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DraftKings NBA DFS Must Plays, Stay Aways & The Bargain Bin, November 18

10 games on the schedule for DraftKings NBA DFS so there’s plenty of selection tonight. The trick is finding out who you can blow the bank on, who you need to avoid like the plague & who you can pull out of the bargain bin.

Must Plays:

Damien Lillard ($8,800) @ Houston Rockets

With the Trailblazers and Rockets projected point total at 211.5, it makes it the second highest projection next to the Pelicans and Thunder game. All signs are pointing to a big night from Lillard. Houston ranks 28th in the NBA giving up a whopping 108.5 points per game. They constantly let opposing point guards put up monster DraftKings points against (52.7). Not to mention that tonight will be the Rockets first game without former head coach Kevin McHale. If you can afford Lillard, slot him into your lineups.

 

Paul George ($9,500) @ Philadelphia 76ers

Projected to be the second lowest scoring game of the night, you typically would want to stay away from this matchup entirely. However; you just can’t do that with the way Paul George is playing. George has gone seven straight games with at least 26 points and hasn’t had less than 40 DK points since November 3rd. He’s been heating up from beyond the arc over his last two games (8/11) and that shouldn’t slow down against a very shorthanded 76ers squad. With George Hill, Rodney Stuckey and Myles Turner out – look for PG to get a lions share of the minutes.

Stay Aways

Rajon Rondo ($8,700) @ Atlanta Hawks

Remember the good ol’ days when Rondo was $5,800? With a price tag up to $8,700, it just doesn’t make sense to blow your budget on a streaky player like Rondo. His last game out against Toronto (with a $8,500 price tag), he struggled to put the ball in the net (TO allows opponent PG’s to only shoot 37.5% from the field). Look for the same production against the Hawks who are right behind the Raptors in that category as well (Opponent PG’s shoot just 39.1% from the field). There are much better options out there.

 

James Harden ($10,000) vs Portland Trail Blazers

No. Just don’t do it. Stay far away. Far, far away. Harden is averaging 27 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds a game but his shooting percentage is atrocious. 37% while turning the ball over nearly five times a game. With a new coach and the Rockets already in desperation mode – expect Harden to throw up way too many shots. Tonight’s not the night for the beard.

 

Bargain Bin

Ben McLemore ($3,100) @ Atlanta Hawks

McLemore has seemed to have found his shot over the last two games. What a coincidence, as he’s started the previous two matches as well. He’s up against Kyle Korver who may be rested because of Atlanta’s back to back situation. Over the last five games, the Hawks have given up the 11th most DK points to shooting guards (45.3). Want some salary relief? Get some McLemore in your lineup

 

Thanks for reading! If you have any questions for me (Last minute DFS adjustments, start/sit, what you should make for supper) feel free to reach out on Twitter (@BESTofMATT) and I’ll be more than happy to help you out.

 

 

 

 

 

DraftKings NBA DFS Studs and Values, November 17th

Tuesday’s slate includes a ton of high-tier talent. Three players are priced above $10,000 while five are $9,000 and higher. Which do you build your lineup around? Do you build around any? Let’s take a peek at some studs & values at each position for tonight’s games.

DraftKings NBA DFS Studs and Values, November 17th

By: Matt Best

PG

Stud: Kyle Lowry ($8,200) @ Golden State Warriors

Hear me out. Yes, the Raptors are facing the Warriors. Yes, those Warriors are undefeated. Yes, odds of the Raptors winning are 5:1. That doesn’t mean Kyle Lowry’s hot streak will stop. This game has the highest total point projection (207). Someone’s going to have to shoot the ball for the Raptors. Lowry is averaging 46.31 DK points per game. His counterpart (and the most expensive point guard at $10,700) Stephen Curry is averaging 52 DK points per game. Those 6 DK points aren’t worth the extra $2,500.

