The 2023-24 NBA season continues to be a rollercoaster of ups and downs even in the playoffs, bringing with it a series of hits, misses and unexpected stars at every position. From the point guards (PG) who defied expectations to the centers (C) who dominated the paint like never before, we learned a lot to take into next year.
In this five-part From Deep series, we’ll dissect each position – PG, SG, SF, PF, and C – sharing insights into the players who made it big, those who fell short, and the newcomers who emerged onto the scene.
Then the sniper guards.
The successes
Derrick White, Boston Celtics
White was that surprise plot twist that no one is used to yet. Defense is his calling card, but I don’t think many expected him to rise to third-round territory in fantasy — but he has done so in the division leagues.
He played a career-high 73 games and averaged more than 15 points with four rebounds and five assists. He shot 90% from the line (top 10 in the league), made 2.7 3-pointers per night and was one of only two guards to average at least one block and one steal per game this season.
He was the second most valuable asset on the best team in basketball, but the fantasy community underestimated his upside. With an ADP in the seventh round of the draft, his performance should earn him a lot of votes for fantasy season MVP.
Now, if you’ve played in points leagues, you’re probably wondering why I’m gassing White. Well, even though he didn’t make a sizable impact by ranking 76th in that format, he still beat his ADP. So, in the end, ending the year as a top 30 player far exceeded expectations.
Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
Williams made a substantial leap as a leading scorer and secondary playmaker in his second season, dropping 19 points on 4.5 assists per game. His 7.7 potential assists per night ranked second on the team behind SGA. His fantasy value skyrocketed when J-Dub combined production with his efficient 54/43/81 shooting splits.
He outperformed his ADP through two rounds, finishing with value in the fourth round in his second pro season. I firmly believe the Thunder will move on from Josh Giddey in the offseason, which could expand Williams’ usage and playing opportunities for one of the youngest teams in the Association.
He will likely be a third or fourth rounder in 1924-25, given his age and abilities on both ends. I’m here for it.
D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers
I’m going to take a mulligan here because even though Russell played almost all of his minutes at PG, he also had point guard eligibility in fantasy and I didn’t have enough room to include him in the point guard section, so here we are.
OK, back to D’Lo.
Russell had a consensus ADP in the ninth round this season, so fantasy managers expected only backcourt depth. However, D’Lo was the third-best performing Laker this year and likely earned another decent payday if he decides to test free agency this summer.
The numbers don’t lie. He was solid about his draft position. Fantasy managers got 76 games worth of production and gained three rounds of value by rostering Russell in category leagues.
The misses
Mikal Bridges, Brooklyn Nets
I thought Bridges deserved a late second-round pick after missing 27 games in Brooklyn last year, but the bridge(s) are gone. Before this year, Bridges was a top-55 player the past three seasons. And while replicating his 26 points per game with the Nets was a stretch, the sub-20 PPG average was no this.
He really struggled from the field, shooting less than 44% on his field goal attempts. Bridges hasn’t shot this poorly since his rookie season, plus he shot a career-low 49% on two-point FG attempts. Bridges recorded his highest totals of assists and rebounds in a season, but the decline in offense devalued his value in the eighth round after going 21st in preseason drafts.
Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls
Injuries and poor play sum up Zach LaVine’s 23-24 campaign. Even when he was active, the Bulls played better with him off the floor. His efficiency and scoring were down from last season, but playing just 25 games pretty much ended any hope of helping his fantasy team. He missed a month from December to January only to not play another game after January 20th. LaVine’s contract is a deal breaker for the Bulls and that’s why he’s rumored to be on the trade block.
From a fantasy standpoint, landing spot will determine whether LaVine is worth a mid-round pick going forward.
Jordan Poole, Washington Wizards
The Warriors threw Poole into deep water and sank all the fantasy optimism in the process. Being sent to the Wizards is like being exiled to the Iron Islands of basketball. No hope, just moving forward until it’s over.
Poole went through a brutal run of ball from January to February, which saw him switch to a bench role – and it ended up being the best outcome for his fantasy stock.
Poole was well outside the top 200 for much of the season, but his play over the last 20 games helped soften the blow of a terrible draft pick. A consensus fifth-rounder, Poole finished the year ranked 135th in category leagues – totaling one of the highest L’s of the fantasy season.
The escapes
Donte DiVincenzo, New York Knicks
I’ve talked about Donte a lot, and given that he’s the most-drafted player on Yahoo’s best public teams, he’s one of the oldest revelations in recent memory. He broke three-point records for one of the most storied franchises, while also recording career highs in minutes played and goals. He played in 81 games and his play during the regular season and postseason earned him the starting job next year.
DiVincenzo’s performance has not only boosted fantasy teams, but has also contributed to the Knicks’ success, making him a valuable player in both real and fantasy basketball. Big Ragú went into crisis during the last three months of the season and this elevated it to sixth round value at the end of the season. Not bad for a guy who went undrafted in 94% of Yahoo leagues.
Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls
Caruso held up well after playing 71 games and being asked to guard point guards from power forwards because of all the injuries in Chicago. Like White, he was the only other guard who averaged at least one steal and one block this year, and looking at his defensive impact, he will make another all-defensive team.
Offensively, Caruso achieved career highs in points, rebounds, steals, 3-point shooting and FG percentage. He was drafted in 13% of leagues and was placed in the fifth round in leagues in the category. Like Derrick White, he is less attractive in points leagues, but it will be difficult for the Bulls to stop him from playing nearly 30 minutes a night in the future.
Grayson Allen, Phoenix Suns
Another semi-old breakout who went undrafted in 90% of fantasy leagues, Allen was a waiver wire hero for many this season. His blacked-out footage earned him a massive 4-year, $70 million contract extension with the Suns, so his role is guaranteed between 24-25. With a series of injuries to key players, Allen stepped up and posted the best scoring output of his six-year career, along with the most rebounds and assists, while leading the league in 3-point percentage at 46%.
He started 74 of 75 games and with little depth in the backcourt, I expect Allen to be a worthy selection late in next season’s drafts.
