Opening Night Power Rankings
Oct 18, 2022 19:25:22 GMT -5
Golden State Warriors (Caleb), Grizzlies GM (Royce), and 8 more like this
Post by The Athletic on Oct 18, 2022 19:25:22 GMT -5
30- Los Angeles Lakers
A very key tanking season is about to commence in Los Angeles; however, I do see some decent upside young guys on this roster. Sexton should have free reign to do whatever he wants and hover around 25-30 fppg. PJ Washington should absorb most of the free minutes in Charlotte and is a mini breakout candidate. Other than those two pretty pieces, it’s just ya know, some guys. I wasn’t a fan of Johnny Davis in the draft but getting him at 16 wasn’t bad at all. He has looked about as trash as he could possibly look though. I wouldn’t expect him to be in the rotation early on for the Wiz but he’s still got upside. Dort should be a steady depth piece, maybe he improves a bit. Grant Williams, Oubre, Joe Harris, and Nance should all be decent depth pieces as well. Hardy and Braun are solid young options as well, and both have a chance at cracking their respective rotations in year one. Not going to sugar coat it Griff, this team is all time all time ass, but this is the year to be that bad. A lot to look forward to in the future though bro.
29- Atlanta Hawks
It really is insane how fast shit switches in this league. I remember last year, the Dame/Harden Hawks were a force until Rubio went down. Fast forward to now, and Trey is back to BBall25 Trey (tanking). I love Maxey, everyone at this point loves Maxey, he’s a future star. Wiggins has seen his stock increase substantially after the playoffs, I think with a full season of Klay however, he’s just an above average depth piece. Probably around 22 fppg. I think I saw a report of Jon Isaac RAMPING up! We should see Isaac at some point this season and even with a suddenly crowded frontcourt in Orlando, the man should be able to put up some fantasy points. I’m under the impression Bridges will not playing this season and I have serious doubts that he will ever play in the NBA again. I also do not like Trey’s rookies. Not a Dalen Terry guy, I know he has a lot of juice from fantasy analysts, but I don’t project anything more than a defensive specialist. LaRavioli should develop into a decent role player and may have more upside than I initially thought but I’m not in love. Kyle Anderson is making 16mil on this team for 4 years. That’s pretty cool bro, very thoughtful of you Trey.
28- Houston Rockets
Another year, another class in session tank put on by Baby Freesha. Herro/JG/Pablo will be the 3 highest scorers for this team and depending how good they are, he could can some of these similar ass teams. Problem is the depth and him having raw rookies who won’t get minutes. Not a problem for Free though, money in the bank. I’m not sure how much Herro improves on last year; I think he might run into some usage problems starting. He’s never really been that good next to Butler and Lowry. Jalen Green is a stud and I’m curious how high he can drive his fp this year. I think 28-30 is realistic. Pablo is nice and NBA ready, easy projection for 23-24 fppg. Yeah bro Bagley is like cool too dude, will score in the mid 20’s once he gets healthy. The Killian renaissance is happening, I think he shows that he’s a capable NBA player this year. I personally am not that high on Daniels, think he might struggle for PT out the gate, but long term he will be a nice player. AJG and Dieng are nice as well and awesome long-term prospects to have.
27- Sacramento Kings
My good friend Stevie! Steve is going to be in for a rough year (thanks Dave) but I think he has a couple more depth pieces that vault him above the tankers. The tankers also have more motivation to sell (not that Steve doesn’t, I’m sure he will pawn these guys off asap too). Mikal should do his thing and score 25-27 fppg. He’s about as reliable as they come. I think Hayward is the next highest scorer on this team, hopefully he can stay healthy because 30 fppg without Bridges should be cake. Richaun should be productive in limited minutes and then it’s the depth gang. Payton, EG, Fournier, Caleb Martin, and Poku should all help. I actually think Poku could maybe be an above average rotation player. Maybe. Poor fucker Steve didn’t even have a 1st rd pick this year. We appreciate you tanking on this can of a team bro, I think I got turned down about 10 times asking someone to take this thing. Def shows you got some sauce to ya.
26- San Antonio Spurs
Spursy spurseyyy. Honestly bro, before I looked at this team, I thought it was a lot better. Mobley is probably the best young piece in the league here. 33-35 fppg fosho. Then we got OG! I love OG and I think he improves this season on his way to 30 fppg. Russell is locked into a similar role to last season so he should score pretty much the same. And then after that, the depth is just so sorry and murky. I guess Chris is tanking again and honestly, good idea. Get another building block. I like Deni’s fantasy game and overall game a lot, but I worry about the touches and looks he’ll get in DC. It’s just so crowded and the Wiz don’t seem to give a shit about development. Nas is another cool piece but he’ll be squeezed for minutes this year. McBride and Pritchard are decent specs. Hayes, Metu, and Goga can all produce if allotted some time but it’s not looking promising. Chris is a smart guy and will be up in no time. Would maybe try to accelerate the process after this year to take advantage of Mobley’s rookie deal though.
25- Utah Jazz
Wecome to the league Jonathan. We are ecstatic to have another fresh mind in the league. With that being said, I don’t know what TJ was doing here. Jaren is cool, but he can’t rebound in a league that emphasizes it. He’ll score like 25-26, maybe 28-30 when he comes back? I don’t know man, foot injuries are weird, would not be surprised if he missed more than half the season. And then the next highest scorer is… Claxton? LeVert? I actually do think Claxton has a mini breakout; however, the upside isn’t sky high just because the Nets will play small and play other bigs. LeVert I just cannot stand watch play ball anymore. I give him starting about a month before he’s the 2nd unit chucker. Mathurin and Bones look awesome. But Benny is a bucket getter and we’ve seen Jalen Green, Anthony Edwards, Jalen Suggs all struggle mightily at the NBA level for most of their rookie seasons. He’s not those guys so while the long-term upside is cool, I’m not sold on him substantially helping this year. Bones is sweet, hopefully he can score 23-24 fppg. Bojan and TB round out the end of guys who can contribute and man I think this is going to be a rough introduction for Jonathan. Get on that slow grind lil Jon, I believe in you.
24- Toronto Raptors
Good ole Perk a lerk. This is just loaded with some depth and a crazy amount of future draft capital. I’m not sure about the quality of all his picks but he does have a lot of them. Simons is the sexy leader of this team, I’m not sure what he looks like off ball and next to Dame but he should be able to hover around 24-26 fppg. Kelly Olynyk looks like he will provide a lot of value in here as a tank commander for the Jazz. Good for Perk for that signing to finally pay some dividends. Ayo! Ayo will have a lot of room to grow this year, the opportunity is awesome. That’s looking like a steal of a pick. Bouknight… yeah, hopefully he gets his head on straight and can show something this year. Maybe a Westbrook trade opens up some PT for Dennis. This team is just going to grind out some wins with death by a million cuts. And the cuts come from some weird ass sources. Bogdan, Coffey, Vincent, Oladipo, Kenrich, and Naz should all get some licks in. Keep building Perk.
