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Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Denver Nuggets 2024-2025 fantasy basketball season recap: Nikola Jokic finishes on top...again
While the NBA Playoffs are in full swing, now is a good time to recap the fantasy basketball season for all 30 teams. In the following weeks, we will provide a recap for each team, starting with the team with the worst record and concluding with the NBA champion in June. Advertisement Another season removed from the franchise's first NBA championship, the Nuggets were part of a logjam behind top-2 seeds Oklahoma City and Houston in the Western Conference. While Nikola Jokic continued to do his usual work, finishing second in the voting for Most Valuable Player, the Nuggets did not always do their best to supplement the efforts of their best player. Two major changes were made late in the regular season, and ultimately, Denver was eliminated by Oklahoma City in the second round of the Western Conference Playoffs. Denver Nuggets 2024-2025 Season Recap Record: 50-32 (4th, West) Offensive Rating: 118.9 (4th) Advertisement Defensive Rating: 115.1 (21st) Net Rating: 3.8 (9th) Pace: 100.67 (8th) 2025 NBA Draft Picks: None Thought by many to be one of the teams with a chance of making noise in the Western Conference this season, the Nuggets extended their streak of 50-win seasons to three in 2024-25. However, the path traveled was anything but smooth. Injuries limited Aaron Gordon to 51 appearances, and the Nuggets' inconsistent bench production was an issue for most of the season. And then there was the decision made by Josh Kroenke late in the regular season that changed the path the Nuggets' franchise will take in the future. Advertisement Head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth not always seeing eye-to-eye on the roster was not a shocking development. However, instead of one party "winning" this proverbial tug of war, both lost. Kroenke decided to part ways with Malone and Booth with only a handful of games remaining in the regular season. While David Adelman took over as interim head coach and had the tag removed shortly after Denver's season concluded, the Nuggets are still searching for a new general manager. Whoever's selected to take over that role will have some work to do this offseason. Is Denver's player development good enough to have another young player emerge as a consistent contributor? And if not, how will they go about strengthening the bench, especially without a pick in June's NBA Draft? Jokic's status as one of the best players in the NBA is unquestioned, but the Nuggets will need to make improvements around him if they're to make a run at another title. Fantasy Standout: Nikola Jokic Given his production, this was an easy choice. Once again, The Joker was the top-ranked player in fantasy basketball, sitting atop the per-game rankings in eight- and nine-cat formats according to Basketball Monster. The only player in the conversation atop the rankings in total value was Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was also named the NBA's Most Valuable Player. Jokic has won that award in three of the last five years, and a case can be made that he's on par with the likes of prime Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James. Jokic may not win MVP every year, but you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who believes he isn't the best player in the NBA. Advertisement Jokic appeared in 70 games, averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.6 blocks and 2.0 three-pointers in 36.7 minutes per game. The first center to average a triple-double in NBA history, he shot 57.6 percent from the field and 80 percent from the foul line. Jokic missed five games in March due to right elbow and left ankle injuries, the former being an issue that nagged him for most of the season. While the timing wasn't great for fantasy managers competing in their league playoffs at the time, Jokic has been dependable from an availability standpoint. He's failed to appear in at least 70 games once in his career, playing 69 games during the 2022-23 campaign. The Nuggets have Jokic locked into a max contract through the 2027-28 season; given his importance to the franchise, he isn't going anywhere anytime soon. He'll go into the 2025-26 season atop many fantasy draft boards, with SGA and San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama being the other possible options. The latter is recovering from a blood clot that ended his season after the All-Star break. Fantasy Revelation: Christian Braun Advertisement With Denver losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency, Braun was thrust into a position where he needed to produce after coming off the bench in his first two seasons. Starting 77 of the 79 games he appeared in, Braun was one of the most-improved players in the NBA in 2024-25. He averaged 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.5 blocks and 1.1 three-pointers in 33.9 minutes, recording career-high numbers in each category. The efficiency was excellent, with the third-year guard shooting 58 percent from the field and 82.7 percent from the foul line. After recording one 20-point game in his first two seasons, Braun had 18 such nights in 2024-25. That included the Nuggets' April 6 loss to the Pacers in which he scored a career-high 30 points, shooting 12-of-16 from the field. Braun also recorded six double-doubles this season and finished ranked just outside the top-50 in nine-cat formats. In eight-cat formats, he was just outside the top-75. A late-round pick in standard league drafts ahead of the 2024-25 season, Braun will merit middle-round consideration next fall. Fantasy Disappointment: Julian Strawther Strawther was another player who Caldwell-Pope's exit would impact. While he played well in his limited minutes during Summer League, the second-year wing disappointed many fantasy managers who rolled the dice on him with a late-round draft pick. Strawther appeared in 65 games, averaging 9.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.4 three-pointers in 21.3 minutes. Making matters worse for him was a sprained left knee in March that sidelined the Nuggets wing for a month. Entering the season with a Yahoo! ADP of 142, Strawther finished outside the top-300 in eight- and nine-cat formats. While the expectations for him weren't high among fantasy managers, the hope was that Strawther would be more productive. Advertisement Fantasy Recaps/Look-Aheads Jamal Murray After being limited to 59 games the season prior, Murray made 67 appearances in 2024-25, the most in a season for him since the 2018-19 campaign (75). He also averaged a career-high 36.1 minutes per game and did not miss more than three consecutive games until late-April. A sprained right ankle cost Murray six games, with the Nuggets going 2-4 with wins over the Jazz and Kings. While he did have to deal with various nicks and bruises throughout the season, Murray was an excellent guard to have rostered in fantasy leagues. During the regular season, he averaged 21.