🖥 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE THANKS
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Three Undervalued Centers for Fantasy Basketball Drafts

With studs such as Karl-Anthony Towns, DeMarcus Cousins, and Al Horford at the top of the draft, centers are likely to go early in your fantasy draft.

However, if you miss out on a stud or do not like the downside to players such as Andre Drummond or DeAndre Jordan, there are a few late round players to target.

Editor's Note: RotoBaller has the best Premium NBA Subscription, only $29.99 for the full season. We have all the preseason tools to help win your drafts, and in-season tools to win your seasonal and daily leagues: Draft Kit, Premium Rankings, Sleepers List, Late-Round Fliers, Early-Round Avoids, DFS Cheat Sheets, Lineup Picks, Expert Lineups, Stacks and Avoids.

 

Centers to Target in Fantasy Basketball Drafts

Enes Kanter, Oklahoma City Thunder

With the loss of Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka, everyone is rightly focusing on Russell Westbrook, however Kanter is also in line to see a huge boost in minutes and usage.  Last year Kanter posted a solid stat line of 12.7 points and 8.1 rebounds in just 21 minutes.

He was used as a primary scorer off the bench with a usage rate of 25.4, however with Durant and Ibaka off the floor his usage rate jumped to 27.3.  The downside to Kanter’s game is his lack of defensive stats with just 0.4 blocks and 0.3 steals, however later in a draft you will not find all-around production from many centers.

Although preseason can be a bit tough to read, Kanter did have a monster double-double with 29 points and 10 rebounds on a remarkable 20 shot attempts.  He will provide great value with an average draft position (ADP) of 71.3 thus far.

 

Robin Lopez, New York Knicks

The reason Lopez has an ADP of 106 is because he does nothing that stands out to fantasy players.  He will not wow you with any one statistical area, however where Lopez shines is his incredibly consistent play.

Last season he averaged a solid 10.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals, but really proved his worth with a field goal percentage of 53.9% and a ridiculous 79.5% free throw rate.

Those numbers are even more note-worthy in roto leagues where a player such as Dwight Howard will sink you in one category while offering similar stats to Lopez in all other areas.  Lopez should also benefit in an uptick in pace with Chicago as opposed to the slow down tempo of the triangle offense he was in last year in New York.

 

Clint Capela, Houston Rockets

This pick is certainly a boom or bust pick that could help you win your league late.  In his first few years, the young Capela was relegated to a reserve role behind incumbent Dwight Howard, but now with Howard in Atlanta, he should be given ample chance to be the Rockets starting center.

Capela has always provided stellar per minute stats and has almost always produced when given the opportunity.  This is shown by the following: Player A per 36 minutes last year had 13.3 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.4 steals while Player B had per 36 minute numbers last year of 13.6 points, 14.7 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 0.7 steals.

Player A is of course Capela, currently with an ADP of 115.3 while player B is DeAndre Jordan who has an ADP of 32.5. Given that Capela should see a spike in minutes close to around 30 and is playing in a the hyper-tempo style of Mike D’Antoni, he is a super sleeper last in drafts.  Just beware, for his career the Swiss big man is a 35.9% free throw shooter.

 


By popular demand, RotoBaller has aggregated all of our fantasy basketball NBA waiver wire pickups into a running list of NBA waiver options, so bookmark the page and check back often for updates.

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Alexander Nikishin

Dealing With Apparent Ankle Injury
Denver Barkey

Exits Early Tuesday
Travis Sanheim

Pulled by Concussion Spotter Tuesday
Cam Whitmore

Out Indefinitely With Deep Vein Thrombosis
Corey Kispert

Lasts for 13 Minutes in Comeback Game
Jaxson Hayes

Makes Early Exit Versus Suns
Gary Trent Jr.

