With few days remaining in the regular season, streaming starters in fantasy baseball is the wise move in most situations. After all, it’s hard to predict the hitters who will thrive off a short time span, but there are several starters who have pitched well of late or have favorable matchups in the final days of the regular season.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups

Trey Yesavage, SP, Blue Jays, 23%: Yesavage enjoyed one of the most memorable debuts of the 2025 season when he struck out nine Rays across five-plus innings of one-run ball on Monday. The right-hander racked up a ridiculous 160 strikeouts in 98 minor-league innings this season, to go along with a 0.97 WHIP. Manager John Schneider has already committed to starting Yesavage on Sunday, and he will likely face the Rays next week. He should be added everywhere.

Brandon Sproat, SP, Mets, 38%: Although Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong received more fanfare, Sproat deserves credit for his own successful arrival to the Majors. The right-hander has allowed three runs while striking out 10 across 12 innings in his initial two starts, and faced two teams (Reds, Rangers) who are highly motivated to claw their way into postseason berths. Sproat takes on the lowly Nats on Friday and will face a Cubs team next week that ranks 25th in runs scored since the All-Star break.

Connelly Early, SP, Red Sox, 29%: Early is yet another in a long line of youngsters who have enjoyed successful debuts of late, having posted a 0.87 ERA and 18:1 K:BB ratio across his initial two Major League starts. The youngster can be started in all leagues for a matchup against the Rays on Sunday, and next weekend, he may benefit from facing the Tigers at a time when they have nothing to play for.

Justin Verlander, SP, Giants, 43%: Verlander is a sneaky and nostalgic option for the final week of the season. After all, the 42-year-old could be making his final Major League starts and is scheduled for two favorable home matchups against the Cardinals and Rockies. St. Louis has scored the fewest runs of any team since the All-Star break and Colorado ranks last in runs scored on the road this season. Verlander has allowed one run in his past four starts and will surely want to go out with a bang before evaluating his options this offseason.

Andrew Kittredge, RP, Cubs, 28%: Kittredge has primarily been deployed as the Cubs closer since Danny Palencia went on the injured list, earning saves in three of his past four appearances. He has also been effective of late, throwing 8.2 scoreless innings while logging a 12:2 K:BB ratio since August 29. Kittredge should continue to work the ninth inning during the final days of the season, making him one of several lesser-named closers who are sitting on the waiver wire. That list includes Jose Ferrer (36%), Shawn Armstrong (28%) and Jordan Leasure (13%).

Bryce Eldridge, 1B, Giants, 7%: The Giants lack power hitters in their lineup, which prompted them to call up Eldridge for their final push towards an unlikely postseason berth. The 2023 first-round pick is just 20 years old, but he already has enough power to have gone deep 25 times in 102 games across three minor-league levels this season. Eldridge struck out often in the minors and could have a bumpy road as he adjusts to Major League pitchers, but is still worth a look for those in deeper formats who could use a homer or two during the final days. It helps that the Giants have a favorable hitting schedule in the final week that includes matchups against plenty of ineffective starters on the Cardinals and Rockies.

Jung Hoo Lee, OF, Giants, 37%: Managers who are looking for a more reliable hitter than Eldridge — or those who need runs scored, steals and batting average — should instead target Lee. He will bat leadoff in five of the team’s six games next week, and should reach base often against a collection of mediocre hurlers. Since the beginning of August, Lee has hit .295 with 22 runs scored in 39 games.

Jake Meyers, OF, Astros, 6%: A calf strain that sidelined Meyers for almost two months interrupted a breakout season that has included a .303 average and 16 steals across 327 at-bats. He should find himself in center field for every remaining game, as the Astros push their way into the postseason. He will also benefit from a favorable schedule in the final week that includes matchups weak pitching staffs on the Angels and Athletics.

Dominic Canzone, OF, Mariners, 3%: Managers in deep leagues should consider Canzone for the outset of next week, as the Mariners will play three games against a beleaguered Rockies pitching staff. Sure, the contests won’t come at Coors Field, but Colorado hurlers have also logged a 5.42 ERA on the road. All three games will be started by righties, against whom the lefty hitting Canzone has logged an .873 OPS this season.

