BasketballDynasty26 2021 POST DRAFT/FA POWER RANKINGS.
Aug 18, 2021 20:56:19 GMT -5
Golden State Warriors (Caleb), Oklahoma City Thunder (Loren), and 8 more like this
Post by The Athletic on Aug 18, 2021 20:56:19 GMT -5
BasketballDynasty26 2021 POST DRAFT/FA POWER RANKINGS.
Just a little somethin somethin on where I think teams stand and some thoughts on their off-season moves. As always, these are just my opinions and I’m just one guy, so don’t take it too seriously, I appreciate and got love for everyone here <3 Enjoy.
*These are based on where I believe teams will finish for this season only based on current rosters/my opinion on the ownership, yes this is a dynasty league and the years beyond this one matter, but not in these PR's.*
30- Memphis Grizzlies
Big Royce!! I'm a pretty big fan of Royce's moves this offseason. Cooper-Primo-Jackson are all good picks and getting Sharife in the 2nd round was especially huge. Dude is fucking special. I'm lower on Scottie than most so I still think Royce needs to search for his 1A blue chip piece. That will most likely come in next years draft. Bruce Brown will be a decent contributor for this team, Buddy Buckets should be around 25 fppg, Bane should continue to improve on last year. Hopefully Ibaka can bounce back and Portis can have another nice season (like the chances of that, Bobby is blowout empty stat king in Milwaukee). Robert Will is a huge x factor here, if he can just stay healthy and get in 25 min a night, it's probably Royce's first 30 fppg scorer. Future very bright in Memphis.
29- Denver Nuggets
Is this the year Jaren breaks out? I hope so, I love that man. I got JJJ at 30 fppg this year, the time is now, take him in all your other leagues, he's breaking out. Not a huge fan of what Kev did in the draft, although he did have some tough spots to draft from imo. I'm the lowest guy on Davion here I believe, the shooting is probably gonna be gross this year and he's just not in a good situation. Bagley could put up 25 fppg or more, for all of his troubles, the man can gobble boards and score some. Love the Jalen pick, though he won't contribute right away. Bones should have some stretches/flashes this year, I believe he's ready to go. Hopefully Gary/Cam J/Kuzma can all make some strides this year. Not a fan of any of the contracts. All in all, the slow and steady build is continuing in Denver with Kevin aka the former CHAMP having his 1st again.
28- Phoenix Suns
Ah yes, the cerebral, meticulous builder of the league. Ty just isn't gonna make a bad move. He might not make a lot of moves, but he'll be back on top in a year or two. I like Suggs a lot and think he's good for 20+ fppg in year one. KJ Martin can fill it up a little if he finds some time in Houston, and then PWILLY BABY. Sucks the Bulls added a bunch of FA's irl man, high usage and high minute Pat on a bad team would be a sight to behold. He'll probably drop around 22 fppg this year. I'm not a Rui fan at all, but he could absorb more usage in Washington and hopefully average 22-23 fppg? Just doesn't bring a lot to the box score besides scoring and the Wizards got a lot of forwards these days. Chuma is good though and I expect him to take a jump this year. Bamba is what he is these days and the man can put up some fantasy stats if he receives the minutes. Look for Ty to put up some sneaky totals the weeks that WCJ misses. Allen is a nice 30 fppg piece to have as well. The Valley!
27- San Antonio Spurs
Mr. Chris is looking at another rebuilding year. Not a bad thing though, having a direction and sticking to it for a couple years should yield good results. Mobley is gonna be a stud here even if he only drops around 20-25 fppg this coming season. Boucher is an interesting guy to peg (no homo) but he can put up some beefy stats in limited time. Look for OG to improve this season. I'm not sure what Milton's role in Philly is going forward as I suck Tyrese, but he should be a decent enough depth piece going forward. That DLo contract is so tough but I think he can bounce back somewhat this year, and I liked the McBride pick as well. Business as usual in San Antonio this year, enjoy the gutters.
26- Detroit Pistons
Irwin's doing his thing man, Kawhi being out for the year sucks but it means another high lotto selection next year. Pretty sure Pistons has Raptors pick this year as well. Man is going to have a really nice team going into next season. Cade really should be around 25-30 fppg this year. Melton should get a shot in Memphis this coming year (hopefully, maybe, let it happen Jenkins), Flynn has shown really good things, Poole caught fire for stretches last year, Mikal is continuing his ascent. Oubre is on the block and I don't expect him to be on this team much longer, Bradley should absorb some mins off the bench in Chicago. All in all, this team is setup very well going into the future and the Kawhi injury is a blessing in disguise.
25- Toronto Raptors
Ahh, I think this is the year big ole Perk falls off. Lots of good young blood on this team that won't score much this season, but should be nice in future seasons (Cole/Butler/Bouknight). A nice Bertans bounce back year would be very key in Perk beating this ranking, 23 fppg would be huge. Contract Kelly was a man on a mission and he should have another decent role this coming year. Smart is fresh off an injury riddled season but should be good for around 26 fppg. Hamidou is another x-factor for this squad, if he can score 20 fppg or more, big dubya. I like the future of this team but this year is definitely going to be a step back in order to have greater success later.
24- Houston Rockets
Free honestly has a roster that only has like 3 players I don't like (WCS/TBJ/Shamet). That being said, team is still about a year out from competing and this is exactly where Free wants to be. 1 more tanking year for a high draft pick and it's GO time. LaVine might average less fppg this year but he's still a guaranteed 30+ young stud. I like Killian's game a lot and think he goes for around 22 fppg this year. Jalen Green is a fantastic sexy ass piece man and he should hover around the 24 fppg mark this year. NAW looks to be the starter for New Orleans at this moment and 20 fppg + is realistic. Hart is a nice piece in here because of the boards. This is a big year for Poku and I'm very interested to see him this year. If Tillman has a consistent role this coming year, Free could definitely beat this ranking. Chuck Tree >
23- Los Angeles Lakers
Griff's Lakers take a slide here compared to previous years, but this team could surprise. I expect growth from Sexton this year and 28 fppg, maybe even 29. He will have the same usage as last year and even better options for assists. Delon is in a less than ideal spot but I'd expect around 18-20 fppg this year. Grant is going to be the deciding factor where this team ultimately ends up. Does he struggle and put up around 25 fppg or is he first half of last year Grant at 32-33 fppg? I'd expect something in the middle of 29-30 fppg. Just a lot of 20 fppt scorers on this team man and you can make that work. Barnes/Harris/Prince/Dort are all solid depth options.
22- Portland Trail Blazers
The Nerd in the league!! Future Superstar Tyrese Maxey. That's all you need to know, that's it. Garland is very alright himself, probably hovers around 27-28 fppg this coming year. I wanna see him put together a healthy-ish season though. 65+ games would be a nice sight. I'm not huge on the Kyle Anderson bagged out thing, Slow-Mo was eating at PF and JJJ is going to try to have himself a season so... Adams won't play much but he should start and play 22-23 minutes so JJJ should get more time at center in this year. Such a tough front court though, you got Tillman, Clarke, JJJ, Adams all vying for minutes. Maybe Anderson plays mostly as an SF this year, we'll see. Love's gotta at least play some hoop this year, I'd hope so we'll pencil in about 26-27 fppts a night. Claxton's a big x-factor and I think he can eat here, chains hopefully coming off this year in BKN. Brown/THT/Vandy/Nowell/Zeller are all great depth pieces to have. Not a Coby guy but he'll be in his most effective role this year so I'd expect 20+ fppg szn. Preston could see some time this year as well, so while this team is still a ways away from the real convo, they're on the right path and very exciting.