Value: Emmanuel Mudiay ($6,100) @ New Orleans Pelicans

Mudiay has been hit or miss this season (39.75 FP vs Milwaukee, 18.5 FP vs Oklahoma City). The good news is, he’s facing a horrific New Orleans defence (30th in total points against | 109.4 per game). The even better news? The Pelicans are pathetic at guarding the 1 (53.5 Average DraftKings points against per game). Opponents point guards shoot 46.1% from the field. This is perfect for Mudiay who’s had 44 shot attempts in his last three games.

 

SG

Stud: DeMar DeRozan ($7,300) @ Golden State Warriors

At $7,300, DeRozan is at the top for SG pricing. If Klay Thompson enters the lineup and has to guard DeRozan, DeMar might have a field day. Thompson has been dealing with a stiff back throughout the year and DeRozan has been explosive throughout the year. The Warriors give up an average of 41.6 DraftKings points to opposing shooting guards. Look for DeMar to join the party.

Value: Khris Middleton ($5,800) @ Washington Wizards

Minutes, minutes, minutes. He really should be called Khris Minuteston. Alright, I’ll stop. Middleton has played 40+ minutes in his last two games and he’s been heating up beyond the arc (4/7 over his last two games). Even with O.J. Mayo probable to make his season debut, expect his minutes to be limited.  The Wizards are most likely to be without Bradley Beal as he’s suffering from a bruised shoulder. In that case, Garrett Temple gets the start which means Middleton needs to be in your lineup.

 

SF

Stud: Carmelo Anthony ($8,500) vs Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte is inside the top ten for most DraftKings points given up to opposing small forwards (40.9). This bodes well for Anthony owners tonight as Melo has been on a scoring tear as of late. His last game out – 29 points, 13 rebounds while shooting 11-21 from the field. His attempts are there and so is the history against Charlotte. The last time Anthony faced the hornets, he had 29 points to go along with 6 rebounds to muster up 42.5 DraftKings Points. His counterpart, Marvin Williams, is dealing with a right pectoral strain. That won’t bode well against the already hard to guard Melo.

Value: Otto Porter ($5,400) vs Milwaukee Bucks

Porter is well on his way to a break out campaign. Porter hit the glass hard his last game out, picking up 10 rebounds against the Magic. Look for around the same production against a Bucks squad who gives up 8.3 RPG against opposing small forwards. Porter is getting a lions share of the minutes with Beal out of the lineup and the Bucks give up 20+ points to opposing SF’s. More minutes = more points. More points = more money for you.

PF

Stud: Greg Monroe ($8,100) @ Washington Wizards

Three. Straight. Double. Doubles. That’s all you should really need to know at this point. What you see is what you get with Monroe, and what you should see is a must play. The Wizards will have Marcin Gortat and his 14.51 Player Efficiency Rating go up against Monroe and his 24.93 PER. Bad news for Washington. Over the last five games, the Wiz have given up 53.2 DraftKings points per game on average against opposing power forwards. Get Monroe in your lineup.

Value: Thaddeus Young ($5,900) vs Atlanta Hawks

Thaddeus had his best game of the season against the best team in the league on Saturday, posting 26 points and 10 rebounds en-route to 50 DK points. Expect the mobile PF to take Paul Millsap on a shooting adventure. Opposing PF’s shoot 52.3% from the field and Young is certainly starting to shoot the ball more (22 FGA vs GS).

 

C

Stud: Andre Drummond ($9,900) vs Cleveland Cavaliers

When was the last time Andre Drummond failed to register a double double? April 13th. He was only one rebound away. The Drummond train has been rolling all season long and it’ll just continue to push through opponents. It’s next stop – Cleveland. Timofey Mozgof will get the first crack at slowing him down, but when that fails – Tristan Thompson will attempt to slow him down. Thompson had a season low 4 rebounds his last game out. Play Drummond.

Value: Andrew Bogut ($4,800) vs Toronto Raptors

Bogut has seen his minutes go higher and higher since coming back from a concussion. He saw a season high 32 minutes off the bench against Brooklyn while registering a double double and stuffing the stat sheet (10 points, 18 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, 2 steals). Against a Toronto D who’s given up 61.0 DraftKings points against opposing centres, there’s no better opportunity for the old Bogut to continue to come back into form.