23- Washington Wizards
Another year, another season of doubting Octstuff. Octy could very easily outperform this projection if the depth is better than I expect. I see Rozier/Clarke/Powell at the top and it’s a solid start. Rozier could be Octy’s leading man if he had the depth like years past, but it’s questionable. Going back to the top, Rozier should be a lock for 30-32, maybe even bump that with no LaMelo to start and no Miles. Clarke I really do expect 25-27, and Powell should do his thing in the low 20’s. Then it’s Barton, OPJ, Conley, Trez, Tate, and Ochai. I think it’s fair to have questions about all those guys. He would need them to be playing at their absolute peaks to really have a shot at the playoffs. We’ve all grown so accustomed to Octy grinding out wins, but I think he’s in for a rude awakening. Love you btw.
22- Chicago Bulls
21- Cleveland Cavaliers
Jon decided to take his team in a new direction after multiple failed seasons of the Big 3. Can’t fault em for it, props for having some balls and willing to try something new. DG, Brunson, Cole, and Jabari is very solid for a young core. It’s also a core that will score now. I’m higher on Jabari Smith in this type of league because the boards and stlks should be plentiful. Can’t really dribble but that doesn’t matter in here. The Okoro buy was super interesting. We’ve been over it though, and Isaac still has the chance to be a 20-24 fppg guy in here. Lets start with hitting 20 first, that’d be nice and impressive on a deep Cavs team. As I’m typing this, I realize the fp probably won’t be there but hopefully he improves as a player. Nowell is a bucket and should have a regular role this season. Vando is super nice in here and IRL. Flip candidate in both. This isn’t a bad year for Jon to take advantage of him having his pick and an awesome draft. Excited to see the re-tool.
20- Denver Nuggets
Yeah, I don’t know about this whole 8 seed push Kev. Rudy will be the 40 fppg stud he is. Keegan has been rolling every game, I’m very curious to see what he looks like in NBA game. I could see 18 fp all the way to 25. Quickley got cucked with Brunson, I still think he shows some improvement but the combination of him being a scoring guard and bench role with Thibs isn’t ideal. Davion and Herb should be able to live around 20-22 fppg. Trent, Grimes, Cam J, JJ, and Drummond are all nice depth pieces with paths to outperform expectations. If that happens, I could see a possible playoff berth with some lucky breaks.
19- Charlotte Hornets
Kennan has been getting a tad bit more active this offseason. Ingram and Collins is a nice start up top. I think 33-35 fppg is well within the cards for BI this season. He might not be a beast beast just because Zion’s back but the guy is still a stud. Collins is also not getting a ton of touches and other bigs remain in Atlanta. As long as Capela/OO are there, he won’t get to eat at center. I do however think Kennan has better depth this year. Wiseman has looked good and I can’t put a number on the fp but it’s an exciting time to own the young GSW big. Lowry/Clarkson/McConnell/Donte D/Cov is solid depth. Maybe Blake can find some life in Boston. Excited to see Hornets make a push for the playoffs.
18- Phoenix Suns
I think I like Suns a lot more than most this year. He’s got a solid mix of top end strength and sneaky depth. I know he also has his pick and may be inclined to sell pieces to so he finishes worse than this but I’ll rank based on what’s here. Jarrett Allen is an absolute monster in here and he should be even better this year. BP is comfy in Milwaukee just eating in blow outs and catching the games that Lopez misses. I do think Bamba will take a step back with the added frontcourt depth in Orlando. Chuma is probably also squeezed more than last year. Not a Rui guy, but he had an awful year last season, and it feels like the Wiz will give him opportunity to prove it. Also not a Patrick Williams fan at all but he had a bumpy start last season so he has scope to improve as well. Tari is a box score animal and will be one of the higher scoring rookies. I think Suggs will have a mini breakout and figure out the NBA as well. Tyus and Tre Jones are just awesome cheap PGs to have with Tre having an awesome opportunity in SA this year. Just an overall solid team with depth that easily has a path to playoff contention.
17- Detroit Pistons
I know this seems dummy low for an organization that has put on a masterful display of a rebuild but hear me out. Russ is in the gutters, and I have no idea what the production looks like. I wouldn’t be surprised at 30 fppg nor would I be surprised at a trade, and he ends up on the couch like the previous Wall situation. Or he could come off the bench for LA and put up mid 20’s production. Just a huge cloud. Ivey is an awesome prospect, but let’s be honest, he is going to struggle this year for large amounts of periods. Just how it goes with scoring guards. Poole is going to be awesome again, I’d look for around 25-26 fppg from him. I also expect Moody to be in the rotation and take a sizeable sophomore jump. Cade is a fuckin stud and is locked for a huge season. KLAW is awesome as well, but I worry about the guaranteed rest/load management. And then the depth just isn’t there for this team to withstand Chet being out. Detroit basketball will be a force, but this ain’t the year.
16- Memphis Grizzlies
This is a bit of a drop off compared to where Royce was last year but I think it’s warranted for now with the injuries and loss of depth. Scottie is a tank built for this league and should continue to improve. Bane is an awesome piece at a position in here that is hard to get points at. KP might finally have a season where he stays healthy and is a force for most of it. I don’t know when it’s coming, but it could be this year. His injuries are considered however, he’s just going to miss games, whether it’s 10 or 30. Bob Williams being out is super sad and a huge blow to this team. The report of possibly being back for the 2nd half of the season is tough. Brown/Hield/Tucker/Love/Young are all decent depth pieces. How good this team ends up really will depend on Primo and Koloko. I like Koloko as a prospect, think he could develop into a solid center. I’m not sure he finds too much PT this year however, Raptors have a million forwards. Maybe they full send his ass in there though. Primo I do not like but he will be afforded all the opportunity in the world which is awesome. He’s shown improvement but him becoming a full-time primary seems like a stretch to me.
15- Brooklyn Nets
Another one of those teams that’s just scary as dicks up top. Luka and KD might be the best duo in the league if Kevin stays on the floor. I just don’t believe in the depth very much at all man. Rubio was a curious pick up, he’ll be out until December, and suddenly, Cleveland is loaded with ball handlers. Capela is like alright as a 3rd guy in this league? He’s a big regression candidate however, I wouldn’t be too excited. I’m honestly not going to list out the bottom half of this roster, it needs serious improvement via trades/pick-ups/anything. I do like Paul Reed and Kevon Looney as depth pieces though. Kispert should have a fine role in this league for a long time. Find 2-3 more guys like that and Andre could really have something here. You don’t need a ton when you have KD and Luka, you just need to find some diamonds in the rough. Good luck Andre.
14- Indiana Pacers
My good lifting buddy Jho. Honestly, I think Pacersman has dealt with the cards he received just about as well as you could. No lotto luck? No problem let’s get Harden for 8 and Isaac. Duren was an awesome pick who probably won’t be a meaningful contributor this year but has immense potential. Picking up CP3 for that amount of money will no doubt add production but I’m curious to see how long his stay is in Indiana. Alvarado plays a nice Beverly role for the Pelicans; he’ll be solid depth. I’m not sure Tre Mann blossoms insanely this year but he’s an NBA player with upside. Not sure on Thomas’ role in BKN either. Jaden is getting a bigger role and a mini breakout from him would help Pacers immensely this year. The big one is Sengun, if he’s everything his believers say he is, Pacer is going to be dangerous this year. He hits 28-30 fp and Jho will kill this projection. Roddy seems like a longer term play even though I’m sure he’ll have his moments when the Grizz call on him. Don’t even gotta talk about Zion, everyone knows. Beautiful building here Mr Ho, a nice combo of youth and stardom, excited to see where it goes from here.
