What does your perfect fantasy basketball draft look like?
This is a question you should consider before your draft begins, when you're still in the planning stages. Even now, after all these years of playing fantasy sports, I still do this before most big drafts.
I look at where I'm picking in the draft and decide who, among those likely to be there, I'll take first. Then I'll look at where my next picks will be and compare that to the player rankings, to see who I would most want among players in the right range for me to potentially take them.
Having that plan in place can help you enter your fantasy basketball draft with a clearer idea of what you want to accomplish. Most of the people in your leagues aren't going to go into the draft with much of a plan and will instead just hope for the best. So, if you step into the draft with an idea about what the talent looks like at different parts of the draft, it will give you a leg up on the competition right from the opening tip.
The best way to gauge what your team might look like, in my experience, is to do mock draft(s) before my real drafts to get a feel for what players should be available. Will my sleeper picks be there, or does everyone know about them so they go earlier than expected?
Often, there are really good players ranked lower than you might expect that might be available later than you think they should be. Having an idea of how this tends to shake out before you enter your draft can be very valuable for maximizing your squad.
In this article, I highlight players I would like to draft at different locations within the draft. In the early rounds, draft slot makes a huge difference in what players might be available, so I point out players of interest in different parts of the round.
In the middle and later rounds, I highlight groups of players that I like that should be available in that range.
To determine likelihood of availability, I utilize Average Draft Pick (ADP) data to offer insight on the type of value that might be available throughout your own drafts.
Note: ADPs are current as of date of publish. Click here for the latest.
The foundation
Round 1: Still playing the Joker card
If I have the first pick in a points league, I'm taking Nikola Jokic (ADP 1.5) immediately. He has been the top fantasy scorer for six straight seasons, and has averaged a triple-double in two straight. He not only projects as the top player this season, but is projected to outscore second place by more than 500 fantasy points. That's larger than the gap between the bottom of the first round and a mid-late fourth round pick.
In category leagues, there is a legitimate debate whether to take Jokic or Victor Wembanyama (ADP 3.1) first. Wembanyama's league-leading shot-blocking is very valuable in category leagues, and with his strong across-the-board contributions and ever-improving game (he is still only 22 years old!) he is a justifiable top pick even over the dominant Jokic.
In points leagues, Giannis Antetokounmpo (ADP 5.7) and Jalen Johnson (ADP 8.7) project as strong mid-round picks. Both play similar do-everything-power-forward positions that produce strong counting volume in several categories. However, both are better in points than category leagues. Giannis, in particular, shoots a high volume of free throws at a low percentage that is Shaq-like kryptonite in category leagues. In the mid-first of category leagues, I'm hoping for Anthony Edwards (ADP 7.2).
At the end of the first round, I'm aiming at Jayson Tatum (ADP 9.2) in both formats. There are some health questions in his first full season back after his torn Achilles, but if he is in form he could be in for the type of glow-up that former teammate Jaylen Brown had last season. Tatum should be the focal point for the Celtics in a way he never could be when Brown was on the squad.
Round 2: Mitchell, Maxey, Sabonis or three PGs if they slide to the second
In the middle of the second, the top options per league-type are the non-point guards. Domantas Sabonis (ADP 16.9) is a borderline first-round talent when healthy in points leagues, while Cooper Flagg (ADP 17.4) is strong value in the middle of the second round of category leagues. And Flagg has almost limitless upside in his second NBA season, still only 19 years old, on a Mavericks team that should play much more to his strengths in this campaign.
At the end of the second, I'm back to the point guards. Trae Young (ADP 22.7) and Josh Giddey (ADP 23.3) project as mid-second rounders in points leagues. Tyrese Haliburton (ADP 19.2) projects as a mid-second rounder in category leagues in his return from a torn Achilles in 2025.
Round 3: Rockets early, LaMelo and the OGs late
The Houston Rockets have three players that project as either late-second or early third rounders in Kevin Durant (ADP 19.5), Amen Thompson (ADP 20.2) and Alperen Sengun (ADP 24.2). Any of the three would be worthy picks early in the third.
