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Be on guard during your Fantasy Basketball Draft, as the following NBA players have been pinpointed as potential fantasy basketball busts for the 2014-15 NBA Season. Also, be sure to check back on more fantasy basketball analysis and draft prep including rankings, sleepers and draft strategy articles.
Do Not Overreach for These Potential Fantasy Basketball Busts
Phoenix Guards
Individually Goran Dragic, Eric Bledose and Isaiah Thomas are spectacular fantasy talents. All three players averaged north of 17.0 points and 5.0 assists last year while also delivering great contributions in steals and shooting numbers. The problem, they will each wear a Suns' uniform this season.
After Thomas was signed away from the Kings, it looked like Bledsoe would be moving elsewhere. However, after not receiving any other big offers, Bledsoe signed a lucrative contract to stay in Phoenix. Along with that, vet Gerald Green and newly signed Zoran Dragic are also going to be in the mix for playing time.
The team will likely start the elder Dragic brother along with Bledsoe, as the duo worked well together last year, but expect the team to go with the hot hands at the end of each game. All three are likely being drafted according to last season’s numbers, which is at least a round, if not two or three, ahead of where each should be selected.
Nowitzki is still one of the NBA’s best pure scorers. However, his ancillary stats have slowed down as his body continues to pick up miles. Last year, the 36-year-old German averaged just 6.2 rebounds a night, which was his lowest total since 1998. His field-goal percentage did take a solid jump to 49.7 percent, but his three-point shooting fell to under 40 percent.
Along with providing next to nothing in terms of assists, steals and blocks, it is easy to see why Nowitzki is a better player on the court than on your fantasy team. Another factor working against the future Hall of Famer's fantasy value this season is the arrival of Chandler Parsons to Dallas, who is sure to impede upon Dirk's overall statistical line.
Nowitzki has been routinely going at the early portion of the second round in fantasy drafts, so it would be wise to avoid him in most cases. If he were to slide to the middle part of the third round, a selection in that range would be much more reasonable.
Walker was a big reason that the Hornets took a step up from one of the worst teams in the league to making the playoffs a year ago. The diminutive point guard averaged 17.7 points, 6.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.5 three-pointers made per game in 2013-14, placing him near elite status for fantasy purposes. Those stats were aided by a relatively weak supporting cast that only had Al Jefferson as another legit scoring option.
This season, Charlotte has added do-everything shooting guard Lance Stephenson, who like Walker, plays best with the ball in his hands. Last season, Stephenson was often the lead playmaker in Indiana, which means he could assume that role for the Hornets at times. Another attribute that could hurt Walker’s value is Stephenson’s rebounding acumen.
The team is almost a lock to be better overall, but it is likely Walker will see all of his numbers, outside of his shooting percentages, fall a bit. That development would drop his draft value by at least one round.
Just a few years ago Smith was near first-round fantasy value. His well-rounded game was coveted by all fantasy owners. Smith was about the only player in the NBA who you could count on to average at least 2.0 steals and 2.0 blocks per game while producing solid numbers in points, rebounds and assists from the power forward spot. Then a move from Atlanta to Detroit before the 2013-14 season slotted him into the small forward position alongside Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond.
In his first campaign with the Pistons, Smith saw all of his stats drop off. With averages of 16.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks, there was still value to be had, but at a far cry from where he was drafted.
The Pistons have a new coach in Stan Van Gundy, but with Monroe and the blossoming Drummond still in town, Smith is likely to again suffer a drop in stats. He can still be a nice fantasy option, but make sure you are paying for the 2013-14 version.
Other than Anthony Davis, no player got more out of the FIBA World Cup than Faried. After being a late call into camp, he quickly got in the good graces of Coach K and found himself starting and playing nearly the entire tournament. Because of the publicity, Faried is likely to be a trendy pick to have a breakout season and go far too early in drafts.
Look at Faried's numbers from last year and you will see a fairly average fantasy player. Last season's averages of 13.7 points and 8.6 rebounds are solid, but his underlying stats (1.2 assists, 0.9 blocks, 0.9 steals per game) place him well behind other players likely to be selected in the early rounds. He will supply solid field-goal numbers, but also leaves something to be desired from the free-throw line.
With Arron Afflalo and Danilo Gallinari back in the mix for Denver, Faried could have a more difficult time finding scoring opportunities. Unless your league rewards for double-doubles, it is a good idea to let another owner pay for the Manimal.
