Upon entering the last month of the regular NBA season play, fantasy managers are enclosing for the playoff season. Whether it is inside or outside, it is never too early to look at next year and reflect on the season that has happened.
We ask a panel of experts, Steve Alexander, Andre Snellings, Eric Moody, Jim McCormick and Eric Karabell, to offer their choices on who faced the challenge this season, who did not reach expectations and who should aim to write next year.
Lessor
Dyson Daniels, PG/SG, Atlanta Hawks
Daniels has been one of the best value selections in Fantasy Hoops this season, playing an integral role for the Hawks and leading the league in robberies to 3.0 per game. Only robberies make Daniels a fantasy force, but when you add the rest of their numbers, you have a fantasy talent among the best 15. If you learn how to shoot free throws this low season, a first round selection could be worth next season. – Alexander
Cade Cunningham, PG, Detroit Pistons
Cunningham has always had the potential to be an impact player after being chosen with the general selection number 1 in the NBA Draft of 2021, but the injuries tarnished their first three seasons, which made him lose 108 games for those campaigns. The games were lost last year that limited him to the 60 most total fantasy points in what would have been a season of rupture for him. I projected Cunningham as a fantasy producer between 40 years this season, but he has far exceeded that. To date, Cunningham is fourth in the NBA at fantasy points this season, only follows Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum. Now it is firmly in the mixture to be a medium -round first round selection in fantasy basketball drafts in the predictable future. – Snellings
Darius Garland, PG, Cleveland Cavaliers
Garland is one of the best players in the league in the clutch and has been excellent in fantasy this year. He held the 25th position in the ESPN player and is currently a Top 35 player in fantasy. He has delivered in points and categories formats, providing strong contributions at points, assists and robberies and has exceeded his average draft position, offering great value for the managers who waited to address the ship’s place. — Moody
Trey Murphy III, SF/PF, New Orleans Pelicans
Murphy has made a leap of a promising 3 yda specialist a potential cornerstone for the franchise for the pelicans. The injuries slowed their early development, but since they assumed a constant initial role, it has flourished, averaging 23 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 4.5 APG while maintaining elite defensive metrics in 30 beginnings in 2025. Its efficiency and production of two roads Evoke Shades of Kawhi Leonard in purely Orleans. If this trajectory is maintained, the future of the pelicans could belong to Murphy before expected. – McCormick
Ivica Zubac, C, the clippers
The veteran Zubac, in his ninth NBA season, was not a selection of the first 100 preseason in most leagues. He was not recruited in our preseason drills and has averaged 16.2 ppg, 12.5 RPG this season, located among the scorers of the League of the 20 main points. What changed? The opportunities are important and the circumstances gave Zubac more than six minutes and four more playing attempts for game than last season. While a rejuvenated James Harden received most of the attention in the clippers, Zubac is one of the selections of fantasy free agents of the year. – Karabell
Players
Paul George, SF/PF, Philadelphia 76ers
Leaving lesions aside, George has had a difficult season. Now that he is out with an injury to the groin, his future is in balance. He has scored only 16.2 ppg this season, his first PPG below 21.5 ppg in 10 years. Add the fact that 23 games have been lost and counting, George has been a disaster without mitigating for his fantasy managers. It is clear that George is in the twilight of his career, since he will be 35 years old at the beginning of the next season.. – Alexander
Lauri Markkanen, PF/SF, Utah Jazz
Markkanen broke into the fantasy scene in his first two seasons with jazz, averaging 24.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg and 3.1 3pg in those two campaigns. Persistent injuries and a shooting fall of the whole season have exhausted Markkanen’s fantasy value this season. Its score has dropped more than five points (19.2 ppg), since it has fired 42.4% in the field. Markkanen’s other counting statistics are also low in all areas, so after finishing 38 last season with 40.2 FP/g, he is out of the top-100 with only 30.2 FP/g (102º). – Snellings
Ja Morant, PG, Memphis Grizzlies
Morant’s fantasy value was successful this season, since the injuries once again kept him out of the floor for long sections. Even when it is healthy, its production fell significantly compared to its last three seasons, leaving frustrated managers. However, he has been late, showing flashes of his signature explosiveness and giving reasons to believe that a complete return could come to the form. That said, the net conclusion of this campaign is still disappointment, one defined by the lost time and less memorable moments of the expected of a player who once known for the most outstanding aspects without stopping. – McCormick
Lamelo Ball, PG, Charlotte Hornets
Ball has been a disappointment this season considering its average draft position. The availability is crucial in the fantasy leagues, and remains a problem for the ball: he has played 60 or more games in just one of his five seasons. From the break of the stars, he has fought, averaging 19.0 ppg, 5.6 RPG and 6.6 APG while fired only 32.7% from the floor. With the bad record of the Hornets, there is a great possibility that Ball can be closed as the regular season ends. — Moody
Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers
We all knew that Embiid would not approach his maximum of his 68 -game career this season, but at least we thought he would play very well when he played. Last season, Embiid averaged 34.7 ppg in 33.6 MPG. He recovered, passed and blocked. This season, a compromised Embiid averaged only 23.8 ppg. Two centers of hawks and Nick Richards averaged more rebounds. This is sad. Fantasy managers must realize that we will never see the dominant ram again. – Karabell