With few days remaining in the regular season, streaming starters in fantasy baseball is the wise move in most situations. After all, it’s hard to predict the hitters who will thrive off a short time span, but there are several starters who have pitched well of late or have favorable matchups in the final days of the regular season.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups

Trey Yesavage, SP, Blue Jays, 23%: Yesavage enjoyed one of the most memorable debuts of the 2025 season when he struck out nine Rays across five-plus innings of one-run ball on Monday. The right-hander racked up a ridiculous 160 strikeouts in 98 minor-league innings this season, to go along with a 0.97 WHIP. Manager John Schneider has already committed to starting Yesavage on Sunday, and he will likely face the Rays next week. He should be added everywhere.

Brandon Sproat, SP, Mets, 38%: Although Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong received more fanfare, Sproat deserves credit for his own successful arrival to the Majors. The right-hander has allowed three runs while striking out 10 across 12 innings in his initial two starts, and faced two teams (Reds, Rangers) who are highly motivated to claw their way into postseason berths. Sproat takes on the lowly Nats on Friday and will face a Cubs team next week that ranks 25th in runs scored since the All-Star break.

Connelly Early, SP, Red Sox, 29%: Early is yet another in a long line of youngsters who have enjoyed successful debuts of late, having posted a 0.87 ERA and 18:1 K:BB ratio across his initial two Major League starts. The youngster can be started in all leagues for a matchup against the Rays on Sunday, and next weekend, he may benefit from facing the Tigers at a time when they have nothing to play for.

Justin Verlander, SP, Giants, 43%: Verlander is a sneaky and nostalgic option for the final week of the season. After all, the 42-year-old could be making his final Major League starts and is scheduled for two favorable home matchups against the Cardinals and Rockies. St. Louis has scored the fewest runs of any team since the All-Star break and Colorado ranks last in runs scored on the road this season. Verlander has allowed one run in his past four starts and will surely want to go out with a bang before evaluating his options this offseason.

Andrew Kittredge, RP, Cubs, 28%: Kittredge has primarily been deployed as the Cubs closer since Danny Palencia went on the injured list, earning saves in three of his past four appearances. He has also been effective of late, throwing 8.2 scoreless innings while logging a 12:2 K:BB ratio since August 29. Kittredge should continue to work the ninth inning during the final days of the season, making him one of several lesser-named closers who are sitting on the waiver wire. That list includes Jose Ferrer (36%), Shawn Armstrong (28%) and Jordan Leasure (13%).

Bryce Eldridge, 1B, Giants, 7%: The Giants lack power hitters in their lineup, which prompted them to call up Eldridge for their final push towards an unlikely postseason berth. The 2023 first-round pick is just 20 years old, but he already has enough power to have gone deep 25 times in 102 games across three minor-league levels this season. Eldridge struck out often in the minors and could have a bumpy road as he adjusts to Major League pitchers, but is still worth a look for those in deeper formats who could use a homer or two during the final days. It helps that the Giants have a favorable hitting schedule in the final week that includes matchups against plenty of ineffective starters on the Cardinals and Rockies.

Jung Hoo Lee, OF, Giants, 37%: Managers who are looking for a more reliable hitter than Eldridge — or those who need runs scored, steals and batting average — should instead target Lee. He will bat leadoff in five of the team’s six games next week, and should reach base often against a collection of mediocre hurlers. Since the beginning of August, Lee has hit .295 with 22 runs scored in 39 games.

Jake Meyers, OF, Astros, 6%: A calf strain that sidelined Meyers for almost two months interrupted a breakout season that has included a .303 average and 16 steals across 327 at-bats. He should find himself in center field for every remaining game, as the Astros push their way into the postseason. He will also benefit from a favorable schedule in the final week that includes matchups weak pitching staffs on the Angels and Athletics.