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.3 three-pointers per game, shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 88.6 percent from the foul line. A top-20 player in nine-cat formats, Murray was a top-25 player in eight-cat formats, exceeding his Yahoo! ADP of 54 by a significant margin. Based on his play this season, should fantasy managers select Murray within the first two rounds of standard league drafts? Probably not. He should not be on draft boards after the first 50 picks, especially since players like Boston's Jayson Tatum and Dallas' Kyrie Irving will be unavailable to begin the 2025-26 season. Michael Porter Jr. From a statistical standpoint, the 2024-25 season was the best of Porter's NBA career. He posted career-high averages in points (18.2) and assists (2.1) while also averaging 7.0 rebounds, 0.6 steals and 2.5 three-pointers per game. Making 77 appearances, Porter shot 50.4 percent from the field, the first time he made more than half his attempts in a season since the 2020-21 campaign, and 76.8 percent from the foul line. While availability was an issue at the start of his NBA career, MPJ has played in 158 of a possible 164 regular-season games over the past two seasons. Advertisement So, why do some appear to be "down" on Porter? His play during the postseason has a lot to do with it, despite MPJ suffering a shoulder injury during the first round that limited his effectiveness. After scoring 21 points in Denver's Game 3 overtime win over the Thunder, he scored 10 points or less in each of the final four games, including a six-point effort in Game 7. Also impacting conversations surrounding Porter and his future in Denver may be his contract, as his current deal runs through the 2026-27 campaign. With a little over $79 million remaining on his deal, MPJ may be the player who moves if Denver decides to overhaul Jokic and Murray's supporting cast. As a Nugget, Porter should be a safe middle-round option in fantasy drafts, but many managers want more. Aaron Gordon To say this was the most challenging season of Gordon's NBA career would likely be an understatement. Having lost his older brother during the offseason, the Nuggets forward changed his uniform number to honor him. And there was the calf strain that proved problematic throughout the regular season, with Gordon appearing in just 51 games. He averaged 14.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.5 steals and 1.5 three-pointers in 28.4 minutes, shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 81 percent from the foul line. While Gordon had better seasons regarding overall field goal percentage, this was the best season of his career as a perimeter shooter. In addition to the career-high mark at the foul line, he shot 43.6 percent from three on 3.4 attempts per game. During the playoffs, Gordon made nearly 38 percent of his 4.1 three-point attempts and was also an 86 percent shooter from the foul line. With a Yahoo! ADP of 116, fantasy managers did not have wild expectations for Gordon ahead of the 2024-25 season. How much faith will managers have that his improvements as a shooter will last? The answer will determine just how high his ADP is next fall. Advertisement Russell Westbrook The Nuggets signed Westbrook to a two-year deal last summer, the second being a player option. While the maddening moments in which he exhibited poor shot selection or was a bit too loose with the basketball remained, the veteran point guard provided solid value for the balance of the season. Appearing in 75 games, Westbrook averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 three-pointers in 27.9 minutes. Shooting 44.9 percent from the field and 66.1 percent from the foul line, Westbrook's scoring average was more than two points higher than his 2023-24 mark with the Clippers (11.1 ppg). As has been the case for most of his career, there was a gap between Westbrook's value in eight- and nine-cat formats. Ranked just outside the top-100 in eight-cat formats, he was outside the top-175 in nine-cat formats due to an average of 3.2 turnovers per game. Westbrook's usage only trailed Jokic and Murray among Nuggets players, which was a bit surprising, given the role he was asked to fill. While deep-league managers may be willing to use a late-round pick on Westbrook, he'll be most valuable as a streamer when a team is down a starter. And that's if he decides to pick up his player option and remain with the Nuggets. Peyton Watson After playing 80 games last season, Watson made 68 appearances for the Nuggets in 2024-25 with 18 starts. His most significant opportunities came about when Denver was without Gordon due to his injuries, and as a starter, Watson averaged 11.6 points per game on 54.9 percent shooting. For the season, he recorded career-high averages in points (8.1), rebounds (3.4), assists (1.4), steals (0.7), blocks (1.4) and three-pointers (0.7), shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 69.3 percent from the foul line. Advertisement Most valuable as a deep-league streamer, Watson failed to finish within the top-200 in eight- and nine-cat formats this season. Depending on what the Nuggets do this offseason, he may be a player worth watching in deeper leagues, but Watson does not appear to be a must-draft player currently. Restricted Free Agents: Trey Alexander, P.J. Hall, Spencer Jones Unrestricted Free Agents: DeAndre Jordan, Vlatko Cancar Player Option: Russell Westbrook, Dario Saric
NBC Sports
27-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Denver Nuggets 2024-2025 fantasy basketball season recap: Nikola Jokic finishes on top...again
While the NBA Playoffs are in full swing, now is a good time to recap the fantasy basketball season for all 30 teams. In the following weeks, we will provide a recap for each team, starting with the team with the worst record and concluding with the NBA champion in June. Another season removed from the franchise's first NBA championship, the Nuggets were part of a logjam behind top-2 seeds Oklahoma City and Houston in the Western Conference. While Nikola Jokic continued to do his usual work, finishing second in the voting for Most Valuable Player, the Nuggets did not always do their best to supplement the efforts of their best player. Two major changes were made late in the regular season, and ultimately, Denver was eliminated by Oklahoma City in the second round of the Western Conference Playoffs. Denver Nuggets 2024-2025 Season Recap Record: 50-32 (4th, West) Offensive Rating: 118.9 (4th) Defensive Rating: 115.1 (21st) Net Rating: 3.8 (9th) Pace: 100.67 (8th) 2025 NBA Draft Picks: None Thought by many to be one of the teams with a chance of making noise in the Western Conference this season, the Nuggets extended their streak of 50-win seasons to three in 2024-25. However, the path traveled was anything but smooth. Injuries limited Aaron Gordon to 51 appearances, and the Nuggets' inconsistent bench production was an issue for most of the season. And then there was the decision made by Josh Kroenke late in the regular season that changed the path the Nuggets' franchise will take in the future. Head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth not always seeing eye-to-eye on the roster was not a shocking development. However, instead of one party 'winning' this proverbial tug of war, both lost. Kroenke decided to part ways with Malone and Booth with only a handful of games remaining in the regular season. While David Adelman took over as interim head coach and had the tag removed shortly after Denver's season concluded, the Nuggets are still searching for a new general manager. Whoever's selected to take over that role will have some work to do this offseason. Is Denver's player development good enough to have another young player emerge as a consistent contributor? And if not, how will they go about strengthening the bench, especially without a pick in June's NBA Draft? Jokic's status as one of the best players in the NBA is unquestioned, but the Nuggets will need to make improvements around him if they're to make a run at another title. Fantasy Standout: Nikola Jokic Given his production, this was an easy choice. Once again, The Joker was the top-ranked player in fantasy basketball, sitting atop the per-game rankings in eight- and nine-cat formats according to Basketball Monster. The only player in the conversation atop the rankings in total value was Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was also named the NBA's Most Valuable Player. Jokic has won that award in three of the last five years, and a case can be made that he's on par with the likes of prime Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James. Jokic may not win MVP every year, but you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who believes he isn't the best player in the NBA. Jokic appeared in 70 games, averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.6 blocks and 2.0 three-pointers in 36.7 minutes per game. The first center to average a triple-double in NBA history, he shot 57.6 percent from the field and 80 percent from the foul line. Jokic missed five games in March due to right elbow and left ankle injuries, the former being an issue that nagged him for most of the season. While the timing wasn't great for fantasy managers competing in their league playoffs at the time, Jokic has been dependable from an availability standpoint. He's failed to appear in at least 70 games once in his career, playing 69 games during the 2022-23 campaign. 🗣 HE'S BAAAAAAACK! After a 5-game absence due to an ankle injury, Nikola Jokić returned to the lineup & posted a stat line of: 39 PTS | 10 REB | 10 AST He joined Russell Westbrook, Oscar Robertson and Wilt Chamberlain as the 4th player with 30 triple-doubles in a season 🤯 The Nuggets have Jokic locked into a max contract through the 2027-28 season; given his importance to the franchise, he isn't going anywhere anytime soon. He'll go into the 2025-26 season atop many fantasy draft boards, with SGA and San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama being the other possible options. The latter is recovering from a blood clot that ended his season after the All-Star break. Fantasy Revelation: Christian Braun With Denver losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency, Braun was thrust into a position where he needed to produce after coming off the bench in his first two seasons. Starting 77 of the 79 games he appeared in, Braun was one of the most-improved players in the NBA in 2024-25. He averaged 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.5 blocks and 1.1 three-pointers in 33.9 minutes, recording career-high numbers in each category. The efficiency was excellent, with the third-year guard shooting 58 percent from the field and 82.7 percent from the foul line. After recording one 20-point game in his first two seasons, Braun had 18 such nights in 2024-25. That included the Nuggets' April 6 loss to the Pacers in which he scored a career-high 30 points, shooting 12-of-16 from the field. Braun also recorded six double-doubles this season and finished ranked just outside the top-50 in nine-cat formats. In eight-cat formats, he was just outside the top-75. A late-round pick in standard league drafts ahead of the 2024-25 season, Braun will merit middle-round consideration next fall. Fantasy Disappointment: Julian Strawther Strawther was another player who Caldwell-Pope's exit would impact. While he played well in his limited minutes during Summer League, the second-year wing disappointed many fantasy managers who rolled the dice on him with a late-round draft pick. Strawther appeared in 65 games, averaging 9.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.4 three-pointers in 21.3 minutes. Making matters worse for him was a sprained left knee in March that sidelined the Nuggets wing for a month. Entering the season with a Yahoo! ADP of 142, Strawther finished outside the top-300 in eight- and nine-cat formats. While the expectations for him weren't high among fantasy managers, the hope was that Strawther would be more productive. Fantasy Recaps/Look-Aheads Jamal Murray After being limited to 59 games the season prior, Murray made 67 appearances in 2024-25, the most in a season for him since the 2018-19 campaign (75). He also averaged a career-high 36.1 minutes per game and did not miss more than three consecutive games until late-April. A sprained right ankle cost Murray six games, with the Nuggets going 2-4 with wins over the Jazz and Kings. While he did have to deal with various nicks and bruises throughout the season, Murray was an excellent guard to have rostered in fantasy leagues. During the regular season, he averaged 21.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.3 three-pointers per game, shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 88.6 percent from the foul line. A top-20 player in nine-cat formats, Murray was a top-25 player in eight-cat formats, exceeding his Yahoo! ADP of 54 by a significant margin. Based on his play this season, should fantasy managers select Murray within the first two rounds of standard league drafts? Probably not. He should not be on draft boards after the first 50 picks, especially since players like Boston's Jayson Tatum and Dallas' Kyrie Irving will be unavailable to begin the 2025-26 season. Just an insane finish from Jamal Murray 👏 4Q getting started live on ESPN Michael Porter Jr. From a statistical standpoint, the 2024-25 season was the best of Porter's NBA career. He posted career-high averages in points (18.2) and assists (2.1) while also averaging 7.0 rebounds, 0.6 steals and 2.5 three-pointers per game. Making 77 appearances, Porter shot 50.4 percent from the field, the first time he made more than half his attempts in a season since the 2020-21 campaign, and 76.8 percent from the foul line. While availability was an issue at the start of his NBA career, MPJ has played in 158 of a possible 164 regular-season games over the past two seasons. So, why do some appear to be 'down' on Porter? His play during the postseason has a lot to do with it, despite MPJ suffering a shoulder injury during the first round that limited his effectiveness. After scoring 21 points in Denver's Game 3 overtime win over the Thunder, he scored 10 points or less in each of the final four games, including a six-point effort in Game 7. Also impacting conversations surrounding Porter and his future in Denver may be his contract, as his current deal runs through the 2026-27 campaign. With a little over $79 million remaining on his deal, MPJ may be the player who moves if Denver decides to overhaul Jokic and Murray's supporting cast. As a Nugget, Porter should be a safe middle-round option in fantasy drafts, but many managers want more. Aaron Gordon To say this was the most challenging season of Gordon's NBA career would likely be an understatement. Having lost his older brother during the offseason, the Nuggets forward changed his uniform number to honor him. And there was the calf strain that proved problematic throughout the regular season, with Gordon appearing in just 51 games. He averaged 14.