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Thunder Dan Palyo examines which players to take in each stage of your draft that can help you win multiple categories in your 2023-2024 fantasy basketball leagues.
The 2023-2024 NBA season is rapidly approaching and you're probably getting ready for your drafts by doing a bunch of draft prep - which might just include reading this article!
Whether you play H2H or Roto, you need to draft players who can contribute in multiple categories. Sure, specialists still carry value, especially if they're really good at what they do or if their best category is a scarce one (think blocks, for example). But what you don't want is too many "hollow" players who are going to contribute in categories that are plentiful (points and rebounds, for example)
Players who can contribute significantly in blocks, steals, and threes while also carrying solid averages in the main counting stats are the guys who we are really after. Here are some of my favorite targets, sorted by how early/late you should be targeting them in your drafts.
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Peripheral Monsters: Early-Round Targets
Anthony Edwards - SG/SF, Minnesota Timberwolves
Yahoo ADP = 14
Edwards is a guy who can contribute across the board in 9-cat, despite his reputation as being mainly a scorer. His 2.7 made threes per game was actually a small step back from the 2.9 that he made the year prior, but he also shot a better percentage from behind the arc - he just attempted fewer shots from deep.
What is really impressive is his defensive contributions. He provided 1.6 steals and 0.7 blocks per game last year. When you combine the 2.3 "stocks" per game with his 2.7 threes, you get 5.0 threes/steals/blocks from a SG-eligible player. He is getting a ton of hype this preseason, but it feels quite warranted to me. Reach on him at the end of the first round or early second round with confidence.
Jaren Jackson Jr. - PF/C, Memphis Grizzlies
Yahoo ADP = 20
With Ja Morant out for the first 25 games, we are about to see just how high JJJ can soar in terms of fantasy value. His foul struggles have been well-documented and his shot selection still leaves me scratching my head at times, however, his raw potential is unquestioned as is his ability to contribute to crucial fantasy stat categories.
Derrick Rose WITH THE FIND. 🥽
Jaren Jackson Jr. FOR THREE. 👌🏿#BackToTheGrind
pic.twitter.com/W4vP6WQI1T— Grizz Lead (@Grizz_Lead) October 11, 2023
Last year, Jackson Jr. led the NBA in blocks with 3.0 per contest, finishing a half block ahead of the rest of the field. He did this while also contributing 1.6 threes, 1.0 steals, and shooting 50% from the floor. He also only played 28 minutes per game, which is a number that could jump up this year as Memphis is likely going to rely on him more than ever during the Morant suspension.
Fred VanVleet - PG, Houston Rockets
Yahoo ADP = 28
It feels like FVV's ADP is depressed right now due to his move to Houston. But I am really not sure why we should be downgrading him because of that. The Rockets just paid him a boatload of money to come there and lead their young core of players. I don't think his playing time takes any kind of hit and his value could even go up if the Rockets play fast and loose this year as they have in the past.
FVV is a point guard who provides an elite amount of value from defensive stats. Last year he finished with 1.8 steals and 0.6 blocks per game, which when you add in his 3.0 made threes per game puts him at 5.2 steals/blocks/assists. His major deficiency is FG% as he shot under 40% last season, but if you can find some great FG% elsewhere from big men later in the draft, you can offset that.
Also consider: Kristaps Porzingis - PF/C, Boston Celtics
Peripheral Monsters: Middle-Round Targets
OG Anunoby - SF/PF, Toronto Raptors
Yahoo ADP = 51
OG has been a guy who has been touted now for several years and while it might seem like he hasn't exploded like we wanted to, the reality is that he has still been quietly pretty damn good in 9-cat leagues. He finished last season ranked 27th in Basketball Monster's per-game value rankings and he's the classic example of a guy who won't hurt you in any single category (okay, maybe assists) while helping out in a big way with peripheral stats.
OG Anunoby gets the steal and SLAMS it on the other end for the Raptors 😤
Anunoby is 1-of-2 players to have 120+ steals and 50+ blocks.
The other player:
Anthony Edwardspic.twitter.com/Ah7Hme4v0F— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 9, 2023
He finished with a combined 2.6 blocks + steals in addition to 2.1 made threes per contest. He did that while shooting over 47% from the field and 82% from the charity stripe. And while his future in Toronto could be in jeopardy, his skill set should translate into 9-cat fantasy goodness anywhere he might land this season or beyond.
Brook Lopez - C, Milwaukee Bucks
Yahoo ADP = 68
If you miss out on Jaren Jackson early, then Bro-Lo makes a pretty nice consolation prize. You won't get as many steals (0.5), but you will get 4.2 threes/blocks on some elite 53% shooting from the Bucks big man. Those numbers were good enough to make Lopez a second-round value last year in 9-cat formats!
Lopez might be getting old, and pretty boring, but he has turned himself into one of the most efficient stretch-fives in the NBA. He's well worth a pick at his current ADP.
