No Ceilings fantasy basketball? That’s right, folks.
The NBA, paired with the good people at Yahoo Sports, asked us if we’d be interested in participating in a Fantasy Basketball league. Obviously, the answer was an easy yes.
Our whole entire No Ceilings family got together to participate in a 12-team NBA fantasy basketball league. Some teams feature multiple GMs who are teaming up to see if they can take home the championship.
Our league is public, which means the fans can take a look at everyone’s roster and follow along (here) to see who can take home some serious bragging rights this year.
Below, our entire No Ceilings family decided to partake in a Fantasy Basketball roundtable in order to give our teams a little grading, as well as talk about the other teams in the league.
How would you grade your draft?
Rucker: I would probably say an A. There’s potential to have a bit of a wagon on my roster. Adding a pair of superstars in Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brunson to start things off was great. Landing legends like Kevin Durant and LeBron James presented some sensational value that was too intriguing to pass up. My draft strategy early was to attack the highest upside, followed by targeting potential value selections in the middle rounds and trusting my board. Eventually, I thought I got some good positional needs and young upside plays as well.
Nathan: I’d give my draft about a B. The dynamic duo (when healthy) of Cooper Flagg, Tyrese Maxey, Devin Booker, and Amen Thompson gives me plenty of scoring opportunities, plus they’re more complete perimeter options who rebound for their position, generate defensive steal opportunities, and can really pass players open for easy assists. And again, when healthy, all of Joel Embiid, Ivica Zubac, and Jarrett Allen are proven centers who excel at finding ways to put points on the board and man the middle of the floor for their respective teams. Some of the depth on my roster is a bit more unproven, so I’ll be crossing my fingers all season long for good health and waiver wire luck!
Albert: My roster is filled with world-champion New York Knicks, so my grade should be an easy A. Unfortunately, I need to take this exercise seriously and give myself an A-. The minus is there to keep me humble. Objectively, I got Toumani Camara in the later rounds as a bona fide steal. I took a big bet on Anthony Davis and bought into what he’s selling. He’s telling everyone that’ll listen that he wants to play 82 games this season. If he does play a ton of games for an exciting Wizards team, I just might have grabbed a league-winner. As a draft expert, I took some swings on rookies Darryn Peterson, Brayden Burries, and Mikel Brown Jr. I think all three guys will get a real runway to play this season.
Metcalf: B-. I think I got caught up too much with trying to find the do-it-all forwards who end up producing better advanced numbers than raw counting stats. I should’ve probably swung on a few more volume scorers instead.
Nick: I think I would give myself a solid B; it had been a while since I’d done a fantasy draft, and I started getting worried about how it would turn out by Round Three, but I think I did pretty well in the later rounds.
Corey: I’m going to give myself a B with potential to get that grade up once my team gets healthier. Nabbing a guy like Giannis Antetokounmpo allowed me to set a strong foundation due to his ability to play both forward spots and fill up every aspect of the stats sheet. I took a swing on Kon Knueppel early, which I think is going to pay off when he’s back on the court. Elite elite shooter with more playmaking chops in his bag than most people realize. He’s in the perfect spot now to get to show those skills off after the Hornets moved on from LaMelo Ball and in many ways gave him the car keys. Then I nabbed Tyler Herro and Julius Randle later on, both of whom I think are in for monster statistical years. You know what, maybe I’ll give myself an A after all.
Paige/Izzy: I think we’re sitting at a B+ and, fingers crossed, will see our team lock in more soon. We were lucky to grab the first pick, and getting Jokić first was definitely the move. We were stumped between choosing him or Wemby. We’ve got a good little motley of players, and some are the more star-power archetype of their respective teams. And, above all, not only do we have Jokić, but we are also backed by the sheer power of his horses.
Jacob/Finn: Finn: A smooth A- feels right here without getting into overconfident territory. We got some star power, some depth and versatility at every position, and a few big breakout candidates. With Wemby at the helm, it’s going to be tough to beat us.
Jam/Stephen: Stephen: I think a B+ is pretty fair. Even as some of the games have played out, a number of our players have punched above their projections. As always, there were probably some things we could have done differently, but we got some great players across our draft board.
Jam: I’m with Stephen here on a B+ grade. Anchored by Luca, the team is filled with versatility and stat sheet stuffers. I’m tempted to give an A-, but there are one or two decisions that I would love to have back.
