Welcome to draft season Razzball Nation. This week, I present the results of an industry mock draft in which I was fortunate enough to get some great basketball minds to kindly offer their time to bring you some extra research material for your dynasty leagues.
Before I begin, I want to give a shout out to Steve Connell, who designed the awesome new Dynasty Deep Dive logo. Check it out above. It is literally fire.
The Format:
Slow draft on Fantrax, as we had participants from the USA, Canada, Phillipines, Australia, New Zealand, and of course England. Standard 9-Cat H2H with the ability to keep everybody at no round cost. Total of 18 roster spots.
Roster Construction:
PG, SG, G, SF, PF, F, C, C, UT, UT, UT with 7 bench spots
Participants:
| Name | Site/Role |
| Craig Bozic | Razzball – Dynasty Deep Dive/Razzball Podcast |
| Stan Son | Razzball Basketball |
| Kostas Oikonomou | Razzball – Writer |
| Brett Nelson | Razzball – Writer/Dynasty Deep Dive Research Team |
| Josh Lloyd | Basketball Monster Lead Analyst/Locked on Fantasy Podcast Host |
| Adrian Benjamins | Hoop Ball – Dynasty Podcast Host |
| Zach Bodine | Hoop ball – Dynasty Analyst |
| Jay Collins | Hoop Ball – Contributor |
| Jordan Schultz | Hashtag Basketball – Dynasty Podcast Co-Host |
| Sam Macey | Hashtag Basketball – Dynasty Podcast Co-Host |
| Steve Connell | Dynasty Deep Dive – Research Team |
| Patrick Laroco | NxtLvLFntasyNBA – Co Founder |
Dynasty drafts have the most subjective valuations and results often differ from redraft or keeper leagues. Some teams go all-in to win from the start. Others try to find a balance between winning now and looking towards the future. The rest choose to build a solid, young foundation, knowing full well they won’t be competitive in the first few seasons, but could develop into powerhouse. There are examples of each of these strategies from different owners, so factor in the motivations of the owners when deciding whether a pick was successful or not.
My Strategy:
I like to keep an open mind when going into an inaugural draft, but generally speaking, in season one I like to find value that will likely make me a contender two to three years down the road. My theory is that there are a few people in every league looking to go all-in season one. I am never willing to sell off long-term value for immediate satisfaction and thus find it tough to keep up with the Jones’s in the inaugural season. Ultimately, I am looking to construct a team that can build value season after season, looking for guys who could reach their potential by year three.
The Results
Round 1:
| Zach Bodhane | Anthony Davis | PF/C |
| Adrian Benjamins | Karl Anthony-Towns | C |
| Pat Laroco | James Harden | PG/SG |
| Kostas Oikonomou | Giannis Antetokounpo | PG/SG/SF |
| Steve Connell | Nikola Jokic | PF/C |
| Craig Bozic | Joel Embiid | C |
| Josh Lloyd | Kevin Durant | SF/PF |
| Jordan Schultz | Ben Simmons | PG/PF |
| Same Macey | Kawhi Leonard | SG/SF |
| Jay Collins | Donovan Mitchell | PG/SG |
| Stan Son | Victor Oladipo | SG |
| Brett Nelson | Lebron James | SF/PF |
My Pick:
Once James Harden was taken at number 3, leaving Giannis Antetokounmpo the likely selection at 4, it sparked a conversation between Steve and myself where he was debating between the immediate elite all-around production of Kevin Durant or the younger Ben Simmons. I was thinking Nikola Jokic would be there at 5, so I was immediately put on tilt when Steve threw a curveball and took the 23 year old play-making center from the Nuggets. That left me with four options: take the 30-year old KD, injury risk Joel Embiid, punt TOs, 3s, and FT% Ben Simmons, or take the chance on Kawhi Leonard returning to elite level production. GO BIG OR GO HOME! Yeah, it is a HUGE risk, especially for my first overall pick, but grabbing an elite center who contributes in everything and doesn’t hurt my FT% was the way I decided to go. Sure, he might only play 60-70 games, but I am hoping Embiid can leave the injury prone tag behind. In hindsight, maybe Kawhi Leonard should have been the selection, as I am bullish that he returns to San Antonio form, but at just 24 years of age, the boom or bust route of Embiid was the chosen path.