13- Los Angeles Clippers
I really really like Remy’s team man. I think it’s just a tad too young to be a top dog however and the end of the roster is questionable for championship aspirations. I have no doubt that Remy will make improvements throughout the year if he deems his team ready, however. AE is a star, not many things I feel more confident in this year than him taking another leap. Keldon is going to get everything he wants in SA, and while others have noted he may be overrated, I’m pretty in on him this year. Everyone knows I love Franz, even though he’s way better IRL than here, I still think I’m comfortable projecting 28 fppg this season. I also think Mitch Robinson is in store for a more featured offensive role. He got literally 0 last year on offense so anything would be an improvement. Poetl will be a locked 30-32 fppg and remain one of the most underrated centers in the league. Jalen Smith is starting and should be able to be an above average contributor. Reeves needs to play and remains a sexy depth piece. Lonnie/Cam/Diallo/TD/Simone? I’m not sold. I can’t put him any higher with those guys rounding out the year. Also, get well soon Zo. Pleasure having you in the league Remy and I wish you the best of luck.
12- Philadelphia 76ers
Struggle to rank this team to be honest. Trae/Giddey/Sabonis is a monster big 3 but it’s not a championship contender unless they get a couple breaks. Unless Giddey is going for 40 fppg this year. I think 32 is a good number for him. Maybe 33/34. The depth just has no upside/room for improvement. Seth/Bullock/Kleber/Mook will all give ya what they give ya. Very predictable 15-20 fppg. I don’t have a lot to talk about with this team because Peltz has 3 monsters and then boring. Probably the best drafter in the league though. He just doesn’t mess up. You’re gonna let Anthony Edwards fall to 8? Thank you, dipshits. Joshua Gidderson is available at 8? Yeah sure. Peltz could easily win this whole thing as constructed but I’m curious to see if he explores ways to improve.
11- Oklahoma City Thunder
Okay everyone I do not why, but I keep getting this feeling that Loren is the team of destiny this year. Could not give you one fucking concrete reason why but I keep feeling it. Embiid is such a boss and a great head of the snake. If he’s playing in the playoffs, you are not going to want to play the Thunder. I feel like Lor has never had a dude that scores like this. It’s always been Booker then depth. Now he goes Embiid/Book to depth. Kuzma and Grant are probably the next suspects up to contribute heavily. Don’t love either but you know what they do. Kuz may regress with Beal and KP but we’ll see. Then it’s just a bunch of 20 fp scorers, Reggie, Huerter, Pat, Grayson, Barnes, and Gafford. Gafford is such a swing piece to have, if you catch this team fully healthy with Gafford eating time because KP is out? Team of Destiny.
10- Dallas Mavericks
Kyle has built a solid and surprisingly deep team. Bam and Donovan form a nice 1-2 punch at the top. MPJ and Jamal are the next tier. I’d put this team higher if I was 100% on their health but maintenance for them is just going to happen. Stewart and Okungwu are big swing pieces, I’m pretty confident in Stew having a 24-26 fppg year. He’ll play and Casey should trust him more this season. OO, I’m not sure he fully separates from Clint this year. Think the likely case scenario is it’s a split and Okungwu hovers around 20-23. Hunter/Monk/Mann/Duarte are all decent depth that will have their nights. Jalen Williams has looked really good and has a shot at being one of the higher scoring rookies. Christopher had an encouraging season last year will get his, just a lot of guys there to bank on massive improvement stats wise. Wouldn’t put this team on the same tier of the teams above them but there’ s upside to get there. Kyle is a very polarizing figure in the league for sure but I do very much enjoy him being here and look forward to witnessing his trenches grind from years ago finally come to fruition.
9- Miami Heat
I think this is a good spot for Sanjul and the Heatles. Ja and DA is another awesome duo. Hopefully Ja can stay healthy most of the year and drop his usual high 30’s fp. DA getting to 34-35 would also be massive but I’m not sure it happens in Phoenix. Turner is a nice 3rd piece in this league, he’s pretty much guaranteed to hover around 28-30 fp wherever he ends up. Maybe he cracks over 30 if things break real nice. I think the depth in Miami is definitely improved this year. Santi has come out of nowhere to be looking like he’s picking up the JJJ minutes. That’s the type of young player come up you dream about, nice little rookie contract producer. Lauri’s outlook improved a ton this offseason, he’ll get to eat in Utah. I’m not sure what he averaged last year but I believe it was around 23-24. 26-28 doesn’t sound like a huge jump but it really is when he’s a depth piece for you. Nunn, Duncan, Plumlee round out the boring options and they should be solid end of the bench options. Obi and Mark Williams are some huge swing pieces for this franchise. I think Obi has the talent to be a solid fantasy option but it’s all about the opportunity. I’m not sure it’s there in New York but I’d expect him to play more than he did last year. Worst case scenario, this team looks awesome, and you can deal him. Mark Williams is a solid prospect but is getting the Clifford treatment unfortunately. I’d bet on Charlotte playing him sooner than later though. Nice team Sanj I think this is the best I’ve ever seen it tbh.
8- Boston Celtics
Love BMan and the patient approach has really yielded an awesome team. Shai-KAT-Ben is scary man. Shai and KAT are the real 1-2 punch and I’m very optimistic SGA is going to have an awesome year. Long time fan of KAT is well. Rudy or no Rudy, the guy is a fantasy stud. Ben is a massive swing piece, he might take a couple games to get used to NBA ball again, but I don’t think 35 is out of the question. Also seems to be in a position to really eat based on that roster and possible missed games from Kyrie/KD. But maybe Ben is the one who misses games so that’s where the swing comes into play. The Wall signing was a little iffy bro, but out of all the options, he does have a chance to get to 24-25 fppg. The depth is also better than it has been in years past for BMan. He works the margins well. Strus/Brissett/Precious/Boucher/Hartenstein are all useful pieces. I do like Ziaire to take some steps but I’m not sure how good he is in fantasy. Overall, this is a title contender this year, and possibly a dynasty after the lotto next year.
7- Orlando Magic
Ah yes, my good ole boyfriend Sarge. Very solid team out in Orlando, wouldn’t call it a favorite, solid contender is a good term. Tatum, Siakam, Jimmy, KPJ, might be the best 4 in the league besides Jake. After that, we got Tobias, Patty, Brooks, Lyles. Furkan and NAW have an outside chance to be contributors this season, but it’s all about how well Sarge can improve the bottom half of the roster for me this season to really vault himself into contender status. KPJ taking a step and getting to like 32 fppg would also be a massive boost. As I’m typing this, I realize for some teams, I’m picking out the weaknesses, but think of it as a suggestion. Just how I think, take it with a grain of salt. This team as it stands has one of better chances to win a title in the league. You got stars, middling depth, and an active owner that will work the margins to get there. Siakam was an awesome pick up. The more I think about it, Tatum and Siakam are a killer 1-2. Jimmy-Tobias-KPJ flanking that is pretty scary.