LaMelo Ball (ADP 25.6) was traded to the Timberwolves this offseason to pair with Anthony Edwards, and it could be a perfect match. Ball's circus style of highlight assists and logo 3-pointers have been badly needed in Minnesota, and if he stays healthy he could be in for his best season.
James Harden (ADP 28.3) and Anthony Davis (ADP 31.8) are ultra veterans that still have third-round projection grades. Davis is always a durability risk, and he is in a new location with the Wizards, but if he's healthy he is a borderline first round talent that is worth the risk by the end of the third round.
Round 4: Avdija, Reaves and White
Deni Avdija (ADP 35.0) exploded in a career effort last season; he was one of the leading candidates for NBA Most Improved Player until after the All-Star break. He is the face of the youth movement of the Trail Blazers and remains the focal point of their offense.
Austin Reaves (ADP 39.6) will have an even larger role for the Los Angeles Lakers this season after the departure of LeBron James. He should produce big stats on a daily basis next to Luka Doncic, and if Doncic sits Reaves has limitless upside. In four games without Doncic and James last season, Reaves averaged 39.0 PPG, 9.5 APG and 4.8 RPG.
Derrick White (ADP 40.3) is the most under-the-radar fantasy star in the league. He ranked 19th in the Player Rater last season, and projects to top-40 in points leagues and top-20 in category leagues. He is outstanding value if he slides to the fourth round in category leagues.
Middle rounds (Rounds 5-8)
Mikal Bridges (ADP 51.9) is the poster child for the expression "the best ability is availability". Bridges has never missed a game in the NBA, and that gives him a hefty games advantage over most NBA players. He almost always outproduces this draft range.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (ADP 55.7) fit perfectly in his first season with the Hawks and won the NBA Most Improved Players. His projected value is about 10 slots above his draft position.
Dyson Daniels (ADP 60.4) is a defensive specialist with a developing offensive game that projects him to top-50 in points leagues and top-40 in category leagues.
Naz Reid (ADP 66.3) was the centerpiece that the Charlotte Hornets got back in exchange for Ball, and he could be in for a big season. His defense and 3-point shooting with double-double potential projects him into the top-60 of points leagues and the top-40 category leagues.
The Lakers traded for Walker Kessler (ADP 79.0) to be their franchise big man. He is one of the best shotblockers in the league, which makes him a strong category producer when healthy. He projects as a top-50 player in that format.
Late rounds (Round 9 and beyond)
Ty Jerome (ADP 93.8) is coming off an amazingly efficient season with the Memphis Grizzlies. He missed much of the season injured, but in the 15 games he played he averaged 19.7 PPG and 5.7 APG in only 22.6 MPG. For perspective, that translates to 31.3 points and 9.0 assists per 36 minutes. If his role with the Grizzlies is larger this season, he could produce a big season.
Ivica Zubac (ADP 94.6) had career efforts in his last two campaigns with the LA Clippers before injuries slowed him down. This season, now healthy and playing next to elite point guard Haliburton with the Indiana Pacers, Zubac should be back to his double-double ways.
Paul George (ADP 105.0) is purely a lottery ticket. His durability for the past several seasons has lowered his fantasy value, but now he is playing with the Celtics in a version of Jaylen Brown's old role. While he's on the court, he will have major 3-point and scoring volume upside.
Kel'el Ware (ADP 107.6) could be in for a much bigger role this season. Ware was traded to the Bucks as part of the package for Giannis Antetokounmpo, and will have the chance to play himself into starter minutes. With is 3-point range and shotblocking ability, Ware has big upside in category leagues.
Darius Acuff Jr. (ADP 108.0) and Darryn Peterson (ADP 109.0) are both high-volume rookies likely to play major roles on rebuilding teams. Both will have to learn to score efficiently at the next level, but both have 20+ PPG upside even as first year players.
Jalen Green (ADP 114.8) was the leading scorer for the Rockets two seasons ago, then battled injury all last season. Still only 24 years old, Green has 25+ PPG upside if he settles more fully into his role in his second campaign with the Suns.