🖥 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 Undervalued Centers for Fantasy Basketball Drafts

With studs such as Karl-Anthony Towns, DeMarcus Cousins, and Al Horford at the top of the draft, centers are likely to go early in your fantasy draft.

However, if you miss out on a stud or do not like the downside to players such as Andre Drummond or DeAndre Jordan, there are a few late round players to target.

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 to Target in Fantasy Basketball Drafts

Enes Kanter, Oklahoma City Thunder

With the loss of Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka, everyone is rightly focusing on Russell Westbrook, however Kanter is also in line to see a huge boost in minutes and usage.  Last year Kanter posted a solid stat line of 12.7 points and 8.1 rebounds in just 21 minutes.

He was used as a primary scorer off the bench with a usage rate of 25.4, however with Durant and Ibaka off the floor his usage rate jumped to 27.3.  The downside to Kanter’s game is his lack of defensive stats with just 0.4 blocks and 0.3 steals, however later in a draft you will not find all-around production from many centers.

Although preseason can be a bit tough to read, Kanter did have a monster double-double with 29 points and 10 rebounds on a remarkable 20 shot attempts.  He will provide great value with an average draft position (ADP) of 71.3 thus far.

 

Robin Lopez, New York Knicks

The reason Lopez has an ADP of 106 is because he does nothing that stands out to fantasy players.  He will not wow you with any one statistical area, however where Lopez shines is his incredibly consistent play.

Last season he averaged a solid 10.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals, but really proved his worth with a field goal percentage of 53.9% and a ridiculous 79.5% free throw rate.

Those numbers are even more note-worthy in roto leagues where a player such as Dwight Howard will sink you in one category while offering similar stats to Lopez in all other areas.  Lopez should also benefit in an uptick in pace with Chicago as opposed to the slow down tempo of the triangle offense he was in last year in New York.

 

Clint Capela, Houston Rockets

This pick is certainly a boom or bust pick that could help you win your league late.  In his first few years, the young Capela was relegated to a reserve role behind incumbent Dwight Howard, but now with Howard in Atlanta, he should be given ample chance to be the Rockets starting center.

Capela has always provided stellar per minute stats and has almost always produced when given the opportunity.  This is shown by the following: Player A per 36 minutes last year had 13.3 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.4 steals while Player B had per 36 minute numbers last year of 13.6 points, 14.7 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 0.7 steals.

Player A is of course Capela, currently with an ADP of 115.3 while player B is DeAndre Jordan who has an ADP of 32.5. Given that Capela should see a spike in minutes close to around 30 and is playing in a the hyper-tempo style of Mike D’Antoni, he is a super sleeper last in drafts.  Just beware, for his career the Swiss big man is a 35.9% free throw shooter.

 


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

Keegan Murray

Expected to Miss at Least Three Weeks
Mason Marchment

Out Tuesday
Sean Monahan

Available Tuesday
Jason Zucker

Set to Return From 11-Game Absence
Matvei Michkov

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
Tyler Herro

Active Tuesday
Matthew Schaefer

Cleared for Action Tuesday
Baltimore Ravens

John Harbaugh Won't Return as Ravens Head Coach
Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Out for Tuesday's Tilt
Adam Fox

Landing Back on Long-Term Injured Reserve
Jalen Suggs

Sidelined Again Tuesday
Seth Jarvis

Back for Hurricanes Tuesday
Jarrett Allen

Upgraded To Probable Tuesday
Anthony Edwards

Added To Injury Report Tuesday
Victor Wembanyama

a Game-Time Decision For Tuesday Night
Ja Morant

Grizzlies Likely Without Ja Morant, Cedric Coward on Tuesday
Bo Bichette

Unlikely to Return to Toronto?
Jordan Love

Ready to Start in Wild-Card Game Against Bears
CFB

Jadan Baugh Staying with Florida for Junior Season
Washington Commanders

Commanders "Mutually" Parting Ways With OC Kliff Kingsbury
CFB

Byrum Brown Officially Commits to Auburn
CFB

Austin Simmons Signing with Missouri
Jake McCabe

to Sit Out One Week
Hampus Lindholm

to Miss Time
Christian Dvorak

Flyers Sign Christian Dvorak to Five-Year Extension
Igor Shesterkin

Exits With Lower-Body Injury Monday
Joel Armia

Hurt in Monday's Win
Anze Kopitar

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Monday
Tyler Herro

Questionable to Face Timberwolves
Ja Morant

Tagged as Questionable for Tuesday
Jalen Suggs

Considered Doubtful Tuesday
Jarrett Allen

at Risk of Missing Another Game
Donovan Mitchell

Resting Tuesday
Victor Wembanyama

Questionable Tuesday
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Possibly Out 10-14 Days
Moussa Diabaté

Moussa Diabate Returning Returning on Monday
Brandon Miller

Available on Monday Versus OKC
Kon Knueppel

Will Play Against OKC
Coby White

Back on Monday Night
Yanic Konan Niederhauser

Upgraded to Probable for Monday
Kon Knueppel

Probable For Monday
Matthew Schaefer

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
Jamie Benn

to Miss at Least Two Games
Seth Jones

Out Week-to-Week
Zach Bogosian

Unavailable Monday Night
Trevor Moore

Remains Out Monday
Aliaksei Protas

a Game-Time Call Versus Ducks
Tom Wilson

Won't Play Monday
CFB

Ty Simpson Undecided on 2026 Plans
CFB

Quarterback AJ Hill Following Ryan Silverfield to Arkansas
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons Have Requested an Interview With Klint Kubiak
Deshaun Watson

Browns Expect Deshaun Watson to be on the Team Next Year
Wan'Dale Robinson

Dealing With Fractured Ribs
Cam Skattebo

Hopes to be Back by Training Camp
Cameron Ward

Won't Need Surgery on his Shoulder
Davante Adams

Rams Expect Davante Adams to Return in Wild-Card Round
Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals Fire Head Coach Jonathan Gannon
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Fire Head Coach Pete Carroll
Malik Nabers

Unsure if He Will Be Ready for Week 1 of 2026 Season
CFB

Trinidad Chambliss Will Return to Ole Miss If Granted Sixth Year of Eligibility
Cincinnati Bengals

Zac Taylor Will Return as Bengals Head Coach in 2026
New York Giants

Giants Expected to Show Interest in Former Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski
Daniel Jones

Colts, Daniel Jones Appear to Have "Mutual Interest" in a 2026 Reunion
John Klingberg

to Sit Out at Least Three More Games
Cleveland Browns

Browns Fire Kevin Stefanski After Another Losing Season
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
Puka Nacua

Finishes the Regular Season as Top-Scoring Receiver
Kansas City Royals

Matt Quatraro Signs Three-Year Extension With Royals
CFB

Transfer QB Billy Edwards Commits to North Carolina
CFB

Sam Leavitt Visiting Texas Tech on Saturday
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

RANKINGS

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