 

Bargain Bin:

PF – J.J. Hickson ($4,300)

SG – Rondae Hollis-Jefferson ($3,300)

PG – Dennis Schroder ($4,600)

Thank you for reading and don’t hesitate to reach out on Twitter (@BESTofMATT) with any last minute DraftKings line up questions.

 

Updated Top 20 Fantasy Basketball Rookies

Updated Top 20 Fantasy Basketball Rookies

With the season only a week away I figured there’s no better time than to finally update my rookie rankings.  Going into the draft I had some thoughts on certain players that have really changed after watching them in Summer League and in the preseason.  Some players are NBA ready and others are going to need some seasoning.  These rankings are for keeper/dynasty leagues.

  1. Karl-Anthony Towns
  2. D’Angelo Russell
  3. Kristaps Porzingis
  4. Jahlil Okafor
  5. Stanley Johnson   – Johnson was my biggest post draft mover and it all had to do with seeing how his game would fit at the next level.  I knew he had an NBA ready body, but I had no idea just how much his game was made for the NBA as opposed to college.
  6. Emmanuel Mudiay
  7. Justice Winslow
  8. Myles Turner – I was worried about Turner’s athleticism, but his long arms and nose for the shooter’s launch point have showed that he will continue to block shots at the next level.
  9. Mario Hezonja
  10. Willie Cauley-Stein
  11. Bobby Portis – I hate the landing spot, but I love Portis’s game.  He is ready for big minutes in a rotation, but may need to wait his turn in Chicago.
  12. Frank Kaminsky
  13. Devin Booker – Booker’s shooting ability and length could see him marked a little low down here, but I think it may take two to three years to see him break into heavy minutes.
  14. Trey Lyles
  15. Jerian Grant – Grant landing with the Knicks was the perfect spot for him.  He has the ability to beat out Calderon and is not held back in the least by playing in the triangle.  His deft cuts to the basket and athleticism will see him do well in that offense.
  16. Cameron Payne
  17. Rashad Vaughn
  18. Kelly Oubre – Oubre is far from ready, but he has a ton of upside in a year or two.
  19. Delon Wright
  20. RJ Hunter – Hunter showed a lot this preseason on defense with his long reach and could play his way into big wing minutes next year.

I love Terry Rozier and Joseph Young, but they just miss out on this list for me.

DraftKings NBA DFS Plays

DraftKings NBA DFS Plays

For October 29th 2014

Well the first big slate of NBA games is upon us and a lot of NBA DFS players are going to be surprised that DraftKings has eliminated multi-position eligibility to start the season.  The ability to fit in all of your favorite players will be greatly hampered, but it should actually help the average and beginner DFS player.  Why would this help me?  Because the better players who make a living playing this game fully understand just how thin each position is and where the best value to slot a player in would be.

My favorite plays tonight-

PG

Tony Wroten-Philadelphia 76ers- 4500-Wroten should be starting in the absence of Michael Carter-Williams and is a nice source for DFS points.  He’ll be facing a depleted Indiana Pacers and should have most of the offense run through him.  The lack of scorers and efficient shooters hurts his ceiling, but he should hit well above value.

Russell Westbrook– OKC Thunder- 10200-  When you’re looking at playing a player with this type of price tag you have to look at their ability to hit value.  The entire offense will run through Westbrook on the absence of Kevin Durant.  Westbrook has the ability to put up a triple double even with Durant in the lineup and without him he should approach one every night.  He may lose some easy assists without Durant there, but he will also pick up scoring and rebounds.  Reggie Jackson is also sidelined tonight, so his breaks will be short.

Derrick Rose– Chicago Bulls- 7400- Rose makes his return in New York and will want to put on a show.  With Jimmy Butler sidelined he could put up a very nice line with a decent discount.  Keep an eye on him for the utility slot if you can’t fade Westbrook.