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.5 steals and 1.5 three-pointers in 28.4 minutes, shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 81 percent from the foul line. While Gordon had better seasons regarding overall field goal percentage, this was the best season of his career as a perimeter shooter. In addition to the career-high mark at the foul line, he shot 43.6 percent from three on 3.4 attempts per game. During the playoffs, Gordon made nearly 38 percent of his 4.1 three-point attempts and was also an 86 percent shooter from the foul line. With a Yahoo! ADP of 116, fantasy managers did not have wild expectations for Gordon ahead of the 2024-25 season. How much faith will managers have that his improvements as a shooter will last? The answer will determine just how high his ADP is next fall. Russell Westbrook The Nuggets signed Westbrook to a two-year deal last summer, the second being a player option. While the maddening moments in which he exhibited poor shot selection or was a bit too loose with the basketball remained, the veteran point guard provided solid value for the balance of the season. Appearing in 75 games, Westbrook averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 three-pointers in 27.9 minutes. Shooting 44.9 percent from the field and 66.1 percent from the foul line, Westbrook's scoring average was more than two points higher than his 2023-24 mark with the Clippers (11.1 ppg). As has been the case for most of his career, there was a gap between Westbrook's value in eight- and nine-cat formats. Ranked just outside the top-100 in eight-cat formats, he was outside the top-175 in nine-cat formats due to an average of 3.2 turnovers per game. Westbrook's usage only trailed Jokic and Murray among Nuggets players, which was a bit surprising, given the role he was asked to fill. While deep-league managers may be willing to use a late-round pick on Westbrook, he'll be most valuable as a streamer when a team is down a starter. And that's if he decides to pick up his player option and remain with the Nuggets. Peyton Watson After playing 80 games last season, Watson made 68 appearances for the Nuggets in 2024-25 with 18 starts. His most significant opportunities came about when Denver was without Gordon due to his injuries, and as a starter, Watson averaged 11.6 points per game on 54.9 percent shooting. For the season, he recorded career-high averages in points (8.1), rebounds (3.4), assists (1.4), steals (0.7), blocks (1.4) and three-pointers (0.7), shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 69.3 percent from the foul line. Most valuable as a deep-league streamer, Watson failed to finish within the top-200 in eight- and nine-cat formats this season. Depending on what the Nuggets do this offseason, he may be a player worth watching in deeper leagues, but Watson does not appear to be a must-draft player currently. Restricted Free Agents: Trey Alexander, P.J. Hall, Spencer Jones Unrestricted Free Agents: DeAndre Jordan, Vlatko Cancar Player Option: Russell Westbrook, Dario Saric
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy Basketball MVPs: Who powered Yahoo's winningest teams and what we can learn
Every NBA season, certain players deliver outsized returns that fuel fantasy basketball championships. Thanks to Yahoo's data on the most rostered players on winning teams in head-to-head leagues, we can identify who made the biggest difference and what fantasy managers should learn from them heading into next season. Let's break down the top performers, the late-round steals and the statistical blueprints that these MVPs share. According to Yahoo's end-of-season data, the following five players were rostered most often on the best-performing fantasy squads: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 32.0% Nikola Jokić – 31.8% Dyson Daniels – 29.2% Brook Lopez – 22.6% Nikola Vučević – 22.2% SGA is the real-life MVP and fantasy basketball MVP. I lobbied for Josh Hart at the midway point because of his value relative to ADP (more on that later), but numbers don't lie. SGA was phenomenal once again, scoring over 30 PPG with elite steals, blocks for a guard, strong efficiency and low turnovers — checking every box in 9-cat. Regardless of format, he remains a top-3 fantasy pick heading into next season. Jokić, unsurprisingly, was a model of consistency, averaging the first triple-double of his career with elite efficiency at all three levels. His fantasy game has no weaknesses, and given his availability and production, he should be the consensus 1.01 next year. More surprisingly, defense catapulted Daniels into the top 3, and when factoring in his 144 ADP in the preseason, he's also in the conversation for fantasy MVP. Though not high-scorers, generating steals and blocks with a low turnover rate is invaluable for any successful fantasy squad. Multiple players taken well outside the top 100 in drafts ranked among the 20 most common players on winning teams. These late-round gems highlight the importance of monitoring breakout trends and low-cost contributors: Dyson Daniels (ADP 144.0) Josh Hart (ADP 116.7) Ivica Zubac (ADP 85.7) Christian Braun (ADP 143.5) Quentin Grimes (ADP: undrafted) : These players show that you don't need stars to win — just well-rounded players who fit your build and fill scarce stat categories. Also, striking first on the waiver wire could have netted substantial value this season, specifically players like Grimes and Braun/Daniels in shallower leagues. Across the top 25 MVPs, several trends emerged: Multi-category contributors are key. Most helped in 5+ categories, not just scoring. Low turnovers were a defining feature. Defensive stats (steals/blocks) were overrepresented, especially for non-bigs. Rebounds and assists from non-traditional positions (like guards) provided sneaky value. Efficient shooting (especially FG%) separated winners from volume scorers. : Winning in 9-cat is about balance and completeness, not flash. To better understand MVP traits, players were grouped into five statistical clusters using their Z-scores from Basketball Monster — more info on Z-scores — across fantasy categories: Cluster 2 has the highest MVP density. Efficient bigs cover several categories and are widely available until the later rounds. Cluster 0 is my favorite. The playmaking guards who cover a breadth of statistics, but also allow you to execute punting, since most playmakers have high turnover rates and varying FG percentages. I tend to lean into this type of player in the early rounds to secure PTS, ASTS, 3PM and STL even though it may not be represented — with players like Tyrese Haliburton and James Harden — in the top tier of MVPs. Cluster 1 is an emerging class focusing more on defensively gifted wings with lower usage rates because of their roles. Examples are Derrick White, Dyson Daniels and Josh Hart. Clusters 3 and 4 are high-risk, low-return bucket-getters like Keyonte George. Love the upside, but it's probably a trap. Prioritize players in Clusters 0, 1, and 2 — these archetypes consistently show up on winning teams. Cluster 2 (efficient bigs) represents the most MVPs in 2024-25; Cluster 1 (defensive wings/glue guys) is the sleeper MVP zone. Don't chase empty volume scorers — efficiency, stocks and low TOs win 9-cat leagues. Finding late-round targets with high steals or blocks upside offers massive returns relative to ADP. Chase production, not headlines. This framework builds rosters that actually win. We'll revisit candidates that fall into each of these archetypes for next season down the line to help you prep for your 2025-26 fantasy hoops drafts.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brooklyn Nets 2024-2025 Fantasy Basketball Season Recap: Cam Thomas, Nic Claxton underwhelm
