Category: Basketball

We’re less than a week away from regular season NBA basketball!

The 2025-26 NBA season tips off on NBC and Peacock with a doubleheader on October 21, as the Lakers face the Warriors and the Rockets face the Thunder.

As we navigate the final week of the preseason, the Rotoworld crew got together to host a 12-team, 9-category mock draft with some of the best and brightest minds in the fantasy basketball industry.

2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Draft Prep Guide: Rankings, strategy, sleepers, mock draft results, and more

Your one-stop-shop for Rotoworld’s fantasy basketball draft coverage.

• Rotoworld Staff,

Here are the analysts who participated and the Draft Order:

1. Zak Hanshew - Rotoworld

2. Nick Shlain - Rotoworld

3. Josh Lloyd - Basketball Monster

4. Eric Samulski - Rotoworld

5. Dan Besbris - Old Man Squad Sports Network

6. Raphiell Johnson - Rotoworld

7. George Bissell - Rotoworld

8. Alex Barutha - Rotowire

9. Dan Titus - Yahoo! Sports

10. Noah Rubin - Rotoworld

11. Adam King - Fantasy Basketball International

12. Papi Roi - Fantasy Basketball Philippines Podcast

Below are the results of our draft with some thoughts and analysis. Why did I take Wemby over Jokic? Which picks were surprising in each round? How early did Cooper Flagg get selected? And which late-round pick did I make to prompt Raphielle Johnson to tell me he hated me?

If you want to watch the entire draft shake out, you can check it out here.

Round 1

1. Victor Wembanyama (SAS - C)

2. Nikola Jokić (DEN - C)

3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC - PG)

4. Luka Dončić (LAL - PG,SG)

5. Anthony Edwards (MIN - PG,SG)

6. Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL - PF,C)

7. Anthony Davis (DAL - PF,C)

8. Cade Cunningham (DET - PG,SG)

9. Devin Booker (PHX - PG,SG)

10. James Harden (LAC - PG,SG)

11. Trae Young (ATL - PG)

12. Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK - PF,C)

There’s a two or three-man debate for the top overall pick in fantasy hoops this season. Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama are the clear top options, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander working his way into the mix.

I went Wemby here, banking on upside rather than consistency and floor with Jokic. Wembanyama has yet to stay healthy for a full season, and he’s not as effective as Jokic as a facilitator. We’ve probably seen the best of Joker after last season’s triple-double average, but the best is yet to come for Wembanyama.

There were a couple of surprises in the first round, as Ant-Man went right after SGA and Luka. Cade Cunningham was a big riser after a breakout 2024-25 campaign, and James Harden’s inclusion in the top-10 highlights his lasting impact on the game so late into his career.

As Raphielle mentioned during the draft, picking in the 5-7 range is particularly difficult, but he was able to get a steal with Giannis at No. 6 after Edwards surprisingly went one pick before that.

Round 2

1. Amen Thompson (HOU - PG,SG,SF)

2. Tyrese Maxey (PHI - PG)

3. Stephen Curry (GSW - PG)

4. Donovan Mitchell (CLE - PG,SG)

5. Kevin Durant (HOU - SF,PF)

6. Jalen Johnson (ATL - SF,PF)

7. Evan Mobley (CLE - PF,C)

8. Domantas Sabonis (SAC - C)

9. Josh Giddey (CHI - PG,SG)

10. Alperen Sengun (HOU - C)

11. Jalen Brunson (NYK - PG)

12. Jalen Williams (OKC - SF,PF)

Thompson is perhaps the biggest riser in 2025-26 fantasy drafts compared to where he was selected in 2024-25. Last season, Thompson was an afterthought in the realm of fantasy hoops, but he’s now a consensus first or second-rounder.

Jalen Johnson is another guy fantasy managers hope can replicate his breakout success from a season ago. Ditto Josh Giddey, who was written off after his final season in OKC but found new life with the Bulls.