21- Indiana Pacers
This will probably surprise some people because Zion being on this team will make most put Jho higher than this. Just not enough depth on this team for me and if Isaac or Zion misses a significant amount of time, things could get ugly. Counter side is if they play a lot and Drummond finds himself starting because of a Joel injury, Pacers could really outperform this projection. Barton is another huge x-factor, he has some of the most all over the place seasons I've seen. Could go for 26 fppg, could get hurt or play like dog. No Murray is gonna help though. Thomas looks like a good depth piece, I'm not a huge Tre Mann fan but there's opportunity in OKC. Thybulle's fantasy game is severely limited. Sengun and McDaniels!! These two hit and oh man. Mid 20's fppg from both and Jho will be rollin. I don't expect Collins to contribute a whole lot, best case scenario is he looks good in spot minutes and the Spurs can keep him healthy.
20- Dallas Mavericks
Hard to put a team with so many assets this low but hear me out. Murray and Onyeka are not going to be major contributors this season. Mitchell and MPJ are both 33-35 fppg guys for me this year. I like Hampton as a prospect, especially in here. Think Josh Hart like with a little more upside possibly. Crowded in Orlando currently tho so I'm not sure it's this year. I like Monk's long term outlook too on another team, this ain't the year for him in LA, flashes and some big moments and go get himself a bigger role somewhere else. Mann is cool probably about 20 fppg, Brooks not cool but about the same, Bazley/Brissett/Stewart are big x-factors for me. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bazley averaged 24 fppg, also wouldn’t be surprised at 20. Stew should be good for around 24-25 fppg this year, possibly more. Brissett had some intriguing games last year and while I think there is talent there, not sure any of those rates are sustainable even if he finds himself starting. He should play 20 minutes and the Doug role from last year out of the gate though. Okoro is probably an 18 fppg, possibly 20 guy this year. I think his best role in the NBA is a 2 guard, he would've got more shots/usage and been more comfortable if Sexton got moved imo. Not expecting big things from Christopher or Ziaire this year, maybe a couple flashes. I know Kyle wants to wait to trade his rookies/assets until they’re at their highest value, but the risk in that is some of these guys disappoint and you can’t get the value you’d like anymore. If you trade em before they play an NBA game, you eliminate that risk. No one is going to pay the value you want after a disappointing season because they’ll want to see NBA success. Capitilizing on draft hype could’ve been the move.
19- Charlotte Hornets
Kennan!! I hope you read this bro. I like the squad man, especially if Wiseman can average 20+ fppg this year and make some big strides. Collins isn't in the best situation in Atlanta, but he's real nice, 30 fppg probably this year. Look for some more BI strides, probably about 33 fppg. The depth on this team is there too, Clarkson, McConnell, Donte, Kispert, Griffin, Dwight. Really interested to see what happens to Wall this year. A lot of people have counted him out, but 27 fppg last year is nothing to sneeze at (yes, it was very rough around the edges, but I'm not completely holding it against him). Counting stats will always be there for Wall imo. I'll be interested to see if Wall gets moved at the deadline or shut down eventually, but there's a scenario where Wall starts and the Rockets click. Silas might be able to have Houston as a nice surprise team this year.
18- Washington Wizards
Fuckin' Skip bro sleeping on the Wizards again. Real talk though, I can get down with this team a bit. Jonas is a damn beast in this format, and even if the numbers fall a bit on the Pelicans, he should still be about 34 fppg. Scary Terry is the next big scoring piece on this team at 30 fppg. Again, the percentages have been good for a couple years, but more comp for minutes, man idk. I got him at 28 fppg this year. I do like Bledsoe to have a bit of a renaissance in LAC so I think you can squeeze 22 fppg there, maybe more if Lue starts him or plays him 30 mpg. Gafford should be the starter in Washington this year as well, 25 fppg should be expected. It's just depth on this team bro, that's the strength, Reggie, Powell, Hardaway, Pat, Jae, TT, Horf are all going to contribute. You ain't surprising anyone this year though Octy, last year was a FLUKE.
17- Sacramento Kings
Davie was a ghost before about 2 months ago and it's great to see the Kings improved. The Russ trade was a dubya, sure, his trade value isn't the highest in this league because of the age/contract/injury history, but 50 fppts per game? Even if we factor in natural regression/the LA fit, it's still at worse about 42-44? The PG move for Tobias is cool, I like the PG side, but getting another 30 pt scorer and a solid 20 fppg on a 3m contract is what this team needed. Pritchard has shown out in the summer league and will probably take some steps this year. Dinwiddie is back! I'd conservatively put him around 22-23 fppg, but would not be surprised if he could average more. I like the Queta pick as well, won't play this year but I believe he can be a starter eventually. If the depth was a little better on this team then I could see a possible upset in the playoffs/higher finish than this. Thad is a big fat question mark, will he stay in SA, will he go to a contender? 9M wasn't a bad price to pay to find out what he does this year though. Jackson/Mills/DJ/Toscano/Lopez are all lower end depth pieces but this is an improved roster with possibly more improvements in store.
16- Oklahoma City Thunder
Nurkic for 40 fppg boys? Real talk though everyone likes the big Jusuf, he'll probably hover around 36-37 fppg, hopefully he stays healthy. Booker is.... not the greatest option in this league. As long as CP3 is running the show, the dimes are going to be low. It'd be nice if he could improve on his 3 pt % as well. 30+ fppg is probably happening but he isn't the super stud of this league. Wendell!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know man, rostering Nurkic and WCJ is an interesting proposition. Lots of risk here. I'm not a WCJ guy, but there is a possibility he can be a 30 fppg guy, I like the upside. Some decent depth on this squad, I don't think this is the year for Quickley though. He'll have his moments though because of the games the guards in front of him will miss, but it won't be consistent. Huerter/Ross/Allen/Wiggins/Nesmith are all nice depth pieces and there's upside in some of them. Maybe Loren would benefit from moving into a full rebuild/full competing mode but hey, nothing wrong with just constant improvement.
15- Philadelphia 76ers
I think this a good spot for Kyle, though I don't know what is happening with this franchise half the time and that's a good thing! Like the Trae trade a lot. Sabonis and Trae are both gonna flirt around 40 fppg so that's obviously huge. The depth he acquired through FA/drafted is..... okay? I love Giddey, probably biggest Giddey guy in the league I think. He's not averaging 25 fppg this year though and 6ers really needs that from him to be a serious threat. I'd estimate around 21-22 and that will be a really nice year. Kanter? I mean.... I think that's going to be an ugly contract sooner than later. Not sure if he's playing over 20 minutes a night. I can easily see him being a big factor here and there but I don't know, for 10M, I'd rather go for something more consistent. Bullock/Seth/Kennard are all nice 18 fppg depth pieces. Rest of these guys like Rivers/Willy H/Luke K/Kork can all be okay at times but it's not that consistent depth that really keeps you in it week to week. I like the slow build Kyle is going for, getting a little better each year and I'm excited to see his next moves.
14- Atlanta Hawks
Trey Treyyyyy. I'm not gonna lie, there is room for concern in Hotlanta this year. This is literally a 3 man team consisting of Harden/Lillard/CP3. I love the Harden/Lillard duo, they are studs and don't miss games (usually) so this studs and duds strategy can be effective. If I'm roster building though.... trading 2 depth pieces that score 20+ fppg for Chris Paul is not something I'd do here. CP is going to miss games this year and that's more depth you've lost out on. Next best player is Rubio? I think he's 20 fppg in Cleveland so he'll be alright this year. Melo/Gasol/Ariza/McGee/Nwaba/Cojo/Lee are all.... waiver wire worthy in a 30 teamer pretty much. They'll score here and there but none of these dudes are dropping 18-20 fppg consistently. Maybe the centers sniff it because of the scoring but even then, who knows. Trey's a playoff team and probably the most dangerous team in the league at all times because of the duo on hand. But CP3 is going to determine how far this team can go. If Vegan CP shows up and plays 65-70, alright. I'd be looking to drop another move or two. Just not enough players with upside that can really turn up.