Owen/Quinn: Owen: An A. We gotta trust that the process we had will come to fruition. We had a set of guys we wanted to target going in and came away grabbing plenty of them, even leaving some off the board. Tyrese Haliburton, Deni Avdija and Chet Holmgren are our engines, while Dylan Harper, Alex Sarr and Jalen Williams project as a high-upside trio. In the later rounds, we targeted players with high counting stats. Guys like Jalen Green, Brandin Podziemski and Miles Bridges who, at worst, will stuff a stat sheet. Overall, good outing.
Ignacio/Latif: A B+ would be fair. It’s not our ideal vision for the roster, but considering we were second-to-last in the draft order, we feel like we did as much as we could with what we had. Our top three picks (Jalen Johnson, Steph Curry, and Walker Kessler) should all have statistically impactful seasons, which gave us the freedom to make some high-risk, high-reward bets (Kawhi) and pick up some potential steals (Ty Jerome) later in the draft.
Rowan/Parker: Maybe we’re hard graders, but I feel a solid B- describes how I feel about our draft. It feels great to have SGA and Evan Mobley helming our team, but after that, there are some fun swings at each position. I think the guard, wing, and center spots we chose have a lot of upside, but could also deal with some logjams at their positions, which could hinder their production.
Name one player you felt you had to have in this draft and why?
Rucker: Jayson Tatum. After drawing the fifth pick, I had a bit of an early dilemma looking at some gigantic names on the board. It’s always hard to pass up some sure-fire Hall of Famers (hello Giannis), but I feel like this could be one of the most impressive seasons for Jayson Tatum coming up.
Nathan: I was really hoping for Tyrese Maxey to circle back around to me in Round Two, and thankfully he did. I wanted a versatile player who could produce and cover multiple position categories in Cooper Flagg, but Maxey is as much of a top-tier player for fantasy purposes as almost any other player in the NBA. He’s a go-to scorer on the 76ers despite all of the talent the franchise accumulated in the offseason, and he’s as consistent as they come both in terms of producing and actually playing heavy games and minutes. He’s a co-captain of my team for a reason.
Albert: After being told the team would put extension talks on hold for the foreseeable future, it looks like Karl-Anthony Towns will have a lot to play for, even after a title-winning season. A highly motivated Towns, who unlocked something as an offensive hub from the nail for the Knicks, could create a fantasy monster this season. I fully expect his assist numbers to be up this season, and he’ll take even more three-point attempts. Towns is still an elite rebounder, so the multi-category value at center was too good for me to pass.
Metcalf: At the 12th pick, which is rough by the way, I knew my options were going to be pretty limited. I probably reached, but I knew Cam Boozer wasn’t getting back to me in the third round, so I said screw it and swung with the 13th pick. We’re already seeing him put up awesome numbers across the board, and I think that’ll only improve throughout the year.
Nick: For multiple reasons (Kings fandom, my personal belief in him having a bounce-back season, and both the name and the icon I chose for the fantasy team itself), I kind of had to have Keegan Murray on this squad. I could maybe have gotten him in a later round, but I wasn’t about to take that chance.
Corey: I felt like I had to target the Greek Freak. I think people forget just how impactful Giannis is when he’s healthy, and I expect an absolutely MONSTER year out of him. A motivated Giannis with a dash of Heat Culture is a scary thought.
Paige/Izzy: Maybe it’s the Chicago connection for Izzy, but grabbing Caleb Wilson was a big deal for us. It was between Wilson and Buzelis, definitely two of the guys who have been dialed in for the young Bulls, but we ultimately decided on Wilson. Midwesterners like us have to stay loyal to our teams!
Jacob/Finn: Finn: Ryan Rollins. I’m a Bucks fan and am really bullish on Rollins being a cornerstone for this team. It didn’t look like it on opening night, but the star leap for Double-R is coming at some point. We’re hoping it’ll come this year.
Jam/Stephen: Stephen: I felt like I wanted to have one of the “Big Four” of the incoming rookie class. Having covered them as long as we had, I wanted to see some payoff. Getting AJ Dybantsa was one of my prouder picks, personally.
Jam: Domantas Sabonis. Coming off an injury, I thought he would drop in the draft and would be a tremendous value pickup. He’s still one of the most versatile and productive bigs in the game. One of the few who can consistently flirt with triple-doubles. To my delight, he was not scooped up by Nick, our resident Kings fan, and we were able to grab Sabonis in the fifth round.
