Fantasy Basketball: 2024-25 Northwest Division Crew Previews

By Zak Hanshew

The 2024-25 NBA season is a little bit over one month away, making this prime time for fantasy managers to organize for his or her drafts. Rotoworld could have articles dropping all through this time, starting with fantasy-related ideas on each staff. Subsequent up in our division-by-division previews is the Northwest Division.

Oklahoma Metropolis, Denver, and Minnesota completed final season as the highest three seeds within the West, with the latter reaching the Convention Finals for the primary time in 20 years. And there are a number of fantasy studs within the Northwest, with Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander main the best way.

Denver Nuggets

2023-24 Report: 57-25

Tempo: 97.4 (twenty sixth)

Offensive Ranking: 117.8 (fifth)

Defensive Ranking: 112.1 (eighth)

One Potential Sleeper: Christian Braun

For the second straight season, Braun is Denver’s potential sleeper choose. We right here at Rotoworld have been admittedly a season early on Braun. Nonetheless, with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope now in Orlando and no important additions to the roster, Braun is in line to open the season as a starter. He’s proven flashes of high quality two-way play in two seasons with the Nuggets, and as an NCAA and NBA champion, Braun has proven poise below the brightest lights. A breakout efficiency is undoubtedly within the playing cards.

One Potential Bust: Jamal Murray

Murray struggled once more with availability final season, showing in simply 59 video games. Following the common season, he logged 12 playoff video games and a run on the Paris Olympics for Crew Canada. Murray tied his career-best mark by ending thirty second in per-game fantasy hoops worth, however fantasy managers ought to be leery of drafting him for the 2024-25 season after an eventful offseason. His early ADP (per Hashtag Basketball) suggests he’ll value a mid-fourth-round choose, which can be a bit wealthy given his harm issues.

Notable Quantity: 29.4

Denver ranked sixth in bench factors per recreation final season and eighth in bench minutes (81.4). The Nuggets’ bench was one of many weakest within the Affiliation, and the staff relied closely on its starters. After shedding starter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope within the offseason, Christian Braun is anticipated to exchange him within the beginning 5, which ought to imply loads of enjoying time for the third-year wing.

Denver’s returning starters – Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., Jamal Murray – ought to see heavy minutes once more. As Denver’s presumed Sixth Man, Russell Westbrook ought to see expanded enjoying day without work the bench however don’t count on heavy minutes from the remainder of Denver’s secondary choices.

Minnesota Timberwolves

2023-24 Report: 56-26

Tempo: 97.8 (twenty third)

Offensive Ranking: 114.6 (seventeenth)

Defensive Ranking: 108.4 (1st)

One Potential Sleeper: Robert Dillingham

Minnesota traded as much as purchase the standout one-and-done possibility out of Kentucky, and he ought to be one of many first guys off Minnesota’s bench to open up his rookie marketing campaign. Father Time is undefeated, and Mike Conley might be 37 this season. Dillingham would presumably take over because the staff’s place to begin guard if he wears down or is compelled to overlook time. His electrical offensive skillset makes him an intriguing stash in deeper leagues with the potential to be a viable possibility in 12-team leagues if given expanded minutes.

One Potential Bust: Rudy Gobert

At this level, what you get with Gobert. He’ll submit a double-double common of 13 factors and 11.5 rebounds, swat 1.5-2.0 pictures per recreation, and shoot effectively from the sector. Gobert is the person for you for those who’re into predictability, excessive flooring, and low ceilings. In response to Hashtag Basketball’s early ADP, Gobert goes at choose 49.3 on Yahoo, and that is now his ceiling. Grabbing a man at his ceiling is rarely the perfect apply, so Gobert will be thought-about a possible bust because of the draft capital required to land him in your fantasy staff. By drafting him on the present ADP, you’re spending a mid-round choose on a participant who doesn’t have the upside for second or third-round worth.

Notable Quantity: 108.4

Minnesota’s defensive score is essentially the most notable variety of the 2023-24 marketing campaign. The Wolves completed with a below-average offensive score. Nonetheless, the elite protection propelled Minnesota to the Western Convention Finals and the second-best document in a extremely aggressive Western Convention. Defensive stalwart Rudy Gobert introduced house new {hardware} together with his fourth Defensive Participant of the Yr award, whereas Anthony Edwards continued to develop on the defensive finish of the court docket. Jaden McDaniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker hounded opponents on protection, and regardless of missing a robust fantasy skillset, each gamers have been integral to Minnesota’s success a season in the past.

Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder

2023-24 Report: 57-25

Tempo: 100.8 (fifth)

Offensive Ranking: 118.3 (third)

Defensive Ranking: 111.0 (4th)

One Potential Sleeper: Isaiah Hartenstein

Hartenstein ought to be on fantasy managers’ radars after a career-best yr in New York and a brand new alternative to hitch the beginning 5 in Oklahoma Metropolis. Hartenstein ought to see expanded minutes for his new staff, which may lead to extra rebounds and defensive stats. He’s a prototypical massive man who can rack up double-doubles, steals, and blocks whereas taking pictures at a excessive clip and barely turning over the ball. In the event you load up at different positions early, Hartenstein is a superb, late-round C choose who will be had within the eighth or ninth rounds of 2024-25 fantasy drafts.