Dominic Canzone, OF, Mariners, 3%: Managers in deep leagues should consider Canzone for the outset of next week, as the Mariners will play three games against a beleaguered Rockies pitching staff. Sure, the contests won’t come at Coors Field, but Colorado hurlers have also logged a 5.42 ERA on the road. All three games will be started by righties, against whom the lefty hitting Canzone has logged an .873 OPS this season.

Jonathan Kuminga’s agent hoping to find middle ground in Warriors contract talks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Aaron Turner’s 6-year-old son, Jaxson, is asking the same question on a daily basis as everybody when it comes to Warriors restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga: “Have we got a deal done?” 

The answer remains the same: No deal. 

More than two and a half months have passed since the opening of NBA free agency and Kuminga’s agent, Turner, hasn’t been able to come to terms with the Warriors and general manager Mike Dunleavy. As first reported by ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Shams Charania, and later confirmed by NBC Sports Bay Area, the Warriors currently have three contract offers on the table for Kuminga: Three years and $75.2 million with a team option on the third season, two years and $45 million with a team option on the second season, and three years for $54 million without any options. 

Kuminga so far has turned down all three deals. The reason isn’t so much money in a closed market that didn’t have any teams with proper salary cap space. His request is turning the team option into a player option and he’ll sign the contract. 

The last and final avenue is the qualifying offer. Kuminga has until Oct. 1 to sign a one-year, $7.9 million qualifying offer. Signing the qualifying offer would essentially be turning down over $40 million in guaranteed money from the Warriors’ highest offer, but it also would help Kuminga, who turns 23 on Oct. 6, control his destiny. He would be an unrestricted free agent next summer and assuredly wouldn’t be traded during this upcoming season. 

Understanding the risks of the qualifying offer, Turner and Kuminga are confident multiple teams with more cap space next summer would line up to sign him after such an unprecedented offseason.

“There are teams salivating that JK takes this QO,” Turner says.

Signing the qualifying offer is a very real possibility, though Turner told NBC Sports Bay Area on the latest episode of Dubs Talk that doing so isn’t a desired outcome. If the team option doesn’t turn into a player option, will Kuminga be signing the qualifying offer?

“I mean, I hope not,” Turner said. “I don’t think JK wants that. I don’t think the Warriors want that. Hopefully we figure this out and come to a middle ground that makes sense for everybody and everybody can put their best foot forward. 

“We don’t need all these distractions. … I’m not blaming anybody, but you’ve got to get everybody on the same page going into the year. I think it’s vital for everyone’s sake. I know JK wants that. I hope the Warriors want that. I would think they’d want that. Hopefully we get something done.” 

The Warriors are yet to include a player option on any contract they have offered Kuminga. 

Kuminga joined Turner at the end of his interview Friday with 95.7 The Game’s “Steiny & Guru” and had his agent relay a message to Warriors fans of “I love you guys.”

“He loves the fans, he’d love to stay and be part of it,” Turner says. “Just because he gets a player option, it’s not like he’s leaving necessarily. Everybody is like, ‘Oh, he’s gone.’ Why? You have his Bird Rights, you’re the Warriors, what a platform. But he’d have some say and it would be because he wanted to stay. 

“It’s been a long summer. We’re all tired, but we’re continuing to push through and hopefully we find a solution and cooler heads prevail.” 

While the Warriors have offered more money on a yearly basis, Kuminga received larger contract offers from the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns, both of which featured player options. The Kings and Suns, according to Turner, also have promised more of a basketball investment into Kuminga than the Warriors have through his first four years and in regards to the 2025-26 NBA season with their current roster construction. 

Both the Kings and Suns, Turner says, would have fulfilled Kuminga’s goal of a larger role, starting and closing games. The same can’t be said for the Warriors following last season’s trade of Jimmy Butler. 

None of the six players taken ahead of Kuminga in the 2021 NBA Draft have won a championship like he did as a rookie. None of them have played with multiple futuqualre Hall of Fame players. All of them have received larger opportunities, more leeway to make mistakes and have signed contracts of at least $100 million. 

That’s part of why the player option matters so much to Kuminga. He believes the combination of his fluctuating role his first four seasons, along with the present and future of how he fits the Warriors, and being seen purely as a midseason trade asset deserves the good will of a player option.