SG-

Eric Bledsoe-Phoenix Suns- 7000- Bledsoe can put up numbers in bunches and gets the Lakers on the back end of a back to back.  I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t mind watching him fly by Jeremy Lin all night.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope-Detroit Pistons-3600- KCP had a big Summer League showing and looked like a solid play all preseason before he injured his knee.  With him healthy enough to play he should get decent minutes, especially with Jodie Meeks sidelined.  He will be the only outside shooter on the court for the Pistons.

SF- If you’re not going Melo at 9200 (which is a good buy) you have some nice punt options

CJ Miles- Indiana Pacers- 3800- Miles is starting at the shooting guard position and could also slide to the SF slot when Stuckey comes off the bench.  Stuckey is on a minutes limit and the Pacers starting roster looks bad to open the season, especially with George Hill sidelined.

Otto Porter Jr. – Washington Wizards- 3000-  Porter Jr. is going to see minutes at the two and the three on opening night and can contribute in a bunch of categories.  Wall needs a running mate with Beal sidelined and I like Porter Jr.’s opportunity tonight.

PF-

LaMarcus Aldridge– Portland Trailblazers-9200- The price seems a little low if you think about the numbers Aldridge puts up, but he does face an elite defender in Serge Ibaka tonight.  I don’t see a ton of upside in this play, but it’s pretty safe for a cash game.

Ed Davis-LA Lakers- 3900- Davis went for 11 ponts-6 rebounds-1 steal and 2 blocks yesterday against Houston and now will be counted on a lot more with Julius Randle going down.  Boozer isn’t getting any younger and might not be able to log that many minutes in the second game of a back to back.  Davis also gets to play the five and it doesn’t hurt him against the Suns who play small.

Marcus Morris-Phoenix Suns- 3600- The second Morris should start at the small forward position and play some four against the smallish Lakers.  Morris had a nice preseason and will want to have a good showing with the chance for him to grab a full time starting role.  He’s an interesting play with the rotation down a few players that could eat into his minutes.

C-

Al Jefferson– Charlotte Hornets- 9100- Big Al started out of the gates slowly last season, but in the second half he was one of the best DFS plays you could make, especially in cash games.  His big body should be hard to handle for the slender Larry Sanders and John Henson.

Mason Plumlee– Brooklyn Nets- 5400-  Plumlee gets the start for the injured Brook Lopez and he could play a ton of minutes if he can control the fouls.  Plumlee is a double double waiting to happen with his hustle and leaping ability, but he actually looked a lot better of the summer.  He develped a nice little jump hook and hung with the best the USA had to offer.

Samuel Dalembert-New York Knicks- 4000- Dalembert gets the nod due to heavy minutes to start the season.  The Knicks need a rim protector and Dalembert is it.  He should have a nice rebounding game and you just need 10 points form him to hit value with his ability to block shots.

Steven Adams– OKC Thunder- 3500- Kendrick Perkins is finally pushed to the bench.  Last year I compared Adams to a great dane because he has know clue just how big he is.  He is a the perfect price to take a chance on tonight, but he is another guy that can hurt you if he gets into foul trouble.  At that price his fouls should be an issue.  Big time double double potential with a few blocks and assists thrown in.

Jason Smith-New York Knicks- 3000- Smith is one to keep an eye on as far as possible starters go.  The rumor is the Knicks could start Smith next to Dalembert.  With Bargnani injured there’s one less body for the rotation.  Acy should see minutes, but Chicago is pretty tall across the back line and the Knicks won’t want to allow them to push them around at home.  He has a lot of upside if he gets the minutes tonight, but Adams is by far the safer play.

Fantasy Basketball Shooting Guard and Small Forward Rankings

Episode 042: The Fantasy Coach Podcast

Fantasy Basketball Shooting Guard and Small Forward Rankings

Featuring Russell Peddle (@rustypedalbike) numberFire and The Stretch Zero

Russell PeddleAbout My Guest:  NBA and fantasy hoops writer at numberFireRaptorsHQ contributor, The Stretch Zero co-founder, ESL teacher, semi-pro musician, poutine aficionado.