One Potential Bust: Jalen Williams

He improved his manufacturing in Yr 2 and completed forty first in per-game fantasy worth. One other top-50 season is undoubtedly attainable, however how a lot larger can he climb? After being drafted as a worth choose in two straight seasons, Wiliams’ ADP has lastly caught up together with his numbers, and also you’re doubtless drafting him near his ceiling for those who spend a mid-fourth-round choose on him. Hashtag Basketball’s early ADP has Williams selecting 41.8 on Yahoo, which may set him as much as bust based mostly on draft capital alone.

Notable Quantity: 53.1

Oklahoma Metropolis allowed the fifth-most rebounds to opponents final season, which was surprisingly an enchancment after permitting essentially the most rebounds per recreation throughout the earlier two seasons. The Thunder made an obvious effort to handle this deficiency on the glass by signing Isaiah Hartenstein to a profitable, three-year, $87 million deal. Hartenstein will presumably take over because the staff’s beginning middle, which could have a ripple impact throughout the roster. Chet Holmgren will transfer to PF, Jalen Williams will transfer to SF, and Lu Dort will come off the bench behind newcomer Alex Caruso, who would be the doubtless two guards subsequent to Shail Gilgeous-Alexander within the backcourt.

Portland Path Blazers

2023-24 Report: 21-61

Tempo: 97.8 (twenty first)

Offensive Ranking: 107.6 (twenty ninth)

Defensive Ranking: 116.6 (twenty third)

One Potential Sleeper: Donovan Clingan

Portland is loaded within the backcourt with younger expertise that presumably matches the invoice for the staff’s rebuild effort. Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams definitely aren’t previous males, however it’s unclear if Portland’s entrance workplace views them as cornerstone items of the franchise. Williams is probably going on the transfer or able to spend important time on the bench after the Blazers invested the No. 7 choose on this yr’s draft on UConn standout massive man Donovan Clingan.

A two-time NCAA champion with the Huskies, Clingan has a profitable pedigree, and the massive man will be an elite rebounder, shot-blocker, and environment friendly shooter on the subsequent degree, making him a worthwhile, late-round sleeper choose. At worst, he ought to see 20+ minutes behind Ayton, and at finest, he may turn into the beginning middle if Ayton is moved or is compelled to overlook time.

One Potential Bust: Jerami Grant

Grant could possibly be in line for a bounce-back season after notable declines in rebounds and blocks and a rise in turnovers in 2023-24. These declines is also the brand new norm for a participant who has relied closely on scoring and three-pointers to keep up top-100 fantasy worth in latest seasons. The emergence of different dependable scoring choices like Scoot Henderson and Deni Avdija, in addition to a top quality rebounder and shot-blocker in Donovan Clingan, means Grant may end exterior the tenth spherical for the second straight season.

Notable Quantity: 11.5

Portland made the Twenty eighth-most three-pointers per recreation in 2023-24. It’s shocking, contemplating the staff boasts three-point specialists Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant, however the remainder of the roster didn’t convert constantly from past the arc. Scoot Henderson has clear room for enchancment in his effectivity throughout the board, and Shaedon Sharpe can also be due for constructive regression in that division. New addition Deni Avdija shot a career-best 37.6% from downtown final season, so Portland’s 3-point makes ought to tick up in the course of the 2024-25 marketing campaign.

Utah Jazz

2023-24 Report:31-51

Tempo: 100.2 (tenth)

Offensive Ranking:114.5 (18th)

Defensive Ranking:119.6 (thirtieth)

One Potential Sleeper: Keyonte George

After a gradual begin to his rookie marketing campaign, George bought going and lit up opposing defenses. He tied the rookie document with 9 three-pointers made in a single recreation and posted three 30-point video games. George was a streaky and infrequently inefficient shooter, however when he was feeling it, he was a superb possibility on offense. He confirmed his playmaking chops because the season progressed, and George is an intriguing prospect heading into Yr 2 with a presumed beginning job in his fingers.

One Potential Bust: Collin Sexton

It’s extraordinarily robust to foretell who from this staff might be a bust because of the laughable early ADPs (per Hashtag Basketball) of men like Sexton, Walker Kessler, and John Collins. Nonetheless, Sexton may burn fantasy managers after disappointing in his first season with the Jazz. Was final season’s bounce-back only a mirage, or are the great occasions right here to remain? Was Sexton given extra enjoying time as a consequence of quite a few accidents throughout the roster, or was he genuinely trending in the proper route? There aren’t any colossal bust dangers on this staff, however Sexton could possibly be the one who disappoints.

Notable Quantity: 14.8

Utah allowed essentially the most threes per recreation, and the staff allowed opponents to shoot a staggering 39.5% (highest within the Affiliation) from past the arc. Utah wants perimeter protection, and the staff ought to get a lift from No. 10 choose Cody Williams, who profiles as a top quality perimeter defender because of his size, pace, and athleticism. At 6-foot-5, 210 kilos, Isaiah Collier has the dimensions and power to be a stable perimeter defender. Each rookie first-rounders may see significant minutes proper out of the gate.