“The theory on this has been from the beginning, if we’re going to take a number that keeps the team under the second apron and what matters most is the win-now and maximizing Steph [Curry’s] window and building a roster, fine. That’s great, we will fall in line,” Turner said. “But allow us to have the back end of the deal. JK can still stay on the Warriors. There’s nothing that says he couldn’t. They’ll have his Bird Rights. But it’s his choice.

“And if you believe in yourself, a player option is very, very, very valuable. It’s almost an insurance policy as opposed to having to pick it up. It’s a way to create flexibility. … That’s our theory. Give us the back end for the sacrifices up front of not being able to really chase his personal ambitions and fully expand his game, possibly getting traded in three months and just the back and forth of this for years.” 

The desire is a player option. The threat is signing a qualifying offer. The team option isn’t fully off the table for Kuminga and Turner, too. Turner has even presented hybrid options as well. 

“We’re not opposed to a team option,” Turner said. “A team option has been discussed and we’d be open to it, but then our theory and thinking is to just move the number up on the front end then. I get it, that’s difficult, you might have to make some tough choices but then you have the back end of the deal. I’ve also talked about hybrid deals. Inherently that 1+1 deal you lose your Bird Rights if you get traded. It has an inherent no-trade clause on the first year of it. Let him keep that. 

“Where would that put us? It’s in the same place we’re at right now, but you’re not in the base compensation rule and JK has a seat at the table. I think if you’re JK you have to think about this: He’s been in the same place for four years and the runway has never really been cleared. So he’s looking at it like, ‘Man, I want to make sure the next place I go there’s a runway. There’s a real clear, very defined plan. I don’t want to just get tossed to another team where I don’t really know what the plan is.’ I don’t fault him for that. It’s a fair ask on his part. 

“Those are the deals, that’s why the PO means so much in this certain negotiation.”

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The 2025-26 NBA season is nearly here, and with it comes fantasy basketball draft season. We’ve covered the guards and forwards, and now it’s time to close out the positional tiers with the centers. As always, these tiers are based on points league scoring, where raw production (points, boards, assists, stocks and efficiency bonuses) often outweighs category specialization.

[Join or create a fantasy basketball league for the 2025-26 NBA season]

Centers continue to dominate fantasy basketball because of their rebounding, high FG% and stock upside. But in points leagues, it’s important to weigh usage and playmaking in addition to traditional big-man stats. 

[Dan Titus’ Draft Tiers: PG/SG | SF/PF | C]

Let’s dive into the final tiers.

Tier 1: The fantasy pillars

• Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

• Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Nikola Jokić: The Joker remains the undisputed king of fantasy basketball. The three-time MVP could legitimately be in a tier of his own after averaging over 64 FPPG last season (and a triple-double). Jokić is an auto-pick at first overall.

Victor Wembanyama: A mid-season blood clot ended Wemby’s sophomore campaign after just 46 games. I’d still take Wemby over Giannis in points leagues because we haven’t seen Wemby’s ceiling yet. 25-10-4 with almost 4 blocks per game is his floor. 

Tier 2: Elite anchors

• Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings

• Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks

• Alperen Şengün, Houston Rockets

Domantas Sabonis: Sabonis has led the league in double-doubles for three consecutive seasons. He’s also played in at least 70 games in every season over that span. His passing is elite for the position, making him one of the best picks in the early rounds in points leagues. I’d wait until the mid-second in category formats because he doesn’t help much in stocks, 3s or FT%.

Karl-Anthony Towns: KAT is a first-round talent in category formats because of the efficiency and 3s he provides from the center spot. For points leagues, he’s not far behind, averaging over 45 FPPG for the first time since the 2021-22 season. 

Alperen Şengün: Coming off a successful run at Eurobasket, Şengün is poised to put up career numbers playing alongside Kevin Durant in the frontcourt. Averaging 20-10-5 is in sight, as he’s one of the most well-rounded bigs. With shades of Jokić, Şengün’s blend of usage, scoring and playmaking makes him deserving of elite status. 

