Fantasy Basketball Preview: Southeast Division

Prepare on your fantasy basketball drafts with Dan Titus’ division previews for the 2024-25 NBA season. On immediately’s slate: the Southeast.

Orlando Magic

The market is just too excessive on Paolo Banchero in class codecs. He is definitely worthy of a second-round choose in factors leagues, however Banchero’s excessive turnover fee, lack of three’s and blocks and middling free-throw share dock him considerably in class leagues.

Banchero was the lowest-ranked All-Star in class codecs, ending 159th final season. I am not saying to not draft him — I am saying a late-third rounder is a large hole from the place his precise worth lies. Nevertheless, if we get Playoff Paolo off the rip, it’d get very, very attention-grabbing.

Franz Wagner is certainly one of my breakouts and if he can enhance on his 3s, it should be yet one more profession 12 months.

Ensure that to get Jalen Suggs. He is beginning as some extent guard, which ought to enhance his help fee after already making strides as a 3-point risk and lockdown defender. Suggs will outperform his ninth-round ADP, which is at the moment sliding to choose 100.

Atlanta Hawks

There is a precedent of Trae Younger being worthy of a first-round choose in fantasy. Younger completed twelfth in per-game worth and fourth in complete worth within the 2021-22 season earlier than Dejounte Murray went to the A. Now that Murray is gone, count on Younger to hold a 30-plus-percent utilization fee and common 25 factors with 10 assists this season.

Jalen Johnson missed 26 video games final season, however he has an elite fantasy profile. His companies will value a late-third rounder, whereas Bogdan Bogdanović’s ADP stays too low regardless of trending up over the previous week to a mid-eighth-round choice. Bogi is an effective supply of factors, 3s and steals. Keep watch over Dyson Daniels as a late-round flier.

I am nonetheless drafting extra shares of Onyeka Okongwu (ADP 117) than Capela (91.5), primarily due to ADP. Clint Capela is an computerized double-double. I’ve simply grown involved about his minutes diminishing over the previous 4 seasons and the Hawks’ long-term monetary dedication to Okongwu. Okongwu has been environment friendly on a per-minute foundation whereas additionally serving to fantasy managers in FG%, blocks and rebounds.

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Miami Warmth

As one of many high defenders within the league, Bam Adebayo is a dependable supply of factors, boards and steals who can be off draft boards by the fourth spherical. If he continues launching 3s, it will be a compelling growth for his fantasy profile.

Jimmy Butler’s ADP is rising from a late-to-mid fourth-round choose — regardless of his sketchy contract state of affairs. Nonetheless, well being has been a problem, as Jimmy Buckets has not performed over 65 video games for the reason that 2016-17 season. Tyler Herro has his share of harm considerations, too, and has underperformed relative to his seventh-round ADP. Equally, Terry Rozier is searching for a bounce-back marketing campaign after his fantasy manufacturing soured as soon as he was dealt to Miami final 12 months.

Kel’el Ware is a sleeper I have been focusing on late in drafts as a result of he is regarded nice within the preseason and his play jogs my memory of a mixture of LaMarcus Aldridge and Dereck Vigorous II. Ware is the innovation that Coach Spo speaks about.

Charlotte Hornets

LaMelo Ball has first-round potential if he can keep wholesome. He is now sporting ankle braces to treatment the ankle points that plagued him over the previous two seasons. Within the late second spherical, Ball’s ADP might nonetheless be priceless, particularly with how he is regarded within the preseason. Miles Bridges goes within the late-fifth spherical, constant along with his 58th total end in nine-category leagues.

Brandon Miller is the third star within the making. After a robust rookie marketing campaign, he is being drafted within the early sixth spherical. Miller proved he might be a three-level scorer and respectable perimeter defender, so fantasy managers can really feel snug taking him within the mid-rounds.

Mark Williams’ lack of ability to remain wholesome is dropping his fantasy inventory to the mid-ninth spherical. I can see the attraction from an upside standpoint, however with an harm historical past like his, it is a dangerous choose. I want Zach Edey and even Draymond Inexperienced relative to ADP.

Washington Wizards

It will be a bumpy trip rostering any Wizard this season. Jordan Poole was abysmal for lengthy stretches final season, however he got here alive as soon as he took over the purpose guard duties. Malcolm Brogdon is harm, so Poole opens the season because the lead facilitator, which ought to assist his help numbers.

Kyle Kuzma’s taking pictures 30% from the ground within the preseason. He is additionally been airballing photographs left and proper currently, so I am out on Kuzma until you are enjoying in a factors league.

Alex Sarr is an intriguing prospect identified for his protection. Nevertheless, his offensive bag is not prepared, so Sarr will primarily be a rim protector, rebounder and disruptor. I like Jonas Valančiūnas, however I am involved for his long-term outlook. If he doesn’t intend to go away D.C. through commerce, there’s a simple double-double ready within the eighth spherical.

Bilal Coulibaly is not somebody I am drafting now; quite, he is somebody I would count on to change into fantasy-relevant later within the season.