2014 Draft Class - Fantasy Effect

How does the 2014 NBA Draft affect your fantasy league this year?  In case you missed it, here is how it went.

                             Round 1

1.	Cavaliers	Andrew Wiggins	SG
2.	Bucks	Jabari Parker	SF
3.	76ers	Joel Embiid	C
4.	Magic	Aaron Gordon	PF
5.	Jazz	Dante Exum	PG
6.	Celtics	Marcus Smart	PG
7.	Lakers	Julius Randle	PF
8.	Kings	Nik Stauskas	SG
9.	Hornets	Noah Vonleh	PF
10.	76ers	Elfrid Payton	PG
11.	Nuggets	Doug McDermott	SF
12.	Magic	Dario Saric	PF
13.	Timberwolves	Zach LaVine	PG
14.	Suns	T.J. Warren	SF
15.	Hawks	Adreian Payne	PF
16.	Bulls	Jusuf Nurkic	C
17.	Celtics	James Young	SF
18.	Suns	Tyler Ennis	PG
19.	Bulls	Gary Harris	SG
20.	Raptors	Bruno Caboclo	SF
21.	Thunder	Mitch McGary	PF
22.	Grizzlies	Jordan Adams	SG
23.	Jazz	Rodney Hood	SG
24.	Hornets	Shabazz Napier	PG
25.	Rockets	Clint Capela	PF
26.	Heat	P.J. Hairston	SG
27.	Suns	Bogdan Bogdanovic	SG
28.	Clippers	C.J. Wilcox	SG
29.	Thunder	Josh Huestis	PF
30.	Spurs	Kyle Anderson	PF

                         

                               Round 2

No.	Team	Player	Pos.
1.	Bucks	Damien Inglis	SF
2.	76ers	K.J. McDaniels	SF
3.	Cavaliers	Joe Harris	SG
4.	Knicks	Cleanthony Early	SF
5.	Jazz	Jarnell Stokes	PF
6.	Bucks	Johnny O'Bryant	PF
7.	Raptors	DeAndre Daniels	SF
8.	Pistons	Spencer Dinwiddie	PG
9.	76ers	Jerami Grant	SF
10.	Timberwolves	Glenn Robinson III	SF
11.	Nuggets	Nikola Jokic	PF
12.	Rockets	Nick Johnson	SG
13.	Hawks	Walter Tavares	C
14.	Timberwolves	Markel Brown	SG
15.	Hornets	Dwight Powell	PF
16.	Wizards	Jordan Clarkson	PG
17.	76ers	Russ Smith	SG
18.	Bucks	Lamar Patterson	SF
19.	Bulls	Cameron Bairstow	PF
20.	Suns	Alec Brown	C
21.	Knicks	Thanasis Antetokounmpo	SF
22.	76ers	Vasilije Micic	PG
23.	Timberwolves	Alessandro Gentile	SF
24.	76ers	Nemanja Dangubic	SG
25.	Heat	Semaj Christon	PG
26.	Nuggets	Roy Devyn Marble	SF
27.	Pacers	Louis Labeyrie	C
28.	Spurs	Jordan McRae	SG
29.	Raptors	Xavier Thames	PG
30.	Spurs	Cory Jefferson	PF

 (Thank you, http://espn.go.com/nba/draft)

So what order should you pick them in your fantasy draft?  Certainly not in the order they were drafted.  Here is my recommendation.

1. Jabari Parker, Bucks SF 

Jabari Parker lived up to the hype at Duke, and has proven himself multi-dimensional in the NBA Summer League.  The Bucks had the worse record in the NBA last year, and have basically nobody on their roster who is going to make this next year any different.  Except Parker.  Parker is going to be the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd option on this team; the scorer, the playmaker, the defender.  Needless to say, he will be the do-it-all guy, but with that huge responsibility brings a lower field goal percentage and higher turnovers.  He may not be the best fantasy rookie, but he very much so has the highest potential.