Round 2
| Brett Nelson | Stephen Curry | PG |
| Stan Son | Paul George | SG/SF/PF |
| Jay Collins | Russell Westbrook | PG |
| Sam Macey | Devin Booker | PG/SG |
| Jordan Schultz | Damian Lillard | PG |
| Josh Lloyd | Jimmy Butler | SG/SF |
| Craig Bozic | Kyrie Irving | PG/SG |
| Steve Connell | Andre Drummond | C |
| Kostas Oikonomou | Jrue Holiday | PG |
| Pat Loroco | Kemba Walker | PG |
| Adrian Benjimins | Luka Doncic | PG/SG/SF |
| Zach Bodhane | Myles Turner | PF/C |
Could they fall? This is dynasty after all. Nope, of course they didn’t. Damian Lillard and Paul George were the dream targets here, but in my heart I knew they were not coming back to me. But in my head Jimmy Butler would. Nope, denied faster than Nate Robinson attempting to score a layup with Dwight Howard waiting in the paint. I wanted an elite level PG here, having already nailed myself an elite center and I once again decided to play Russian roulette regarding health and selected Kyrie Irving, another player with first round upside. In drafts I have participated in, it’s a long wait if you miss out on a PG in the first three rounds. After watching two preseason games, Kyrie does look to be back, but I did make the pick before the preseason started. I love an Embiid/Kyrie one-two punch, especially given they are still just 24 & 26 years old, but the big question is in regards to health. Will their bodies remain durable enough to make them successful long-term dynasty investments?
Elsewhere, we already see certain strategies playing out. Brett felt there was too much production to ignore a Curry/Lebron turn, despite investing in two 30+ somethings. A Durant/Butler partnership is also looking formidable, especially since both are a tad younger. We also saw the first rookie off the board in Luka Doncic, who coupled with Karl-Anthony Towns could be the makings of a team thinking a little more long term.
Round 3
| Zach Bodhane | Bradley Beal | SG |
| Adrian Benjimins | John Collins | PF/C |
| Pat Loroco | Clint Capela | C |
| Kostas Oikonomou | Rudy Gobert | C |
| Steve Connell | Jayson Tatum | SF/PF |
| Craig Bozic | Deandre Ayton | C |
| Josh Lloyd | John Wall | PG |
| Jordan Schultz | Draymond Green | PF/C |
| Sam Macey | CJ McCollum | PG/SG |
| Jay Collins | Chris Paul | PG |
| Stan Son | Khris Middleton | SF |
| Brett Nelson | Jamaal Murray | PG/SG |
At the top of my wish list was Jayson Tatum, but once again Steve Connell proved to be the heart breaker and took him one pick before my selection. I kind of expected this because, if there is a guy who knows me inside out, it’s my brother from a different mother. So here we have rookie number two off the board, DeAndre Ayton, who I am more than happy to take at pick 30 in a dynasty draft. Ayton might have a hard time pushing top 30 value season one, but once again I am looking for upside for season two and beyond and feel that the floor, even in his rookie season, is high enough for me to still not be completely out of the running season one. He certainly has the physical gifts and opportunity to make a serious impact right away. Even in redraft leagues, I feel the floor is high enough to warrant a pick in the 50’s, so I have no qualms about selecting a guy 30th overall who has second round upside. It was nice to start the draft with two centers who will contribute across the board without killing my FT %.
Elsewhere, Adrian’s intentions got more clear as he took John Collins, a very trendy pick this draft season, signifying his intention to draft young with a long-term outlook. Jay locks up his guards, drafting three PG eligible players with his first three picks in Donovan Mitchell, Russell Westbrook, and now Chris Paul. I will never question Paul’s abilities to contribute in fantasy basketball, but at 33 years old and missing significant time in 3 of the last 5 seasons with the Rockets saying they will monitor his minutes to keep him fresh for the playoffs, count me out of wanting anything to do with investing a premium dynasty pick on him.
