TAP FOR 6 MONTHS OF PREMIUM FREE 💰
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.

Featured Promo: New Novig users get a $25 purchase match (50% discount up to $25) on your first Novig deposit, and 6 free months of RotoBaller's "Big-4" Premium Pass (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL) which includes exclusive tools for Betting, Props, DFS and more! CLAIM IT NOW

 

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

Cooper Flagg

Is Unlikely To Play Thursday Against Utah
Lauri Markkanen

Will Not Be Available Thursday Against Dallas
Davion Mitchell

Ruled Out Thursday
Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Will Not Play Against the Celtics
Devin Booker

Will Not Play Thursday
Kyle Kuzma

Added to the Injury Report as Questionable
Jonathan Kuminga

Demanding Trade from Warriors
Nico Collins

a "Long Shot" to Play in Divisional Round
CFB

Auburn, Ohio State the Lead Suitors for Kyle Parker
CFB

Oregon QB Transfer Bryson Beaver Linked to Georgia, Kentucky
CFB

Jake Merklinger Commits to UConn
Tobias Harris

Set for First Appearance in 2026
New York Giants

John Harbaugh Finalizing Deal With Giants
Isaiah Stewart

Expected to Return Thursday
Jalen Duren

on Track to Return Thursday
Bilal Coulibaly

Departs Early Due to Back Problem
Daniel Gafford

Makes Early Exit Wednesday
Cooper Flagg

Exits With Ankle Injury Wednesday Night
Jalen Brunson

Injures Right Ankle Versus Kings
Darius Garland

Exits Early Wednesday With Foot Injury
Jalen Suggs

to Miss Sixth Straight Game Thursday
Wendell Carter Jr.

Cleared to Play in Berlin
Myles Turner

Available Thursday
Deni Avdija

Likely to Remain Out Thursday
Jaylen Brown

Ready to Face Heat Thursday
Bruce Brown

Spencer Jones, Bruce Brown Available Wednesday
Mackenzie Blackwood

Activated From Injured Reserve
Ben Griffin

Looks To Stay Hot In 2026
Tom Wilson

Cleared for Contact, Could Return Thursday
Neal Pionk

Lands on Injured Reserve, Out Week-to-Week
Jamie Drysdale

Activated From Injured Reserve
Corey Perry

Unavailable Wednesday
Teuvo Teravainen

to Miss at Least One Game
Connor Bedard

Returns to Practice
Alexandre Texier

Canadiens Sign Alexandre Texier to Two-Year Extension
New York Giants

Giants Making "Massive Push" to Hire John Harbaugh on Wednesday
Ranger Suárez

Ranger Suarez Agrees to Five-Year Deal With Red Sox
CFB

Dante Moore Not Entering 2026 NFL Draft, Will Return to Oregon
NFL

Mike Tomlin Doesn't Plan to Coach in 2026
Travis Hunter

Expected to Play More Defense in 2026
CFB

FBS Coaches Unanimously Vote to Expand Redshirt Eligibility to Nine Games
CFB

Ohio State Transfer Mylan Graham Signs with Notre Dame
CFB

Caden Durham Withdraws from Transfer Portal, Will Stay at LSU
Leon Draisaitl

Has Three Points in Tuesday's Loss
Joel Hofer

Controls Hurricanes Tuesday
Jordan Spieth

Perhaps the Most Intriguing Player at Sony Open
Jeremy Swayman

Posts First Shutout of the Season
Zach Werenski

Totals Three Points in Tuesday's Win
Chandler Stephenson

Available Wednesday
Aaron Rai

Looking For Putting Confidence at Waialae Country Club
Jonathan Marchessault

Moved to Injured Reserve
Brayden Point

Labeled Week-to-Week
Collin Morikawa

Isn't The Safe Play He Used to Be Ahead of Sony Open
Kurt Kitayama

Needs His Putting to Turn Around For Success at Year's First Event
Ryan Weathers

Yankees Add Rotation Depth, Acquire Ryan Weathers in Four-Player Deal
Robert Thomas

Out Tuesday
Jake Walman

Available Against Predators
Troy Terry

a Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Justin Sourdif

Won't Play Tuesday
Jakob Chychrun

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
Morgan Geekie

Available Tuesday
Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers Fire Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman
Pittsburgh Steelers

Mike Tomlin Stepping Down as Steelers Head Coach
CFB

Georgia Tech the Favorite to Land Justice Haynes?
Nolan Arenado

Cardinals Trade Nolan Arenado to Diamondbacks
Tom Kim

Desperately Needs a Solid Week at Sony Open
Billy Horschel

Hoping For a Fast Start to New Season at Sony Open
Corey Conners

Looks to Have a Return to Form in 2026
PGA

Chris Gotterup a Decent Play at Sony Open
Gary Woodland

Could Prosper at the Sony Open
Keith Mitchell

Unlikely to Contend at Sony Open
Robert MacIntyre

Looking for a Good Performance at the Sony Open
Michael Kim

Hopes to Start Sony Open Better This Week
Tom Hoge

Tries to Erase Poor 2025 Second Half in Hawaii
Brian Harman

Seeks Fresh Start in Hawaii
Eric Cole

Looks to Last Year for Success at Sony Open
Daniel Berger

Starts Off 2026 at Sony Open
Nico Collins

Suffers Concussion Against Steelers
Nico Collins

Carted to Locker Room for Concussion Evaluation
Kyle Tucker

Mets Meet With Kyle Tucker
Dalton Kincaid

"Should be Fine" for Divisional Round
Brooks Koepka

Officially Returning To PGA Tour
Tucker Kraft

Hopes to be Ready for Week 1 of Next Season
CFB

Georgia Lands Kentucky Transfer Dante Dowdell
Matthew Stafford

has "Little Sprain," Should be "Good to Go"
CFB

Sam Leavitt Expected to Sign with LSU
Green Bay Packers

Packers Expected to Work Out New Deal With Matt LaFleur in the "Coming Days"
CFB

Dylan Raiola Commits to Oregon
CFB

Isaiah Horton Landing with Texas A&M
George Kittle

Suffers Torn Achilles on Sunday
Omarion Hampton

Active for Wild-Card Round Against Patriots
George Kittle

Ruled Out After Non-Contact Achilles Injury
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Request Interview With Ejiro Evero
Los Angeles Rams

Mike LaFleur to Interview With Raiders and Cardinals
Aaron Rodgers

Steelers Open to Re-Signing Aaron Rodgers?
Matthew Stafford

X-Rays Come Back Negative
MacKenzie Gore

Yankees Pursuing Trade for MacKenzie Gore
Alex Bregman

Cubs Sign Alex Bregman to Five-Year, $175 Millon Contract
Freddie Freeman

Withdraws from World Baseball Classic

RANKINGS

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