While the NBA Playoffs are in full swing, now is a good time to recap the fantasy basketball season for all 30 teams. In the following weeks, we will provide a recap for each team, starting with the team with the worst record and concluding with the NBA champion in June. Advertisement The Brooklyn Nets are the focus of this column, with the franchise shifting its focus to the beginnings of a rebuild. Moves made during the offseason replenished the team's draft assets, most notably the decision to trade Mikal Bridges to the Knicks for five future first-round picks. While Brooklyn was in a bad spot regarding competing this season, the long-term rebuild is in a better place. Brooklyn Nets 2024-2025 Season Recap Record: 26-56 (12th, East) Offensive Rating: 108.1 (28th) Defensive Rating: 115.4 (23rd) Net Rating: -7.3 (26th) Pace: 96.73 (28th) 2025 NBA Draft Picks: Nine percent chance of winning draft lottery, 19 (from Milwaukee), 26 (from New York), 27 (from Houston), 36 Advertisement The Nets entered last offseason with a limited draft war chest, but having a clear need to rebuild set the stage for lead executive Sean Marks to address that. Mikal Bridges was traded to the Knicks, with Brooklyn receiving five future first-round picks. The Nets were also able to retrieve picks from Milwaukee and Houston, giving the franchise a total of four firsts to work with in June's draft. However, those changes put the Nets in a difficult spot regarding their ability to compete for the entire 2024-25 season. Jordi Fernández's team didn't truly get into trouble until January, enduring a stretch in which they lost 12 of their next 13 games. While there was still a chance of reaching the Play-In tournament until March, it was clear that Brooklyn's goal was to be in the draft lottery for what is projected to be a loaded incoming rookie class. Among the Nets' rotation players, Cameron Johnson was the only one who exceeded his Yahoo! ADP this season. Brooklyn struggled with its offensive efficiency, ranking 29th in field goal percentage and 27th in effective field goal percentage. Add in subpar defensive production, and the result was Brooklyn finishing 12th in the East. Fantasy Standout: Cameron Johnson Johnson enjoyed the most productive season of his NBA career in 2024-25, capitalizing on the increased opportunities that came his way. In 57 games, he averaged 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.8 three-pointers in 31.6 minutes, shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 89.3 percent from the foul line. Ranked just outside the top-50 in nine-cat per-game value, Johnson was a sixth-round player in eight-cat formats according to Basketball Monster. He scored at least 20 points on 21 occasions, more than triple his tally from the season prior (six), headlined by a 37-point effort in a November 22 loss to the 76ers. Advertisement While he is extension-eligible this summer, Johnson has two more guaranteed seasons remaining on his current contract. He stands to be a key figure in Brooklyn's future, but his availability is a concern. On three separate occasions, Johnson missed at least five straight games, and he has not made at least 60 appearances in a season since the 2021-22 campaign. While the production shows Johnson can provide middle-round value in 12-team leagues, the track record regarding his availability suggests that fantasy managers may be able to get him a little later. Fantasy Revelation: Keon Johnson There wasn't a legitimate fantasy revelation in Brooklyn this season. While younger players received every opportunity to pick up additional rotation minutes, no one stood out as a "must-roster" player. Johnson is the pick here because of his availability, playing in 79 of a possible 82 games. Making a career-high 56 starts, he averaged 10.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.6 three-pointers in 24.4 minutes, shooting 38.9 percent from the field and 77.0 percent from the foul line. Advertisement While Johnson kept the turnovers in check, the efficiency was lacking due to his poor shooting. However, he did play well to end the season, averaging 14.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.4 three-pointers over his last eight appearances, shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 80 percent from the foul line. Johnson has a team option for next season, and his play may have been enough to earn a more concrete opportunity with the Nets in 2025-26. That said, by no means should fantasy managers target him in drafts, regardless of league size. Fantasy Disappointment: Nic Claxton As a career 53.7 percent shooter at the foul line, Claxton has been a player worth targeting for fantasy managers willing to punt that category. Unfortunately, his production decreased in other categories where the sixth-year center is expected to provide solid value. In 70 games, Claxton averaged 10.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.4 blocks in 26.9 minutes, shooting 56.3 percent from the field. His points, rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage were all down from the 2023-24 campaign. While still a top-75 player in free-throw percentage-punt builds, Claxton has the potential to be better, especially after nearly cracking the top-25 in 2023-24. That said, placing the blame solely on Claxton for his 2024-25 season may not be entirely fair. The roster changed considerably, and three-plus weeks passed between the Nets' decision to trade Dennis Schroder to the Warriors and the return of D'Angelo Russell. And Russell was not guaranteed to be in the lineup every night, either. Instability at point guard can be a big's worst enemy, whether we're talking "real" or fantasy basketball. If Brooklyn can solidify its roster this offseason, that should help Claxton in the 2025-26 season. Fantasy Recaps/Look-Aheads Cam Thomas: Advertisement Given the moves made by the Nets last offseason, many thought the stage was set for Thomas to go bonkers offensively. And things got off to an excellent start, as he scored 24 points or more in five of his first six games. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury suffered during a November 25 win over the Warriors sidelined Thomas for just over a month, and he would play two games before aggravating that injury. While he would return just after the All-Star break, Cam would appear in six more games before being ruled out for the rest of the season in mid-March. He did average career-highs in points (24.0), rebounds (3.3), assists (3.3) and three-pointers (2.7), but Thomas' efficiency took a hit with the enhanced role. He shot 43.8 percent from the field and averaged 2.5 turnovers per game; those aren't terrible numbers, but they can be more impactful considering Thomas's lack of defensive production. While unable to live up to his Yahoo! ADP of 69, the Nets guard was a top-100 player in eight-cat formats. Thomas will be a restricted free agent this summer, so it will be interesting to see what offers he receives and how far the Nets are willing to go to keep him. D'Angelo Russell: Russell began this season with the Lakers, but it was clear that the team was willing to move him for the right price. The Nets acquired Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three future second-round picks from the Lakers in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton in late December, beginning the point guard's second stint in Brooklyn. Starting 26 of the 29 games he appeared in for the Nets, Russell averaged 12.