Fantasy Basketball: Zak Hanshew's Studs and Duds

Figuring out worth is important to fantasy basketball drafts, but it surely’s an inexact science. With that in thoughts, the Rotoworld workers has recognized a couple of of its “studs” and “duds” forward of the 2024-25 season, predicting high- and low-value choices projected to go within the early, center, and late rounds of drafts. Subsequent up is Zak Hanshew, who’s excessive on Phoenix’s latest addition and potential beginning PG.

STUD: Trae Younger

Some fantasy basketball lovers – together with my esteemed colleague Raphielle Johnson – are skeptical of Younger’s outlook heading into the 2024-25 season. It’s comprehensible, contemplating Younger’s excessive turnover fee and low FG%. Hey, no one’s good, proper? You’d be hard-pressed to discover a high-usage guard with phenomenal effectivity and elite ball safety. Regardless of two notable deficiencies, Younger is great as a scorer and large as a facilitator. He completed thirty sixth in per-game worth in 9-cat leagues however 14th in 8-cat leagues final season. For managers in 8-cat leagues punting FG%, Younger was a top-10 possibility.

Since his rookie season in 2018-19, Younger has elevated his assists per recreation in 5 straight campaigns. During the last two seasons, Younger averaged a wholesome 25.9 factors, 10.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and a pair of.7 triples whereas capturing 43% from the ground, 87.4% from the charity stripe, and committing 4.3 turnovers. Younger produced at an elite stage over these two seasons regardless of sharing the backcourt with Dejounte Murray, however Murray was traded to New Orleans within the offseason. Younger’s 30.4 Utilization Price in 2023-24 was the bottom since his rookie marketing campaign, and fantasy managers ought to count on that to tick up with Murray out the door. We venture Younger to steer the NBA in assists this season, and I count on him to complete as a top-10 participant in 2024-25.

DUD: Joel Embiid

I’m not touching this dude with a 10-foot pole in 2024-25 fantasy basketball drafts. Early ADP information (by way of Hashtag Basketball) exhibits Embiid occurring common at decide 8.2. For a man perennially within the prime 3 in per-game fantasy hoops worth, his opening draft place displays fantasy managers’ weariness. Embiid is a perennial per-game monster, however he’s additionally perennially injured, which is why I’m out on him.

The massive man appeared in 68 video games in 2022-23 and 66 video games the season prior, however he logged solely 39 video games in 2023-24. Embiid’s per-game numbers had been ridiculous, as he posted 34.7 factors, 11 boards, 5.6 dimes, 1.2 steals, 1.7 blocks and 1.4 triples. Pretty much as good as these numbers had been, managers who spent a prime decide on Embiid couldn’t reap the advantages for a lot of the marketing campaign. Philly introduced in Andre Drummond to function as a real backup large man and take some strain off of Embiid, and the crew introduced in celebrity Paul George to take off much more strain. It wouldn’t be shocking if Philly consciously restricted Embiid’s video games for the upcoming season to make sure he received’t break down within the playoffs.

STUD: Jalen Johnson

Johnson was fantasy’s breakout darling of the 2023-24 marketing campaign, ending with career-high averages of 16 factors, 8.7 boards, 3.6 dimes, 1.2 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 1.3 triples. He shot effectively from the ground with a 51.1% mark and dedicated simply 1.8 turnovers. The Duke product completed forty eighth in per-game fantasy worth, however a number of accidents restricted him to 56 appearances. He’s set to open the season as Atlanta’s beginning PF, and our projections predict he’ll be even higher in 2024-25, ending as fantasy’s Fortieth-ranked participant.

Johnson’s solely actual limitation is his lackluster FT%; in any other case, he can stuff the stat sheet any evening. As a stretch 4, Johnson can hit triples, rack up defensive stats, rating, rebound, and facilitate, making him a Swiss military knife for fantasy managers.

DUD: Khris Middleton

Middleton hasn’t been the identical over the past two seasons on account of recurring accidents and procedures. In July, he underwent surgical procedure on each ankles, marking the third straight offseason present process a process. In 2022, he had wrist surgical procedure that price him the primary 20 video games of the 2022-23 season, and he sprained his MCL within the 2023 playoffs, which prompted knee surgical procedure. Middleton has performed 88 video games over the past two campaigns, and well being issues are at an all-time excessive for the 33-year-old.

Middleton is a crucial participant in Milwaukee’s rotation as a scorer, playmaker, and floor-spacer, and his per-game numbers have been respectable when on the courtroom. Middleton has began slowly within the final two whereas slowly ramping up and ending sturdy. He’s averaged 15.1 factors, 4.5 rebounds, and had 5.1 assists and 1.6 triples, and people numbers had been good for a end inside the highest 90 in per-game fantasy worth. We’re projecting Middleton to play 57 video games in 2024-25, however that quantity could possibly be much less.

STUD: Tyus Jones

Jones went from Memphis, the place he was the crew’s prime backup PG, to a beginning gig in Washington, the place he flourished. Jones loved the very best season of his profession, placing up profession highs throughout the board with 12 factors, 2.7 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.3 blocks, and 1.6 triples whereas capturing 48.9/80 capturing splits and committing only one turnover per recreation.

Jones was stable for the whole 2024-25 marketing campaign however was significantly efficient over his closing 14 video games. Jones averaged 9.8 factors, 2.4 rebounds, 0.9 steals, 1.6 triples, and 1.4 turnovers in that span. He most notably handed out 10.6 dimes in these video games and dished a minimum of 10 in seven. Devin Booker performed nice as Phoenix’s de facto PG final season, however Jones ought to step into the beginning PG position for the Suns, the place he’ll be arrange for achievement instantly. Jones was an help machine whereas taking part in for the last-place Wizards, and he should not have any bother rising his help whole whereas feeding Phoenix’s large three of Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Booker. Jones has a top-70 ceiling for the 2024-25 season.

DUD: Jerami Grant

Grant averaged 21.0 factors, 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.6 blocks, and a pair of.1 triples throughout 33.9 minutes per recreation in his second season with the Blazers. He logged solely 54 video games and has averaged simply 54.5 video games throughout his final 4 campaigns on account of accidents and taking part in for dangerous groups. Grant posted three straight top-85 seasons earlier than falling outdoors the highest 100 in 2023-24. His blocks fell, and his turnovers elevated, which had been two large causes for the decline in fantasy worth.

Portland traded Malcolm Brogdon, the No. 14 decide within the 2024 NBA Draft, and a 2029 decide for Deni Avdija within the offseason, and the previous Wizard is predicted to steal some minutes and counting stats from Grant. Grant led Portland in scoring final season, and he shot higher than 40% from past the arc for the second straight season. Factors and triples are his two greatest classes for fantasy managers, but when he’s not defending the ball or getting near a block per recreation, he received’t hope to crack the highest 100. Shaedon Sharpe is predicted to be wholesome to open the season, Scoot Henderson is ascending, and Avdijia is now within the combine. Grant’s position could also be muted in comparison with what it’s been in earlier seasons, making him a dangerous possibility in drafts with vital dud potential.