Round 4
| Brett Nelson | Trae Young | PG |
| Stan Son | Tobias Harris | SF/PF |
| Jay Collins | Kevin Love | PF |
| Sam Macey | Klay Thompson | SG/SF |
| Jordan Schultz | Kristaps Porzingis | PF/C |
| Josh Lloyd | Taurean Prince | SF |
| Craig Bozic | Lauri Markennan | PF |
| Steve Connell | Jonathan Isaac | SF/PF |
| Kostas Oikonomou | Otto Porter Jr | SF |
| Patrick Laroco | Eric Bledsoe | PG/SG |
| Adrian Benjimins | Jaren Jackson Jr | PF |
| Zach Bodhane | Gary Harris | SG |
Lauri Markkanen was my target and the 7-foot sharp shooter is exactly who I got. The best 7-foot shooter to come out of the NCAA, the sky is the limit for the Bulls power forward, especially with a commitment to add strength and what I believe will become an increasingly improved defensive game. I doubt it will ever be elite, though. Some people compare him to Dirk Nowitzki, but are they really so dumbfounded? Let’s compare their per-36 rookie numbers:
| Name | Pts | FG% | FT% | 3PT | RBD | STL | BLK | ASS |
| Dirk | 14.4 | 41% | 77% | 0.5 | 6.1 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.8 |
| Lauri | 18.4 | 43% | 84% | 2.6 | 9.1 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.4 |
Now, I am not saying Lauri is going to have a Hall-of-Fame career, but it’s certainly food for thought.
Elsewhere, I was hoping to grab both Jonathan Isaac and Trae Young with my next two picks, but both were selected by Brett and Steve respectively. Can’t have them all, right? The Kristaps Porzingis stash comes into play here and Adrian now pretty much put a stamp on his draft strategy, as he selected the long term upside in Jaren Jackson Jr.
Round 5:
| Zach Bodhane | Josh Richardson | SG/SF |
| Adrian Benjimins | Dejounte Murray | PG |
| Patrick Laroco | Robert Covington | SF/PF |
| Kostas Oikonomou | Aaron Gordon | SF/PF |
| Steve Connell | Kyle Lowry | PG |
| Crag Bozic | Lonzo Ball | PG |
| Josh Lloyd | Jarrett Allen | C |
| Jordan Schultz | Wendell Carter Jr | C |
| Sam Macey | Dennis Smith Jr | PG |
| Jay Collins | DeMar DeRozan | SG/SF |
| Stan Son | Brandon Ingram | SF |
| Brett Nelson | Dario Saric | PF |
There is a lot of hate for Lonzo Ball, but I am huge believer in the abilities of the Big Baller and, given the minutes, is a triple-double threat on any given night. Sure, the percentages are questionable, but the lack of volume from the free throw line won’t kill me. Let’s not forgot that he shot over 50% in college, so there’s hope for improvement. Ball enters the season coming off surgery and spending the majority of last season on the shelf, but before the critics judge him too hard, let’s remember how young Lonzo is and that his rookie season was coming off a one-and-done freshman year at UCLA. There is a supreme amount of talent here, and who better to mentor him than former NBA champ, Rajon Rondo, and the King.
Dejounte Murray has picked up a lot of steam this off season with the departure of Tony Parker, but I fail to buy into the hype. Sure, the defensive numbers are nice, but I just don’t see the offensive upside, as he is neither a good shooter nor a high level passer. His per-36 numbers last year were 13.5 points and just 4.8 assists, with just 0.2 treys on 44% shooting (which is low for someone who shoots so few treys) and 70% from the line. San Antonio is also a place where point guards don’t put up elite fantasy numbers. In addition, I think Derrick White will eat into that upside. The hype is there, but he won’t find himself on any of my teams.