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.0 three-pointers in 24.7 minutes, shooting 36.7 percent from the field and 82.6 percent from the foul line. Advertisement Having appeared in a total of 58 games, Russell ranked outside the top-150 in nine-cat formats, and just within that threshold in eight-cat formats. The inefficient shooting did him no favors, and that was not an issue he was able to clean up upon returning to Brooklyn. Russell, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, told ClutchPoints in April that he hopes to return to the Nets. He can serve as a veteran mentor to what may be an incredibly young group, even if the team does not hold onto all four of its first-round picks. Regarding fantasy value, he'll likely be a late-round target after failing to hit his Yahoo! ADP (75). Noah Clowney: For those who believed Clowney had the potential to be a breakout player in fantasy basketball due to the Nets' many roster changes, this season was a disappointment. Injuries limited him to 46 appearances, with the Nets ruling him out for the rest of the season in early April due to a sprained ankle. Making 20 starts, Clowney averaged 9.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.5 blocks and 1.9 three-pointers per game while shooting 35.8 percent from the field and 83.8 percent from the foul line. While the averages did improve compared to his rookie year numbers, Clowney's field goal percentage plummeted. Add in the availability issues, and he was barely a top-300 player in eight- and nine-cat formats. Clowney had a Yahoo! ADP of 144, so fantasy managers who took the plunge in drafts did not lose too much. However, his 2024-25 may dissuade some from using a late-round pick on Clowney next fall. Advertisement Day'Ron Sharpe: Sharpe's season got off to a rocky start, as a hamstring injury suffered in early October delayed his season debut until early December. The Nets' backup would only miss one game before a sprained right knee ended his season in late March. While Sharpe did have some moments where he showed the ability to provide tangible fantasy value, most notably a 25/15/5/2/3 stat line as a starter in a February 26 loss to the Thunder, the backup role made him a difficult player to rely on. In 50 appearances, making two starts, he averaged 7.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.8 blocks in 18.1 minutes, shooting 52.1 percent from the field and 75.7 percent from the foul line. Sharpe will be a restricted free agent this summer, with a return to Brooklyn likely locking him into a backup role due to Nic Claxton's presence. The circumstances make Sharpe a challenging player to roster in fantasy leagues, except for the occasional streaming opportunity. Ziaire Williams: Advertisement After spending the first three seasons of his NBA career in Memphis, Williams was traded to Brooklyn along with a 2030 second-round pick and a trade exception in exchange for Nemanja Dangubic and Mamadie Diakite. After being part of a crowded wing rotation with the Grizzlies, the move to Brooklyn appeared to be one in which Williams would have more opportunities to produce. He made a career-high 63 appearances, averaging 10.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.6 three-pointers in 24.5 minutes, shooting 41.2 percent from the field and 82.1 percent from the foul line. While Williams did finish the season with career-best averages in points, rebounds, steals and three-pointers, the production was not enough to impact fantasy basketball. He ended the season ranked just inside the top-200 in eight- and nine-cat formats, not doing enough to make himself a worthy streamer in most leagues during the "silly season." The more important question: did he do enough to earn himself some money this summer? Williams will be a restricted free agent, but he's unlikely to be a player worth targeting in most fantasy leagues. Trendon Watford: Advertisement Like Sharpe, Watford's 2024-25 season got off to a late start due to a hamstring injury suffered during the preseason. The versatile forward would make his season debut on November 17, appearing in 13 games before another hamstring injury put him back on the shelf until late January. Watford would enjoy two separate stretches of at least five straight games in double figures, and he finished the season scoring at least 11 points in five of his last six. Making 44 appearances, the Nets forward averaged 10.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.7 three-pointers in 20.8 minutes. Watford, who shot 46.9 percent from the field and 76.2 percent from the foul line, recorded career-best averages in points, assists, steals and three-pointers. Even with averages of 11.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.8 three-pointers in his last 20 games, Watford was ranked outside the top-200 in eight-cat formats. He'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer, but it isn't easy to envision a scenario in which Watford lands a role that will make him fantasy-relevant in 2025-26. Jalen Wilson: Wilson finished the 2024-25 season on a high note, scoring at least 12 points in five of his last six outings. He would start 22 of the 79 games he appeared in, averaging 9.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.5 steals and 1.5 three-pointers in 25.7 minutes, shooting 39.7 percent from the field and 81.8 percent from the foul line. While the field goal percentage left something to be desired, Wilson made improvements in points, rebounds, assists, steals and three-pointers compared to the averages recorded during his rookie season. Advertisement He scored 20 points twice in his last six appearances, averaging 15.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.5 steals and 3.8 three-pointers per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 70.6 percent from the foul line. The Nets hold a team option on Wilson for next season, and he may have done enough to earn another opportunity with the team. However, the team's decision may depend on various factors, including how they approach the draft in June. Either way, Wilson will likely be more of an in-season streamer than a player worth selecting in most fantasy drafts. Dariq Whitehead: After only appearing in two NBA games as a rookie, Whitehead played in 20 games this season. The 2023 first-round pick averaged 5.7 points, 1.5 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 1.7 three-pointers in 12.3 minutes, shooting 40.6 percent from the field and 60 percent from the foul line. Whitehead got many of his shots from beyond the arc, as he had a 77.1 percent three-point attempt rate in 2024-25. The numbers aren't good enough to make him a player worth monitoring in most redraft leagues, but the Nets wing may be of interest to some competing in dynasty formats. Assuming Whitehead will play in Summer League, this will be a critical summer as he looks to establish himself as a pro. De'Anthony Melton: Advertisement Melton began his season with the Warriors, with Golden State hopeful that he could be a difference-maker for them, especially as a defender. Unfortunately, he only appeared in six games before suffering a torn left ACL in late November. The Nets would acquire Melton as part of the deal that sent Dennis Schroder to Golden State, with the benefit being his expiring contract. Melton has undoubtedly had his moments as a fantasy asset, but he's a difficult player to trust fully after playing 44 games the last two seasons. He'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer, which is another issue to consider. Restricted Free Agents: Cameron Thomas, Ziaire Williams, Day'Ron Sharpe, Reece Beekman Unrestricted Free Agents: D'Angelo Russell, De'Anthony Melton, Trendon Watford Team Option: Keon Johnson, Jalen Wilson, Tyrese Martin, Drew Timme
NBC Sports
29-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Brooklyn Nets 2024-2025 Fantasy Basketball Season Recap: Cam Thomas, Nic Claxton underwhelm
While the NBA Playoffs are in full swing, now is a good time to recap the fantasy basketball season for all 30 teams. In the following weeks, we will provide a recap for each team, starting with the team with the worst record and concluding with the NBA champion in June. The Brooklyn Nets are the focus of this column, with the franchise shifting its focus to the beginnings of a rebuild. Moves made during the offseason replenished the team's draft assets, most notably the decision to trade Mikal Bridges to the Knicks for five future first-round picks. While Brooklyn was in a bad spot regarding competing this season, the long-term rebuild is in a better place. Brooklyn Nets 2024-2025 Season Recap Record: 26-56 (12th, East) Offensive Rating: 108.1 (28th) Defensive Rating: 115.4 (23rd) Net Rating: -7.3 (26th) Pace: 96.73 (28th) 2025 NBA Draft Picks: Nine percent chance of winning draft lottery, 19 (from Milwaukee), 26 (from New York), 27 (from Houston), 36 The Nets entered last offseason with a limited draft war chest, but having a clear need to rebuild set the stage for lead executive Sean Marks to address that. Mikal Bridges was traded to the Knicks, with Brooklyn receiving five future first-round picks. The Nets were also able to retrieve picks from Milwaukee and Houston, giving the franchise a total of four firsts to work with in June's draft. However, those changes put the Nets in a difficult spot regarding their ability to compete for the entire 2024-25 season. Jordi Fernández's team didn't truly get into trouble until January, enduring a stretch in which they lost 12 of their next 13 games. While there was still a chance of reaching the Play-In tournament until March, it was clear that Brooklyn's goal was to be in the draft lottery for what is projected to be a loaded incoming rookie class. Among the Nets' rotation players, Cameron Johnson was the only one who exceeded his Yahoo! ADP this season. Brooklyn struggled with its offensive efficiency, ranking 29th in field goal percentage and 27th in effective field goal percentage. Add in subpar defensive production, and the result was Brooklyn finishing 12th in the East. Fantasy Standout: Cameron Johnson Johnson enjoyed the most productive season of his NBA career in 2024-25, capitalizing on the increased opportunities that came his way. In 57 games, he averaged 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.8 three-pointers in 31.6 minutes, shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 89.3 percent from the foul line. Ranked just outside the top-50 in nine-cat per-game value, Johnson was a sixth-round player in eight-cat formats according to Basketball Monster. He scored at least 20 points on 21 occasions, more than triple his tally from the season prior (six), headlined by a 37-point effort in a November 22 loss to the 76ers. While he is extension-eligible this summer, Johnson has two more guaranteed seasons remaining on his current contract. He stands to be a key figure in Brooklyn's future, but his availability is a concern. On three separate occasions, Johnson missed at least five straight games, and he has not made at least 60 appearances in a season since the 2021-22 campaign. While the production shows Johnson can provide middle-round value in 12-team leagues, the track record regarding his availability suggests that fantasy managers may be able to get him a little later. Cam Johnson with a combined 93.2 FPTS over his past two games after going off for 9️⃣ 3PM Fantasy Revelation: Keon Johnson There wasn't a legitimate fantasy revelation in Brooklyn this season. While younger players received every opportunity to pick up additional rotation minutes, no one stood out as a 'must-roster' player. Johnson is the pick here because of his availability, playing in 79 of a possible 82 games. Making a career-high 56 starts, he averaged 10.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.6 three-pointers in 24.4 minutes, shooting 38.9 percent from the field and 77.0 percent from the foul line. While Johnson kept the turnovers in check, the efficiency was lacking due to his poor shooting. However, he did play well to end the season, averaging 14.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.4 three-pointers over his last eight appearances, shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 80 percent from the foul line. Johnson has a team option for next season, and his play may have been enough to earn a more concrete opportunity with the Nets in 2025-26. That said, by no means should fantasy managers target him in drafts, regardless of league size. Fantasy Disappointment: Nic Claxton As a career 53.7 percent shooter at the foul line, Claxton has been a player worth targeting for fantasy managers willing to punt that category. Unfortunately, his production decreased in other categories where the sixth-year center is expected to provide solid value. In 70 games, Claxton averaged 10.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.4 blocks in 26.9 minutes, shooting 56.3 percent from the field. His points, rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage were all down from the 2023-24 campaign. While still a top-75 player in free-throw percentage-punt builds, Claxton has the potential to be better, especially after nearly cracking the top-25 in 2023-24. That said, placing the blame solely on Claxton for his 2024-25 season may not be entirely fair. The roster changed considerably, and three-plus weeks passed between the Nets' decision to trade Dennis Schroder to the Warriors and the return of D'Angelo Russell. And Russell was not guaranteed to be in the lineup every night, either. Instability at point guard can be a big's worst enemy, whether we're talking 'real' or fantasy basketball. If Brooklyn can solidify its roster this offseason, that should help Claxton in the 2025-26 season. Fantasy Recaps/Look-Aheads Cam Thomas: Given the moves made by the Nets last offseason, many thought the stage was set for Thomas to go bonkers offensively. And things got off to an excellent start, as he scored 24 points or more in five of his first six games. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury suffered during a November 25 win over the Warriors sidelined Thomas for just over a month, and he would play two games before aggravating that injury. While he would return just after the All-Star break, Cam would appear in six more games before being ruled out for the rest of the season in mid-March. He did average career-highs in points (24.0), rebounds (3.3), assists (3.3) and three-pointers (2.7), but Thomas' efficiency took a hit with the enhanced role. He shot 43.8 percent from the field and averaged 2.5 turnovers per game; those aren't terrible numbers, but they can be more impactful considering Thomas's lack of defensive production. While unable to live up to his Yahoo! ADP of 69, the Nets guard was a top-100 player in eight-cat formats. Thomas will be a restricted free agent this summer, so it will be interesting to see what offers he receives and how far the Nets are willing to go to keep him. D'Angelo Russell: Russell began this season with the Lakers, but it was clear that the team was willing to move him for the right price. The Nets acquired Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three future second-round picks from the Lakers in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton in late December, beginning the point guard's second stint in Brooklyn. Starting 26 of the 29 games he appeared in for the Nets, Russell averaged 12.