The 2019-20 NBA season is less than a week away, and that means it's time to start preparing for your fantasy basketball league's draft.
After an astounding amount of player movement (via trades and free agent signings) over the summer, there's a lot to catch up on when doing your fantasy research. Luckily for you, we're here to help.
Here are some potential busts to avoid in your fantasy draft.
Fantasy Basketball 2019 draft prep
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Chris Paul, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder
Paul is no longer an elite fantasy player at 34 years old. His injury history is a major concern -- Paul hasn't played more than 61 games in a season since 2015-16. He also has to compete for minutes and stats with second-year guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was the prized young player acquired by the Thunder in the Paul George trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. Paul's scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and 3-point percentage all decreased last season compared to his 2017-18 numbers. It wouldn't be surprising if all or some of those stats went down further in 2019-20.
Luka Doncic, PG/SG, Dallas Mavericks
Doncic had an impressive 2018-19 season and won the Rookie of the Year Award after averaging 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. It might be more difficult to put up those same stats with star center Kristaps Porzingis returning from injury. Doncic also didn't shoot particularly well as rookie. He shot an underwhelming 42.7 percent from the field, 32.7 percent from 3-point range and 71.3 percent from the free throw line. The Mavs guard also ranked eithth in the league in turnovers per game last year. Doncic should have a very good sophomore season, but taking him in the top 15 or 20 picks of your draft isn't the smartest move.
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Mike Conley Jr., PG, Utah Jazz
Conley's addition was a really good move for the Jazz because it gives them a legitimate playmaker at point guard and allows Donovan Mitchell to focus more on scoring. However, from a fantasy perspective, Conley isn't likely to put up great numbers. Conley averaged 21.1 points per game with the Memphis Grizzlies last season, but that rate should go down (perhaps quite a bit) playing alonside Mitchell, new Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic, Joe Ingles and Rudy Gobert. The veteran point guard's assists might go up a healthy amount, but his scoring and rebounding aren't likely to appease fantasy owners.
Victor Oladipo, PG, Indiana Pacers
Oladipo's return from a season-ending knee injury might not be until January, and when he does come back, it's unfair to expect he'll produce at the All-Star caliber level we saw pre-injury. There's just too much risk involved here to use a pick on Oladipo. Indiana's offseason additions of T.J. Warren and Malcolm Brogdon also could lessen Oladipo's role a bit when he returns.
Kris Dunn, PG, Chicago Bulls
Dunn has not lived up to expectations after being the No. 5 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, and he only scored 11.3 points per game on 42.5 percent shooting last season. The Bulls signed free agent guard Tomas Satoransky and drafted North Carolina star Coby White to their backcourt over the offseason, and those additions could eat into Dunn's minutes and production. Dunn also has played in just 176 of a possible 246 games in his three seasons as a pro.
Al Horford, PF/C, Philadelphia 76ers
Horford is 33 years old and has missed at least 10 games in each of the last three seasons. He's also in a loaded 76ers starting lineup that has him slotted as the No. 4 scoring option. Defense is where Horford can bring the most value to Philly, but that isn't going to excite fantasy owners. Horford never averaged 15-plus points or 8-plus rebounds in any of his three seasons with the Celtics, and he shot below 37 percent from 3-point range in two of his three years in Boston.
Kevin Love, PF, Cleveland Cavaliers
Love is being drafted way too high in Yahoo! leagues. His average draft position is 53rd overall, which is crazy for a player who's missed 105 games over the last three seasons. He's also 31 years old with a lengthy injury history. Love, to his credit, is still a double-double machine when healthy, but you can't rely on him to consistently be on the court.
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