Hey, ringheads! As we prepare for another electrifying NBA season, it’s time to uncover those hidden gems ready to shine on the hardwood. This week, we focus on four dynamic guards that will appeal to your fantasy basketball leagues.
[Create or join a Yahoo Fantasy hoops league for the 2024-25 NBA season]
Put these players on your radar as they step into more prominent roles and possess true explosive traits. Let’s break it down.
Immanuel Quickley, PG/SG, Toronto Raptors
The fifth-year guard finally has a chance to showcase his talent as a full-time starter. Quickley gave us a glimpse of what to expect this upcoming season when he averaged 19 points with five rebounds and seven assists in 38 games for the Raptors last season. He played so well that the Raptors extended Quickley through the 2028-2029 season, trusting him as their franchise PG.
According to BetMGM, Quickley has the sixth shortest odds (+2000) to win Most Improved Player, a strong signal that he is in for a big season. Following the Knicks’ midseason trade, Quickley’s playing time ballooned from 23 to 33 minutes per game. For those worried about Scottie Barnes eating into Quickley’s usage, he only saw a 2% decrease with Barnes on the floor (24% to 22%). Quickley is a versatile fantasy player who provides value in most categories besides blocks and FG%.
His ADP sits in the fifth round, but I would move aggressively for him in the fourth round as I expect him to finish in the top 50 in both points and category leagues this season.
Cam Thomas, SG, Brooklyn Nets
Cam Thomas has been a microwave bucket since he entered the league a few years ago. This season, we will see him emerge as the top pick and franchise player for the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets. Thomas saw a 30% usage rate with Mikal Bridges present (he’s gone now) and was one of nine players under the age of 23 to average at least 20 ppg last season.
While Thomas is typecast as a chucker, this is the year we will see some growth in his playmaking abilities. In 11 games in March last year, Thomas averaged 4.3 assists per game. Thomas gives off the Jordan Poole 2.0 feel of last year, but at least Thomas has built-in chemistry and familiarity with the team, having been with Brooklyn since he was drafted in 2021.
The Nets have a new coach, but given the roster and tanking aspirations, this offense will run through Thomas as both a scorer and facilitator. He could finish in the top 10 in scoring this season, and with an uptick in assists, 3s and maybe steals, his seventh-round ADP looks fair considering the work he’ll do as the Nets’ focal point.
Jalen Suggs, PG/SG, Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic let Markelle Fultz walk in free agency, and while a number of guards were rumored to come in, the Magic opted to hand the keys to fourth-year guard Jalen Suggs. And why not? Suggs has improved significantly in his third NBA season. He earned second-team All-Defense, and he increased his FG% from 42% to 47% and shot 39.7% on 3s. He averaged just 27 minutes per game last year, so joining the starting unit should take him over the 30-minute threshold to pure additional fantasy production.
Suggs started at SG in all 75 games for the Magic last season. With the added responsibility of now helping run the offense alongside Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, his value has increased in fantasy with the opportunity to generate more assists. More minutes equals more potential to set new career marks in points, assists and steals per game. With an ADP in the ninth round, Suggs could be one of the biggest steals in fantasy basketball drafts this season.
Brandin Pod Ziemia, SG, Golden State Warriors
The Warriors’ decision to move on from future Hall of Famer Klay Thompson pushes Podziemski into the starting unit. When news dropped that the Warriors wanted Podz to try out 8-10 3s per gameit said a lot about how the Warriors plan to utilize him and how much faith they have in his scoring ability. He shot close to 39% from distance last year, so it’s tracking. He’ll compete (at times) with Jonathan Kuminga as the second option to Stephen Curry, but that’s a good thing for his fantasy value.
Podz was one of the best rebounding guards in the league as a rookie. His 11.7% rebounding mark was higher than Paolo Banchero and LeBron James. Josh Giddey, Luka Dončić and Russell Westbrook are the only guards with a higher one total rebound percentage than Underground.
Now that we’ve covered the scoring perspective and rebounding, let’s get to his facilitation. He had 24 games with at least five assists last season, including a season-best 14 dimes off the bench in 34 minutes against the Grizzlies in February. He ran the two-unit offense at times last season, and seeing more than 30 minutes a night should get him closer to five assists a game.
Podz will wear many hats for the Dubs, including being one of their best on-ball defenders. After an offseason where Podziemski played on the USA Select Team, the breakout potential is real. His 11-round ADP is mispriced, and fantasy managers should grab him as late in drafts as possible.