2. Doug McDermott, Bulls SF 

Surprised?  There is a very good chance that McDermott will be staying in Chicago this season, but even if he is somehow traded to Minnesota, I still leave him at #2.  The 2014 NCAA leading scorer can shoot the ball, and has drawn comparisons to Larry Bird and even Kevin Love.  That being said, McDermott is going to be productive and efficient from deep on the receiving end of Derrick Rose, and is, as it stands, the best or second-best shooter on the team.  In addition, he's proven he can block shots, rebound, and even pass the ball.  I contemplated putting him at #1, but considering that Parker is in the draft, I felt obligated to put him at #1.

3. Marcus Smart, Celtics PG

Smart is still up in the air.  His production really depends on Rajon Rondo's future.  If Rondo stays in Boston, completely ignore this.  However, if Rondo is traded, look for Smart to command the point and be an all-around point-guard who can score, pass, rebound, and grab steals like very few point-guards can do.  If Rondo leaves Boston, draft Smart.

4. Aaron Gordon, Magic PF

Gordon dazzled us at Arizona.  His athleticism was a shock to every basketball fan, and Gordon has the potential to be an extremely solid, all-around player in the NBA.  I put him at #4 because Orlando isn't an awful team.  They have pieces to a puzzle, but each piece has a solid game, meaning he's not in the Parker-situation.  He won't be the center of attention for teams defensively, so he will get his own throughout the season.

5. Noah Vonleh, Hornets PF

The Indiana power forward is strong, willful, and can rebound and finish as good as any forward in this draft.  He showed flashes of brilliance in the NBA Summer League, and alongside Big Al Jefferson, I think the two make a strong inside presence.  Offensively, defensively, and on the glass.  Jefferson may take away from Vonleh's production, but considering the loss of Josh McRoberts, the Hornets will start Vonleh and play him upwards of 30 minutes a game.

6. Nik Stauskas, Kings SG

Nik Stauskas surprised everybody in the NBA Draft Combine with his athleticism, proving that he is more than just a shooter.  That being said, he is also a very good shooter.  The Kings are fairly solid everywhere except their shooting guard position.  You stick Gay at the small forward position and Stauskas at the shooting guard, and you've got a pretty dynamic 2-3.  Stauskas should provide efficient scoring and three-point shooting, while picking up a little bit else here and there.  My only worry is that Gay tends to take around 20 shots a game, but if he's truly chasing a championship, there is a good chance he will open the door for others this year.

Other notable rookies who I would draft are as follows:

P.J. Hairston, Hornets SG

Nick Johnson, Rockets SG

Andrew Wiggins, Cavaliers SG

Adreian Payne, Hawks PG

James Young, Celtics SF

Dante Exum, Jazz PG

Rodney Hood, Jazz SG

Julius Randle, Lakers PF

I realize that putting Wiggins at #9 of the rookies doesn't make much sense, but considering the star-studded talent in Cleveland, I think it's safe to say.  Similarly with Randle, the Lakers have re-signed Jordan Hill and have grabbed Carlos Boozer as well.  

Side note, I wouldn't draft Joel Embiid.  There's no telling when he'll be back, if at all this season.

These are just my educated opinions, but I feel that I make fair and objective rankings.  If they weren't, I would have stuck Nick Johnson at #3.  Best of luck!

Jumbled Up NBA - How It Will Affect the Fantasy Year

The NBA thought it was time to mix things up again.  This offseason has probably been one of the most dramatic in at least the past fifteen years.  LeBron James returned to his hometown Cavaliers. Chris Bosh declined Houston's offer to re-sign with the Miami Heat with Dwyane Wade, adding Luol Deng in LeBron's spot.  Trevor Ariza left Washington to sign with Houston, who failed to match the Mavericks' 3 year, $46 million offer for Chandler Parsons.  Carmelo Anthony dramatically chose to re-sign a max contract with the Knicks after being pursued by Chicago and Houston.  Chicago signed Pau Gasol, Aaron Brooks, and rookie Doug McDermott, making them one of the deepest teams in the league.  It's been crazy, and I'm here to give you every little detail on how this affects the league and your fantasy year.

You can stay up to date on all the latest action here: http://www.thescore.com/nba/offseason

So who's stock is going to rise because of their new destination?

