Fantasy basketball: One urgent query heading into draft season
August 22 was a giant day for a lot of fantasy basketball fanatics, as Yahoo was “open for enterprise” concerning mock drafts (Fantrax had opened issues up a number of weeks prior). Consequently, many bought in some early drafting reps, which might be worthwhile for testing opinions on gamers, each good and unhealthy. With that in thoughts, the Rotoworld basketball employees has provide you with one query every that may influence their strategy to drafting their groups.
Noah Rubin: Is New Orleans completed making strikes?
Seven gamers on the Pelicans are doubtlessly price drafting, with most of them having an argument for being chosen within the prime 100. Nonetheless, there is just one ball and solely so many minutes to go round. They added Dejounte Murray with out giving up many items from final season’s rotation. Brandon Ingram was thought-about a lock to be traded 4 months in the past, however that also hasn’t occurred. Yves Missi looks like he’ll be the beginning heart, however they might nonetheless make a transfer for an additional huge.
They may nonetheless make loads of strikes that might open up minutes for Trey Murphy, however it isn’t straightforward to think about him beginning at this level, even when his spacing can be useful. There’s nonetheless time for New Orleans to determine these items out, however as of now, it’s a problematic mess to kind by means of when drafting.
Zak Hanshew: The place will LaMelo Ball land in drafts?
As we head into the 2024-25 season, I ponder, “What if…” LaMelo Ball has performed 58 video games throughout the final two seasons, however when obtainable, he’s been an absolute beast for fantasy hoops managers. Over these 58 appearances, Ball averaged 23.6 factors, 5.8 boards, 8.2 dimes, 1.6 steals and three.6 triples. His FG% and turnovers will undoubtedly depart a lot to be desired, however these blemishes might be anticipated with a high-end, high-usage level guard.
Ball is anticipated to be prepared for Hornets coaching camp, and I’m protecting my eyes peeled for updates on his well being. Ball’s present ADP (per Hashtag Basketball) is early third-round, placing him in 2023 James Harden territory for a savvy worth decide. Given his harm historical past, Ball comes with loads of danger, however getting a man with a first-round upside within the third spherical is tempting. I’ll be monitoring Ball’s standing and ADP motion all through the offseason, searching for worth.
Raphielle Johnson: How a lot ought to we consider in Scoot Henderson?
No scarcity of individuals loudly proclaimed that Henderson ought to have been the second general decide in final June’s draft, though Charlotte had LaMelo Ball on its roster. The Hornets handed, going with Brandon Miller, leaving Portland to pick the previous G League Ignite guard. After beginning the primary 5 video games, an harm sidelined Scoot for 9, and he would alternate between starter and reserve earlier than taking over the previous position for his closing 14 appearances. And it’s that stretch that has sparked some optimism concerning Henderson’s 12 months two prospects.
In these 14 video games, he averaged 18.9 factors, 3.6 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 1.4 steals, and a pair of.3 3-pointers in 34.2 minutes, taking pictures 40.8% from the sphere and 80.9% from the foul line. Whereas the field-goal proportion wasn’t spectacular (Scoot shot 39.5% from three throughout this era), it improved in comparison with his earlier manufacturing. The place to pick him in drafts has been a sticking level for me, particularly with Anfernee Simons nonetheless on the roster. Additionally, Shaedon Sharpe began 25 of the 32 video games he appeared in final season and might be within the combine for the same position on the two. Is Henderson price a top-100 decide, particularly with the effectivity issues? That’s one thing I’ll be keeping track of in early drafts.
