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By Raphielle Johnson
The 2024-25 NBA season is a bit over one month away, making this prime time for fantasy managers to organize for his or her drafts. Rotoworld could have articles dropping all through this time, starting with fantasy-related ideas on each group. We’ll begin with the Atlantic, which boasts the reigning champions and two different groups with title aspirations. Fantasy-wise, two Atlantic Division stars are worthy of first-round consideration, and some others are unlikely to get out of the third spherical in most drafts.
2024-25 NBA Atlantic Division Crew Previews
2023-24 File: 64-18
Tempo: 97.2 (twenty third)
Offensive Score: 123.2 (1st)
Defensive Score: 111.6 (third)
One Potential Sleeper: Jrue Holiday
Whereas his worth to the Celtics by no means wavered in his first season with the group, Vacation’s fantasy worth did take successful. He completed the common season ranked exterior the highest 50 in per-game worth for the primary time because the 2016-17 marketing campaign, and Vacation had not didn’t crack the highest 70 since 2012-13. Whereas they don’t play the identical place, Kristaps Porzingis‘ absence following left leg surgical procedure means there shall be one much less marquee offensive possibility within the lineup when the season begins. Add within the Celtics’ must handle Al Horford‘s minutes, as he didn’t play each ends of any back-to-backs final season, and Vacation’s defensive versatility may benefit him offensively. Getting Jrue within the seventh spherical of drafts could signify glorious fantasy worth by the season’s finish.
One Potential Bust: Kristaps Porzingis
Low-hanging fruit right here, and never for talent causes. Porzingis admirably performed by way of a severe leg damage in the course of the NBA Finals, and the end result was a surgical procedure in late June that is anticipated to sideline him for 5-6 months. Add within the ramp-up time and the Celtics’ give attention to being wholesome for the stretch run, and it is not troublesome to examine a situation by which Porzigis would not play half of the group’s common season video games. This could not take away him out of your boards altogether, however KP is somebody to cross on in the course of the first half of drafts.
Notable Quantity: +11.6
Boston’s web score led the NBA final season and tied with the 2016-17 Warriors for the third-best in league historical past. Joe Mazzulla’s group was dominant on each ends of the ground, successful 64 common season video games earlier than ripping off a 16-3 report in the course of the playoffs. Even with Porzingis unlikely to return earlier than November on the earliest, the Celtics are well-equipped to repeat, they usually will not lack high quality fantasy choices, both. And given how their respective summers went relating to enjoying time for Crew USA, Jayson Tatum (out of the rotation on most days) and Jaylen Brown (not chosen to interchange Kawhi Leonard) shouldn’t lack motivation.
2023-24 File: 32-50
Tempo: 96.9 (twenty sixth)
Offensive Score: 113.2 (twenty third)
Defensive Score: 116.1 (twentieth)
One Potential Sleeper: Noah Clowney
With the Nets shifting into rebuild mode this offseason, it is clear that a few of the group’s youthful gamers could have each alternative to show themselves in 2024-25. That features Clowney, a 2023 first-round decide who performed properly to complete his rookie season. He began 4 of Brooklyn’s remaining six video games, averaging 13.5 factors, 7.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.5 steals, 2.2 blocks, and 1.3 3-pointers in 30.6 minutes, taking pictures 61.2% from the sector and 72.2% from the foul line. Clowney’s capability to step away from the basket offensively means he presents a dimension that beginning heart Nic Claxton doesn’t, and there could also be occasions after they’re on the ground collectively for that motive. Clowney is value taking a late-round flier on, particularly if Brooklyn strikes one other frontcourt veteran (or extra) sooner or later.
One Potential Bust: Cam Thomas
At first look, the departure of Mikal Bridges will increase Cam Thomas’ numbers. He completed final season with a utilization of 30.7, which ought to solely enhance for the prolific scorer. In 66 video games, he averaged 22.5 factors, 3.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.7 steals, and a couple of.2 3-pointers in 31.4 minutes, taking pictures 44.2% from the sector and 85.6% from the foul line. Nonetheless, regardless of the elevated utilization and manufacturing, Thomas nonetheless completed final season ranked exterior the highest 100. The difficulty relating to fantasy worth is that he would not supply an important deal exterior of factors and 3-pointers, thus limiting Thomas’ upside. Can he change that in 2024-25? It is attainable, however fantasy managers ought to mood their expectations forward of Thomas’ fourth season in Brooklyn.
Notable Quantity: 45.6%
The Nets have been one of many worst taking pictures groups within the NBA final season, rating twenty eighth in discipline purpose share (45.6) and nineteenth in 3-point share (36.2%). And when your greatest remaining perimeter scorers (Thomas and Dennis Schroder) battle with effectivity, that stands to restrict the fantasy values of many of the Nets’ rotation gamers. Whereas Claxton’s fantasy worth ought to maintain regular, if not enhance, there is not a lot upside on this roster past Clowney.
New York Knicks
2023-24 File: 50-32
Tempo: 95.2 (thirtieth)
Offensive Score: 118.2 (seventh)
Defensive Score: 113.4 (tenth)
One Potential Sleeper: Precious Achiuwa
Whereas the Knicks added Mikal Bridges through commerce, they did incur a major loss as Isaiah Hartenstein signed with the Thunder in free company. Mitchell Robinson will return to the fold after present process a second ankle surgical procedure in Could. Nonetheless, his medical historical past means he might not be essentially the most dependable possibility regardless of being the starter. Additionally, Robinson is not assured to be wholesome when coaching camp begins. Which will increase Achiuwa’s worth, as he and Jericho Sims are in line to function the backups. Treasured had his moments, particularly throughout a nine-game stretch in January/February, by which he averaged 14.9 factors, 10.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.6 blocks in 41.2 minutes. Achiuwa is not going to come near that minutes common in 2024-25, however there shall be occasions when his rebound prowess is required, particularly if Robinson cannot keep wholesome.
