Josh Hart was not the centerpiece of the New Orleans Pelicans' return package in the Anthony Davis trade, but he did turn into an important roster piece during his first season with the team...
Steph Curry is expected to be one of the cornerstone pieces of many fantasy basketball teams, but he will not be the only member of his family worth drafting...
Fantasy Basketball 2020: 1st-Round NBA Mock Draft and Top Team Names
Dec 19, 2020
Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic handles the ball during an NBA preseason basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Dallas, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
As the NBA preseason wanes, it's time for fantasy basketball managers to employ whatever method they use to prepare for drafts and get ready to build out their rosters before the start of the 2020-21 regular season, which begins on Tuesday, Dec. 22.
As players like Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant return to action after major injuries, they'll likely come off the draft boards quickly.
Then there are the returning stat-sheet stuffers like the reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis.
James Harden may be in the throes of controversy in Houston, but he's a solid bet to rack up points.
Other players to keep an eye on are Damian Lillard and rising stars like Devin Booker and Donovan Mitchell.
Here's a quick look at the first-round mock and three players who should be on any winning roster.
In just two seasons, Luka Doncic has supplanted most of the players in the league as an MVP-caliber franchise player.
He can do it all.
He can score, he can rebound, he can pass, but most importantly, he's a leader and a winner.
The 2019 Rookie of the Year improved in almost every category last year and will continue to impress with his production.
His running mate, Kristaps Porzingis, has been injury-prone since his arrival in Dallas, so his numbers will have to be high when he's the only one of the duo on the floor.
General managers around the NBA believe Doncic has the best chance to overtake Antetokounmpo for the MVP award, so expect him to be aggressive and hungry for wins.
Last season, he averaged 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game.
Can he actually average a triple-double this year? It's entirely possible.
4. Stephen Curry
After riding high with five straight appearances in the NBA Finals, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors hit a wicked patch of bad luck.
In the 2019 NBA Finals, Kevin Durant went down with an Achilles injury and Klay Thompson was sidelined by an ACL tear.
That left the door wide open for the Toronto Raptors to win their first-ever NBA championship and the door was seemingly shut on the Warriors' dynasty.
The injury to Thompson and Curry's own injury problems resulted in a lost 2019-2020 season, and the Warriors missed the postseason entirely after going a league-worst 15-50.
Now, after an extended rehab, Curry is back in action and ready to reclaim his spot as the most exciting point guard in the league.
"A lot of Steph [Curry] plays. When he comes off a screen and the shot be like 30 feet out, and he be making it all net. That's crazy to me," Warriors rookie James Wiseman told Tommy Call III of Yahoo Sports. "It's just like 2K, basically. It's kind of crazy."
And with his Splash brother Thompson out for the year with a torn Achilles, he'll have to pick up the slack and light it up even more from the perimeter.
Look for him to score at least 28 points per game and toss in five rebounds and assists for good measure.
Curry is going to be back, and it's going to be fun to watch for fantasy managers.
7. Kevin Durant
LeBron James reclaimed the title as the best player in the world last season, but Durant will be out to challenge for the throne this year.
While it is tough to bounce back from an Achilles tear, the two-time Finals MVP has had ample time to recover, and he looks like his old self in the preseason games he's played.
He appears fluid and explosive, his shot is there and he's not hesitating on moves to the rack.
"I was out for 18 months not playing an NBA game, not playing against that physicality, the speed of the game," Durant told Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News. "So it's gonna take me some time to get my feet up under me, get my legs right.
"Having a team like we have, those guys support me every time I step on the floor, try to put me in great positions to be successful, and we're just playing off of each other. So if we continue to do that, this will be a smooth ride for me as I get back into the swing of things."
Even if he's only 90 percent of what he was, that's still a player to be reckoned with on a nightly basis.
Durant will have Kyrie Irving riding shotgun this season, so he won't need to average 30 points per game, but he'll still put on an offensive clinic and toss in at least 27 per contest.
If he can stay healthy, fantasy managers that draft him high won't be disappointed with the results.
Top Team Names
Harden to Stop
Dame Time, Different Day
Luka Me Work
Beal Street Blues
The King James' Gambit
Keep It LaMelo
Mo Money Mo Bamba
Everyday I'm Russelling
Brow Down When I Come to Your Town
Jingle Ball Rock
Maurice Bobb covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow Maurice on Twitter, @ReeseReport.
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NBA Preview for Aug. 11: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Daily Fantasy Picks, Odds
Aug 11, 2020
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) dribbles during the second half against the LA Clippers in an NBA basketball game Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Nothing in the NBA bubble has been predictable—and that's a good thing.
Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns are the only undefeated team remaining, and players such as Michael Porter Jr. and T.J. Warren have put everyone in the league on notice with their surprising, stat sheet-filling performances.
Expectations were high for Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans to make the playoffs, but it's already over for them after they were eliminated in a 122-113 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.
The Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards have also been knocked out of the postseason.
Now, with the eight teams in the Eastern Conference set in stone, it's coming down to the wire for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Either the Suns, Spurs, Memphis Grizzlies or Portland Trail Blazers will make it in, and fans will be the beneficiaries of the elevated level of play from these four squads as they battle it out to nab that No. 8 seed.
Here's a quick look at Tuesday's schedule, odds and a few fantasy picks to consider.
Aug. 11 Schedule
Brooklyn Nets at Orlando Magic (-6.5), 1 p.m. ET
Houston Rockets (-4) at San Antonio Spurs, 2 p.m. ET
Phoenix Suns (-8) at Philadelphia 76ers, 4:30 p.m. ET, ABC and ESPN+
Boston Celtics (-5) at Memphis Grizzlies, 5 p.m. ET
Portland Trail Blazers (-1) at Dallas Mavericks, 6:30 p.m. ET, NBATV
New Orleans Pelicans (-1) at Sacramento Kings, 9 p.m. ET
Milwaukee Bucks (-8.5) at Washington Wizards, 9 p.m. ET, NBATV
Booker has operated in virtual anonymity all season with the Phoenix Suns, putting up superstar numbers for a losing team.
In the bubble, though, the 23-year-old has helped his team run off six straight wins while averaging an eye-popping 30.3 points per game.
No one gave the Suns a chance when they got the invite to Orlando, Florida, but Booker has his team in prime position for the play-in tournament and from there, it's anyone's ball game.
"It's been fun. We've been playing really good basketball. We've been having fun on and off the court with each other. We're becoming closer. We're learning each other. And we're communicating with each other.
"So, we're taking it one game at a time. That's been our mindset since we got here and we're sticking with that. So, it's been a competitive environment, a focused environment since we got down here. So we're trying to maintain that, keep that going and finish this thing out strong."
Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid won't be on the court Tuesday night due to injuries, so Phoenix should win without breaking a sweat, and Booker will more than likely put up at least 30 before his night is done.
Damian Lillard was already motivated to get his Trail Blazers to the No. 8 seed, but it looks like the Los Angeles Clippers may have poked the bear with their derisive comments during and after their 122-117 win Saturday night.
Right away, the 30-year-old went out and shook off that loss with a 51-point effort in a win against the Philadelphia 76ers.
"After the game, I was irritated with myself," Lillard told ESPN's Tim Bontemps. "I was frustrated. But it is what it is. I talked with one of my best friends, and he was like, 'This happened for a reason. You've had a lot of big moments, and you usually come out on top. ... You've got to expect there to be some type of balance. You've got to expect that sometimes you're going to have to respond to some type of adversity.'
"I had a chance to get back on the court today, so I moved from it."
Portland came within a half game of the Memphis Grizzlies for the final spot in the Western Conference playoff race, so look for Lillard to come out strong in Tuesday night's matchup with the Dallas Mavericks.
In the bubble, the five-time All Star is averaging 33 points, 4.3 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game.
The Blazers go as Lillard goes, so look for him to establish himself early and fill up the stat sheet.
Russell Westbrook, PG, Houston Rockets ($9,400 FanDuel; $9,300 DraftKings)
Russell Westbrook is akin to a stick of dynamite that explodes every time he steps on the court.
The 31-year-old has been lying in wait for two games with a bruised right quad, so he's primed to blow up all over the Spurs. That's especially true since James Harden will sit out to rest before the first of their back-to-backs.
The last time the 2017 MVP played, he was held to 15 points on 5-of-16 shooting from the field in a 110-102 loss to the Blazers.
Westbrook put up 31 points in the two games prior to the egg he laid against Portland, so it stands to reason that he will be looking to regain his mojo on Tuesday night.
This isn't a must-win game for the Houston Rockets, but that means nothing to the nine-time All Star, who plays hard all the time.
Compound that with the fact that his usage rate skyrockets with Harden off the floor, and it's a safe bet he'll put up some serious numbers.
In his first season with Houston, Westbrook is averaging 27.4 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game.
NBA Preview for Aug. 5: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Daily Fantasy Picks, Odds
Aug 5, 2020
Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) dribbles the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Abdel Nader (11) during an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 3, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Life inside the NBA bubble is all about preparing for everything and adjusting on the fly.