Tier 3: All-Star caliber bigs

• Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder

• Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers

Chet Holmgren: Injuries limited Holmgren to 32 games last season, halting the breakout many fantasy managers anticipated. Holmgren only played an average of 28 minutes per game last year, so as that creeps into the 30s, we’ll see an uptick in production from the 15 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks per game he put up last year. His early third-round ADP is a bit too high for me in points leagues, but I get it for category leagues for his high block rate, efficiencies and 3s. 

Ivica Zubac: Pairing him with James Harden is one of my favorite stacks in fantasy hoops. He’s a consistent double-double threat, though I worry we’ll see some dropoff in production with the Clippers adding two assets in John Collins and Brook Lopez to their frontcourt.

Tier 4: High-risk, high reward 

• Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

• Kristaps Porziņģis, Atlanta Hawks

• Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz

• Deandre Ayton, Los Angeles Lakers

• Mark Williams, Phoenix Suns

Joel Embiid: On a per-game basis, Embiid is always in the top tier of centers. The problem is he’s as unreliable as any player in the league right now. He looks noticeably slimmed down, which should be good? Getting him in the fifth round would be a steal if he plays over 50 games. A substantial “if.”

Kristaps Porziņģis: KP’s ADP is very close to Embiid’s fifth-round ADP. He’s managed to play at least 65 games in just three of his 10 seasons in the NBA. However, given his expiring contract and performance for Latvia this summer, fantasy managers shouldn’t write him off. Thirty-five FPPG is a very safe floor. 

Walker Kessler: Kessler could be a younger version of Rudy Gobert, anchoring Utah’s defense. I don’t think mid-season tanking will be as prevalent this season, but I think his fifth-round ADP is too high for points leagues since you won’t be able to capitalize on his high FG% and the scarcity of a high block rate.

Mark Williams: Williams has the tools to be a viable double-double threat. I like the fit in Phoenix; now, it’s all about staying healthy. His medicals have been quite concerning over the past few seasons. At cost, he’s going about 30 picks later than KP and Kessler with a similar floor. Not sure I have the stones to do it, but I get it if you do.

Tier 5: Reliable, veteran starters 

• Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons

• Nikola Vučević, Chicago Bulls

• Isaiah Hartenstein, Oklahoma City Thunder

• Myles Turner, Milwaukee Bucks

• Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers

• Jakob Poeltl, Toronto Raptors

• Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves

• Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets

Jalen Duren: It’s a big year for Duren, who is eligible for a rookie extension on an ascending Pistons unit. There’s still room for growth as a scorer and playmaker, but fantasy managers are getting a player who finished top-10 in double-doubles last season, averaging 33 FPPG. In terms of production, I think he’ll be right there with most of the Tier 4 guys this year. Oh, and stack him with Cade Cunningham.

Isaiah Hartenstein: Hartenstein had 28 double-doubles in 57 games last season. For reference, Walker Kessler had 28 in 58 games, yet Hartenstein is going almost 30 picks later than Kessler. The OKC big averaged his first double-double of his career while averaging over two stocks per game in under 30 minutes. His ADP is too low, especially in points leagues.

Myles Turner: I’m not a fan of his fit next to Giannis in points leagues, as I think he’ll revert to a more Brook Lopez-type role. He remains a solid center for category leagues, offering valuable contributions from a blocks and 3s perspective.

Rudy Gobert: The Frenchman remains a double-double machine. Despite his slight decline in production over the past few seasons, availability matters. He’s played in over 65 games in seven straight seasons. I prefer Gobert more in points leagues over category leagues at his current sixth-round ADP.

Tier 6: Upside bigs

• Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards

• Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers

• Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta Hawks

• Kel’el Ware – Miami Heat

• Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans

• Dereck Lively, Dallas Mavericks

• Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies

• Jay Huff, Indiana Pacers

Donovan Clingan: With Ayton in L.A., the sophomore center joins the starters in what should be a breakout campaign. I anticipate a time-share due to Portland’s center depth, considering Clingan played over 30 minutes in eight of his 67 games last season. Still, he generated 1.17 fantasy points per minute (FPPM) last year, which is starter-level efficiency. Playing between 25-28 minutes could net 30-33 FPPG, much like Hartenstein. He’s another steal at his current price in the late 90s.