Is Alperen Sengun ready to take a leap in 2025-26? He was tremendous a season ago, and he looked even better at EuroBasket. Grabbing him at the end of the second round could prove to be a big-time value if he continues to ascend.

Round 3

1. Paolo Banchero (ORL - PF,C)

2. Scottie Barnes (TOR - SG,SF,PF)

3. LaMelo Ball (CHA - PG,SG)

4. Pascal Siakam (IND - PF,C)

5. Derrick White (BOS - PG,SG)

6. Jamal Murray (DEN - PG,SG)

7. Dyson Daniels (ATL - PG,SG,SF)

8. Chet Holmgren (OKC - PF,C)

9. Bam Adebayo (MIA - PF,C)

10. Cooper Flagg (DAL - SF)

11. Kristaps Porziņģis (ATL - PF,C)

12. Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM - PF,C)

I grabbed Jalen Williams at the end of the second round and paired him with Paolo Banchero at the turn. As Noah pointed out in the draft, Banchero’s lack of defensive stats will be offset by Williams and Wemby. I’m a big fan of Banchero’s, and he could be in for a monster season. He was trending up in a big way before getting hurt last season, and a fully healthy campaign could be monstrous. I love his dual eligibility as a PF and C.

The third round is where things started to get pretty interesting. No surprises in Scottie Barnes and LaMelo Ball. Raphielle played it safe with Jamal Murray, who’s been a steady, yet unremarkable contributor throughout his career. Dyson Daniels and Derrick White have rocketed up draft boards thanks to elite production (Daniels) and increased opportunity (White). Porzingis here is a dice roll given his health, but he’s been a great per-game contributor when available.

The first rookie came off the board as Noah got his guy in Cooper Flagg. How high can Flagg rise in fantasy hoops this season? He should see a ton of playing time, and he offers elite production on both ends of the floor.

Round 4

1. De'Aaron Fox (SAS - PG,SG)

2. Austin Reaves (LAL - PG,SG)

3. Franz Wagner (ORL - SF,PF)

4. Ja Morant (MEM - PG)

5. Deni Avdija (POR - SF,PF)

6. Jaylen Brown (BOS - SG,SF)

7. Trey Murphy III (NOP - SF,PF)

8. Kawhi Leonard (LAC - SF,PF)

9. LeBron James (LAL - SF,PF)

10. Coby White (CHI - PG,SG)

11. Ivica Zubac (LAC - C)

12. Joel Embiid (PHI - C)

De’Aaron Fox is certainly a gamble here, as he’ll be sidelined to open up the season due to a hamstring injury.

LeBron James will miss the first season-opener of his career, so Austin Reaves could be in line for a massive bump in usage. Reaves went seven picks before James in this draft, which is the most fascinating tidbit of the fourth round. Is James’ sciatica going to limit him in Year 23?

Coby White this early is too rich for my blood, especially with Josh Giddey running point guard. Ivica Zubac is another guy I wouldn’t be comfortable taking in this range due to LA’s offseason roster moves.

I rolled the dice once again with the final pick of this round …

Round 5

1. Zion Williamson (NOP - SF,PF)

2. Desmond Bane (ORL - SG,SF)

3. Myles Turner (MIL - C)

4. Jalen Duren (DET - C)

5. Jimmy Butler III (GSW - SF,PF)

6. Darius Garland (CLE - PG)

7. Nikola Vučević (CHI - C)

8. Brandon Miller (CHA - SF,PF)

9. Jarrett Allen (CLE - C)

10. Lauri Markkanen (UTA - SF,PF)

11. OG Anunoby (NYK - SF,PF)

12. Payton Pritchard (BOS - PG)

I’m usually opposed to drafting Joel Embiid at all, but getting him at Pick 48 was just way too good to pass up. He missed a ton of time last season and struggled to post elite numbers when on the court. He’s been ramping up activity recently and could be available for the season-opener. When at his best, Embiid is a 30/10/5 guy who can shoot threes and block shots. That’s incredible value with a huge question mark.