Owen/Quinn: Owen: Tyrese Haliburton and Chet Holmgren would be the easy answers here, but for me, the “must-grab” guy was Brandin Podziemski. Being able to grab a guy like that in the later rounds, knowing that he gives a scoring punch on top of good rebounding and stock numbers, ensures a spread-out portfolio. Low turnovers mean less damage to his night-to-night totals as well, making him an easy late-round steal.
Ignacio/Latif: Jalen Johnson has made improvements on his game on a year-over-year basis, so grabbing someone with that upward trajectory with a full season of first option usage was a must-have.
Rowan/Parker: With a high draft pick at #4, you want consistent greatness, and there hasn’t been a player that epitomizes it like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Over the past four seasons, his averages have hovered around 30 points, six assists, five rebounds, and 1.5 steals. He hardly makes mistakes, as he’s shot over 50% from the field and turned the ball over under three times per game. While the rest of the team is full of upside swings, Gilgeous-Alexander is the ultimate key to being a contender in this league.
Who’s the one player who got away during the draft?
Rucker: I had Stephon Castle on my radar before he got sniped one pick before me. I thought that was a fantastic selection, as I believe Castle is going to continue to ascend upward for the Spurs throughout the next couple of years. Plenty of attention has been spotlighted on a number of players on San Antonio’s roster. But I think Castle is ready to take another big leap this year. I let out a couple of frustration battle cries when that pick happened.
Nathan: Given how I love to craft my fantasy teams around players who can check every box and put up stats across the board, I was very sad to see Cameron Boozer taken so early in our fantasy draft. Despite being a rookie, his entire case for becoming a potential star is in how well-rounded his game is. He’s a three-level scorer, extraordinary passer, and a proven, top-tier rebounder. Also, he’s already getting every opportunity to produce in Memphis. He would’ve been a dream third pick for my roster.
Albert: I really wanted Cameron Boozer. I firmly believe he will be the best rookie in all of fantasy this season. Given his situation, playing with Zach Edey in the frontcourt, and the minutes he’ll get from the jump, he’s a prime candidate to outplay his draft slot. Boozer will be a monster contributor with how he stuffs the stat sheet. As long as he stays healthy this season, I expect him to be on a lot of rosters that win leagues.
Metcalf: I was really hoping Jalen Williams was going to make it back to me in the third round, and he just went a few spots before me. Now that he’s healthy, we’re already seeing him essentially back to his All-Star form. The versatility and production he brings to the court is so much fun.
Nick: Nathan taking Tyrese Maxey one pick before I could get him still stings a little–especially since I’m facing Nathan in Week One.
Corey: I really, really, really wanted Cam Boozer on my squad. He’s a rookie in most people’s eyes, but to me he’s a destroyer, sent from the future. He can’t be bargained with. He can’t be reasoned with. He doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And he absolutely will not stop until he dominates the stat sheet and your heart.
Paige/Izzy: It’s got to be Matas Buzelis. That was a painful loss. I think it ended up working out because we do have a pretty guard-heavy squad, so all should work out.
Jacob/Finn: Finn: Julius Randle was on our shortlist across multiple rounds. We’re both confident he’ll have a big year statistically for Brooklyn. But positional need and other intriguing names taking priority for us ultimately led to him falling through our fingers when Corey drafted him in the fifth.
Jam/Stephen: Stephen: I REALLY wanted one of Dyson Daniels or Ausar Thompson with our eighth round pick, and both were taken three spots before our pick. I’m still happy to have Cason Wallace, but I had my heart set on one of those two.
Jam: Trae Young, without a doubt. Young is still a terrific player and a nightly 20 points and 10 assists threat while commanding high usage. I thought he would have been a perfect fit. Going in the fourth round was excellent value that I wish we were able to snag.
Owen/Quinn: Owen: Reed Sheppard was the one that got away for me. I knew it would be ubercompetitive at the top, so I didn’t get my hopes up for any one guy. But knowing that a guy like Sheppard, who didn’t exactly have the best postseason run, could be available down the board for a high-reward, upside swing got my gears turning a bit. Sadly, he was stolen away.
Ignacio/Latif: Once we found out we had the 11th pick in the first round, we settled on a number of targets who could realistically be available at that spot: Cade Cunningham, Cooper Flagg, Tyrese Haliburton, and Anthony Edwards. They all went in the four picks before us.
