Fantasy Basketball ADP Smashers 2023 - Points Leagues

There aren't many things fantasy managers can agree on entering each NBA season. However, Nikola Jokic is widely considered the best basketball player on the planet, meaning he remains No. 1 overall in preseason ADP rankings in both category and point leagues. But more than a few players, specifically Luka Doncic and Joel Embiid, are knocking at the door to surpass him as the undisputed top fantasy option.

Other players are looking to climb the rankings ladder after last season, with Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Tyrese Haliburton, to name a few, looking to finish the season in the MVP conversation. Additionally, question marks surround guys like Karl-Anthony Towns, who didn't play much during the 2022-23 campaign, and Ja Morant, who will miss 25 games due to suspension.

This article highlights players capable of smashing their preseason ADP value in point league formats.

Cade Cunningham 

Cunningham missed nearly all of his sophomore campaign because of a shin injury. However, he has recovered fully and received rave reviews over the summer while playing for the U.S. Select Team ahead of the FIBA World Cup. The 22-year-old is a career 30.9% shooter from downtown, which isn't ideal. But he offers so much more and could thrive under new Pistons head coach Monty Williams.

Jalen Brunson

Brunson arrived in New York after playing second fiddle to Luka Doncic in Dallas. The 27-year-old smashed his career averages in his first season as a Knick, logging a career-high 24.0 points while sinking the bottom of the net on 41.6% of his tries from distance. Brunson doesn't do much outside of scoring points, at least compared to other guards. Yet, now that Brunson has a year with Thibs under his belt, he may be even better, which is scary to consider.

Deandre Ayton

The Trail Blazers finally moved on from Damian Lillard, so Portland officially entered the rebuilding phase. Now, the roster consists of young, up-and-coming players, all capable of having breakout years. Without a doubt, Scoot Henderson has Rookie of the Year aspirations and a fantastic chance of winning the award as the presumed top offensive option in Portland. On the other hand, Ayton is a guy who may have some untapped potential.

The 2018 No. 1 overall pick hasn't had a horrible career. Yet, he wasn't a favorite of former Suns head coach Monty Williams and was rumored to be traded for years before it eventually happened. Ayton has logged a double-double and a block in his five years of service. However, he is predicted to have a more prominent role for the Blazers this season and could smash his ADP projections, especially if he improves defensively.

Chet Holmgren

Holmgren projects to be a fifth or sixth-round draft pick ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. There were questions about the 2022 No. 2 overall pick's size, specifically lack of it, entering his first year. Those concerns were amplified after he suffered a Lisfrance injury in August 2022 while attempting to defend LeBron James during a pickup game, ending his official rookie season before it began. Fast forward to the 2023 Summer League, where it was apparent Holmgren had been in the gym. He was also dominant on the court, finishing Summer League by averaging 20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.5 blocks, and 1.0 steals.

Walker Kessler

Kessler got off to a slow start in 2022-23. Yet, he picked up the pace by averaging 13.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks in March. The seven-footer started just 40 of his 74 appearances last season, so it's reasonable to assume he'll be even better throughout the 2023-24 campaign, potentially even entering Defensive Player of the Year territory.

Jalen Duren

Duren ended his inaugural season by averaging 9.1 points and 8.9 rebounds across 67 games. But head coach Monty Williams has praised Duren throughout training camp, specifically due to his leadership. The 19-year-old probably won't produce consistently in 2023-24, although it looks like he has a lock on the starting job in the middle, with James Wiseman and Marvin Bagley III left fighting for backup minutes. There's even talk of Duren getting more involved as a shooter.

Russell Westbrook

Westbrook has received no love over the last few years. Sure, the 2017 MVP isn't the triple-double threat he once was. His shooting percentages and turnover rate also aren't the greatest. However, his durability is second to none, which can go a long way. Westbrook averaged 15.8 points, 7.6 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 21 games with the Clippers last season. But he has a better rapport with his teammates, and his presence for a full Clippers' training camp could improve things significantly.

Ben Simmons

To say Simmons was a disappointment last season would be an understatement. After missing an entire season, most were expecting great things from the former LSU Tiger in his first year as a Net. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case, as he averaged a career-low 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.3 steals with Brooklyn. Even worse, he logged only 42 games because of various injuries. Over the summer, there were constant updates about Simmons' progress.

Fortunately, it appears he's 100% after undergoing back surgery. Simmons also looks in excellent shape and plans to return to the All-Star conversation. Category managers know his free-throw shooting is terrible. He also doesn't shoot from deep. However, since this is about points setups, so nobody should care. That said, Simmons was, at one point, one of the best defenders and passers in the NBA, so why not take a chance?

Immanuel Quickley

Quickley hopes to receive an extension with the Knicks after finishing last season as the Sixth Man of the Year runner-up. He appeared in 81 games in 2022-23 and statistically had the best season of his career. The 24-year-old should remain a routine fixture in Thibs' rotation, giving him a shot to surpass his preseason expectations.

Players To Consider a Round Sooner Than ADP: Julius Randle, Karl-Anthony Towns, Evan Mobley, Paolo Banchero, Kyle Kuzma, Jordan Poole, Scottie Barnes, Scoot Henderson, Jakob Poeltl, Ja Morant, Anfernee Simons, Tyus Jones, Austin Reaves, Grant Williams, Jonathan Kuminga, Mike Conley, Dennis Smith Jr., Max Strus

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