13- Chicago Bulls
Demon Time ~A forceful, fierce, skillfull performer in any given activity~
12- Brooklyn Nets
Best thing about this team besides the super studs is I believe D White is scoring 30 fppg this year. Probably realistically 27-28 but I like his game a lot. KD's availability is a huge factor into this teams success. Studs and duds is a cool strategy if you have 2 or 3 big guns that normally don't miss games (because you can rely on them and don't need the depth as much), but with one stud who is pretty much guaranteed to miss games here and there in Durant, I don't think this team is ever going to hit the top 5. The weeks Durant misses are going to be such a low probability of you winning. Especially since this is a 30 team league, roster options are slim as it is. I like Warren around 23 fppg this year, LeVert is a nice 31 piece, and then we're at Kuminga. I'm on the side of liking him so we'll project about 18 fppg with some break out games. Think he ends up good. Simons is cool too, I think he can start in the league or be a high end 6th man, always been a fan. Very interested to see the rest of this roster of this come together because it could be so good but as is, not winning anything big.
11- Los Angeles Clipperos
Remy's team is nice bro. It's not as strong as it has been in years past, but I have no doubt he will continue to improve it. Like Zo in Chicago this year around 32 fppg. Lowry probably about 30 fppg in Miami. Anthony Edwards, the big offseason acquisition, probably 28 fppg this season. Remy's depth this year has a lot of upside and variability to it. Much like Miami, there is young talent on this team that will improve. Cam/Keldon/Mitch/Poetl can all break out. I think 21 fppg from Reddish this season is on the docket, 22-23 from Keldon, maybe more I haven't looked into him deeply but not a huge fan. Mitch I like a lot this year and think he can hover around 28-29 fppg, maybe even hit 30. Poetl should be a steady 26 fppg. Graham is in a nice role and can produce 28 fppg I believe. As I'm writing this, it's like damn, all these guys improve and we are talking about a serious contender here. Keon and Franz are good prospects but I don't think they'll be contributing much early. Maybe Franz can get some flashes going here and there. Go Remy!
10- Utah Jazz
Teeeej the squad lookin' good bro. Fox- 36 fppg, Beal- 36 fppg, and Vooch is probably around 37-38 fppg this year. Depth is a little less than average on this team currently. Burks/Monte/Danny Green/Jeff Green should all hover around 18-20 fppg. Kemba landed in a nice spot based on the fact that his coach wants to win every single regular season game possible. I'm sure they'll have some minutes limits and rests planned in, that will probably help Kemba longer term. I'd expect 27-28 fppg this season and upwards of 55 games. Bryant is a big x-factor here, he's gonna start the season on the IR and come back after December, I'd presume. Definitely don't think he's the starting center anymore and minutes will be tough to come by for him. 20 fppg would be a win, anything extra is gravvy. Bukakakeeee has actually looked okay at times in Summer League lmfao, he won't contribute this year though. The improvement from last year is astronomical and the cashing in of the chips was perfect, needs a little more juice and 2 more winning trades to really vault into title status, though.
9- Miami Heat
Team is very saucy. Ja and Ayton is a super fun duo. I'd guesstimate Ayton around 34 fppg this coming season. Ja probably about 32-33. That ankle injury really messed him up last year and I don't think he was right until the playoffs. Should be a big bank season for him. The depth of this team is really young/strong. Herro/Duarte/Hunter/Toppin should all make strides. If some of those guys accelerate on a 10, then Sanjul could easily outperform this projection. Fournier/Duncan/Nunn/Schroder should all be meaningful contributors as well. I'm not a Lauri fan but if the man can put up 23-24 fppg this year, that would be a huge boon to this team. Lots of production on this team as it is and lots of room for growth, a lot to be excited about in Miami.
8- Cleveland Cavaliers
Ah yes, the super team. Jokic is 52 fppg god mode. LeBron will be locked in for another 40 fppg season, maybe a little more. Middleton is a solid 33 fppg this year as well. The question is going to be the depth of the rest of the squad. Cavs has 3 studs that normally won't miss time, yes LeBron did last year, but I'm going to choose that's an anomaly. Brunson should be about 20 fppg, Bazemore could be looking at a starting role and 16 fppg, then you got Rudy at around 18-20 fppg (really liked that pickup), and Roby could have an opportunity in OKC to snag 18-20 fppg. Rest of the team is pretty much min backups scoring 10-15 fppg. I do like Dieng's per minute output and I could see him being a solid contributor as the backup center in Atlanta until OO is back. Overall, I like the team and with this core, Jon can beat anybody.
7- Boston Celtics
Sup Bitch. Quietest offseason in the league goes to Bzilla tha former god. Definitely the most star-power in the league. KAT is gonna be top 5 in fantasy this year. I got about 45-50 fppg coming from him this season. Then I'd say Bam is next with a nice 39 piece per. Now it gets interesting with Simmons this season, I believe he can return 40 fppg this year. SGA is probably about 34-35 fppt this season as well. And yeah that's the squad. He has Precious but I question the role in Toronto. Anything over 20 fppg would be a big win. Neto is a serviceable backup guard, Ish as well. 2 16 per game guys. Wagner and Hartenstein are currently 0's imo. It will be very interesting to see how far this team can go. If you don't wanna get off the 4 studs, I get it, trading can be a bitch sometimes and you’re messing with some very valuable pieces. Being active on the UFA market in season + getting as much value for that 2024 1st will be imperative to winning this season if he cares.
6- Milwaukee Bucks
Not a really a fan of the off season in Milwaukee. The defending champs lost a 39-40 fppg guy in Capela and the most contributing piece they obtained back is Mike Conley. I get it, Capela is a center and players like him have a limited shelf life, but he definitely is scoring in the 35+ range for the next 3 years barring something awful. Conley is most like about to regress fppg wise to around 27-28 and the hope is he plays 55 games. Tate showed some things on a Rockets team with nothing last year and still managed only 22.5 fppg. Classic mistake dealing for a dude putting up numbers on a tanking team and then the team with picks galore drafts real talent to suck his opportunity. Probably about 20 fppg for JaeSean this year. Really like the Murphy pick, think he has a solid floor and solid room to grow as a player, he won't be a major contributor right away, though. Maybe about 15-18 fppg. I've liked Vassell but 23 fppg is probably a realistic, good season for him this year. And now we're at Clarke. Really hard to get excited about Clarkey this year. Adams/JJJ/Anderson/Tillman.... I'm sure Clarke will see some SF time as will Anderson but man.... I think Clarke is a solid enough player irl but it almost assuredly will not turn into fantasy goodness this season(barring a trade). Him playing a steady 25 minutes and 23 fppg this season = dubya. Let's get to the good stuff, I like Murray, but believe there is a sever cap on how high he goes. 34 fppg is max for him, with 32-33 being realistic. Spurs limit minutes/touches and all around, the guy has limited %'s that haven't improved. LaMelo is obviously so awesome, got him around 32-34 fppg this year. Giannis, yeah, 46 fppg inbound. Miles is the true x-factor here, 24 fppg and a huge run at the end of last year with no Hayward. I think he can replicate 23-24 but improvement will be so tough. Sky high %'s last year compared to the rest of his career and a little more comp for minutes this year. Bottom line is this team is setup to have a shot for as long as the top 3 are together and that's awesome. I don't think Jacob is maximizing his chances for a ring this year at the current moment.
