In preparation for the 2016-17 Fantasy Basketball season, it's time to get to know some of the new guys in the player pool.  The 2015 draft brought in a massive influx of fantasy relevant NBA talent, from a burgeoning super-star at the top of the draft (Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Towns) to a hidden jewel in the middle of the 2nd round (Miami's Josh Richardson).  While this draft doesn't have as much guaranteed talent in the lottery, it does feature its own star at the top and a depth of intriguing players who could make an impact from out of the 2nd round.

The Bucks always seem to disregard popular opinion and draft for upside on draft night. A few years ago they took a chance on Giannis Antetokounmpo and he turned out to be one of the best young players in the draft. This season, they did the same thing with a similar player in Thon Maker, who has the size of a center and skills of a point guard.

NBA Rookie Fantasy Profile: Thon Maker

Position: PF/C

Team: Milwaukee Bucks

Draft Spot: 1.10

Analysis: The Bucks were one of the biggest wildcards on draft night. They needed help in their frontcourt, but no one knew exactly who they were going to draft. Henry Ellenson was a popular option at the 10th pick, but the Bucks opted to go for the high upside pick with Thon Maker.

Maker could find his way onto the court if Greg Monroe is traded, but even then, he isn’t a great bet to play big minutes. He has the height for the NBA, but he doesn’t quite have the strength. He’ll likely take his first year to add muscle and potentially work on his post moves. Before Maker opted to stay in high school (for an extra few years?) instead of going to college, he was projected to be a top-5 pick. He’s more of a developmental project over a player that should be taken in re-draft leagues.

Maker flashed his upside at the Summer League, as he stepped in and averaged 14.2 points and 9.6 rebounds in 30.4 minutes. He also shot 31.6% from beyond the three-point line. Maker didn’t display his ability to pass in the Summer League, though he does have great ball handling for a big man. He has the ability to be a great player in the NBA, but he also has the ability to flop in his first few season and fizzle out. At his best, the upside of Maker's unique combination of size and athleticism can be compared to that of Giannis Antetokounmpo, and it will be extremely fun to watch them play on the same team. Maker could be a scorer and three point shooter, and is long enough to add blocks and steals once he becomes a bit better on defense. He’s a high risk, high reward type of dynasty league player.

Bottom Line: If given playing time, he could immediately produce some points, rebounds, FT%, and blocks. Will likely struggle with minutes, though. Should be avoided in standard leagues because of raw skill set and lack of minutes.