Rowan/Parker: I’m not only saying this because of his opening night eruption, but Ty Jerome was a player that we were circling and just missed on. He could be in line for another breakout year just a few years after his first breakout performance.
What was your biggest steal of the draft?
Rucker: I had a pair, honestly. I understand he’s 42 years old, but landing “the King” LeBron James in the fifth round was too good of a value to pass up. I understand the dilemma of drafting someone of LeBron’s age, but this is also fantasy basketball. In terms of production, LeBron has continued to be a consistent monster throughout the last 10+ years. After losing out on one of my top targets in Stephon Castle one pick before, I pivoted and took LeBron as a “let’s just get nuts” type of value pick.
Nathan: I know I’m just crossing my fingers for him to be healthy for enough games to matter, but Joel Embiid in the eighth round is a pretty great pick given how he’s proven he’s one of the best big men in basketball so long as he’s on the court. He’s a multi-level scorer who operates as a hub for the 76ers, and he’s the last line of defense for a team that’s desperate for rim protection and interior support, meaning he’s always in play to have a great game on the glass and blocking shots. We’re only a few games in, but he’s already been one of my best picks and performers.
Albert: I mentioned it earlier, but getting Toumani Camara in the later rounds felt like an absolute heist for me. Camara continues to be a defensive dynamo, adding a ton of value with steals and blocks, but the real reason he’s a steal is his growth on offense. Camara will keep getting open looks from the perimeter with all the dynamic guard play this season, and keeping his game as a play-finisher while staying fresh on defense is great for his fantasy production.
Metcalf: The turn at the sixth and seventh round for me was awesome. Being able to walk away with Zach Edey and Nickeil Alexander-Walker that late felt like I struck gold. Now Edey has to stay healthy, but… we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.
Nick: Getting Ajay Mitchell in the eighth round felt like a huge win. We’ll see how it plays out, but I’m feeling pretty good about that one.
Corey: Temetrius Ja Morant baybay! Sure, the backcourt for the Trail Blazers is crowded. Sure, Dame and Ja starting together might not be ideal defensively. But it’s going to be absolutely electric all year long, and Ja is going to fill it up whenever he’s on the floor.
Paige/Izzy: Funny enough, because Izzy fell asleep and Paige was away, we were auto-drafted Ayo Dosunmu. Sheesh, when we saw that, it felt right. We have no doubt Ayo is going to build on the great season he had last year with the Wolves and surprise even more people as this upcoming season gets underway.
Jacob/Finn (Finn): No bias here, I promise, but Ryan Rollins in the eighth round is going to end up looking like incredible value. We’re talking about a bona fide second option and lead handler who can contribute across the board statistically here. Especially if Tyler Herro gets traded down the line, Rollins has the runway for a star breakout laid out for him in Milwaukee.
Jam/Stephen: Stephen: EASILY getting Paul George in the 10th round. We were talking about getting some defensive, nine-box dudes to complement our top players, but PG was too good to pass up where we got him.
Jam: Yup, I couldn’t agree more with Stephen. It’s EASILY Paul George. George is the type of versatile two-way wing that I love both in real and fantasy basketball. He immediately rewarded us with a monster opening day performance: 38 points (7-12 3PA), five rebounds, three assists, and five steals.
Owen/Quinn: Owen: When our Round Five pick came up and we saw Dylan Harper on the board, it was almost an instantaneous pickup. He had a huge rookie year, built momentum into the playoffs, and now he’s forced his way into the starting lineup heading into Year Two? C’mon, easy grab.
Ignacio/Latif: Obligatory “it’s been two games” disclaimer here, but getting Ty Jerome in the ninth round was huge. Even if his numbers come back down to earth as the season goes on, we feel he’s going to play a major role on this Grizzlies team, filling up the stat sheet and helping our fantasy team massively.
Rowan/Parker: Ty Jerome in the ninth round could be an absolute steal. Health is a big factor with Jerome, as he’s only played 60+ games just once in his career–two years ago in Cleveland. However, this is one of the most productive per-minute players in the league. Memphis will look to maximize his skill set because of his superb efficiency in the pick-and-roll. Whenever he plays, he’s going to put up ridiculous numbers.
Which player did you draft with your heart more than your head?