5- Orlando Magic
My good buddy Serge is the fav in the East is cool. Tatum.... Butler.... Wood.... can compete with any big 3 in the league and possibly be the favorite. Tatum & Butler= most likely both 38 fppg guys and Wood should hover around 35-36. Tatum might take a step this year and go off for 40 too. Hayward will be a nice, consistent 31 fppg this year, hopefully he can stay healthy. I'll project KPJ to hit 25 fppg this season. Not really going to spend too much time on it, there's obvious flaws to this kid on the court that prevent stardom imo. Fultz is a huge x-factor, for all the contract shit we give him, which he is absolutely not worth a lick, 22 fppg is realistic and will work for depth. Rose is pretty important and a replication of last season will be sweet for this team. Can definitely tell Sarge is a seasoned fantasy basketball player with the depth pieces he acquired in FA. Doug/KCP/Lyles/Millsap are all dry as fucking overcooked ribeye but they'll probably produce more than the young sexy pieces some competing teams have (see team below Magic). Not a whole to write on this write-up, I don't believe there is much untapped scoring on the squad. The picks are gone and Magic needs to keep improving for a chip but I have no doubt he will.
4- Knicks
Yes, the most opportunistic, cunning, horny, quick-triggered owner is the favorite in the East. Absolutely love the balance of 35+ dudes and depth on this team for this year. PG should be at 37 fppg sans Kawhi, maybe a bit more, but I'm going to shoot mid to low. Cap looks bound to repeat 39 and be a beast. Toronto was such a mess last year, but I could easily seeing FVV hitting 35 fppg this season. Best and most important part of this team is the depth that will be a constant. Ingles is nice upside depth as it stands, 20 fppg and then more once the inevitable sit outs happen in Utah. Campazzo seems bound for about 16-18 fppg this year, was worried about his role evaporating but I think he remains in the rotation. Bones coming though. Favors should carry some regular season wins to the tune of 20-23 fppg. Worried about his role going into the latter part of the year but Sood will flip for value. This is how I think teams will finish for the most part, and I think Jalaj will improve from here on out for wins. DFS looks like a bet for 21 fppg. LOVE the Gallinari signing. This is a guy that had a down year last year, new team, coming off the bench, and rotating coaches. Let's not forget, he's coming off a 24 fppg season in OKC prior, and then a 29 fppg the season before. The talent is never a question with Gallinari. He may not start, but he should see 26-28 minutes and put up 24-25 fppg again. Dieng is the current backup center, he'll absorb some minutes there and you can't play Hunter big minutes just yet coming off some scary knee issues. Gallo will be huge this year. Landale... Culver.. Brown... they won't be Knicks at the end of the year. I'm sorry but JSood will use that 2024 1st to tighten up the end of the rotation. If Landale can show flashes and average 16 fppg, maybe even more, he'll stick around. I like Brown's fantasy skillset too, we shall see if he carves a role of Kidd's bench. Overall, this ranking is more about my faith in an owner and I believe it's warranted.
3- Warriors
#ALLIN. Massively can mess with this team. Steph and Joel = 2 43 fppg players. The Studs and Duds argument I mentioned of being in trouble when 1 goes down, I won't dock points here because I know Caleb will work the UFA market in season/look for any way to insert points into the lineup. Myles Turner is the 3rd piece here and honestly, I can't project that guy. I'll go 30 fppg officially. The block rate has went up and down for years, there is no way to track/predict where it ends up at, trust me I've tried. I actually liked a lot of what I saw from Saddiq in SL. I'll go 22.5 fppg for a prediction this year. I'm not totally sure he ever translates into a fantasy stud at 30+ fppg but every time I've seen him, I've been more and more impressed. Team has 2 huge x-factors in Bogdan and Malik Beas. I like Bogdan a lot for fantasy man, dude can pass, shoot it, the steals aren't non-existent, boards are average for a guard. A healthy Bogdan year is 27 fppg this year imo. I liked him a lot when I bid last year, but severely hit the snooze button once he got hurt and didn't look until it was way too late. Malik has a lot of talent, but probably ends up a better real life contributor than in here. I will project at 23 fppg this season in Minny. Deniiiiiii time, opposite end of the spectrum for me on Avdija compared to Beasley. Dimes, boards, mild defensive stats and scoring. I can see 21-23 fppg this coming season. I hope the Wizards don't fuck around and play Kuzma/KCP at the expense of this kids minutes though. Give em the rock and see if you got someone for Beal. Caleb has built a team with a lot of guaranteed points in the lineup, but at the same time, there is a solid amount of untapped potential here. Look for 2-3 trades made during the year in the #ALLIN mindset I hope. I gotta special spot for my boy since diapers can't cap.
2- Minnesota Timberwolves
Drew has done a real nice job of improving this roster this off-season by adding depth and points onto his bench while not relinquishing his core whatsoever. Picks are still there for improvements as well. I do think Randle will regress to 36 fppg this year though and hear me out. Kemba.. Fournier.. maybe more Toppin minutes shots.... there is some creation and talent on that team this year compared to when Payton and Bullock were in the starting lineup throwing the ball to Julius at all costs. That dip in production should be offset by a return to 40 fppg from AD this year. He's motivated and hungry, I'd go 42 fppg this season. KP and AD are going to be targets of mine in other leagues if I do them. Brown, Brogdon and Tyrese are all awesome and have a real solid mix of guaranteed production + some slight possible advancement from Brown or Hali. Brown was 35 fppg last year for decent stretches buoyed by hitting like 70-80% of mid range jumpers, yet finished at around 32 fppg. I'd just bet on natural % increases + counting stats for him to hit 34.5 fppg this season. Haliburton was on fire at times and I'm very interested to see how he fares this year. There's a good sample size of scouting info on him now and that's a big reason for sophomore regression for rookies that went unexpectedly bonkers. His game is pretty sound, wish he got to the free throw line more and Sacramento didn't pick a guard. I'll go 27 fppg for Tyrese this year but I'm not confident in it. Depth on this team will work man, Adams should score 24 fppg, AG.... yeah probably 23 fppg. I won't be surprised if he drops 24, another year of comfortability with Malone, no Mal etc. He fantasy stat set is just so trash though and he's never proven he can shoot it. Caruso should be good for 16-18 fppg. Morris is probably 20 fppg at max. Don't know who the last 2 spots on this roster will be, but Wolves has shown based on last year, he will pickup guys to get in the lineup for fpts. Tough team.
1- New Orleans Pelicans
Gotta be the fave based on current rosters. Gobert/Dray/Kyrie is a huge big 3. 39 fppg for Gobert, 40 fppg for Kyrie and 34 fppg for Draymond most likely. Minimal risk in Gobert and Draymond, a little bit more in Kyrie because of missed games, although I think there's more depth on the team this year to make up for missed games from 1 of his studs. Siakam is nice bro and once he gets back, he'll be a solid bet for 34 fppg. CJ and DeRozan are the next tier of stars on this team. I like CJ at 29 fppg this season. Very flukey 3 pt shooting last year, but he's a solid bet for what he is. Also, CJ somehow had higher usage than Lillard when they played together lmfao that won’t continue imo. DeRozan..... yeah I can see him being the one in Chicago that has to watch a little more. 28 fppg is where I'll place him. I think he can salvage his stat lines most nights running the offense in the 2nd unit. Coby isn't a 1 and neither is Caruso so you'll get some extra usage there. Not completely sure how Donovan is running this, though. Depth is solid, RoCo will score 25 fppg most likely after he starts slow as a snail per usual. Trust in Thy Lord. Dragic/O'Neale/Plumlee should score around 20 fppg. Nnaji, idk what the hell this dude is doing on this roster. He's not getting run for the Nuggets bro, get em outta here and don't use a draft pick again Johnny. Jk. Not Really. Holiday and DJordan aren't in their respective teams' rotations. Work on that end of the bench depth, could be the difference between the tippity top. Been a blast watching you put in more than 1% effort this year though king.