Kel’el Ware: Coach Spo didn’t have glowing remarks around Ware coming into the summer; however, I’m still bullish on his potential. He averaged 1.07 FPPM last season. Ware also averaged 10 points with 10 rebounds in 36 games as the Heat’s starting center. His ADP is rising into the high 70s and I see why. He’s one of my targets for center in all formats.

Jay Huff: He’s a sleeper worth taking a flier on in any format because of his opportunity. The Pacers found an affordable replacement for Turner, grabbing Huff from the Grizzlies for his ability to protect the rim and stretch the floor. Despite playing limited minutes across his first four years in the league, he’s averaged 1.10 FPPM thus far, indicating there’s potential. He’s currently a market inefficiency, going outside the top 140 in all formats.

Tier 7: Back-end depth

• Wendell Carter Jr., Orlando Magic

• Daniel Gafford, Dallas Mavericks

• Kyle Filipowski, Utah Jazz

• Zach Collins, Chicago Bulls

• Al Horford, Free agent

• Brook Lopez, Los Angeles Clippers

• Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons

• Jonas Valančiūnas, Denver Nuggets

• Goga Bitadze, Orlando Magic

• Jusuf Nurkić, Utah Jazz

• Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks

• Isaiah Jackson, Indiana Pacers

• Steven Adams, Houston Rockets

• Nick Richards, Phoenix Suns

• Clint Capela, Houston Rockets

Daniel Gafford: The pricey backup center for the Mavs finds his way into fantasy relevancy every year. No matter the role, he’s an impactful fantasy player. With a career average of 1.14 FPPM, he’s a logical selection for anyone in category leagues needing FG%, blocks or rebounds late in the draft. However, there’s not enough volume to support rostering him in points leagues unless Lively gets hurt (which could easily happen).

Kyle Filipowski: The Vegas Summer League MVP looked eerily similar to Lauri Markkanen. I came away very impressed, thinking he would surely be a major factor in their rotation if this play carries over into training camp. Who knows what the Jazz will do, so keep him penciled in as a late-round flier with upside.

Zach Collins: Keep an eye on Collins because Vučević is on an expiring contract. There’s a strong possibility he could be dealt by midseason. Collins thrived in 12 games as a starter last year, averaging 14.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 26 minutes per game.

Al Horford: The veteran big remains unsigned, although he’s been linked to the Warriors all offseason. If that ends up being his landing spot, he’d be more valuable in category leagues than points. 

Tier 8: Young hopefuls

• Trayce Jackson-Davis, Golden State Warriors

• Neemias Queta, Boston Celtics

• Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets

• Khaman Maluach, Phoenix Suns

• Luka Garza, Boston Celtics

• Luke Kornet, San Antonio Spurs

• Derik Queen, New Orleans Pelicans

• Yang Hansen, Portland Trail Blazers

The 2025-26 NBA season is nearly here, and with it comes fantasy basketball draft season. We’ve covered the guards and forwards, and now it’s time to close out the positional tiers with the centers. As always, these tiers are based on points league scoring, where raw production (points, boards, assists, stocks and efficiency bonuses) often outweighs category specialization.

[Join or create a fantasy basketball league for the 2025-26 NBA season]

Centers continue to dominate fantasy basketball because of their rebounding, high FG% and stock upside. But in points leagues, it’s important to weigh usage and playmaking in addition to traditional big-man stats. 

[Dan Titus’ Draft Tiers: PG/SG | SF/PF | C]

Let’s dive into the final tiers.

Tier 1: The fantasy pillars

• Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

• Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Nikola Jokić: The Joker remains the undisputed king of fantasy basketball. The three-time MVP could legitimately be in a tier of his own after averaging over 64 FPPG last season (and a triple-double). Jokić is an auto-pick at first overall.

Victor Wembanyama: A mid-season blood clot ended Wemby’s sophomore campaign after just 46 games. I’d still take Wemby over Giannis in points leagues because we haven’t seen Wemby’s ceiling yet. 25-10-4 with almost 4 blocks per game is his floor. 