Rucker: Aday Mara. It’s not that I don’t like the pick, but I needed to find another center to pair with Rudy Gobert and the pickings were getting a little slim. I thought that Mara could eventually turn into getting some consistent good minutes as the year progressed, so if I grabbed him slightly early…patience could pay off. Looking back, taking some value still on the board could have built out my depth a little more, but I like the upside a bit.
Nathan: Cedric Coward. I may have bet a season early on him as a breakout fantasy performer, but I just love his game on the court. He’s a two-way wing who can actually guard multiple positions, play passing lanes, and support in help situations at the rim, and he’s consistently grown as a scorer on the other end of the floor. His spot-up three needs to be his most consistent weapon for him to help me in a major way, but the leap for Coward is coming. He can still develop and produce like a Top 3 player on a really good NBA team.
Albert: This is easy; I grabbed Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart because they have the heart of champions. Unfortunately, none of that means anything in fantasy. Do I regret my decision? Absolutely. Would I do it again? No question, I know what I am.
Metcalf: Jrue Holiday. I love how he plays so much. I grabbed him with the last pick of the draft because it just felt wrong to have him go undrafted. Probably could’ve done better though.
Nick: Putting Keegan Murray aside because I answered him for a different question: I’ve always been a big believer in Day’Ron Sharpe. Drafting him in the seventh round might have been a bit aggressive, but I really think it’ll work out. Plus, I needed another big man there anyway.
Corey: I may have nabbed James Harden a round early. Maybe I’m remembering the Beard from his previous stints, and this is the year his production tapers off a bit. Or maybe he just keeps stepping back into enough threes that it leads me to a trophy!
Paige/Izzy: Autodrafted Zach LaVine, which I mean, alright, former Bull, what’s up? We could have nabbed another big or PG, but we’re not mad at it.
Jacob/Finn: Finn: After getting Ryan Rollins, we had to get a Celtic on the team for Jacob. Drafting Hugo Gonzalez in the last round was a low-risk swing, but still a swing that might not pay off. The sophomore is raw and is one of several young wings in Boston poised to make a jump this year. There’s a world where he’s awesome this season, but there’s also a world where he’s a non-factor from a fantasy perspective and his tangible leap comes down the line.
Jam/Stephen: Stephen: Not to be boring, but I don’t know if I did. Co-GMing really prevents this, I think. I can tell you that moves were made that Jam and I probably would have done differently separately. But that’s not really a “heart-over-head” dilemma.
Jam: Stephen summed it up perfectly. No heart-over-head drafting here, but I’m sure there were a few different moves and perhaps a different drafting philosophy if we GM’d separate teams.
Owen/Quinn: Owen: There is probably a fair argument for Tyrese Haliburton being this pick. Maybe you could say drafting the guy we haven’t seen play serious basketball in well over a year in the first round was a bit too ambitious, but the way I see it, you gotta swing with your heart sometimes. I love Hali. I know he can get back to who he once was, so I took the chance and bet on him in Round One.
Ignacio/Latif: Jabari Smith Jr. is a player Latif has been high on since he was drafted. Although he hasn’t entirely lived up to his billing as a #3 pick, there are always those glimpses of what he could be in this league. Just look at his stat line in the season opener.
Rowan/Parker: In some ways, Darius Acuff Jr. was one for us. He had a stellar year at Arkansas and should have the ball in his hands a ton for the Kings, but their roster has little infrastructure to support him having efficient and consistent performances.
Which player on your roster will surprise the most people this season?
Rucker: Yaxel Lendeborg. There’s been plenty of rookies that have been talked about in potential Rookie of the Year chases. But I think Lendeborg is going to have a legit case to make a run at the award. He landed with a perfect team that is going to allow Yaxel to “be Yaxel.” That’s a very charismatic wildman on the basketball court who isn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with anyone (hello Luka). Golden State is suddenly depleted of depth. That means that they could be giving Yaxel as much as he can handle early on, even as a rookie.
Nathan: Kyshawn George. He came to my team in the 12th round, and I value him far more as a player than getting selected near the tail end in fantasy. A 6’9” wing who can actually dribble, pass, shoot, and rebound? Like I’ve preached here: versatility matters to me. If a player’s shot isn’t falling, how else can they produce and put fantasy points on the board? George has answers to those questions, and he’s already started to contribute nicely this season with the Washington Wizards.
