🖥 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE NEW
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Three Overvalued Centers for Fantasy Basketball Drafts

By Keith Allison (Flickr: Serge Ibaka) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Jake Finnen looks at three overvalued NBA centers to avoid as potential draft busts in 2016-17 fantasy basketball leagues. Think twice before drafting them.

Let me set one thing straight before I get started on my three overvalued NBA centers for the 2016-17 fantasy basketball season. Just because these players are on this list, does not mean that they are bad players. They are simply the centers I found to be overvalued according to their Yahoo ADP rank. That's it.

I am also putting out a list in the near future about centers to avoid. There should be no surprise that one or two players from this list will show up on that list. With that in mind, let's get rolling.

Editor's Note: RotoBaller has the best Premium NBA Subscription, only $29.99 for the full season. We have all the preseason tools to help win your drafts, and in-season tools to win your seasonal and daily leagues: Draft Kit, Premium Rankings, Sleepers List, Late-Round Fliers, Early-Round Avoids, DFS Cheat Sheets, Lineup Picks, Expert Lineups, Stacks and Avoids.

Featured Promo: New Novig users get a $25 purchase match (50% discount up to $25) on your first Novig deposit, and 3 free months of RotoBaller's "Big-4" Premium Pass (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL) which includes exclusive tools for Betting, Props, DFS and more! CLAIM IT NOW

 

Centers Who May Not Return Their Draft Day Cost

Serge Ibaka - PF/C, Orlando Magic

We all know Serge is one of the premier mid range shooters in the Association. Unfortunately, he was already showing a precipitous decline in Oklahoma City and is now dealing with a crowded front court that poses a serious problem for his potential offensive production.

Ibaka was among the leaders in the league in blocks and should assume a heavy defensive role with the Magic. Nikola Vucevic should see more touches than Serge and with Bismack Biyombo coming off the bench, Ibaka slightly fades away as a low-ceiling center.

Offensively the Magic will rely on Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier, newly acquired Jeff Green and previously mentioned Vucevic. The spacing he had with OKC thanks to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook allowed him to excel, but in Orlando the lack of consistent production from the backcourt will hinder Ibaka’s production. If he proves me wrong, then fantastic.

I assume I'm not alone when I say that Serge is one of the most likeable figures in the league. Unfortunately, the only thing we care about is fantasy production. As an aging veteran on a mediocre team in Orlando, don't expect Serge to be the same player that he was in his prime surrounded by top end talent in Oklahoma City.

 

Gorgui Dieng - PF/C, Minnesota Timberwolves

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that because Minnesota brought in two other centers in the offseason, Tom Thibodeau is either trying to motivate Dieng or has little confidence in him. I'm going to go with the latter because Dieng was never a real force to be reckoned with.

He doesn't lead the league, or even come close, in any statistical category. He is behind ROY Karl-Anthony Towns and has Cole Aldrich breathing down his neck after a surprisingly impressive stint with the Clippers last season. Of course Dieng will get rebounds, a few blocks here and there, the occasional 15+ point game but the inconsistency will drive you crazy.

He's a solid basketball player but when it comes to fantasy, let him slide to whoever wants him. I'm confident there is another option out there for you to take before Dieng. This shouldn't be me completely ripping on Dieng but instead telling you why you should avoid him in the earlier rounds.

He's ranked as the 14th center on Yahoo, in front of plenty of talented H2H studs including DeAndre Jordan and Andre Drummond. Luckily his average draft position is around the sixth round which is still ahead of players like Greg Monroe, Myles Turner and Dwight Howard. (Howard can still ball, he just suffers from selective hustle and charity stripe-itis).  Dieng's percentages are nice for roto leagues, but in head-to-head leagues you can do better.

 

Steven Adams - C, Oklahoma City Thunder

THIS HAPPENS EVERY YEAR. One player has a quality highlight or solid game in the NBA playoffs. You know, the time of year when apparently everyone is an expert on the NBA and true fans of the Association are left laughing at the ridiculous takes these “fans” make.

Two years ago, it was Dellavedova who everyone claimed was SOOOO GOOD (still baffled by this) and this year it was Steven Adams. He is 7’0 tall so when he dunks and gets rebounds... it shouldn't make you rethink what a good center is.

The fact he has been drafted ahead of Enes Kanter is ridiculous. Kanter comes off the bench and drops buckets and grabs offensive boards like it's going out of style. Which it is. Kanter is one of the few players I see actively trying to grab every offensive rebound possible, thus making him a double double machine, even off the bench. This helps him and you if you draft him. Kanter should produce much more than Adams on a more regular basis.

Adams doesn't strike me and anything special when it comes to fantasy and should be left to be drafted by someone else. If you are contemplating taking Adams, which according to Yahoo is drafted around the 6th-7th round, look for Kanter who will be a much better asset to your overall fantasy production AND should still be available according to Yahoo. Don't let his playoff performance last year construe your vision. I'll be honest, Kanter should be the guy you want with an OKC front court looking for a lead big man.

 


By popular demand, RotoBaller has aggregated all of our fantasy basketball NBA waiver wire pickups into a running list of NBA waiver options, so bookmark the page and check back often for updates.

