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Fantasy Basketball: RotoBaller Writers' League Draft Recap

This past Sunday, RotoBaller's team of NBA junkies experts got together and got down to business.  Eight writers joined up with four regular fantasy players off of Yahoo! and Reddit to tackle a standard 9-category head-to-head league draft.

Here are the players, in order of draft slot:

Just Having Fun - a Yahoo! user
Team Pop Socks - a Yahoo! user
Pierre Camus (@pfunk00) - RotoBaller
Trevor Crippen (@TeachTrevor) - RotoBaller
Gurminder Singh (@Gindy101) - RotoBaller
Vladimir De Wet (@vladewet) - RotoBaller
Brad Leibfried (@Leibfried6) - RotoBaller
Adam Ginsburg (@aginz3) - RotoBaller
Jake Finnen - RotoBaller
Kawhi so Kawaii - a Reddit user
Flu Game 97 - a Yahoo! user
Arkeno Greenaway (@FantasyKeno) - RotoBaller

Later in the week, our writers will talk in depth about their strategies in the draft.  For now, let's take a look at the results.

All position eligibility based on Yahoo! fantasy leagues.  League scoring is based on standard 9 categories (points, rebounds, assists, threes, steals, blocks, FG%, FT%, turnovers).

 

RotoBaller Writers' League Draft Recap

Round 1 Player Team
1 Kevin Durant (GS - SF,PF) Just Having Fun
2 Russell Westbrook (OKC - PG) Pop Socks
3 Stephen Curry (GS - PG,SG) Pierre Camus - RotoBaller
4 James Harden (Hou - SG,SF) Trevor Crippen - RotoBaller
5 Karl-Anthony Towns (Min - C) Gurminder Singh - RotoBaller
6 Anthony Davis (NO - PF,C) Vladimir De Wet - RotoBaller
7 Giannis Antetokounmpo (Mil - PG,SG,SF) Brad Leibfried - RotoBaller
8 LeBron James (Cle - SF,PF) Adam Ginsburg - RotoBaller
9 Paul George (Ind - SF,PF) Jake Finnen - RotoBaller
10 Kawhi Leonard (SA - SG,SF) Groovy Tony
11 Chris Paul (LAC - PG) FLU GAME 97
12 Damian Lillard (Por - PG) Arkeno Greenaway - RotoBaller

 

In our first mock draft of the season there were several surprises across the draft. To start the draft Kevin Durant was a surprise pick at the top. Although he is a spectacular player, Russell Westbrook and James harden simply have too much upside in a H2H league.

 

Round 2
13 Kyle Lowry (Tor - PG) Arkeno Greenaway - RotoBaller
14 DeMarcus Cousins (Sac - PF,C) FLU GAME 97
15 Hassan Whiteside (Mia - C) Kawhi so Kawaii
16 John Wall (Was - PG) Jake Finnen - RotoBaller
17 Jimmy Butler (Chi - SG,SF) Adam Ginsburg - RotoBaller
18 Paul Millsap (Atl - PF,C) Brad Leibfried - RotoBaller
19 Kyrie Irving (Cle - PG,SG) Vladimir De Wet - RotoBaller
20 Eric Bledsoe (Pho - PG,SG) Gurminder Singh - RotoBaller
21 Carmelo Anthony (NY - SF,PF) Trevor Crippen - RotoBaller
22 Al Horford (Bos - PF,C) Pierre Camus - RotoBaller
23 Klay Thompson (GS - SG,SF) Pop Socks
24 LaMarcus Aldridge (SA - PF,C) Just Having Fun

 

The top of round two also produced a shocker with Kyle Lowry going 13th overall. The argument can be made that PG is extremely shallow this season. Paul Millsap and LaMarcus Aldridge also fell despite their solid play.