Limited to Five Minutes Tuesday
Matas Buzelis

Exits With Leg Injury Tuesday
Keegan Murray

Sustains Calf Injury Tuesday
Cameron Johnson

Scheduled for MRI After Hurting Right Knee
Chet Holmgren

Suffers Facial Injury Tuesday
Caris LeVert

Upgraded to Available Tuesday
Ron Holland II

Remains Out Against Kings
Robert Williams III

Sits Out Tuesday's Game
Jonathan Isaac

Active Tuesday Night
Javon Small

Returns to Grizzlies Lineup Tuesday
Tristan da Silva

Remains Sidelined Against Portland
Goga Bitadze

Out Against Portland
Vince Williams Jr.

Misses Third Consecutive Game
Cedric Coward

Unavailable on Tuesday Night
Aaron Wiggins

Will Play Against Spurs
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
Grayson Allen

Absent for Third Consecutive Game
Zach LaVine

to Miss at Least One More Week
Victor Wembanyama

Ready to Take on Thunder
DK Metcalf

has Two-Game Suspension Upheld
Philip Rivers

to Remain the Starter in Week 17
George Kittle

Dealing With Mid-to-Low Ankle Sprain
Viktor Arvidsson

a Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Ryan Leonard

Available Tuesday
Tom Wilson

in Danger of Missing First Game of the Season
Phillip Danault

Makes Second Canadiens Debut Tuesday
Collin Graf

Available Against Golden Knights
Jack Eichel

Misses Fourth Straight Game
Vince Dunn

Won't Play Tuesday
Deshaun Watson

Will Not be Activated Off PUP List, 2025 Season is Over
J.J. McCarthy

Ruled Out for Week 17
Rome Odunze

Expected to Return This Season
Christian McCaffrey

Another Monster Game for Christian McCaffrey in Week 16
Brock Purdy

Throws for Five Touchdowns in Week 16
TreVeyon Henderson

in Concussion Protocol, Week 17 Status Unclear
George Kittle

Week 17 Availability in Question?
CFB

Jeff Brohm, Eli Drinkwitz "Names of Interest" for Michigan Head Coach
Timothy Liljegren

to Miss Second Straight Game Tuesday
Will Smith

Out Week-to-Week
Jaccob Slavin

Placed on Injured Reserve, Out Week-to-Week
Seth Jarvis

Considered Week-to-Week
Darren Raddysh

Totals Three Points in Monday's Win
Mason Marchment

Scores Twice Monday
Vince Dunn

Injured in Monday's Win
Rashee Rice

Still in Concussion Protocol, Estimated as Non-Participant on Monday
J.J. McCarthy

Listed as DNP on Monday Ahead of Week 17
Ilya Sorokin

to Miss Tuesday's Game
DK Metcalf

Suspended for Two Games Following Confrontation with Fan
Christian Dvorak

Returns to Flyers Lineup
Elias Pettersson

Still Out Monday
Brandon Montour

to Miss Four Weeks After Hand Surgery
CFB

Byrum Brown Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Bobby Petrino Joining Bill Belichick as North Carolina's Offensive Coordinator
TreVeyon Henderson

Exits Week 16 Victory with Head Injury
Lamar Jackson

Questionable to Return in Week 16 with Back Injury
Willson Contreras

Shipped to the Red Sox
Quinshon Judkins

Done for the Season with Broken Leg
Nick Chubb

Officially Active Against Raiders in Week 16
Gardner Minshew

Won't Return in Week 16
Woody Marks

Officially Inactive for Week 16
Quinshon Judkins

Carted Off in Week 16, Ruled Out with Apparent Leg Injury
Tua Tagovailoa

Dolphins Hope to Trade Tua Tagovailoa in the Offseason
Brandon Lowe

Pirates Acquire Brandon Lowe in Three-Team Trade
Shane Baz

Orioles Acquire Shane Baz From the Rays
CFB

Darian Mensah Returning to Duke Next Season
CFB

Josh Hoover Linked to Indiana in Transfer Portal
CFB

Arch Manning Agrees to Reduced Compensation for 2026 Season
Michael King

Padres Bring Michael King Back on Three-Year Deal
Logan Webb

Will Pitch for Team USA in World Baseball Classic
Tarik Skubal

Joins Team USA for World Baseball Classic
CFB

Will Muschamp Becoming Next Texas Defensive Coordinator
CFB

Beau Pribula Set to Enter Transfer Portal

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP