I've been through a lot of drafts this preseason (more than I'd like to admit), and certain names keep landing on my rosters no matter where I'm picking. These are my favorite targets in each round, based on Yahoo ADP as of Oct. 15 in 12-team leagues.
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Round 1: Tyrese Maxey, PG, 76ers (ADP 9.4)
Maxey is being slept on because of the crowd in Philly. With LeBron James and Jaylen Brown now sharing the floor with Joel Embiid, many fantasy managers worry Maxey’s usage and production will slip.
It's a valid concern. I just don't think it's enough to pass on him.
Maxey is one of the NBA's most efficient two-way guards. Last season, he averaged 28.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 3.1 3s and 2.7 stocks on 46/37/89 shooting over 70 games. We've also seen him play off the ball before, thriving alongside James Harden. Make no mistake, he's still the primary option on the Sixers. Even with a dip, I expect at least 25 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists with strong percentages and plenty of stocks.
I love him anywhere from picks 6 through 8, and when I've been in that range, I almost always end up with him.
Round 2: Austin Reaves, PG/SG/SF, Lakers (ADP 23.3)
Reaves is basically Maxey with slightly more turnovers per night and fewer stocks. Offensively, though, they're right there. Reaves averaged 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists on 49% shooting last season, and that was with LeBron still in L.A. Now that LeBron is in Philly, I'm expecting another offensive leap.
Getting another highly efficient bucket-getter with passing chops early is important, regardless of format. Reaves is that guy, and he's eligible at three positions.
Round 3: LaMelo Ball, PG, Timberwolves (ADP 25.4)
I get the apprehension around the injury risk. But LaMelo played 72 games last season, and now he's on the best team he's ever played on. The Timberwolves made a drastic shift in identity, and LaMelo's newfound energy has been infectious since he arrived in Minnesota.
The numbers will speak for themselves. Last season in Charlotte, he averaged 20.1 points, 7.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 3.8 3s while shooting 90% from the line, and that was in just 28 minutes a night. That combination of points, assists, steals, 3s and free-throw percentage more than offsets the turnovers and inconsistent field-goal percentage. The volume in his core categories is going to be worth it.
His ADP is creeping into the second round for a reason. Over the last seven days, it's down to 24.3. He, Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves as a whole are going to be a problem, so I'm buying stock in Melo.
Round 4: Brandon Miller, SF/PF, Hornets (ADP 43.5)
Miller is one of my favorite breakout forwards this season. Coby White (calf) and Kon Knueppel (hamstring) are both dealing with injuries, so Miller will presumably begin the season without them. He's already shaken off his own minor scare, too. He missed the preseason opener with a shin contusion, then returned to average 17 points, 4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 stocks per game in 25 minutes. As you can expect, the usage was elite level, at 33% across those two games.
Even when Charlotte returns to full health, Miller will be the primary option. He averaged 20.2 points and 3.1 3s while shooting 89% from the line last season, and he brings a young, PG-like skillset that fantasy managers will enjoy. He should be a candidate for Most Improved Player and could compete for an All-Star nod.
Round 5: Onyeka Okongwu, C, Hawks (ADP 55.1)
Okongwu is one of the league's most underrated bigs, and he doesn't hurt you anywhere. Last season, he averaged 15.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.1 blocks and 1.9 3s, and he's played 74 games in each of the last two seasons.
Around this point in the draft, I'm usually looking to build out my stocks and rebounds. Okongwu has the minutes, job security and opportunity to give me both without dragging down my percentages or piling up turnovers. Sometimes high-floor options like Okongwu are the right choice.
Round 6: Matas Buzelis, SF/PF, Bulls (ADP 64.4)
Shore up that frontcourt with another one of my favorite upside picks. Buzelis is one of the handful of forwards who can top a block per game. He averaged 1.5 last season to go along with 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.2 3s in 29 minutes.
I think the offensive growth is just scratching the surface. He's a good rebounder for his position who will thrive in a fast-paced offense where he can show off his athleticism on both ends of the floor.
Round 7: Kel'el Ware, C, Bucks (ADP 75.7)
Ware may start slow behind Myles Turner. Don't worry about it — Ware is going to get his.
Last season in Miami, he averaged 11.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.9 stocks and 1.2 3s in just 22 minutes a night. That's nearly a double-double with two stocks and a 3 in a reserve role, which is absurd per-minute production. The Bucks are rebuilding after the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, and that production should only go up as his minutes do. Draft him here and reap the benefits later.
Round 8: Jaden McDaniels, SF, Timberwolves (ADP 91)
Have you seen him in the preseason? Yeah, I'm all in. McDaniels said this week that he wants to be an All-Star, and he's playing like it. Over four preseason games, he's averaged 14.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.5 3s in 20.7 minutes per game. His shooting splits are ridiculous – 61/71/100. That's obviously not sustainable, but it's less about that and more about how confident and in control he is. He's been the defensive stopper to this point in his career and now we're witnessing the work he's put into the offseason as an offensive threat. The defense is still there and he could still register a block and a steal per game during the regular season.
He's coming off an efficient season (51.5% from the field and 41.2% from 3) and should be a strong source of stocks, 3s and percentages without turning the ball over much. He'll be the third option on one of the league's best offenses. That's a great price for what he'll provide.
Round 9: Ty Jerome, PG/SG, Grizzlies (ADP 104.9)
Jerome is another per-minute gem, and he's extremely mispriced. A calf injury and later an ankle injury limited him to 15 games last season, but when he played, he averaged 19.7 points, 5.7 assists and 2.8 3s on 47/42/88 shooting in just 22.5 minutes. In 2024-25, his breakout year in Cleveland, he put up 12.5 points per game on 52% shooting and 44% from deep in under 20 minutes a night.
The preseason has looked just like that. He started the opener at point guard and has scored 12, 17 and 16 points in his three games, shooting 16-of-30 with 13 assists to just 3 turnovers in about 16 minutes per game. Jerome is the frontrunner to start at point guard and he'll crush his ADP in 9-cat formats thanks to his efficiency and production across the board.
Round 10: Brandin Podziemski, PG/SG, Warriors (ADP 114.3)
Podziemski just signed a five-year, $110 million extension, and he's poised to outpace every season of his career as a starting guard for the Dubs. He's one of the best rebounders at the guard position (5.1 rebounds per game in each of the last two seasons), and he played all 82 games last year.
With Draymond Green expected to slide to center and Kristaps Porziņģis not close to returning, the Warriors will play small and spread the floor. That lets Podz fire away from 3 while also serving as a necessary ball-handler and creator. Golden State has few scoring options outside Steph Curry, so expect a sizable jump in volume.
I love him at this draft price, along with Raptors big Collin Murray-Boyles, who goes in the same range (ADP 110.0).