Round 6:
| Brett Nelson | Jaylen Brown | SG/SF |
| Stan Son | Markelle Fultz | PG/SG |
| Jay Collins | Marc Gasol | C |
| Sam Macey | Al Horford | PF/C |
| Jordan Schultz | Gordan Hayward | SG/SF |
| Josh Lloyd | Lamarcus Aldridge | PF/C |
| Craig Bozic | D’Angelo Russell | PG/SG |
| Steve Connell | Mike Conley | PG |
| Kostas Oikonomou | Kris Dunn | PG |
| Patrick Laroco | Steven Adams | C |
| Adrian Benjimins | Mo Bamba | C |
| Zach Bodhane | Nikola Vucevic | C |
Believe it or not, D’Angelo Russell is still just 22 years old. Before getting hurt last year, he was flirting with top 30 production. Sure, the percentages are unlikely to ever be elite, but there is plenty of upside to consider this as a potential long term bargain. In the short term, it’s going to be interesting to see how a Russell/Spencer Dinwiddie partnership takes shape, but Russell is the guy I want and it’s not close. Oh, Brooklyn plays at the leagues fastest tempo, so even 28 minutes a game leaves plenty of room for production. If you can handle the streaky shooting, I think you can do a lot worse than the former number two overall draft pick.
Round 7:
| Zach Bodhane | Ricky Rubio | PG |
| Adrian Benjimins | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | PG |
| Patrick Laroco | Julius Randle | PF/C |
| Kostas Oikonomou | Zach Lavine | PG |
| Steve Connell | DeMarcus Cousins | C |
| Craig Bozic | Will Barton | SG/SF |
| Josh Lloyd | De’Aaron Fox | PG |
| Jordan Schultz | Andrew Wiggins | SG/SF |
| Sam Macey | Jonas Valanciunus | C |
| Jay Collins | Jordan Bell | PF/C |
| Stan Son | Willy Cauley-Stein | C |
| Brett Nelson | Marvin Bagley III | PF |
Although 27 years old, I couldn’t ignore the value of Will Barton in the 7th round. I was in need of a small forward eligible player and I can see him putting up a 17/5/5 season with good percentages. Sure, the situation in Denver is crowded, but it won’t be Barton that suffers. I can see sustained 4th round production over the course of the next few seasons. I expect more of the same from the 6 year veteran who is one of the most unheralded and undervalued players in fantasy.
I want zero part of Andrew Wiggins in fantasy basketball, a one-trick pony (points) who is a negative contributor everywhere else. I get the notion that he could be on the verge of a breakout season with Jimmy Butler likely gone, but count me out on thinking that will boost his production. Fools gold with name value. This round also saw DeMarcus Cousins come off the board in what is likely a stash scenario. I want zero part of Cousins or any player coming off an Achilles injury for that matter, but at that price, it’s potential first round production in future seasons at the expense of him sitting year one.
Round 8:
| Brett Nelson | Mitchell Robinson | C |
| Stan Son | Bam Adebayo | C |
| Jay Collins | Serge Ibaka | PF/C |
| Sam Macey | Blake Griffin | PF/C |
| Jordan Schultz | Caris Levert | SF |
| Josh Lloyd | Kyle Anderson | SF |
| Craig Bozic | Malik Monk | SG |
| Steve Connell | DeAndre Jordan | C |
| Kostas Oikonomou | Jabari Parker | SF/PF |
| Patrick Laroco | Enes Kanter | C |
| Adrian Benjimins | Kevin Knox | SF/PF |
| Zach Bodhane | Larry Nance Jr | PF |
A Dynasty Deep Dive post without a mention of Malik Monk? Not on your nelly, mister. Having analysed all the other draft information out there, I am clearly the high guy on Monk’s talents. Am I expecting him to jump out the gate this season as a superstar? No, but he can easily play himself into top 100 redraft value and a whole lot more in dynasty territory after a couple of months into the season, especially with the Hornets “12 second uptempo offense” looking legit. Monk finished the final month of last season with 20 points, 4 assists, 4 boards, tons of threes on 48% shooting from the field and 100% from the line in 24 MPG. I am not naive enough to expect that, but it is a surefire demonstration of the talents of the former Kentucky star. The poor defense will limit minutes initially, but if/when Kemba Walker moves in free agency or otherwise, you want this guy, especially as Nicolas Batum is playing the 3 this year and Jeremy Lamb doesn’t possess the upside of Monk.