Albert: Brayden Burries will be pretty quiet early in the season, but once we get to the second half, the Bucks could give him plenty of opportunities to go out there and try stuff. That could lead to some incredible scoring nights where he’s in absolute control of the offense. Buries is a dynamic driver to the rim with a blossoming outside jumper and passing ability. Drafting him may have been a head-scratcher for some, but I see the vision.
Metcalf: Scottie Barnes has had awesome years before, so this is probably cheating. However, I think he could have a legitimate All-NBA level season this year. He just steadily gets better and better every year.
Nick: I was surprised by how low Egor Demin was in some of the consensus rankings; Ajay Mitchell aside, I thought he was the biggest steal of the draft for me. I’m fully expecting a breakout for Egor this season that will lead to him being much higher than a tenth round fantasy selection next year.
Corey: Alperen Şengün is in line for an All-NBA caliber season. Sengun is a nightly triple-double threat and is the closest thing we have in the league to a dude who can approximate the stylings of Nikola Jokic. He’s kind of like a Jokic cover band, but who doesn’t love a good cover band?
Paige/Izzy: Even though Ayo Dosunmu showed out last season, especially after being traded from the Bulls to the Timberwolves, this season could be a huge one for him. He’s got a great supporting cast with him on the Wolves roster, which we believe could amplify his skill set even more. He’s definitely one to watch.
Jacob/Finn: Jacob: I am so ready for the Collin Murray-Boyles breakout. After a productive rookie campaign, CMB is set to play a significant role off the bench for the Raptors. He’s already proven to be a talented defender, impressive playmaker, and beast on the glass. His scoring should take a bump as well with Kawhi’s gravity coming into play.
Jam/Stephen: Stephen: I could see it being Jalen Duren. This was a player I wouldn’t have taken on my own—but I’ll credit Jam here. I was iffy considering the offseason between Duren and the Pistons, but he looked good in the Preseason—and he’s been good early. I’m shocked based on my own expectations, so I think others could be as well.
Jam: Jeremiah Fears: a young, ultra-talented and creative guard who can score on multiple levels and make plays for his teammates. He’s commanding high usage and has the runway from New Orleans to grow through mistakes. I’m excited about him taking that sophomore leap.
Owen/Quinn: Quinn: I’m pretty excited to see what Dylan Harper can do with a larger role this season. He is already playing 10 more minutes per game than last season and has outscored and taken more field goals than De’Aaron Fox in each of the first three games. If he can continue proving himself as a starter, there is no telling what his ceiling can be this year.
Ignacio/Latif: We feel like we have an experienced roster, so none of these guys should really surprise people. However, we don’t think people expect how important a role Walker Kessler is going to play for the Lakers this year, or how his production and efficiency should increase playing alongside Luka. Obviously, injuries played a factor here, but I was surprised to see him available with our 35th pick.
Rowan/Parker: Joan Beringer could really surprise people. He’s going to play minutes for the Timberwolves as their lone backup center. It wouldn’t be shocking to see them play the long game with Rudy Gobert in terms of his minutes with their eyes toward May and June. Because of his size and athleticism, he’s going to crash the glass and be an easy lob target for LaMelo Ball and the rest of the Timberwolves perimeter players.
Which content creator had the best draft other than yourself?
Rucker: I thought Nick had a really good middle of the draft that got some serious potential stat fillers in a big way. Those middle rounds can really shift the direction of your team in a hurry, and I thought there were some big-time value selections on his roster with those picks.
Albert: I know no one liked my draft, so I don’t like anyone else’s as well. This is a competition. I’m not here to make friends. I’d prefer not to even look at their rosters, and they better not look at mine. When the golden trophy is attached to my name at the season, then they can look. I have winning in my DNA.
Metcalf: I think Jam and Stephen nailed their first 5-6 picks. They grabbed versatile focal points of the offense who all put up big numbers. I think they tried to swing a little too much on potential after that, but the first half of their draft I thought was really strong.
Nick: This is maybe the toughest question for me to answer, because I thought there were some really awesome drafts from the crew. I think I’ll go with Team Jacob/Finn here–and not just because they got Moussa Diabate. Trae Young felt like a steal late in Round Four, and Dyson Daniels and Ryan Rollins will rack up the defensive stats for them every week.
Corey: Tyler Rucker not only has one of the best team names but also one of the best rosters. It pains me to say it, but Jalen Brunson, Jayson Tatum, and Kevin Durant is a loaded trio. There’s high-end depth with Darius Garland and Lauri Markkanen. Then there are the young wildcards in Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara, and Reed Sheppard that can pay off big time. Tough squad. He’s going down, of course, but he’ll get to enjoy the ride at least.
