I love videogames. I can’t play them as much now since I’m a father of two, but I’ll sneak in a game or two when I get a chance. Anyways, I especially enjoyed sports videgames: baseball, basketball, football, and even hockey. After spending countless hours…who am I kidding? After spending countless weeks drafting and tinkering with sliders, I’d finally embark on playing a season. At first, it’s a rush. Everything is fresh and vibrant. Over time, though, the monotony sets in. Things start to drag. You start seeing the same things over and over again. That’s where I’m at with these rankings. With that said, I love doing them. Like how I trudged through all those videogame seasons. I’ll admit, I’ve never been able to finish a complete baseball season, but c’mon!!! 162 games with more for the playoffs? I’ve come close, but I blame the corporate capitalistic videogame maker pigs for releasing a new version every year. I know I’m the idiot for buying it every year, but….I have no excuse. I’m just an idiot. Anyways, here’s my Top 75 for 2017.
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51) D’Angelo Russell
There’s so much to hate about Russell. He’s not very explosive and aggressive. The field goal percentage was 40% last year and he shot 35% from three-land. There’s hundreds (an exaggeration by 90) of YouTube videos dissing Russell.
As much as I hate him, I have to acknowledge the potential with the situation he’s in. The Nets played at the fastest pace last season. Early word is that he’s going to man the 2 while Lin mans the point. I’ll admit that he does have a pretty nice J and he’s still only 20 years old. Now, Coach Atkinson spread minutes around to everyone last year, with no player averaging over 30 mpg. My sense is that Russell gets over 30 mpg and becomes the “face of the franchise.” At least until he snitches on someone else…
Uh….dude. Really? Anyways, as long as he gets the minutes, Russell is going to contribute in every category besides blocks.
Son’s pukejection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .410 | .770 | 2.4 | 18.0 | 4 | 5.5 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 3.2 | 32 |
52) Aaron Gordon
If you haven’t figured it out already, I’m an upside-whore, whether it be talent or situation. With DRuss above, it’s all about the situation. With Gordon, it’s definitely talent sprinkled with situation. After Serge Ibaka was traded last February, Gordon was able to move back to the power forward position, the best place for him. Now, it speaks volumes that the Magic would even try Gordon at the 3 in the first place. He has a nice stroke from three-land, even though the percentages don’t reflect it, he has handles and can break ankles, he jumps like a flea and moves laterally like a crab, can post up, face up, man up, push up, lift up….you get the point.
He reminds me of Blake Griffin. Blake is a much better rebounder and passer, but let’s not forget that Gordon is still only 21 years old and entered the NBA at the age of 19. Blake was 21 years old when he was a rookie. The usage rate for Gordon has increased every year (15.5% to 17.3% to 20.1%). For me, Gordon is the star on this team and I think that usage rate spikes up again this year. If so, lots of fantasy goodies.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .455 | .700 | 1.0 | 15.5 | 6.0 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 32 |
53) Jrue Holiday
I initially had Holiday way lower. The acquisition of Rajon Rondo was one reason and many of his numbers were down when playing in a lineup with both Demarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis. So, why did I put him at 53? For starters, a newly signed five-year, $126 million contract. It’s usually prudent to follow the money. With that said, production isn’t guaranteed, as there have been many stupid contract handed out. What it does guarantee is minutes, though. You don’t pay that kind of money for a bit player. As for the Rondo/Cousins/AD angle, there were 99 minutes last season in which Holiday played shooting guard with both AD and Cousins on the floor. Granted, it was Tim Frazier at the point but that’s all we can make do with. During that span, the field goal attempts were pretty much flat, the three-point attempts spiked way up, as well as the free throw attempts, points went up, steals and blocks went up, but rebounds went down. Assists saw a slight up tick. Being primarily at the 2, I was thinking of moving the assist numbers way down, but now I don’t think I’m going to lower them as much. There’s injury risk for sure with Jrue, as he’s played over 70 games in only three of eight seasons. With that said, he was durable to close out 2016, so I’m willing to take the risk. Holiday should continue to contribute across the board. He even chips in some blocks.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .450 | .775 | 1.5 | 15.5 | 3.5 | 6.5 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 32 |