Round 9:
| Zach Bodhane | Nikola Mirotic | PF |
| Adrian Benjimins | Collin Sexton | PG |
| Patrick Laroco | Jusuf Nurkic | C |
| Kostas Oikonomou | Buddy Hield | SG |
| Steve Connell | Nicolas Batum | SF |
| Craig Bozic | Harry Giles | PF/C |
| Josh Lloyd | Lou Williams* | PG/SG |
| Jordan Schultz | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson | PF |
| Sam Macey | Kyle Kuzma | PF |
| Jay Collins | Hassan Whiteside | C |
| Stan Son | Tyus Jones | PG |
| Brett Nelson | Josh Jackson | SG/SF |
Harry ‘Not Styles’ Giles is another trendy name that has been gaining momentum this offseason, after an impressive Summer League. Dave Joerger has stated that the Kings will roll out the kids this year and will play to the uptempo style that fits their personnel: De’Aaron Fox, Marvin Bagley, Harry Giles, and WCS. I expect the Kings to continue to bring along Giles slowly this year, maybe even taking a half season before really returning fantasy value, but the long term upside for an athletic big with an excellent all-around game is too great to ignore, especially outside the top 100 in a dynasty league.
Lou Williams was an auto-pick, which was as a result of Fantrax having issues with their email notifications that day.
Round 10:
| Brett Nelson | Michael Porter Jr | SF/PF |
| Stan Son | Willy Hernongomez | C |
| Jay Collins | Paul Millsap | PF/C |
| Sam Macey | Jeff Teague | PG |
| Jordan Schultz | Frank Ntilikina | PG |
| Josh Lloyd | Bogdan Bogdanovic | SG/SF |
| Craig Bozic | Evan Fournier | SG |
| Steve Connell | Joe Ingles | SG/SF |
| Kostas Oikonomou | Elfrid Payton | PG |
| Patrick Laroco | Harrison Barnes | SF/PF |
| Adrian Benjimins | Mario Herzonja | SG/SF |
| Zach Bodhane | Luke Kennard | PG/SG |
This pick felt safe, solid, and dirty. Evan Fournier is not traditionally a guy I would be target, but after swinging for the fences with my previous two picks, I decided safe and boring was the way to go. Still just 25 years old, and given the lack of real firepower that the Magic possess, the French native should at least hold his value for the upcoming seasons, as well as provide some much needed stability for my team. I wasn’t singing from the hill tops after this pick, but I wasn’t crying over spilled milk either.
Michael Porter Jr. might be the most boom/bust guy in this draft. The upside is truly phenomenal and, if available, would have considered picking him myself in this territory. There are concerns over his health, which is the reason he fell in the draft and will likely see him miss his rookie season. The 13 teams that passed over him could be Denver’s gain.
Round 11:
| Zach Bodhane | Cedi Osman | SF |
| Adrian Benjimins | Zach Collins | PF/C |
| Patrick Laroco | Malcolm Brogdon | PG/SG |
| Kostas Oikonomou | Montrezl Harrell | PF/C |
| Steve Connell | Miles Bridges | SF/PF |
| Craig Bozic | Jakob Poeltl | C |
| Josh Lloyd | Brook Lopez | C |
| Jordan Schultz | Tim Hardway Jr | SG/SF |
| Sam Macey | Bobby Portis | PF/C |
| Jay Collins | Kelly Olynyk | PF/C |
| Stan Son | Spencer Dinwiddie | PG |
| Brett Nelson | Goran Dragic | PG |
I was fully expecting Son to pounce on Jakob Poeltl in the previous round, but with Son hoping to see his Willy Free’d, I was pleased to scoop up his sloppy seconds and obtain the 22 year old who finished 12th in the NBA in blocks last season. With Pau Gasol soon to be drawing his vast pension, Poeltl will have plenty of opportunity to build on those defense stats while working on improving his offensive game. The FG% is high, but the amount of looks is low. I am not expecting a starters workload anytime soon, but at 22 years old with a high floor due to his defensive prowess, I felt good with selecting him here.