– The Stretch Zero: http://thestretchzero.com/
Show Rundown

You can Download this episode as well as the previous three on Itunes and Stitcher Radio.

Don’t miss the other episodes in the Fantasy Basketball Series:

Point Guards with Ricky Sanders of RotoExperts

Power Forwards with Josh Honses of FakeRoundBall

Centers with Jonathan Vandersluis of SportableNFL

Fantasy Basketball Center Rankings

Episode 041: The Fantasy Coach Podcast

Fantasy Basketball Center Rankings Podcast

Featuring Jonathan Vandersluis (@Jonathan_TTF) SportableNFL

Jonathan Vandersluis Owner/Managing Editor TopTeamFantasy.com

Jonathan Vandersluis

About My Guest:  Jonathan has been playing fantasy sports for almost a decade, first football and then quickly to baseball and basketball too, and founded TopTeamFantasy.com in 2013. With Top Team Fantasy retired Jonathan now contributes to SportableNFL.  He has always been a numbers guy, so fantasy sports provided the perfect place for him to combine his analytical skills with his passion for sports. Jonathan makes Toronto, Canada his home, but loves to travel every chance he gets and explore new places. Follow Jonathan on Twitter@Jonathan_TTF, he’d be glad to answer any of your questions and help you win your fantasy league.

 

Show Rundown: 

You can Download this episode as well as the previous three on Itunes and Stitcher Radio.

Don’t miss the other episodes in the Fantasy Basketball Series:

Point Guards with Ricky Sanders of RotoExperts

Power Forwards with Josh Honses of FakeRoundBall

Fantasy Basketball Power Forward Rankings

Episode 040: The Fantasy Coach Podcast

Fantasy Basketball Power Forward Rankings Podcast

Featuring Josh Honses (@SaidHeHadaStory) of FakePigskin.com

Screen Shot 2014-10-24 at 7.42.32 PMAbout My Guest:  Josh is currently a student at the University of New Orleans working towards his degree in Civil Engineering. He grew up as an avid sports fan, and decided to take his love of numbers and apply them to fantasy sports. Currently he is the lead writer, content manager, and editor for FakeRoundball.  He writes and edits weekly articles that focus on Daily Fantasy Sports and season long leagues in fantasy basketball and football. He is always willing to give his advice and opinions on Twitter, so feel free to contact him anytime @SaidHeHadAStory. Standard data and message rates apply. 

Josh’s top 150 in Fantasy Basketball 2014-2015

 

Episode Rundown:  

Download this episode as well as the previous three on Itunes and Stitcher Radio.

 

Don’t miss the other episodes in the Fantasy Basketball Series:

Point Guards with Ricky Sanders of RotoExperts

 

Fantasy Basketball Point Guard Rankings

Episode 039: The Fantasy Coach Podcast

Fantasy Basketball Point Guard Rankings Podcast

Featuring: Ricky Sanders (RSandersRX) of RotoExperts.com

 

Ricky Sanders of RotoExperts.com

Ricky Sanders of RotoExperts.com

About My Guest:  After starting several freelance Fantasy Sports blogs, Ricky caught his first break in the Fantasy industry when he joined Going9Baseball.com. He was also a contributor to FakePigskin.com and FantasyBasketballMoneyLeagues.com before becoming a member of the RotoExperts staff. Ricky is a proud and active member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. Don’t hesitate to contact him with your questions on Twitter @RSandersRX.

Recent Articles:

Premium:

http://rotoexperts.com/81842/bust-guards-sanders/

Show Rundown:

Download this episode as well as the previous three on Itunes and Stitcher Radio.  

 

2014 Fantasy Basketball Rankings

2014 Fantasy Basketball Rankings

Stephen-Curry PG

So much for the Lebron James or  Kevin Durant debate that inevitably led up to almost every fantasy basketball draft of the last few years.  Kevin Durant suffered a fractured metatarsal that could be tough to heal as the blood flow to that particular area of the foot can affect healing.