Just a little somethin somethin on where I think teams stand and some thoughts on their off-season moves. As always, these are just my opinions and I’m just one guy, so don’t take it too seriously, I appreciate and got love for everyone here <3 Enjoy.
*These are based on where I believe teams will finish for this season only based on current rosters/my opinion on the ownership, yes this is a dynasty league and the years beyond this one matter, but not in these PR's.*
30- Memphis Grizzlies
Big Royce!! I'm a pretty big fan of Royce's moves this offseason. Cooper-Primo-Jackson are all good picks and getting Sharife in the 2nd round was especially huge. Dude is fucking special. I'm lower on Scottie than most so I still think Royce needs to search for his 1A blue chip piece. That will most likely come in next years draft. Bruce Brown will be a decent contributor for this team, Buddy Buckets should be around 25 fppg, Bane should continue to improve on last year. Hopefully Ibaka can bounce back and Portis can have another nice season (like the chances of that, Bobby is blowout empty stat king in Milwaukee). Robert Will is a huge x factor here, if he can just stay healthy and get in 25 min a night, it's probably Royce's first 30 fppg scorer. Future very bright in Memphis.
29- Denver Nuggets
Is this the year Jaren breaks out? I hope so, I love that man. I got JJJ at 30 fppg this year, the time is now, take him in all your other leagues, he's breaking out. Not a huge fan of what Kev did in the draft, although he did have some tough spots to draft from imo. I'm the lowest guy on Davion here I believe, the shooting is probably gonna be gross this year and he's just not in a good situation. Bagley could put up 25 fppg or more, for all of his troubles, the man can gobble boards and score some. Love the Jalen pick, though he won't contribute right away. Bones should have some stretches/flashes this year, I believe he's ready to go. Hopefully Gary/Cam J/Kuzma can all make some strides this year. Not a fan of any of the contracts. All in all, the slow and steady build is continuing in Denver with Kevin aka the former CHAMP having his 1st again.
28- Phoenix Suns
Ah yes, the cerebral, meticulous builder of the league. Ty just isn't gonna make a bad move. He might not make a lot of moves, but he'll be back on top in a year or two. I like Suggs a lot and think he's good for 20+ fppg in year one. KJ Martin can fill it up a little if he finds some time in Houston, and then PWILLY BABY. Sucks the Bulls added a bunch of FA's irl man, high usage and high minute Pat on a bad team would be a sight to behold. He'll probably drop around 22 fppg this year. I'm not a Rui fan at all, but he could absorb more usage in Washington and hopefully average 22-23 fppg? Just doesn't bring a lot to the box score besides scoring and the Wizards got a lot of forwards these days. Chuma is good though and I expect him to take a jump this year. Bamba is what he is these days and the man can put up some fantasy stats if he receives the minutes. Look for Ty to put up some sneaky totals the weeks that WCJ misses. Allen is a nice 30 fppg piece to have as well. The Valley!
27- San Antonio Spurs
Mr. Chris is looking at another rebuilding year. Not a bad thing though, having a direction and sticking to it for a couple years should yield good results. Mobley is gonna be a stud here even if he only drops around 20-25 fppg this coming season. Boucher is an interesting guy to peg (no homo) but he can put up some beefy stats in limited time. Look for OG to improve this season. I'm not sure what Milton's role in Philly is going forward as I suck Tyrese, but he should be a decent enough depth piece going forward. That DLo contract is so tough but I think he can bounce back somewhat this year, and I liked the McBride pick as well. Business as usual in San Antonio this year, enjoy the gutters.
26- Detroit Pistons
Irwin's doing his thing man, Kawhi being out for the year sucks but it means another high lotto selection next year. Pretty sure Pistons has Raptors pick this year as well. Man is going to have a really nice team going into next season. Cade really should be around 25-30 fppg this year. Melton should get a shot in Memphis this coming year (hopefully, maybe, let it happen Jenkins), Flynn has shown really good things, Poole caught fire for stretches last year, Mikal is continuing his ascent. Oubre is on the block and I don't expect him to be on this team much longer, Bradley should absorb some mins off the bench in Chicago. All in all, this team is setup very well going into the future and the Kawhi injury is a blessing in disguise.
25- Toronto Raptors
Ahh, I think this is the year big ole Perk falls off. Lots of good young blood on this team that won't score much this season, but should be nice in future seasons (Cole/Butler/Bouknight). A nice Bertans bounce back year would be very key in Perk beating this ranking, 23 fppg would be huge. Contract Kelly was a man on a mission and he should have another decent role this coming year. Smart is fresh off an injury riddled season but should be good for around 26 fppg. Hamidou is another x-factor for this squad, if he can score 20 fppg or more, big dubya. I like the future of this team but this year is definitely going to be a step back in order to have greater success later.
24- Houston Rockets
Free honestly has a roster that only has like 3 players I don't like (WCS/TBJ/Shamet). That being said, team is still about a year out from competing and this is exactly where Free wants to be. 1 more tanking year for a high draft pick and it's GO time. LaVine might average less fppg this year but he's still a guaranteed 30+ young stud. I like Killian's game a lot and think he goes for around 22 fppg this year. Jalen Green is a fantastic sexy ass piece man and he should hover around the 24 fppg mark this year. NAW looks to be the starter for New Orleans at this moment and 20 fppg + is realistic. Hart is a nice piece in here because of the boards. This is a big year for Poku and I'm very interested to see him this year. If Tillman has a consistent role this coming year, Free could definitely beat this ranking. Chuck Tree >
23- Los Angeles Lakers
Griff's Lakers take a slide here compared to previous years, but this team could surprise. I expect growth from Sexton this year and 28 fppg, maybe even 29. He will have the same usage as last year and even better options for assists. Delon is in a less than ideal spot but I'd expect around 18-20 fppg this year. Grant is going to be the deciding factor where this team ultimately ends up. Does he struggle and put up around 25 fppg or is he first half of last year Grant at 32-33 fppg? I'd expect something in the middle of 29-30 fppg. Just a lot of 20 fppt scorers on this team man and you can make that work. Barnes/Harris/Prince/Dort are all solid depth options.
22- Portland Trail Blazers
The Nerd in the league!! Future Superstar Tyrese Maxey. That's all you need to know, that's it. Garland is very alright himself, probably hovers around 27-28 fppg this coming year. I wanna see him put together a healthy-ish season though. 65+ games would be a nice sight. I'm not huge on the Kyle Anderson bagged out thing, Slow-Mo was eating at PF and JJJ is going to try to have himself a season so... Adams won't play much but he should start and play 22-23 minutes so JJJ should get more time at center in this year. Such a tough front court though, you got Tillman, Clarke, JJJ, Adams all vying for minutes. Maybe Anderson plays mostly as an SF this year, we'll see. Love's gotta at least play some hoop this year, I'd hope so we'll pencil in about 26-27 fppts a night. Claxton's a big x-factor and I think he can eat here, chains hopefully coming off this year in BKN. Brown/THT/Vandy/Nowell/Zeller are all great depth pieces to have. Not a Coby guy but he'll be in his most effective role this year so I'd expect 20+ fppg szn. Preston could see some time this year as well, so while this team is still a ways away from the real convo, they're on the right path and very exciting.