Paige/Izzy: Izzy: Metcalf, sheesh. I am not intimidated, nor am I feeling like our team can’t measure up, but I am, in fact, giving a round of applause. There’s lots of depth and different skill sets from the guys he chose. Even though these guys aren’t all the stars of their respective teams, those are honestly the players who I see having more upside than what people may have initially believed about them. But everyone in the NC crew cooked honestly; bunch of ball-knowers here in our squad!
Jacob/Finn: Jacob: I’m a fan of what Metcalf did. Scottie Barnes, Cam Boozer, Lamelo, and Pascal make a great core, while the rest of the roster is full of players with bankable skills who should produce night in and night out. Zach Edey and Nickeil Alexander Walker were awesome sixth- and seventh-round picks. Norman Powell should put up scoring numbers on a lackluster Bulls squad.
Jam/Stephen: (Stephen) Probably Jam. Kidding. Truthfully, I like Jacob and Finn’s team—as well as Ignacio and Latif’s. Both have good balance in abilities and positionally.
Jam: NOBODY.
Owen/Quinn: Quinn: I’m personally a fan of Corey’s team; he has great depth and a very balanced roster of pure scorers, defensive guys, and elite stat sheet stuffers. I think he really killed the middle of the draft too; Randle, Herro, and Turner are great pick-ups.
Ignacio/Latif: I think Jam and Stephen killed it. They took Luka early but solidified their draft in the fourth through sixth rounds, adding a ton of upside with AJ Dybantsa and Zion Williamson, along with Domantas Sabonis, who will put up a lot of stats for the Kings. They would be my pick to win it all.
Rowan/Parker: The more we look at Team Jam/Stephen, the more envious we get. They grabbed a ton of productive stars at the top, and then let the board fall to them in a savvy way to get a mix of boom-or-bust vets like Zion Williamson or young fliers like Jeremiah Fears.
Which creator are you most excited to face, and who needs to start preparing for your trash talk?
Rucker: Probably every team that has two GMs. Having two targets is more fun.
Nathan: The Draft Sickos may have earned their name in the fantasy space too, not just covering the NBA Draft! If every one of their players hits their productive ceilings, that’s a team that can put a ton of points on the board in a hurry. The core group of Luka Doncic, Paolo Banchero, AJ Dybantsa, Zion Williamson, and Paul George is an underrated pure scoring lineup, and all of these big wings/forwards can rebound, handle, and pass at a high level. That’s a very dangerous team on paper.
Albert: Every team in the league should be wary of me. The secret with my team is I’ll probably start slow, and that’ll put me in a prime position to pounce. The great philosopher Jay-Z once said, “When the grass is cut, the snakes’ll show.” I am that snake; watch out for me.
Metcalf: Rucker. He can’t beat me in any of the other games we play. Why will this be any different?
Nick: Paige/Izzy, no question. It’s especially great that we don’t match up until Week 11, so I’ll get to play every other team first and spend some time readying my best trash talk to mess with Paige live on every Deep Dives podcast between now and then. Sorry you’re getting caught in the crossfire, Izzy–but also not all that sorry.
Corey: I can’t wait to face off against my podcasting partner Albert “Garbage Time” Ghim. The listeners know us to be the best of buds, but unfortunately this year we will be mortal foes.
Jacob/Finn: Jacob: We’re matched up with him week one, but I’m excited to have the opportunity to beat the bossman himself, Corey. And so far, it’s looking good for Team WemBAMyama. It’ll be nice to establish who is the best Fantasy Basketball player from Long Island.
Jam/Stephen: Stephen: I’ll be excited to face off against Metcalf’s team of stellar defenders (it’s kind of his thing). As far as trash talk, it’s gotta be Rucker— because he brings the energy and I’m apparently a “habitual line-stepper” out here.
Jam: Everyone can get it.
Owen/Quinn: Definitely Albert; looking forward to letting him hear it once we beat him and anytime his beloved Knicks lose!
Ignacio/Latif: Corey feels like he’d be the best trash talker of the group, and we guess his team isn’t too shabby either.
Rowan/Parker: Probably Jam and Stephen’s. They have a fun, deep roster. Wemby vs. SGA is a (fantasy) rematch of the Western Conference Finals. Respectfully, any matchup is fair game. This team won’t duck the competition.
