Jokic remains the undisputed King of fantasy basketball. Justifiably, French phenom Victor Wembanyama pressed Jokic for the top spot last season, going No. 1 overall in many drafts, but the youngster couldn't stay on the court, allowing Jokic to retain his title with ease. In 2024-25, the Serbian superstar averaged a triple-double for the first time in his career, setting high-water marks in points (29.6), assists (10.2) and steals (1.8) while grabbing at least 12 boards per game for the third time in four years. He also posted career-high marks in three-point attempts per game (4.7) and three-point percentage (41.7). More outside shots caused Jokic's field-goal percentage to drop, finishing with his lowest mark (57.7%) since 2020-21. However, the only player in the league who attempted at least 18 shots a night with a higher field-goal percentage was Giannis Antetokounmpo (60.7% on 19.7 FGA/G). Despite a solid record and past success, Denver fired Michael Malone ahead of the 2024-25 playoffs, and David Adelman seized the opportunity. He led Jokic and company as they pushed the eventual champion Thunder to Game 7 in the second round and was rewarded with the full-time head coaching job. The Nuggets also made a couple of big splashes this offseason, trading Michael Porter for Cameron Johnson and Dario Saric for Jonas Valanciunas, while bringing back Bruce Brown, who was an integral part of their 2023 title run. The rest of last year's rotation remains intact, and Jokic's spot as the offensive fulcrum is as secure as it gets. Not to mention, Jokic is an Iron Man in this era, appearing in at least 69 regular-season games in each of his first 10 NBA seasons. Don't think twice, take Jokic No. 1 in every league.
Jokic remains the undisputed King of fantasy basketball. Justifiably, French phenom Victor Wembanyama pressed Jokic for the top spot last season, going No. 1 overall in many drafts, but the youngster couldn't stay on the court, allowing Jokic to retain his title with ease. In 2024-25, the Serbian superstar averaged a triple-double for the first time in his career, setting high-water marks in points (29.6), assists (10.2) and steals (1.8) while grabbing at least 12 boards per game for the third time in four years. He also posted career-high marks in three-point attempts per game (4.7) and three-point percentage (41.7). More outside shots caused Jokic's field-goal percentage to drop, finishing with his lowest mark (57.7%) since 2020-21. However, the only player in the league who attempted at least 18 shots a night with a higher field-goal percentage was Giannis Antetokounmpo (60.7% on 19.7 FGA/G). Despite a solid record and past success, Denver fired Michael Malone ahead of the 2024-25 playoffs, and David Adelman seized the opportunity. He led Jokic and company as they pushed the eventual champion Thunder to Game 7 in the second round and was rewarded with the full-time head coaching job. The Nuggets also made a couple of big splashes this offseason, trading Michael Porter for Cameron Johnson and Dario Saric for Jonas Valanciunas, while bringing back Bruce Brown, who was an integral part of their 2023 title run. The rest of last year's rotation remains intact, and Jokic's spot as the offensive fulcrum is as secure as it gets. Not to mention, Jokic is an Iron Man in this era, appearing in at least 69 regular-season games in each of his first 10 NBA seasons. Don't think twice, take Jokic No. 1 in every league.
Wembanyama was well on his way to being the best fantasy basketball player not named Nikola Jokic before being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder following the All-Star break last season. The French phenom was shut down for the rest of the campaign and still finished as a top-20 player in eight-category leagues despite only 46 regular-season appearances. Before Wembanyama, no player in NBA history averaged at least three blocks and three made three-pointers per game for an entire campaign. He reached those plateaus in 2024-25, averaging 3.8 blocks and 3.1 threes, and that could be a yearly occurrence for the Unicorn of Unicorns. He was also one of eight players to average at least 11 rebounds per game. As for percentages, Wembanyama shot 35.2 percent on 8.8 3PA/G after shooting 32.5 percent on 5.5 tries as a rookie. He also improved his percentage from the charity stripe to 83.6 but attempted one fewer free throw per game. There isn't a player in the league with a higher upside than Wembanyama, but he comes with considerable risk, even if San Antonio's medical staff is confident they found the crux of his medical issues and don't have any long-term concerns. The Spurs are expected to take a step forward in 2025-26, but it'll take major internal growth. Mid-season acquisition De'Aaron Fox should be at his best after a full year adapting to his new squad, plus development from Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, who've won the last two Rookie of the Year awards. However, Devin Vassell has struggled to stay healthy, while Jeremy Sochan and Keldon Johnson have taken steps backward over the past two seasons. If they don't evolve as a team, it'll be difficult for Wembanyama to reach his fantasy potential and surpass Jokic as the consensus No. 1 pick.
Wembanyama was well on his way to being the best fantasy basketball player not named Nikola Jokic before being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder following the All-Star break last season. The French phenom was shut down for the rest of the campaign and still finished as a top-20 player in eight-category leagues despite only 46 regular-season appearances. Before Wembanyama, no player in NBA history averaged at least three blocks and three made three-pointers per game for an entire campaign. He reached those plateaus in 2024-25, averaging 3.8 blocks and 3.1 threes, and that could be a yearly occurrence for the Unicorn of Unicorns. He was also one of eight players to average at least 11 rebounds per game. As for percentages, Wembanyama shot 35.2 percent on 8.8 3PA/G after shooting 32.5 percent on 5.5 tries as a rookie. He also improved his percentage from the charity stripe to 83.6 but attempted one fewer free throw per game. There isn't a player in the league with a higher upside than Wembanyama, but he comes with considerable risk, even if San Antonio's medical staff is confident they found the crux of his medical issues and don't have any long-term concerns. The Spurs are expected to take a step forward in 2025-26, but it'll take major internal growth. Mid-season acquisition De'Aaron Fox should be at his best after a full year adapting to his new squad, plus development from Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, who've won the last two Rookie of the Year awards. However, Devin Vassell has struggled to stay healthy, while Jeremy Sochan and Keldon Johnson have taken steps backward over the past two seasons. If they don't evolve as a team, it'll be difficult for Wembanyama to reach his fantasy potential and surpass Jokic as the consensus No. 1 pick.
Gilgeous-Alexander won the scoring title, MVP and Finals MVP while leading the Thunder to their first title in 2024-25, joining a list of NBA legends that includes Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O'Neal. Oklahoma City wasted no time signing Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams to long-term extensions this summer, locking in their championship core for years to come. After struggling to stay healthy early in his career, Gilgeous-Alexander has missed only 13 regular-season games over the last two seasons. He has improved steadily in each of his first seven seasons, with three-point shooting his current primary focus. In 2024-25, he set career highs in three-point attempts (5.7) and makes (2.1) per game, shooting 37.5 percent from deep. Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the most efficient scorers of this generation, shooting at least 51 percent from the field and 87 percent from the charity stripe in three straight seasons. He's no slouch defensively either, totaling at least 2.5 stocks in each of those campaigns. During that stretch, SGA has finished as a top-three player in eight-category leagues each year. While Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama have higher upside than SGA, the reigning MVP is one of the safest bets in all of fantasy sports.
Gilgeous-Alexander won the scoring title, MVP and Finals MVP while leading the Thunder to their first title in 2024-25, joining a list of NBA legends that includes Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O'Neal. Oklahoma City wasted no time signing Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams to long-term extensions this summer, locking in their championship core for years to come. After struggling to stay healthy early in his career, Gilgeous-Alexander has missed only 13 regular-season games over the last two seasons. He has improved steadily in each of his first seven seasons, with three-point shooting his current primary focus. In 2024-25, he set career highs in three-point attempts (5.7) and makes (2.1) per game, shooting 37.5 percent from deep. Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the most efficient scorers of this generation, shooting at least 51 percent from the field and 87 percent from the charity stripe in three straight seasons. He's no slouch defensively either, totaling at least 2.5 stocks in each of those campaigns. During that stretch, SGA has finished as a top-three player in eight-category leagues each year. While Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama have higher upside than SGA, the reigning MVP is one of the safest bets in all of fantasy sports.
A points-league maven, Antetokounmpo hasn't delivered first-round value in category leagues since 2021-22, when he shot 72.2 percent from the free-throw line. Since then, he's shot 64.5, 65.7 and 61.7 percent from the charity stripe. For a guy who takes double-digit trips to the line every night, those numbers can irritate fantasy managers in category leagues who aren't punting free-throw percentage. The other glaring concern in Antetokounmpo's profile is missed time, as he's been in street clothes for at least 15 regular-season games in five of the last six seasons. Despite the obvious flaws, the two-time MVP remains an elite producer and could see even more usage in 2025-26 after the Bucks waived Damian Lillard, who tore his Achilles during their last playoff run. The roster around Antetokounmpo has changed drastically since winning the title in 2020-21, with Kevin Porter, Gary Trent, Kyle Kuzma and Myles Turner now surrounding the Greek superstar in the first five. It's unclear if that supporting cast will be enough to elevate the Bucks back into contention, but the idea is clear: add floor spacers to create more room for Antetokounmpo to operate offensively. If you're paying up for Antetokounmpo, you have to be wary of his flaws, but when available, he's as consistent an option as it gets. He's averaged at least 30 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and two stocks while shooting over 60 percent from the field in back-to-back campaigns.
A points-league maven, Antetokounmpo hasn't delivered first-round value in category leagues since 2021-22, when he shot 72.2 percent from the free-throw line. Since then, he's shot 64.5, 65.7 and 61.7 percent from the charity stripe. For a guy who takes double-digit trips to the line every night, those numbers can irritate fantasy managers in category leagues who aren't punting free-throw percentage. The other glaring concern in Antetokounmpo's profile is missed time, as he's been in street clothes for at least 15 regular-season games in five of the last six seasons. Despite the obvious flaws, the two-time MVP remains an elite producer and could see even more usage in 2025-26 after the Bucks waived Damian Lillard, who tore his Achilles during their last playoff run. The roster around Antetokounmpo has changed drastically since winning the title in 2020-21, with Kevin Porter, Gary Trent, Kyle Kuzma and Myles Turner now surrounding the Greek superstar in the first five. It's unclear if that supporting cast will be enough to elevate the Bucks back into contention, but the idea is clear: add floor spacers to create more room for Antetokounmpo to operate offensively. If you're paying up for Antetokounmpo, you have to be wary of his flaws, but when available, he's as consistent an option as it gets. He's averaged at least 30 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and two stocks while shooting over 60 percent from the field in back-to-back campaigns.
From an accolades perspective, Edwards' 2024-25 season was nearly identical to his 2023-24 season. Both years, he made Second Team All-NBA, finished seventh in MVP voting and lost in the Western Conference Finals. The biggest change to Edwards' game was his prolific three-point shooting, especially pull-up threes. After taking 6.7 triples per game in 2023-24, he took 10.3 triples last season, drilling 4.1 per game. Edwards achieved this while also maintaining his free-throw rate, mainly cutting down on his mid-range jumper attempts. With Minnesota bringing back the same core roster, minus the loss of Nickeil Alexander-Walker, not much is expected to change for Edwards. He'll be entering his age 24 season, having consistently made small improvements to his game and making the All-Star team each of the past three campaigns. He's also been one of the healthiest players in the NBA, playing at least 72 games in each of his five seasons. Fantasy managers can consider drafting him near the end of the first round in all formats.
From an accolades perspective, Edwards' 2024-25 season was nearly identical to his 2023-24 season. Both years, he made Second Team All-NBA, finished seventh in MVP voting and lost in the Western Conference Finals. The biggest change to Edwards' game was his prolific three-point shooting, especially pull-up threes. After taking 6.7 triples per game in 2023-24, he took 10.3 triples last season, drilling 4.1 per game. Edwards achieved this while also maintaining his free-throw rate, mainly cutting down on his mid-range jumper attempts. With Minnesota bringing back the same core roster, minus the loss of Nickeil Alexander-Walker, not much is expected to change for Edwards. He'll be entering his age 24 season, having consistently made small improvements to his game and making the All-Star team each of the past three campaigns. He's also been one of the healthiest players in the NBA, playing at least 72 games in each of his five seasons. Fantasy managers can consider drafting him near the end of the first round in all formats.
After a blockbuster mid-season trade sent Doncic to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis, the new-look Lakers took some time to find their groove. They eventually started to click and made it through the Play-In Tournament but couldn't pull off an upset against the Timberwolves in the first round. Doncic's first action in Purple and Gold was limited, and the production was a bit strange. When comparing his regular-season action with the Mavericks (22 games) and Lakers (28) last season, Doncic had a lower field-goal percentage but a higher three-point percentage with his new team. He also had more free-throw attempts and shot a higher percentage from the charity stripe. However, he turned the ball over more. The overall production in 2024-25 was still gaudy in relation to the rest of the league, but it was a major drop compared to his final full year in Dallas, when he averaged 33.9 points, 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds in 2023-24. Doncic, Austin Reaves and newcomers Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart are the core players under contract through the next two years, while LeBron James will be operating on an expiring deal after picking up his $52 million player option for 2025-26. The front office is clearly pushing all of their chips into the middle to fit Doncic's timeline, and he's expected to be the franchise's future, though James' presence likely caps Doncic's fantasy upside. Surprisingly, Doncic has finished inside the top 5 in eight-category leagues only once in his seven-year career and last season was the first time he failed to crack the top 15 since his rookie campaign.
After a blockbuster mid-season trade sent Doncic to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis, the new-look Lakers took some time to find their groove. They eventually started to click and made it through the Play-In Tournament but couldn't pull off an upset against the Timberwolves in the first round. Doncic's first action in Purple and Gold was limited, and the production was a bit strange. When comparing his regular-season action with the Mavericks (22 games) and Lakers (28) last season, Doncic had a lower field-goal percentage but a higher three-point percentage with his new team. He also had more free-throw attempts and shot a higher percentage from the charity stripe. However, he turned the ball over more. The overall production in 2024-25 was still gaudy in relation to the rest of the league, but it was a major drop compared to his final full year in Dallas, when he averaged 33.9 points, 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds in 2023-24. Doncic, Austin Reaves and newcomers Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart are the core players under contract through the next two years, while LeBron James will be operating on an expiring deal after picking up his $52 million player option for 2025-26. The front office is clearly pushing all of their chips into the middle to fit Doncic's timeline, and he's expected to be the franchise's future, though James' presence likely caps Doncic's fantasy upside. Surprisingly, Doncic has finished inside the top 5 in eight-category leagues only once in his seven-year career and last season was the first time he failed to crack the top 15 since his rookie campaign.
One of the best rebounders in the league, Sabonis has an incredibly high fantasy floor. However, his ceiling took a hit last season because his assists dropped to 6.0 per game, his lowest mark since he was a Pacer. He was still efficient, posting career highs from the line (75.4) and beyond the arc (41.7) while shooting at least 59 percent from the field for a third straight campaign. He got to the charity stripe only 4.1 times per game, his fewest since 2018-19, but Sabonis' 2.2 three-point attempts per game were his most in a Kings' uniform. The mid-season trade of De'Aaron Fox to the Spurs shook up the timeline, but it appears Sacramento will run it back with the same starting lineup they finished 2024-25 - Sabonis, Malik Monk, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Keegan Murray. However, they made changes to their depth, swapping Jonas Valanciunas for Dario Saric, while signing Dennis Schroder in free agency. The Kings also drafted Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud. Regardless, none of the changes should impact Sabonis' bottom line. Even if the Kings fall out of contention, the talented big man's ability to rack up double-doubles on efficient shooting makes him a valuable fantasy asset. However, with so many Iso scorers around him now, it'll be difficult for Sabonis to match his lofty assist totals from his first two years in Sacramento.
One of the best rebounders in the league, Sabonis has an incredibly high fantasy floor. However, his ceiling took a hit last season because his assists dropped to 6.0 per game, his lowest mark since he was a Pacer. He was still efficient, posting career highs from the line (75.4) and beyond the arc (41.7) while shooting at least 59 percent from the field for a third straight campaign. He got to the charity stripe only 4.1 times per game, his fewest since 2018-19, but Sabonis' 2.2 three-point attempts per game were his most in a Kings' uniform. The mid-season trade of De'Aaron Fox to the Spurs shook up the timeline, but it appears Sacramento will run it back with the same starting lineup they finished 2024-25 - Sabonis, Malik Monk, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Keegan Murray. However, they made changes to their depth, swapping Jonas Valanciunas for Dario Saric, while signing Dennis Schroder in free agency. The Kings also drafted Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud. Regardless, none of the changes should impact Sabonis' bottom line. Even if the Kings fall out of contention, the talented big man's ability to rack up double-doubles on efficient shooting makes him a valuable fantasy asset. However, with so many Iso scorers around him now, it'll be difficult for Sabonis to match his lofty assist totals from his first two years in Sacramento.