6- New York Knicks
Alright honestly the turn around the Knicks have had is stupendous. I can’t believe this guy yopped Bron and Beal for pennies on the dollar. Like this is a 30-team league and these guys would go in rounds 1-2 in 12 team leagues. Credit to Sood for getting in there. PG-LBJ-Beal is a championship level core. Although I think the depth is closer to the first team Sood had in here. He might be finally pairing studs with depth. Vassell is a legit MIP candidate and is going to eat in SA. 24-25 fppg, stonks up. Zubac is a very steady center. Dinwiddie is kinda iffy to me. I could see him returning 23-24 fppg or completely stinking up the joint. We have samples of him being very good and him looking like stevie wonder. That’s kinda the swing piece for me with this team, which Spencer are we getting. Kennard is like fine as a player and would put up better numbers if the Clippers didn’t have 20 rotation players. Trey Murphy looks like a literal lock to improve and be a solid depth piece. Just a very solid star studded team right here. He has a 1st somehow still too so you know he’s going to use it to go all in. Ily sood.
5- Portland Trail Blazers
Tyler is legit insane with how well he’s managed this team. Seriously, mad props my guy. The improvement and turn around will be told in fantasy leagues everywhere once you enter the hall of fame. Jokic is the best. If you even have adequate depth around Jokic, you will have the chance to win big. I’d argue Tyler has put more than adequate depth around Jokic, it’s not just good, it’s very very good. Lillard and Vooch being the next tier of stars next to Jokic is scary level. Marcus Smart is as solid as they come and an awesome 4th option next to a gigantic 3. Then the scrappy guys. I like Isaiah Jackson a lot, but without a Turner trade, I don’t when he’s fully unleashed. It will most likely be in time for our playoffs, when it matters most, so that will be huge. I would still temper expectations. It takes time for a big man to figure out the league, someone like Mitch Robinson had to learn how to not foul and IJax will have a similar learning curve. Payne/Milton/THT should all give something to this team, and that’s all he really needs with the star power. Garuba and Shaedon are the swing pieces here, based on what I’ve seen from Sharpe, I’d pick him to make an all-rookie team. That Portland team isn’t incredibly deep, and Sharpe looks like someone who can contribute scoring wise off ball right away. I haven’t been blown away, but it’s good to see him finally play. Garuba I’m not sure how much he’s helping you this year. He needs NBA experience more than anything and I don’t think he starts in the rotation right away. Definitely a piece to watch throughout the season. There will come a time when Tyler has the option to bolster his team mightily by dealing Sharpe/Garuba and I am curious as a motherfucker to see if he does it. Nice team.
4- Milwaukee Bucks
Listen, I’m only ranking this based on what is currently on the roster. Yes, I know Jake will make moves by the deadline and be ready. No, I’m not taking that into account, my rankings, cactus, sit. LaMelo, Dejounte, Fred, Midds, Giannis. Like holy shit. The most fire power in the league is in Milwaukee. Jonas is going to regress but will still be useful. 28 fppg is probably my actual prediction. 30 is also a likely number. Kessler is an awesome rookie for Jake. Will play in Utah, will put up stats, on a rookie contract. You are GOATED Jake, it’s merched, but this is your hardest task yet. You’re missing half a roster and if you turn this in at the end of the year, you will lose. You’ve already gotten a taste of some unlucky injury stuff. Love you though bro I look forward to our relationship continue to blossom.
3- Warriors
My diapers buddy. Caleb has developed a team that is as deep as ever. Curry is a lowkey MVP candidate for me this season. Can’t go wrong with him as your 1. Fox/Jrue/Nurkic are all similar tier stars. Not incredible options but all these guys are going to score 30-32 fppg. Nurk and Fox have scope to score more. I think if you see Fox or Nurk hover around 34-35, Caleb is going to be sitting very pretty. Fultz is probably the next guy Caleb is expecting to get going for him, I like Fultz a lot. He’s great at filling a box score, and a solid play maker/finisher. I think 24-26 is a very reasonable season for him. I worry about the injury concerns, and the other ball handlers in Orlando. Cole is going to need time, Suggs will need the ball, Franz and Paolo will need the ball. Anyway, Fultz is very good and I’d bet on him to show it this year. Hart is a BBall26 fucking all star. The guy eats boards like he mad at em. I think you see him live around 26-28 fp. Just a solid player in here and you know exactly what you’re going to get. Good sign that he’s starting as well. Yeah I mean I don’t like Baze bro. I wouldn’t rule him out being fantasy useful though. If he just rebounds and blocks shots, he could average mid 20’s. There’s a world where he has a delayed breakout and can find a role. Would I wanna bet on it? No, but Caleb doesn’t need him to be a star. Caleb grinds the margins, he learned it from me. You just know he’s gonna find guys to get rotation minutes and contribute. Found Gary last year. Javonte/Jae/Saric all will put up some pts for these guys. I’d say Caleb’s a top title favorite. You know what is.
2- TimberWolves
This big 2 is disgusting bro. AD and Haliburton. It don’t get better than that boys we found our top duo in the league. Everyone is saying revenge year for AD or something but honestly he’s going to miss games. Let’s not kid ourselves. The key is hopefully he doesn’t go down for like 8 weeks. Keep it to 1 or 2 games here and there and Wolves is gonna cook at an elite level. Julius should be good for 33-35 fppg this year. I’d be on like 33 to be honest though, he’s looking like he’s ready to chill and take a step back. That’s cool for Wolves though, improve the %’s and improve the vibes. Vibes are crucial. I love Jaylen Brown, it’s not secret. He’s not as nasty in this league but 32 fp as the 4th guy on this team is nice as fuck. The depth is above average, Brogdon/DRose/Caruso/AG/Jre/Kessler/Adams is championship level. Health is the only thing stopping this team. Drew’s a smart cookie and it’s been awesome having him in the league.
1- New Orleans Pelicans
Good morning. I’m going to be honest with you bro, my man Johnny has done an admirable job of navigating a god squad through cap issues and resign troubles. Has everything been perfect? No. But he’s done an awesome job and I will be sad if he leaves us at the end of the year. Not that sad though. Kyrie/CJ/DeMar/Dray/LaVine is a championship core. Like fully healthy, this team is ridiculous. Pelicans is close to Milwaukee but has more depth as it stands. Wood/McGee/Saddiq/KCP/Coby is an incredible 2nd tier. He needs to figure out the last 1 or 2 spots but shit man, this team is going to be tough to beat. I’m of the mind Kyrie is about to have a monster year as well. Probably offsets the regression from DeMar. I don’t like Wood for fantasy this year, but 28-30 fppg in here for a big like him is cake. He’s new age skinny Drummond. I am not the biggest Saddiq guy in the world, I think he’s a solid role player. Nothing wrong with 24-25 but don’t get whacky on me. Depth and injuries will test this team, I’d love to see Johnny pay attention closer to the deadline and really fine tune his team. That’s all he’s missing. Good morning.