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Zay Flowers

Goes Off for 138 Yards, Two Touchdowns in Loss
Bo Bichette

Phillies Have Interest in Bo Bichette
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Dominates in Week 18 Win
Cameron Ward

Believed to Have Grade 3 AC Joint Sprain in Right Shoulder
Colston Loveland

Leads Bears in Targets, Receptions, Receiving Yards in Week 18
Santi Aldama

Available on Sunday Evening
Ja Morant

Downgraded on Sunday Night
Puka Nacua

Finishes the Regular Season as Top-Scoring Receiver
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons Fire Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot
David Njoku

Wants to Re-Sign with Browns
Ray Davis

Runs Wild in Final Game of Regular Season
Matthew Stafford

Strengthens MVP Candidacy in Win Over Cardinals
Mitchell Trubisky

Comes Off Bench, Throws for Four Touchdowns
Rhamondre Stevenson

Explodes for Three Touchdowns in Huge Week 18
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Good to Go Against Sacramento
Trae Young

Won't Play on Monday Night
Grayson Allen

Still Out on Sunday Night
Indianapolis Colts

Colts to Bring Back Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard for 2026
Kansas City Royals

Matt Quatraro Signs Three-Year Extension With Royals
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Catches Eight Passes in Dominant Outing Sunday
Logan Stanley

to Sit Out One Game With Suspension
TOR

Chris Tanev Could Be Done for Rest of Regular Season
Sean Monahan

Expected to Return Tuesday
Alexander Wennberg

Lands Three-Year Extension
Alec Pierce

Makes Several Big Catches Before Ejection
John Beecher

Handed One-Game Suspension
Devon Toews

Unavailable Sunday
Seth Jones

Out Against Avalanche
Josh Allen

Plays One Snap in Week 18
Myles Garrett

Breaks All-Time Single-Season Sack Record
Jaylen Waddle

Officially Sidelined for Season Finale
De'Von Achane

Officially Inactive Against Patriots in Week 18
Dalton Kincaid

Suiting Up Against Jets in Week 18
Kyren Williams

Suiting Up Against Cardinals on Sunday
Davante Adams

Won't Play Against Cardinals in Week 18
Jamal Murray

Will Play on Sunday
Christian Braun

Will Play on Sunday
Aaron Gordon

Will Play on Sunday
Ja Morant

Questionable Against the Lakers
Michael Porter Jr.

Off Injury Report, Set to Face Nuggets
Jalen Suggs

Ruled Out for Sunday, No Timetable for Return
Caris LeVert

Ruled Out Against Cavaliers
Jarrett Allen

Ruled Out on Sunday Afternoon
CFB

Transfer QB Billy Edwards Commits to North Carolina
CFB

Sam Leavitt Visiting Texas Tech on Saturday
Jamal Murray

Expected to Play Against Nets
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Listed as Probable for Sunday
Tobias Harris

Out at Least Two Weeks with Hip Sprain
Jalen Duren

to Miss at Least One Week with Ankle Injury
Vince Williams Jr.

Misses Eighth Straight Game
Maxime Raynaud

Cleared to Play Sunday After Knee Scare
Isaiah Hartenstein

Remains Out Versus Suns
Nathan MacKinnon

Takes Over Scoring Lead With Four-Point Effort
Herbert Jones

Misses Seventh Straight Game
Nikita Kucherov

Bags Five Points Against Sharks
Darren Raddysh

Celebrates Hat Trick in Big Win
Jordan Binnington

Logs First Shutout of Season
Auston Matthews

Becomes Maple Leafs' All-Time Goals Leader
Jake McCabe

Exits Loss Early
Tom Wilson

Escapes Serious Injury
Joel Kiviranta

Misses Road Trip
Gavin Brindley

Out Saturday
Casey DeSmith

Granted Leave of Absence
Tanner Jeannot

Remains Absent Saturday
Trevor Moore

Won't Play Saturday Night
Shayne Gostisbehere

Set to Return Saturday
William Nylander

Misses Fourth Straight Game
CFB

DJ Lagway Expected To Visit Florida State
Kyle Tucker

Blue Jays "Remain the Favorite" to Sign Kyle Tucker
CFB

Joey Aguilar Undergoes Surgery to Remove Tumor on Friday
CFB

Texas the "Team to Beat" for Transfer Running Back Isaac Brown
CFB

Rocco Becht to Follow Matt Campbell to Penn State?
CFB

Texas Targeting Cam Coleman in Transfer Portal
CFB

Former Texas Running Back CJ Baxter Visiting Kentucky
CFB

Beau Pribula Visiting Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech
Bo Bichette

Yankees Showing Interest in Bo Bichette
Houston Astros

Astros Sign Tatsuya Imai to Three-Year Deal
CFB

Lane Kiffin Interested in Sam Leavitt, Brendan Sorsby at LSU
CFB

Deuce Knight Officially Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Kewan Lacy Expected to Be Full-Go Against Georgia
CFB

Chip Kelly Named Northwestern Offensive Coordinator

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP