Get ready for your fantasy basketball drafts with Dan Titus’ divisional previews for the 2024-25 NBA season. On today’s slate: the Southeast.
Orlando Magic
The market is too high on Paolo Banchero in category formats. He’s certainly worthy of a second-round pick in point leagues, but Banchero’s high turnover rate, lack of 3s and blocks and average free-throw percentage dock him significantly in category leagues.
Banchero was the lowest-ranked All-Star in category formats, finishing 159th last season. I’m not saying he wasn’t drafted — I’m saying late-third round is a considerable gap from where his real value lies. However, if we pull off the Playoff Paolo, it could be very, very interesting.
Franz Wagner is one of my breakouts and if he can improve on his 3’s it will be yet another career year.
Make sure to get Jalen Suggs. He starts as a point guard who should boost his assist rate after already making strides as a 3-point threat and lock-down defender. Suggs will surpass his ninth-round ADP, which is currently sliding to pick 100.
Atlanta Hawks
There is precedent of Trae Young being worthy of a first-round pick in fantasy. Young finished 12th in per-game value and fourth in total value in the 2021-22 season before Dejounte Murray went to the A’s. Now that Murray is gone, expect Young to have 30-plus percent usage and average 25 points with 10 assists this season.
Jalen Johnson missed 26 games last season, but he has an elite fantasy profile. His services will cost a late third round pick, while Bogdan Bogdanović’s ADP remains too low despite trending up over the past week to a mid-eighth-round pick. Bogi is a good source of points, 3s and steals. Look at Dyson Daniels as a late flyer.
I still draft more shares of Onyeka Okongwu (ADP 117) than Capela (91.5), mainly because of ADP. Clint Capela is an automatic double-double. I was just worried about his minutes decreasing over the past four seasons and the Hawks’ long-term financial commitment to Okongwu. Okongwu was effective per minute while also helping fantasy managers in FG%, blocks and rebounds.
[Fantasy Hoops Draft Kit: One-stop shop for rankings, strategy and more]
Miami Heat
As one of the top defenders in the league, Bam Adebayo is a reliable source of points, boards and steals that will be off draft boards by the fourth round. If he continues to launch 3s, it will be a compelling development for his fantasy profile.
Jimmy Butler’s ADP is rising from a late-to-mid fourth-round pick – despite his draft contract situation. However, health has been an issue as Jimmy Buckets has not played more than 65 games since the 2016-17 season. Tyler Herro also has his share of injury concerns, and has fallen short relative to his seventh-round ADP. Similarly, Terry Rozier is looking for a rebound campaign after his fantasy production took a turn for the worse after he was traded to Miami last year.
Kel’el Ware is a sleeper I’ve been targeting late in drafts because he looked great in the preseason and his game reminds me of a mix of LaMarcus Aldridge and Dereck Lively II. Ware is the innovation that’s what coach Spo is talking about.
Charlotte Hornets
LaMelo Ball has first-round potential if he can stay healthy. He now wears ankle braces to resolve the ankle problems that have plagued him for the past two seasons. In the late second round, Ball’s ADP could still be valuable, especially given how he looked in the pre season. Miles Bridges goes in the late-fifth round, matching his 58th overall finish in nine-category leagues.
Brandon Miller is the third star in the making. After a strong rookie campaign, he is drafted in the early sixth round. Miller has proven he could be a three-level scorer and a decent perimeter defender, so fantasy managers can feel comfortable taking him up the middle.
Mark Williams’ inability to stay healthy drops his fantasy stock to the mid-ninth round. I can see the appeal from a better standpoint, but with an injury history like his, it’s a risky choice. I prefer Zach Edey or even Draymond Green relative to ADP.
Washington Wizards
It’s going to be a bumpy ride rostering any Wizard this season. Jordan Poole was terrible for long stretches last season, but he came alive once he took over point guard duties. Malcolm Brogdon is injured, so Poole opens the season as the main facilitator, which should help his assist numbers.
Kyle Kuzma’s shooting 30% from the floor in the preseason. He’s also been air-passing left and right lately, so I’m out on Kuzma unless you play in a points league.
Alex Sarr is an interesting prospect known for his defense. However, his offensive bag isn’t ready, so Sarr will primarily be a rim protector, rebounder and disruptor. I like Jonas Valančiūnas, but I’m worried about his long-term outlook. If he doesn’t intend to leave DC via trade, there’s an easy double-double expectation in the eighth round.
Bilal Coulibaly is not someone I am currently editing; rather, he’s someone I’d expect to become fantasy-relevant later in the season.