Cameron Johnson - SF/PF, Brooklyn Nets
Yahoo ADP = 71
Cam Johnson is another guy who doesn't get enough love based on his relatively mediocre counting stats. Yes, there are a lot of NBA players who can average 15 points and 4 rebounds per game, but Johnson is one of only a few who can contribute 2.5 three-pointers while still shooting 47% from the field.
He won't block man shots, but he finished with 1.2 steals per game and his efficiency is what makes him a great value in this range. He's being drafted at least a round too late in most leagues and is primed for a nice season as a core piece of the Brooklyn rebuild.
Also consider: Tobias Harris - SF/PF, Philadelphia 76ers, Myles Turner - C, Indiana Pacers
Peripheral Monsters: Late-Round Targets
Daniel Gafford - C, Washington Wizards
Yahoo ADP = 102
I chat with a lot of fantasy basketball analysts on a daily basis and just about all of them are really high on Gafford this season. We have been waiting for several years for Gafford to get the playing time he needs in order to break out and while we saw some flashes of it last year, this season his path to productivity has been totally cleared by the departure of Kristaps Porzingis to Boston.
Preseason Block Leaders (+ Minutes)
Jaren Jackson Jr - 9 Blocks (74 MIN)
Colin Castleton - 8 Blocks (8 MIN)
DANIEL GAFFORD - 8 Blocks (43 MIN)
Walker Kessler - 7 Blocks (61 MIN)pic.twitter.com/2wb10qVjoa— WizardsMuse (2-0) (@WizardsMuse1) October 16, 2023
We will never likely get 36 minutes a night from Gafford, but his per-36 numbers last year were solid at 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks. He played just 21 minutes a game last year but should push for 28-30 a night as the starting center for the rebuilding Wizards. He is an absolute stud in FG% as he shot 73% from the field last season.
Keegan Murray - PF, Sacramento Kings
Yahoo ADP = 106
I have a huge man crush on Keegan and I admittedly was too high on him last year as a rookie. But the skill set is there and I am convinced that the Kings are bound to unleash him in a slightly bigger role this season. He contributed 2.6 threes per game while still shooting 46% from the field in his rookie campaign. With more consistent playing time, he should be able to improve on his 1.3 steals/blocks per game, too.
Trey Murphy III - SF/PF, New Orleans Pelicans
Yahoo ADP = 116
Murphy is going to miss a chunk of time to start the year but is coming off a breakout season as the starting 3-man for the Pelicans. He was even more impressive than Murray in that he drilled 2.6 threes per game while shooting the rock at a 48% clip and averaging more than one steal per contest.
He is an assassin from deep and has the athleticism to defend out on the wing, too. Once he's healthy, he's primed for another solid season and if Zion or Ingram get hurt again (or maybe Ingram gets traded?) then he could step into a larger role, too.
De'Anthony Melton - PG/SG, Philadelphia 76ers
Yahoo ADP = 120
I have been drafting Melton late whenever I can, especially on teams where I am targeting big men earlier in the draft. Melton is likely going to be a sixth-man for Philly again this season but finished last season averaging 2.0 threes and 2.1 blocks/steals (0.5 of those are blocks, which is awesome for a smaller guard).
His game isn't pretty, but he is scrappy and skilled...and very underrated in fantasy basketball.
Patrick Williams - PF, Chicago Bulls
Yahoo ADP = 139
There are probably some out there who are sick of hearing about P-Will's potential, but this late in drafts, he is a solid pick based on the peripheral stats he has put up so far in his career. We would all love to see him get more involved on offense, but 1.4 threes, 0.9 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game in 28 minutes is a combo that plays well in 9-cat formats. I am in on him one more time and if he can't break through this season, then maybe it's time to bail.
Paul Reed - SF/PF, Orlando Magic
Yahoo ADP = 195
"Small Ball Paul" has been rumored to be a candidate to start at PF next to Joel Embiid, instead of just his backup. And DFS guys like myself know all too well that Reed can fill up the stat sheet with minutes. He's not a three-point shooter, but he averaged 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks in just 11 minutes per game last season. When you do the math on that, we are talking about something like three "stocks" per game if he can carve out a 20-minute role. I love taking shots on him late in my drafts.
Jonathan Isaac - SF/PF, Orlando Magic
Yahoo ADP = 200
We are diving deep now and while Isaac is probably best left on waivers in 10-team leagues until we see how his minutes shake out, you can't deny the massive upside that this kid has if he can ever stay healthy and on the floor. He has a per-36 average of 3.7 blocks/steals over his short, injury-riddled career but is still just 26 years old!
Don’t look now, but Jonathan Isaac had 2 blocks and a steal in 8 minutes tonight 👀 pic.twitter.com/kcDgduuDih
— AB (@aburnshoops) October 11, 2023
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