Cunningham is coming off his best season in the NBA, setting career highs in points (26.1), assists (9.1) and rebounds (6.1) per game. He also improved his efficiency from the floor and took more trips to the free-throw line. Turnovers remained an issue, but the Pistons relied on him heavily as the primary playmaker, and a 2:1 AST:TO ratio is still strong. Health was another reason for Cunningham's jump in Year 4, making 70 regular-season appearances for the first time. Outside of his sophomore season, he's been relatively healthy, no more than 20 missed games in his other three campaigns, but it was important for Cunningham to submit a near-full campaign and put his early-career injury concerns to rest. After a historic bounce-back season, the Pistons were busy this offseason, replacing Tim Hardaway, Malik Beasley and Dennis Schroder with Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert. Jaden Ivey is going to be healthy and will likely rejoin the returning starters - Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren, plus second-year guys Ronald Holland and Marcus Sasser could be more involved. Chaz Lanier could provide value as a floor spacer in Year 1, especially after losing 487 made threes between Beasley and Hardaway, but it'll be difficult for the rookie to carve out a role on a contending team. Early in his career, efficiency and injuries kept Cunningham out of the Top 50, but if he stays on the court and maintains strong efficiency on high usage, he'll be a perennial first-round pick as long as this Pistons squad stays relevant.
Cunningham is coming off his best season in the NBA, setting career highs in points (26.1), assists (9.1) and rebounds (6.1) per game. He also improved his efficiency from the floor and took more trips to the free-throw line. Turnovers remained an issue, but the Pistons relied on him heavily as the primary playmaker, and a 2:1 AST:TO ratio is still strong. Health was another reason for Cunningham's jump in Year 4, making 70 regular-season appearances for the first time. Outside of his sophomore season, he's been relatively healthy, no more than 20 missed games in his other three campaigns, but it was important for Cunningham to submit a near-full campaign and put his early-career injury concerns to rest. After a historic bounce-back season, the Pistons were busy this offseason, replacing Tim Hardaway, Malik Beasley and Dennis Schroder with Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert. Jaden Ivey is going to be healthy and will likely rejoin the returning starters - Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren, plus second-year guys Ronald Holland and Marcus Sasser could be more involved. Chaz Lanier could provide value as a floor spacer in Year 1, especially after losing 487 made threes between Beasley and Hardaway, but it'll be difficult for the rookie to carve out a role on a contending team. Early in his career, efficiency and injuries kept Cunningham out of the Top 50, but if he stays on the court and maintains strong efficiency on high usage, he'll be a perennial first-round pick as long as this Pistons squad stays relevant.
Davis has averaged at least 20 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and one steal in all but one season since his rookie campaign in 2012-13, making him an elite per-game fantasy option. However, he's made more than 56 regular-season appearances only twice in the past seven years, making him one of the riskiest picks in fantasy sports. One of the most surprising trades of this generation saw Dallas ship Luka Doncic overnight to the Lakers in exchange for Davis last February. The superstar big man struggled to stay on the court for the Mavericks, who also lost Kyrie Irving to an Achilles tear. However, when available, Davis was a force and nearly led his new squad through the Play-In Tournament as the 10th seed. He underwent offseason surgery to repair a detached retina but is expected to be healthy to start 2025-26. With Irving sidelined to start the year, Davis and 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg will have added offensive responsibility early on. Dallas also has a deep frontcourt, with Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively, Dwight Powell and P.J. Washington, so Davis shouldn't have to exclusively play center, which he's been vocally opposed to in the past. The shift to power forward likely wouldn't be the best thing for his overall fantasy potential, as the farther away he gets from the basket, the more his key fantasy categories would drop (REBs, BLKs, FG%). Regardless, when he's consistently playing, Davis has always been a top-tier fantasy contributor.
Davis has averaged at least 20 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and one steal in all but one season since his rookie campaign in 2012-13, making him an elite per-game fantasy option. However, he's made more than 56 regular-season appearances only twice in the past seven years, making him one of the riskiest picks in fantasy sports. One of the most surprising trades of this generation saw Dallas ship Luka Doncic overnight to the Lakers in exchange for Davis last February. The superstar big man struggled to stay on the court for the Mavericks, who also lost Kyrie Irving to an Achilles tear. However, when available, Davis was a force and nearly led his new squad through the Play-In Tournament as the 10th seed. He underwent offseason surgery to repair a detached retina but is expected to be healthy to start 2025-26. With Irving sidelined to start the year, Davis and 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg will have added offensive responsibility early on. Dallas also has a deep frontcourt, with Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively, Dwight Powell and P.J. Washington, so Davis shouldn't have to exclusively play center, which he's been vocally opposed to in the past. The shift to power forward likely wouldn't be the best thing for his overall fantasy potential, as the farther away he gets from the basket, the more his key fantasy categories would drop (REBs, BLKs, FG%). Regardless, when he's consistently playing, Davis has always been a top-tier fantasy contributor.
Young continues to put up 25-and-10 with ease, being voted to his fourth All-Star team last season. It marked his sixth straight campaign averaging at least 24.2 points and 9.3 assists. His 11.6 assists per game last season led the NBA, with Young adding 24.2 points and 2.9 threes on 41/34/88 shooting, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 36.0 minutes. While his efficiency wasn't great, Young wasn't surrounded by other reliable sources of offense following Jalen Johnson's season-ending injury - forcing him to launch tons of tough pull-up triples. The Hawks revamped this offseason, however. The biggest addition is Kristaps Porzingis, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard are also in the mix. Zaccharie Risacher is also due for second-year development. A better, and hopefully healthier, supporting cast should allow Young's assist rate to stay high while potentially allowing for better shooting efficiency. Ultimately, he still projects as one of the league's most productive point guards and is in contention to be drafted at the end of the first round in fantasy.
Young continues to put up 25-and-10 with ease, being voted to his fourth All-Star team last season. It marked his sixth straight campaign averaging at least 24.2 points and 9.3 assists. His 11.6 assists per game last season led the NBA, with Young adding 24.2 points and 2.9 threes on 41/34/88 shooting, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 36.0 minutes. While his efficiency wasn't great, Young wasn't surrounded by other reliable sources of offense following Jalen Johnson's season-ending injury - forcing him to launch tons of tough pull-up triples. The Hawks revamped this offseason, however. The biggest addition is Kristaps Porzingis, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard are also in the mix. Zaccharie Risacher is also due for second-year development. A better, and hopefully healthier, supporting cast should allow Young's assist rate to stay high while potentially allowing for better shooting efficiency. Ultimately, he still projects as one of the league's most productive point guards and is in contention to be drafted at the end of the first round in fantasy.
In his fourth game of the 2024-25 season, Banchero dropped 50 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists, two blocks and a steal against the eventual Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers. He scored 31 points during Orlando's next game in Chicago but was forced to miss the following 34 contests due to a right oblique strain. The injury obviously impacted Banchero's bottom line in fantasy. However, even when on the court, his inefficient shooting and lackluster defensive production stopped him from being an elite per-game producer in category leagues for a third straight season to start his career. Jalen Suggs also missed the majority of the campaign due to injuries, and despite the trio of Suggs, Banchero and Franz Wagner appearing in only six games together, the Magic made the playoffs. They head into 2025-26 believing they're contenders after trading Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for Desmond Bane and signing Tyus Jones in free agency to replace Cole Anthony. The entire starting lineup is locked in until at least 2028-29 after Banchero landed a five-year rookie max extension this offseason. The talent is ever-present, and Banchero has shown a knack for improving across the board each summer, but until he fixes his obvious flaws, the youngster is better suited for points leagues.
In his fourth game of the 2024-25 season, Banchero dropped 50 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists, two blocks and a steal against the eventual Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers. He scored 31 points during Orlando's next game in Chicago but was forced to miss the following 34 contests due to a right oblique strain. The injury obviously impacted Banchero's bottom line in fantasy. However, even when on the court, his inefficient shooting and lackluster defensive production stopped him from being an elite per-game producer in category leagues for a third straight season to start his career. Jalen Suggs also missed the majority of the campaign due to injuries, and despite the trio of Suggs, Banchero and Franz Wagner appearing in only six games together, the Magic made the playoffs. They head into 2025-26 believing they're contenders after trading Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for Desmond Bane and signing Tyus Jones in free agency to replace Cole Anthony. The entire starting lineup is locked in until at least 2028-29 after Banchero landed a five-year rookie max extension this offseason. The talent is ever-present, and Banchero has shown a knack for improving across the board each summer, but until he fixes his obvious flaws, the youngster is better suited for points leagues.
Adebayo isn't the flashiest player in the league but has finished as a top-30 fantasy option in eight-category leagues in five of the last six seasons. The lone time he failed to reach that plateau was in 2021-22, when he appeared in a career-low 56 games. Extending that streak last season was even more impressive given the constant changes to Miami's rotation. Adebayo started at power forward often in the second half, allowing rookie Kel'el Ware to get important developmental minutes at center after Jimmy Butler's injury and trade demand pushed Miami out of contention. The move resulted in fewer rebounds for Adebayo but more three-pointers. Despite the change in his profile, his overall fantasy value remained the same. The Heat's biggest move of the offseason was trading for Norman Powell, plus they replaced Duncan Robinson with Simone Fontecchio and drafted Kasparas Jakucionis. Miami will also return Tyler Herro and Andrew Wiggins, who should soak up most of the usage. None of the changes should impact Adebayo's consistency, unless Miami's offense is horrendous and his recently developed three-point shot falls off a cliff. Adebayo missed only four games last season and 22 over his past three campaigns, making him one of the safest picks in fantasy hoops.
Adebayo isn't the flashiest player in the league but has finished as a top-30 fantasy option in eight-category leagues in five of the last six seasons. The lone time he failed to reach that plateau was in 2021-22, when he appeared in a career-low 56 games. Extending that streak last season was even more impressive given the constant changes to Miami's rotation. Adebayo started at power forward often in the second half, allowing rookie Kel'el Ware to get important developmental minutes at center after Jimmy Butler's injury and trade demand pushed Miami out of contention. The move resulted in fewer rebounds for Adebayo but more three-pointers. Despite the change in his profile, his overall fantasy value remained the same. The Heat's biggest move of the offseason was trading for Norman Powell, plus they replaced Duncan Robinson with Simone Fontecchio and drafted Kasparas Jakucionis. Miami will also return Tyler Herro and Andrew Wiggins, who should soak up most of the usage. None of the changes should impact Adebayo's consistency, unless Miami's offense is horrendous and his recently developed three-point shot falls off a cliff. Adebayo missed only four games last season and 22 over his past three campaigns, making him one of the safest picks in fantasy hoops.
Towns' first season with the Knicks was excellent. Moving back to the center position after playing power forward next to Rudy Gobert, Towns upped his rebounding production back to double digits (12.8 RPG). The rest of his game remained fairly steady, with 24.4 points and 2.0 made threes on 53/42/83 shooting, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.7 blocks in 35.0 minutes. He re-established himself as a first-round value in fantasy. New York has a new head coach in Mike Brown, but that isn't expected to shift KAT's role significantly, unless the decision is made to shift him back to power forward. More likely, Towns will see a small reduction in minutes. Heading into his age 30 season, Towns is one of the best fantasy options available at the center position, except for the fact that he doesn't block many shots.
Towns' first season with the Knicks was excellent. Moving back to the center position after playing power forward next to Rudy Gobert, Towns upped his rebounding production back to double digits (12.8 RPG). The rest of his game remained fairly steady, with 24.4 points and 2.0 made threes on 53/42/83 shooting, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.7 blocks in 35.0 minutes. He re-established himself as a first-round value in fantasy. New York has a new head coach in Mike Brown, but that isn't expected to shift KAT's role significantly, unless the decision is made to shift him back to power forward. More likely, Towns will see a small reduction in minutes. Heading into his age 30 season, Towns is one of the best fantasy options available at the center position, except for the fact that he doesn't block many shots.
The Suns officially turned a page this offseason after trading Kevin Durant and buying out Bradley Beal. However, Booker remains the franchise player, signing a two-way extension that put him under team control through the 2029-30 campaign. Phoenix also lost Tyus Jones this summer, but the overall depth should actually be better in 2025-26, with Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Mark Williams and Khaman Maluach joining returning rotation players in Booker, Grayson Allen, Ryan Dunn, Royce O'Neale, Nick Richards and Collin Gillespie. The Suns also signed Euroleague Finals MVP Nigel Hayes-Davis, plus they have 2024 second-round pick Oso Ighodaro and 2025 second-round pick Rasheer Fleming as intriguing prospects. While there are plenty of guys worthy of consistent minutes, the talent at the top will be thin, and this squad isn't expected to make the postseason. Regardless, Booker is a true star, finishing as a top-25 player in eight-category leagues in five of the last six seasons. The only time he failed to crack that benchmark was in 2022-23, when he played in a career-low 53 regular-season games. Booker was still a productive fantasy player last season, but his work from deep wasn't great. He attempted a career-high 7.3 three-pointers per game but shot 33.3 percent, his lowest mark since 2018-19, when the Suns won only 19 games, fewest since their inaugural season in 1968. That's a concerning trend, but over the last seven seasons, Booker has posted 48/88/35 shooting splits and will have the greenest of lights to shoot through any slumps moving forward.
The Suns officially turned a page this offseason after trading Kevin Durant and buying out Bradley Beal. However, Booker remains the franchise player, signing a two-way extension that put him under team control through the 2029-30 campaign. Phoenix also lost Tyus Jones this summer, but the overall depth should actually be better in 2025-26, with Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Mark Williams and Khaman Maluach joining returning rotation players in Booker, Grayson Allen, Ryan Dunn, Royce O'Neale, Nick Richards and Collin Gillespie. The Suns also signed Euroleague Finals MVP Nigel Hayes-Davis, plus they have 2024 second-round pick Oso Ighodaro and 2025 second-round pick Rasheer Fleming as intriguing prospects. While there are plenty of guys worthy of consistent minutes, the talent at the top will be thin, and this squad isn't expected to make the postseason. Regardless, Booker is a true star, finishing as a top-25 player in eight-category leagues in five of the last six seasons. The only time he failed to crack that benchmark was in 2022-23, when he played in a career-low 53 regular-season games. Booker was still a productive fantasy player last season, but his work from deep wasn't great. He attempted a career-high 7.3 three-pointers per game but shot 33.3 percent, his lowest mark since 2018-19, when the Suns won only 19 games, fewest since their inaugural season in 1968. That's a concerning trend, but over the last seven seasons, Booker has posted 48/88/35 shooting splits and will have the greenest of lights to shoot through any slumps moving forward.
After a promising start to his career, Barnes dealt with injuries during the past two campaigns and experienced a drop in efficiency (45/27/76) last season. He also played a career-low 32.8 minutes per game, which led to reduced totals across the board. Despite the lack of significant improvements, Barnes remains a stat-stuffing machine when healthy and has finished as a top-55 player in eight-category leagues in each of his first four campaigns. He still has plenty of time to reach his peak and will be a go-to player in 2025-26, but the team around him remains a mystery. RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley have shown flashes since coming over from New York but consistency has lacked, plus they've also struggled to stay on the court. The Raptors made an aggressive mid-season trade for oft-injured Brandon Ingram, who still has yet to debut for Toronto but signed an extension that included a $42 million player option for 2027-28. Jakob Poeltl also signed an extension this summer and has been the most reliable piece for the Raptors since they traded Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby. They also drafted Collin Murray-Boyles, who joins a group of solid wing prospects in Ochai Agbaji and Jonathan Mogbo. Team success should mean fantasy success for Barnes, who'll be the straw that stirs the drink if things break right, and the Eastern Conference should be ripe for the taking after postseason Achilles injuries to Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard and Tyrese Haliburton weakened teams at the top.
After a promising start to his career, Barnes dealt with injuries during the past two campaigns and experienced a drop in efficiency (45/27/76) last season. He also played a career-low 32.8 minutes per game, which led to reduced totals across the board. Despite the lack of significant improvements, Barnes remains a stat-stuffing machine when healthy and has finished as a top-55 player in eight-category leagues in each of his first four campaigns. He still has plenty of time to reach his peak and will be a go-to player in 2025-26, but the team around him remains a mystery. RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley have shown flashes since coming over from New York but consistency has lacked, plus they've also struggled to stay on the court. The Raptors made an aggressive mid-season trade for oft-injured Brandon Ingram, who still has yet to debut for Toronto but signed an extension that included a $42 million player option for 2027-28. Jakob Poeltl also signed an extension this summer and has been the most reliable piece for the Raptors since they traded Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby. They also drafted Collin Murray-Boyles, who joins a group of solid wing prospects in Ochai Agbaji and Jonathan Mogbo. Team success should mean fantasy success for Barnes, who'll be the straw that stirs the drink if things break right, and the Eastern Conference should be ripe for the taking after postseason Achilles injuries to Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard and Tyrese Haliburton weakened teams at the top.
After two quiet seasons to start his career, Johnson exploded onto the scene in Year 3. Over the last two seasons, Johnson averaged 17.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.9 blocks while posting 51/34/74 shooting splits. From a per-game perspective, Johnson was a top-20 player in eight-category leagues last season as a 22-year-old. The sky is the limit for this versatile youngster, but there's one glaring hole in his fantasy profile: health. Johnson was injured during his lone season at Duke, made only 22 appearances as a rookie and has appeared in 82 regular-season games over the past two years. His most recent injury, a torn labrum in his left shoulder, required surgery in January, but he's expected to be at full strength for training camp. Before the injury, Johnson and Trae Young were operating a beautiful two-man game that was nearly impossible for opposing defenses to consistently stop. That should get only better in 2025-26, as Atlanta loaded up on shooters, bringing in Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kennard and Nickeil Alexander-Walker while losing Clint Capela, Caris LeVert and Georges Niang. The Hawks will also be looking for internal development from Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher, Dyson Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu. You'll be assuming major risk when selecting Johnson at his ADP, as his highest finish in eight-category leagues in 96th, but his first-round upside could make him the steal of the draft if he submits a career high in appearances.
After two quiet seasons to start his career, Johnson exploded onto the scene in Year 3. Over the last two seasons, Johnson averaged 17.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.9 blocks while posting 51/34/74 shooting splits. From a per-game perspective, Johnson was a top-20 player in eight-category leagues last season as a 22-year-old. The sky is the limit for this versatile youngster, but there's one glaring hole in his fantasy profile: health. Johnson was injured during his lone season at Duke, made only 22 appearances as a rookie and has appeared in 82 regular-season games over the past two years. His most recent injury, a torn labrum in his left shoulder, required surgery in January, but he's expected to be at full strength for training camp. Before the injury, Johnson and Trae Young were operating a beautiful two-man game that was nearly impossible for opposing defenses to consistently stop. That should get only better in 2025-26, as Atlanta loaded up on shooters, bringing in Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kennard and Nickeil Alexander-Walker while losing Clint Capela, Caris LeVert and Georges Niang. The Hawks will also be looking for internal development from Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher, Dyson Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu. You'll be assuming major risk when selecting Johnson at his ADP, as his highest finish in eight-category leagues in 96th, but his first-round upside could make him the steal of the draft if he submits a career high in appearances.
Not only did Williams win his first title in 2024-25, but he was also selected to his first All-Star Game while receiving All-NBA Third-Team and All-Defensive Second-Team honors. He also got a handful of votes for the Most Improved Player award. The accolades were well deserved, as Williams has steadily improved across the board in each season. His efficiency regressed in Year 3, but he made up for it with volume. Johnson also appeared in a career-low 69 regular-season games after missing only 18 such contests through his first two seasons and underwent offseason wrist surgery to address an injury that bothered him throughout the playoffs. He's expected to be healthy for training camp. The issue didn't stop the Thunder from signing Williams to a long-term extension this offseason, along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, as they locked down their core for years to come. Coming off a championship and surgery, there are fair concerns about what Williams' workload will look like in Year 4. However, the 24-year-old wing has been a top-50 player in eight-category leagues in each of his first three seasons and has second-round upside when operating at 100 percent.
Not only did Williams win his first title in 2024-25, but he was also selected to his first All-Star Game while receiving All-NBA Third-Team and All-Defensive Second-Team honors. He also got a handful of votes for the Most Improved Player award. The accolades were well deserved, as Williams has steadily improved across the board in each season. His efficiency regressed in Year 3, but he made up for it with volume. Johnson also appeared in a career-low 69 regular-season games after missing only 18 such contests through his first two seasons and underwent offseason wrist surgery to address an injury that bothered him throughout the playoffs. He's expected to be healthy for training camp. The issue didn't stop the Thunder from signing Williams to a long-term extension this offseason, along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, as they locked down their core for years to come. Coming off a championship and surgery, there are fair concerns about what Williams' workload will look like in Year 4. However, the 24-year-old wing has been a top-50 player in eight-category leagues in each of his first three seasons and has second-round upside when operating at 100 percent.
Late-season injuries limited Maxey to 52 games, though he likely would have played if the 76ers were competitive. Philadelphia won just 24 games as Joel Embiid and Paul George combined for 60 appearances. That left a lot on Maxey's shoulders. His efficiency from the field took a hit (43.7 FG%), but the point guard averaged a career-high 26.3 points in addition to 6.1 assists and 1.8 steals with just 2.4 turnovers. He also played over 37 minutes per game (37.7) for the second straight season. Healthier seasons from George and Embiid could mean an efficiency bounceback and more assists for Maxey. If they continue to struggle with injuries, we know Maxey can pick up the scoring slack. All of that is to say that he's become the team's most reliable player - one who is producing All-Star numbers at 24 years old. There aren't many guards in the NBA better than Maxey in real life or fantasy. He should be in consideration for fantasy managers in the middle of the second round.
Late-season injuries limited Maxey to 52 games, though he likely would have played if the 76ers were competitive. Philadelphia won just 24 games as Joel Embiid and Paul George combined for 60 appearances. That left a lot on Maxey's shoulders. His efficiency from the field took a hit (43.7 FG%), but the point guard averaged a career-high 26.3 points in addition to 6.1 assists and 1.8 steals with just 2.4 turnovers. He also played over 37 minutes per game (37.7) for the second straight season. Healthier seasons from George and Embiid could mean an efficiency bounceback and more assists for Maxey. If they continue to struggle with injuries, we know Maxey can pick up the scoring slack. All of that is to say that he's become the team's most reliable player - one who is producing All-Star numbers at 24 years old. There aren't many guards in the NBA better than Maxey in real life or fantasy. He should be in consideration for fantasy managers in the middle of the second round.
Sengun delivered another quality fantasy season in 2024-25, as the Rockets evolved into a contender. However, the big man did things a bit differently compared to his breakout 2023-24 campaign, when he averaged a career-high 21.1 points per game on 53.7 percent from the field and 29.7 percent from deep. Last season, Sengun's efficiency dropped, shooting below 50 percent from the field for the first time since his rookie year while posting a career-low 23.2 percent mark from deep. He offset that drop with an increase in rebounds (10.3 per game) and regular-season appearances (76), both career highs. Sengun has missed 10 or fewer games in three of his first four campaigns and has never missed 20 or more games in a regular season. Despite ascending the standings, the Rockets flamed out in the playoffs and made major changes this offseason. They shipped Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green and Cam Whitmore out, while bringing in Kevin Durant, Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela. With Capela and Steven Adams in town, Sengun won't need to play Knicks-type minutes every night, but he'll remain a focal point of Houston's budding offense, which returns Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith and Tari Eason. Sengun is a high-floor pick with major upside if the team around him can be more efficient in Year 5, which it's expected to be with Durant leading the charge.
Sengun delivered another quality fantasy season in 2024-25, as the Rockets evolved into a contender. However, the big man did things a bit differently compared to his breakout 2023-24 campaign, when he averaged a career-high 21.1 points per game on 53.7 percent from the field and 29.7 percent from deep. Last season, Sengun's efficiency dropped, shooting below 50 percent from the field for the first time since his rookie year while posting a career-low 23.2 percent mark from deep. He offset that drop with an increase in rebounds (10.3 per game) and regular-season appearances (76), both career highs. Sengun has missed 10 or fewer games in three of his first four campaigns and has never missed 20 or more games in a regular season. Despite ascending the standings, the Rockets flamed out in the playoffs and made major changes this offseason. They shipped Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green and Cam Whitmore out, while bringing in Kevin Durant, Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela. With Capela and Steven Adams in town, Sengun won't need to play Knicks-type minutes every night, but he'll remain a focal point of Houston's budding offense, which returns Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith and Tari Eason. Sengun is a high-floor pick with major upside if the team around him can be more efficient in Year 5, which it's expected to be with Durant leading the charge.
Due to the absence of Jayson Tatum (Achilles) in 2025-26, the Boston Celtics will be Jaylen Brown's team this upcoming season. The star wing will be expected to carry a heavy scoring burden with the loss of Tatum, as well as the departures of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. Brown, Derrick White and newly acquired Anfernee Simons will lead an attack not quite as fearsome as the lineups Boston has rolled out over the past few seasons. As the soon-to-be 29-year-old enters his 10th NBA season, Brown has demonstrated some interesting statistical trends that will probably change in his new role of "scoring option number 1". Last season, Brown distributed a career-high 4.5 assists per game. He also took 17.7 shot attempts, a five-year low. This season, expect Brown to shoot more and pass less, which might hurt his field goal percentage. Last year, Brown shot 46.3 percent from the field, his worst effort since his 2016-17 rookie season. He also struggled a bit from three, shooting only 32.4 percent from behind the arc. Regardless, Boston will look to Brown and White to lead the offense. In what could be a bridge season for the Celtics, Brown has the opportunity to prove that his 2024 Finals MVP award was the harbinger of greater things to come.
Due to the absence of Jayson Tatum (Achilles) in 2025-26, the Boston Celtics will be Jaylen Brown's team this upcoming season. The star wing will be expected to carry a heavy scoring burden with the loss of Tatum, as well as the departures of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. Brown, Derrick White and newly acquired Anfernee Simons will lead an attack not quite as fearsome as the lineups Boston has rolled out over the past few seasons. As the soon-to-be 29-year-old enters his 10th NBA season, Brown has demonstrated some interesting statistical trends that will probably change in his new role of "scoring option number 1". Last season, Brown distributed a career-high 4.5 assists per game. He also took 17.7 shot attempts, a five-year low. This season, expect Brown to shoot more and pass less, which might hurt his field goal percentage. Last year, Brown shot 46.3 percent from the field, his worst effort since his 2016-17 rookie season. He also struggled a bit from three, shooting only 32.4 percent from behind the arc. Regardless, Boston will look to Brown and White to lead the offense. In what could be a bridge season for the Celtics, Brown has the opportunity to prove that his 2024 Finals MVP award was the harbinger of greater things to come.
After exercising his $52.6 million player option for 2025-26, rumors started to swirl that James' time with the Lakers may be coming to an end soon. The veteran superstar has yet to put those notions to rest, notably declining an interview while watching Summer League action in Las Vegas. However, reports indicate that James and the Lakers have not discussed a potential trade or buyout, and it'd be a short list of teams who'd be able to acquire him in either instance without massive tax implications. For now, it appears James will run it back in Los Angeles after earning All-NBA Second-Team honors last season. The mid-season blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic has completely altered the Lakers' outlook, and they made two more impactful moves this offseason to fit their new timeline, signing Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart. The latest arrivals, along with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, are under contract through the 2026-27 campaign, which could make it difficult to re-sign James. On the court, James is still putting up strong numbers, though his 24.4 points per game last season was a career low. He's played in at least 70 regular-season matchups in back-to-back seasons, marking the first time he's cracked that plateau since appearing in all 82 during his final season in Cleveland (2017-18). There are plenty of warranted concerns when taking a player heading into their age-40 season, but James has defied Father Time before, finishing outside the top 20 in eight-category leagues only three times during his 21-year career.
After exercising his $52.6 million player option for 2025-26, rumors started to swirl that James' time with the Lakers may be coming to an end soon. The veteran superstar has yet to put those notions to rest, notably declining an interview while watching Summer League action in Las Vegas. However, reports indicate that James and the Lakers have not discussed a potential trade or buyout, and it'd be a short list of teams who'd be able to acquire him in either instance without massive tax implications. For now, it appears James will run it back in Los Angeles after earning All-NBA Second-Team honors last season. The mid-season blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic has completely altered the Lakers' outlook, and they made two more impactful moves this offseason to fit their new timeline, signing Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart. The latest arrivals, along with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, are under contract through the 2026-27 campaign, which could make it difficult to re-sign James. On the court, James is still putting up strong numbers, though his 24.4 points per game last season was a career low. He's played in at least 70 regular-season matchups in back-to-back seasons, marking the first time he's cracked that plateau since appearing in all 82 during his final season in Cleveland (2017-18). There are plenty of warranted concerns when taking a player heading into their age-40 season, but James has defied Father Time before, finishing outside the top 20 in eight-category leagues only three times during his 21-year career.
Siakam was one game away from becoming a two-time NBA champion, but Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles injury was too difficult for the Pacers to overcome in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Thunder. Still, Siakam delivered another strong fantasy campaign, finishing inside the top 50 in eight-category leagues for a seventh straight season. During his first full campaign in Indiana, Siakam's production looked a bit different compared to his time in Toronto. He recorded fewer assists and attempted fewer free throws, but his efficiency spiked, shooting at least 52 percent from the field for a second straight season while posting a career-high 38.9 percent mark from deep. He also scored at least 20 points per game for a sixth straight season and missed five or fewer regular-season appearances for the fourth time in his nine-year career. Despite making the championship, the Pacers are trending in the wrong direction with Haliburton out for the 2025-26 campaign. They also lost Myles Turner to the Bucks in free agency. That leaves a lot of production holes across the board. Siakam should be a leading candidate to absorb as much usage and responsibility as he can handle, especially given Kam Jones, Tony Bradley and Jay Huff were Indiana's only additions this offseason. The Pacers will be looking for internal development from Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Aaron Nesmith, Johnny Furphy, Ben Sheppard and Obi Toppin, but Siakam should be the Pacers' go-to player.
Siakam was one game away from becoming a two-time NBA champion, but Tyrese Haliburton's Achilles injury was too difficult for the Pacers to overcome in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Thunder. Still, Siakam delivered another strong fantasy campaign, finishing inside the top 50 in eight-category leagues for a seventh straight season. During his first full campaign in Indiana, Siakam's production looked a bit different compared to his time in Toronto. He recorded fewer assists and attempted fewer free throws, but his efficiency spiked, shooting at least 52 percent from the field for a second straight season while posting a career-high 38.9 percent mark from deep. He also scored at least 20 points per game for a sixth straight season and missed five or fewer regular-season appearances for the fourth time in his nine-year career. Despite making the championship, the Pacers are trending in the wrong direction with Haliburton out for the 2025-26 campaign. They also lost Myles Turner to the Bucks in free agency. That leaves a lot of production holes across the board. Siakam should be a leading candidate to absorb as much usage and responsibility as he can handle, especially given Kam Jones, Tony Bradley and Jay Huff were Indiana's only additions this offseason. The Pacers will be looking for internal development from Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Aaron Nesmith, Johnny Furphy, Ben Sheppard and Obi Toppin, but Siakam should be the Pacers' go-to player.
Fresh off winning the Defensive Player of the Year award, Mobley also earned Second-Team All-NBA and All-Star honors for the first time in his career last season. He was an integral part of a Cleveland squad that finished with the best regular-season record in the Eastern Conference. Despite falling flat in the playoffs again, the Cavaliers are running it back in 2025-26, with a few minor changes. They replaced Ty Jerome with Lonzo Ball, while adding Larry Nance to shore up their frontcourt depth. Versatility is Mobley's strong suit, but his upside is tied to his three-point development, which showed significant improvement in 2024-25. In 2023-24, Mobley appeared in a career-low 50 regular-season games, but he shot 37 percent from deep on 1.2 attempts per game. He upped his tries from beyond the arc to 3.2 a night last season and maintained his percentage, helping him reach a new level. Mobley has also improved his efficiency from the charity stripe, shooting 72 percent over the past two campaigns while posting a career-high 4.3 attempts per game last season. The upgrade to his outside shot is notable, but there's still plenty of room for Mobley to grow in that department, and it's unclear if it's sustainable yet. Regardless, Mobley has averaged at least 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 stocks in each of his first four NBA campaigns, giving him a strong fantasy floor.
