With all the big money being thrown around in the NBA these days the NBA landscape has changed a lot since last season. Some teams have kept the same core but most have actually changed it up. Here are some teams that have switched things up a bit.
Oklahoma Thunder
PG - Westbrook
SG - Terrance Ferguson
SF - Paul George
PF - Carmello Anthony
C - Steven Adams
Westbrook was a machine last year, averaging a triple double. But we all know that won't happen again. With the addition of George and Mello arises the question, is Westbrook #1? I believe he still is! His numbers will for certain dip but his assist will most likely actually rise. His shooting will be more efficient making his fantasy average not dip as much as most think. I personally have the #2 pick in the draft and my top 3 this year are Westbrook, Antekenkompo(GA) and Harden... I don't see anyone else getting drafted in top 3..... Biggest questions on this team are not about Westbrook though but more like. How will Mello and George be together. We saw this before with the Lakers back in the day. During the 03-04 season they had Gary Payton, Karl Malone, young Kobe and Shaq. That failed horribly..... So when you see my bold predictions for the playoffs this year. Do not be surprised if you see the Thunder left out of a strong West field.
Minnesota Timberwolves
PG - Jeff Teague
SG - Jimmy Butler
SG - Andrew Wiggins
PF - Gorgui Dieng
C - Karl-Anthony Town
WOW! I think I have found a second favorite team here! Easy to get behind a coach like Tom Thibodeau. Especially now that he doesn't coach in Chicago..... The T-Wolves added Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson, both ex bulls when he coached there. Also added Jeff Teague to run the point since Rubio went to Utah.... This has to be one of the best starting 5 in the league. But Towns was 3rd best player in fantasy last year and some drafts have him going as high as 2. But i would stay clear from Towns in the top 5 this year. I really hope there team does great but Towns should take a fantasy hit with the addition of Teague and Butler.
New Orleans Pelicans
PG - True Holiday
SG - Tony Allen
SF - Solomon Hill
PF - Anthony Davis
C - DeMarcus Cousins
With the addition of Rondo and Tony Allen in the off season. You wouldn't think the Pelican would make this write-up. But it is there late season addition of Cousins on why they made this list today. Cousins and Davis are arguably 2 first round draft picks. Later you will see my prediction for the first round. But do you think they will both get drafted in the first round? I say NO. That's because it is Davis's team and i think he will be the one to own. But history tells us that Davis is also a high risk at getting injured every year. So maybe it is Cousins who is the one to own here. I predict fantasy owners will have a really hard time coming up with a answer for this question really soon. Maybe by all star break we will know the answer.
Cleveland Cavaliers
PG - Isaiah Thomas
SG - JR Smith
SF - Lebron James
PF - Kevin Love
C - Tristan Thompson
The Cavs lost in the finals last season to the Warriors and also lost there key PG in Irving to there #1 rival in the East the Celtics. But the Cavs are starting the season with a lot of buzz around them. Adding Derek Rose, Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder and Dwyane Wade makes this Cavs team. A very tough opponent. But we have see Lebron's teams do this before and he personally usually gets off to a slow start. So what will happen to Lebron this year? I still think he will be a top 6 pick and be very efficient. But he will probably try to pass more then need be in his last year as a Cavalier. Oooops did i say that out loud.... Yep it most likely is Lebrons last season in Cavs uniform. So lets see if he goes out in style with another championship this year..... But besides Lebron, there is not much fantasy value on this team. Love and Thompson will and should be owned but anyone else??? I doubt it. Perhaps as a floater from time to time.