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.0 three-pointers in 24.7 minutes, shooting 36.7 percent from the field and 82.6 percent from the foul line. Having appeared in a total of 58 games, Russell ranked outside the top-150 in nine-cat formats, and just within that threshold in eight-cat formats. The inefficient shooting did him no favors, and that was not an issue he was able to clean up upon returning to Brooklyn. Russell, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, told ClutchPoints in April that he hopes to return to the Nets. He can serve as a veteran mentor to what may be an incredibly young group, even if the team does not hold onto all four of its first-round picks. Regarding fantasy value, he'll likely be a late-round target after failing to hit his Yahoo! ADP (75). Noah Clowney: For those who believed Clowney had the potential to be a breakout player in fantasy basketball due to the Nets' many roster changes, this season was a disappointment. Injuries limited him to 46 appearances, with the Nets ruling him out for the rest of the season in early April due to a sprained ankle. Making 20 starts, Clowney averaged 9.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.5 blocks and 1.9 three-pointers per game while shooting 35.8 percent from the field and 83.8 percent from the foul line. While the averages did improve compared to his rookie year numbers, Clowney's field goal percentage plummeted. Add in the availability issues, and he was barely a top-300 player in eight- and nine-cat formats. Clowney had a Yahoo! ADP of 144, so fantasy managers who took the plunge in drafts did not lose too much. However, his 2024-25 may dissuade some from using a late-round pick on Clowney next fall. Day'Ron Sharpe: Sharpe's season got off to a rocky start, as a hamstring injury suffered in early October delayed his season debut until early December. The Nets' backup would only miss one game before a sprained right knee ended his season in late March. While Sharpe did have some moments where he showed the ability to provide tangible fantasy value, most notably a 25/15/5/2/3 stat line as a starter in a February 26 loss to the Thunder, the backup role made him a difficult player to rely on. In 50 appearances, making two starts, he averaged 7.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.8 blocks in 18.1 minutes, shooting 52.1 percent from the field and 75.7 percent from the foul line. Sharpe will be a restricted free agent this summer, with a return to Brooklyn likely locking him into a backup role due to Nic Claxton's presence. The circumstances make Sharpe a challenging player to roster in fantasy leagues, except for the occasional streaming opportunity. Ziaire Williams: After spending the first three seasons of his NBA career in Memphis, Williams was traded to Brooklyn along with a 2030 second-round pick and a trade exception in exchange for Nemanja Dangubic and Mamadie Diakite. After being part of a crowded wing rotation with the Grizzlies, the move to Brooklyn appeared to be one in which Williams would have more opportunities to produce. He made a career-high 63 appearances, averaging 10.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.6 three-pointers in 24.5 minutes, shooting 41.2 percent from the field and 82.1 percent from the foul line. Is it time to pickup Ziaire Williams? 🤔 Career-high 5 3PM tonight 🎯 Last 3 games: 34.0 FPTs 20.4 FPTs 28.4 FPTs 94% available @YahooFantasy While Williams did finish the season with career-best averages in points, rebounds, steals and three-pointers, the production was not enough to impact fantasy basketball. He ended the season ranked just inside the top-200 in eight- and nine-cat formats, not doing enough to make himself a worthy streamer in most leagues during the 'silly season.' The more important question: did he do enough to earn himself some money this summer? Williams will be a restricted free agent, but he's unlikely to be a player worth targeting in most fantasy leagues. Trendon Watford: Like Sharpe, Watford's 2024-25 season got off to a late start due to a hamstring injury suffered during the preseason. The versatile forward would make his season debut on November 17, appearing in 13 games before another hamstring injury put him back on the shelf until late January. Watford would enjoy two separate stretches of at least five straight games in double figures, and he finished the season scoring at least 11 points in five of his last six. Making 44 appearances, the Nets forward averaged 10.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.7 three-pointers in 20.8 minutes. Watford, who shot 46.9 percent from the field and 76.2 percent from the foul line, recorded career-best averages in points, assists, steals and three-pointers. Even with averages of 11.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.8 three-pointers in his last 20 games, Watford was ranked outside the top-200 in eight-cat formats. He'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer, but it isn't easy to envision a scenario in which Watford lands a role that will make him fantasy-relevant in 2025-26. Jalen Wilson: Wilson finished the 2024-25 season on a high note, scoring at least 12 points in five of his last six outings. He would start 22 of the 79 games he appeared in, averaging 9.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.5 steals and 1.5 three-pointers in 25.7 minutes, shooting 39.7 percent from the field and 81.8 percent from the foul line. While the field goal percentage left something to be desired, Wilson made improvements in points, rebounds, assists, steals and three-pointers compared to the averages recorded during his rookie season. He scored 20 points twice in his last six appearances, averaging 15.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.5 steals and 3.8 three-pointers per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 70.6 percent from the foul line. The Nets hold a team option on Wilson for next season, and he may have done enough to earn another opportunity with the team. However, the team's decision may depend on various factors, including how they approach the draft in June. Either way, Wilson will likely be more of an in-season streamer than a player worth selecting in most fantasy drafts. Dariq Whitehead: After only appearing in two NBA games as a rookie, Whitehead played in 20 games this season. The 2023 first-round pick averaged 5.7 points, 1.5 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 1.7 three-pointers in 12.3 minutes, shooting 40.6 percent from the field and 60 percent from the foul line. Whitehead got many of his shots from beyond the arc, as he had a 77.1 percent three-point attempt rate in 2024-25. The numbers aren't good enough to make him a player worth monitoring in most redraft leagues, but the Nets wing may be of interest to some competing in dynasty formats. Assuming Whitehead will play in Summer League, this will be a critical summer as he looks to establish himself as a pro. De'Anthony Melton: Melton began his season with the Warriors, with Golden State hopeful that he could be a difference-maker for them, especially as a defender. Unfortunately, he only appeared in six games before suffering a torn left ACL in late November. The Nets would acquire Melton as part of the deal that sent Dennis Schroder to Golden State, with the benefit being his expiring contract. Melton has undoubtedly had his moments as a fantasy asset, but he's a difficult player to trust fully after playing 44 games the last two seasons. He'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer, which is another issue to consider. Restricted Free Agents: Cameron Thomas, Ziaire Williams, Day'Ron Sharpe, Reece Beekman Unrestricted Free Agents: D'Angelo Russell, De'Anthony Melton, Trendon Watford Team Option: Keon Johnson, Jalen Wilson, Tyrese Martin, Drew Timme
