Last Saturday the NBA fantasy league I've been a member of for over a decade held it's fantasy draft. I had the first pick since my keeper, Alperen Sengun, had the lowest player ranking among all keepers.
Here's my team based on draft order.
- (Keeper) Alperen Sengun, HOU
- Jalen Williams, OKC
- Desmond Bane, ORL
- Austin Reaves, LAL
- Isaiah Hartenstein, OKC
- Toumani Camara, POR
- Reed Sheppard, HOU
- Jaden McDaaniels, MIN
- Egor Demin, BKN
- Mitchell Robinson, NYK
I was originally planning to draft LeBron James but because of his sciatica I thought it would be too risky. James Harden was also an option, but his FG%, 3P%, and TO were just too glaring for me to risk him. Hopefully Jalen Williams can provide 70% of what Bron or Harden brings.
Then I decided to draft 3-and-D guys early, meaning Bane and Reaves. I'm hoping this season that I won't be dead fucking last in 3-pointers made and in 3P%, as is tradition with teams I build in our fantasy league.
Hartenstein was my fifth pick and a good go-to big man. Last year he averaged a double double of points and rebounds with a decent amount of assists and blocks as well. Camara is a semi-risky pick since I have no idea if he's starting and how many minutes he'll get. Based on his Basketball Reference page, Camara does seem like an up-and-coming 3-and-D stretch 4.
Sheppard is another risky pick. During the group call we had while drafting we were all joking how no one wanted to draft Sheppard despite his high ranking in ESPN. I finally bit the bullet and got him, hoping he'll see more playing time and contribute more in Houston this season with Fred VanVleet out with an injury. Jaden McDaniels is Minnesota's primary defender and from what I saw of his stats last season he should be a decent source of rebounds and a good source of stocks (steals and blocks).
Demin is another risky pick, someone I would consider expendable if he doesn't put up numbers with the Nets. Robinson is my new Lamar Odom, someone I always draft because I'm a fan. However since I'm trying to be more serious with my league this season, the Blockness Monster may be a drop candidate if I can find another big man who'll give better numbers. I'm sticking with him at the moment since I still have no idea what role, how many minutes, and what numbers he'll have with the new look Knicks.
At the moment my top three drop candidates are Sheppard, Demin, and Robinson. I most likely will give them a week or two to see how they're doing before I start adding and dropping players, unless I there's someone on the waiver wire that goes supernova with numbers early on. We shall see.
Out.
