🖥 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE THANKS
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.

 

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

Stefon Diggs

Facing Strangulation, Assault Charges
Kevin Love

Sits Out Meeting With Celtics
Ace Bailey

Out for Second Straight Game
Jock Landale

Questionable Tuesday
CFB

Chip Kelly Named Northwestern Offensive Coordinator
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic May Have Avoided Major Injury
Alex Lyon

Bags Another Victory Monday
Riley Leonard

Will Start Against the Texans
Marcus Johansson

Matches Career High With Four-Point Effort
Steven Stamkos

Shines Monday Night With Three Points
Dylan Strome

Extends Point Streak in Loss
Sam Reinhart

Leads Charge Against Capitals With Three Points
Troy Terry

Enjoys Three-Point Night Against Sharks
Macklin Celebrini

Remains Hot Against Ducks
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Out Tuesday
Jaxson Hayes

Off the Injury Report Tuesday
Rui Hachimura

Sits Out Tuesday's Game
Caris LeVert

Unlikely to Play Tuesday
Drew Eubanks

Available Tuesday
Keegan Murray

Questionable to Face Clippers
Zach LaVine

Remains Out Tuesday
John Collins

Uncertain for Tuesday
Bijan Robinson

Explodes for 229 Total Yards, Two Touchdowns on Monday Night
Robert Williams III

Active on Monday Night
Kris Murray

Out on Monday
Pelle Larsson

Exits With Ankle Injury Monday
Josh Giddey

to Miss Rest of Monday's Action
Coby White

Ruled Out for Rest Of Monday's Game
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Won't Return Monday
Brandon Williams

Available Monday Night
Anthony Davis

Out Against Trail Blazers
Coby White

Questionable to Return Monday
Davante Adams

Officially Out on Monday Night
Drake London

Active Against Rams
Jake DeBrusk

to Miss Monday's Game as Healthy Scratch
Shane Pinto

Available Monday
Pius Suter

to Miss at Least Four Weeks
Pyotr Kochetkov

Likely Done for the Season
Josh Morrissey

Expected to Play Monday
Karel Vejmelka

Moved to Injured Reserve
Rasmus Dahlin

Expected to Rejoin Sabres Lineup Monday
Yegor Chinakhov

Penguins Acquire Yegor Chinakhov From Blue Jackets
Justin Herbert

Won't Face Broncos in Week 18
Marcus Mariota

Considered "a Stretch" to Play in Week 18
Geno Smith

Dealing With Significant Ankle Injury
Dak Prescott

Will Play in Week 18
Lamar Jackson

Week 18 Status "to be Determined"
Joe Mixon

Won't Return This Season
T.J. Watt

a Long Shot to Play in Week 18?
CFB

Penn State Working to Hire D'Anton Lynn as Next Defensive Coordinator
Joe Burrow

Will Play in Week 18 Against the Browns
CFB

Omar Cooper Expected to be Full-Go for Rose Bowl
CFB

Marcus Freeman Staying with Notre Dame for 2026 Season
CFB

Star Wideout Cam Coleman Entering Transfer Portal
Luther Burden III

Set to Undergo Additional Testing on Quad Injury
Kirill Marchenko

Scores Twice in Sunday's Win
Justin Brazeau

Pots First Career Hat Trick Sunday
Juraj Slafkovsky

Collects Season-High Three Points in Sunday's Loss
Eeli Tolvanen

Continues Scoring Surge With Three-Point Effort
Jack Eichel

to Remain Out Monday
Adam Fox

Nearing Return, Considered Day-to-Day
D'Andre Swift

Finds End Zone Twice in Sunday Night Loss
Luther Burden III

Posts Season-High 138 Yards, Touchdown in Loss
Christian McCaffrey

Racks Up 181 Total Yards, Touchdown in Win Over Bears
Brock Purdy

Delivers Second Straight Five-Touchdown Performance
Parker Washington

Leads Jaguars in Targets, Receptions, and Receiving Yards
Wan'Dale Robinson

Posts Season-High 11 Receptions in Week 17
Josh Allen

Seen Limping From X-Ray Room, Says Foot Injury Didn't Affect Him
CFB

Jay Hill Expected to be Next Michigan Defensive Coordinator
CFB

Michigan Targeting Kyle Whittingham as Next Head Coach
CFB

Texas Leading Rusher Quintrevion Wisner Set to Transfer

RANKINGS

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