Fresh off winning the Defensive Player of the Year award, Mobley also earned Second-Team All-NBA and All-Star honors for the first time in his career last season. He was an integral part of a Cleveland squad that finished with the best regular-season record in the Eastern Conference. Despite falling flat in the playoffs again, the Cavaliers are running it back in 2025-26, with a few minor changes. They replaced Ty Jerome with Lonzo Ball, while adding Larry Nance to shore up their frontcourt depth. Versatility is Mobley's strong suit, but his upside is tied to his three-point development, which showed significant improvement in 2024-25. In 2023-24, Mobley appeared in a career-low 50 regular-season games, but he shot 37 percent from deep on 1.2 attempts per game. He upped his tries from beyond the arc to 3.2 a night last season and maintained his percentage, helping him reach a new level. Mobley has also improved his efficiency from the charity stripe, shooting 72 percent over the past two campaigns while posting a career-high 4.3 attempts per game last season. The upgrade to his outside shot is notable, but there's still plenty of room for Mobley to grow in that department, and it's unclear if it's sustainable yet. Regardless, Mobley has averaged at least 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 stocks in each of his first four NBA campaigns, giving him a strong fantasy floor.
Harden was a perennial top-5 fantasy player during his time in Houston, and returned to that echelon in 2024-25 thanks to 79 regular-season appearances, most since 2016-17. Not only was he healthier, but he also got back to shooting more three-pointers (3.0 makes on 8.5 attempts per game, highest marks since 2019-20), which boosted his scoring totals. Even when Harden wasn't flirting with the top tier, he was still a quality fantasy option, finishing inside the top-30 players in eight-category leagues in four straight seasons before his bounce-back campaign. Harden's resurgence can be partly attributed to his pick-and-roll connection with Ivica Zubac, who emerged as one of the best centers in basketball. There is even more room for Harden's offensive creativity to grow in this offense after the Clippers added floor-spacing big man Brook Lopez and high-flying John Collins to the frontcourt. They also swapped Norman Powell for Bradley Beal while signing veteran Chris Paul to add depth in the backcourt. Not to mention, returning rotation players like Kris Dunn, Derrick Jones, Nicolas Batum and Bogdan Bogdanovic will also command sizable roles. Head coach Tyronn Lue will have his hands full trying to get the most out of this deep roster, but the health of Harden and Kawhi Leonard will be paramount. If the star duo is available and firing on all cylinders, this could be one of the best teams in the league. Either way, Harden is in a position to submit another stellar statistical campaign as long as he can stay on the court.
Harden was a perennial top-5 fantasy player during his time in Houston, and returned to that echelon in 2024-25 thanks to 79 regular-season appearances, most since 2016-17. Not only was he healthier, but he also got back to shooting more three-pointers (3.0 makes on 8.5 attempts per game, highest marks since 2019-20), which boosted his scoring totals. Even when Harden wasn't flirting with the top tier, he was still a quality fantasy option, finishing inside the top-30 players in eight-category leagues in four straight seasons before his bounce-back campaign. Harden's resurgence can be partly attributed to his pick-and-roll connection with Ivica Zubac, who emerged as one of the best centers in basketball. There is even more room for Harden's offensive creativity to grow in this offense after the Clippers added floor-spacing big man Brook Lopez and high-flying John Collins to the frontcourt. They also swapped Norman Powell for Bradley Beal while signing veteran Chris Paul to add depth in the backcourt. Not to mention, returning rotation players like Kris Dunn, Derrick Jones, Nicolas Batum and Bogdan Bogdanovic will also command sizable roles. Head coach Tyronn Lue will have his hands full trying to get the most out of this deep roster, but the health of Harden and Kawhi Leonard will be paramount. If the star duo is available and firing on all cylinders, this could be one of the best teams in the league. Either way, Harden is in a position to submit another stellar statistical campaign as long as he can stay on the court.
Over the 2024-25 season, White delivered career highs in points (16.4), made threes (3.5) and rebounds (4.5) per game, while also delivering 4.8 dimes per contest. And yet, White could be headed for an even more impressive season in 2025-26 due to the absence of Jayson Tatum (Achilles), Jrue Holiday (trade) and Kristaps Porzingis (trade). That's 43.2 field goal attempts per game out the door, with only new Celtic Anfernee Simons (16.1 FGA's with Portland) added to fill the void. White should exceed last season's meager 12.6 shots per game by a wide margin. Boston is now a two-star team, with White and Jaylen Brown expected to carry a heavy burden. That said, don't expect White to exceed last year's 33.9 minutes per game, also a career high. It will be very interesting to see how Coach Joe Mazzulla decides to distribute backcourt minutes amongst tweener guards White, Simons and Pritchard. There should be plenty for everyone. The only negative concern for White was his slight dip in free throw percentage, which declined from "elite" (90.1 percent in 2023-24) to "pretty good" (83.9% in 2024-25). For 2025-26, expect offensive improvement across the board, yet again, for White as he steps into a much-deserved leadership role.
Over the 2024-25 season, White delivered career highs in points (16.4), made threes (3.5) and rebounds (4.5) per game, while also delivering 4.8 dimes per contest. And yet, White could be headed for an even more impressive season in 2025-26 due to the absence of Jayson Tatum (Achilles), Jrue Holiday (trade) and Kristaps Porzingis (trade). That's 43.2 field goal attempts per game out the door, with only new Celtic Anfernee Simons (16.1 FGA's with Portland) added to fill the void. White should exceed last season's meager 12.6 shots per game by a wide margin. Boston is now a two-star team, with White and Jaylen Brown expected to carry a heavy burden. That said, don't expect White to exceed last year's 33.9 minutes per game, also a career high. It will be very interesting to see how Coach Joe Mazzulla decides to distribute backcourt minutes amongst tweener guards White, Simons and Pritchard. There should be plenty for everyone. The only negative concern for White was his slight dip in free throw percentage, which declined from "elite" (90.1 percent in 2023-24) to "pretty good" (83.9% in 2024-25). For 2025-26, expect offensive improvement across the board, yet again, for White as he steps into a much-deserved leadership role.
At 27 years old, Zubac had a breakout campaign in 2024-25. He posted career-high numbers nearly across the board - 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 blocks in 32.8 minutes - while making the All-Defensive Second Team. The only part of his game that took a hit was his free-throw percentage, which oddly declined from 72.3% to 66.1% year-to-year. Still, regardless of league type, managers who drafted Zubac in the 80-90 range last season were more than happy with the big man's production. With all that said, it's possible his production has plateaued. During the offseason, the front office acquired both Brook Lopez and John Collins - capable backup options to Zubac. Last season, Zubac may have played his career high in minutes partially out of necessity. Now, coach Tyronn Lue has the option to keep his starting center fresher game-to-game. Zubac should still be one of the first centers in fantasy consideration after the elite producers are off the board, but there shouldn't be an expectation of another leap.
At 27 years old, Zubac had a breakout campaign in 2024-25. He posted career-high numbers nearly across the board - 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 blocks in 32.8 minutes - while making the All-Defensive Second Team. The only part of his game that took a hit was his free-throw percentage, which oddly declined from 72.3% to 66.1% year-to-year. Still, regardless of league type, managers who drafted Zubac in the 80-90 range last season were more than happy with the big man's production. With all that said, it's possible his production has plateaued. During the offseason, the front office acquired both Brook Lopez and John Collins - capable backup options to Zubac. Last season, Zubac may have played his career high in minutes partially out of necessity. Now, coach Tyronn Lue has the option to keep his starting center fresher game-to-game. Zubac should still be one of the first centers in fantasy consideration after the elite producers are off the board, but there shouldn't be an expectation of another leap.
Fox has been one of the steadier sources of fantasy value over the past seven years. For the fifth straight season, he averaged at least 23.2 points, 5.6 assists and 1.1 steals. He began the 2024-25 campaign with the Kings - the team that drafted him. However, the point guard expressed his desire to be traded, and he got his wish, being dealt to the Spurs. San Antonio is effectively Victor Wembanyama's team, but Fox should run the show as the primary facilitator and No. 2 scoring option. In his 17 games with the Spurs last season, he averaged 19.7 points, 6.8 assists and 1.5 steals. The decrease in scoring coincided with a dropoff in three-point percentage - 27.4 percent compared to 32.2 percent with the Kings - not to mention seeing three fewer minutes per game. Fantasy managers shouldn't be concerned that a sizable dropoff is on the way for Fox.
Fox has been one of the steadier sources of fantasy value over the past seven years. For the fifth straight season, he averaged at least 23.2 points, 5.6 assists and 1.1 steals. He began the 2024-25 campaign with the Kings - the team that drafted him. However, the point guard expressed his desire to be traded, and he got his wish, being dealt to the Spurs. San Antonio is effectively Victor Wembanyama's team, but Fox should run the show as the primary facilitator and No. 2 scoring option. In his 17 games with the Spurs last season, he averaged 19.7 points, 6.8 assists and 1.5 steals. The decrease in scoring coincided with a dropoff in three-point percentage - 27.4 percent compared to 32.2 percent with the Kings - not to mention seeing three fewer minutes per game. Fantasy managers shouldn't be concerned that a sizable dropoff is on the way for Fox.
Holmgren missed his true rookie season due to a broken foot and debuted two seasons ago, putting together a great campaign that resulted in a second-place Rookie of the Year finish. Last season was also hampered by injury - this time a broken hip limiting Holmgren to just 32 appearances. Still, he played well as Oklahoma City's No. 3 option, and it ultimately resulted in a championship, plus a five-year maximum contract extension. In Holmgren's 27.4 minutes per game, he averaged 15.0 points and 1.4 threes on 49/38/75 shooting, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.2 blocks. In terms of fantasy production, it was technically worse than his rookie season, though it's important to keep in mind his limited minutes due to injury and the Thunder's blowout wins amid their dominant 68-win season. The next step in Holmgren's game, more than anything, will be staying healthy and crossing the 30-minute threshold. Increased minutes alone could vault Holmgren into second-round fantasy value, putting aside any potential development. Development for Holmgren should mostly come in the form of increased efficiency. Increased playmaking volume may be tough to come by while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams are ahead of him in the pecking order.
Holmgren missed his true rookie season due to a broken foot and debuted two seasons ago, putting together a great campaign that resulted in a second-place Rookie of the Year finish. Last season was also hampered by injury - this time a broken hip limiting Holmgren to just 32 appearances. Still, he played well as Oklahoma City's No. 3 option, and it ultimately resulted in a championship, plus a five-year maximum contract extension. In Holmgren's 27.4 minutes per game, he averaged 15.0 points and 1.4 threes on 49/38/75 shooting, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.2 blocks. In terms of fantasy production, it was technically worse than his rookie season, though it's important to keep in mind his limited minutes due to injury and the Thunder's blowout wins amid their dominant 68-win season. The next step in Holmgren's game, more than anything, will be staying healthy and crossing the 30-minute threshold. Increased minutes alone could vault Holmgren into second-round fantasy value, putting aside any potential development. Development for Holmgren should mostly come in the form of increased efficiency. Increased playmaking volume may be tough to come by while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams are ahead of him in the pecking order.
Mitchell provided first-round fantasy value in 2023-24, but he saw nearly four fewer minutes per game last season, resulting in a sizeable dip in production. The reduced workload was partially due to the health of Darius Garland, general backcourt depth, and a ton of blowout wins amidst the Cavaliers' 64-18 campaign. The loss of Ty Jerome to the Grizzlies, being replaced by Lonzo Ball, hurts the backcourt depth somewhat - but the rest of the equation projects to be the same, as the East is even weaker this season than it was last season. However, Mitchell ultimately remains one of the best shooting guards in the NBA and is coming off a sixth consecutive All-Star nod. Across his 31.4 minutes per game, he averaged 24.0 points and 3.3 threes on 44/37/82 shooting, 5.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals. Regardless of format, Mitchell probably shouldn't slip past the third round. His upside might not be what it was last year, or even during his time in Utah, but his floor is extremely reliable.
Mitchell provided first-round fantasy value in 2023-24, but he saw nearly four fewer minutes per game last season, resulting in a sizeable dip in production. The reduced workload was partially due to the health of Darius Garland, general backcourt depth, and a ton of blowout wins amidst the Cavaliers' 64-18 campaign. The loss of Ty Jerome to the Grizzlies, being replaced by Lonzo Ball, hurts the backcourt depth somewhat - but the rest of the equation projects to be the same, as the East is even weaker this season than it was last season. However, Mitchell ultimately remains one of the best shooting guards in the NBA and is coming off a sixth consecutive All-Star nod. Across his 31.4 minutes per game, he averaged 24.0 points and 3.3 threes on 44/37/82 shooting, 5.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals. Regardless of format, Mitchell probably shouldn't slip past the third round. His upside might not be what it was last year, or even during his time in Utah, but his floor is extremely reliable.
Last year was another injury-riddled campaign for Williamson, who appeared in just 30 games - the fourth time in his six-year career that he's played 30 or fewer games. For context, he's played fewer total minutes in his career than Paolo Banchero. Despite that, Williamson arguably played at the highest level of his career when available, setting per-36-minute career highs nearly across the board. However, he actually saw just 28.6 minutes per game due to injury management and the Pelicans' overall struggles - posting 24.6 points on 56.7 field-goal percentage, 7.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks. New Orleans will look a bit different this season, namely due to trading CJ McCollum for Jordan Poole. Dejounte Murray is still recovering from an Achilles tear as well. The team probably can't perform much worse than the 21 wins they accrued last season, but it's probably not wise to expect a major leap in a loaded Western Conference. Some of that will also depend on Williamson's health. All-in-all, there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical of Williamson's fantasy value for the upcoming season. He did show growth, but can he be trusted to even play 50 games? He's routinely been drafted in the 30-40 range depending on format, but don't be surprised if he starts to slip into the 50 range in 2025-26 fantasy drafts.
Last year was another injury-riddled campaign for Williamson, who appeared in just 30 games - the fourth time in his six-year career that he's played 30 or fewer games. For context, he's played fewer total minutes in his career than Paolo Banchero. Despite that, Williamson arguably played at the highest level of his career when available, setting per-36-minute career highs nearly across the board. However, he actually saw just 28.6 minutes per game due to injury management and the Pelicans' overall struggles - posting 24.6 points on 56.7 field-goal percentage, 7.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks. New Orleans will look a bit different this season, namely due to trading CJ McCollum for Jordan Poole. Dejounte Murray is still recovering from an Achilles tear as well. The team probably can't perform much worse than the 21 wins they accrued last season, but it's probably not wise to expect a major leap in a loaded Western Conference. Some of that will also depend on Williamson's health. All-in-all, there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical of Williamson's fantasy value for the upcoming season. He did show growth, but can he be trusted to even play 50 games? He's routinely been drafted in the 30-40 range depending on format, but don't be surprised if he starts to slip into the 50 range in 2025-26 fantasy drafts.
Since being the No. 3 overall pick in 2020, Ball is averaging only 46.2 games played per season. He was an All-Star during his sophomore campaign, where he appeared in a career-high 75 games. The talent and ability to put up numbers is undeniable. The point guard is coming off his third straight season averaging at least 23.3 points, 3.2 made threes, 7.4 assists and 1.1 steals. Still, confidence in Ball has waned in the fantasy space, with managers often drafting him in the 20-30 range last season despite his age and upside. The fall could be farther this season, given that the NBA has no shortage of All-Star caliber guards with fewer health concerns. There's also the potential for Ball's usage to decrease as Brandon Miller's increases. The front office also wasn't shy about adding backcourt depth in the offseason, nabbing Collin Sexton, Spencer Dinwiddie and Kon Kneuppel while re-signing Tre Mann. There's still plenty of fantasy upside to be had in drafting Ball, but the risk/reward equation hasn't been tilting positively.
Since being the No. 3 overall pick in 2020, Ball is averaging only 46.2 games played per season. He was an All-Star during his sophomore campaign, where he appeared in a career-high 75 games. The talent and ability to put up numbers is undeniable. The point guard is coming off his third straight season averaging at least 23.3 points, 3.2 made threes, 7.4 assists and 1.1 steals. Still, confidence in Ball has waned in the fantasy space, with managers often drafting him in the 20-30 range last season despite his age and upside. The fall could be farther this season, given that the NBA has no shortage of All-Star caliber guards with fewer health concerns. There's also the potential for Ball's usage to decrease as Brandon Miller's increases. The front office also wasn't shy about adding backcourt depth in the offseason, nabbing Collin Sexton, Spencer Dinwiddie and Kon Kneuppel while re-signing Tre Mann. There's still plenty of fantasy upside to be had in drafting Ball, but the risk/reward equation hasn't been tilting positively.
