Alex Burns's Fantasy Basketball Rankings (Categories): Top 250 for 2024-2025 Drafts

October 7, 2024

Alex Burns's top 250 fantasy Basketball rankings (categories) for 2024-2025 drafts. See which NBA players he is targeting with his fantasy basketball rankings.

Here we are, folks -- almost to the finish line! After what seemed like possibly the fastest offseason in NBA history (we say this every year), we are a few weeks out from watching real NBA hoops. And that can only mean one thing: fantasy basketball is back, baby!

The NBA offseason delivered its usual dose of drama, serving up an (unhealthy) overload of rumors, blockbuster trades, and noteworthy free agency signings that kept us all hooked. I am most excited to see how some of the biggest question marks of the season get answered. A few that come to mind are - Can Karl-Anthony Towns return to first-round value in New York? Can Immanuel Quickley break into the top 50 fantasy players? Does Mark Williams make NBA history by being 'doubtful' for all 82 games?

Okay, I'm kidding about that last one... sort of. Either way, it's invigorating to be this close to tip-off. I've been updating my rankings like a mad scientist all summer, and now, with your fantasy basketball drafts right around the corner, it's time for my latest tweaks. Welcome to my 2024-2025 Top 250 Fantasy Basketball Categories rankings!

2024-2025 Fantasy Basketball Rankings: Alex's Top 250

My Guys

Immanuel Quickley, G - Toronto Raptors
Average Draft Position - 58.4, Alex Ranking - 46

We've known for quite some time that Quickley had breakout potential, but a backup role in Tom Thibodeau's system kept his flame from truly fanning over the last few seasons. That changed significantly after he was traded to the Toronto Raptors, along with R.J. Barrett, in exchange for OG Anunoby near the trade deadline last season. In the blink of an eye, he went from a streaming option to a must-roster player in standard leagues, averaging 18.6 points, 6.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 threes, and 0.9 steals in 33.3 minutes in his first stretch with the Raptors.

Even better, his stats took a leap as he settled in with his new team, with those numbers climbing to 21.2 points, 7.1 assists, 5.8 rebounds, 3.1 threes, and 1.2 steals over the season's final two months (18 games). Sure, it's always wise to be cautious with late-season stats thanks to hashtag silly season, but he finished as a top 30 value over that time according to Basketball Monster.

With a full offseason in Toronto, I'm confident he'll pick right up where he left off. The minutes and role will be there, and he's already shown us his upside. At this point, I would feel comfortable looking his way in the 4th round of drafts, and I would take him over other guards like Jamal Murray, Jaylen Brown, and Darius Garland without hesitation.

Jimmy Butler, G/F - Miami Heat
Average Draft Position - 52, Alex Ranking - 28

As a Miami Heat fan, I'll be the first one to tell you that Butler had a disappointing season last year. Sure, he's no stranger to missing games, but what really stung was his drop-off in almost every single significant stat category, namely steals. Sprinkle in an offseason filled with whispers of tension between him and I know what you're thinking -- "Here we go again".

Maybe this is just me wearing my homer hat but I genuinely believe there's a strong mutual respect between Butler and the organization. So when Pat Riley sat at the podium and delivered a stern challenge earlier this year, I think Butler took it differently than he might have with other teams in the past.

Bill Simmons on Jimmy Butler’s Media Day presence🔥:

“He’s absolutely not f*cking around. Jimmy Butler taking the regular season serious is a massive f*cking deal for the Heat.

They can make finals as 7 seed but you should not try to do that; I’m back in.” (via Bill Simmons… pic.twitter.com/Y0Y4N9nmZk

— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) October 3, 2024

As for the decline in production, it's no surprise that Butler, now 35, is no longer a spring chicken. After a couple of grueling postseason runs in recent years, I have to think the mileage caught up to him years caught up to him. But with an early playoff exit last year (play-in game), he's had a full offseason to rest and recover.

I won't bore you with stats--we all know who Jimmy Butler is as a player. All I'm saying is don't be shocked if we see a fired-up Butler delivering a bounce-back season for fantasy managers.

Jordan Poole, G - Washington Wizards
Average Draft Position - 98.5, Alex Ranking - 64

Let me just start by saying "I get it". If you're reading this and were one of the managers who drafted Jordan Poole with sky-high expectations, only to watch everything fall apart, I feel your pain. But if we dig deep and find one silver lining from Poole's rough 2023 campaign, it was how well he performed playing point guard. Early in the season, he averaged 16.5 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.5 rebounds when playing shooting guard. But when he shifted to running the offense, those numbers shot up to 20.8 points, 6.6 assists, and 3.3 rebounds.