A very key tanking season is about to commence in Los Angeles; however, I do see some decent upside young guys on this roster. Sexton should have free reign to do whatever he wants and hover around 25-30 fppg. PJ Washington should absorb most of the free minutes in Charlotte and is a mini breakout candidate. Other than those two pretty pieces, it’s just ya know, some guys. I wasn’t a fan of Johnny Davis in the draft but getting him at 16 wasn’t bad at all. He has looked about as trash as he could possibly look though. I wouldn’t expect him to be in the rotation early on for the Wiz but he’s still got upside. Dort should be a steady depth piece, maybe he improves a bit. Grant Williams, Oubre, Joe Harris, and Nance should all be decent depth pieces as well. Hardy and Braun are solid young options as well, and both have a chance at cracking their respective rotations in year one. Not going to sugar coat it Griff, this team is all time all time ass, but this is the year to be that bad. A lot to look forward to in the future though bro.
29- Atlanta Hawks
It really is insane how fast shit switches in this league. I remember last year, the Dame/Harden Hawks were a force until Rubio went down. Fast forward to now, and Trey is back to BBall25 Trey (tanking). I love Maxey, everyone at this point loves Maxey, he’s a future star. Wiggins has seen his stock increase substantially after the playoffs, I think with a full season of Klay however, he’s just an above average depth piece. Probably around 22 fppg. I think I saw a report of Jon Isaac RAMPING up! We should see Isaac at some point this season and even with a suddenly crowded frontcourt in Orlando, the man should be able to put up some fantasy points. I’m under the impression Bridges will not playing this season and I have serious doubts that he will ever play in the NBA again. I also do not like Trey’s rookies. Not a Dalen Terry guy, I know he has a lot of juice from fantasy analysts, but I don’t project anything more than a defensive specialist. LaRavioli should develop into a decent role player and may have more upside than I initially thought but I’m not in love. Kyle Anderson is making 16mil on this team for 4 years. That’s pretty cool bro, very thoughtful of you Trey.
28- Houston Rockets
Another year, another class in session tank put on by Baby Freesha. Herro/JG/Pablo will be the 3 highest scorers for this team and depending how good they are, he could can some of these similar ass teams. Problem is the depth and him having raw rookies who won’t get minutes. Not a problem for Free though, money in the bank. I’m not sure how much Herro improves on last year; I think he might run into some usage problems starting. He’s never really been that good next to Butler and Lowry. Jalen Green is a stud and I’m curious how high he can drive his fp this year. I think 28-30 is realistic. Pablo is nice and NBA ready, easy projection for 23-24 fppg. Yeah bro Bagley is like cool too dude, will score in the mid 20’s once he gets healthy. The Killian renaissance is happening, I think he shows that he’s a capable NBA player this year. I personally am not that high on Daniels, think he might struggle for PT out the gate, but long term he will be a nice player. AJG and Dieng are nice as well and awesome long-term prospects to have.
27- Sacramento Kings
My good friend Stevie! Steve is going to be in for a rough year (thanks Dave) but I think he has a couple more depth pieces that vault him above the tankers. The tankers also have more motivation to sell (not that Steve doesn’t, I’m sure he will pawn these guys off asap too). Mikal should do his thing and score 25-27 fppg. He’s about as reliable as they come. I think Hayward is the next highest scorer on this team, hopefully he can stay healthy because 30 fppg without Bridges should be cake. Richaun should be productive in limited minutes and then it’s the depth gang. Payton, EG, Fournier, Caleb Martin, and Poku should all help. I actually think Poku could maybe be an above average rotation player. Maybe. Poor fucker Steve didn’t even have a 1st rd pick this year. We appreciate you tanking on this can of a team bro, I think I got turned down about 10 times asking someone to take this thing. Def shows you got some sauce to ya.
26- San Antonio Spurs
Spursy spurseyyy. Honestly bro, before I looked at this team, I thought it was a lot better. Mobley is probably the best young piece in the league here. 33-35 fppg fosho. Then we got OG! I love OG and I think he improves this season on his way to 30 fppg. Russell is locked into a similar role to last season so he should score pretty much the same. And then after that, the depth is just so sorry and murky. I guess Chris is tanking again and honestly, good idea. Get another building block. I like Deni’s fantasy game and overall game a lot, but I worry about the touches and looks he’ll get in DC. It’s just so crowded and the Wiz don’t seem to give a shit about development. Nas is another cool piece but he’ll be squeezed for minutes this year. McBride and Pritchard are decent specs. Hayes, Metu, and Goga can all produce if allotted some time but it’s not looking promising. Chris is a smart guy and will be up in no time. Would maybe try to accelerate the process after this year to take advantage of Mobley’s rookie deal though.
25- Utah Jazz
Wecome to the league Jonathan. We are ecstatic to have another fresh mind in the league. With that being said, I don’t know what TJ was doing here. Jaren is cool, but he can’t rebound in a league that emphasizes it. He’ll score like 25-26, maybe 28-30 when he comes back? I don’t know man, foot injuries are weird, would not be surprised if he missed more than half the season. And then the next highest scorer is… Claxton? LeVert? I actually do think Claxton has a mini breakout; however, the upside isn’t sky high just because the Nets will play small and play other bigs. LeVert I just cannot stand watch play ball anymore. I give him starting about a month before he’s the 2nd unit chucker. Mathurin and Bones look awesome. But Benny is a bucket getter and we’ve seen Jalen Green, Anthony Edwards, Jalen Suggs all struggle mightily at the NBA level for most of their rookie seasons. He’s not those guys so while the long-term upside is cool, I’m not sold on him substantially helping this year. Bones is sweet, hopefully he can score 23-24 fppg. Bojan and TB round out the end of guys who can contribute and man I think this is going to be a rough introduction for Jonathan. Get on that slow grind lil Jon, I believe in you.
24- Toronto Raptors
Good ole Perk a lerk. This is just loaded with some depth and a crazy amount of future draft capital. I’m not sure about the quality of all his picks but he does have a lot of them. Simons is the sexy leader of this team, I’m not sure what he looks like off ball and next to Dame but he should be able to hover around 24-26 fppg. Kelly Olynyk looks like he will provide a lot of value in here as a tank commander for the Jazz. Good for Perk for that signing to finally pay some dividends. Ayo! Ayo will have a lot of room to grow this year, the opportunity is awesome. That’s looking like a steal of a pick. Bouknight… yeah, hopefully he gets his head on straight and can show something this year. Maybe a Westbrook trade opens up some PT for Dennis. This team is just going to grind out some wins with death by a million cuts. And the cuts come from some weird ass sources. Bogdan, Coffey, Vincent, Oladipo, Kenrich, and Naz should all get some licks in. Keep building Perk.