Next up is another injury-prone player, Zion Williamson. Williamson has gotten in better shape during the offseason, and his elite skillset could make him another incredible value. I could have a league-winning pair in Rounds 4-5, or I could have my IL spots filled up quickly. Go big, or go home!

Myles Turner feels like a great value here, but taking Jalen Duren is a bit risky given Detroit’s depth. The round wrapped up without too many surprises. Payton Pritchard is a huge riser given Boston’s shallow depth at multiple positions. Will he be a starter or push for 30 minutes off the bench?

Round 6

1. Immanuel Quickley (TOR - PG,SG)

2. Jordan Poole (NOP - PG,SG)

3. Brandon Ingram (TOR - SG,SF,PF)

4. Miles Bridges (CHA - SF,PF)

5. Zach LaVine (SAC - PG,SG)

6. Walker Kessler (UTA - C)

7. Michael Porter Jr. (BKN - SF,PF)

8. Deandre Ayton (LAL - C)

9. DeMar DeRozan (SAC - SF)

10. Jakob Poeltl (TOR - C)

11. Josh Hart (NYK - SG,SF,PF)

12. Cam Thomas (BKN - SG,SF)

A pair of Raptors went off the board here, as Immanuel Quickley will look to put together a fully-healthy season and stuff the stat sheet on a nightly basis. Brandon Ingram could return to form, especially if Toronto utilizes him more as an outside threat.

Several centers went in this round, and Jakob Poeltl is one of my favorite later-round options at the position.

A pair of Nets also came off the board, as Michael Porter Jr. went at Pick 7, and I grabbed my man Cam Thomas at Pick 12. He should be playing for pride and his next contract, giving an added boost to an already promising outlook. Assuming he can stay healthy in 2025-26, I’m counting on Thomas to build on the breakout he had at the end of the 2023-24 season and into the 2024-25 campaign.

Round 7

1. Shaedon Sharpe (POR - SG,SF)

2. Julius Randle (MIN - PF,C)

3. Ausar Thompson (DET - SF,PF)

4. Christian Braun (DEN - SG,SF)

5. Andrew Nembhard (IND - PG,SG)

6. Paul George (PHI - SG,SF,PF)

7. Jalen Green (PHX - PG,SG)

8. Alex Sarr (WAS - C)

9. Rudy Gobert (MIN - C)

10. Donovan Clingan (POR - C)

11. Norman Powell (MIA - SG,SF)

12. Mikal Bridges (NYK - SF,PF)

I was short on guards, so I nabbed Shaedon Sharpe with the first pick of Round 7. He’s been getting a ton of praise from coaches and teammates, and a breakout season could be on tap.

Not too many surprises in this round, other than Alex Sarr. He had a strong rookie campaign, and Washington’s center depth is thinner than it was a season ago. Is he ready for a breakout, or is a sophomore slump going to disappoint fantasy managers?

Paul George wasn’t great last season when on the court, but there’s only one way to go from here, right? Getting him so late in a draft should offset the injury risk.

Ausar Thompson was selected with the third pick. Like his twin Amen (drafted in the second round), he’s a player pegged for a potential breakout.

Round 8

1. Matas Buzelis (CHI - SF,PF)

2. Kevin Porter Jr. (MIL - PG,SG)

3. Onyeka Okongwu (ATL - C)

4. Cameron Johnson (DEN - SF,PF)

5. Mark Williams (PHX - C)

6. Kel'el Ware (MIA - PF,C)

7. Bennedict Mathurin (IND - SG,SF)

8. John Collins (LAC - PF,C)

9. Santi Aldama (MEM - PF,C)

10. Tyler Herro (MIA - PG,SG)

11. Anfernee Simons (BOS - PG,SG)

12. CJ McCollum (WAS - PG,SG)

Here’s where we started seeing some swings, but there was a ton of potential value in Round 8. Matas Buzelis is a risk/reward option who has become an analyst favorite in the offseason.