Fantasy managers were excited to see what Thompson could do at the end of his rookie season, and he built on that even more as a sophomore. He began the year coming off the bench but eventually took a starting spot from fellow young-gun Jabari Smith. In Thompson's final 41 regular-season appearances, he averaged 15.6 points on 55.8 FG%, 9.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.5 blocks in 36.0 minutes. He established himself first and foremost as a defender, earning First Team All-Defense honors. And while Thompson is also a gifted passer and rebounder, the most important upgrade he'll need to make to his game is shooting. For his career, he's just 33-for-149 (22.1%) from distance and 275-for-402 (68.5%) from the charity stripe. But even if that never develops in a meaningful way, Thompson is already a starting-caliber NBA player and a top-50 fantasy asset. This season, the Rockets look different, swapping out Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks for Kevin Durant and Dorian Finney-Smith. It's a major team upgrade, but very similar usage-to-usage. That means Thompson still has a runway to grow as a player, especially as Fred VanVleet ages. There's a ceiling to what Thompson can do given his limited shooting and the relatively high-usage players around him, but he's still one of the best upside picks in fantasy.
Fantasy managers were excited to see what Thompson could do at the end of his rookie season, and he built on that even more as a sophomore. He began the year coming off the bench but eventually took a starting spot from fellow young-gun Jabari Smith. In Thompson's final 41 regular-season appearances, he averaged 15.6 points on 55.8 FG%, 9.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.5 blocks in 36.0 minutes. He established himself first and foremost as a defender, earning First Team All-Defense honors. And while Thompson is also a gifted passer and rebounder, the most important upgrade he'll need to make to his game is shooting. For his career, he's just 33-for-149 (22.1%) from distance and 275-for-402 (68.5%) from the charity stripe. But even if that never develops in a meaningful way, Thompson is already a starting-caliber NBA player and a top-50 fantasy asset. This season, the Rockets look different, swapping out Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks for Kevin Durant and Dorian Finney-Smith. It's a major team upgrade, but very similar usage-to-usage. That means Thompson still has a runway to grow as a player, especially as Fred VanVleet ages. There's a ceiling to what Thompson can do given his limited shooting and the relatively high-usage players around him, but he's still one of the best upside picks in fantasy.
Among other things, a lingering left knee injury, which later required surgery, limited Embiid to just 19 appearances last season. He looked far from healthy when he did play, and he arguably produced the worst numbers of his career. It's impossible to discuss Embiid at this point without first caveating the entire conversion with "if he's healthy." Embiid has appeared in just 58 total regular-season games across the past two years and holds an average of 50.2 games played per season if you don't count the fact that he missed the first two years of his career entirely. The center will also be entering his age 31 season, so youth is no longer on his side. Risk/reward has been the name of the game when drafting Embiid in fantasy, but it's starting to feel much more tilted toward risk. Is there upside for the 76ers to attempt to play him 60 games, or even 30 minutes per game? Keeping him as healthy as possible for the postseason seems like it has to be the priority. Last season in fantasy, he was typically being drafted at the turn. Now, he feels like a firm second-round selection, and maybe late second round. He carries more value in shallower, daily moves leagues - especially ones where starting two centers is required. But regardless of league format, managers should probably bolster their roster with another reliable center after drafting Embiid.
Among other things, a lingering left knee injury, which later required surgery, limited Embiid to just 19 appearances last season. He looked far from healthy when he did play, and he arguably produced the worst numbers of his career. It's impossible to discuss Embiid at this point without first caveating the entire conversion with "if he's healthy." Embiid has appeared in just 58 total regular-season games across the past two years and holds an average of 50.2 games played per season if you don't count the fact that he missed the first two years of his career entirely. The center will also be entering his age 31 season, so youth is no longer on his side. Risk/reward has been the name of the game when drafting Embiid in fantasy, but it's starting to feel much more tilted toward risk. Is there upside for the 76ers to attempt to play him 60 games, or even 30 minutes per game? Keeping him as healthy as possible for the postseason seems like it has to be the priority. Last season in fantasy, he was typically being drafted at the turn. Now, he feels like a firm second-round selection, and maybe late second round. He carries more value in shallower, daily moves leagues - especially ones where starting two centers is required. But regardless of league format, managers should probably bolster their roster with another reliable center after drafting Embiid.
Miller's sophomore season was cut short due to a wrist injury that required surgery, limiting him to 27 appearances. Despite that, it was clear the Alabama product made strides in his game. Offensively, he slightly improved upon his true shooting percentage while adding more shot volume, and he became a better passer. He also marginally improved his defensive contributions. Altogether, he averaged 21.0 points and 3.9 made threes on 40/36/86 shooting, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.8 combined steals-plus-blocks. He may not develop into a No. 1 option while next to LaMelo Ball, and he still has some competition for usage with Miles Bridges, but all signs point to Miller establishing himself as a clear No. 2 in Charlotte's offense. Given that his biggest step forward next season could be efficiency, Miller projects as slightly more valuable in category leagues, but he's well-rounded enough to be nearly as valuable in points formats. Aggressive fantasy managers have plenty of reason to target him in the 30-40 range given his Year 2 progression, overall pedigree and position in Charlotte's hierarchy.
Miller's sophomore season was cut short due to a wrist injury that required surgery, limiting him to 27 appearances. Despite that, it was clear the Alabama product made strides in his game. Offensively, he slightly improved upon his true shooting percentage while adding more shot volume, and he became a better passer. He also marginally improved his defensive contributions. Altogether, he averaged 21.0 points and 3.9 made threes on 40/36/86 shooting, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.8 combined steals-plus-blocks. He may not develop into a No. 1 option while next to LaMelo Ball, and he still has some competition for usage with Miles Bridges, but all signs point to Miller establishing himself as a clear No. 2 in Charlotte's offense. Given that his biggest step forward next season could be efficiency, Miller projects as slightly more valuable in category leagues, but he's well-rounded enough to be nearly as valuable in points formats. Aggressive fantasy managers have plenty of reason to target him in the 30-40 range given his Year 2 progression, overall pedigree and position in Charlotte's hierarchy.
Amid the drama of Jimmy Butler during the first half of last season, Herro put together his best campaign as a pro. He made his first All-Star game with averages of 23.9 points and 3.3 threes on 47/38/88 shooting, 5.5 assists and 5.2 rebounds. His biggest stride as a player was creating for himself more off the dribble and getting to the rim. After shooting 2.6 free throws per game in 2023-24, Herro shot 4.2 free throws last year, and he upped his two-point field-goal percentage from 47.8% to 56.5%. In the process, he eliminated many of the long mid-rangers from his shot profile. Miami will look somewhat different this season, with essentially all of Butler's usage set to be taken up by Norman Powell and Andrew Wiggins. Either way, Herro is the clear No. 1 option on the team and can still make development strides as a 26-year-old. Health is a bit of a concern, though. Herro played 77 games last year but had never played more than 67 games in a prior season. Fantasy managers willing to take the risk will have to pay up following last season's progress, but Herro can probably be drafted with relative confidence in the third or fourth round.
Amid the drama of Jimmy Butler during the first half of last season, Herro put together his best campaign as a pro. He made his first All-Star game with averages of 23.9 points and 3.3 threes on 47/38/88 shooting, 5.5 assists and 5.2 rebounds. His biggest stride as a player was creating for himself more off the dribble and getting to the rim. After shooting 2.6 free throws per game in 2023-24, Herro shot 4.2 free throws last year, and he upped his two-point field-goal percentage from 47.8% to 56.5%. In the process, he eliminated many of the long mid-rangers from his shot profile. Miami will look somewhat different this season, with essentially all of Butler's usage set to be taken up by Norman Powell and Andrew Wiggins. Either way, Herro is the clear No. 1 option on the team and can still make development strides as a 26-year-old. Health is a bit of a concern, though. Herro played 77 games last year but had never played more than 67 games in a prior season. Fantasy managers willing to take the risk will have to pay up following last season's progress, but Herro can probably be drafted with relative confidence in the third or fourth round.
Dyson was the 2024-25 steals leader and Most Improved Player. After two seasons struggling to find a role with the Pelicans, he was dealt to the Hawks, who sent back Dejounte Murray. Daniels' defensive potential was able to shine through next to Trae Young, with the former averaging a league-high 3.0 steals per game, not to mention a solid 0.7 blocks. He also made strides offensively, becoming a better shooter from the field and averaging 14.1 points and 1.1 threes on 49/34/59 shooting with 5.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 33.8 minutes. Despite the massive boost last season, 2025-26 has the potential to be a plateau year. Realistically, can Daniels improve on his steal numbers? This century, he owns the highest average for a season, while the highest average since the three-point line was introduced is 3.7, set by Alvin Robertson in 1986. Plus, the Hawks retooled in the offseason, adding Kristaps Porzingis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. A healthy year of Jalen Johnson and improvement from Zaccharie Risacher could also take offensive responsibility away from Daniels - who was never billed as a strong offensive prospect in the first place. In fantasy drafts, Daniels still deserves to be in consideration around picks 30-40, but there's probably a hard cap on his potential.
Dyson was the 2024-25 steals leader and Most Improved Player. After two seasons struggling to find a role with the Pelicans, he was dealt to the Hawks, who sent back Dejounte Murray. Daniels' defensive potential was able to shine through next to Trae Young, with the former averaging a league-high 3.0 steals per game, not to mention a solid 0.7 blocks. He also made strides offensively, becoming a better shooter from the field and averaging 14.1 points and 1.1 threes on 49/34/59 shooting with 5.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 33.8 minutes. Despite the massive boost last season, 2025-26 has the potential to be a plateau year. Realistically, can Daniels improve on his steal numbers? This century, he owns the highest average for a season, while the highest average since the three-point line was introduced is 3.7, set by Alvin Robertson in 1986. Plus, the Hawks retooled in the offseason, adding Kristaps Porzingis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. A healthy year of Jalen Johnson and improvement from Zaccharie Risacher could also take offensive responsibility away from Daniels - who was never billed as a strong offensive prospect in the first place. In fantasy drafts, Daniels still deserves to be in consideration around picks 30-40, but there's probably a hard cap on his potential.
Both Curry and the Warriors underwhelmed to begin the 2024-25 season. Trading for Jimmy Butler re-ignited things for the team and gave Curry room to breathe offensively, improving his efficiency. In his final 24 regular-season appearances following the All-Star break, Curry averaged 26.7 points and 4.6 threes on 48/41/95 shooting, 5.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals. Golden State's new primary core of Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler is back this season and gunning for a title. The only questions surrounding Curry at this point revolve around his age (37) and his injury history. While he's played an impressive 144 games across the past two seasons, those are an outlier compared to the prior six years, where he averaged 51.3 appearances. His minutes per game have also declined each of the past three seasons. Despite some of the risk, Curry remains an option as a first-round pick in category leagues, where his efficiency and three-point shooting shine. In points leagues, managers can wait until the second or third round.
Both Curry and the Warriors underwhelmed to begin the 2024-25 season. Trading for Jimmy Butler re-ignited things for the team and gave Curry room to breathe offensively, improving his efficiency. In his final 24 regular-season appearances following the All-Star break, Curry averaged 26.7 points and 4.6 threes on 48/41/95 shooting, 5.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals. Golden State's new primary core of Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler is back this season and gunning for a title. The only questions surrounding Curry at this point revolve around his age (37) and his injury history. While he's played an impressive 144 games across the past two seasons, those are an outlier compared to the prior six years, where he averaged 51.3 appearances. His minutes per game have also declined each of the past three seasons. Despite some of the risk, Curry remains an option as a first-round pick in category leagues, where his efficiency and three-point shooting shine. In points leagues, managers can wait until the second or third round.
Murray has struggled staying healthy - having not crossed the 70-game threshold since 2018-19 - but appeared in 67 games and saw 36.1 minutes per game last season. That resulted in a quality season, and one arguably worthy of an All-Star nod, though he didn't make the cut. The point guard averaged career highs in points (21.4) and steals (1.4) per game, while also averaging 6.0 assists and 3.9 rebounds. Denver made several key offseason moves ahead of 2025-26, including trading Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson, plus signing role players Bruce Brown, Jonas Valanciunas and Tim Hardaway. None of those moves should drastically affect Murray's production, unless coach David Adelman wants to, or is able to, reduce Murray's minutes. Ultimately, the Murray/Nikola Jokic two-man game is one of the most reliable sources of production in the NBA. That's not expected to change. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable targeting Murray around the fourth or fifth round of drafts.
Murray has struggled staying healthy - having not crossed the 70-game threshold since 2018-19 - but appeared in 67 games and saw 36.1 minutes per game last season. That resulted in a quality season, and one arguably worthy of an All-Star nod, though he didn't make the cut. The point guard averaged career highs in points (21.4) and steals (1.4) per game, while also averaging 6.0 assists and 3.9 rebounds. Denver made several key offseason moves ahead of 2025-26, including trading Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson, plus signing role players Bruce Brown, Jonas Valanciunas and Tim Hardaway. None of those moves should drastically affect Murray's production, unless coach David Adelman wants to, or is able to, reduce Murray's minutes. Ultimately, the Murray/Nikola Jokic two-man game is one of the most reliable sources of production in the NBA. That's not expected to change. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable targeting Murray around the fourth or fifth round of drafts.
Bane's 2024-25 season got off to a slow start while dealing with an oblique issue, causing him to average just 13.8 points in 27.2 minutes on a 41.0 field-goal percentage through his first 13 games. After that, Bane averaged 20.5 points on 49.8 FG%, 6.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 33.0 minutes. Bane will be bringing his All-Star-caliber numbers to a new team in 2025-26 after being dealt to the Magic. Paolo Banchero will still be Orlando's go-to option, but Bane has the opportunity to get similar secondary touches to Franz Wagner. That's a role he's already been playing while next to Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect a significant decrease in usage for the shooting guard. In fantasy terms, Bane has recently been a solid option between picks 30-50, which is the range managers should likely consider drafting him again this season.
Bane's 2024-25 season got off to a slow start while dealing with an oblique issue, causing him to average just 13.8 points in 27.2 minutes on a 41.0 field-goal percentage through his first 13 games. After that, Bane averaged 20.5 points on 49.8 FG%, 6.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 33.0 minutes. Bane will be bringing his All-Star-caliber numbers to a new team in 2025-26 after being dealt to the Magic. Paolo Banchero will still be Orlando's go-to option, but Bane has the opportunity to get similar secondary touches to Franz Wagner. That's a role he's already been playing while next to Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect a significant decrease in usage for the shooting guard. In fantasy terms, Bane has recently been a solid option between picks 30-50, which is the range managers should likely consider drafting him again this season.
There isn't much left to say about Durant, the player. He's one of the best pure scorers of all time, and a quality playmaker and defender. Age, injury history and a new situation are the primary swing factors for the 2025-26 campaign. Durant is turning 37 years old, has played 70 games just three times in the past 10 years and is joining a team with high-upside young players. Usage-wise, it could be simple enough for Durant to take all the shots Jalen Green was previously getting, leaving plenty of touches for the players like Alperen Sengun, Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith to stay happy and productive. Durant has also played at least 35.6 minutes per game each of the past four seasons - something that should be able to come down given the team's overall talent and potential for blowout wins. While Durant still has the potential to return first-round value, taking him in the late second round is probably more appropriate given the situation and stage of his career.
There isn't much left to say about Durant, the player. He's one of the best pure scorers of all time, and a quality playmaker and defender. Age, injury history and a new situation are the primary swing factors for the 2025-26 campaign. Durant is turning 37 years old, has played 70 games just three times in the past 10 years and is joining a team with high-upside young players. Usage-wise, it could be simple enough for Durant to take all the shots Jalen Green was previously getting, leaving plenty of touches for the players like Alperen Sengun, Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith to stay happy and productive. Durant has also played at least 35.6 minutes per game each of the past four seasons - something that should be able to come down given the team's overall talent and potential for blowout wins. While Durant still has the potential to return first-round value, taking him in the late second round is probably more appropriate given the situation and stage of his career.