23- Washington Wizards
Another year, another season of doubting Octstuff. Octy could very easily outperform this projection if the depth is better than I expect. I see Rozier/Clarke/Powell at the top and it’s a solid start. Rozier could be Octy’s leading man if he had the depth like years past, but it’s questionable. Going back to the top, Rozier should be a lock for 30-32, maybe even bump that with no LaMelo to start and no Miles. Clarke I really do expect 25-27, and Powell should do his thing in the low 20’s. Then it’s Barton, OPJ, Conley, Trez, Tate, and Ochai. I think it’s fair to have questions about all those guys. He would need them to be playing at their absolute peaks to really have a shot at the playoffs. We’ve all grown so accustomed to Octy grinding out wins, but I think he’s in for a rude awakening. Love you btw.
22- Chicago Bulls
21- Cleveland Cavaliers
Jon decided to take his team in a new direction after multiple failed seasons of the Big 3. Can’t fault em for it, props for having some balls and willing to try something new. DG, Brunson, Cole, and Jabari is very solid for a young core. It’s also a core that will score now. I’m higher on Jabari Smith in this type of league because the boards and stlks should be plentiful. Can’t really dribble but that doesn’t matter in here. The Okoro buy was super interesting. We’ve been over it though, and Isaac still has the chance to be a 20-24 fppg guy in here. Lets start with hitting 20 first, that’d be nice and impressive on a deep Cavs team. As I’m typing this, I realize the fp probably won’t be there but hopefully he improves as a player. Nowell is a bucket and should have a regular role this season. Vando is super nice in here and IRL. Flip candidate in both. This isn’t a bad year for Jon to take advantage of him having his pick and an awesome draft. Excited to see the re-tool.
20- Denver Nuggets
Yeah, I don’t know about this whole 8 seed push Kev. Rudy will be the 40 fppg stud he is. Keegan has been rolling every game, I’m very curious to see what he looks like in NBA game. I could see 18 fp all the way to 25. Quickley got cucked with Brunson, I still think he shows some improvement but the combination of him being a scoring guard and bench role with Thibs isn’t ideal. Davion and Herb should be able to live around 20-22 fppg. Trent, Grimes, Cam J, JJ, and Drummond are all nice depth pieces with paths to outperform expectations. If that happens, I could see a possible playoff berth with some lucky breaks.
19- Charlotte Hornets
Kennan has been getting a tad bit more active this offseason. Ingram and Collins is a nice start up top. I think 33-35 fppg is well within the cards for BI this season. He might not be a beast beast just because Zion’s back but the guy is still a stud. Collins is also not getting a ton of touches and other bigs remain in Atlanta. As long as Capela/OO are there, he won’t get to eat at center. I do however think Kennan has better depth this year. Wiseman has looked good and I can’t put a number on the fp but it’s an exciting time to own the young GSW big. Lowry/Clarkson/McConnell/Donte D/Cov is solid depth. Maybe Blake can find some life in Boston. Excited to see Hornets make a push for the playoffs.
18- Phoenix Suns
I think I like Suns a lot more than most this year. He’s got a solid mix of top end strength and sneaky depth. I know he also has his pick and may be inclined to sell pieces to so he finishes worse than this but I’ll rank based on what’s here. Jarrett Allen is an absolute monster in here and he should be even better this year. BP is comfy in Milwaukee just eating in blow outs and catching the games that Lopez misses. I do think Bamba will take a step back with the added frontcourt depth in Orlando. Chuma is probably also squeezed more than last year. Not a Rui guy, but he had an awful year last season, and it feels like the Wiz will give him opportunity to prove it. Also not a Patrick Williams fan at all but he had a bumpy start last season so he has scope to improve as well. Tari is a box score animal and will be one of the higher scoring rookies. I think Suggs will have a mini breakout and figure out the NBA as well. Tyus and Tre Jones are just awesome cheap PGs to have with Tre having an awesome opportunity in SA this year. Just an overall solid team with depth that easily has a path to playoff contention.
17- Detroit Pistons
I know this seems dummy low for an organization that has put on a masterful display of a rebuild but hear me out. Russ is in the gutters, and I have no idea what the production looks like. I wouldn’t be surprised at 30 fppg nor would I be surprised at a trade, and he ends up on the couch like the previous Wall situation. Or he could come off the bench for LA and put up mid 20’s production. Just a huge cloud. Ivey is an awesome prospect, but let’s be honest, he is going to struggle this year for large amounts of periods. Just how it goes with scoring guards. Poole is going to be awesome again, I’d look for around 25-26 fppg from him. I also expect Moody to be in the rotation and take a sizeable sophomore jump. Cade is a fuckin stud and is locked for a huge season. KLAW is awesome as well, but I worry about the guaranteed rest/load management. And then the depth just isn’t there for this team to withstand Chet being out. Detroit basketball will be a force, but this ain’t the year.
16- Memphis Grizzlies
This is a bit of a drop off compared to where Royce was last year but I think it’s warranted for now with the injuries and loss of depth. Scottie is a tank built for this league and should continue to improve. Bane is an awesome piece at a position in here that is hard to get points at. KP might finally have a season where he stays healthy and is a force for most of it. I don’t know when it’s coming, but it could be this year. His injuries are considered however, he’s just going to miss games, whether it’s 10 or 30. Bob Williams being out is super sad and a huge blow to this team. The report of possibly being back for the 2nd half of the season is tough. Brown/Hield/Tucker/Love/Young are all decent depth pieces. How good this team ends up really will depend on Primo and Koloko. I like Koloko as a prospect, think he could develop into a solid center. I’m not sure he finds too much PT this year however, Raptors have a million forwards. Maybe they full send his ass in there though. Primo I do not like but he will be afforded all the opportunity in the world which is awesome. He’s shown improvement but him becoming a full-time primary seems like a stretch to me.
15- Brooklyn Nets
Another one of those teams that’s just scary as dicks up top. Luka and KD might be the best duo in the league if Kevin stays on the floor. I just don’t believe in the depth very much at all man. Rubio was a curious pick up, he’ll be out until December, and suddenly, Cleveland is loaded with ball handlers. Capela is like alright as a 3rd guy in this league? He’s a big regression candidate however, I wouldn’t be too excited. I’m honestly not going to list out the bottom half of this roster, it needs serious improvement via trades/pick-ups/anything. I do like Paul Reed and Kevon Looney as depth pieces though. Kispert should have a fine role in this league for a long time. Find 2-3 more guys like that and Andre could really have something here. You don’t need a ton when you have KD and Luka, you just need to find some diamonds in the rough. Good luck Andre.
14- Indiana Pacers
My good lifting buddy Jho. Honestly, I think Pacersman has dealt with the cards he received just about as well as you could. No lotto luck? No problem let’s get Harden for 8 and Isaac. Duren was an awesome pick who probably won’t be a meaningful contributor this year but has immense potential. Picking up CP3 for that amount of money will no doubt add production but I’m curious to see how long his stay is in Indiana. Alvarado plays a nice Beverly role for the Pelicans; he’ll be solid depth. I’m not sure Tre Mann blossoms insanely this year but he’s an NBA player with upside. Not sure on Thomas’ role in BKN either. Jaden is getting a bigger role and a mini breakout from him would help Pacers immensely this year. The big one is Sengun, if he’s everything his believers say he is, Pacer is going to be dangerous this year. He hits 28-30 fp and Jho will kill this projection. Roddy seems like a longer term play even though I’m sure he’ll have his moments when the Grizz call on him. Don’t even gotta talk about Zion, everyone knows. Beautiful building here Mr Ho, a nice combo of youth and stardom, excited to see where it goes from here.