Round 12:
| Brett Nelson | Josh Hart | SG |
| Stan Son | Jerami Grant | SF/PF |
| Jay Collins | JJ Reddick | SG |
| Sam Macey | Terry Rozier | PG |
| Jordan Schultz | Domantas Sabonis | PF |
| Josh Lloyd | Tyreke Evans | PG/SG/SF |
| Craig Bozic | OG Anunoby | SG/SF |
| Steve Connell | Mikal Bridges | SG/SF |
| Kostas Oikonomou | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | SG |
| Patrick Laroco | Fred Van Fleet | PG |
| Adrian Benjimins | Skal Labbisierre | PF |
| Zach Bodhane | Jeremy lamb | SG |
I’ve always admired the real life skill set of OG Anunoby ever since watching him make Jamal Murray look like an extra from the Let it Rain scene in Along Came Polly during the NCAA Tournament. In Kawhi Leonard, a player who had a similar skill coming out of college, OG has a mentor to help hone his craft. We have seen the skill on the defensive end, but will the offensive game to catch up? At this price, I don’t mind finding out, especially since the Raptors look to be one season away from a complete rebuild.
Round 13:
| Zach Bodhane | Elie Okobo | PG |
| Adrian Benjimins | De’Anthony melton | PG |
| Patrick Laroco | Reggie Bullock | SG/SF |
| Kostas Oikonomou | Kelly Oubre Jr | SG/SF |
| Steve Connell | Dwight Howard | C |
| Craig Bozc | Kent Bazemore | SG/SF |
| Josh Lloyd | Eric Gordon | SG |
| Jordan Schultz | Dennis Schroeder | PG |
| Sam Macey | Trey Burke | PG |
| Jay Collins | Darren Collison | PG |
| Stan Son | Pascal Siakam | PF |
| Brett Nelson | Derrick Favors | PF/C |
Time for a little more stability once again. Kent Bazemore won’t win you a league, but at this price won’t hurt you either. At 29 years old, Bazemore is easily the oldest player I’ve drafted and was another pick that made me feel dirty. The Hawks will be relying on heavy minutes from a lot of younger guys, so they will need some veteran presence. Not a pick I love and probably should have went for upside in hindsight. With that said, Bazemore will provide some threes, assists, and steals without killing me anywhere.
Round 14:
| Brett Nelson | Isaiah Thomas | PG |
| Stan Son | Dante Exum | PG/SG |
| Jay Collins | Avery Bradley | PG/SG |
| Sam Macey | Ivica Zubac | C |
| Jordan Schultz | Reggie Jackson | PG |
| Josh lloyd | Danilo Gallinari | SF/PF |
| Craig Bozic | Dzanan Musa | SF/PF |
| Steve Connell | Thaddeus Young | SF/PF |
| Kostas Oikonomou | TJ Warren | SF |
| Patrick Laroco | Tyler Johnson | PG/SG |
| Adrian Benjamins | Allen Crabbe | SG |
| Zach Bodhane | Cody Zeller | PF/C |
Back to shooting for the moon with my Dzanan Musa selection. I am a huge fan and enamored by the offensive potential of the 6′ 9″ playmaker who shows a ton of aggression with the basketball in his hand. I also like the landing spot long term, since the Nets play at the fastest pace in the league and do not have a player with his size and ball handling/playmaking abilities. There were questions regarding the ankle injury he suffered during the World Championship qualifier over the summer, but he looks confident now and has received high praise from Kenny Atkinson and his Nets teammates. With the ability to distribute the ball, score from all three levels, and play through contact, Musa is able to overcome his lack of foot speed. A fierce competitor who I am more than happy to speculate on.
Round 15:
| Zach Bodhane | Joe Harris | SG/SF |
| Adrian Benjimins | Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | SF |
| Patrick Laroco | Al Farouq-Aminu | PF |
| Kostas Oikonomou | Lonnie Walker IV | SG/SF |
| Steve Connell | Taj Gibson | PF |
| Craig Bozic | Delon Wright | PG/SG |
| Josh Lloyd | Patrick Beverley | PG/SG |
| Jordan Schultz | Dillon Brooks | SF |
| Sam Macey | James Johnson | SF/PF |
| Jay Collins | Alex Len | C |
| Stan Son | Trey Lyles | PF |
| Brett Nelson | Marquese Chriss | PF/C |
The good news regarding Delon Wright is that per-36, he posted 13.9 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.4 treys on 46% shooting (83% from the line). The bad news is that minutes will be difficult to come by for the 26 year old former Ute. I’m speculating that either Wright or a disgrunted Kyle Lowry get moved. Regardless, this is the area to speculate.