1. Chandler Parsons, Mavericks SF
This guy is one of the best all-around players in the league.  He will consistently give you production across the board every night while shooting consistently and keeping the turnovers down.  I predict he'll be a 20 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists guy in Dallas as one of the main options.  Look for this guy early on in your draft.

2. Lance Stephenson, Hornets SG
Stephenson led the NBA in triple-doubles last season, and despite his reputation for blowing in superstars' ears, he's one of the toughest guards in the league, and one of the best rebounding ones as well.  Last season, Stephenson was third in scoring, second in rebounds, and first in assists on the Pacers.  Like Parsons, he's an across-the-board guy with a lot of potential on a struggling Charlotte team.

3. Trevor Ariza, Rockets SF
This guy's draft stock won't rise as much as the previous two, but he will be solid.  Ariza is a defensive specialist with an efficient three-point shooting capability.  In Houston, he will no longer have to shoulder a load like was required of him in Washington.  I would look for him to have increased efficiency, more threes, a solid number of steals and blocks, and a few boards every game.   If you can steal him deep in the draft, I recommend it.

4. Luol Deng, Miami SF
Deng has always been one of the best two-way players in the NBA.  At this point in his career, I would rank him at 2 or 3, behind LeBron and Paul George.  Regardless, Deng is a scorer, playmaker, rebounder, and defensive wall.  He will provide across the board stats, and on a team devout of LeBron James and with a dwindling Wade, look for Deng to be the team's 1st or 2nd playmaking option this year.

5. Tyson Chandler, Mavericks C
Think back to the 2011 NBA Finals.  Tyson Chandler is right in the middle, grabbing offensive and defensive rebounds, turning shots away and affecting even more, all while being very efficient.  I would assume similar numbers this year in his return to Dallas.  I wouldn't necessarily put him as a top 5 big man, but I wouldn't drop much further.  You could expect 10 points, 10 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and .650 field goal percentage from him this season.

Other players to consider who's stock are rising:
Paul George, Pacers SF - with the loss of Stephenson, much more production and responsibility is opened up to George.
Jordan Hill, Lakers PF - with the loss of Pau Gasol, Hill steps in as the strongest power forward on the roster, and he showed sparks of greatness this last season.  Look for him to excel in L.A.
Carlos Boozer, Lakers PF - much as the same situation as Hill, it will be interesting to see if the Lakers start two power forwards, and if not, who will they decide to start.

Now, to players that are going to be negatively impacted by recent trades.

1. Kyrie Irving, Cavaliers PG
With the addition of LeBron to the Cavs roster, every player is given an instant boost of efficiency.  However, there is a good chance there will be a loss in production of Irving, Waiters, and Verejao, just for instance.  LeBron does everything, so naturally, there will be less for the other players to do.  Irving is no longer a top-5 fantasy point guard, especially considering his recent injury struggles.  Look for just about every Cavalier to level out fantasy-wise.

2. Isaiah Thomas, Suns PG
Last season, Thomas posted a solid season, making him relevant in just about every fantasy league.  Now on the Suns roster, Thomas is now the third point-guard in the rotation behind Dragic and Bledsoe.  Look for Thomas' production to decrease to that of a bench role.

3. Paul Pierce, Wizards SF
Pierce is no longer in his prime.  That was very relevant last year in Brooklyn, and now, he will be a third or fourth option at best in Washington.  You've got John Wall and Bradley Beal headlining the team, with Nene and Marcin Gortat down low.  Paul Pierce is a veteran bringing experience and knowledge, not fantasy statistics.

4. Dwyane Wade, Heat SG
Wade has faulty knees, and that's the main reason he will drop drastically this season.  If it wasn't apparent enough this last season that he is slowly deteriorating, nothing has changed and his drop will continue.  LeBron has been replaced with Deng, and Wade may have the ball a little more but will lose efficiency as well as have an increase in turnovers.


This is just a preliminary post especially considering the start of the NBA is still nearly three months away.  As the season gets closer, I will be back with more information and more recommendations.