54) Robert Covington
Congratulations! You have found Easter Egg #4. One more to go. Cov is a polarizing player, as he doesn’t excel in anything, yet contributes in everything. As a result, his ranking is usually all over the map. Since I put him at 54, you know how I feel about Cov. The three-point field goal percentage isn’t great and he only averages around 13 ppg, but he rebounds, steals, blocks, chips in a few dimes, and is very efficient with the ball. The thing for me with Cov is that, because he’s such a good defender, he’s going to be on the court, and that’s half the battle. Unlike Andre Roberson, Cov is proficient at putting the ball in the bucket. He’s the prototypical 3-and-D player. With the bevy of weapons that the Sixers have this year, he’s going to get plenty of opportunities. Never mind that his name makes me think of a guy that’s sipping lattes at the local Starbucks writing the next great American novel. Cov is a baller.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .400 | .815 | 2.4 | 13.3 | 6.5 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 32 |
55) Otto Porter
Otto just got paid. Four years and $106 million.
What a time to be alive. 3-and-D players getting paaaaiidddd!!!! If a salary cap did not exist, how much would the KDs and Lebrons be getting?
Anyways, Otto and Cov are essentially the same player, minus the blocks for Otto. Many say that Otto’s value last year was tied to his insane shooting efficiency. They would be right. But was it an outlier? Otto has increased his shooting percentage, from both inside and beyond the arc, in four consecutive seasons. Same with the free throw percentage. While one cannot get taller, shooting is definitely a skill that can be improved with practice. I’m in the camp that he’s a really good shooter. With John Wall and Bradley Beal wreaking havoc on opposing backcourts, Otto is going to continue to get so many cheapies. Also, the dude just doesn’t turn the ball over. It ain’t sexy, but turnovers are still a category.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .500 | .825 | 2.0 | 13.7 | 6.2 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 32 |
56) DeMar DeRozan
I have no problem if you want to put DeMar in the Top 50. He scores, rebounds, assists, and chips in some steals. The only thing lacking in his game is three-pointers, which you can find later in the draft. So, why the hate? I think his usage and, in turn, points come back this year. Last season, he was 6th in usage rate at 34.2%. Actually, I put him 4th because Dahntay Jones and Brice Johnson are included. Up until last year, he had never had a usage rate above 30%. Most of the increase was due to the Kyle Lowry injury. Now, Lowry is healthy and the Raptors acquired Serge Ibaka last season. While a lineup with Lowry, DeMar, and Ibaka did not play together in the regular season, they did play together for 172 minutes during the playoffs. During that period, DeMar’s field goal attempts went down.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .455 | .840 | 0.5 | 23.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 2.3 | 35 |
57) DeAndre Jordan
It baffles me how a professional basketball player can have a free throw percentage under 50%. Whatever the problem may be, there’s a solution, right? Shooting is definitely a skill that can be improved upon so….I’m open to listening to any and all excuses because, right now, nothing jives with me. They have all the time to practice. There are shooting coaches. Maybe it’s mental? Well, hire a freaking psychologist! DJ is a freak athlete that will provide elite numbers in field goal percentage, rebounds, and blocks. With that said, I do have another concern beside the free throw shooting. CP3 is no longer in LaLa land. I like Patrick Beverly, but he’s not setting up DJ to the same degree. Milos Teodosic is a freaking magician with the basketball, but how much is he going to be able to play, considering I could play better D than him right now.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .675 | .450 | 0.0 | 11.0 | 13.5 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 32 |