Round 16:
| Brett Nelson | Troy Brown | PG/SG |
| Stan Son | Sviatolsav Mykhailuk | SG |
| Jay Collins | Rajon Rondo | PG |
| Sam Macey | Rodney Hood | SG/SF |
| Jordan Schultz | Grayson Allen | SG |
| Craig Bozic | Marcus Smart | SG |
| Steve Connell | Carmelo Anthony | PF |
| Kostas Oikonomou | D.J Augustine | PG |
| Patrick Laroco | Kevon Looney | PF |
| Adrian Benjimins | Josh Okogie | SG |
| Zach Bodhane | Rudy Gay | SF/PF |
37% field goal percentage. Yuck. 73% FT percentage. Yuck. If you draft Marcus Smart, you’re certainly not doing so for the shooting. More for the steals and assists (1.5 steals and 4.8 assists in 2017). Smart is good for close to 30 minutes a game, so it’s unlikely we see a decline in the production, especially with his fierce on-court temperament and positional flexibility. Do I love Marcus Smart in fantasy? No, but in round 16 he has his place and is still just 24 years old.
Round 17:
| Zach Bodhane | Mo Harkless | SF |
| Adrian Benjimins | Thon Maker | PF/C |
| Patrick Laroco | Bojan Bogdanovic | SF |
| Kotas Oikonomou | E’twaun Moore | SG/SF |
| Steve Connell | Trevor Ariza | SF |
| Craig Bozic | Derrick White | PG |
| Josh Lloyd | Jeremy Lin | PG |
| Jordan Schultz | Justic Winslow | SF |
| Sam Macey | Stanley Johnson | SF |
| Jay Collins | Jerian Grant | PG |
| Stan Son | Derrick Jones Jr | SF |
| Brett Nelson | Dewayne Dedmon | C |
In six Summer League games, the Spurs prioritized developing Derrick White and played him at both guard positions. He didn’t disappoint, as he often looked like a man among boys, averaging 15 points a game over 24 minutes of action. The shot form looked good, the passing ability looked excellent, and he actually thrived in the skills that Dejounte Murray is lacking. White is part of the reason I am lower on Murray than most for fantasy, as well as the fact I can see the Spurs running a more point guard by committee with Murray getting the bulk of the action, rather than Murray running away with the job like most are predicting. He isn’t the biggest or most athletic guy, but his IQ is off the charts, something which we all know Pops loves.
Round 18
| Brett Nelson | Aaron Holiday | PG |
| Stan Son | Kostas Antetokounmpo | SF |
| Jay Collins | Ante Zizic | C |
| Sam Macey | Juancho Hernangomez | SF/PF |
| Jordan Schultz | Robert Williams | C |
| Josh Lloyd | Jae Crowder | SF |
| Craig Bozic | Omari Spellman | PF |
| Steve Connell | Danny Green | SG/SF |
| Kostas Oikonomou | Frank Jackson | PG |
| Patrick Laroco | Zhaire Smith | SF |
| Adrian Benjimins | Moritz Wagner | PF/C |
| Zach Bodhane | Nerlens Noel | PF/C |
I swear Son picked Kostas just so I had to type Antetokounmpo again. I certainly wouldn’t put it past my boss, that’s for sure! On a more serious note, I rounded out my draft with another rookie, Omari Spellman, who won a national championship with Villanova last year. I’m particularly impressed with his high motor, quick hands, and high efficiency from beyond the arc. Atlanta is going to be in a position to see what they have in their new guys. With Dedmon hurt to start the year and the Hawks likely to play uptempo, Spellman could develop into one of those per minute fantasy darlings that we all crave.