21- Indiana Pacers
This will probably surprise some people because Zion being on this team will make most put Jho higher than this. Just not enough depth on this team for me and if Isaac or Zion misses a significant amount of time, things could get ugly. Counter side is if they play a lot and Drummond finds himself starting because of a Joel injury, Pacers could really outperform this projection. Barton is another huge x-factor, he has some of the most all over the place seasons I've seen. Could go for 26 fppg, could get hurt or play like dog. No Murray is gonna help though. Thomas looks like a good depth piece, I'm not a huge Tre Mann fan but there's opportunity in OKC. Thybulle's fantasy game is severely limited. Sengun and McDaniels!! These two hit and oh man. Mid 20's fppg from both and Jho will be rollin. I don't expect Collins to contribute a whole lot, best case scenario is he looks good in spot minutes and the Spurs can keep him healthy.
20- Dallas Mavericks
Hard to put a team with so many assets this low but hear me out. Murray and Onyeka are not going to be major contributors this season. Mitchell and MPJ are both 33-35 fppg guys for me this year. I like Hampton as a prospect, especially in here. Think Josh Hart like with a little more upside possibly. Crowded in Orlando currently tho so I'm not sure it's this year. I like Monk's long term outlook too on another team, this ain't the year for him in LA, flashes and some big moments and go get himself a bigger role somewhere else. Mann is cool probably about 20 fppg, Brooks not cool but about the same, Bazley/Brissett/Stewart are big x-factors for me. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bazley averaged 24 fppg, also wouldn’t be surprised at 20. Stew should be good for around 24-25 fppg this year, possibly more. Brissett had some intriguing games last year and while I think there is talent there, not sure any of those rates are sustainable even if he finds himself starting. He should play 20 minutes and the Doug role from last year out of the gate though. Okoro is probably an 18 fppg, possibly 20 guy this year. I think his best role in the NBA is a 2 guard, he would've got more shots/usage and been more comfortable if Sexton got moved imo. Not expecting big things from Christopher or Ziaire this year, maybe a couple flashes. I know Kyle wants to wait to trade his rookies/assets until they’re at their highest value, but the risk in that is some of these guys disappoint and you can’t get the value you’d like anymore. If you trade em before they play an NBA game, you eliminate that risk. No one is going to pay the value you want after a disappointing season because they’ll want to see NBA success. Capitilizing on draft hype could’ve been the move.
19- Charlotte Hornets
Kennan!! I hope you read this bro. I like the squad man, especially if Wiseman can average 20+ fppg this year and make some big strides. Collins isn't in the best situation in Atlanta, but he's real nice, 30 fppg probably this year. Look for some more BI strides, probably about 33 fppg. The depth on this team is there too, Clarkson, McConnell, Donte, Kispert, Griffin, Dwight. Really interested to see what happens to Wall this year. A lot of people have counted him out, but 27 fppg last year is nothing to sneeze at (yes, it was very rough around the edges, but I'm not completely holding it against him). Counting stats will always be there for Wall imo. I'll be interested to see if Wall gets moved at the deadline or shut down eventually, but there's a scenario where Wall starts and the Rockets click. Silas might be able to have Houston as a nice surprise team this year.
18- Washington Wizards
Fuckin' Skip bro sleeping on the Wizards again. Real talk though, I can get down with this team a bit. Jonas is a damn beast in this format, and even if the numbers fall a bit on the Pelicans, he should still be about 34 fppg. Scary Terry is the next big scoring piece on this team at 30 fppg. Again, the percentages have been good for a couple years, but more comp for minutes, man idk. I got him at 28 fppg this year. I do like Bledsoe to have a bit of a renaissance in LAC so I think you can squeeze 22 fppg there, maybe more if Lue starts him or plays him 30 mpg. Gafford should be the starter in Washington this year as well, 25 fppg should be expected. It's just depth on this team bro, that's the strength, Reggie, Powell, Hardaway, Pat, Jae, TT, Horf are all going to contribute. You ain't surprising anyone this year though Octy, last year was a FLUKE.
17- Sacramento Kings
Davie was a ghost before about 2 months ago and it's great to see the Kings improved. The Russ trade was a dubya, sure, his trade value isn't the highest in this league because of the age/contract/injury history, but 50 fppts per game? Even if we factor in natural regression/the LA fit, it's still at worse about 42-44? The PG move for Tobias is cool, I like the PG side, but getting another 30 pt scorer and a solid 20 fppg on a 3m contract is what this team needed. Pritchard has shown out in the summer league and will probably take some steps this year. Dinwiddie is back! I'd conservatively put him around 22-23 fppg, but would not be surprised if he could average more. I like the Queta pick as well, won't play this year but I believe he can be a starter eventually. If the depth was a little better on this team then I could see a possible upset in the playoffs/higher finish than this. Thad is a big fat question mark, will he stay in SA, will he go to a contender? 9M wasn't a bad price to pay to find out what he does this year though. Jackson/Mills/DJ/Toscano/Lopez are all lower end depth pieces but this is an improved roster with possibly more improvements in store.
16- Oklahoma City Thunder
Nurkic for 40 fppg boys? Real talk though everyone likes the big Jusuf, he'll probably hover around 36-37 fppg, hopefully he stays healthy. Booker is.... not the greatest option in this league. As long as CP3 is running the show, the dimes are going to be low. It'd be nice if he could improve on his 3 pt % as well. 30+ fppg is probably happening but he isn't the super stud of this league. Wendell!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know man, rostering Nurkic and WCJ is an interesting proposition. Lots of risk here. I'm not a WCJ guy, but there is a possibility he can be a 30 fppg guy, I like the upside. Some decent depth on this squad, I don't think this is the year for Quickley though. He'll have his moments though because of the games the guards in front of him will miss, but it won't be consistent. Huerter/Ross/Allen/Wiggins/Nesmith are all nice depth pieces and there's upside in some of them. Maybe Loren would benefit from moving into a full rebuild/full competing mode but hey, nothing wrong with just constant improvement.
15- Philadelphia 76ers
I think this a good spot for Kyle, though I don't know what is happening with this franchise half the time and that's a good thing! Like the Trae trade a lot. Sabonis and Trae are both gonna flirt around 40 fppg so that's obviously huge. The depth he acquired through FA/drafted is..... okay? I love Giddey, probably biggest Giddey guy in the league I think. He's not averaging 25 fppg this year though and 6ers really needs that from him to be a serious threat. I'd estimate around 21-22 and that will be a really nice year. Kanter? I mean.... I think that's going to be an ugly contract sooner than later. Not sure if he's playing over 20 minutes a night. I can easily see him being a big factor here and there but I don't know, for 10M, I'd rather go for something more consistent. Bullock/Seth/Kennard are all nice 18 fppg depth pieces. Rest of these guys like Rivers/Willy H/Luke K/Kork can all be okay at times but it's not that consistent depth that really keeps you in it week to week. I like the slow build Kyle is going for, getting a little better each year and I'm excited to see his next moves.
14- Atlanta Hawks
Trey Treyyyyy. I'm not gonna lie, there is room for concern in Hotlanta this year. This is literally a 3 man team consisting of Harden/Lillard/CP3. I love the Harden/Lillard duo, they are studs and don't miss games (usually) so this studs and duds strategy can be effective. If I'm roster building though.... trading 2 depth pieces that score 20+ fppg for Chris Paul is not something I'd do here. CP is going to miss games this year and that's more depth you've lost out on. Next best player is Rubio? I think he's 20 fppg in Cleveland so he'll be alright this year. Melo/Gasol/Ariza/McGee/Nwaba/Cojo/Lee are all.... waiver wire worthy in a 30 teamer pretty much. They'll score here and there but none of these dudes are dropping 18-20 fppg consistently. Maybe the centers sniff it because of the scoring but even then, who knows. Trey's a playoff team and probably the most dangerous team in the league at all times because of the duo on hand. But CP3 is going to determine how far this team can go. If Vegan CP shows up and plays 65-70, alright. I'd be looking to drop another move or two. Just not enough players with upside that can really turn up.
