Trying to figure out which players are best left alone? Which players could cost a pretty penny but deliver a negative return value? Here's a list of 10 players you should consider avoiding on draft day.
TOP 10 BUSTS: (In no particular order of priority)
1. Aaron Gordon-F-Orlando Magic: Gordon is flashy, but flash does not improve your fantasy score. The Magic have transformed their team into a defensive slow ball team and I do not have confidence in Gordon as a top shooting option on a team. As good as he is running the floor, he will struggle in double teams and likely pass out to Serge Ibaka who will be standing at the key. The sad part is that Ibaka will miss a lot of those three-pointers and you will not get as much help on the assist front.
2. Gordon Hayward-G/F-Utah Jazz: Already missing a month of action with a finger injury and with the additions of George Hill and Joe Johnson and healthy back up guards, I see Gordon’s points per game dipping a bit and teams forcing him more inside. Like Aaron Gordon, excellent at running the floor until he is stopped by the double team. He will need to get his shooting touch back and be pain free and the full adjustment could cost owners an extra month. Let someone else take that risk as the Jazz have a ton of offensive weapons.
3. Harrison Barnes-F-Dallas Mavericks: Barnes as a puzzle piece to a stacked Warriors squad? I get it. Barnes as a lead dog in Dallas with a Mavs team allergic to defense and a lot of shooters? Bad vibes! Barnes has never proven he can be a #2 option and he is being paid to be one. His perimeter defense is fantastic and secures him playing time he already has and that does nothing for fantasy players. I cannot see any jumps in stats from last year to this year.
4. Dennis Schroder-PG-Atlanta Hawks: When life got tough last season, Jeff Teague was able to make the save. This year will not be as easy and Schroder will not become a strict point guard and with a scary shot selection and the ability to implode in games, that turns me off to Schroder. He wasn’t that good of a passer. He turned the ball over and now with less to work with on the elbow with Al Horford gone, his shooting will not cut the mustard and teams will cut off his passing lanes and force him to shoot.
5. Kyle Korver-G/F-Atlanta Hawks: Teams have figured out how to defend Korver. It shocks me that as a veteran he has not developed an inside game. As much of a specialist as he is, I’m not into do or die players especially from the key. If you force him inside the key he becomes powerless. He is reluctant to drive and shoot from the elbow and the complimentary Hawks pieces at the position who have an inside attack will get more time with the ball.
6. Timofey Mozgov-C-Los Angeles Lakers: Did not understand this signing one bit. Mozgov slows down the offense and has slow moves to the basket. Mozgov is more effective when he plays less. That’s awful! That fact does not fit the credentials of a fantasy basketball starting Center. He brings limited uniqueness as a Center as well. Let someone else grab him unless you are ok with Mozgov playing an effective 15 minutes per game.
7. Chandler Parsons-G/F-Memphis Grizzlies: The Grizzlies signed him but do not have a plan for him. Parsons is a shooter with the capability to drive and play big, but hasn’t. His shot selection is poor and will kill your shooting percentages often. The Grizzlies are essentially making him the wildcard of the team and will play him at multiple positions until they figure out where he best fits. Also, he is still not fully healthy and has had major health issues.
8. Evan Turner-G/F-Portland Trail Blazers: The Blazers backcourt is among one of the highest scoring backcourts in the league and with Damian Lillard playing more off the ball, I do not feel Turner will get the ball in his hands enough, and he will not help out in other categories enough to make him an attractive fantasy options. It was a lot of shoot or bust last season and I see a decrease in shots and a fantasy non-factor for the majority of the season.
9. Courtney Lee-G/F-New York Knicks: A big reason the Knicks signed Lee was to balance out their lineup and be a bailout shooting option. The Knicks have a ton of shooters and Lee will get the opportunity to hit the knockdown three, but on a team with Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis, Brandon Jennings and Derrick Rose? Good luck with that. This was more of a defensive signing for the Knicks because he is a solid perimeter defender. Lee is great at moving the ball around, but will not help as much in assists.
10. Evan Fournier-G/F-Orlando Magic: Fournier got a ton of open looks last year because Victor Oladipo would draw the double often. I am not a fan of Fournier’s shot selection and he would refuse to drive the lane and settle for a contested jumper. I felt that a lot of his scoring was luck last year and now with more shine on him and Elfrid Payton not being a threat on offense, the shot selection will not show any signs of improving and you can find 12-15 points somewhere else that can help you with more than just scoring.