Giannis Giannis Antetokounmpo and Devin Booker prepared the ground in Yahoo’s Fantasy 12-Crew Class League Mock Draft.
We’re so used to the NBA shifting at a fast tempo, transitioning from the common season to the playoffs, to to the NBA Finals, to the Draft, to free company, that when there’s a lull, we discover ourselves asking “now what?”
And there’s not only a lull within the real-life NBA. No, by no means. There’s a lull in fantasy as managers are craving for one more season.
To fill these gaps within the lull that’s occurring, we’ll be doing a collection of early mock drafts over the following few weeks from totally different draft spots.
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Earlier than we get into our subsequent batch of picks, a number of notes:
- We’re utilizing Yahoo rankings
- We’re going to do an 8-cat league as a result of, as I’ve been very vocal about prior to now, turnovers are the worst fantasy class to exist in any sport
- It’s going to be a 12-team league
- I’ll clarify every choose and the reasoning behind it, in addition to an end-of-draft recap
Let’s proceed the collection by selecting from the No. 8 spot.
Spherical 1
Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF/C – MIL)
Keep in mind once we mentioned the Yahoo rankings have been bizarre? Yeah, nicely, that is instance No. 1, as they’ve Giannis No. 10 general — and Kevin Durant No. 12, FWIW. I like LaMelo Ball and Tyrese Haliburton, however I wouldn’t take them No. 3 and No. 9 general, respectively, — particularly over Giannis. Let’s reap the benefits of the ADP right here.
Spherical 2
Devin Booker (SG/SF – PHO)
Let’s run it again once more, Phoenix. It appears like there may be nonetheless a scarcity of respect placed on Booker’s identify from a real-life and fantasy perspective. I’ll take the elite scorer and 3-point shooter on a crew that likes to push it (ninth-ranked tempo at 99.75). The twin eligibility helps his case, too. I give a slight lean to Booker right here over Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, who I feel will take away from one another simply sufficient in Cleveland to warrant passing on them right here. Cade Cunningham is tempting right here, too, however give me the 3s after taking Giannis in Spherical 1.
Spherical 3
Scottie Barnes (SF/PF – TOR)
Let’s go along with Barnes right here, as I simply missed Robert Williams and Ja Morant based mostly on ADP. There’s a purpose that Barnes was untouchable in any potential Durant deal, and he affords an all-around fantasy recreation that permits me to proceed to construct a balanced roster. I’ll must chase some 3s right here quickly, although.
Spherical 4
Zach LaVine (SG/SF – CHI)
I’m going to leap ADP a bit right here and go along with LaVine over the a number of guards that I like right here — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jrue Vacation — to deal with some 3-point deficiencies thus far with my roster.
Spherical 5
Tyrese Maxey (PG/SG – PHI)
Maxey elevated his recreation final yr and didn’t decelerate with Harden’s arrival. We’re seeing some correction with the rankings with Maxey, as he’s up about two rounds from the place he was earlier than. Capitalize on his worth right here for the third-year guard out of Kentucky.
Spherical 6
Zion Williamson (PF – NOP)
So Zion’s ADP dipped a ton since we began these mock drafts. Throughout my final mock, I received Zion in Spherical 4. However right here we’re in Spherical 6 and it’s not simply nice worth, it’s an distinctive worth that erases all threat and extra. League-winning choose is a phrase that will get thrown round too usually. It matches right here.
Spherical 7
D’Angelo Russell (PG/SG – MIN)
I don’t like this a part of the draft in any respect. I’m not a Russell fan and suppose he’s overrated in actual life and for fantasy. Nevertheless, the new-look Timberwolves are going to have him run the offense and he can assist me with factors and assists.
Spherical 8
Clint Capela (C – ATL)
Make that two straight picks I dislike and two straight mocks the place I waited too lengthy on my second large. Capela’s recreation doesn’t play nicely on this period of the NBA, and the Hawks can be well-served to clear room for Onyeka Okongwu. However till then, I get an enormous enhance in blocks and rebounds.
Spherical 9
R.J. Barrett (SF – NYK)
Barrett is staying in New York, because the Knicks missed out on Donovan Mitchell. What’s extra, they locked him as much as a long-term deal. Look, he won’t ever be the 1A man in your crew, however he will be 1B. For fantasy, he’s an underrated scorer who will contribute throughout the board because the offense’s point of interest.
Spherical 10
Dillon Brooks (SG/SF – MEM)
I needed to take a Grizzlies participant right here, proper? We’ll go along with Brooks, who’s falling in ADP. Bias apart, it’s a great worth for Brooks, who was quietly stable after an prolonged absence final yr. With Jaren Jackson set to overlook time and Ja Morant good for 15-20 absences, Brooks will probably be a key contributor.
Spherical 11
Isaiah Jackson (PF/C – IND)
We noticed glimpses of what Jackson may do final yr when he received the run we wished him to have, and whereas he received’t be beginning, we are able to see him ending. What’s extra, with Myles Turner more likely to be dealt — we’ve mentioned this so many instances earlier than, I do know — Jackson may take the beginning function and run with it. It’s well worth the upside right here.
Spherical 12
Kelly Oubre (SG/SF – CHA)
Charlotte has play-in aspirations and has a void to fill for large minutes on the three. Oubre, as irritating as he will be, will get these minutes. He’s one of many streakiest scorers within the league however whenever you catch him in the midst of a heater, you’ll overlook concerning the duds.
Spherical 13
Collin Sexton (PG/SG – UTA)
This isn’t even honest. Sexton, the focal piece of the Mitchell deal, misplaced rounds upon rounds of ADP in Yahoo’s newest replace. If you will get him within the final spherical, benefit from the big W. We’re big quantity, big scoring alternatives and a participant I’d be ok with taking in Spherical 7.
Ultimate Roster
PG: D’Angelo Russell
SG: Devin Booker
G: Tyrese Maxey
SF: Scottie Barnes
PF: Zion Williamson
F: Zach LaVine
C: Giannis Antetokounmpo
C: Clint Capela
UTIL: R.J Barrett
UTIL: Dillon Brooks
Bench: Isaiah Jackson
Bench: Kelly Oubre
Bench: Collin Sexton
Ultimate Ideas:
I don’t dislike this crew. There are a ton of excellent values that I received, however I additionally don’t suppose I find it irresistible, both.
I nonetheless have some enjoyable youth in Barnes and Jackson, and I’d fairly simply not have Capela and Russell on this crew, but it surely might be worse for me.
I don’t have many dangers exterior of Williamson and Sexton, to an extent, and it’s fairly balanced up and down the roster.
I really feel OK with my scoring, and Booker will lead me in 3s however I’ll get contributions from others.
I’m not likely missing wherever and I’ve loads of guys that may pop. However the style of Capela and Russell is simply onerous to clean out of my mouth.
In all, I give my crew a B.
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Michael Waterloo is a featured author at FantasyPros. For extra from Michael, try his archive and comply with him @MichaelWaterloo.
