2024-25 Fantasy Basketball: What to do with each first-round choose

Drafting a fantasy staff is one among my favourite hobbies on the planet, and it is enjoyable to see how each draft performs out. Every one is totally different, and adapting to these modifications is what turns a great fantasy supervisor into an excellent one. That is why we’ll consider all 12 picks within the first spherical and provides suggestions for every slot.

[Create or join a Yahoo Fantasy hoops league for the 2024-25 NBA season]

With that mentioned, let’s get began with the choose everyone seems to be speaking about!

1st Total Choose: Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokić has been the consensus first-overall choose for the final a number of years, however that is the primary time he has had vital competitors. Victor Wembanyama had a historic season in his rookie marketing campaign, and plenty of fantasy managers are taking him forward of Jokić. The rationale for that’s due to Wembanyama’s game-changing statistics, as he averaged 21.4 factors, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.6 blocks, 1.2 steals and 1.8 3s on strong all-around percentages final 12 months. It is scary that is possible the worst model of Wembanyama we’ll see as a result of he lapped the sector in blocks and is likely one of the few guys who’s a contributor in each class.

Jokić has gained MVP thrice within the final 4 years and continues to be the most secure possibility on the market, averaging 25.4 factors, 12.1 rebounds, 9.4 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.8 blocks and 1.0 3s on elite percentages over the past two years. You possibly can’t go fallacious selecting both of those stars.

2nd Total Choose: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

That is the only choose within the draft, so we’ll hold this brief. Whoever is obtainable between Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama, take that participant at No. 2. It is the absolute best spot to draft since these two are a coin-flip, and also you get to select in entrance of the primary general choose within the second spherical.

third Total Choose: Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks

After these two superstars are gone, it appears like two extra superstars will occupy the third and fourth picks. Nearly each draft on the market shall be both Luka Dončić or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at third general. Dončić has the higher statistics on the floor, however Gilgeous-Alexander’s all-around recreation had him as the highest participant in nine-category leagues final season.

It is a matter of choice between these two since you possibly can both select to stuff the stat sheet with Dončić or go for an all-around construct with Gilgeous-Alexander. In any case, both is a strong possibility.

4th Total Choose: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder

That is the second-best place to select within the draft since you’ll get both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Luka Dončić. Do not overthink it, choose no matter star is left over.

fifth Total Choose: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

After these first 4 picks, that is the place issues get attention-grabbing. Jokić, Wembanyama, Dončić and Gilgeous-Alexander will go within the high 4 in almost each draft, however the fifth choose is all around the map. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been going fifth essentially the most, however some fantasy managers like Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum or Joel Embiid on this spot. Antetokounmpo is a Dončić-type participant who’s the most secure wager to stuff the stat sheet, whereas Haliburton shall be one of many league leaders in assists. Tatum is the kind of participant who will perform a little little bit of every thing and might be the most secure possibility since he not often misses video games. Embiid has the very best upside of this group since he took dwelling the MVP award two years in the past, however his harm danger is huge.

sixth Total Choose: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

We simply took Giannis Antetokounmpo with the fifth choose, so we’ll go along with Joel Embiid at sixth general. Embiid set a career-high mark with 34.7 factors per recreation final season whereas additionally averaging 11.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.2 steals. That help complete was additionally a career-high mark, and it is clear the 76ers will make the most of him in that sort of playmaking position as his profession rolls on. The harm danger offers fantasy managers some pause, as Embiid performed simply 39 video games final 12 months and hasn’t appeared in additional than 68 regular-season video games at any level in his profession.

seventh Total Choose: Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers

We’re right down to Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum for the seventh choose, and we’ll go along with Haliburton. He has averaged double-digit assists per recreation in back-to-back seasons and is filling the stat sheet for the fastest-paced staff within the NBA. He averaged 20.4 factors, 10.7 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 0.6 blocks and a pair of.8 3s on 48.3% taking pictures from the sector and 86.2% from the free-throw line over his first two full seasons with Indiana.

Assists are essentially the most tough statistic to search out on the waiver wire, so particularly in class codecs, getting the league chief with this kind of stat-stuffing potential is sort of the increase within the second half of the primary spherical.

eighth Total Choose: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

We have been contemplating 4 gamers on the fifth general choose, and that can go away Jayson Tatum as the ultimate possibility in that tier. Meaning one among these gamers will fall to you, and whoever it’s, you have stumbled into an excellent spot since you are going to choose close to the highest of the second spherical as effectively.

ninth Total Choose: Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

We simply completed off a tier, and that is the place issues get difficult. Fantasy managers are all around the board for these last 4 picks, with Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Trae Younger, Stephen Curry, Anthony Edwards, Domantas Sabonis and James Harden all being candidates on this vary. We’ll go along with Davis since he is been a top-three participant previously and is lastly staying on the court docket.

A rash of accidents is the one factor that is held Davis again all through his profession, however the huge man missed simply six video games final season and appeared in 45 of the Lakers’ last 48 video games through the 2022-23 marketing campaign. Just a few gamers within the league can say that, and Davis additionally supplies elite numbers throughout the board and game-changing defensive statistics.

tenth Total Choose: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

We simply listed a handful of gamers who can go on the finish of the spherical, but it surely’s difficult to let Stephen Curry fall any additional than this. There aren’t many gamers who can assure you a win in a class, however that is what Curry has executed with 3-pointers. The sharpshooter has 5 of the highest six spots in 3-pointers made in NBA historical past, and he dropped 357 3s final season. That is exhausting to fathom, as a result of Luka Dončić was in second with almost 100 fewer 3s.

That pairs fantastically together with his 28.3 factors, 5.9 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals over the past 4 seasons. He additionally led the league with a 91.9% free-throw share in that span and is likely one of the solely guys who will lead the league in a number of classes. He is a powerful possibility in each factors and class leagues.

eleventh Total Choose: Trae Younger, Atlanta Hawks

There are many choices to pick from for this choose, however Trae Younger is the very best wager. He was among the many high 10 fantasy choices earlier than Dejounte Murray joined Atlanta, and he ought to method that vary after Murray was traded to New Orleans.

That ought to increase Younger’s utilization and shot makes an attempt, which is useful since he averaged 25.7 factors, 10.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals and three.2 3s in a “down” 2022-23 season. He is one of many solely gamers who will rival Haliburton to steer the league in assists, and he might do it whereas ending within the high 5 in scoring and 3-pointers made.

twelfth Total Choose: James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers

Most fantasy managers go along with Kevin Durant or Anthony Edwards on this spot, however we’ll take a pivot. I am bullish on James Harden having a bounce-back season since he is one of many solely items remaining for the Clippers. They removed Paul George through the offseason, and Kawhi Leonard is already coping with a knee challenge because the common season approaches.

That ought to power Harden into the Houston-type position that made him a high fantasy possibility, as he averaged 29.7 factors, 7.7 assists, 6.0 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 0.6 blocks and three.3 3s over his eight seasons with the Rockets. He was additionally the very best free-throw booster within the league, taking pictures 86.2% on the very best quantity within the NBA. We do not anticipate a return like that, however even 85% of these stats would make him a price on the finish of the primary spherical.

Different Gamers to Contemplate: Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant, Domantas Sabonis, LeBron James and Devin Booker