It feels as if the start of Morant's career has constantly been disrupted. He put personal matters behind him but still struggled with injuries last season, appearing in 50 games. The 26-year-old has yet to play 70 games in a season, with his career-high 67 appearances coming as a rookie. Despite that, his performance has been fairly steady over the past four years, which began with two consecutive All-Star nods. The biggest change in his playstyle over that time has been replacing some of his high-flying, acrobatic attempts at the rim with floaters or three-pointers. During his age 23 season, he averaged 9.2 free-throw attempts and 5.5 three-point attempts per 36 minutes. Last year, those numbers shifted to 7.6 free-throw attempts and 6.8 three-point attempts. Injuries are still a concern this season, but his upside projects to be as high as ever. During the summer, the Grizzlies traded No. 2 option Desmond Bane to the Magic without getting a high-usage player in return. That should force more shot attempts and playmaking opportunities to Morant. He's shown the potential to be worth a third-round pick in fantasy before. Managers may not have to select him that high given his history of missed games, but it's an outcome that will be on plenty of drafters minds.
It feels as if the start of Morant's career has constantly been disrupted. He put personal matters behind him but still struggled with injuries last season, appearing in 50 games. The 26-year-old has yet to play 70 games in a season, with his career-high 67 appearances coming as a rookie. Despite that, his performance has been fairly steady over the past four years, which began with two consecutive All-Star nods. The biggest change in his playstyle over that time has been replacing some of his high-flying, acrobatic attempts at the rim with floaters or three-pointers. During his age 23 season, he averaged 9.2 free-throw attempts and 5.5 three-point attempts per 36 minutes. Last year, those numbers shifted to 7.6 free-throw attempts and 6.8 three-point attempts. Injuries are still a concern this season, but his upside projects to be as high as ever. During the summer, the Grizzlies traded No. 2 option Desmond Bane to the Magic without getting a high-usage player in return. That should force more shot attempts and playmaking opportunities to Morant. He's shown the potential to be worth a third-round pick in fantasy before. Managers may not have to select him that high given his history of missed games, but it's an outcome that will be on plenty of drafters minds.
Wagner took a step forward as a playmaker in 2024-25, posting career highs in usage rate (31.0%) and assist rate (26.6%). That was partially fueled out of necessity, as Paolo Banchero was limited to 46 games, and Jalen Suggs was limited to 23 games. Regardless, Wagner played well with increased responsibilities, averaging 24.2 points and 1.7 threes on 46/30/87 shooting, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 33.7 minutes. His three-point shooting is the biggest area of concern. After shooting 35.8 percent from distance over his first two seasons, Wagner has shot 28.9 percent since. The dip has not come with a dip in free-throw percentage, however, making the situation a bit confusing. If he can manage to get back on track from distance, he'll become one of the most efficient high-volume forwards in the NBA. This season, it may be easier for Wagner to increase his efficiency, as Orlando added another quality scorer and playmaker to the mix in Desmond Bane. That could mean a reduction in responsibility for Wagner, but his usage had possibly hit its ceiling anyway while playing next to Paolo Banchero - especially if the team is healthier overall. Either way, Wagner is capable of putting up All-Star-caliber numbers and can start to be considered in fantasy around the third or fourth round.
Wagner took a step forward as a playmaker in 2024-25, posting career highs in usage rate (31.0%) and assist rate (26.6%). That was partially fueled out of necessity, as Paolo Banchero was limited to 46 games, and Jalen Suggs was limited to 23 games. Regardless, Wagner played well with increased responsibilities, averaging 24.2 points and 1.7 threes on 46/30/87 shooting, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 33.7 minutes. His three-point shooting is the biggest area of concern. After shooting 35.8 percent from distance over his first two seasons, Wagner has shot 28.9 percent since. The dip has not come with a dip in free-throw percentage, however, making the situation a bit confusing. If he can manage to get back on track from distance, he'll become one of the most efficient high-volume forwards in the NBA. This season, it may be easier for Wagner to increase his efficiency, as Orlando added another quality scorer and playmaker to the mix in Desmond Bane. That could mean a reduction in responsibility for Wagner, but his usage had possibly hit its ceiling anyway while playing next to Paolo Banchero - especially if the team is healthier overall. Either way, Wagner is capable of putting up All-Star-caliber numbers and can start to be considered in fantasy around the third or fourth round.
Jackson played 74 games last season, crossing the 70 threshold for just the second time in his seven-year career. That resulted in his second All-Star appearance, with the big man averaging 22.2 points and 2.0 threes on 49/38/78 shooting, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals. This season, Jackson should have more room to expand his game offensively, as Demond Bane was traded to the Magic. At the same time, a true peak season from Jackson will also require a clean bill of health and an ability to see minutes in the low-to-mid 30s - something he's had trouble achieving because of foul trouble. His block numbers also aren't what they once were, with his block rate half of his peak season. That's not expected to return with Zach Edey manning the paint. So Jackson's fantasy upside for this season is, in theory, as high as ever. But he still has downside risk associated with him. He's also not starting the season healthy, as he needed toe surgery during the offseason and could be limited to begin the campaign.
Jackson played 74 games last season, crossing the 70 threshold for just the second time in his seven-year career. That resulted in his second All-Star appearance, with the big man averaging 22.2 points and 2.0 threes on 49/38/78 shooting, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals. This season, Jackson should have more room to expand his game offensively, as Demond Bane was traded to the Magic. At the same time, a true peak season from Jackson will also require a clean bill of health and an ability to see minutes in the low-to-mid 30s - something he's had trouble achieving because of foul trouble. His block numbers also aren't what they once were, with his block rate half of his peak season. That's not expected to return with Zach Edey manning the paint. So Jackson's fantasy upside for this season is, in theory, as high as ever. But he still has downside risk associated with him. He's also not starting the season healthy, as he needed toe surgery during the offseason and could be limited to begin the campaign.
Duren continues making small strides in his game, but his defensive issues either get him played off the floor or in foul trouble. Last season, that limited him to 26.1 minutes per game. He was still able to post strong numbers, averaging 11.8 points on 69.2 FG% and 66.9 FT%, 10.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 blocks and 0.7 steals. Given that Duren won't even be 22 years old by the time the season starts, and he's already averaging 1.2 fantasy points per minute, there's a ton of upside for managers to be attracted to. If he's able to break through and consistently see minutes in the low-30s, he'll be one of the best centers in fantasy basketball. Over the past two seasons, he's ranked third in total rebound percentage (22.2%; 22.0%), and he was second in the league in true shooting percentage (70.3%) last year.
Duren continues making small strides in his game, but his defensive issues either get him played off the floor or in foul trouble. Last season, that limited him to 26.1 minutes per game. He was still able to post strong numbers, averaging 11.8 points on 69.2 FG% and 66.9 FT%, 10.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 blocks and 0.7 steals. Given that Duren won't even be 22 years old by the time the season starts, and he's already averaging 1.2 fantasy points per minute, there's a ton of upside for managers to be attracted to. If he's able to break through and consistently see minutes in the low-30s, he'll be one of the best centers in fantasy basketball. Over the past two seasons, he's ranked third in total rebound percentage (22.2%; 22.0%), and he was second in the league in true shooting percentage (70.3%) last year.
After five seasons with the Knicks, Randle was dealt to the Timberwolves before the start of last season. His offensive production decreased alongside Anthony Edwards, as did his rebounding alongside Rudy Gobert - posting averages of 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 32.3 minutes. However, managers in category leagues could be pleased with increased shooting percentages, not to mention fewer turnovers. Randle's role projects to be the same in 2025-26. He'll function as Minnesota's No. 2 offensive option, but one who may see his minutes occasionally limited if Naz Reid is running hot. Randle is a solid option for most fantasy managers in the mid-to-late rounds as a player with a high floor given his role and relatively good health across his career.
After five seasons with the Knicks, Randle was dealt to the Timberwolves before the start of last season. His offensive production decreased alongside Anthony Edwards, as did his rebounding alongside Rudy Gobert - posting averages of 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 32.3 minutes. However, managers in category leagues could be pleased with increased shooting percentages, not to mention fewer turnovers. Randle's role projects to be the same in 2025-26. He'll function as Minnesota's No. 2 offensive option, but one who may see his minutes occasionally limited if Naz Reid is running hot. Randle is a solid option for most fantasy managers in the mid-to-late rounds as a player with a high floor given his role and relatively good health across his career.
After spending a year and a half as a lead option for the struggling Nets, Bridges was dealt to the Knicks ahead of last season. He was decidedly behind Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns in the offensive pecking order. While Bridges' usage rate declined significantly - from 24.3 USG% to 19.6 USG% - his numbers didn't sink drastically since he saw an extra 2.2 minutes per game. The result was 17.6 points and 2.0 threes on 50/35/81 shooting with 3.7 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 combined steals-plus-blocks in 37.0 minutes. New York's starting five should be the same this season, but coach Tom Thibodeau has been replaced with Mike Brown. Thibodeau is notorious for playing his key players massive minutes. Will Brown do the same, or will Bridges' workload drop down to a more normal 33-35 minutes? If so, that could result in another decrease in overall production. The 29-year-old wing should remain efficient, and he never gets injured, but that can only get him so far. He has a relatively high floor in fantasy, but there are going to be a lot of players with more upside in his draft range.
After spending a year and a half as a lead option for the struggling Nets, Bridges was dealt to the Knicks ahead of last season. He was decidedly behind Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns in the offensive pecking order. While Bridges' usage rate declined significantly - from 24.3 USG% to 19.6 USG% - his numbers didn't sink drastically since he saw an extra 2.2 minutes per game. The result was 17.6 points and 2.0 threes on 50/35/81 shooting with 3.7 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 combined steals-plus-blocks in 37.0 minutes. New York's starting five should be the same this season, but coach Tom Thibodeau has been replaced with Mike Brown. Thibodeau is notorious for playing his key players massive minutes. Will Brown do the same, or will Bridges' workload drop down to a more normal 33-35 minutes? If so, that could result in another decrease in overall production. The 29-year-old wing should remain efficient, and he never gets injured, but that can only get him so far. He has a relatively high floor in fantasy, but there are going to be a lot of players with more upside in his draft range.
Hartenstein has been bouncing around the NBA, landing with the Thunder last season after two consecutive years with the Knicks. It resulted in a title for the center, who started 53 of his 57 regular-season appearances. Many of those starts were next to Chet Holmgren, but both men missed significant time last season, with often only one of them being available. It was a career year for Hartenstein all things considered, and he averaged 11.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.1 blocks and 0.8 steals in 27.9 minutes. Given Oklahoma City's success, it seems likely Hartenstein will remain in a starting role. However, it's possible both his minutes and usage will decline assuming more development and better health from Holmgren. Even if that's the case, Hartenstein should remain a top-100 player given his strong per-minute contributions. He's one of the best rebounders in the NBA and is a strong passer for his position.
Hartenstein has been bouncing around the NBA, landing with the Thunder last season after two consecutive years with the Knicks. It resulted in a title for the center, who started 53 of his 57 regular-season appearances. Many of those starts were next to Chet Holmgren, but both men missed significant time last season, with often only one of them being available. It was a career year for Hartenstein all things considered, and he averaged 11.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.1 blocks and 0.8 steals in 27.9 minutes. Given Oklahoma City's success, it seems likely Hartenstein will remain in a starting role. However, it's possible both his minutes and usage will decline assuming more development and better health from Holmgren. Even if that's the case, Hartenstein should remain a top-100 player given his strong per-minute contributions. He's one of the best rebounders in the NBA and is a strong passer for his position.
The oft-injured Leonard made only 37 regular-season appearances last year, the second fewest in his career. His fewest came in 2017-18, when he appeared in only nine during his final year with the Spurs. Leonard has never been fully healthy, failing to crack 70 regular-season appearances in each season since 2014-15. However, the veteran superstar has still been able to deliver quality fantasy campaigns when he plays in enough games, proving time and time again that he can rebound from even the most devastating of injuries. Across five years in Los Angeles, Leonard has finished inside the top 25 in eight-category leagues three times. Despite the lack of regular-season games in 2024-25, Leonard actually finished the campaign healthy and playing extremely well. During a seven-game playoff series versus Denver, Leonard averaged 25 points, eight rebounds, five assists and nearly two stocks in 38 minutes per game while posting 54/78/40 shooting splits. A healthy offseason should bode well for Leonard's early-season outlook, but it would be shocking if he wasn't monitored and/or limited, especially during back-to-back sets. The team around him has also been revamped, with the Clippers adding Brook Lopez, Chris Paul and John Collins while replacing Norman Powell with Bradley Beal. Los Angeles will certainly have to play games without Leonard next season, and James Harden has proven he's still capable of picking up the slack, but when Leonard is on the court, there are few players in the league who rival his impact.
The oft-injured Leonard made only 37 regular-season appearances last year, the second fewest in his career. His fewest came in 2017-18, when he appeared in only nine during his final year with the Spurs. Leonard has never been fully healthy, failing to crack 70 regular-season appearances in each season since 2014-15. However, the veteran superstar has still been able to deliver quality fantasy campaigns when he plays in enough games, proving time and time again that he can rebound from even the most devastating of injuries. Across five years in Los Angeles, Leonard has finished inside the top 25 in eight-category leagues three times. Despite the lack of regular-season games in 2024-25, Leonard actually finished the campaign healthy and playing extremely well. During a seven-game playoff series versus Denver, Leonard averaged 25 points, eight rebounds, five assists and nearly two stocks in 38 minutes per game while posting 54/78/40 shooting splits. A healthy offseason should bode well for Leonard's early-season outlook, but it would be shocking if he wasn't monitored and/or limited, especially during back-to-back sets. The team around him has also been revamped, with the Clippers adding Brook Lopez, Chris Paul and John Collins while replacing Norman Powell with Bradley Beal. Los Angeles will certainly have to play games without Leonard next season, and James Harden has proven he's still capable of picking up the slack, but when Leonard is on the court, there are few players in the league who rival his impact.
Reid is coming off the best season of his career, seeing an increased workload for a third straight season. Functioning as a frontcourt sixth man, the LSU product averaged 14.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 27.5 minutes last season - all career highs. His development as a passer was significant, as he went from averaging 1.9 assists per 36 minutes in 2023-24 to 3.0 assists per 36 in 2024-25. Reid made that improvement while lowering his turnover rate. While his fantasy ceiling is limited when both Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert are healthy, Reid's workload is set to increase any time either of those players misses time. He's also a decent enough option coming off the bench to be worth rostering in 12-team formats.
Reid is coming off the best season of his career, seeing an increased workload for a third straight season. Functioning as a frontcourt sixth man, the LSU product averaged 14.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 27.5 minutes last season - all career highs. His development as a passer was significant, as he went from averaging 1.9 assists per 36 minutes in 2023-24 to 3.0 assists per 36 in 2024-25. Reid made that improvement while lowering his turnover rate. While his fantasy ceiling is limited when both Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert are healthy, Reid's workload is set to increase any time either of those players misses time. He's also a decent enough option coming off the bench to be worth rostering in 12-team formats.
From a fantasy perspective, Gobert is arguably coming off his worst campaign since his rookie year. While he remained incredibly efficient from the field (66.9 FG%), his shot attempts decreased and he averaged just 12.0 points per game. He also averaged fewer rebounds (10.9) and blocks (1.4) than in prior seasons, which contributed to an overall decline in fantasy value. Heading into his age-33 season, Gobert's best years are behind him. He still has a relatively high floor given his length and general skillset, but he's no longer among the elite role centers in fantasy basketball - now being thrown into a group of bigs like Jakob Poeltl, Nic Claxton, Jalen Duren, Jarrett Allen and others who feel somewhat interchangable. Gobert is probably best as a second center in fantasy after drafting an elite big or taking a chance on a younger one with upside.
From a fantasy perspective, Gobert is arguably coming off his worst campaign since his rookie year. While he remained incredibly efficient from the field (66.9 FG%), his shot attempts decreased and he averaged just 12.0 points per game. He also averaged fewer rebounds (10.9) and blocks (1.4) than in prior seasons, which contributed to an overall decline in fantasy value. Heading into his age-33 season, Gobert's best years are behind him. He still has a relatively high floor given his length and general skillset, but he's no longer among the elite role centers in fantasy basketball - now being thrown into a group of bigs like Jakob Poeltl, Nic Claxton, Jalen Duren, Jarrett Allen and others who feel somewhat interchangable. Gobert is probably best as a second center in fantasy after drafting an elite big or taking a chance on a younger one with upside.