What The others said about their draft:
Brett Nelson (Razzball * Dynasty Deep Dive)
”Going into the draft with the 12th pick, I knew I was either going to get lucky or have a tough decision to make at the turn. I didn’t get lucky. Rather than reach farther than I’d like on some younger players, I decided to go with the stud proven vets in Bron and Curry. Old for dynasty, but they also aren’t going away any time soon. I went the opposite direction the next time at the turn with getting a young, high upside PG in Jamal Murray and my top rookie Trae Young. If anything, I will win assists and lose turnovers at this point. Strategy for the next several rounds was to get younger players that are already producing – Dario Saric, Jaylen Brown – and more high upside ‘stash’ type picks – Mitchell Robinson, Marvin Bagley, Michael Porter Jr and Josh Jackson. From there I went to more steady production with Goran Dragic, Derrick Favors, Isaiah Thomas (comeback!!), and Dewayne Dedmon (quietly very good last year). Overall the team might not be the most balanced but lots of production mixed with high upside trade chips to help shape it. ”
Jordan Schultz (Hashtag Basketball Dynasty Podcast):
”This turned out to be one of my favorite teams I’ve drafted this off-season. I loved starting off with Ben Simmons, Damian Lillard, and Draymond Green. Simmons and Green’s elite out of position assists allowed me to fill out the rest of my roster without worrying about another point guard until round 10. This is a strategy I haven’t really tried yet, and I’m pleased with the results after ending up with Frank Ntilikina, Dennis Schroeder, and Reggie Jackson to backup Dame after focusing so much effort on my wings and bigs in the mid-rounds. This is a team that should compete for the playoffs right away, but has a bright future led by core guys like Simmons, Kristaps Porzingis, Wendell Carter Jr, Caris LeVert, Ntilikina, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.”
Steve Connell (Dynasty Deep Dive Research):
”My goal going into a draft like this is always to try to differentiate myself. You can’t force it however. My goal wasn’t to go Big-Big 1-2 but once I did my focus turned to getting a couple of young studs (Tatum, Isaac) to grow with Jokic. I knew I was going to need some luck with guards and I feel the age factor let some nice guys fall to me. After getting Lowry and Conley my plan to differentiate turned to a win now team as I already knew I had some nice young pieces and figured many would be drafting younger/unproven guys in the second half of the draft. I was quite happy to get Miles Bridges who I feel will be a great pro. Additionally, getting Boogie in the 7th could (while risky) prove to be huge for this dynasty team. I would love to play this team out.”
Pat Laroco (Next Level Fantasy):
”I’m the dynasty owner who’s not afraid of owning vets as my core. Basic strategy is target best player available in Round 1 then build around his strengths.
I went after a point guard in Round 2 to support Harden. For Round 3, I wanted a young C and drafted Capella. With the age and strengths of a Harden + Kemba combo, I decided to go with Bledsoe to lock in my back court. For Round 4, I targeted RoCo for my 3-and-D guy. From Rounds 6-9, I decided to secure my front court and went after the young bigs.
For the remaining Rounds, I looked for youth and position needs of my roster.
CATS targeted: AST, 3s, STLs, REBs, FG%”
Son (Razzball Basketball):
”Picking at 11, you really do have to channel your inner Bruce Lee and be like water. I felt Victor Oladipo was a no-brainer, as he literally does it all and is a ripe 26 years old. I do like pairing him up with Paul George, as he literally does it all. Hey, there’s a common theme here. Early on, I was looking for the most well-rounded players that weren’t too old. I’m in love with both Doncic and Ayton and was hoping they’d be there when it came back to me. I’m not a smart man. Anyways, I ended up with a ton of wings early in the draft. Wasn’t planned. Just channeling my inner Bruce Lee. I just felt the values were too good to pass up. I went Fultz in Round 6 because he’s really good and I wanted to be with the cool kids with all their rookie picks. After that, I hammered away at big men. I did want Poeltl but felt the upside if Willy gets Freed is much higher. Free Willy!”
You can find me on twitter @storyetelling41, or on the weekly Razzball Basketball Podcast with Son, Viz, and Brent.