13- Chicago Bulls
Demon Time ~A forceful, fierce, skillfull performer in any given activity~
12- Brooklyn Nets
Best thing about this team besides the super studs is I believe D White is scoring 30 fppg this year. Probably realistically 27-28 but I like his game a lot. KD's availability is a huge factor into this teams success. Studs and duds is a cool strategy if you have 2 or 3 big guns that normally don't miss games (because you can rely on them and don't need the depth as much), but with one stud who is pretty much guaranteed to miss games here and there in Durant, I don't think this team is ever going to hit the top 5. The weeks Durant misses are going to be such a low probability of you winning. Especially since this is a 30 team league, roster options are slim as it is. I like Warren around 23 fppg this year, LeVert is a nice 31 piece, and then we're at Kuminga. I'm on the side of liking him so we'll project about 18 fppg with some break out games. Think he ends up good. Simons is cool too, I think he can start in the league or be a high end 6th man, always been a fan. Very interested to see the rest of this roster of this come together because it could be so good but as is, not winning anything big.
11- Los Angeles Clipperos
Remy's team is nice bro. It's not as strong as it has been in years past, but I have no doubt he will continue to improve it. Like Zo in Chicago this year around 32 fppg. Lowry probably about 30 fppg in Miami. Anthony Edwards, the big offseason acquisition, probably 28 fppg this season. Remy's depth this year has a lot of upside and variability to it. Much like Miami, there is young talent on this team that will improve. Cam/Keldon/Mitch/Poetl can all break out. I think 21 fppg from Reddish this season is on the docket, 22-23 from Keldon, maybe more I haven't looked into him deeply but not a huge fan. Mitch I like a lot this year and think he can hover around 28-29 fppg, maybe even hit 30. Poetl should be a steady 26 fppg. Graham is in a nice role and can produce 28 fppg I believe. As I'm writing this, it's like damn, all these guys improve and we are talking about a serious contender here. Keon and Franz are good prospects but I don't think they'll be contributing much early. Maybe Franz can get some flashes going here and there. Go Remy!
10- Utah Jazz
Teeeej the squad lookin' good bro. Fox- 36 fppg, Beal- 36 fppg, and Vooch is probably around 37-38 fppg this year. Depth is a little less than average on this team currently. Burks/Monte/Danny Green/Jeff Green should all hover around 18-20 fppg. Kemba landed in a nice spot based on the fact that his coach wants to win every single regular season game possible. I'm sure they'll have some minutes limits and rests planned in, that will probably help Kemba longer term. I'd expect 27-28 fppg this season and upwards of 55 games. Bryant is a big x-factor here, he's gonna start the season on the IR and come back after December, I'd presume. Definitely don't think he's the starting center anymore and minutes will be tough to come by for him. 20 fppg would be a win, anything extra is gravvy. Bukakakeeee has actually looked okay at times in Summer League lmfao, he won't contribute this year though. The improvement from last year is astronomical and the cashing in of the chips was perfect, needs a little more juice and 2 more winning trades to really vault into title status, though.
9- Miami Heat
Team is very saucy. Ja and Ayton is a super fun duo. I'd guesstimate Ayton around 34 fppg this coming season. Ja probably about 32-33. That ankle injury really messed him up last year and I don't think he was right until the playoffs. Should be a big bank season for him. The depth of this team is really young/strong. Herro/Duarte/Hunter/Toppin should all make strides. If some of those guys accelerate on a 10, then Sanjul could easily outperform this projection. Fournier/Duncan/Nunn/Schroder should all be meaningful contributors as well. I'm not a Lauri fan but if the man can put up 23-24 fppg this year, that would be a huge boon to this team. Lots of production on this team as it is and lots of room for growth, a lot to be excited about in Miami.
8- Cleveland Cavaliers
Ah yes, the super team. Jokic is 52 fppg god mode. LeBron will be locked in for another 40 fppg season, maybe a little more. Middleton is a solid 33 fppg this year as well. The question is going to be the depth of the rest of the squad. Cavs has 3 studs that normally won't miss time, yes LeBron did last year, but I'm going to choose that's an anomaly. Brunson should be about 20 fppg, Bazemore could be looking at a starting role and 16 fppg, then you got Rudy at around 18-20 fppg (really liked that pickup), and Roby could have an opportunity in OKC to snag 18-20 fppg. Rest of the team is pretty much min backups scoring 10-15 fppg. I do like Dieng's per minute output and I could see him being a solid contributor as the backup center in Atlanta until OO is back. Overall, I like the team and with this core, Jon can beat anybody.
7- Boston Celtics
Sup Bitch. Quietest offseason in the league goes to Bzilla tha former god. Definitely the most star-power in the league. KAT is gonna be top 5 in fantasy this year. I got about 45-50 fppg coming from him this season. Then I'd say Bam is next with a nice 39 piece per. Now it gets interesting with Simmons this season, I believe he can return 40 fppg this year. SGA is probably about 34-35 fppt this season as well. And yeah that's the squad. He has Precious but I question the role in Toronto. Anything over 20 fppg would be a big win. Neto is a serviceable backup guard, Ish as well. 2 16 per game guys. Wagner and Hartenstein are currently 0's imo. It will be very interesting to see how far this team can go. If you don't wanna get off the 4 studs, I get it, trading can be a bitch sometimes and you’re messing with some very valuable pieces. Being active on the UFA market in season + getting as much value for that 2024 1st will be imperative to winning this season if he cares.
6- Milwaukee Bucks
Not a really a fan of the off season in Milwaukee. The defending champs lost a 39-40 fppg guy in Capela and the most contributing piece they obtained back is Mike Conley. I get it, Capela is a center and players like him have a limited shelf life, but he definitely is scoring in the 35+ range for the next 3 years barring something awful. Conley is most like about to regress fppg wise to around 27-28 and the hope is he plays 55 games. Tate showed some things on a Rockets team with nothing last year and still managed only 22.5 fppg. Classic mistake dealing for a dude putting up numbers on a tanking team and then the team with picks galore drafts real talent to suck his opportunity. Probably about 20 fppg for JaeSean this year. Really like the Murphy pick, think he has a solid floor and solid room to grow as a player, he won't be a major contributor right away, though. Maybe about 15-18 fppg. I've liked Vassell but 23 fppg is probably a realistic, good season for him this year. And now we're at Clarke. Really hard to get excited about Clarkey this year. Adams/JJJ/Anderson/Tillman.... I'm sure Clarke will see some SF time as will Anderson but man.... I think Clarke is a solid enough player irl but it almost assuredly will not turn into fantasy goodness this season(barring a trade). Him playing a steady 25 minutes and 23 fppg this season = dubya. Let's get to the good stuff, I like Murray, but believe there is a sever cap on how high he goes. 34 fppg is max for him, with 32-33 being realistic. Spurs limit minutes/touches and all around, the guy has limited %'s that haven't improved. LaMelo is obviously so awesome, got him around 32-34 fppg this year. Giannis, yeah, 46 fppg inbound. Miles is the true x-factor here, 24 fppg and a huge run at the end of last year with no Hayward. I think he can replicate 23-24 but improvement will be so tough. Sky high %'s last year compared to the rest of his career and a little more comp for minutes this year. Bottom line is this team is setup to have a shot for as long as the top 3 are together and that's awesome. I don't think Jacob is maximizing his chances for a ring this year at the current moment.