A severe ankle injury limited Ingram to just 18 appearances last season - all of which came with the Pelicans before he was dealt to the Raptors. Ingram's production in the limited sample was what we've come to expect from the veteran wing, though he did increase his three-point attempts from 3.8 per game in 2023-24 to 6.4 per game in 2024-25. That trend should continue this season while Ingram is starting next to non-spacers Jakob Poeltl and Scottie Barnes. He may also be asked to handle the ball less, as Barnes, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley can all make plays and run the offense. In addition to potentially handling the ball less, it's a concern how often Ingram continues to get injured. In his nine years, he's played 70-plus games once and 60-plus games only four times. Ingram is a top-50 fantasy talent, but has more often finished outside of the top-100 due to absences. It may be more appropriate to draft Ingram after pick 75 this season as a result of the concerns.
A severe ankle injury limited Ingram to just 18 appearances last season - all of which came with the Pelicans before he was dealt to the Raptors. Ingram's production in the limited sample was what we've come to expect from the veteran wing, though he did increase his three-point attempts from 3.8 per game in 2023-24 to 6.4 per game in 2024-25. That trend should continue this season while Ingram is starting next to non-spacers Jakob Poeltl and Scottie Barnes. He may also be asked to handle the ball less, as Barnes, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley can all make plays and run the offense. In addition to potentially handling the ball less, it's a concern how often Ingram continues to get injured. In his nine years, he's played 70-plus games once and 60-plus games only four times. Ingram is a top-50 fantasy talent, but has more often finished outside of the top-100 due to absences. It may be more appropriate to draft Ingram after pick 75 this season as a result of the concerns.
With Anfernee Simons and Deandre Ayton no longer on the team, a lot of increased usage has opened up on the Trail Blazers. Some of that will be filled by Jrue Holiday, but Portland's young players - like Sharpe, Scoot Henderson and Deni Avdija - are in contention for more responsibilities. Sharpe's assists-included usage rate has increased each season in the NBA, and this year shouldn't be an exception. While he's improved as a creator - and is a good long-mid-range jumpshooter - Sharpe's three-point percentage continues to drop, and he hit only 31.1 percent of his 6.6 attempts per game in 2024-25. He also shot under 80 percent from the free-throw line for the second time in his career (78.5%). But he's just 22 years old, and there's potential for a mini-breakout season with both increased usage and efficiency. Given the presumed upward trajectory, fantasy managers should consider drafting Sharpe inside the top-100.
With Anfernee Simons and Deandre Ayton no longer on the team, a lot of increased usage has opened up on the Trail Blazers. Some of that will be filled by Jrue Holiday, but Portland's young players - like Sharpe, Scoot Henderson and Deni Avdija - are in contention for more responsibilities. Sharpe's assists-included usage rate has increased each season in the NBA, and this year shouldn't be an exception. While he's improved as a creator - and is a good long-mid-range jumpshooter - Sharpe's three-point percentage continues to drop, and he hit only 31.1 percent of his 6.6 attempts per game in 2024-25. He also shot under 80 percent from the free-throw line for the second time in his career (78.5%). But he's just 22 years old, and there's potential for a mini-breakout season with both increased usage and efficiency. Given the presumed upward trajectory, fantasy managers should consider drafting Sharpe inside the top-100.
For the second year in a row, Claxton took a step back as a fantasy producer. At his peak in 2022-23, he was averaging 12.6 points on 70.5 FG%, 9.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 29.9 minutes. Last year, he averaged 10.3 points on 56.3 FG%, 7.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 26.9 minutes. While Claxton has become a better passer and has attempted to expand his game beyond being just a rollman, the results have not been promising and have ultimately damaged his fantasy value. At the same time, backup center Day'Ron Sharpe's minutes and role have been increasing, as have Noah Clowney's - who can play the four or the five. Claxton is probably still worth rostering in fantasy, especially in two-center formats. He has some upside, but a lot of that depends on his workload and whether or not he goes back to what he does best.
For the second year in a row, Claxton took a step back as a fantasy producer. At his peak in 2022-23, he was averaging 12.6 points on 70.5 FG%, 9.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 29.9 minutes. Last year, he averaged 10.3 points on 56.3 FG%, 7.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 26.9 minutes. While Claxton has become a better passer and has attempted to expand his game beyond being just a rollman, the results have not been promising and have ultimately damaged his fantasy value. At the same time, backup center Day'Ron Sharpe's minutes and role have been increasing, as have Noah Clowney's - who can play the four or the five. Claxton is probably still worth rostering in fantasy, especially in two-center formats. He has some upside, but a lot of that depends on his workload and whether or not he goes back to what he does best.
Poeltl is quietly coming off a career year where he reached highs in points (14.5), rebounds (9.6) and steals (1.2) per game - also contributing 9.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 29.6 minutes. The center also shot a career-high 67.4 percent from the charity stripe. He's a prototypical center, controlling the paint on both offense and defense. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect much to change this year. A fully healthy and reloaded Raptors team could mean fewer offensive touches for Poeltl, but he should remain a consistent double-double threat with upside for multiple assists, blocks and steals. It also benefits his fantasy potential that the Raptors don't have a traditional center backing him up. While Poeltl is unlikely to play minutes in the low-to-mid 30s, he doesn't have anyone on his corner. In two-center leagues, he makes for a great second center. And if managers in a one-center league reach the seventh round and don't have one yet, Poeltl is one of the last quality high-floor options out there.
Poeltl is quietly coming off a career year where he reached highs in points (14.5), rebounds (9.6) and steals (1.2) per game - also contributing 9.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 29.6 minutes. The center also shot a career-high 67.4 percent from the charity stripe. He's a prototypical center, controlling the paint on both offense and defense. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect much to change this year. A fully healthy and reloaded Raptors team could mean fewer offensive touches for Poeltl, but he should remain a consistent double-double threat with upside for multiple assists, blocks and steals. It also benefits his fantasy potential that the Raptors don't have a traditional center backing him up. While Poeltl is unlikely to play minutes in the low-to-mid 30s, he doesn't have anyone on his corner. In two-center leagues, he makes for a great second center. And if managers in a one-center league reach the seventh round and don't have one yet, Poeltl is one of the last quality high-floor options out there.
Allen's workload and usage took a significant hit last season as Evan Mobley stepped into a larger role. Efficiency wasn't an issue, though, as Allen led the league with a 70.6 field-goal percentage. Still, that could only make up so much for relatively modest averages of 13.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks in 28.0 minutes. That slight downward trend could continue again this season, with no major roster changes for Cleveland and more presumptive development from Mobley, who probably is best playing center. From a fantasy perspective, Allen is grouped together with a variety of other centers who provide a high floor - efficient double-doubles. In two-center formats, he should probably be drafted around the 50-60 range, but managers in one-center leagues can probably opt more for 60-70.
Allen's workload and usage took a significant hit last season as Evan Mobley stepped into a larger role. Efficiency wasn't an issue, though, as Allen led the league with a 70.6 field-goal percentage. Still, that could only make up so much for relatively modest averages of 13.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks in 28.0 minutes. That slight downward trend could continue again this season, with no major roster changes for Cleveland and more presumptive development from Mobley, who probably is best playing center. From a fantasy perspective, Allen is grouped together with a variety of other centers who provide a high floor - efficient double-doubles. In two-center formats, he should probably be drafted around the 50-60 range, but managers in one-center leagues can probably opt more for 60-70.
Pritchard experienced a boost in production across the board in 2024-25, which led to his first ever Sixth Man of the Year award. The scrappy guard had career highs in points (14.3), assists (3.5), made threes (3.2), rebounds (3.8) and steals (0.9) per game, while posting strong percentages (47/85/41). The extra shooting volume actually improved Fast PP's accuracy. The generously listed 6-foot-1 guard could experience yet another boost in 2025-26. The 2025-26 Celtics have lost Jayson Tatum (Achilles), Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis (trades) with the only significant addition being Anfernee Simons. Those lineup changes should free up a lot of shots for Pritchard, who prefers to shoot first and ask permission later. Coach Joe Mazzulla loves high volume three-point shooting - Boston led the league in attempted threes last season (47.2 per game). Expect Pritchard, Derrick White and Simons to each jack more threes this season. And considering Boston's shallow depth at forward (is Georges Niang really going to start?), Mazzulla will experiment with plenty of three-guard lineups. Pritchard should improve on his 28.4 minutes per game from last season and enjoy, yet again, higher shooting volume.
Pritchard experienced a boost in production across the board in 2024-25, which led to his first ever Sixth Man of the Year award. The scrappy guard had career highs in points (14.3), assists (3.5), made threes (3.2), rebounds (3.8) and steals (0.9) per game, while posting strong percentages (47/85/41). The extra shooting volume actually improved Fast PP's accuracy. The generously listed 6-foot-1 guard could experience yet another boost in 2025-26. The 2025-26 Celtics have lost Jayson Tatum (Achilles), Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis (trades) with the only significant addition being Anfernee Simons. Those lineup changes should free up a lot of shots for Pritchard, who prefers to shoot first and ask permission later. Coach Joe Mazzulla loves high volume three-point shooting - Boston led the league in attempted threes last season (47.2 per game). Expect Pritchard, Derrick White and Simons to each jack more threes this season. And considering Boston's shallow depth at forward (is Georges Niang really going to start?), Mazzulla will experiment with plenty of three-guard lineups. Pritchard should improve on his 28.4 minutes per game from last season and enjoy, yet again, higher shooting volume.
Porter is coming off two strong seasons where he got his health back on track, appearing in 158 games after totaling 187 appearances across his prior five years. The 2025-26 season will be a change in scenery for the forward, as he was traded from the Nuggets to the Nets during the offseason. Porter may have to take on more usage than ever. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray won't be feeding him easy dimes for relocation threes and backdoor cuts, and Brooklyn has a severe lack of scorers besides Cam Thomas. It's not clear how being away from Jokic will affect Porter's game, but it seems unlikely he'll change his playstyle as a quick-trigger, catch-and-shoot wing. Fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if he posts career high counting stats but career lows in efficiency. His injury issues also loom over his fantasy value, even if the past two years have been healthy. There's plenty of reason to take a gamble on Porter sooner than in the prior two seasons, though, which was roughly the 65-90 range.
Porter is coming off two strong seasons where he got his health back on track, appearing in 158 games after totaling 187 appearances across his prior five years. The 2025-26 season will be a change in scenery for the forward, as he was traded from the Nuggets to the Nets during the offseason. Porter may have to take on more usage than ever. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray won't be feeding him easy dimes for relocation threes and backdoor cuts, and Brooklyn has a severe lack of scorers besides Cam Thomas. It's not clear how being away from Jokic will affect Porter's game, but it seems unlikely he'll change his playstyle as a quick-trigger, catch-and-shoot wing. Fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if he posts career high counting stats but career lows in efficiency. His injury issues also loom over his fantasy value, even if the past two years have been healthy. There's plenty of reason to take a gamble on Porter sooner than in the prior two seasons, though, which was roughly the 65-90 range.
Garland played a pivotal role in the Cavaliers obtaining the top seed in the East. The Vanderbilt product played a career-high 75 regular-season games and was named to his second All-Star game after averaging 21.6 points, 6.7 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals over 30.2 minutes per game through the first two-thirds of the season. The Cavs' regular-season success didn't carry over into the playoffs, and much of that was due to Garland spraining his left big toe at the tail end of the regular season, which limited him to just 14.0 points and 4.0 assists in 28.3 minutes per game over his final three appearances in the postseason. He underwent surgery in early June, but with a recovery timeline of about five months, he's expected to miss the start of the 2025-26 season. Garland has connected on over 40 percent of his three-point attempts in two of the last three seasons and has averaged 20-plus points in three of the last four campaigns, so he'll give the Cavaliers an offensive boost once he has fully recovered from his procedure.
Garland played a pivotal role in the Cavaliers obtaining the top seed in the East. The Vanderbilt product played a career-high 75 regular-season games and was named to his second All-Star game after averaging 21.6 points, 6.7 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals over 30.2 minutes per game through the first two-thirds of the season. The Cavs' regular-season success didn't carry over into the playoffs, and much of that was due to Garland spraining his left big toe at the tail end of the regular season, which limited him to just 14.0 points and 4.0 assists in 28.3 minutes per game over his final three appearances in the postseason. He underwent surgery in early June, but with a recovery timeline of about five months, he's expected to miss the start of the 2025-26 season. Garland has connected on over 40 percent of his three-point attempts in two of the last three seasons and has averaged 20-plus points in three of the last four campaigns, so he'll give the Cavaliers an offensive boost once he has fully recovered from his procedure.
After being acquired by the Knicks at the 2023-24 trade deadline, the Raptors swiftly committed to Quickley long term by signing him to a five-year, $175 million contract in June of 2024. The Kentucky product was expected to serve as a key piece in the franchise alongside Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett, but Quickley missed 30 of Toronto's first 33 regular-season games due to pelvic and elbow injuries and had scheduled rest days over the final quarter of the season. Quickly has the scoring punch and playmaking ability to lead an offense, but health will be a big question mark for him heading into his second full season with the Raptors. The challenge facing Quickley will be how to balance the offense, given that Barnes, Barrett and a healthy Brandon Ingram will all be asking for the ball. Quickley's usage and shooting output will probably dip, but he could make up for that with an uptick in assists; he averaged a career-high 5.8 dimes per game last season.
After being acquired by the Knicks at the 2023-24 trade deadline, the Raptors swiftly committed to Quickley long term by signing him to a five-year, $175 million contract in June of 2024. The Kentucky product was expected to serve as a key piece in the franchise alongside Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett, but Quickley missed 30 of Toronto's first 33 regular-season games due to pelvic and elbow injuries and had scheduled rest days over the final quarter of the season. Quickly has the scoring punch and playmaking ability to lead an offense, but health will be a big question mark for him heading into his second full season with the Raptors. The challenge facing Quickley will be how to balance the offense, given that Barnes, Barrett and a healthy Brandon Ingram will all be asking for the ball. Quickley's usage and shooting output will probably dip, but he could make up for that with an uptick in assists; he averaged a career-high 5.8 dimes per game last season.
Portis once again served as the Bucks' top option off the bench for the 2024-25 season, though he did end up starting in seven games when Giannis Antetokounmpo was forced to sit due to injury. Portis did miss 25 regular-season games after being suspended for violating the NBA's anti-drug policy, but he quickly found his form in his return and averaged 14.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.8 steals over 30.3 minutes per game over his last eight games (including five playoff contests). Although the Bucks waived Damian Lillard and allowed Brook Lopez to sign with the Clippers, they committed to Portis with a three-year, $44 million contract, which solidifies him as Milwaukee's first big man off the bench behind Antetokounmpo and new starting center Myles Turner. It is worth noting that Portis shot 46.6 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from three-point range last season, both his worst marks since the 2019-20 season as a member of the Knicks.
Portis once again served as the Bucks' top option off the bench for the 2024-25 season, though he did end up starting in seven games when Giannis Antetokounmpo was forced to sit due to injury. Portis did miss 25 regular-season games after being suspended for violating the NBA's anti-drug policy, but he quickly found his form in his return and averaged 14.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.8 steals over 30.3 minutes per game over his last eight games (including five playoff contests). Although the Bucks waived Damian Lillard and allowed Brook Lopez to sign with the Clippers, they committed to Portis with a three-year, $44 million contract, which solidifies him as Milwaukee's first big man off the bench behind Antetokounmpo and new starting center Myles Turner. It is worth noting that Portis shot 46.6 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from three-point range last season, both his worst marks since the 2019-20 season as a member of the Knicks.
Coming off a solid 2023-24 season, Thomas was expected to be the No. 1 option on offense after Mikal Bridges was traded to the Knicks during the offseason. Thomas showed off his scoring chops early in the 2024-25 season, scoring 30-plus points in six of his first 17 games while averaging 24.7 points on 46.1 percent shooting and 38.9 percent from three. However, the prolific scoring guard was bothered by a left hamstring strain in late November, which impacted his shooting efficiency for the rest of the season and forced him to miss 56 of the Nets' final 64 games. A full offseason should be enough for him to enter training camp with a clean bill of health, and even with the addition of Michael Porter, Thomas should still get the lion's share of usage on offense. It's also worth noting , despite his hamstring issues and shoot-first mentality, that Thomas averaged a career-high 3.8 assists per game, which should make him more appealing to fantasy managers.