Mark Williams and Tyler Herro could be excellent values, but availability is a major concern, given their current injuries and Williams’ extensive history of missing time.

Kel’el Ware has had a phenomenal preseason, but can he parlay that success into an elite regular season run? Benedict Mathurin should see a ton of playing time in 2025-26, but can he provide more than just points?

Round 9

1. Jalen Suggs (ORL - PG)

2. RJ Barrett (TOR - SF,PF)

3. Toumani Camara (POR - SF,PF)

4. Isaiah Hartenstein (OKC - C)

5. Devin Vassell (SAS - SG,SF)

6. Draymond Green (GSW - PF,C)

7. Jaden Ivey (DET - PG,SG)

8. Reed Sheppard (HOU - PG,SG)

9. Tari Eason (HOU - SF,PF)

10. Zach Edey (MEM - C)

11. Bradley Beal (LAC - SG,SF)

12. Nic Claxton (BKN - C)

I needed a player with PG eligibility, so I took McCollum in Round 8 and Suggs in Round 9. I’m not thrilled with either selection, but both should see enough usage to provide value in this range.

Draymond Green, Jaden Ivey, Reed Sheppard, and RJ Barrett are some of the least exciting selections here. You know what you’re getting with Green, but it’s not a ton at this point in his career. Still, you can’t find a triple-double threat this late in drafts anywhere else. Ivey, Sheppard and Barrett are big risks given uncertain roles for the first two and questions about Barrett’s production outside of scoring.

Round 10

1. Dereck Lively II (DAL - C)

2. Cason Wallace (OKC - PG,SG)

3. Brandin Podziemski (GSW - PG,SG)

4. Naz Reid (MIN - PF,C)

5. Keyonte George (UTA - PG,SG)

6. Jaden McDaniels (MIN - SF,PF)

7. Keegan Murray (SAC - SF,PF)

8. Andrew Wiggins (MIA - SG,SF)

9. D'Angelo Russell (DAL - PG)

10. Tobias Harris (DET - PF)

11. Jrue Holiday (POR - PG,SG)

12. Kyshawn George (WAS - SG,SF)

We’re really into big swing territory here. D’Angelo Russell could be a huge value as Dallas’ de facto starting PG until Kyrie Irving returns. Tobias Harris and Jrue Holiday have offered elite production over the years, and even in the autumn of their careers, they should certainly offer enough here to be worth a late-round selection.

Round 11

1. Ace Bailey (UTA - SF)

2. Aaron Gordon (DEN - PF,C)

3. Herbert Jones (NOP - SF,PF)

4. Bobby Portis (MIL - PF,C)

5. Donte DiVincenzo (MIN - PG,SG)

6. Jaylen Wells (MEM - SG,SF)

7. Jayson Tatum (BOS - SF,PF)

8. Stephon Castle (SAS - PG,SG)

9. Aaron Nesmith (IND - SF)

10. Isaiah Jackson (IND - C)

11. Scoot Henderson (POR - PG)

12. Jabari Smith Jr. (HOU - PF,C)

I selected Kyshawn George at the end of Round 10. He’s one of my guys for the 2025-26 season, and I’m expecting strong, two-way production. Ace Bailey is another guy who has impressed in the preseason. Strong play and plenty of opportunities for the rebuilding Jazz give him tremendous upside.

The most notable pick of this round is Jayson Tatum, who has said that he wants to try playing this season. Even if he’s able to take the court for a few games, he’ll be sitting in one of your IL spots all season until he maybe returns.

