A successful fantasy basketball season hinges on smart draft choices. Committing a high draft pick to a player prone to injuries or significant missed games, or one whose playing time is expected to diminish, can quickly derail your season. Astute fantasy managers anticipate these scenarios, allowing them to steer clear of such risky players on draft day. Below, we highlight five prominent players you might want to avoid in your upcoming drafts.
Joel Embiid (C, Philadelphia 76ers)
Joel Embiid`s impressive fantasy production is undeniable when he`s on the court, but his availability is a persistent concern. Across nine seasons, he`s averaged only 50 games, with a mere 19 appearances last year. He has never surpassed 68 games in a single season and has only reached the 60-game mark four times. Summer reports regarding his health haven`t been reassuring, making a 70-game season highly improbable. While a healthy Embiid is a fantasy force, his injury history makes him a significant risk. Consider avoiding him entirely, or if you must draft him, look for a late-round handcuff like Adem Bona to mitigate the inevitable missed games.
Anthony Davis (PF/C, Dallas Mavericks)
Similar to Embiid, Anthony Davis carries a well-documented history of injury-related absences, a pattern that continued after his trade to the Mavericks last season. With Cooper Flagg now leading the charge in Dallas, Kyrie Irving sidelined for much of the season due to an Achilles injury, and the team`s overall prospects looking dim, Davis faces a high risk of being sidelined extensively with any minor ailment. An early-season shutdown is also a distinct possibility. His 76 games played in 2023-24 were an anomaly, making him an exceptionally risky choice, particularly in the first round.
Paul George (SF/PF, Philadelphia 76ers)
At 35 years old, Paul George delivered a disappointing fantasy performance last season, appearing in only 41 games. He underwent knee surgery in July, casting doubt on his availability for the season opener. Consistent playing time has always been a concern for George. Furthermore, the 76ers are strong candidates for `tanking` to retain their upcoming draft pick, especially with Embiid`s uncertain health. Given Tyrese Maxey`s shutdown last season, it`s reasonable to expect the Sixers to prioritize draft protection again. For these reasons, Paul George is a player to avoid, irrespective of his potential draft-day slide.
Ivica Zubac (C, LA Clippers)
Ivica Zubac had a career year, averaging 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 32.8 minutes per game. These career-highs were largely due to the Clippers` lack of backup bigs. However, the summer acquisition of veteran starter Brook Lopez changes the landscape dramatically. Lopez`s presence means Zubac is unlikely to see similar minutes this season; a projection closer to 25 minutes per game seems more realistic, an eight-minute reduction. While not a strict platoon, this significant cut in playing time will inevitably lead to a decline in Zubac`s statistical output, which previously stood at 11.7 points and 9.2 rebounds.
Kristaps Porzingis (PF/C, Atlanta Hawks)
Kristaps Porzingis is undeniably talented when on the court, but his extensive injury history and inability to play back-to-backs are major red flags. The Celtics frequently managed his minutes last season, often utilizing him every other game. Now with the Atlanta Hawks, who boast promising young center Onyeka Okongwu, a potential starting lineup with Porzingis at power forward alongside Okongwu is plausible. However, it`s challenging to foresee Porzingis playing significantly more than half the season. His career games played illustrate the concern: 42, 57, 65, 51, 43, 57, 0, 48, 66, and 72. In his ten-year career, he`s only exceeded 60 games three times. It would be surprising to see him play more than 55 games this season.