Tier 2: Elite anchors

• Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings

• Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks

• Alperen Şengün, Houston Rockets

Domantas Sabonis: Sabonis has led the league in double-doubles for three consecutive seasons. He’s also played in at least 70 games in every season over that span. His passing is elite for the position, making him one of the best picks in the early rounds in points leagues. I’d wait until the mid-second in category formats because he doesn’t help much in stocks, 3s or FT%.

Karl-Anthony Towns: KAT is a first-round talent in category formats because of the efficiency and 3s he provides from the center spot. For points leagues, he’s not far behind, averaging over 45 FPPG for the first time since the 2021-22 season. 

Alperen Şengün: Coming off a successful run at Eurobasket, Şengün is poised to put up career numbers playing alongside Kevin Durant in the frontcourt. Averaging 20-10-5 is in sight, as he’s one of the most well-rounded bigs. With shades of Jokić, Şengün’s blend of usage, scoring and playmaking makes him deserving of elite status. 

Tier 3: All-Star caliber bigs

• Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder

• Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers

Chet Holmgren: Injuries limited Holmgren to 32 games last season, halting the breakout many fantasy managers anticipated. Holmgren only played an average of 28 minutes per game last year, so as that creeps into the 30s, we’ll see an uptick in production from the 15 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks per game he put up last year. His early third-round ADP is a bit too high for me in points leagues, but I get it for category leagues for his high block rate, efficiencies and 3s. 

Ivica Zubac: Pairing him with James Harden is one of my favorite stacks in fantasy hoops. He’s a consistent double-double threat, though I worry we’ll see some dropoff in production with the Clippers adding two assets in John Collins and Brook Lopez to their frontcourt.

Tier 4: High-risk, high reward 

• Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

• Kristaps Porziņģis, Atlanta Hawks

• Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz

• Deandre Ayton, Los Angeles Lakers

• Mark Williams, Phoenix Suns

Joel Embiid: On a per-game basis, Embiid is always in the top tier of centers. The problem is he’s as unreliable as any player in the league right now. He looks noticeably slimmed down, which should be good? Getting him in the fifth round would be a steal if he plays over 50 games. A substantial “if.”

Kristaps Porziņģis: KP’s ADP is very close to Embiid’s fifth-round ADP. He’s managed to play at least 65 games in just three of his 10 seasons in the NBA. However, given his expiring contract and performance for Latvia this summer, fantasy managers shouldn’t write him off. Thirty-five FPPG is a very safe floor. 

Walker Kessler: Kessler could be a younger version of Rudy Gobert, anchoring Utah’s defense. I don’t think mid-season tanking will be as prevalent this season, but I think his fifth-round ADP is too high for points leagues since you won’t be able to capitalize on his high FG% and the scarcity of a high block rate.

Mark Williams: Williams has the tools to be a viable double-double threat. I like the fit in Phoenix; now, it’s all about staying healthy. His medicals have been quite concerning over the past few seasons. At cost, he’s going about 30 picks later than KP and Kessler with a similar floor. Not sure I have the stones to do it, but I get it if you do.

Tier 5: Reliable, veteran starters 

• Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons

• Nikola Vučević, Chicago Bulls

• Isaiah Hartenstein, Oklahoma City Thunder

• Myles Turner, Milwaukee Bucks

• Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers

• Jakob Poeltl, Toronto Raptors

• Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves

• Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets

Jalen Duren: It’s a big year for Duren, who is eligible for a rookie extension on an ascending Pistons unit. There’s still room for growth as a scorer and playmaker, but fantasy managers are getting a player who finished top-10 in double-doubles last season, averaging 33 FPPG. In terms of production, I think he’ll be right there with most of the Tier 4 guys this year. Oh, and stack him with Cade Cunningham.

Isaiah Hartenstein: Hartenstein had 28 double-doubles in 57 games last season. For reference, Walker Kessler had 28 in 58 games, yet Hartenstein is going almost 30 picks later than Kessler. The OKC big averaged his first double-double of his career while averaging over two stocks per game in under 30 minutes. His ADP is too low, especially in points leagues.

