RADIO
Most of the content you will see around this time will be more player-centric so that you can make the best decisions to win your upcoming league. But sometimes it's better to target more teams instead of the players. Each player's station is always different, no matter if they are on the same team. These factors make it increasingly difficult to know how they will perform. That's why sometimes you need to target a team rather than a certain player.
Previously, I was very opposed to this idea and thought that it simply was not intelligent, but after watching some people have success with this ideology, I thought maybe it wasn't a bad idea. Just think about it: most players' good play is directly correlated with their team's success. So if you know what teams will do great in certain areas, you can use this to your advantage and stack up on talent.
Today I've assembled my list of the top five teams you should target this fantasy basketball season. Let's hop straight into the list.
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1. Sacramento Kings
After another disappointing 2021–2022 season, the Sacramento Kings hired former coach of the year Mike Brown and elevated him to new heights. The Kings surged to the number one offense in the league, leading in points per game, true shooting percentage, and offense efficiency. I cannot overstate how insane these stats are. The Kings last year proved they were a high-scoring, efficient offense, which is extremely hard to do in a one-year turnaround.
At the helm of this offense are De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, who hosted one of the most deadly pick-and-roll duos in the NBA last year. They also have superb shooters surrounding them, like Malik Monk, Keegan Murray, and Kevin Huerter. With most of the same core returning next year, you should expect this team to rank high in most offensive categories again.
2. Philadephia 76ers
With the hire of Nick Nurse, Sixers fans should be prepared for their starters to play a lot of minutes. Last year, the Toronto Raptors had 4 out of their 5 starters that averaged over 34 minutes per game, which is crazy! This should be a really good sign for any fantasy managers who are really keen on certain Sixers players. Obviously, this means even more opportunities for Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, Tyrese Maxey, and possibly James Harden.
With or without James Harden, the Sixers will at least be a playoff team in the Eastern Conference; they simply have too much talent to not be. I'm expecting a breakout year from guard Tyrese Maxey, with increased minutes and opportunities as a ball handler. Also, Tobias Harris could see a resurgence in a new offensive system and show that he's worth the money he's being paid. Lastly, expect another MVP-caliber season from Joel Embiid and another dominant fantasy season all the way across the board.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
I know that anyone in the basketball community has heard the off-season hype surrounding the OKC Thunder, but I'm telling you to please buy your stock now. They have one of the most talented lineups of players in the league right now, and 90% of their core is under 25 years old! Under talented head coach Mark Daigneault, the Thunder saw leaps in offense and defense, respectfully ranking in the top 15 in both units. They finished one game away from the playoffs and only added more talent this offseason.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should be widely expected to have another top-10 fantasy season and be the Thunder's leading scorer again. Josh Giddey made exceptional improvements in his shooting last year and should only get better over time, which will add to his already elite playmaking. Chet Holmgren should be a dominant force on the defensive end while adding great spacing. Other role players like Jalen Williams, Lu Dort, and Cason Wallace should expect to have large roles as well.
4. Washington Wizards
I know this might be a little of a surprise considering the top three teams listed above are either playoff teams or fringe playoff teams, but I'm a big believer in what the Wizards are building. I firmly believe that Jordan Poole will have an amazing season next year, and dare I say an all-star type of season. Poole averaged 24.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.6 assists last season as a starter. They also recently locked in talented forward Kyle Kuzma, who had a great season last year due to his increased role. He averaged 21.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 64 games of action.
The Wizards also have two very talented young forwards, Deni Avdija and Bilal Coulibaly. Bilal is a young, energetic player who can provide immediate defense and slashing. Deni, on the other hand, also provides perimeter defense but is a capable shooter and ball handler. Now I'm still not fully sold on Wes Unseld Jr. as the Wizards coach of the future, but I think this roster is still too talented for them to not see any positive signs next year.
5. Atlanta Hawks
I know that a lot of the basketball community is not that high on the Atlanta Hawks, but I think a full offseason with Quin Snyder will pay major dividends next season. Snyder has always been great on the offensive side of basketball and helped the Hawks average the second-most points per game last season. Due to their lack of success, this went unnoticed, but it will be emphasized next year.
They did not really make any major roster changes, but I think some players will improve in their roles next year, which will make them a better team next year. We already know that the duo of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray will be great again in fantasy, so there is not much to worry about there. Deandre Hunter is the most important player on this team, and I believe if he can show improvements on the offensive end, it will be huge. Saddiq Bey and Bogdan Bogdanović are two talented scorers who should see some increased usage because of the John Collins trade. This team has great pieces, and if I were a betting man, I would bet on them improving.
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