 

Round 3
25 Draymond Green (GS - SF,PF) Just Having Fun
26 Brook Lopez (Bkn - C) Pop Socks
27 Kristaps Porzingis (NY - PF,C) Pierre Camus - RotoBaller
28 Kemba Walker (Cha - PG) Trevor Crippen - RotoBaller
29 Blake Griffin (LAC - PF,C) Gurminder Singh - RotoBaller
30 C.J. McCollum (Por - PG,SG) Vladimir De Wet - RotoBaller
31 Victor Oladipo (OKC - PG,SG) Brad Leibfried - RotoBaller
32 Derrick Favors (Uta - PF,C) Adam Ginsburg - RotoBaller
33 Isaiah Thomas (Bos - PG) Jake Finnen - RotoBaller
34 Andre Drummond (Det - PF,C) Kawhi so Kawaii
35 Serge Ibaka (Orl - PF,C) FLU GAME 97
36 DeAndre Jordan (LAC - C) Arkeno Greenaway - RotoBaller

 

The run of big men started with second year star Porzingis. Pierre's selection started the run of centers with big upside but can also hurt you as Jordan and Drummond do with free throws.

 

Round 4
37 Reggie Jackson (Det - PG,SG) Arkeno Greenaway - RotoBaller
38 Kevin Love (Cle - PF,C) FLU GAME 97
39 Jonas Valanciunas (Tor - C) Kawhi so Kawaii
40 Nikola Vucevic (Orl - PF,C) Jake Finnen - RotoBaller
41 Andrew Wiggins (Min - SG,SF) Adam Ginsburg - RotoBaller
42 Nikola Jokic (Den - C) Brad Leibfried - RotoBaller
43 DeMar DeRozan (Tor - SG,SF) Vladimir De Wet - RotoBaller
44 Rajon Rondo (Chi - PG) Gurminder Singh - RotoBaller
45 Ricky Rubio (Min - PG) Trevor Crippen - RotoBaller
46 Marcin Gortat (Was - C) Pierre Camus - RotoBaller
47 Tobias Harris (Det - SF,PF) Pop Socks
48 Mike Conley (Mem - PG) Just Having Fun

 

Rubio was the surprise pick of this round as he is is elite in assists and steals, however is sorely lacking across the board. In a roto league he will fall further down the draft board but in H2H you can make up for his deficiences.

 

Round 5
49 Jeff Teague (Ind - PG) Just Having Fun
50 Gordon Hayward (Uta - SG,SF) Pop Socks
51 Trevor Ariza (Hou - SG,SF) Pierre Camus - RotoBaller
52 Dirk Nowitzki (Dal - PF,C) Trevor Crippen - RotoBaller
53 Gorgui Dieng (Min - PF,C) Gurminder Singh - RotoBaller
54 Rudy Gobert (Uta - C) Vladimir De Wet - RotoBaller
55 Dennis Schroder (Atl - PG) Brad Leibfried - RotoBaller
56 Marc Gasol (Mem - C) Adam Ginsburg - RotoBaller
57 Greg Monroe (Mil - PF,C) Jake Finnen - RotoBaller
58 D'Angelo Russell (LAL - PG) Kawhi so Kawaii
59 Nicolas Batum (Cha - SG,SF) FLU GAME 97
60 Ben Simmons (Phi - SF,PF) Arkeno Greenaway - RotoBaller

 

The number one pick jumped off the board at pick 60 which was earlier than most expected. Simmons could pay off that in a big way or struggle with shooting and be a bit of a detriment.

 

Round 6
61 Chandler Parsons (Mem - SF,PF) Arkeno Greenaway - RotoBaller
62 Bradley Beal (Was - SG) FLU GAME 97
63 Zach LaVine (Min - PG,SG) Kawhi so Kawaii
64 Goran Dragic (Mia - PG,SG) Jake Finnen - RotoBaller
65 Jabari Parker (Mil - SF,PF) Adam Ginsburg - RotoBaller
66 Pau Gasol (SA - PF,C) Brad Leibfried - RotoBaller
67 Dwight Howard (Atl - PF,C) Vladimir De Wet - RotoBaller
68 Darren Collison (Sac - PG) Gurminder Singh - RotoBaller
69 Ryan Anderson (Hou - PF,C) Trevor Crippen - RotoBaller
70 Brandon Knight (Pho - PG,SG) Pierre Camus - RotoBaller
71 Nikola Mirotic (Chi - SF,PF) Pop Socks
72 Dwyane Wade (Chi - PG,SG) Just Having Fun

 

Round six was all about the veterans. Dragic, Gasol, and Wade are not in the prime of their careers but are solid players that great to have in all fantasy leagues.