This improvement caught the eye of new Wizards head coach Brian Keefe, who recently confirmed that Poole would be the full-time point guard to begin the season. I wasn't as high on Poole as I was before this news, but this changes things. We know he can score, but if he can dish out 6+ assists per game, and improve his shooting efficiency even slightly, his average draft position (ADP) will look like a joke.

Brandon Miller, G/F - Charlotte Hornets
Average Draft Position - 71.7, Alex Ranking - 60

The Charlotte Hornets were a bit of a mess last season, with LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams missing 60 and 63 games, respectively, and a flurry of trade deadline moves adding to the chaos. But through all that dysfunction, one player stood out to me: Brandon Miller. While his rookie season stat line was modest -- 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, 2.5 threes -- his raw talent was on full display. He had four games with 30+ points and ten games with five or more threes. On defense, his wingspan and athleticism helped him make plays, even if his 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks don't scream "elite" just yet. I see room for positive regression there.

Now, with Charles Lee replacing Steve Clifford as head coach, I expect Miller to get a small bump in minutes (32.2 MPG last season). Even with LaMelo Ball returning, history shows that he may not play the full season, which could open up a huge opportunity for Miller. If he makes the offensive and defensive leap I'm anticipating in year two, he has top-50 upside written all over him.

My Fades

Coby White, G - Chicago Bulls
Average Draft Position - 70, Alex Ranking - 103

As a die-hard North Carolina Tar Heel fan, I've always been a big Coby White supporter. He was one of my most rostered players last season, and it was a blast watching his breakout campaign unfold. I'm still salty he didn't snag the Most Improved Player award over Tyrese Maxey, but hey, that's a debate for another day!

I’ve been saying all offseason that Coby White was a bonafide sleeper

Some people even thought it was crazy I took him with my last pick in some mocks

Get on the bus before it’s too late 🚀 https://t.co/gb17jWdBbH

— AB (@aburnshoops) October 8, 2023

Anyway, White finished 98th in per-game value last season, and that was with Zach LaVine missing 57 games. Now, with Josh Giddey joining the squad, White will likely have the ball in his hands even less than he did a year ago. He's a solid pick in the late 90s to early 100s in standard leagues, but drafting him at pick 70? That's a little too rich for my taste right now. At that spot, I would much rather target guys like Cam Thomas or Anfernee Simons over White.

Chet Holmgren, F/C - Oklahoma City Thunder
Average Draft Position - 20.7, Alex Ranking - 25

Let me start by saying I'm a huge fan of Chet Holmgren, and I believe he's going to be a fantasy stud this season. I don't even have him ranked outrageously high, as you can see above. I'm mentioning him here simply to explain why we might need to temper our expectations a bit.

Lately, I've seen Holmgren go in the early to mid-second round of several drafts, both mock and real. While there are certainly worse picks you could make, it begs the question: What should we realistically expect from him this season? Last season, he finished 20th in per-game value, but I believe a slight drop, rather than a rise, is more likely this year.

The main concern I have is his potential shift from center to power forward. After the Thunder signed Isaiah Hartenstein, many speculated whether he'd come off the bench or start alongside Chet. While nothing has been officially confirmed, the expectation is that Holmgren will start at power forward.

This possibility is one reason why I've pumped the breaks on Chet Holmgren a bit heading into draft season

Playing the 4 could very well result in less rebounds & a slight decrease in blocks (cc Anthony Davis)

He'll still be great, I'd just prefer to take him in the 3rd round https://t.co/HHZ6M2SM64

— AB (@aburnshoops) September 19, 2024

If that happens, I worry that playing farther from the basket could negatively impact his rebounds, blocks, and field goal percentage. I'm not suggesting the drop would be dramatic, but it could be enough to curb the upside you'd be hoping for if you're taking him at his current ADP. That being said, Holmgren's unique skillset still makes him an automatic top-30 player for me--I'd just feel more comfortable pulling the trigger on him in the 3rd round.

Keegan Murray, F - Sacramento Kings
Average Draft Position (Yahoo!) - 76.9, Alex Ranking - 92

Murray had a solid fantasy season for the Kings in 2024, even as the third option on offense. Despite a modest 18% usage rate, he still found ways to contribute, finishing with 15.3 points, 2.5 threes, and a steal per game--all with solid efficiency. The departure of Harrison Barnes should've been great news for fantasy managers, but instead, the Kings added a high-usage player in DeMar DeRozan. Talk about a double-edged sword.

Although Murray's starting role is safe, he now enters the year as the clear fourth option offensively, which makes repeating last year's numbers a tougher task. While his efficiency and strong defensive play should remain steady, a dip in usage and counting stats is likely. He's still a top-100 in my book, but his upside is limited.

It doesn't bring me any joy to say this--I've been a believer in Murray since he entered the league in 2023--but this is all about his situation more than his talent.

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