So now the debate becomes just how far we let Durant slide down the rankings as he will miss at least 20 games.  The conversation also shifts to Anthony Davis and his ascension to the rarefied air of top three fantasy basketball draft status.  For me, Davis was already in the third spot before the Durant injury and finds himself in the number two overall spot, just behind Lebron.

Rookies like Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins are rookies that cannot be ignored on draft day, as they are elite scorers with multi-category potential.  Sensational sophomore Giannis Antetokounmpo could be the starting point guard in Milwaukee and even if he doesn’t win the job, he will definitely handle the ball more this season which will lead to more fantasy numbers.

The injuries to Jodie Meeks and Bradley Beal further cloud the shooting guard rankings for 2014.  Can Kobe be Kobe and can Dwayne Wade get back to filling up the stat sheet with Lebron moved on to Cleveland.

At the Center position Rudy Gobert could push Enes Kanter to the bench with his improved all around game and needs to be handcuffed if you invest a pick in Kanter or Derek Favors.  Gobert offers a real rim protector and has worked on his offensive game.  If Kanter struggles Gobert could see big minutes.

Keep checking back for updated rankings as the preseason finishes up.

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Fantasy Basketball: Rookies Fighting For Minutes

NBA Summer League

Two weeks ago I went over the rookies that were the best fit for their respective organizations and talked about how they might fare in their rookie season.  This week I will talk about some draftees that will be fighting for minutes in a rotational role that could see them having occasional daily fantasy value and or spot start value in deeper fantasy basketball leagues.  Most of these rookies that I will discuss could still be affected by trades and or late signings in free agency.

Aaron Gordon: Orlando Magic 4th Pick- Aaron Gordon was a bit of a surprise with the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.  Gordon was looked at as a bit of a raw prospect that could go off the board from the 6th to 10th pick of the first round, but instead found himself picked by a young rebuilding Magic team.  Many fantasy basketball players were hoping the Magic would finally hand the keys to the power forward spot over to Tobias Harris full-time, but it looks like Harris will once again be a part of a rotation with the athletically gifted Gordon.  Gordon was touted for his explosive athleticism in the draft process, but his shaky shooting, including from the free throw line, had him as a bit of an offensive project.  He will have to learn how to contribute on the defensive end if he’s going to get big minutes, but his speed and ability to finish in transition could have him carving out a role off the bench fairly early.

Marcus Smart: Boston Celtics 6th Pick- Many basketball fans believe that Marcus Smart cost himself a lot of money by going back to school after his stellar season in 2012 at Oklahoma State.  While that may be true as he found himself in the middle of one of the strongest draft classes in recent memory in 2014, he still managed to become a lottery pick with a team that has a history of building winners.   Smart brings a ton of fight and leadership when he’s on the floor.  He can make his teammates better and should be one of the better defenders in the league right away.  He has excellent hands with a strong frame that allows him to body up point guards or shooting guards.  Smart should be in the back court rotation right away and could even see some time on the court with Rajon Rondo.  He needs to become a better shooter if he wants to really grab big minutes and you should keep an eye on his efficiency.

Nik Stauskas: Sacramento Kings 8th Pick- Stauskas was billed as the best shooter in this draft with a superior competitiveness that should see him become a valuable member of an NBA rotation right away.  Stauskas found himself taken by a team that drafted a shooting guard just last year.  Stauskas will be in a training camp and preseason fight for shooting guard minutes with Ben McLemore.  The two of them may also have some competition from Marshon Brooks who played well with Sacramento’s summer league team.  Stauskas has an edge on both shooting guards as he is a better shooter in both catch and shoot situations and when he is forced to handle the basketball.

Noah Vonleh: Charlotte Hornets 9th Pick- Vonleh looked to be the late riser of the 2014 NBA draft as analysts started projecting him as high as the 3rd overall pick in the days leading up to the draft.  His enormous wingspan and nice outside touch had scouts and GM’s dreaming about two or three years down the road and the possibility of a super star on the lower blocks.  The Charlotte Hornets finally lucked out in a draft as Vonleh fell all the way to the ninth overall pick to a team that had their best season in recent memory.  The Hornets lost Josh McRoberts in free agency to the Miami Heat so Vonleh will at least get a portion of those minutes if he can provide energy and defense off of the bench.  I believe he will see more early minutes than Cody Zeller saw last season and should be looked at as a late round flier in redraft leagues.