Round 12

1. Davion Mitchell (MIA - PG)

2. Khris Middleton (WAS - SF,PF)

3. Kyrie Irving (DAL - PG)

4. Nikola Jović (MIA - PF)

5. Collin Sexton (CHA - PG,SG)

6. Yves Missi (NOP - C)

7. VJ Edgecombe (PHI - SG)

8. Neemias Queta (BOS - PF,C)

9. Cam Whitmore (WAS - SF,PF)

10. De'Andre Hunter (CLE - SF,PF)

11. Klay Thompson (DAL - SG,SF)

12. Ryan Kalkbrenner (CHA - C)

Kyrie Irving will presumably be out until at least the All-Star break. How much can he offer when he returns?

Two more rookies came off the board as VJ Edgecombe went to Raphielle, and I selected Ryan Kalkbrenner. Raphielle is high on Kalkbrenner too, and my selection here caused him to tell me he hated me. Strong words, but hey, I got my guy.

Round 13

1. Jonathan Kuminga (GSW - SF,PF)

2. Malik Monk (SAC - SG)

3. Chris Boucher (BOS - PF,C)

4. Adem Bona (PHI - C)

5. Kelly Oubre Jr. (PHI - SF,PF)

6. Ayo Dosunmu (CHI - SG,SF)

7. Sam Hauser (BOS - SF,PF)

8. Mitchell Robinson (NYK - C)

9. Brice Sensabaugh (UTA - SF,PF)

10. Keon Ellis (SAC - PG,SG) - Rubin

11. Dennis Schröder (SAC - PG,SG)

12. Dejounte Murray (NOP - PG,SG)

The final round is all about upside, and that’s what I expect with Kuminga. If the Warriors are truly intent on trading him during the season, they’ll have to showcase him, which means a consistent role and strong production.

Chris Boucher could end up the starting center for Boston, making him a nice pick here. Adem Bona could do the same for the 76ers if (who are we kidding - when) Embiid is forced to miss time.

Sam Hauser should see an increased role for the shorthanded Celtics, and someone’s got to step up for Sacramento. Three - yes three - Kings guards went off the board here. Someone’s got a reliable fantasy option, right?

Could the Knicks utilize a jumbo lineup with Karl-Anthony Towns playing alongside Mitchell Robinson? Even if Robinson comes off the bench, he should see enough playing time to be a viable option, and getting him in the final round is a tremendous value.

The draft closed out with another injured player. Dejounte Murray is an elite, multi-cat contributor, but he’ll have to sit in an IL spot until at least January.

My team

1. (1) Victor Wembanyama (SAS - C)

2. (24) Jalen Williams (OKC - SF,PF)

3. (25) Paolo Banchero (ORL - PF,C)

4. (48) Joel Embiid (PHI - C)

5. (49) Zion Williamson (NOP - SF,PF)

6. (72) Cam Thomas (BKN - SG,SF)

7. (73) Shaedon Sharpe (POR - SG,SF)

8. (96) CJ McCollum (WAS - PG,SG)

9. (97) Jalen Suggs (ORL - PG)

10. (120) Kyshawn George (WAS - SG,SF)

11. (121) Ace Bailey (UTA - SF)

12. (144) Ryan Kalkbrenner (CHA - C)

13. (145) Jonathan Kuminga (GSW - SF,PF)

Strengths: Defense, rebounding, FG%

Weaknesses: Three-pointers, assists, availability

I rolled the dice many times in this draft, but this team is on-brand. I love drafting for upside rather than security, and typically, I’m inclined to draft younger players over veterans. There are breakout options all across my final roster, and if guys like Embiid, Williamson, Thomas and Sharpe can stay mostly healthy, this team could win many, many weeks.

After a summer of rumors and talks, Russell Westbrook signing with the Sacramento Kings is about to be a reality.

Westbrook and the Kings have agreed to a one-year deal, a story broken by ESPN’s Shams Charania and since confirmed by other reports. The deal is expected to become official on Thursday. While the financial terms are not yet public, this is likely a fully guaranteed deal for the veteran minimum of $3.6 million (keeping the Kings $1.8 million below the luxury tax line). Westbrook had not picked up his $3.5 million player option with Denver and became a free agent.

