and force Morey’s hand again? The good news is that probably means you can get Harden late in Round 2 or even in Round 3.. And despite his advanced age (34) Harden was still the No. 17 player in eight-cat last year.
If you can get a guy like Harden in Round 3 of your draft he has some serious steal/sleeper potential and while he probably will also be in a future Risk vs. Reward column that I’ll write, he’s going to be a very tough call on draft night. For me, there are just too many question marks to take a gamble on him. But if you like to gamble and want to get a potential first-round player in the third, it makes sense to take a flier on him.
Cunningham played in just 12 games in his rookie season, averaging 19.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks before being shut down and having surgery on his left shin. He should be fully healthy entering the season and while he’ll play for the lowly Pistons, they’re going to build around him and have him be the focal point of the offense.
Going all in on a guy who has played 12 NBA games in the third round is another risk vs. reward call but Cunningham has the potential to be a Top 30 player if he can stay healthy. And if he replicates or builds on last season’s small sample size of stats, he could even be Top 20. I think he’s worth a third-round fantasy pick and even better if you can get him in Round 4. Either way, he’s all upside and should be primed for a big season if he can stay healthy.
Anunoby isn’t flashy and doesn’t appear in the TV highlights all that often but he quietly returned Top 30 fantasy value last season and may be available in the fourth or fifth rounds of drafts this year. He’s only 26 years old, averaged 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.7 blocks and 2.1 3-pointers for the Raptors last season. He won’t hurt you anywhere (career-high 83.8% from the line last season), is an elite stealer of the ball and one of the more underrated players in the league. Add in the fact that Fred VanVleet is now in Houston and Anunoby will probably be asked to do more offensively this season and you’ve probably got a very nice sleeper option in Round 5 of your draft.
The 22-year-old Wagner took a nice step in year two by averaging 18.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.6 3-pointers with solid shooting percentages, returning ninth-round fantasy value. His lack of blocks hurts him a little but you’re not necessarily looking for them from a wing player in Orlando. He jumps up to Top 90 value if you throw out blocks and he played in 80 games for the Magic last season. The Magic are not going to be a great team and Wagner should lead the offense. If he takes another leap forward in year three (he should) he could easily be a Top 50 player and he will be available in Round 6 in many fantasy drafts. He’ll need to bump up his scoring, rebounds and assists to make it happen but all the tools are there and if nothing else, he’ll be a safe mid-round pick either way.
With all the Harden drama in Philly Maxey’s got a chance to be special this season, especially if Harden doesn’t play. Even with Harden around for part of the time last season Maxey was an early fifth-round value and he wasn’t taken until Round 6 in the industry mock I wrote about earlier. I don’t see how he’s worse than a fifth-round value this year and if you can get him in Round 6 or 7, you’ve got a potential steal on your hands. And if Harden is MIA for most of the season, the sky’s the limit on Maxey. The 22-year-old played in 60 games and averaged 20.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.8 steals and 2.7 3-pointers last year and needs to boost those dimes and steals to enter elite territory.
Vassell was a sixth-round value last season and is just 23 years old. He averaged 18.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.7 3-pointers but played in just 38 games due to a left knee injury that required surgery. It sounds like Keldon Johnson could be moved to the bench and Vassell could have an even bigger role this season, despite the addition of Victor Wembanyama to the Spurs. Vassell’s game is very fantasy friendly and if he can stay healthy, he could take a big step forward this season. And he should be available in Round 6 or 7 of most drafts. But staying healthy will be the key to his success or failure.
Johnson came on in his 25 games in Brooklyn, averaging 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.3 3-pointers while shooting it well from everywhere. He was helped by Kevin Durant’s injury woes last season and Durant is now in Phoenix, clearing the way for a full CJ breakout. He’s nothing but upside and could even challenge Mikal Bridges to lead the team in scoring. Round 6 or 7 sounds about right for Johnson.
