🖥 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

Kristaps Porzingis or Myles Turner? Fantasy Basketball Breakout Stars

Kristaps Porzingis and Myles Turner are 2017-18 fantasy basketball draft values and sleepers. Jake Finnen predicts they will have breakout seasons as NBA stars.

The season is creeping up on us and that means fantasy basketball is peering its ugly, attention-seeking head around whatever sports app you prefer to use. Albeit the monster that is fantasy basketball is one of the most engaging of all fantasy sports.

While you might have some serious decisions already brewing around whether to go with a proven veteran point guard, high-flying rebounder, or rookie phenom, let me give you some advice and to pass on the phenom. Rookies are terrible for fantasy.

They always leave stats on the table and are not trustworthy enough for nightly production. But you know who aren’t rookies? That’s right -- Myles Turner and Kristaps Porzingis. One of them is bound to explode and I’m here to tell you why it’s both.

Holiday Special! Save 50% on any Premium Pass using discount code THANKS. Win more with our DFS, Betting and Season-Long Pass, get expert tools and advice from proven winners! GAIN ACCESS

 

Kristaps Porzingis or Myles Turner?

If you look at their general stats, nothing is surprising. Porzingis is the more talented on-ball player and Turner tends to stay in the low post area. Both can hit the three, but only Porzingis has an effective pull-up jumper. As far as scoring is concerned, Zingy has the clear advantage.

Offensively, Porzingis has the edge. He can handle the ball and generate offense from just about anywhere on the court. Especially now that Carmelo Anthony is gone, he will be the undeniable leader in New York (sorry Michael Beasley). Knick fans have been waiting for the moment where Zingy can be the one not passing the ball. His shot attempts will go up, his usage will go up, but his durability is still a problem. Until Porzingis can play a full season, we will always be skeptical when it comes to fantasy.

This is where Turner can be a better option. He played 81 games last season and literally improved in every category. He will continue to improve, simply due to his play style. Like Porzingis, he also benefits from the departure of his team's usage leader for Oklahoma City (in Turner's case, it's Paul George).  Turner is a bruiser in the paint that has shown to have plenty of touch. He has no problem making the easy and open pass which will play to his benefit when he is conducting the Indiana offense. With a team that is in rebuild mode within a weakened conference should play to his favor.

Both Porzingis and Turner are ready for new roles in their respective offenses and have the potential to explode. This puts them as highly touted big men, with only a few players that can be considered more valuable. With their offensive skillsets in mind, let's look at the other stats. Both tend to have lower rebounding numbers than other elite early round bigs. This will require you to go after a more dominant rebounder to counter-act any negative effect they Porzingis and Turner might have. Both with get blocks, while Turner should get marginally more steals.

Porzingis will take more shots and have a higher usage, so Porzingis always gets the nod over Turner in just about every format. The only problem Porzingis runs into is that he needs to stay healthy. If he cannot play a full season then he does not provide as much value compared to someone who can.

If you are looking to make your next pick and managed to read this entire article, you need to go with Porzingis. If he does succumb to an injury late in the season, it still gives you more than enough time to monitor other options and backup plans. Turner is also primed for a breakout season so this does not mean to completely fade the 21-year old center in Indiana. He's still an awesome consolation prize if Porzingis goes off the board before you can take him. Both players will have the opportunity to be the leaders on their young teams and that means the stats will soon reflect that.

 

More 2017-18 Fantasy Basketball Analysis




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

Pete Fairbanks

Marlins Agree on One-Year Deal
Josh Johnson

to Start at QB on Thursday Against Dallas
Brooks Koepka

Leaving LIV Golf
Davante Adams

Could Sit Out Final Two Regular-Season Games
Brock Bowers

Placed on Injured Reserve Due to Lingering Knee Injury
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Expected to Play on Christmas Day Against the Vikings
Connor McDavid

Finishes Battle of Alberta With Five Assists
Karel Vejmelka

Battling Upper-Body Injury
Alexandre Texier

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Against Bruins
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
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
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

RANKINGS

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