Hey, hoop heads! As we gear up for an additional electrifying NBA season, it is time to uncover these hidden gems able to shine on the hardwood. This week, we’re specializing in 4 dynamic guards set to make a splash in your fantasy basketball leagues.
[Create or join a Yahoo Fantasy hoops league for the 2024-25 NBA season]
Put these gamers in your radar as they’re entering into extra outstanding roles and possess true breakout traits. Let’s break it down.
Immanuel Quickley, PG/SG, Toronto Raptors
The fifth-year guard lastly has a possibility to showcase his expertise as a full-time starter. Quickley gave us a glimpse of what to anticipate this upcoming season when he averaged 19 factors with 5 rebounds and 7 assists in 38 video games for the Raptors final season. He performed so properly that the Raptors prolonged Quickley by means of the 2028-2029 season, entrusting him as their franchise PG.
Per BetMGM, Quickley has the sixth-shortest odds (+2000) to win Most Improved Participant, a powerful sign that he is in for an enormous season. Following the mid-season commerce from the Knicks, Quickley’s enjoying time ballooned from 23 to 33 minutes per recreation. For these involved about Scottie Barnes consuming into Quickley’s utilization, he solely noticed a 2% decline with Barnes on the ground (24% to 22%). Quickley is a flexible fantasy participant who offers worth in most classes besides blocks and FG%.
His ADP sits within the fifth spherical, however I would transfer aggressively for him within the fourth spherical as a result of I anticipate he’ll end throughout the high 50 in each factors and class leagues this season.
Cam Thomas, SG, Brooklyn Nets
Cam Thomas has been a microwave bucket since getting into the league a number of years in the past. This season, we’ll see him emerge as the highest possibility and franchise participant for the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets. Thomas noticed a 30% utilization fee with Mikal Bridges current (he is now gone) and was one in every of 9 gamers underneath 23 years previous to common not less than 20 ppg final season.
Whereas Thomas is typecast as a chucker, that is the 12 months we’ll see some development in his playmaking talents. In 11 video games in March final 12 months, Thomas averaged 4.3 assists per recreation. Thomas provides the texture of Jordan Poole 2.0 from final 12 months, however not less than Thomas has built-in chemistry and familiarity with the crew, as he is been with Brooklyn since being drafted in 2021.
The Nets have a brand new coach, however given the roster and tanking aspirations, this offense will circulate by means of Thomas as each a scorer and facilitator. He may end within the high 10 in scoring this season, and with a lift in assists, 3s and probably steals, his seventh-round ADP seems to be honest contemplating the work he is about to place in because the Nets’ point of interest.
Jalen Suggs, PG/SG, Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic let Markelle Fultz stroll in free company, and whereas a number of guards have been rumored to be coming in, the Magic opted at hand the keys over to fourth-year guard Jalen Suggs. And why not? Suggs considerably improved in his third NBA season. He earned second-team All-Protection, and he elevated his FG% from 42% to 47% and shot 39.7% on 3s. He averaged simply 27 minutes per recreation final 12 months, so becoming a member of the beginning unit ought to get him over the 30-minute threshold to web further fantasy manufacturing.
Suggs began at SG in all 75 video games for the Magic final season. With the added accountability of now serving to to run the offense alongside Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, his worth went up in fantasy with the chance to generate extra assists. Extra minutes equals extra potential for setting new profession marks in factors, assists and steals per recreation. With an ADP within the ninth spherical, Suggs could possibly be one of many greatest steals in fantasy basketball drafts this season.
Brandin Podziemski, SG, Golden State Warriors
The Warriors’ determination to maneuver on from future Corridor of Famer Klay Thompson thrusts Podziemski into the beginning unit. When information dropped that the Warriors need Podz to try 8-10 3s per recreation, it mentioned loads about how the Warriors plan to make the most of him and the way a lot religion they’ve in his scoring skill. He shot near 39% from distance final 12 months, so it tracks. He’ll compete (at instances) with Jonathan Kuminga because the second choice to Stephen Curry, however that is a superb factor for his fantasy worth.
Podz was the most effective rebounding guards within the league as a rookie. His 11.7% rebounding mark was larger than Paolo Banchero and LeBron James. Josh Giddey, Luka Dončić and Russell Westbrook are the one guards with a better complete rebounding proportion than Podziemski.
Now that we have lined the scoring outlook and rebounding upside let’s get to his facilitation. He had 24 video games with not less than 5 assists final season, together with a season-best 14 dimes off the bench throughout 34 minutes towards the Grizzlies in February. He ran the second-unit offense at instances final season, and seeing 30+ minutes an evening ought to get him shut to 5 assists a recreation.
Podz will put on many hats for the Dubs, together with being one in every of their greatest on-ball defenders. After an offseason the place Podziemski performed on the USA Choose Crew, the breakout potential is actual. His Eleventh-round ADP is mispriced, and fantasy managers ought to scoop him up as a lot as potential late in drafts.