Myles Turner: I’m not a fan of his fit next to Giannis in points leagues, as I think he’ll revert to a more Brook Lopez-type role. He remains a solid center for category leagues, offering valuable contributions from a blocks and 3s perspective.

Rudy Gobert: The Frenchman remains a double-double machine. Despite his slight decline in production over the past few seasons, availability matters. He’s played in over 65 games in seven straight seasons. I prefer Gobert more in points leagues over category leagues at his current sixth-round ADP.

Tier 6: Upside bigs

• Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards

• Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers

• Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta Hawks

• Kel’el Ware – Miami Heat

• Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans

• Dereck Lively, Dallas Mavericks

• Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies

• Jay Huff, Indiana Pacers

Donovan Clingan: With Ayton in L.A., the sophomore center joins the starters in what should be a breakout campaign. I anticipate a time-share due to Portland’s center depth, considering Clingan played over 30 minutes in eight of his 67 games last season. Still, he generated 1.17 fantasy points per minute (FPPM) last year, which is starter-level efficiency. Playing between 25-28 minutes could net 30-33 FPPG, much like Hartenstein. He’s another steal at his current price in the late 90s.

Kel’el Ware: Coach Spo didn’t have glowing remarks around Ware coming into the summer; however, I’m still bullish on his potential. He averaged 1.07 FPPM last season. Ware also averaged 10 points with 10 rebounds in 36 games as the Heat’s starting center. His ADP is rising into the high 70s and I see why. He’s one of my targets for center in all formats.

Jay Huff: He’s a sleeper worth taking a flier on in any format because of his opportunity. The Pacers found an affordable replacement for Turner, grabbing Huff from the Grizzlies for his ability to protect the rim and stretch the floor. Despite playing limited minutes across his first four years in the league, he’s averaged 1.10 FPPM thus far, indicating there’s potential. He’s currently a market inefficiency, going outside the top 140 in all formats.

Tier 7: Back-end depth

• Wendell Carter Jr., Orlando Magic

• Daniel Gafford, Dallas Mavericks

• Kyle Filipowski, Utah Jazz

• Zach Collins, Chicago Bulls

• Al Horford, Free agent

• Brook Lopez, Los Angeles Clippers

• Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons

• Jonas Valančiūnas, Denver Nuggets

• Goga Bitadze, Orlando Magic

• Jusuf Nurkić, Utah Jazz

• Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks

• Isaiah Jackson, Indiana Pacers

• Steven Adams, Houston Rockets

• Nick Richards, Phoenix Suns

• Clint Capela, Houston Rockets

Daniel Gafford: The pricey backup center for the Mavs finds his way into fantasy relevancy every year. No matter the role, he’s an impactful fantasy player. With a career average of 1.14 FPPM, he’s a logical selection for anyone in category leagues needing FG%, blocks or rebounds late in the draft. However, there’s not enough volume to support rostering him in points leagues unless Lively gets hurt (which could easily happen).

Kyle Filipowski: The Vegas Summer League MVP looked eerily similar to Lauri Markkanen. I came away very impressed, thinking he would surely be a major factor in their rotation if this play carries over into training camp. Who knows what the Jazz will do, so keep him penciled in as a late-round flier with upside.

Zach Collins: Keep an eye on Collins because Vučević is on an expiring contract. There’s a strong possibility he could be dealt by midseason. Collins thrived in 12 games as a starter last year, averaging 14.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 26 minutes per game.

Al Horford: The veteran big remains unsigned, although he’s been linked to the Warriors all offseason. If that ends up being his landing spot, he’d be more valuable in category leagues than points. 

Tier 8: Young hopefuls

• Trayce Jackson-Davis, Golden State Warriors

• Neemias Queta, Boston Celtics

• Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets

• Khaman Maluach, Phoenix Suns

• Luka Garza, Boston Celtics

• Luke Kornet, San Antonio Spurs

• Derik Queen, New Orleans Pelicans

• Yang Hansen, Portland Trail Blazers