13- Los Angeles Clippers
I really really like Remy’s team man. I think it’s just a tad too young to be a top dog however and the end of the roster is questionable for championship aspirations. I have no doubt that Remy will make improvements throughout the year if he deems his team ready, however. AE is a star, not many things I feel more confident in this year than him taking another leap. Keldon is going to get everything he wants in SA, and while others have noted he may be overrated, I’m pretty in on him this year. Everyone knows I love Franz, even though he’s way better IRL than here, I still think I’m comfortable projecting 28 fppg this season. I also think Mitch Robinson is in store for a more featured offensive role. He got literally 0 last year on offense so anything would be an improvement. Poetl will be a locked 30-32 fppg and remain one of the most underrated centers in the league. Jalen Smith is starting and should be able to be an above average contributor. Reeves needs to play and remains a sexy depth piece. Lonnie/Cam/Diallo/TD/Simone? I’m not sold. I can’t put him any higher with those guys rounding out the year. Also, get well soon Zo. Pleasure having you in the league Remy and I wish you the best of luck.
12- Philadelphia 76ers
Struggle to rank this team to be honest. Trae/Giddey/Sabonis is a monster big 3 but it’s not a championship contender unless they get a couple breaks. Unless Giddey is going for 40 fppg this year. I think 32 is a good number for him. Maybe 33/34. The depth just has no upside/room for improvement. Seth/Bullock/Kleber/Mook will all give ya what they give ya. Very predictable 15-20 fppg. I don’t have a lot to talk about with this team because Peltz has 3 monsters and then boring. Probably the best drafter in the league though. He just doesn’t mess up. You’re gonna let Anthony Edwards fall to 8? Thank you, dipshits. Joshua Gidderson is available at 8? Yeah sure. Peltz could easily win this whole thing as constructed but I’m curious to see if he explores ways to improve.
11- Oklahoma City Thunder
Okay everyone I do not why, but I keep getting this feeling that Loren is the team of destiny this year. Could not give you one fucking concrete reason why but I keep feeling it. Embiid is such a boss and a great head of the snake. If he’s playing in the playoffs, you are not going to want to play the Thunder. I feel like Lor has never had a dude that scores like this. It’s always been Booker then depth. Now he goes Embiid/Book to depth. Kuzma and Grant are probably the next suspects up to contribute heavily. Don’t love either but you know what they do. Kuz may regress with Beal and KP but we’ll see. Then it’s just a bunch of 20 fp scorers, Reggie, Huerter, Pat, Grayson, Barnes, and Gafford. Gafford is such a swing piece to have, if you catch this team fully healthy with Gafford eating time because KP is out? Team of Destiny.
10- Dallas Mavericks
Kyle has built a solid and surprisingly deep team. Bam and Donovan form a nice 1-2 punch at the top. MPJ and Jamal are the next tier. I’d put this team higher if I was 100% on their health but maintenance for them is just going to happen. Stewart and Okungwu are big swing pieces, I’m pretty confident in Stew having a 24-26 fppg year. He’ll play and Casey should trust him more this season. OO, I’m not sure he fully separates from Clint this year. Think the likely case scenario is it’s a split and Okungwu hovers around 20-23. Hunter/Monk/Mann/Duarte are all decent depth that will have their nights. Jalen Williams has looked really good and has a shot at being one of the higher scoring rookies. Christopher had an encouraging season last year will get his, just a lot of guys there to bank on massive improvement stats wise. Wouldn’t put this team on the same tier of the teams above them but there’ s upside to get there. Kyle is a very polarizing figure in the league for sure but I do very much enjoy him being here and look forward to witnessing his trenches grind from years ago finally come to fruition.
9- Miami Heat
I think this is a good spot for Sanjul and the Heatles. Ja and DA is another awesome duo. Hopefully Ja can stay healthy most of the year and drop his usual high 30’s fp. DA getting to 34-35 would also be massive but I’m not sure it happens in Phoenix. Turner is a nice 3rd piece in this league, he’s pretty much guaranteed to hover around 28-30 fp wherever he ends up. Maybe he cracks over 30 if things break real nice. I think the depth in Miami is definitely improved this year. Santi has come out of nowhere to be looking like he’s picking up the JJJ minutes. That’s the type of young player come up you dream about, nice little rookie contract producer. Lauri’s outlook improved a ton this offseason, he’ll get to eat in Utah. I’m not sure what he averaged last year but I believe it was around 23-24. 26-28 doesn’t sound like a huge jump but it really is when he’s a depth piece for you. Nunn, Duncan, Plumlee round out the boring options and they should be solid end of the bench options. Obi and Mark Williams are some huge swing pieces for this franchise. I think Obi has the talent to be a solid fantasy option but it’s all about the opportunity. I’m not sure it’s there in New York but I’d expect him to play more than he did last year. Worst case scenario, this team looks awesome, and you can deal him. Mark Williams is a solid prospect but is getting the Clifford treatment unfortunately. I’d bet on Charlotte playing him sooner than later though. Nice team Sanj I think this is the best I’ve ever seen it tbh.
8- Boston Celtics
Love BMan and the patient approach has really yielded an awesome team. Shai-KAT-Ben is scary man. Shai and KAT are the real 1-2 punch and I’m very optimistic SGA is going to have an awesome year. Long time fan of KAT is well. Rudy or no Rudy, the guy is a fantasy stud. Ben is a massive swing piece, he might take a couple games to get used to NBA ball again, but I don’t think 35 is out of the question. Also seems to be in a position to really eat based on that roster and possible missed games from Kyrie/KD. But maybe Ben is the one who misses games so that’s where the swing comes into play. The Wall signing was a little iffy bro, but out of all the options, he does have a chance to get to 24-25 fppg. The depth is also better than it has been in years past for BMan. He works the margins well. Strus/Brissett/Precious/Boucher/Hartenstein are all useful pieces. I do like Ziaire to take some steps but I’m not sure how good he is in fantasy. Overall, this is a title contender this year, and possibly a dynasty after the lotto next year.
7- Orlando Magic
Ah yes, my good ole boyfriend Sarge. Very solid team out in Orlando, wouldn’t call it a favorite, solid contender is a good term. Tatum, Siakam, Jimmy, KPJ, might be the best 4 in the league besides Jake. After that, we got Tobias, Patty, Brooks, Lyles. Furkan and NAW have an outside chance to be contributors this season, but it’s all about how well Sarge can improve the bottom half of the roster for me this season to really vault himself into contender status. KPJ taking a step and getting to like 32 fppg would also be a massive boost. As I’m typing this, I realize for some teams, I’m picking out the weaknesses, but think of it as a suggestion. Just how I think, take it with a grain of salt. This team as it stands has one of better chances to win a title in the league. You got stars, middling depth, and an active owner that will work the margins to get there. Siakam was an awesome pick up. The more I think about it, Tatum and Siakam are a killer 1-2. Jimmy-Tobias-KPJ flanking that is pretty scary.