 

Round 7
73 Jrue Holiday (NO - PG) Just Having Fun
74 Myles Turner (Ind - PF,C) Pop Socks
75 Thaddeus Young (Ind - SF,PF) Pierre Camus - RotoBaller
76 Jeremy Lin (Bkn - PG,SG) Trevor Crippen - RotoBaller
77 Harrison Barnes (Dal - SF,PF) Gurminder Singh - RotoBaller
78 Rudy Gay (Sac - SF,PF) Vladimir De Wet - RotoBaller
79 Nerlens Noel (Phi - PF,C) Brad Leibfried - RotoBaller
80 Danilo Gallinari (Den - SF) Adam Ginsburg - RotoBaller
81 Emmanuel Mudiay (Den - PG) Jake Finnen - RotoBaller
82 Evan Fournier (Orl - SG,SF) Kawhi so Kawaii
83 Kenneth Faried (Den - PF,C) FLU GAME 97
84 J.J. Redick (LAC - SG) Arkeno Greenaway - RotoBaller

 

In the exact opposite tone of round six, round seven was all about gambling on players. Turner, Noel and Mudiay could breakout while Fournier, Lin, and Barnes could see a boost in stats due to new roles on their new teams.

 

Round 8
85 Rodney Hood (Uta - SG,SF) Arkeno Greenaway - RotoBaller
86 Devin Booker (Pho - SG) FLU GAME 97
87 Jae Crowder (Bos - SF,PF) Kawhi so Kawaii
88 Joakim Noah (NY - PF,C) Jake Finnen - RotoBaller
89 Jahlil Okafor (Phi - C) Adam Ginsburg - RotoBaller
90 Avery Bradley (Bos - PG,SG) Brad Leibfried - RotoBaller
91 Derrick Rose (NY - PG) Vladimir De Wet - RotoBaller
92 Gary Harris (Den - SG) Gurminder Singh - RotoBaller
93 Aaron Gordon (Orl - SF,PF) Trevor Crippen - RotoBaller
94 Kyle Korver (Atl - SG,SF) Pierre Camus - RotoBaller
95 Jordan Clarkson (LAL - PG,SG) Pop Socks
96 Zach Randolph (Mem - PF,C) Just Having Fun

 

Jordan Clarkson jumps off the page in round eight. Most experts are touting D'Angelo Russell as the huge beneficiary of the retirement of Kobe Bryant. However, Clarkson should see as big of a boost at a lower price.

 

Round 9
97 George Hill (Uta - PG,SG) Just Having Fun
98 Steven Adams (OKC - C) Pop Socks
99 DeMarre Carroll (Tor - SF,PF) Pierre Camus - RotoBaller
100 Robert Covington (Phi - SF,PF) Trevor Crippen - RotoBaller
101 Tim Frazier (NO - PG) Gurminder Singh - RotoBaller
102 Robin Lopez (Chi - C) Vladimir De Wet - RotoBaller
103 Wesley Matthews (Dal - SG,SF) Brad Leibfried - RotoBaller
104 Elfrid Payton (Orl - PG) Adam Ginsburg - RotoBaller
105 Julius Randle (LAL - PF) Jake Finnen - RotoBaller
106 Kent Bazemore (Atl - SG,SF) Kawhi so Kawaii
107 Otto Porter (Was - SF) FLU GAME 97
108 Jusuf Nurkic (Den - C) Arkeno Greenaway - RotoBaller

 

Trevor took a chance on Covington in round nine as he was punting FG%. Covington was a top 40 player for parts of last year so by pick 100 it was solid value.

 

Round 10
109 Clint Capela (Hou - PF,C) Arkeno Greenaway - RotoBaller
110 Buddy Hield (NO - SG) FLU GAME 97
111 Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (Bkn - SG,SF) Kawhi so Kawaii
112 Bojan Bogdanovic (Bkn - SG,SF) Jake Finnen - RotoBaller
113 Brandon Ingram (LAL - SF) Adam Ginsburg - RotoBaller
114 Deron Williams (Dal - PG) Brad Leibfried - RotoBaller
115 Bismack Biyombo (Orl - PF,C) Vladimir De Wet - RotoBaller
116 Willie Cauley-Stein (Sac - PF,C) Gurminder Singh - RotoBaller
117 Marcus Smart (Bos - PG) Trevor Crippen - RotoBaller
118 Ersan Ilyasova (OKC - SF,PF) Pierre Camus - RotoBaller
119 Thon Maker (Mil - PF) Pop Socks
120 Enes Kanter (OKC - C) Just Having Fun

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was the surprise pick of this round. Ranked a few hundred spots below his draft position of 111, he should see a nice spike in minutes due to Brooklyn's lack of wing players.