Coming off a solid 2023-24 season, Thomas was expected to be the No. 1 option on offense after Mikal Bridges was traded to the Knicks during the offseason. Thomas showed off his scoring chops early in the 2024-25 season, scoring 30-plus points in six of his first 17 games while averaging 24.7 points on 46.1 percent shooting and 38.9 percent from three. However, the prolific scoring guard was bothered by a left hamstring strain in late November, which impacted his shooting efficiency for the rest of the season and forced him to miss 56 of the Nets' final 64 games. A full offseason should be enough for him to enter training camp with a clean bill of health, and even with the addition of Michael Porter, Thomas should still get the lion's share of usage on offense. It's also worth noting , despite his hamstring issues and shoot-first mentality, that Thomas averaged a career-high 3.8 assists per game, which should make him more appealing to fantasy managers.
After seeing his numbers rise over the last three seasons, Vassell saw a slight statistical decline in 2024-25, though that was partially due to less usage on offense. He finished the regular season averaging 16.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals over 31.0 minutes per game while connecting on 36.8 percent of his three-point attempts, though his 13.9 field-goal attempts per contest was his lowest since the 2021-22 season. It's difficult to see Vassell's usage increasing in the upcoming season, given the fact that he'll be sharing the floor with Victor Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox, reigning ROTY Stephon Castle and 2025 second-overall pick Dylan Harper. Vassell was permanently moved into the Spurs' starting lineup just before Christmas and started in 53 of 64 games he played in, though his spot could be in jeopardy with veteran Harrison Barnes also on the roster.
After seeing his numbers rise over the last three seasons, Vassell saw a slight statistical decline in 2024-25, though that was partially due to less usage on offense. He finished the regular season averaging 16.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals over 31.0 minutes per game while connecting on 36.8 percent of his three-point attempts, though his 13.9 field-goal attempts per contest was his lowest since the 2021-22 season. It's difficult to see Vassell's usage increasing in the upcoming season, given the fact that he'll be sharing the floor with Victor Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox, reigning ROTY Stephon Castle and 2025 second-overall pick Dylan Harper. Vassell was permanently moved into the Spurs' starting lineup just before Christmas and started in 53 of 64 games he played in, though his spot could be in jeopardy with veteran Harrison Barnes also on the roster.
The Bucks traded Khris Middleton for Kuzma at the deadline last season. Kuzma went on to play 33 games for Milwaukee, averaging 14.5 points and 1.5 threes on 46/33/66 shooting, 5.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 31.8 minutes. There's room for Kuzma to take on some more usage this season with Damian Lillard waived following his Achilles tear, though players like Kevin Porter and Gary Trent should also see increased touches - as could Giannis Antetokounmpo. Even when Kuzma was in his prime in Washington, he was only providing category-league value in fantasy around the 70-90 range. Now, farther down in the pecking order and crossing into his age-30 season, it seems unlikely the forward will be able to reach those highs again. Optimists could draft him before pick 100 hoping for a return to form, but there's not immense upside. He's more suited for points leagues where his subpar efficiency and lack of defensive stats isn't as much of an issue.
The Bucks traded Khris Middleton for Kuzma at the deadline last season. Kuzma went on to play 33 games for Milwaukee, averaging 14.5 points and 1.5 threes on 46/33/66 shooting, 5.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 31.8 minutes. There's room for Kuzma to take on some more usage this season with Damian Lillard waived following his Achilles tear, though players like Kevin Porter and Gary Trent should also see increased touches - as could Giannis Antetokounmpo. Even when Kuzma was in his prime in Washington, he was only providing category-league value in fantasy around the 70-90 range. Now, farther down in the pecking order and crossing into his age-30 season, it seems unlikely the forward will be able to reach those highs again. Optimists could draft him before pick 100 hoping for a return to form, but there's not immense upside. He's more suited for points leagues where his subpar efficiency and lack of defensive stats isn't as much of an issue.
After seven seasons with the Trail Blazers, Simons was traded to Boston in June. The high-scoring guard joins a 2025-26 Celtics team that is anxious for points production after losing Jayson Tatum (injury), Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis (trades). Simons is coming off a 2024-25 season in which his shot attempts, minutes, field goal percentage, three-point accuracy and free throw percentage all dipped slightly versus the prior season. With Boston, the veteran guard will probably return to or exceed the career-high 18.2 field goal attempts he hoisted in 2023-24. Simons played in 70 games last year, a solid sign after the guard struggled with ankle and knee issues the previous season. The bulk of Boston's backcourt minutes will go to three-combo guards: Simons, Derrick White and Sixth Man-Award-Winner Payton Pritchard. White should be the alpha dog of the group, with Pritchard sticking to his bench role. With fellow starters White and Jaylen Brown receiving most of the defense's attention, expect Simons to enjoy more catch-and-shoot opportunities than he had in Portland. On bad Trail Blazer teams, Simons was often stuck having to create his own shot. We may see both more volume and improved accuracy from Simons in 2025-26.
After seven seasons with the Trail Blazers, Simons was traded to Boston in June. The high-scoring guard joins a 2025-26 Celtics team that is anxious for points production after losing Jayson Tatum (injury), Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis (trades). Simons is coming off a 2024-25 season in which his shot attempts, minutes, field goal percentage, three-point accuracy and free throw percentage all dipped slightly versus the prior season. With Boston, the veteran guard will probably return to or exceed the career-high 18.2 field goal attempts he hoisted in 2023-24. Simons played in 70 games last year, a solid sign after the guard struggled with ankle and knee issues the previous season. The bulk of Boston's backcourt minutes will go to three-combo guards: Simons, Derrick White and Sixth Man-Award-Winner Payton Pritchard. White should be the alpha dog of the group, with Pritchard sticking to his bench role. With fellow starters White and Jaylen Brown receiving most of the defense's attention, expect Simons to enjoy more catch-and-shoot opportunities than he had in Portland. On bad Trail Blazer teams, Simons was often stuck having to create his own shot. We may see both more volume and improved accuracy from Simons in 2025-26.
Normally a steady source of strong fantasy production, VanVleet took a sizable step back last season. His assists-included usage rate (19.7%) reached a career low, and his true-shooting percentage (51.5%) was the second-worst of his career. The good news is that he was still strong defensively, ranking 20th in the NBA in steal percentage (2.2). But the overall stat line - 14.1 points and 2.7 threes on 38/35/81 shooting, 5.6 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals - burned fantasy managers who drafted him in the 30-50 range. It's possible the 31-year-old will bounce back in terms of efficiency, but it wouldn't be surprising to see another low-usage season and reduced minutes given Houston's surrounding cast. Amen Thompson looks ready for increased touches, and Kevin Durant will be taking plenty of shots. Reed Sheppard struggled as a rookie, but maybe he'll be ready for a real role this year. VanVleet used to be better in fantasy than in real basketball; now the opposite is probably true. He also hasn't been especially healthy throughout his career, and there could be some rest days if the Rockets are as good as anticipated.
Normally a steady source of strong fantasy production, VanVleet took a sizable step back last season. His assists-included usage rate (19.7%) reached a career low, and his true-shooting percentage (51.5%) was the second-worst of his career. The good news is that he was still strong defensively, ranking 20th in the NBA in steal percentage (2.2). But the overall stat line - 14.1 points and 2.7 threes on 38/35/81 shooting, 5.6 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals - burned fantasy managers who drafted him in the 30-50 range. It's possible the 31-year-old will bounce back in terms of efficiency, but it wouldn't be surprising to see another low-usage season and reduced minutes given Houston's surrounding cast. Amen Thompson looks ready for increased touches, and Kevin Durant will be taking plenty of shots. Reed Sheppard struggled as a rookie, but maybe he'll be ready for a real role this year. VanVleet used to be better in fantasy than in real basketball; now the opposite is probably true. He also hasn't been especially healthy throughout his career, and there could be some rest days if the Rockets are as good as anticipated.
As of late July, it appears that the starting power forward spot for Boston is a competition between Sam Hauser and Georges Niang. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. This of course is due to the Achilles injury suffered by star Jayson Tatum back in May. Tatum is out for all of 2025-26, leaving a massive void at the power forward spot. And the situation could be made worse with the retirement of veteran Al Horford. Over four seasons, Hauser averaged 18.5 minutes per game and has only started in 40 out of 256 NBA game appearances (16%). Niang has spent an even a larger chunk of his nine-year NBA career on the pine, having averaged 17.5 minutes per contest with 32 starts in 544 appearances (6%). Considering Hauser's experience within Coach Joe Mazzulla's system, Hauser probably has the edge. But at 6-foot-8 and a career average of only 2.9 rebounds per game, Hauser is not a prototypical power forward. Over his career, the bulk of Hauser's minutes have come at the wing. Regardless, considering the dearth of "big" options on the Boston roster, Hauser should see an improvement over the 22 minutes per game he's averaged over the past two seasons. More minutes should produce slight uptick in most counting categories. In what might be a "bridge season" for the Celtics, 2025-26 could be the brightest opportunity in the 27-year-old's career.
As of late July, it appears that the starting power forward spot for Boston is a competition between Sam Hauser and Georges Niang. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. This of course is due to the Achilles injury suffered by star Jayson Tatum back in May. Tatum is out for all of 2025-26, leaving a massive void at the power forward spot. And the situation could be made worse with the retirement of veteran Al Horford. Over four seasons, Hauser averaged 18.5 minutes per game and has only started in 40 out of 256 NBA game appearances (16%). Niang has spent an even a larger chunk of his nine-year NBA career on the pine, having averaged 17.5 minutes per contest with 32 starts in 544 appearances (6%). Considering Hauser's experience within Coach Joe Mazzulla's system, Hauser probably has the edge. But at 6-foot-8 and a career average of only 2.9 rebounds per game, Hauser is not a prototypical power forward. Over his career, the bulk of Hauser's minutes have come at the wing. Regardless, considering the dearth of "big" options on the Boston roster, Hauser should see an improvement over the 22 minutes per game he's averaged over the past two seasons. More minutes should produce slight uptick in most counting categories. In what might be a "bridge season" for the Celtics, 2025-26 could be the brightest opportunity in the 27-year-old's career.
After a rookie season in Detroit followed by three modest seasons with the Timberwolves, Garza signed a two-year contract with Boston. Normally, such a signing would be viewed as a good team tweaking the end of its bench. But with Jayson Tatum injured (Achilles), Kristaps Porzingis traded and Al Horton contemplating retirement, the Celtics are woefully thin at power forward and center. Garza is competing with Neemias Queta, Xavier Tillman, Sam Hauser and Georges Niang for minutes. Yikes. The upcoming season is the first real opportunity for Garza to play meaningful NBA minutes. But fans expecting a Luke Kornet-like breakout should dampen expectations. For one, Garza is not a rim protector. Over the past four years, Garza has averaged 0.4 blocks per 36 minutes. On the positive, Garza certainly proved he can score back in his old college days. The 2021 AP College Basketball Player of the Year averaged 24 points per game over his last two seasons at Iowa. But it's doubtful that Garza sees the same 31 minutes per game in Boston that he enjoyed as a Hawkeye. Presumably, the 6-foot-10 center would be happy to improve on the career-high 12.2 minutes per game he played in 2021-22 as a rookie with the Pistons. That goal is well within reach, but to keep Coach Joe Mazzulla happy and stay on the floor, he'll need to prove he can guard multiple positions, a Celtic staple.
After a rookie season in Detroit followed by three modest seasons with the Timberwolves, Garza signed a two-year contract with Boston. Normally, such a signing would be viewed as a good team tweaking the end of its bench. But with Jayson Tatum injured (Achilles), Kristaps Porzingis traded and Al Horton contemplating retirement, the Celtics are woefully thin at power forward and center. Garza is competing with Neemias Queta, Xavier Tillman, Sam Hauser and Georges Niang for minutes. Yikes. The upcoming season is the first real opportunity for Garza to play meaningful NBA minutes. But fans expecting a Luke Kornet-like breakout should dampen expectations. For one, Garza is not a rim protector. Over the past four years, Garza has averaged 0.4 blocks per 36 minutes. On the positive, Garza certainly proved he can score back in his old college days. The 2021 AP College Basketball Player of the Year averaged 24 points per game over his last two seasons at Iowa. But it's doubtful that Garza sees the same 31 minutes per game in Boston that he enjoyed as a Hawkeye. Presumably, the 6-foot-10 center would be happy to improve on the career-high 12.2 minutes per game he played in 2021-22 as a rookie with the Pistons. That goal is well within reach, but to keep Coach Joe Mazzulla happy and stay on the floor, he'll need to prove he can guard multiple positions, a Celtic staple.
After nine seasons in the Association, Niang returns to his hometown for his first season with the Celtics. As the veteran forward has joked on summer podcasts, he knows Boston is going from the Unicorn to the Minivan, and fans are understandably concerned. The good news for Niang is, with the departure of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday via trades and the one-year absence of star Jayson Tatum (Achilles), there are plenty of minutes available in Boston. Also, Niang might have found the ideal home for his love of jacking threes. The Celtics led the NBA last season in attempted three pointers. Niang launched a career-high 5.2 shots per game from behind the arc last year. The bad news is Coach Joe Mazzulla quickly grows intolerant of poor defense, and no one has accused Niang of being fleet of foot. The Celtics are particularly thin at the power forward and center positions. In fact, the starting power forward spot is probably a fight between career reserves Sam Hauser and Niang. Hauser's four years in Boston probably gives him the edge to start. But expect lineups to constantly change in this year of development for the Celtics. Niang has a solid opportunity to improve on the 21.5 minutes per contest he played last season, especially if he can maintain his career average of 40 percent shooting from three-point land.
After nine seasons in the Association, Niang returns to his hometown for his first season with the Celtics. As the veteran forward has joked on summer podcasts, he knows Boston is going from the Unicorn to the Minivan, and fans are understandably concerned. The good news for Niang is, with the departure of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday via trades and the one-year absence of star Jayson Tatum (Achilles), there are plenty of minutes available in Boston. Also, Niang might have found the ideal home for his love of jacking threes. The Celtics led the NBA last season in attempted three pointers. Niang launched a career-high 5.2 shots per game from behind the arc last year. The bad news is Coach Joe Mazzulla quickly grows intolerant of poor defense, and no one has accused Niang of being fleet of foot. The Celtics are particularly thin at the power forward and center positions. In fact, the starting power forward spot is probably a fight between career reserves Sam Hauser and Niang. Hauser's four years in Boston probably gives him the edge to start. But expect lineups to constantly change in this year of development for the Celtics. Niang has a solid opportunity to improve on the 21.5 minutes per contest he played last season, especially if he can maintain his career average of 40 percent shooting from three-point land.
As a rookie last season, Scheierman split his time between the Association and the G League. With Boston, the wing appeared in 31 games and averaged a modest 3.6 points over 12.4 minutes per game. With the G League Maine Celtics, Scheierman excelled, producing 20.4 points, 6.2 boards, 5.1 dimes, 1.5 steals and 4.1 made threes over 35 minutes per contest. As an old (24 years) NBA sophomore, the Creighton product has a blossoming opportunity in Boston. Financial flexibility forced the C's to trade both Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. And star forward Jayson Tatum will miss this upcoming season due to an Achilles injury. That frees up a lot of minutes for Scheierman and Boston's other reserves. The Celtics are particularly thin at power forward and center, which means Coach Joe Mazzulla could roll out many small-ball lineups. Players like Scheierman, Sam Hauser and Jordan Walsh might wind up getting minutes outside of their traditional positions. Scheierman's NBA game count and minutes per contest should increase this season. How much of an increase will depend on the wing's ability to hit threes, guard multiple positions and keep the ball moving. Scheierman's G League numbers hint at an ability to do all three things well.
As a rookie last season, Scheierman split his time between the Association and the G League. With Boston, the wing appeared in 31 games and averaged a modest 3.6 points over 12.4 minutes per game. With the G League Maine Celtics, Scheierman excelled, producing 20.4 points, 6.2 boards, 5.1 dimes, 1.5 steals and 4.1 made threes over 35 minutes per contest. As an old (24 years) NBA sophomore, the Creighton product has a blossoming opportunity in Boston. Financial flexibility forced the C's to trade both Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. And star forward Jayson Tatum will miss this upcoming season due to an Achilles injury. That frees up a lot of minutes for Scheierman and Boston's other reserves. The Celtics are particularly thin at power forward and center, which means Coach Joe Mazzulla could roll out many small-ball lineups. Players like Scheierman, Sam Hauser and Jordan Walsh might wind up getting minutes outside of their traditional positions. Scheierman's NBA game count and minutes per contest should increase this season. How much of an increase will depend on the wing's ability to hit threes, guard multiple positions and keep the ball moving. Scheierman's G League numbers hint at an ability to do all three things well.