58) Serge Ibaka
Or is it Samuel Soba? If you need a little trashy diversion in your life, go down that rabbit hole. Anyways, I miss the Thunder team with Ibaka, KD, Russ, and Harden. Oh, what could have been. Anyways, Ibaka is a very skilled big man. At 6′ 10″ 235 pounds, he moves well and possesses an excellent outside shot. This complements the backcourt duo of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan well. I’m always surprised that he doesn’t rack up more rebounds and steals, though. You’d think with his physical skills that he’d be able to dominate those categories. Back in 2011, he was blocking 3.7 shots per game. Wowzers. Now, he’s at 1.4. Looks like someone has decided to take the Brook Lopez career path. I don’t blame him. With that said, while he’s a light on assists and steals, he’s a big man that can shoot and contribute across all the categories.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .470 | .860 | 1.7 | 14.5 | 6.8 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 31 |
59) Jamal Murray
Have I mentioned that I love the Nuggets offense this year? While Murray only played 21 mpg last season, he produced and showed that he belongs in the league. He’s only 19 years old! He has a nice stroke from outside with three-point range. He’s smooth with the handle and is a savvy finisher around the rim. He contributes across the board, but what’s most impressive is that he takes care of the ball, as he averaged 1.4 turnovers per game. He’s ready and should leave Emmanuel Mudiay and Jameer Nelson in the dust.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .400 | .880 | 1.7 | 13.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 28 |
60) Andre Drummond
Drummond stuffs the stat sheet. 13 ppg, 1 block, 1.5 steals, 1 assist, and great field goal percentage. Unfortunately, there’s also puke on the sheet from the free throw percentage. Punting free throws is not the end of the world, especially in a nine-category league. With that said, my main concern with Drummond is the decrease in minutes and usage. He was often not on the court at the end of games due to his poor free throw shooting. Also, teams starting collapsing on him during PnR action, forcing him to become a playmaker, which he is not. I wanted to put him lower, but he was tied for eighth in double-dubs last season.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .525 | .380 | 0.0 | 13.5 | 13.6 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 29 |
61) Trevor Ariza
Ariza is light in the blocks department, but he’s another 3-and-D player that contributes across the board. Earlier in the offseason, I had him way higher, as I’m super optimistic on the Rockets with the CP3 acquisition. Unfortunately for Ariza, they also went out and got P.J. Tucker and Luc Mbah a Moute. I was initially thinking that Ryan Anderson would be gone and Ariza would soak up plenty of mintues at both the 3 and 4 positions. With Tucker and Luc on board, that upside is nuked. He’s still going to get plenty of opportunities to produce, as the Rockets were one of the fastest-paced teams last season, and should finish in the Top 3 again, but I can see the minutes getting shaved a bit.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .410 | .750 | 2.4 | 12.0 | 5.3 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 32 |
62) Devin Booker
It made me sick to my stomach putting Booker here at 62. He’s a one-dimensional player that just YOLOs. With that said, the floor and upside are too massive to ignore. The Suns played at the second-fastest pace last season and Booker garnered a 28.4% market share. He played 35 minutes per game! It’s almost impossible not to run into a few steals, rebounds, and dish a few dimes. Here’s another thing, he’s only 20 years old. As he gets older and accumulates more experience, his game should evolve. We know he can score, as he racked up a 70 point game last season and had 13 games with over 30. His defense is pretty terrible so I wouldn’t expect an uptick in those categories, but I can see an increase in boards and assists.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .423 | .835 | 2.0 | 23.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 3.2 | 35 |
63) Markelle Fultz