Marcus Smart is in Memphis and White should be the team’s starting point guard this season. He lit the league up for 19.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.7 blocks and 28 3-pointers in 11 March games last season and should be a fun fantasy point guard to roster this season. Especially if he can play like he did last March for most of the season. He’s a solid sixth-round fantasy target.
Jones has been trapped behind Ja Morant in Memphis for the last four seasons but will be given the keys to the Wizards’ offense this year. Yeah, he’ll have to fight Jordan Poole off to keep the ball in his hands, but Jones looks like a near lock as a breakout candidate with his new starting role for the Wiz. I’m drafting him everywhere I can.
Bridges missed last season with legal woes but is back and should be one of LaMelo Ball’s preferred passing destinations this year. Bridges broke out in 2021-22 when he played 80 games and averaged 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.8 dimes, 0.9 steals, 0.8 blocks and 1.9 3-pointers. He’s going to be trying to make up for lost time and is a great complement to LaMelo, making him a very intriguing sleeper pick. He was a third-round fantasy value in that season, and he was taken in Round 7 in the mock draft I keep referring to. If you can handle drafting a guy who’s gone through the things Bridges has over the last two years, he could pay off in a huge way. In fact, I don’t see how he returns less than third-round value again this season.
Ja Morant (suspension) is out for the first 25 games and Smart can get things done on both ends of the court. There are several sleeper point guards available in the middle rounds of drafts this season and Smart is one of them. And even when Morant is ready to play, Smart can play minutes at shooting guard and share the court with him. This looks like the perfect year to draft Smart in fantasy.
Melton’s game is built for fantasy hoops (just ask Jonas Nader) and this whole Harden mess only helps his cause. Both Melton and Maxey should be really fun to roster this season and Melton was worthy of a seventh-round pick last season. If Harden’s out, Melton is going to rack up a ton of rebounds, steals and 3-pointers and should score more than the 10 points he averaged last season. I got Melton at the end of Round 8 in the mock draft and I might have been able to get him in Round 9 or 10. And I love him there.
Williams is one of the worst-kept secrets in fantasy and should be ready to fully breakout after a solid rookie season. He only played in 43 games and made 17 starts, averaging 9.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 0.7 steals and a block. And while he’s not a great free throw shooter, he won’t hurt you there too badly (69.1% as a rookie). He’s a dominant field goal percentage guy (63.7%) and he averaged 11.6 points, 9.8 boards and 1.1 blocks in those 17 starts last season. The Hornets are about to fully unleash him on the league and he should be available in Rounds 8-10 in most leagues. The sky’s the limit.
I took Jones in Round 9 in the mock and he returned late eighth-round fantasy value last season. He averaged 12.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.7 triples in year three and should try to take a step forward this season. He’ll have a big target in the form of Wembanyama and I’m betting that he’ll improve his numbers across the board again this season. He hit just 28.5 percent of his 3-pointers last season but if he worked on his shot, I could see him hitting one per game this year. He’s another up-and-coming point guard you can get later in your draft.
Collins was a disaster in Atlanta but still had some serviceable seasons and is a good player. He never lived up to the hype iand a change of scenery could be just what the doctor ordered. He’ll have to compete with Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler and Lauri Markkanen for touches but getting Collins at the end of your draft instead of burning a fourth-round pick on him should be a pleasant experience. I think he’s going to bounce back in his new digs.
Collins quietly had a mini-breakout season with 11.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.8 blocks and 0.9 3-pointers for the Spurs. He’s a solid free throw shooter, should hit 50 percent from the floor and it sounds like he’ll start at center with Wemby playing forward more often than not. We’ll have to see if he can coexist with Wemby but if you need a center late in your draft, you could certainly do worse than Collins.
The Pacers paid Brown a lot and while he’s not listed as a starter in most depth charts, he’ll get there sooner than later. And if he doesn’t, he’ll play a big role off the bench. Brown won’t blow you away with big stats, but he does a little bit of everything and won’t hurt you anywhere. He's a very safe way to spend a late-round pick.
