When it comes to fantasy basketball, the preseason can be misleading. Some players benefit from expanded roles with the usual starters sitting, such as Tre Mann, who had 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block after Cason Wallace exited early with a toe injury on Sunday.
Mann is a solid depth piece, but his performance isn’t going to translate into real production this season, even if it was encouraging. Mann may be a solid streaming option from time to time, but this game isn’t a sign of things to come.
Mainly, we’ll look at rookies and other young guys on the cusp of a breakout season. We’ll be keeping an eye on the dynasty value of players right here, every Monday. With the regular season coming up Oct. 24, let’s analyze how a handful of players have looked during the preseason and how their dynasty value could change.
Victor Wembanyama, Spurs
Before he even played a game, I had Wemby ranked third in my dynasty rankings. Now that he’s suited up for the Spurs, I think having him third should be his floor. I still have Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic ahead, but I think he could move higher quickly. Wemby has looked generational through two preseason games, and the only reason for him to not be higher than three is that Jokic and Luka are better right now.
However, if he continues his preseason production into the regular season, I won’t hesitate to move him ahead of both Jokic and Luka, especially for younger dynasty rosters. His preseason performance did nothing to slow the hype.
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Chet Holmgren, Thunder
Much like Wemby, the hype around Chet can’t grow much more. I had him ranked 14th in dynasty, but I’m tempted to move him into the top 10. He has a fantasy friendly game and has looked really good early, though the first preseason game was much better than his second. Against Detroit, he shot 4-for-11 from the field and only grabbed four rebounds in 14 minutes.
We saw a good game against the Spurs and a subpar game against the Pistons. For this season, he should be really good, but if his performance against San Antonio is a glimpse of what this kid could look like, his dynasty stock will never be lower than it is right now.
Scoot Henderson, Trail Blazers
The numbers don’t show how good Scoot has been through three preseason games. He didn’t play much in their first game against the New Zealand Breakers, but he was incredible against the Suns. He struggled with his shot a bit against the Jazz, but still had eight assists. It’s his feel for the game that has stood out. He is a star in the making and the clear second-best player in this class (sorry, I still can’t get over Charlotte passing on him, even if Brandon Miller has looked good during the preseason).
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Scoot’s first year may be a struggle at times, like it is for most rookie point guards. However, you can already tell that this is his team. He’s going to be good for a long time, which is why I have him as a top-20 dynasty asset.
Jalen Johnson, Hawks
Many analysts have pegged JJ as a sleeper and late-round target. He started in Atlanta’s first two preseason games before coming off the bench in the third. He has 13 assists in 55 minutes and has showcased the ability to produce defensive stats and knock down shots from deep.
However, we can’t get too far ahead of ourselves. With the way the Hawks are currently constructed, it is unlikely Johnson starts, at least right off. The three frontcourt starters will likely be De’Andre Hunter, Saddiq Bey and Clint Capela.
Johnson has a lot of hype now, but that could die down quickly if his role is limited. That is the best time to buy in. He’s the starter of the future, but it is unlikely that he will be one to open the year.
Jonathan Kuminga, Warriors
Kuminga is in the same boat as Johnson -- a third-year player who had been underutilized in his first two seasons who was having a really good preseason. Through three preseason games, he is averaging 26 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 2.7 triples per game. He hasn’t shot the ball incredibly well from deep through two seasons, but if that is a legit part of his game, he can be incredibly valuable in fantasy.
However, the situation in Golden State isn’t ideal. That’s why it’s important to look ahead. The Warriors extended Draymond for four more years, which means that Kuminga won’t be starting for them anytime soon. There’s a real chance they trade him to acquire more “win-now” talent at the deadline, which would be ideal for him. Kuminga has showcased his talent this preseason, but he won’t get the chance to pop until he is on a team that will give him an expanded role.
Bilal Coulibaly, Wizards
I didn’t have Coulibaly starting at small forward on my bingo card after the draft. Frankly, I was surprised Washington traded up for him. He just turned 19 in July, yet he has seven steals and two blocks through two preseason games. He also scored 12 points and hit two triples against the Hornets on Thursday.
Defense is going to get him on the floor, but if he can provide value offensively as well, he’s going to be incredibly dangerous, especially in fantasy. We just saw Jalen Williams have a really good rookie season and finish among the league leaders in steals.
Coulibaly may not produce to the same level, but he should be able to provide swipes from day 1. He should get a chance to work through his mistakes in Washington, so this situation is ideal for him. I’m all in on Coulibaly.
Ausar Thompson, Pistons
I still like Amen more than Ausar long-term, which is why I have him ranked a few spots higher. However, Ausar being a starter from day 1 will help his progression a lot. Amen might be stuck behind Fred VanVleet for a few seasons, but Ausar will be a producer from day 1. He hasn’t shot the ball well, but he’s averaging 10.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.0 triple per game.
While he’ll have to share the ball with Cade Cunningham, Ausar has shown that he can make an impact on both ends of the floor without needing the ball. Any questions about the Thompson twins need to be laid to rest. The twins are future stars. It’s all about opportunity for them, and Ausar’s appears to be coming much, much earlier.
Julian Strawther, Nuggets
These last two are for the dynasty sickos. Sure, stars matter, but these are for the managers that do it for the love of the game. The ones that get frustrated because someone won’t accept their trade offer of two second-round rookie picks to move up a few spots in the second round of their draft to get the 18-year-old that might be able to crack an NBA rotation someday. But that’s their guy, and they want them bad. If that sounds like you, then strap in.
After a really solid Summer League performance, Strawther has averaged 20.3 points and four triples through three preseason games. He could end up as part of Denver’s rotation, since they lost multiple role players in free agency. This is why they drafted him with the 29th pick. That may not lead to much fantasy value, but being in the rotation for the NBA champs is a good start.
Toumani Camara, Trail Blazers
I was a tad surprised Camara was included in the Deandre Ayton trade. Apparently, Phoenix liked him, but not enough to keep him out of talks to end Ayton’s tenure with the Suns. After averaging 16.3 points and seven rebounds in Summer League, Camara had a really solid game on Saturday with 13 points, five rebounds, two assists, one steal, two blocks and three 3-pointers.
He may not have a huge role to start the year with Portland, but if they end up tanking hard (as they did the last two seasons), he could see an expanded role late in the year. He’s a guy that plays hard and should be a rotational NBA player within a few seasons. He’s worth stashing.
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