Fultz was the number one pick for a reason. He’s really good at basketball. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you look at things, the Sixers are going to be pretty good this year. On one hand, defenses won’t be able to focus on him. On the other hand, there will be plenty of other options for the offense to flow through. It’s a good thing we only have two hands. When healthy and on the court, the primary options for the Sixers will be Embiid and Simmons. There’s also Redick and Covington spacing the floor. So, the volume may not necessarily be there but the looks should be high percentage ones. The upside is when Embiid and Simmons sit or rest. That is when Fultz will get his groove on. I just don’t see that happening consistently.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .450 | .650 | 1.0 | 15.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 30 |
64) James Johnson
Easter Egg #5! Yeah, I was as surprised as you are. Good little tidbit to get some free drinks at the bar. I’m a big fan of Johnson. Uh, no. Let me try again. I’m a big fan of JJ. One of my favorite movies of all-time is Bloodsport and his nickname just happens to be Bloodsport. Why? Both his parents are black belts and he and his eight siblings also have black belts. He’s undefeated in seven MMA matches and has 20 kickboxing matches under his belt without a loss. I don’t like him because he could pummel me into submission. When finding out for the first time that someone nicknamed him Bloodsport, his reaction was, “Yeah, I love it. You know, anything other than ‘scrub’ is cool with me.” As for actually hooping, while he didn’t start too many games last year, he did play significant minutes, especially in crunch time. Injuries helped in that department, but Spoelstra began to fancy him in the lineup. Now, there’s talk that he may start at power forward for this upcoming season. I likey.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .475 | .700 | 1.0 | 13.0 | 5.0 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 30 |
65) Julius Randle
I’m almost as high on the Lakers this year as I am on the Nuggets. Yes, I’m a Lakers fan, so you can call me a homer, but there’s a reason why I have Lonzo ranked so high. He’s going to make a huge impact on this squad. What does he do best? Make everyone around him better. Other than shoot the three, Randle can do it all. He was one of only six players last season to record multiple triple-dubs. The Lakers played at the sixth-fastest pace last year and I can see them finishing in the Top 5, maybe even Top 3. Over the offseason, Randle trimmed his body fat down to 6% and has been working on his three-point shot. Delicious.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .470 | .715 | 0.3 | 15.0 | 9.0 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 30 |
66) Carmelo Anthony
Melo pisses me off as a basketball fan. He’s so good, but could’ve been so much better. Watching him play on the Olympic teams with other superstars, he was an alpha and made so many good basketball plays. Unfortunately, he’s on a crappy team (mainly self-inflicted) and plays too much hero ball. I kind of get it. It’s the whole mamba mentality. Why pass when I feel I have a better chance to put the ball in the basket? Anyways, I think it’s clear that winning is not his number one priority. He just wants to be the man and look pretty on the court. While he’s aged now at 32 years old, there’s no denying the usage and minutes. He’s going to produce, maybe not at the elite levels of the past, but still enough to be fantasy relevant.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .435 | .830 | 2.0 | 22.0 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 34 |
67) Brandon Ingram
I’m pretty sure that I’m going to be the highest on Ingram this year. That’s just how I roll. As I mentioned in the Randle section, I’m very high on the Lakers this year. I’ll be honest. I was skeptical of Ingram initially. He struggled with his J, got pushed around, and seemed destined to be a role player. Then I realized that he’s only 19 years old. Then I watched him in Summer League. Before you start rolling your eyes and throw internet tomatoes at me, hear me out. I realize Summer League shouldn’t count for too much, but the developments that I saw have me percolating. The J looked better, but more importantly, the strength and aggressiveness were on full display. He’s going to be a nightmare in transition with Lonzo, but I truly believe that he’s going to take a big step this season because his length and athleticism will enable him to get his shot off at will. He’s my dark horse candidate to join the 1/1/1 club next year. My Spartan soldiers are already in phalanx formation to defend against the rain of hate and fury that I expect to come my way soon. Bring it!