5- Orlando Magic
My good buddy Serge is the fav in the East is cool. Tatum.... Butler.... Wood.... can compete with any big 3 in the league and possibly be the favorite. Tatum & Butler= most likely both 38 fppg guys and Wood should hover around 35-36. Tatum might take a step this year and go off for 40 too. Hayward will be a nice, consistent 31 fppg this year, hopefully he can stay healthy. I'll project KPJ to hit 25 fppg this season. Not really going to spend too much time on it, there's obvious flaws to this kid on the court that prevent stardom imo. Fultz is a huge x-factor, for all the contract shit we give him, which he is absolutely not worth a lick, 22 fppg is realistic and will work for depth. Rose is pretty important and a replication of last season will be sweet for this team. Can definitely tell Sarge is a seasoned fantasy basketball player with the depth pieces he acquired in FA. Doug/KCP/Lyles/Millsap are all dry as fucking overcooked ribeye but they'll probably produce more than the young sexy pieces some competing teams have (see team below Magic). Not a whole to write on this write-up, I don't believe there is much untapped scoring on the squad. The picks are gone and Magic needs to keep improving for a chip but I have no doubt he will.
4- Knicks
Yes, the most opportunistic, cunning, horny, quick-triggered owner is the favorite in the East. Absolutely love the balance of 35+ dudes and depth on this team for this year. PG should be at 37 fppg sans Kawhi, maybe a bit more, but I'm going to shoot mid to low. Cap looks bound to repeat 39 and be a beast. Toronto was such a mess last year, but I could easily seeing FVV hitting 35 fppg this season. Best and most important part of this team is the depth that will be a constant. Ingles is nice upside depth as it stands, 20 fppg and then more once the inevitable sit outs happen in Utah. Campazzo seems bound for about 16-18 fppg this year, was worried about his role evaporating but I think he remains in the rotation. Bones coming though. Favors should carry some regular season wins to the tune of 20-23 fppg. Worried about his role going into the latter part of the year but Sood will flip for value. This is how I think teams will finish for the most part, and I think Jalaj will improve from here on out for wins. DFS looks like a bet for 21 fppg. LOVE the Gallinari signing. This is a guy that had a down year last year, new team, coming off the bench, and rotating coaches. Let's not forget, he's coming off a 24 fppg season in OKC prior, and then a 29 fppg the season before. The talent is never a question with Gallinari. He may not start, but he should see 26-28 minutes and put up 24-25 fppg again. Dieng is the current backup center, he'll absorb some minutes there and you can't play Hunter big minutes just yet coming off some scary knee issues. Gallo will be huge this year. Landale... Culver.. Brown... they won't be Knicks at the end of the year. I'm sorry but JSood will use that 2024 1st to tighten up the end of the rotation. If Landale can show flashes and average 16 fppg, maybe even more, he'll stick around. I like Brown's fantasy skillset too, we shall see if he carves a role of Kidd's bench. Overall, this ranking is more about my faith in an owner and I believe it's warranted.
3- Warriors
#ALLIN. Massively can mess with this team. Steph and Joel = 2 43 fppg players. The Studs and Duds argument I mentioned of being in trouble when 1 goes down, I won't dock points here because I know Caleb will work the UFA market in season/look for any way to insert points into the lineup. Myles Turner is the 3rd piece here and honestly, I can't project that guy. I'll go 30 fppg officially. The block rate has went up and down for years, there is no way to track/predict where it ends up at, trust me I've tried. I actually liked a lot of what I saw from Saddiq in SL. I'll go 22.5 fppg for a prediction this year. I'm not totally sure he ever translates into a fantasy stud at 30+ fppg but every time I've seen him, I've been more and more impressed. Team has 2 huge x-factors in Bogdan and Malik Beas. I like Bogdan a lot for fantasy man, dude can pass, shoot it, the steals aren't non-existent, boards are average for a guard. A healthy Bogdan year is 27 fppg this year imo. I liked him a lot when I bid last year, but severely hit the snooze button once he got hurt and didn't look until it was way too late. Malik has a lot of talent, but probably ends up a better real life contributor than in here. I will project at 23 fppg this season in Minny. Deniiiiiii time, opposite end of the spectrum for me on Avdija compared to Beasley. Dimes, boards, mild defensive stats and scoring. I can see 21-23 fppg this coming season. I hope the Wizards don't fuck around and play Kuzma/KCP at the expense of this kids minutes though. Give em the rock and see if you got someone for Beal. Caleb has built a team with a lot of guaranteed points in the lineup, but at the same time, there is a solid amount of untapped potential here. Look for 2-3 trades made during the year in the #ALLIN mindset I hope. I gotta special spot for my boy since diapers can't cap.
2- Minnesota Timberwolves
Drew has done a real nice job of improving this roster this off-season by adding depth and points onto his bench while not relinquishing his core whatsoever. Picks are still there for improvements as well. I do think Randle will regress to 36 fppg this year though and hear me out. Kemba.. Fournier.. maybe more Toppin minutes shots.... there is some creation and talent on that team this year compared to when Payton and Bullock were in the starting lineup throwing the ball to Julius at all costs. That dip in production should be offset by a return to 40 fppg from AD this year. He's motivated and hungry, I'd go 42 fppg this season. KP and AD are going to be targets of mine in other leagues if I do them. Brown, Brogdon and Tyrese are all awesome and have a real solid mix of guaranteed production + some slight possible advancement from Brown or Hali. Brown was 35 fppg last year for decent stretches buoyed by hitting like 70-80% of mid range jumpers, yet finished at around 32 fppg. I'd just bet on natural % increases + counting stats for him to hit 34.5 fppg this season. Haliburton was on fire at times and I'm very interested to see how he fares this year. There's a good sample size of scouting info on him now and that's a big reason for sophomore regression for rookies that went unexpectedly bonkers. His game is pretty sound, wish he got to the free throw line more and Sacramento didn't pick a guard. I'll go 27 fppg for Tyrese this year but I'm not confident in it. Depth on this team will work man, Adams should score 24 fppg, AG.... yeah probably 23 fppg. I won't be surprised if he drops 24, another year of comfortability with Malone, no Mal etc. He fantasy stat set is just so trash though and he's never proven he can shoot it. Caruso should be good for 16-18 fppg. Morris is probably 20 fppg at max. Don't know who the last 2 spots on this roster will be, but Wolves has shown based on last year, he will pickup guys to get in the lineup for fpts. Tough team.
1- New Orleans Pelicans
Gotta be the fave based on current rosters. Gobert/Dray/Kyrie is a huge big 3. 39 fppg for Gobert, 40 fppg for Kyrie and 34 fppg for Draymond most likely. Minimal risk in Gobert and Draymond, a little bit more in Kyrie because of missed games, although I think there's more depth on the team this year to make up for missed games from 1 of his studs. Siakam is nice bro and once he gets back, he'll be a solid bet for 34 fppg. CJ and DeRozan are the next tier of stars on this team. I like CJ at 29 fppg this season. Very flukey 3 pt shooting last year, but he's a solid bet for what he is. Also, CJ somehow had higher usage than Lillard when they played together lmfao that won’t continue imo. DeRozan..... yeah I can see him being the one in Chicago that has to watch a little more. 28 fppg is where I'll place him. I think he can salvage his stat lines most nights running the offense in the 2nd unit. Coby isn't a 1 and neither is Caruso so you'll get some extra usage there. Not completely sure how Donovan is running this, though. Depth is solid, RoCo will score 25 fppg most likely after he starts slow as a snail per usual. Trust in Thy Lord. Dragic/O'Neale/Plumlee should score around 20 fppg. Nnaji, idk what the hell this dude is doing on this roster. He's not getting run for the Nuggets bro, get em outta here and don't use a draft pick again Johnny. Jk. Not Really. Holiday and DJordan aren't in their respective teams' rotations. Work on that end of the bench depth, could be the difference between the tippity top. Been a blast watching you put in more than 1% effort this year though king.