Westbrook, 37, averaged 13.3 points and 6.1 assists a game last season in Denver. What he brings nightly is energy that can change games — even at this age, nobody plays harder than Westbrook every night. However, he's not an efficient scorer at this point in his career, nor is he a great defender.

The Kings needed depth at the point behind Dennis Schroder, and Westbrook slides right into that role. While the Kings have high hopes for him, and just exercised the third-year option on him, second-year point guard Devin Carter did not seem ready for the leap yet.

Sacramento will have a bench unit with Westbrook, Malik Monk and Doug McDermott behind a starting five of Schroder, Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan and Keon Ellis. It's also a roster that could see shakeups this season as Sacramento looks to retool after having to trade De'Aaron Fox last season, a move that forces a reset.

When the New York Knicks started their search to replace Tom Thibodeau as head coach, they cast a wide net. That included talking to Dawn Staley, the South Carolina women's team head coach, who multiple NBA front office people have told NBC Sports was the woman most likely to land an NBA head coaching job right now (Kara Lawson, the new USA Basketball coach, replacing Staley, is the other name that comes up).

That job offer didn't materialize, and the Knicks ultimately leaned into a veteran NBA coach in Mike Brown. At SEC media day, Staley was direct and honest in saying she didn't expect to see a female head NBA coach in her lifetime.

"I don't. And I hope I'm wrong," Staley said.

Staley said she took the interview with New York because of the relationship she has with Knicks president Leon Rose.

"I did the Knicks interview because I've known Leon Rose for 30 years," Staley said. "I have a connection to him and Worldwide Wes. I've known them all my life. It was a real interview, and I like to see what they're talking about."

Staley also got into the details of the challenges both the coach and the organization that someday hires a woman coach would face.

"If I'm the Knicks coach and you have a five-game losing streak, it's not going to be about the losing streak. It's going to be about being a female coach," Staley said. "So you as an organization and a franchise, you have to be prepared about that and strong enough to endure those types of instances when you're a female coach."

Staley has a resume that should get her seriously considered for an NBA job. She has led the South Carolina women to three NCAA titles and coached the USA women to a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics. All that is on top of being an eight-time WNBA All-Star and a three-time Olympic gold medalist as a player. However, what has most impressed NBA front office execs about her is that she has the presence to command an NBA locker room, she's someone the players would respect.

But we may never get to see how it would play out with her.

The Atlanta Hawks front office was aggressive in adding talent to the roster this summer — Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard — but was cautious in offering Trae Young a contract extension. Atlanta pushed its chips into the middle with this group, it wants to see how things look before deciding whether to continue down this road or turn the car around and make a dramatic change.

That applies to Porzingis as well, and he sees it the same way. Porzingis is extension eligible, but told Fred Katz of The Athletic there is no push to get a deal done now.

"I know that's an option. I wanna see how the year goes," Porziņģis said ... "I wanna show that I'm playing at a high level again, that I'm healthy, that I'm everything, and then that kind of stuff will take care of itself, you know? We'll see ...

"I don't wanna rush anything and say this or that, but I wanna take it one day at a time," he said.

Porzingis is set to make $30.7 million this season in the final year of a two-year, $60 million contract he signed in Boston. This summer, as it looked to cut salary, the Celtics traded Porzingis to the Hawks in a three-team deal with Brooklyn.

On paper, Porzingis is exactly the kind of big man Atlanta needed — an impressive rim protector on the defensive end who is a pick-and-pop threat with Young. Last season, Porzingis averaged 19.5 points and 6.8 rebounds a game, shooting 41.2% from 3-point range. He looked good playing for his native Latvia this summer at EuroBasket as well. However, he played in just 42 games last season (due in part to a mysterious virus) and has played in 65 games just once in the previous seven seasons. He needs to show he can stay on the court, availability will have a lot to do with how much his next contract is worth.