One Potential Bust: OG Anunoby
The phrase “bust” could also be harsh for Anunoby, who hit the jackpot in free company this summer time. Nonetheless, accidents are a priority for the Knicks wing, who appeared in 50 video games between New York and Toronto in 2023-24. After showing in 67 video games or extra in his first three seasons, Anunoby has hit that quantity as soon as within the final 4 (67 appearances in 2022-23). A hamstring damage suffered throughout Recreation 2 of the Knicks’ second-round collection towards the Pacers was primarily the tip for Anunoby, who tried to play by way of the difficulty in Recreation 7. OG completed the common season ranked simply exterior the highest 75 in 9-cat, and the Knicks’ rotation shall be deeper this season, particularly on the wings.
Notable Quantity: 29.4
After rating second within the NBA in offensive rebounding share in 2022-23, the Knicks led the league final season. Robinson, Hartenstein, and Achiuwa all completed with particular person percentages of 13.3 or increased, with the previous at 20.7. The lack of Hartenstein is an enormous deal, not solely due to the offensive rebounding capability (and the way it impacted New York’s general offensive manufacturing) but additionally due to his abilities as a secondary playmaker. There shall be room for others to select up the slack, boosting the fantasy values of those that step up.
2023-24 File: 47-35
Tempo: 97.5 (18th)
Offensive Score: 116.9 (14th)
Defensive Score: 113.8 (eleventh)
One Potential Sleeper: Caleb Martin
After making 49 begins and averaging 29.3 minutes per sport in 2022-23, Martin took a slight hit relating to enjoying time in Miami final season. Showing in 64 video games (23 begins), he averaged 27.4 minutes, however his factors (10.0) and assists (2.2) elevated barely. Martin determined that shifting to Philadelphia was greatest for him, and the change in surroundings could have elevated his possibilities of being a fixture within the beginning lineup. Fantasy managers will not anticipate important scoring output from Martin because of the presence of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey. Nonetheless, he is versatile sufficient to supply worth in different areas, doubtlessly making Martin a worthwhile late-round goal in drafts.
One Potential Bust: Kelly Oubre Jr.
Oubre is one other supplementary piece whose play shall be vital for the 76ers this season. Nonetheless, whereas he’s a greater scorer than Martin, there’s concern within the non-points manufacturing. Oubre averaged 5.0 rebounds in 2022-23, and he is met or exceeded that quantity in 4 of his final 5 seasons. Nonetheless, Philadelphia’s clear improve from Tobias Harris to Paul George might negatively influence the Tsunami Papi, even when he stays within the beginning lineup, because the manufacturing exterior of factors, rebounds, and 3-pointers has been restricted.
Notable Quantity: 26.6
Paul George completed the 2023-24 season with a utilization of 26.6, the bottom for him because the 2017-18 season with Oklahoma City (25.7). A tie that sure these two conditions was the presence of three stars within the lineup. With the Thunder, George shared the ground with Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony, and Kawhi Leonard and James Harden have been within the beginning lineup with him in Los Angeles final season. PG shall be in the same state of affairs with the 76ers because of the presence of Embiid and Maxey, however this shouldn’t be a priority for fantasy managers. George completed final season as a 1st-round participant in 9-cat codecs, and whereas he will not be chosen that early in drafts, he can do the identical in 2024-25.
2023-24 File: 25-57
Tempo: 99.4 (eleventh)
Offensive Score: 112.3 (twenty fourth)
Defensive Score: 118.8 (twenty fifth)
One Potential Sleeper: RJ Barrett
All through his NBA profession, Barrett has been a participant whose worth to the group has exceeded his fantasy worth by a major margin. He completed final season ranked simply inside the highest 200 in 9-cat codecs however confirmed indicators of enchancment after being traded to Toronto in late December. The problems for Barrett are restricted defensive manufacturing and poor foul taking pictures, as he averaged 0.9 “shares” whereas taking pictures 71.5% from the foul line final season. The excellent news: RJ shot a career-high 49.5% from the sector and skilled important boosts in his factors, rebounds, and assists post-trade. A whole season alongside Scottie Barnes might increase Barrett’s fantasy worth, making him a possible sleeper.
One Potential Bust: Scottie Barnes
Because the lone Raptors participant to complete final season ranked inside the high 75 in fantasy, Barnes would be the solely possibility for this part. He was glorious for many of the 2023-24 marketing campaign, offering top-25 per-game worth in 9-cat codecs. Nonetheless, after the acquisition of Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, Barnes was solely a Sixth-round participant, averaging 18.5 factors, 6.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.5 blocks, and 1.1 3-pointers. On this case, selecting Barnes as a possible “bust” isn’t about his manufacturing falling off of a proverbial cliff however quite an incapability to succeed in the season-long heights of the 2023-24 marketing campaign. Utilizing a top-25 decide on Barnes is cheap; he ought to go that prime in most leagues. However reaching that stage with this roster might show troublesome.
Notable Quantity: 118.8
Toronto completed final season ranked twenty fifth in defensive score, the primary time the franchise didn’t crack the highest half of the league in stated class because the 2014-15 marketing campaign. And that group gained 49 video games earlier than getting swept out of the playoffs; Darko Rajakovic’s squad was nowhere close to contending for a postseason spot in his first season on the helm. Having a wholesome Barnes on the ground will assist increase the protection, because the Raptors have been particularly poor after dropping him to damage. Nonetheless, neither Barrett nor Immanuel Quickley is called a lockdown defender. The trades of Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby have been crucial, however they left important holes within the rotation that the Raptors are nonetheless working to fill.