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .425 | .675 | 1.0 | 13.0 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 32 |
68) Willy Hernangomez
Kind of baffling that Willy didn’t get more run last year with the Knicks. When he played, he was really good. Per 36, 16 ppg, 13.6 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.5 spg, and 1.4 bpg. The issue was he only received 18 minutes per game. There’s been chatter that the Knicks view Willy as a foundation player and that he could start at center. That’s good enough for me.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .525 | .725 | 0.1 | 14.5 | 10.5 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 30 |
69) Marquese Chriss
Chriss was probably the player I moved up and down the board the most. The upside and situation are so tantalizing. He and Ingram are very similar, in that they both play for crappy, high-paced teams, were both rookies last year, are both physically gifted, and could both make huge leaps. He’s another player that could go 1/1/1. Per 36, his numbers were much better than Ingram’s. In addition, there is the possibility that he plays some 5 this year. With that said, the difference between Ingram and Chriss comes down to maturity. Chriss has been known to have attitude problems and looked out of shape in the Summer League. Those are troubling signs and give me pause when trying to predict a breakout. With that said, the upside and situation are too good to put him lower.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .445 | .625 | 1.1 | 13.0 | 5.9 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 30 |
70) Lamarcus Aldridge
That’s all I can think about when it comes to Aldridge. He chose to go to San Antonio. He knew what he was getting into, yet is unhappy because the offense doesn’t revolve around him. He and Melo must be brothers. Anyways, if the Spurs don’t trade LMA, I’d imagine that Pop figures out a way to best utilize him. That’s the only reason I don’t rank him lower.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .480 | .820 | 0.2 | 17.5 | 7.5 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 32 |
71) Harrison Barnes
I truly felt bad for Barnes in 2015, when he basically crapped the bed in the playoffs. He was basically dating a hot girl and couldn’t satisfy her in the sack anymore. Got dumped for a cuter guy who gave her the best orgasms of her life. That would suck. But then I realized that he signed a contract for $94 million dollars, then I just started feeling bad about myself. The addition of my boo DSJ is going to benefit Barnes. The pace will probably increase and the number of open looks that he gets should be plentiful. With the amount of minutes that he plays, there should many fantasy treats.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .465 | .850 | 1.0 | 17.0 | 5.5 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 35 |
72) Allen Crabbe
GM Sean Marks has been trying to land/overpay Crabbe for a while now. Last season, he offered a four-year, $75 million contract, which was matched by Portland. One year later, he got his guy via trade. Crabbe fits in well for the uptempo/pace and space Nets, as he shot 44% from three-land last season. It will be interesting to see how many minutes he gets, considering no Nets player averaged over 30 minutes last season. I’m thinking close to 28 minutes, which should provide plenty of opportunities, but there’s a chance he gets more.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .460 | .845 | 2.0 | 13.0 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 28 |
73) Ben Simmons
So much intrigue and mystery regarding Simmons. We know he can pass, but can he shoot? How many minutes will he get? How many games will he play? From what I’ve seen, he reminds me a lot of Lamar Odom. I think he’s going to fill up the stat sheet, so per game, he should be a monster. I should rank him higher but too many question marks for me. Regardless, man, I’m excited to watch the Sixers this year.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .480 | .670 | 0.0 | 15 | 6.5 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 28 |
74) Clint Capela
Capela was another tough one for me. Per 36, he’s a beast, but therein lies the problem. He only got 24 minutes per game last season. With that said, a 34-year-old Nene is his primary backup and the Rockets should be nasty with CP3 running things. I sense many dunks and lobs for Capela in the near future. DeAndre Jordan led the league with a 71.3% field goal percentage. Capela was third at 63.3%. CP3 was the point guard for DJ. CP3 is now the point guard for CC.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .650 | .500 | 0.0 | 15.0 | 10.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 28 |
75) Tobias Harris
Harris wore many hats last season, as he was both a starter and the primary scorer for the second unit. Regardless of what position or role he plays, Harris is going to receive starter-esque minutes. And that’s all we really care about for fantasy. We may actually prefer him coming off the bench, as his usage rate, field goal percentage, points, and rebounds all tick up. He ain’t sexy but he gives you a little something something in everything.
Son’s projection:
| FG% | FT% | 3P | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | MP |
| .475 | .845 | 1.3 | 16.2 | 5.7 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 32 |
