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RotoBaller held its annual NBA fantasy league last week. Our fearless leaders, Dan Palyo and Dennis Clausen, spearheaded the process, utilizing Fantrax for a "slow" draft, meaning each fantasy team manager receives six hours between picks.
It was fun, as the time between selections allowed maximum strategy and group chat banter.
RotoBaller is using Yahoo for the actual league activity, with a 12-team league. With many fun and surprising selections, these are some highlights throughout the draft.
Round One Highlights
Fantasy managers kept the inaugural season of the latest player resting rules in mind, especially during the first round. Game-changing Stephen Curry didn't get selected until the 11th pick by Adam King, leaving one player to cap the round. Although Curry is arguably a top-three player league-wide, injuries and an essentially accepted notion that the four-time NBA champion will take games off to rest for another extended postseason run allowed such a dangerous piece to linger on the draft board.
Although Tyrese Haliburton hasn't hit superstar status in the NBA, RotoBaller deemed him worthy of such a title as he went fifth overall, courtesy of Kev Mahserejian. Coming off an All-Star year despite only playing 56 games, Haliburton is a lock for basketball fantasy success.
Mahserejian didn't consider Haliburton an undisputed selection; another player had his eye. "(Jayson) Tatum declined wrist surgery, so I'm not sure what's going on there," Mahserejian explained. However, Mahserejian had all the confidence in Haliburton's abilities and is "unlikely to rest outside of the unlikely late-season tank," making for an outstanding first selection.
Although Haliburton going fifth made a splash in the pool, my 10th-overall selection seemed like an earthquake cracking the depths of fantasy basketball. Off the board ahead of Curry and Damian Lillard, Brooklyn Nets Swiss Army knife Mikal Bridges has a legitimate chance at All-Star status.
While I understand why people would scoff at such a pick, hear me out: Firstly, Bridges historically doesn't miss games. He plays at least 72 games and is only 27 years of age. Aside from games played, the Nets lack star power, and while not oozing celebrity, Bridges has the tools to become a star in this league. Last season, in only his third game with Brooklyn, Bridges scored 45 points.
Lastly, while Curry and Lillard are better than Bridges, they miss too many games due to age and injury. Ultimately, I see Bridges as a low-risk, high-reward fantasy player.
Round Two Highlights
While round one had some shockers, Round Two featured two specific selections, which caused group chat shakers. Coming hot out the gate, Justin Carter selected James Harden at the top of the second. At the time, such a selection seemed like a damning decision. However, the recent news of Harden opting to play for the "liar" Daryl Morey rather than sit games came as a validating revelation. What was once a risky selection quickly evolved into possibly the steal of the draft.
Let Carter tell it; he just went by previous draft ranks, and that's a sound reason in his defense. Frankly, maybe he had a hunch Harden didn't have the resolve to follow through with such a bold stance. Harden isn't a franchise player at this juncture, but many could argue he's still a fantasy basketball threat withstanding the career-shortening antics.
Palyo, as sure as day turns to night, selected San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama with the 18th pick. Although rookies typically don't receive such love in fantasy, Wembanyama is the exception. Taking Giannis Antetokounmpo in the first round, Palyo revealed that he went "full punt free throw strategy," going with consecutive bigs smelled of a maniacal plan. Seeing Wembanyama as a player who wouldn't make it back to him in the next round, our league manager took a shot.
Round Three Highlights
Aside from making noise in the media channeling his inner emo, Jimmy Butler also rocked the RotoBaller fantasy league. Carter selected Butler in the third round -- a pretty early selection considering his injury history. However, injuries aside, the Miami Heat don't have much going talent-wise, so Butler could see a spike in stats based on necessity. Carter has two risky picks who might end up paying off in his favor.
Later in the round, eighth pick to be exact, Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler had his name called. While NBA Twitter adores the Auburn alum, fantasy basketball hasn't caught on until now. Posting 20.8 fantasy points for consecutive seasons, Kessler is a dangerous sleeper candidate for the 2023-2024 season. While making baskets isn't Kessler's forte, denying buckets is his game.
The Utah center averaged two blocks per contest last season, providing fantasy manager King Finnen with a reliable source for defensive fantasy stats.
Round 12 Highlights
After days of drafting, patiently (I use that word loosely) waiting for the person at the draft podium to wipe the sleep out of their eyes and make a selection following six hours of suspension, the 12th round came to every fantasy manager's delight.
Although the strategy is still in play for the final round, all of the game-changers are off the board. The risk is low, and potential reigns as fantasy managers comb through the wasteland of forgotten players.
Adam Koffler understood the assignment and ran with it. With the second pick of the 13th round, Koffler selected rookie Dereck Lively II. When asked why he made such a selection, Koffler promptly linked the group chat with multiple preseason games of highlights of the Dallas Mavericks center.
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd has hinted at the young center's chances of starting for the playoff-hopeful team. Lively II can potentially be one of the more intriguing fantasy players this season.
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