A contract extension with the Hawks could start as high as $43 million a season, although a number closer to where Porzingis is now — in the $30-35 million range a season — seems more likely if he can stay on the court.

If the Hawks live up to the hopes and expectations of fans and the front office this season — top four seed, advancing out of the first round of the playoffs at least — then Porzingis, Young and others are going to get paid this summer and Atlanta is going to continue down the road. If the wheels come off, well, things are going to get hot in Atlanta next summer.

We are now one week away from the start of the NBA season, which means many of our pre-season pipe dreams and fantasy scenarios will be doused in cold water from the reality of real NBA games. However, some of our pre-season darlings will emerge through the first few weeks and announce their arrival as players to keep an eye on in this new season.

Below is a breakdown of some of my favorite breakout candidates for the 2025-26 NBA season. Some of them have already flashed star upside, some of them showed it in college, and others are going to demonstrate it to the NBA fanbase for the first time. But let's dig in and find out why I think these players are get to soar to new heights this year. Eric

Breakout Players for 2025 Fantasy Basketball Season

Trey Murphy III (SF/PF, NO) - ADP: 52

I know it's weird to call a player with an ADP nearly inside the top 50 a breakout, but I just believe there's another level for Murphy. Last season, he averaged career highs in points (21.2), rebounds (5.1), and assists (3.5), but he played just 53 games due to injury, so his performance kind of went under the radar. People were also harping on his turnover rate increasing and his three-point shooting efficiency decreasing, but I think that's the nature of a young player stepping into a bigger role; there are some growing pains along the way.

Murphy is a talented player who can do a bit of everything and will start for a Pelicans team that will be without Dejounte Murray (Achilles) for a while. Zion Williamson is not the picture of health himself, so there could be stretches where it's just Murphy and Jordan Poole asked to shoulder the load for the Pelicans. I think Murphy's efficiency will continue to improve, and I'm going to bet on a player with his natural talents to continue to succeed.

Stephon Castle (PG/SG, SAS) - ADP: 109

You could argue that Castle started to breakout at the end of last season, when he averaged 19.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.6 assists over 26 games without De'Aaron Fox in the lineup. However, I don't think enough people are accounting for continued growth here. Castle was the fourth overall pick in last year's draft and won NBA Rookie of the Year, but he doesn't really come up in many conversations about ascending young talents.

Yes, Fox should be back a some point early in the season when his hamstring injury heals, and the Spurs drafted Dylan Harper with the second pick, but Castle doesn't really need the ball in his hands to be successful. He's an excellent slasher and understands the spacing of the floor well enough to cut into open lanes. We've also seen him look more comfortable shooting from behind the arc this preseason, which would be a major box ticked in the evolution of his game.
I don't expect him to become an elite shooter by any means, but it's just another tool in a pretty loaded toolbox.

Matas Buzelis (SF/PF, CHI) - ADP: 101

Buzelis is everybody’s breakout pick, and his ADP on Yahoo sites alone is now inside the top 80 picks. A lot of that is because of what he has done this preseason, but also because he showed what he can do in a high-usage role last season when he averaged 13.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 27 minutes per game over his final 33 games. There will be some inconsistencies because he's still a young player who just turned 21 years old this week (CHEERS!). Still, Buzelis will assuredly find himself in a high-usage role for a rebuilding Bulls team that lacks many playmakers apart from Josh Giddey and, sometimes, Coby White. Buzelis can do a little bit of everything, and I think he should be able to improve on those numbers we saw in the final 33 games, but do it for an entire season.

