Seven NBA players who qualified for last season's scoring title averaged at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game, and fantasy basketball managers will need to choose them in the first two rounds if they want to invest in drafts.
Houston Rockets big Christian Wood just missed the necessary rebounds -- and minutes -- to join this crew, and one will be able to draft him considerably later than the first two rounds. That seems like decent value, and it should interest managers who do not get Nikola Vucevic and Domantas Sabonis, among others.
Wood should not be a surprise to fantasy managers. He was awesome last season in his breakout campaign after the league stuck its dreaded journeyman label on him before he had even turned 25 years old. Wood played in 41 games, averaged 21.0 PPG and 9.6 RPG (only 15 more rebounds and he would have averaged double digits!), while hitting his field goals, including 3-pointers, and blocking enough shots to matter. Yes, Wood missed more than a few games, but he was a fantasy star when he played.
Well, that is good enough for me to target after the first few rounds. There are, of course, myriad ways to construct a fantasy roster, but I admit to a certain style. I want point guards who do not hurt the percentages and hit 3-pointers. I want bigs -- forwards, centers, whatevs -- who also do not hurt the percentages, 20-and-10 types with some degree of positional versatility. Wood does it. Some may wonder if durability is an issue and why so many NBA franchises gave up on Wood, but he is only 25 and can get even better.
Anyway, I like what the Rockets are doing. Jalen Green is going to be a star right away, though I likely fade him in redraft formats, because everyone overrates the top rookies. Kevin Porter Jr. can obviously score and pass, and should direct the offense. Enough of John Wall. Daniel Theis can handle the dirty work down low, freeing Wood to show his versatility. Perhaps later this season, Turkish teen Alperen Sengun should give the franchise another relevant center. No, the Rockets are not a playoff team yet, but there are some intriguing players in place, for them and fantasy managers.
Others to target in drafts
Nikola Vucevic, C, Chicago Bulls: This is a new Bulls starting lineup and a potentially dominant one, but those concerned that Vucevic will fall off statistically because of the talent base surrounding him should not worry. He sails past 20 PPG and 10 RPG along with 2.5 3PG and excellent percentages. No longer a surprise, this is a first-round pick, still.
Bam Adebayo, C, Miami Heat: Perhaps similarly, Adebayo seems to be slipping in drafts because managers are worried about other Miami options stealing his thunder. Nope. Bam's first 20/10 season is possible, along with relevant assists and proper shooting, and he is a solid second-round selection.
Chris Paul, PG, Phoenix Suns: Well, he was not too old a season ago when he finished No. 5 on the ESPN player rater, ahead of Dallas Mavericks PG Luka Doncic. Nobody is saying Paul over Doncic, but when I see Paul falling out of the top 30 in drafts, I must laugh. Send him my way! Durability remains my sole and mild concern. The assists and shooting are foundation builders in fantasy.
Dejounte Murray, PG/SG, San Antonio Spurs: Now that DeMar DeRozan has moved on, Murray can run the show and provide more in scoring, assists and even 3-pointers, which are not really his forte. Regardless, Murray is a huge value in early average draft position with the potential to be a building block option.
Tyrese Haliburton, PG/SG, Sacramento Kings: De'Aaron Fox is The Man, but fantasy managers avoiding Haliburton due to a pending logjam of guard minutes should reassess. Davion Mitchell needs time to develop. Buddy Hield is on his way elsewhere. Haliburton was terrific as a rookie, an efficient shooter contributing in assists, steals and 3-pointers, and he might end up starting. He is already a potential top-50 option.
Jaren Jackson Jr., PF, Memphis Grizzlies: I tend to like my fantasy options with far more proven durability, but then again, Jackson has the potential to be special. Few can contribute in relevant ways in steals, blocks and 3-pointers, especially outside the top 50. The franchise sending out an offensive-minded center in Jonas Valanciunas for defensive-minded Steven Adams is another good sign. A healthy Jackson is going to score 20 PPG with prime statistical versatility at some point. Perhaps this year.
Chris Boucher, PF, Toronto Raptors: A late-blooming big man that just needs bigger minutes to become a top-50 fantasy option, Boucher is already blocking shots and hitting 3-pointers, while shooting well from the field and line. We could see more than 16 PPG and 8 RPG soon.
Mikal Bridges, SF, Phoenix Suns: It sure seems like nobody realizes he was the No. 10 forward on the final player rater and top 30 overall in points formats. No, Bridges is unlikely to average close to 20 PPG or 10 RPG, but the combination of blocks and steals with excellent shooting is tough to beat. These things often matter more than just traditional NBA points. Bridges is a better version of Robert Covington and, by the way, Covington remains massively underrated in fantasy. He should bounce back.
Jarrett Allen, C, Cleveland Cavaliers: Nobody expects a nightly 20 PPG, but Allen is already an established rebounder and shot-blocker who hits a high percentage of field goals, and I see upside for 15 PPG and 12 RPG. One can never have enough rebounders. We always need more, and options such as Jakob Poeltl, Robert Williams and others will be readily available in the middle rounds.
Jonathan Isaac, PF, Orlando Magic: More statistical versatility! Isaac is on the mend from a torn ACL and might miss the start of the season, so do not reach too much here, but the combination of steals, blocks and offensive upside is tantalizing.