 

Round 11
121 Jared Sullinger (Tor - PF,C) Just Having Fun
122 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Det - SG) Pop Socks
123 Monta Ellis (Ind - PG,SG) Pierre Camus - RotoBaller
124 Markieff Morris (Was - PF,C) Trevor Crippen - RotoBaller
125 Justise Winslow (Mia - SF,PF) Gurminder Singh - RotoBaller
126 Joel Embiid (Phi - C) Vladimir De Wet - RotoBaller
127 Mason Plumlee (Por - PF,C) Brad Leibfried - RotoBaller
128 Patrick Beverley (Hou - PG,SG) Adam Ginsburg - RotoBaller
129 Will Barton (Den - SG,SF) Jake Finnen - RotoBaller
130 Marvin Williams (Cha - SF,PF) Kawhi so Kawaii
131 Danny Green (SA - SG,SF) FLU GAME 97
132 Matthew Dellavedova (Mil - PG,SG) Arkeno Greenaway - RotoBaller

 

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By this time in the draft it was all about team building. Solid vet's such as Plumlee and Beverly will not wow you but provide a solid base. Meanwhile, young players like Winslow and Embiid could provide a late round boost to specific categories.

 

Round 12
133 Al-Farouq Aminu (Por - SF,PF) Arkeno Greenaway - RotoBaller
134 Luol Deng (LAL - SF,PF) FLU GAME 97
135 Eric Gordon (Hou - SG) Kawhi so Kawaii
136 Alex Len (Pho - PF,C) Jake Finnen - RotoBaller
137 Jamal Murray (Den - SG) Adam Ginsburg - RotoBaller
138 Kris Dunn (Min - PG) Brad Leibfried - RotoBaller
139 Marcus Morris (Det - SF,PF) Vladimir De Wet - RotoBaller
140 Derrick Williams (Mia - SF,PF) Gurminder Singh - RotoBaller
141 Evan Turner (Por - SG,SF) Trevor Crippen - RotoBaller
142 Dion Waiters (Mia - SG,SF) Pierre Camus - RotoBaller
143 Timofey Mozgov (LAL - C) Pop Socks
144 Josh Richardson (Mia - SG,SF) Just Having Fun

 

Interesting picks at 142 and 144 as there is a debate who will fill in Dwyane Wade's scoring hole. Richardson was the likely candidate but underwent knee surgery and will miss a few weeks. Waiters was signed to provide scoring punch and has never been shy about hoisting up shots.

 

Round 13
145 Tyreke Evans (NO - PG,SG) Just Having Fun
146 Patty Mills (SA - PG) Pop Socks
147 Chris Bosh (Mia - PF,C) Pierre Camus - RotoBaller
148 Stanley Johnson (Det - SG,SF) Trevor Crippen - RotoBaller
149 Jamal Crawford (LAC - SG,SF) Gurminder Singh - RotoBaller
150 Tristan Thompson (Cle - PF,C) Vladimir De Wet - RotoBaller
151 Mario Hezonja (Orl - SG) Brad Leibfried - RotoBaller
152 Sean Kilpatrick (Bkn - SG) Adam Ginsburg - RotoBaller
153 Omri Casspi (Sac - SF,PF) Jake Finnen - RotoBaller
154 Mirza Teletovic (Mil - SF,PF) Kawhi so Kawaii
155 Iman Shumpert (Cle - SG,SF) FLU GAME 97
156 Jaylen Brown (Bos - SF) Arkeno Greenaway - RotoBaller

 

In the last round of drafts it is generally a wise idea to take high upside plays that can be dropped. If Chris Bosh happens to be cleared he is a huge steal, while Teletovic could see an bigger role with the injury to Khris Middleton.

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