Fred VanVleet is in Houston and Schroder is the default point guard for the Raptors, as of now. The potential arrival of James Harden would crush our dreams but if it doesn’t happen, Schroder could be running the point all season. Schroder’s career averages are 14 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.7 dimes, 0.8 steals and 1.2 3-pointers and if he’s in fact given the keys to the offense, he shouldn’t have trouble beating them.
There are too many centers in Detroit for my liking but Wiseman is a former No. 2 overall pick. As a starter last season he averaged 13 points, 8.1 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 22 games. He’s a serviceable free throw shooter and if he can get enough playing time while dealing with Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart, he could be a solid fantasy center. There’s nothing wrong with taking a last-round flier in order to see what happens in Detroit this season. And if he doesn’t pan out, you just hit the waiver wire and find a better player.
'Dr. A' breaks down who he'd want in all draft rounds
I started writing a ‘My Guys’ column about 10 years ago after I started to realize that my favorite part about drafting in fantasy hoops was taking a hype guy too early and making the draft room mad that they wouldn’t have a shot at getting that player. But it was a strategy that evolved over time.
When I first started playing fantasy hoops, sometime around 1991, I simply drafted basketball players I liked, with no clue about what kind of fantasy assets they might possess. Later, I learned that to win consistently you had to have two things: A killer instinct and the ability to draft with your head and not your heart. And while that kept me entertained for a few years, I started to figure out that all I really wanted to do was put together a team of players that had a chance to win AND that I could root for.
Maybe I tweaked what constituted me liking a player or maybe I just grew smarter over the years. In any case, people always seem to like this column and I try to find (mostly) young, up-and-coming players who might blow up this season, along with some of the old standby veterans that I seemingly can’t live without.
Am I telling you to reach for your guys a round or two early? Not exclusively, but sometimes it’s fun to shock the draft room and go get one of your guys a little early. It’s also different these days than it was in the 90s as everyone seems to have the same type of intel and there aren’t many secrets out there.
Sleepers are becoming a thing of the past so you have to reach a little to get the hyped-up players you really want, which I’m obviously fine with. So, without further ado, here is my 2023-24 version of ‘My Guys,’ exclusively for my new favorite website, Sportstopia!
And if you read my recent Mock Draft column, you may notice that I applied this strategy generously in that one, as well.
Luka Doncic, DAL G
I should have just saved my first entry about Luka from five years ago and copy and paste it every year, because my tune never changes. Yes, I know he stinks at free throws, turns the ball over, plays for a team lacking the help he needs to win and misses games. But, if the constant whining to the officials hasn’t turned you against him, he’s still the most exciting player to watch.
The counting stats are off the charts, he’s still just 24 and after five years of indisputable evidence that he can’t shoot free throws, I still think he can be an 80 percent shooter at the line one day.
I will probably be saying that for the next 10 years, but whatever. His ADP is sitting at about 3 and I’m going to continue to take him in every draft I can get him in unless I get the No. 1 pick. And even the acting president of the Luka fan club will be taking Nikola Jokic at No. 1. But outside of that, Luka is my pick.
And if Luka’s not available I’m hoping to have a Top 5 pick so I can get a shot at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Tyrese Haliburton.
Jaren Jackson Jr. MEM PF/C
What’s not to love about JJJ? He’s 24, a shot-blocking and steals machine, will have 25 games sans Ja Morant (suspension) in which he should be an offensive machine, and unlike some of his contemporaries (Deandre Ayton, Robert Williams, Mitchell Robinson), is living up to the hype. He’s also an elite free throw shooter for his size, can hit 3-pointers and doesn’t turn the ball over.
If I miss out on JJJ, the other Round 1-2 guys I’d like to see fall into the second round include LaMelo Ball (not going to happen) and Mikal Bridges. I was fully on board the Bridges bandwagon last season after the trade and am excited to see what he can do this year.
Victor Wembanyama OKC PF/C
I reached for Wemby at the end of Round 2 in my mock draft because I wanted to be sure to get him. A lot of people have jumped off the hype train and are suggesting he’s just going to be an average NBA player without the girth to be an elite big man.
I am not one of them. Even playing for Gregg Popovich and the risk that he’ll sit more than any of us would like to see, I’m all in on Wemby. And if it doesn’t happen this year, it’s coming next season. Like Coach Prime said, “Better get me now because this is the worst we’re gonna be.”
Wemby’s ADP sits at 30 but whether or not he’ll be available in Round 3 all depends on your league. I wanted to ensure I got him in that mock so I reached, but it’s not something I’ll do every time and he should be available in the early part of Round 3 in many leagues, at least for now.
If Wemby’s not available some of the other Round 3 targets I like are Desmond Bane (no Ja for 25 games) and Lauri Markkanen (last year was not a fluke).
Chet Holmgren C OKC
Big men coming off serious foot injuries are risky business, but something tells me Holmgren is going to stay healthy and have a monster year. So much so that I reached for him in Round 3 of my mock. His ADP is sitting around 40 currently and, while that could go up or down before the drafts start counting, he should be available late in Round 3 or early in Round 4.
Other fourth-round players I’m into would include Walker Kessler, Dejounte Murray, De’Aaron Fox, Jalen Brunson and Myles Turner, depending on what my team looked like after the first three picks.
Jalen Williams OKC SG/SF
Williams was a blast to watch last season and he’s getting some post-hype gruff due to the fact SGA might take over the league this season, while Josh Giddey and Holmgren are also going to have the ball in their hands a lot. But Williams is just 22, is coming off a solid rookie season and fully blew up in March when he averaged 19.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.3 3-pointers and just 1.9 turnovers in 34 minutes per game (15 games). Just don’t draft the wrong Jaylin Williams from OKC.
Other Round 5 targets include Alperen Sengun, Giddey, Jarrett Allen and Franz Wagner. Call me crazy but Paolo Banchero is not really one of my guys. I get the hype and the upside but just didn’t love the 20 points, 6.9 rebounds, 0.5 blocks, 74 percent free throw shooting, 42.7 percent field goal percentage and the 1.2 triples per game while getting 34 minutes a night and having no competition for the ball on a really bad team. He’ll probably prove me wrong at some point, but I’m OK with that.
Derrick White BOS G
Marcus Smart is in Memphis (where he should do very well) and White could now take control of the Boston offense. He’s a little older at 29 but if you look at his 11 February games last season he averaged 19.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.8 3-pointers. He’s not a great stealer of the ball but he’s lights-out from the free throw line and shoots it well from the field. I think he’s primed for his biggest season yet.
Other Round 6 targets include Jerami Grant, Tyrese Maxey (especially if James Harden sits out), Cameron Johnson, Devin Vassell and Michael Porter Jr. I’m not touching Zion Williamson with a 10-foot pole, but he went in Round 6 in that mock draft.
Tyus Jones WAS PG
As long as Jones is the starting point guard for the Wizards, he should be good to go this season. He never really had big numbers in Memphis, but he was always trapped behind Morant, which won’t be the case in Washington. Yes, he might have to slap Jordan Poole around to get the ball out of his hands and the Wiz will be one of the worst teams in the league, but Jones should be a point guard steal in drafts this season. He’s 27 years old.
Other Round 7 targets include Buddy Hield, Marcus Smart and Morant.
De’Anthony Melton PHI G
There’s a lot to love about Round 8 this season and here’s how the mock draft I’ve obsessively talked about throughout this column went:
I’m not touching Draymond Green. Danny Gafford currently doesn’t qualify as a center in Yahoo! and Trey Murphy is hurt. But I kind of like the rest of these guys. Just keep in mind C.J. McCollum takes a hit if Zion and Brandon Ingram can actually stay healthy, Jalen Green gets a boost from the absence of Kevin Porter Jr. but also takes a hit with the arrival of Fred VanVleet, and Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe’s value could be tied to what happens with Damian Lillard (we’re hearing Toronto is leading the way now).