Toumani Camara (SF/PF, POR) - ADP: 110

Can I call somebody a breakout just because I like their vibe? I enjoy the way Camara plays basketball, and his nickname is “The Shadow,” which is almost enough of a case for him to appear in this article, but there are legitimate on-court reasons as well. Camara is an excellent defender, which will help you with STOCKS, but also will keep him on the court for major minutes. Last season, he also took a big step forward offensively, improving his usage rate and becoming more efficient as a scorer. However, he scored only 11.3 points per game, so I think another step is coming. With Anfernee Simons and Deandre Ayton out of town, there is more opportunity to go around, so I think Camara will see his usage rate increase again this year. He's not likely to be an elite scorer off the dribble, but he continues to improve as a shooter, so if we think of him as a 3-and-D wing with the tools to add a little value as a slasher and finisher in transition, there's a chance he pushes for top-50 value.

Reed Sheppard (PG/SG, HOU) - ADP: 111

Yes, Sheppard didn’t do much last year and played only 12.6 minutes per game, and is on a team that just traded for Kevin Durant, so he's clearly not going to emerge as a major offensive force in his second season. Still, Sheppard was the 3rd pick in last year’s draft and was a "high floor" prospect who could shoot, play defense, and see the floor well. Even as a rookie, he posted elite deflection rates that backed up his strong block and steal numbers from college. He's a strong shooter and should push for the starting PG job with Fred VanVleet out. Even if he settles in somewhere around 10-14 points per game, he's going to make some threes every game and initiate offense for a Durant-led team that should give him solid assist numbers to go along with STOCK upside. I think he can help across all nine categories.

Mitchell Robinson (C, NYK) - ADP: 182

Robinson has already “broken out” if you’re a New Yorker who has been waiting for him to start and be healthy forever. When he's on the court, his rebound numbers are insane, and he's an efficient scorer around the rim. However, things could be much better for Robinson this season. With Mike Brown now coaching the team, Robinson looks likely to start in New York with Karl Anthony Towns at power forward. That alone will allow Robinson to post tremendous rebound numbers with solid points/blocks. Yet, another level of breakout could happen because Mike Brown wants the Knicks to play fast and get out and run. Even though Robinson isn't the athlete he was as a rookie before all of his lower-body injuries, he's a great athlete for his size and could thrive in a transition-based offense. This could be a big year for Mitch.

Isaiah Jackson (C, IND) - ADP: 185

The breakout case for Jackson is simple since he will likely start at center with Myles Turner gone on a Pacers team that also needs to replace the scoring and usage of Tyrese Haliburton. Fantasy baseball drafters are aware of this, and Jackson is zooming up boards; however, there is plenty of breakout potential here. He has been great per minute as a reserve, and should have plenty of value for a team that is desperate for people to step up. Even if his offensive game doesn't take a huge step forward, he will have plenty of value in rebounds, blocks, and steals. We also need to note that he is coming off a torn Achilles, so the only question will be how quickly he actually does get back to 100%.

Adem Bona (C, PHI) - ADP: 226

Bona was basically a defense-first, high-efficiency big man off the bench for the vast majority of last season. However, he started 11 games at the end of the season with Joel Embiid hurt and posted 14.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, and 1.2 steals in those games. That's the kind of upside you're dreaming on here, and we know his breakout potential is fully tied to Embiid's health. However, Embiid is never healthy and is coming off yet another knee injury. Bona was solid for Turkey in EuroBasket, and I think he's ready for a bigger role this season. He won't be a huge scorer, but is a good athlete, with plenty of block/rebound value.

Moussa Diabate (C, CHA) - ADP: 228

The breakout case for Diabate is a little bit less for him to emerge as a star and more for him to emerge as a solid NBA starter. I think he can take over the starting center role in Charlotte, but he will have to beat out Ryan Kalkbrenner. When he was given the chance to start last year, he showed elite rebounding value and also solid STOCK value as well. He has always been a great rebounder and high-motor player, but he's also evolving as a scorer, and we've seen some nice post moves from him in the pre-season. I think he can get more involved in the offense this season, and his defense will keep him on the floor, which means he could be a legitimate double-double threat every night this season.