2024 Fantasy Basketball Mock Draft: Expert picks for 9-category format

Preparation is key to success in fantasy basketball. I gathered industry experts for a 12-team, head-to-head nine-category mock draft to get a peak into current trends, player values, and the nuances of drafting across key statistical categories. Let’s dive in and a special thank you to everyone who participated.

The results of the mock draft can be found here.

The Fantastic Four and everyone else

The top-four picks in category league drafts have been consistent all offseason. That was no different here, as Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokić were the top two options, followed by Luka Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

The draft gets really interesting once those in the consensus top four is gone. It’s all a matter of preference and risk appetite. On a per-game basis, Joel Embiid is a top-three guy, but knowing that his name is synonymous with missing games, I understand the slide to eighth.

Calling of the guard(s)

The back end of the first round started a considerable trend where guards flew off the board. 67% of the picks in the second round were point guards — meaning that the players who generally carry high usage rates and cross-categorical production in points, assists, 3s, free-throw percentage and steals are pretty concentrated in the early rounds. Of course, you can punt assists, but I don’t recommend it; select a high-end guard by round four because the drop-off is real.

Going back to the big men for a minute, after Embiid was drafted eighth overall, only four players (Chet Holmgren, Domantas Sabonis, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Karl-Anthony Towns) with center eligibility were selected from picks nine through 36. Sabonis’ passing ability can’t be understated, so falling to 2.10 was a major steal this draft, considering he’s a threat to lead the league in double-doubles.

Big tree(s) fall hard

Rounds 4 and 5 were big-man-centric, with 14 of the 24 picks across those two rounds being players with PF or C eligibility. A common draft strategy is grabbing the guards early and saving the mid-rounds to secure rebounding, blocks and FG%. That’s what was done here.

Seeing Immanuel Quickley go in the fourth…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/2024-fantasy-basketball-mock-draft-expert-picks-for-9-category-format-192204477.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-09-12 19:22:04

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