So, after all that my preferred order is Melton, Mark Williams, Austin Reaves and Jabari Smith. I took Melton at the end of Round 8 and if Harden continues to fight with the Sixers and sits out or pouts his way out of Philly, Melton is going to blow up. His game is built for fantasy success if he can get a lead role. And Williams is on nearly everyone’s sleeper list as a breakout center candidate for Charlotte.
Tre Jones SAS PG
Jones is in a similar position to that of Tyus Jones in Washington except that he’s four years younger and will be playing with Wemby. He made a huge leap last season by doubling up on his points, assists, steals and 3-pointers from the previous season, he shoots it well from everywhere and doesn’t turn the ball over much. Point guards are gold in fantasy these days and both of the Jones’ should be primed for big years without breaking your draft bank.
Other Round 9 targets include Keegan Murray (he can’t be that bad again, right?), Onyeka Okongwu, John Collins and Spencer Dinwiddie.
Bruce Brown IND G/SF
The Pacers paid Brown big money to come to Indy over the summer and while some depth charts don’t show him as a starter, I’ll believe it when I see it. He’s capable of holding offenses and defenses together on both ends of the floor and should be one of Haliburton’s favorite teammates. Coaches love him, Pacers fans will love him and I think he’ll do a little bit of everything for fantasy managers without hurting them anywhere. He’s a perfect Round 10 selection, in my opinion.
Players I will be targeting in the later rounds include (in no particular order): Jordan Clarkson, Gary Trent Jr., Zach Collins, Immanuel Quickley, Amen Thompson, Jaden Ivey, Jarace Walker, Dennis Schroder (if Dame Lillard doesn’t show up in Toronto and ruin him), Obi Toppin, James Wiseman and Caleb Martin
Early September mock draft with preseason looming
Welcome to my first column for Sportstopia! To say I’m excited is an understatement. We will bring you the best fantasy hoops coverage in the industry with a star-studded ensemble of contributors. If you’re not already familiar with my work, this season marks (roughly) my 24th year of covering fantasy hoops. I spent most of my career at Rotoworld and am currently writing for ESPN and RotoWire. Follow me on Twitter at @Docktora.
This early September NBA mock draft is a Yahoo! eight-category league that was hosted by Rotowire and packed full of industry guys and a bunch of Rotowire analysts. And here’s how it all went down with some of my thoughts after each round. I had the second pick, obviously.
There are no turnovers to worry about in this one and I still think Luka will eventually become a better free throw shooter, but I also might be crazy. Honestly, I would have been thrilled to come away from this one with Jokic, Luka, Haliburton or SGA. It’s also interesting to see defensive stud Jaren Jackson Jr. climb into the first round, along with stalwart Edwards.
I was hoping to come out of Rounds 2 and 3 with some more of ‘my guys’ and I did just that, grabbing Wembanyama near the end of Round 2. I know there’s some risk involved, and I am a little concerned about how much the Spurs may rest him, but I believe the hype and wanted to get him.
Round 2 is a bit of a reach but I also wasn’t sure he’d be there three picks later. However, given that I wouldn’t pick again until the 47th pick after Round 3, he was coming off the board for me in Round 3 if I decided to grab someone else first.
I’m also a big Mikal Bridges supporter and you’re going to have to pay for him if you want him. Giannis will nearly assure his manager a ‘1’ in free throw percentage, which is why he fell to Round 2 in this Roto format.
Yes, Holmgren is another one of my guys and I clearly reached for him, especially when you consider his current ADP is closer to 40 than 25. Big men coming off of serious foot problems are traditionally a problem in the NBA, but my guess is Holmgren is going to be good to go and better than people are expecting. But targeting him in the fourth or fifth round makes more sense than where I took him.
It’s obviously will take an early pick to get Walker, but I believe the hype on him, too. I will not be drafting Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, LeBron James or Paul George due to age and injury histories. At least not in Round 3.