ROUND 1 PREDICTION
1. Danny - Westbrook
2. Ritter - Harden
3. Duke - GA
4. Kapper - Kevin Durant
5. Dalton - Anthony Davis
6. Eric - Lebron James
7. Gher - Karl-Anthony Towns
8. Todd - Kawhi Leonard
9. Matt - Nikola Jokic
10. Nathan - Stephen Curry
WEST
1. Golden State 68-14
2. Houston 59-23
3. Utah 53-29
4. New Orleans 51-31
5. Portland 46-36
6. Thunder 46-36
7. Minnesota 45-37
8. Clippers 42-40
EAST
1. Cleveland 56-26
2. Boston 54-28
3. Toronto 52-30
4. Washington 52-30
5. Milwaukee 50-32
6. Miami 48-34
7. Charlotte 45-37
8. Philadelphia 41-41
Oklahoma Thunder
PG - Westbrook
SG - Terrance Ferguson
SF - Paul George
PF - Carmello Anthony
C - Steven Adams
Westbrook was a machine last year, averaging a triple double. But we all know that won't happen again. With the addition of George and Mello arises the question, is Westbrook #1? I believe he still is! His numbers will for certain dip but his assist will most likely actually rise. His shooting will be more efficient making his fantasy average not dip as much as most think. I personally have the #2 pick in the draft and my top 3 this year are Westbrook, Antekenkompo(GA) and Harden... I don't see anyone else getting drafted in top 3..... Biggest questions on this team are not about Westbrook though but more like. How will Mello and George be together. We saw this before with the Lakers back in the day. During the 03-04 season they had Gary Payton, Karl Malone, young Kobe and Shaq. That failed horribly..... So when you see my bold predictions for the playoffs this year. Do not be surprised if you see the Thunder left out of a strong West field.
Minnesota Timberwolves
PG - Jeff Teague
SG - Jimmy Butler
SG - Andrew Wiggins
PF - Gorgui Dieng
C - Karl-Anthony Town
WOW! I think I have found a second favorite team here! Easy to get behind a coach like Tom Thibodeau. Especially now that he doesn't coach in Chicago..... The T-Wolves added Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson, both ex bulls when he coached there. Also added Jeff Teague to run the point since Rubio went to Utah.... This has to be one of the best starting 5 in the league. But Towns was 3rd best player in fantasy last year and some drafts have him going as high as 2. But i would stay clear from Towns in the top 5 this year. I really hope there team does great but Towns should take a fantasy hit with the addition of Teague and Butler.
New Orleans Pelicans
PG - True Holiday
SG - Tony Allen
SF - Solomon Hill
PF - Anthony Davis
C - DeMarcus Cousins
With the addition of Rondo and Tony Allen in the off season. You wouldn't think the Pelican would make this write-up. But it is there late season addition of Cousins on why they made this list today. Cousins and Davis are arguably 2 first round draft picks. Later you will see my prediction for the first round. But do you think they will both get drafted in the first round? I say NO. That's because it is Davis's team and i think he will be the one to own. But history tells us that Davis is also a high risk at getting injured every year. So maybe it is Cousins who is the one to own here. I predict fantasy owners will have a really hard time coming up with a answer for this question really soon. Maybe by all star break we will know the answer.
Cleveland Cavaliers
PG - Isaiah Thomas
SG - JR Smith
SF - Lebron James
PF - Kevin Love
C - Tristan Thompson
The Cavs lost in the finals last season to the Warriors and also lost there key PG in Irving to there #1 rival in the East the Celtics. But the Cavs are starting the season with a lot of buzz around them. Adding Derek Rose, Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder and Dwyane Wade makes this Cavs team. A very tough opponent. But we have see Lebron's teams do this before and he personally usually gets off to a slow start. So what will happen to Lebron this year? I still think he will be a top 6 pick and be very efficient. But he will probably try to pass more then need be in his last year as a Cavalier. Oooops did i say that out loud.... Yep it most likely is Lebrons last season in Cavs uniform. So lets see if he goes out in style with another championship this year..... But besides Lebron, there is not much fantasy value on this team. Love and Thompson will and should be owned but anyone else??? I doubt it. Perhaps as a floater from time to time.
ROUND 1 PREDICTION
1. Danny - Westbrook
2. Ritter - Harden
3. Duke - GA
4. Kapper - Kevin Durant
5. Dalton - Anthony Davis
6. Eric - Lebron James
7. Gher - Karl-Anthony Towns
8. Todd - Kawhi Leonard
9. Matt - Nikola Jokic
10. Nathan - Stephen Curry
WEST
1. Golden State 68-14
2. Houston 59-23
3. Utah 53-29
4. New Orleans 51-31
5. Portland 46-36
6. Thunder 46-36
7. Minnesota 45-37
8. Clippers 42-40
EAST
1. Cleveland 56-26
2. Boston 54-28
3. Toronto 52-30
4. Washington 52-30
5. Milwaukee 50-32
6. Miami 48-34
7. Charlotte 45-37
8. Philadelphia 41-41
