Somewhat like Major League Baseball but without an altered ball, most NBA players almost have to provide some 3-pointers to offer big value in the fantasy world. In baseball, power is everywhere and rostering a hitter who does not possess much of it is a problem. Well, in fantasy hoops -- and, of course, it is all contextual -- it certainly helps when a big man who rebounds and blocks shots can also wander out behind the 3-point line and drain long-range field goals.
Sure, I will still draft Andre Drummond and Rudy Gobert early on because they are truly special rebounders who provide other stats, but Karl-Anthony Towns, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic differentiate themselves in the first round -- and help fantasy managers in later ones not chase other stats -- with big-man numbers and modest 3-pointers. Hey, every little bit of statistical and positional versatility is a plus, right?
I used to annually feature Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic in this space, and then he started hitting 3-pointers and everyone else caught up to the fact he was underrated, and now he is going in the second round of ESPN ADP. Oh well, he is still a worthy pick in that round and yes, he keeps finding his way onto my teams, whether they are mock drafts or not.
We do try to look past the first few rounds for players who belong on my 2019 version of the "Do Draft" list, however. This is the opposite of the recently published "Do Not Draft" list, which featured players such as Chris Paul, Kristaps Porzingis and several new LA Clippers who I believe are and will continue to be selected a bit too prematurely in ESPN average live drafts. This list below is for the players who I think are not valued well enough, and 3-pointers are a theme, yet again.
Lauri Markkanen, PF, Chicago Bulls: Markkanen enters his third season with a specific, underrated skill set. Still only 22, the 7-footer has had a small problem staying healthy -- and to be fair, I ripped brittle players in the Do Not Draft list -- but the difference here is he is young and these did not appear to be repeatable, soft tissue woes. Only 23 players were able to average nine rebounds per game last season, with Markkanen and Kevin Love -- talk about brittle! -- the ones who also nailed at least two 3-pointers per game. No player this young had ever averaged Markkanen's array of stats (points, boards, 3-pointers) in a season and yet, he is going in Round 6, a round after Love. I do not get it. I'd grab Markkanen two rounds earlier. He leads this list.
De'Aaron Fox, PG, Sacramento Kings: A fourth-round ADP choice with the potential point guard stats we covet at least a round earlier, Fox looks like Jrue Holiday statistically but with more upside. I took Fox ahead of Kyrie Irving and Trae Young (who I also took and think will improve) in a recent mock draft and while it might have elicited second-guessing, so what? Mocks are precisely the time to try things out and I loved my team with Fox and Young at the point. Look at the rest of the Kings and I see Fox and his young power forward pal Marvin Bagley III seeming primed to combine for 40-plus points per game.
Trae Young, PG, Atlanta Hawks: His field goal percentage concerned me last season, when the rookie hoisted shots from wherever he wanted for a while, but then he matured and shot nearly 44% from the floor in the final two months. Young also averaged better than 23 points and 9 assists in his final 30 games, with many 3-pointers. His value is worthy of Round 2, but he is going later than this.
Donovan Mitchell, SG, Utah Jazz: Mitchell was a top-20 NBA scorer in his second season, already showing reliability, consistency and durability. He scores points, accrues assists, hits his 3-pointers and you know what you are getting, and I do not see how you can be getting it as late as Round 4. Not every player in the first five rounds needs to be a big rebounder or a point guard.
Kyle Lowry, PG, Toronto Raptors: I count more than 10 point guards going in the first four rounds, and Lowry is not one of them, nor should he be. Then there is a drop and I do not like what I see. Normally there are reliable yet flawed point guards hanging around, but this season I see issues, which is why I tend to focus on Lowry. Yes, Lowry is far from perfect statistically, but he passes the ball, hits his 3-pointers and rebounds more than most at the position. His slide outside the top 50 seems ill advised.
Jaren Jackson Jr., PF/C, Memphis Grizzlies: When given proper minutes, Jackson shined as a rookie, and now big minutes should become a staple. His injury situation shut him down prematurely, but nobody thinks he is brittle. Watch Jackson and point guard Ja Morant do amazing things together. Jackson is a big man who blocks shots and hits 3-pointers. The upside is monstrous, and I will take that chance in Round 6 or so.
Myles Turner, C, Indiana Pacers: A 20-and-10 guy he is not, but Turner led the league in blocked shots and he averaged a 3-pointer per game, with reasonable promise of more coming. Sure, I would prefer 16 points and nine boards, but after Round 7, I take this. New York Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson also piles on the blocks and seems underrated in drafts. If you get a ton of blocks from one player, it makes things easier in the later rounds for roto formats.
Bam Adebayo, C, Miami Heat: It makes little sense to me that Hassan Whiteside, now employed by the Portland Trail Blazers, goes four rounds ahead of the young player with brimming upside he left behind. Adebayo should average double digits in points and boards and hit his shots. In addition, it is always preferred when a big man avoids being a free throw liability.
Robert Covington, SF, Minnesota Timberwolves: Explain this one to me. No, really, I do not get how a potential top-50 player -- he achieved this in fantasy two seasons ago -- slips outside the top 100 in ADP after an injury-plagued season. His combination of 3-pointers, steals and blocks is unique, and you get your scoring elsewhere. I place Covington in my draft queue early on and pounce well before Round 10 before someone else does.
Gary Harris, SG, Denver Nuggets: Harris averaged 17.5 points per game two seasons ago, with many 3-pointers and steals and excellent shooting. Staying healthy has been an issue but after Round 10, take the chance. Players chosen late need not be versatile statistical providers.