Take Tuesday's six-game slate, for instance. The Brooklyn Nets' skeleton crew seemed likely to get steamrolled by the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks, but the Nets got the last laugh with a three-point win. The Los Angeles Clippers looked like more than the Phoenix Suns could handle, but Devin Booker busted that myth by punctuating his 35-point night with a brilliant buzzer-beater:
Results like those are why we should all stay glued to our favorite device for a six-game Wednesday slate that seems a tad lopsided. But anything can happen inside the bubble, so these won't be games you want to miss.
We have everything you need to know about them below—including broadcast information and the latest lines from Vegas Insider—followed by our favorite daily fantasy plays.
Broadcast Schedule, Latest Odds for Aug. 5 NBA Slate
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Utah Jazz
Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
TV: Locally on Fox Sports Southeast or AT&T SportsNet
Live Stream: League Pass
Odds: Jazz -4.5
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Washington Wizards
Time: 4 p.m. ET
TV: NBA TV
Live Stream: League Pass
Odds: 76ers -10.5
Denver Nuggets vs. San Antonio Spurs
Time: 4 p.m. ET
TV: Locally on Altitude Sports or Fox Sports Southwest
Live Stream: League Pass
Odds: Nuggets -5.0
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Odds: Lakers -6.0
Toronto Raptors vs. Orlando Magic
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: Locally on Sportsnet or Fox Sports Florida
Live Stream: League Pass
Odds: Raptors -6.0
Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics
Time: 9 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Odds: Celtics -9.0
Daily Fantasy Recommendations
The Star: DeMar DeRozan, SG, San Antonio Spurs ($8,000 on FanDuel; $8,300 on DraftKings)
Since DeMar DeRozan prefers to operate inside the arc, you wouldn't think San Antonio moving to modernize its offense would have a great impact on him—or not a favorable one, at least.
But with LaMarcus Aldridge out of the equation, DeRozan has found more room to breathe and wider lanes to attack. And with San Antonio flooring the gas pedal (third-fastest pace inside the bubble), he has no shortage of opportunities.
The result has been one of the more impressive fantasy profiles in all of the Magic Kingdom. The 30-year-old opened with a 27-point, 10-assist double-double. He most recently delivered his first 30-point outing since late January.
"He's a superstar in this league," Ja Morant said of DeRozan, per ESPN's Royce Young. "One of the top players in this league. ... I'm not surprised at all."
With the Nuggets having already ruled out both Gary Harris and Will Barton, DeRozan has a chance to keep his good times rolling against a depleted Denver perimeter group.
The Sleeper: Michael Porter Jr., PF, Denver Nuggets ($5,500 on FD; $6,200 on DK)
The risk-averse portion of our reading audience might want to divert their attention here.
Two games back, Michael Porter Jr. provided just 11 points and three assists. He had zero points or assists in each of the two contests prior to that. Granted, those final two took place before the bubble began, but still, we're not talking about a consistent contributor here.
Saying that, we're also not talking about a run-of-the-mill sleeper, either. There aren't a lot of 6'10", three-level scorers running around. When you spot one—going up against a San Antonio team that plays fast and isn't the stingiest on defense, no less—you must pay attention.
Porter has always hinted at stardom, but myriad health problems have held him back. Now, he seems as close to 100 percent as ever, and he just showed Denver how dominant he can be. He paced the team in points (37, on 12-of-16 shooting) and tied for the lead in rebounds (12) on Monday night.
With Gary Harris and Will Barton still on the shelf and Jamal Murray listed as questionable, the Nuggets might need the 22-year-old to be special again.
"This is a big opportunity for me," Porter said, per ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk. "Obviously, we can't wait for Will, Gary and Jamal to come back. But for me to be in that starting position, I worked really hard, so now is a good opportunity for me to really show what I can do."
There's a chance Porter comes back to earth, but at this price point, the potential reward is too great to ignore.
The Bargain: Brandon Clarke, PF, Memphis Grizzlies ($4,900 on FD; $4,600 on DK)
Injuries are the worst thing in sports, and from a real-world sense, Jaren Jackson Jr.'s season-ending meniscus tear is a brutal gut punch to the Grizzlies. But the show must go on, and Memphis needs someone to fill the void left by its second-leading scorer.
Brandon Clarke is the most obvious choice.
The rookie doesn't have Jackson's shooting volume or off-the-dribble shake, but he offers a similar defensive versatility and above-the-rim finishing. And when he lets it fly from distance, he usually finds his mark (37.5 percent).
Memphis shouldn't want to get in too many half-court sets against Utah's sturdy defense, and Clarke does some of his best work in the open court (95th percentile finisher in transition).
The 23-year-old has already rewarded fantasy owners in the bubble once with a 21-point, seven-rebound, two-block debut. He should have the floor time to improve all three marks on Wednesday.
NBA Preview for Aug. 4: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Daily Fantasy Picks, Odds
Aug 4, 2020
Houston Rockets' James Harden shoots against the Milwaukee Bucks during an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)
This season's unique setup requires a sprint to the seeding round's finish line, meaning there is no rest for the weary.
Monday's six-game slate provided a day's worth of action-packed entertainment, and the six tilts slated for Tuesday should be no different.
We'll lay out all the particulars, including scheduling information, the latest odds (from Caesars Palace) and top daily fantasy recommendations below.
Broadcast Schedule, Latest Odds for Aug. 4 NBA Slate
Brooklyn Nets vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBA TV
Live Stream: League Pass
Odds: No line
Dallas Mavericks vs. Sacramento Kings
Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
TV: Locally on Fox Sports Southwest or NBC Sports California
Live Stream: League Pass
Odds: Mavericks -6.0 (O/U 237.0)
Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Time: 4 p.m. ET
TV: NBA TV
Live Stream: League Pass
Odds: Clippers -9.0 (O/U 230.5)
Orlando Magic vs. Indiana Pacers
Time: 6 p.m. ET
TV: Locally on Fox Sports Florida or Fox Sports Indiana
The Star: James Harden, SG, Houston Rockets ($11,100 on FanDuel; $11,300 on DraftKings)
You know what will always excite the daily fantasy hoops community? A projected point total of 244. You know what quadruples that excitement? When said total involves James Harden going up against a team woefully short on perimeter stoppers.
Granted, it's not like anyone can get a handle on the 30-year-old. He's cruising to a third consecutive scoring title, and he's already gone nuclear in the bubble once (49 points, nine rebounds and eight assists his first time out).
But Portland's personnel effectively gives Harden a neon-green light to relentlessly attack. The Blazers have the worst defense in the bubble (27th in efficiency), and it's especially porous along the perimeter. Whether it's Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum or Carmelo Anthony, any option Portland can throw at Harden is not a great one (to put it mildly).
The Beard is the priciest player on DraftKings and the second-most expensive at FanDuel (to Giannis Antetokounmpo), so you'll need to find some savings in your lineup elsewhere. But trust what these price points are telling you—Harden should be in line for a monster stat line.
The Sleeper: CJ McCollum, SG, Portland Trail Blazers ($7,300 on FD; $8,200 on DK)
Remember the part about that 244-point projected total? It looks just as enticing on Portland's end.
While you could pay up for Lillard or Jusuf Nurkic, CJ McCollum's price looks the most inviting. All three could have huge performances, and it would surprise no one if McCollum pushes his scoring total to the top.
During his bubble debut, the 6'3" scoring guard torched the Memphis Grizzlies for 33 points, six assists and three triples. It was his 11th 30-point outburst of the season. He's had at least three triples in 10 of them (and five or more in five) and five-plus assists in seven.
The Rockets have allowed the eighth-most points per game since trading away interior anchor Clint Capela (116.3 points per game). In their first half of bubble play, they surrendered 85 points in 24 minutes. The Blazers might have the scoreboard rolling in this game, and McCollum should be a big reason why.
The Bargain: Dzanan Musa, SF, Brooklyn Nets ($3,700 on FD; $3,000 on DK)
Warning: This recommendation is not intended for the feint of heart.
The Nets played a 42-loss team their last time out, and Dzanan Musa didn't even see the floor. Instead, he drew the dreaded Did Not Play—Coach's Decision designation that has become such a common sight on his stat sheet over his first two NBA seasons.
But for those feeling bold—and needing a deeply discounted dart throw to help balance the budget—the 21-year-old might have sneaky-good upside.
Brooklyn effectively conceded this contest already. The few household names who made the trek to Disney with the depleted team have already been ruled out for this game: Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen and Joe Harris.
The club's leading scorer at the bubble who hasn't been scratched from Monday's tilt is Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, who is on his fourth NBA team in four seasons and started the campaign on a two-year contract.
Someone has to handle the offense for the Nets and correctly pegging who that will be seems impossible. It probably won't be Musa, but he could snag a big enough portion of the opportunities to outperform his price point with ease.
The Bosnian is painfully raw, but he's a natural scorer with a deep bag of tricks and the kind of irrational confidence that could produce an out-of-nowhere 20-point performance. Buckle up, if you dare, and get him on your roster.
