Fantasy Basketball Preview: Pacific Division

Prepare on your fantasy basketball drafts with Dan Titus’ division previews for the 2024-25 NBA season. On at the moment’s slate: the Pacific.

Los Angeles Lakers

Has JJ Redick already reworked the Lakers right into a fantasy-friendly staff? It appears to be like that approach, as their beginning unit appears to be like rejuvenated and motivated underneath Redick’s offensive schemes this preseason. Redick additionally admitted he desires to run a nine-man rotation, however it may get right down to eight sometimes.

Anthony Davis’ companies will value a mid-first-round choose this season, whereas LeBron James, the oldest participant within the league, is holding it down as a late-second/early-third-round choose. I would anticipate each to go earlier than the mid-second spherical in factors leagues.

D’Angelo Russell’s ADP is trending to a decent draft worth within the seventh spherical. Austin Reaves, nevertheless, is trending down regardless of coming off a profession 12 months. His ADP could also be mispriced at 86th general. Rui Hachimura shouldn’t be a must-roster participant, and it will take an harm for Max Christie to get off waivers.

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors have a couple of late-rounders with breakout potential: Jonathan Kuminga (ADP 92.8), Brandin Podziemski (ADP 117.0) and Trayce Jackson-Davis (ADP 126.5). Kuminga ought to see an uptick in factors, 3s and rebounds in a beginning and starring function with the Dubs.

In class leagues, I desire Podz over Kuminga relative to ADP. Podziemski is a plus-rebounder for his place, hits extra 3s and can generate extra dimes and steals than Kuminga. Whether or not Podz begins or not, he has a large function with the Warriors.

Jackson-Davis can be nice for FG% and blocks, however his minutes may fluctuate as Steve Kerr settles in on a nine-man rotation. Search for a Draymond Inexperienced bounce-back marketing campaign (ADP 102) with De’Anthony Melton on sleeper watch.

Do not hassle drafting Andrew Wiggins in fantasy.

Los Angeles Clippers

Ivica Zubac is the sleeper I like on this squad. He is an underrated large man who’s constructed a powerful rapport with James Harden. Zubac had the third-most assists from Harden final 12 months regardless of his scoring numbers dwindling to his lowest numbers since 2011-12. A majority of these dimes got here from passes close to the rim and from 4-to-14 ft, which speaks to Zu’s effectivity. The Clippers’ frontcourt depth is proscribed, so he might be one of many higher facilities accessible after the ninth spherical.

Kawhi Leonard’s knee is already a priority that should be managed. Leonard has first-round upside when wholesome(ish), however the harm considerations made me drop him to the fourth spherical in my rankings.

[Fantasy Hoops Draft Kit: One-stop shop for rankings, strategy and more]

Phoenix Suns

Transferring from Frank Vogel to Mike Budenholzer is an improve for fantasy. Coach Bud’s offense prioritizes taking extra 3s and getting environment friendly appears to be like close to the rim. He sometimes does not play his starters over 34 minutes a sport, however given the well being considerations across the Suns’ large three, that is a superb factor in the long term.

I’ve docked Kevin Durant to a mid-second-round choose as a result of a lot of his stats final 12 months got here with out Bradley Beal on the courtroom. Beal has did not play greater than 60 video games in three straight seasons, so Durant’s ADP might be a steal if historical past repeats. Jusuf Nurkić’s fantasy worth is rising since he presumably takes on the Brook Lopez function as a stretch-five on offense and the drop protection rim protector on protection. Hopefully, he receives constructive information on a finger harm that is saved him out of the preseason.

Bringing Tyus Jones in on a one-year deal was a superb transfer to assist the Suns on each ends. Jones is frequently an inexpensive supply of assists and steals from the guard spot who goes late in drafts. And be careful for the swole sniper, Grayson Allen. Assuming all that muscle did not have an effect on his jumper, he needs to be a superb supply of 3s, even when he is coming off the bench.

Sacramento Kings

The Kings have 4 gamers able to ending within the prime 75 in fantasy. Nevertheless, I believe DeMar DeRozan’s arrival caps Keegan Murray’s upside and breakout potential. Murray is coming off a profitable sophomore marketing campaign the place he improved in practically each class and noticed a 3% bump in utilization to 18%. Murray said his role won’t change from last year, however going from the third to fourth choice has to affect his touches and alternatives.

Whereas he stays a 3-point specialist, Murray will be extra impactful on protection. He’s Sacramento’s finest wing defender, so accumulating extra shares may counter the potential dip in offensive output. Murray’s seventh-round ADP is wealthy, however I am inclined to make the transfer if he falls to the eighth.