Zach LaVine: Minnesota Timberwolves 13th Pick- LaVine is a 6’6″ combo guard who can jump out of the gym and shoot from deep.  He’s skinny and didn’t play a ton last season at UCLA,  but could see minutes early in Minny if does indeed trade away Kevin Love.  If Love stays then I doubt we see much of LaVine until the latter parts of the season, but if Love is moved I think the Timberwolves may try to get him some run and see what pieces they will want to move forward with.  I like LaVine a lot more in dynasty leagues than redraft leagues this year.

T.J. Warren: Phoenix Suns 15th Pick- Warren is slashing scorer from the wing who can contribute right away on the offensive end of the court.  He has all the tools to be a solid wing defender, but asking rookies to take on too much responsibility can lead to disaster and the Suns are ready to compete right now.  I expect Warren to see run fairly early and would love if the Suns eventually moved either Marcus Morris or P.J. Tucker.  Warren has ton of scoring potential for dynasty formats and may be a nice late round flier in deeper redraft leagues.

Mitch McGary: Oklahoma City Thunder 21st Pick- McGary was facing a drug suspension at the University of Michigan so he decided to come out for the draft early.  Initially I thought it was a mistake and could be one of those cautionary tales you hear year after year, but McGary proved to be NBA rady in the draft process.  McGary is big and can run.  He should be able to carve out minutes for himself off of the bench for the Thunder and a few years down the road he could end up being one of their key players.  He’s an excellent shooter and plays with a ton of energy.  I’m going to keep an eye out to see how they intend to rotate their front court to see if he should be on the redraft radar.

Rodney Hood: Utah Jazz 23rd Pick- The Jazz had an excellent draft in 2014.  First they got a potential explosive force in Dante Exum with the 5th pick and then they got Hood with the 23rd pick.  If Hood had been drafted in any of the previous two to three drafts he would have been a lottery pick.  You just don’t find shooters with his wingspan and height every year.  This draft just happened to be chock full of talent.  Hood still should have gone a bit earlier than he did, but landing in Utah is not a bad spot for him.  The Jazz were a poor shooting team from 3 point range last season and their wings failed to be consistent catch and shoot threats.  Hood brings and NBA ready three point shot and his size is perfect for the NBA wing.

Damien Inglis: Milwaukee Bucks 1st Pick 2nd Round- The Bucks are the perfect landing spot for Inglis as they have a very unsettled front court.  He has a huge wing span (7’3″) on a 6’8″ body and should be able to play on the defensive end of the court right away.  He will give you defensive stats right away, but you shouldn’t count on offensive production right away.  A nice stash for dynasty leagues.  We’ll see if he can evolve into an offensive player.

Nick Johnson: Houston Rockets 12th Pick 2nd Round- I’m not sure why Nick Johnson fell in the 2014 NBA draft, but it looks like the Rockets got an absolute steal in the 2nd round.  Johnson was the best player on a very good Arizona team last season.  He can shoot it from outside and from the line.  He has unbelievable hops on a 6’3″ frame and is an excellent finisher when he drives to the basket.  His height made him more of a combo guard and perhaps the metrics said he wouldn’t be able to defend either position in the NBA.  I’m just guessing because this is the type of player any fan should want on their team and he has the potential to be a very valuable fantasy asset down the road.  He gets a bump with the Rockets clearing cap space and trading away Jeremy Lin to the Lakers as it opens up some minutes off of the bench.

Honorable Mentions:

Gary Harris Jr.: Denver Nuggets

Adreian Payne: Atlanta Hawks

Bruno Caboclo: Toronto Raptor

For my thoughts on the best fits that may play right away go here.