6- New York Knicks
Alright honestly the turn around the Knicks have had is stupendous. I can’t believe this guy yopped Bron and Beal for pennies on the dollar. Like this is a 30-team league and these guys would go in rounds 1-2 in 12 team leagues. Credit to Sood for getting in there. PG-LBJ-Beal is a championship level core. Although I think the depth is closer to the first team Sood had in here. He might be finally pairing studs with depth. Vassell is a legit MIP candidate and is going to eat in SA. 24-25 fppg, stonks up. Zubac is a very steady center. Dinwiddie is kinda iffy to me. I could see him returning 23-24 fppg or completely stinking up the joint. We have samples of him being very good and him looking like stevie wonder. That’s kinda the swing piece for me with this team, which Spencer are we getting. Kennard is like fine as a player and would put up better numbers if the Clippers didn’t have 20 rotation players. Trey Murphy looks like a literal lock to improve and be a solid depth piece. Just a very solid star studded team right here. He has a 1st somehow still too so you know he’s going to use it to go all in. Ily sood.
5- Portland Trail Blazers
Tyler is legit insane with how well he’s managed this team. Seriously, mad props my guy. The improvement and turn around will be told in fantasy leagues everywhere once you enter the hall of fame. Jokic is the best. If you even have adequate depth around Jokic, you will have the chance to win big. I’d argue Tyler has put more than adequate depth around Jokic, it’s not just good, it’s very very good. Lillard and Vooch being the next tier of stars next to Jokic is scary level. Marcus Smart is as solid as they come and an awesome 4th option next to a gigantic 3. Then the scrappy guys. I like Isaiah Jackson a lot, but without a Turner trade, I don’t when he’s fully unleashed. It will most likely be in time for our playoffs, when it matters most, so that will be huge. I would still temper expectations. It takes time for a big man to figure out the league, someone like Mitch Robinson had to learn how to not foul and IJax will have a similar learning curve. Payne/Milton/THT should all give something to this team, and that’s all he really needs with the star power. Garuba and Shaedon are the swing pieces here, based on what I’ve seen from Sharpe, I’d pick him to make an all-rookie team. That Portland team isn’t incredibly deep, and Sharpe looks like someone who can contribute scoring wise off ball right away. I haven’t been blown away, but it’s good to see him finally play. Garuba I’m not sure how much he’s helping you this year. He needs NBA experience more than anything and I don’t think he starts in the rotation right away. Definitely a piece to watch throughout the season. There will come a time when Tyler has the option to bolster his team mightily by dealing Sharpe/Garuba and I am curious as a motherfucker to see if he does it. Nice team.
4- Milwaukee Bucks
Listen, I’m only ranking this based on what is currently on the roster. Yes, I know Jake will make moves by the deadline and be ready. No, I’m not taking that into account, my rankings, cactus, sit. LaMelo, Dejounte, Fred, Midds, Giannis. Like holy shit. The most fire power in the league is in Milwaukee. Jonas is going to regress but will still be useful. 28 fppg is probably my actual prediction. 30 is also a likely number. Kessler is an awesome rookie for Jake. Will play in Utah, will put up stats, on a rookie contract. You are GOATED Jake, it’s merched, but this is your hardest task yet. You’re missing half a roster and if you turn this in at the end of the year, you will lose. You’ve already gotten a taste of some unlucky injury stuff. Love you though bro I look forward to our relationship continue to blossom.
3- Warriors
My diapers buddy. Caleb has developed a team that is as deep as ever. Curry is a lowkey MVP candidate for me this season. Can’t go wrong with him as your 1. Fox/Jrue/Nurkic are all similar tier stars. Not incredible options but all these guys are going to score 30-32 fppg. Nurk and Fox have scope to score more. I think if you see Fox or Nurk hover around 34-35, Caleb is going to be sitting very pretty. Fultz is probably the next guy Caleb is expecting to get going for him, I like Fultz a lot. He’s great at filling a box score, and a solid play maker/finisher. I think 24-26 is a very reasonable season for him. I worry about the injury concerns, and the other ball handlers in Orlando. Cole is going to need time, Suggs will need the ball, Franz and Paolo will need the ball. Anyway, Fultz is very good and I’d bet on him to show it this year. Hart is a BBall26 fucking all star. The guy eats boards like he mad at em. I think you see him live around 26-28 fp. Just a solid player in here and you know exactly what you’re going to get. Good sign that he’s starting as well. Yeah I mean I don’t like Baze bro. I wouldn’t rule him out being fantasy useful though. If he just rebounds and blocks shots, he could average mid 20’s. There’s a world where he has a delayed breakout and can find a role. Would I wanna bet on it? No, but Caleb doesn’t need him to be a star. Caleb grinds the margins, he learned it from me. You just know he’s gonna find guys to get rotation minutes and contribute. Found Gary last year. Javonte/Jae/Saric all will put up some pts for these guys. I’d say Caleb’s a top title favorite. You know what is.
2- TimberWolves
This big 2 is disgusting bro. AD and Haliburton. It don’t get better than that boys we found our top duo in the league. Everyone is saying revenge year for AD or something but honestly he’s going to miss games. Let’s not kid ourselves. The key is hopefully he doesn’t go down for like 8 weeks. Keep it to 1 or 2 games here and there and Wolves is gonna cook at an elite level. Julius should be good for 33-35 fppg this year. I’d be on like 33 to be honest though, he’s looking like he’s ready to chill and take a step back. That’s cool for Wolves though, improve the %’s and improve the vibes. Vibes are crucial. I love Jaylen Brown, it’s not secret. He’s not as nasty in this league but 32 fp as the 4th guy on this team is nice as fuck. The depth is above average, Brogdon/DRose/Caruso/AG/Jre/Kessler/Adams is championship level. Health is the only thing stopping this team. Drew’s a smart cookie and it’s been awesome having him in the league.
1- New Orleans Pelicans
Good morning. I’m going to be honest with you bro, my man Johnny has done an admirable job of navigating a god squad through cap issues and resign troubles. Has everything been perfect? No. But he’s done an awesome job and I will be sad if he leaves us at the end of the year. Not that sad though. Kyrie/CJ/DeMar/Dray/LaVine is a championship core. Like fully healthy, this team is ridiculous. Pelicans is close to Milwaukee but has more depth as it stands. Wood/McGee/Saddiq/KCP/Coby is an incredible 2nd tier. He needs to figure out the last 1 or 2 spots but shit man, this team is going to be tough to beat. I’m of the mind Kyrie is about to have a monster year as well. Probably offsets the regression from DeMar. I don’t like Wood for fantasy this year, but 28-30 fppg in here for a big like him is cake. He’s new age skinny Drummond. I am not the biggest Saddiq guy in the world, I think he’s a solid role player. Nothing wrong with 24-25 but don’t get whacky on me. Depth and injuries will test this team, I’d love to see Johnny pay attention closer to the deadline and really fine tune his team. That’s all he’s missing. Good morning.