With Holmgren added to the OKC offense and SGA and Giddey both looking to take another step forward, my guy Jalen Williams is a bit risky. But he’s so talented, he can co-exist with his teammates. The Thunder will take the kid gloves off this season and the sky’s the limit. And Williams is sure to play a big role for OKC even if he is playing second fiddle to SGA, Giddey and Holmgren. Stud point guards aplenty in Round 4 with Garland, Murray, Fox and Murray all going off the board. I particularly like Murray here.
After being a little early on Sengun over the last two seasons, Year 3 should be a charm. He’s very good and I fully expect him to break out. My center corral is full of young studs and if they all pan out, this team is going to rack up serious big-man stats. I would not mess with a guy like Ingram here, as he hasn’t played in more than 62 games in any of his last six seasons.
I just can’t quit MPJ although it feels much better to get him at the end of Round 6 than it does taking him any earlier than that. He made it through a career-high 62 games last season and still has enough upside that he could be a pleasant surprise. I’m not messing with Zion Williamson and still think he’s going to be a bust. Believe it or not, he’s entering Year 5 and he’s played a grand total of 114 games out of a max 328 regular-season games.
Tyus Jones will be the point guard in Washington and could have a really good season. I’m not sure how he’ll mesh with Jordan Poole, who will be shooting the ball A LOT, but Jones should be a fun fantasy player to manage. Ja Morant fell to Round 7 due to his 25-game suspension and if you have the patience to wait on him, could be a huge difference maker in the second half of the season. His fantasy rankings haven’t been great throughout his career but he’s still a potential monster.
I was pleased to get Melton this late as he’s got one of the more fantasy-friendly games. Add in the mystery surrounding James Harden’s future in Philly and Melton should be in store for a very good fantasy season. In fact, this is one of my favorite picks in this draft even though a lot of people don’t even know who he is. Steals, threes, rebounds, assists, some blocks and low turnovers should all be fun.
Markelle Fultz was intriguing here and it will be interesting to see if he can build on last season’s success. I’d be a lot more excited about him if he didn’t have to deal with teammates like Cole Anthony, Anthony Black and Jalen Suggs. They only play with one basketball, unfortunately.
Tre Jones, along with Tyus Jones, is one of my favorite cheap point guards. He should be running the offense and will be the guy feeding Wemby and Keldon Johnson early and often. Jones doubled his scoring and assists from the previous season last year, played in 68 games and should have a clear path to 30 minutes a game this year. He also doesn’t turn the ball over and is a good shooter from everywhere but does lack a quality 3-point shot. Maybe he’ll shoot more of them this season.
I like the John Collins pick here in Round 9. He’s getting a much-needed fresh start in Utah and while he’ll have to deal with guys like Kessler and Lauri Markkanen, I have a gut feeling that a bounce-back season is coming.
I was pleased to get Bruce Brown late in Round 10 after the Pacers paid him all that money this summer. He’s a savvy veteran who could be a glue guy on both ends of the court for Indy and I’m still not convinced he’s going to come off the bench. Brown’s another guy who does a little bit of everything, doesn’t turn the ball over and could take a step forward for his new team. He also played in 80 games last season. I really didn’t love anyone else taken in this round although it will be interesting to see if McDaniels can take a step forward for the Wolves this season.
I was pleased to see Ben Simmons go just before my pick, because I might have been tempted to take him, against my better judgment. I have a mini goal of not drafting Simmons this season and so far, I’m 1-for-1 in that category. Quickley nearly won Sixth Man of the Year last season and should be even more confident this time around. Ausar Thompson went before his brother (Amen Thompson) in this early mock, but I doubt that happens very often once draft season is officially here. Is RJ Barrett a good player? I still haven’t decided.
I finished things off with Obi Toppin and his new role in Indiana. I have no idea if he will blow up or not, but he’ll at least be fun to watch running the court with Haliburton and the Pacers. Amen Thompson went in this round, but he’ll be going earlier this fall after his big Summer League. Keep an eye on Dennis Schroder, who may be running the offense all season in Toronto with Fred VanVleet in Houston. Lastly, Kevin Porter Jr. has run into some disturbing legal troubles and may not even play this season.
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