If you could swap rosters with another creator, whose team would you choose?
Rucker: Probably Owen and Quinn because they drafted a bunch of young guns, and I would just love knowing my guys are probably playing as much as humanly possible.
Albert: I’m not the type to look at another person’s pocket. I love my roster from top to bottom; I have full confidence in it, and I will not waver. Look at the names on my squad; I have savages in the box. They will not be denied.
Metcalf: My team is on the floor.
Nick: It’s hard not to go with Jacob and Finn again here, but I’ll go with Team Rowan/Parker instead. I was very jealous that they got Evan Mobley (and may or may not have tried to draft him myself in a later round before I realized that he was off the board); them getting Darius Acuff Jr. as well makes this an even easier call for me.
Corey: I believe it was Horace Grant who once said: “The envious man grows lean at the success of his neighbor.” What’s that? That wasn’t Horace Grant but the ancient Roman poet Horace? Well, tomato, tomatoe. I’m loyal to my team. The rest of the teams in this league can kick rocks.
Paige/Izzy: Everyone should fear the two women of No Ceilings and our squad. No one is safe.
Jacob/Finn: Jacob: Again, I’d probably go with Metcalf’s team. And it’s not just because Cam Boozer is one of my favorite players I’ve ever watched; the team is truly deep. Plus, Finn and I both have a soft spot for Jrue Holiday, who helped our favorite teams win championships recently.
Jam/Stephen: Stephen: I have always admired Albert’s love of pretty much all things, but particularly his basketball perspective. If I changed rosters with him, I would also want to watch the game the way he does—to be better.
Jam: NOBODY.
Owen/Quinn: Quinn: While I’m more than happy with our roster, I’d probably swap with Corey. He just has too many guys that we know will be high-volume, offensive players.
Ignacio/Latif: If we had to swap teams with anyone, it’d be Rucker. His top nine is very strong with players who will be productive on a night-to-night basis and focal points of teams, and he has young players with upside to be key contributors.
Rowan/Parker: Not just because of Ty Jerome, but we’d love to swap rosters with Ignacio/Latif. Players like Jalen Johnson and Stephen Curry should have a productive year no matter what, but after watching Walker Kessler and Jerome have incredible opening nights, the desire to step into their draft shoes is palpable.
Finish this sentence: “I’m winning this league because…”
Rucker: I make more trades than Sam Presti.
Nathan: I invested in players that produce in ways beyond just getting buckets. Every player on my team has a true secondary strength, and many of them check every single box when it comes to raw box-score production. This team is young, and it NEEDS its stars to stay healthy, but my team has as much long-term upside this season as any other in the field.
Albert: My roster is full of high-floor, high-ceiling prospects. I have wild potential, and even on bad weeks, a high enough floor to keep my head above water. The range of outcomes is not wide enough for me to be at risk. I also could be the worst team in the league; that doesn’t matter to me. My team knows who I am; they know how much I believe we will fight till the bitter end. With Cade Cunningham, KAT, and Anthony Davis leading my squad, we can dream big this season.
Metcalf: I have Cam Boozer.
Nick: KEEEEEEEEEEGAN. MUUUUUUUURRAY. (That one’s for you, Sacramento). On a more serious note, I feel pretty good about my mix of established veteran presences and young players who I think are primed for breakout seasons.
Corey: I can be your Herroooooo babybayyyyy.
Paige/Izzy: Again, and nevaaa forget: the two women of No Ceilings are a different level of locked in.
Jacob/Finn: Victor Wembanyama and Mr.83 points himself, Bam Adebayo. But for real, top to bottom our squad is all versatile players with one to two skills that will show up on the stat sheet night in and night out. We’ve got elite defenders, both interior and perimeter, plus real scoring firepower out of our guards.
Jam/Stephen: Stephen: Jam and I are the No Ceilings Dudley Boyz. And they won a ton of gold.
Jam: GM chemistry and hating losing SO much more than loving winning.
Owen/Quinn: Quinn: We have the best mix of established stars and young upside swings, which is the perfect make-up for a championship team.
Ignacio/Latif: We have a team with a clear identity, built intentionally around a “volume-over-everything” mentality. We’re also waiver warriors, and we’re ready to make a ton of moves on the fringes of the roster to help us win games.
Rowan/Parker: We have SGA, who’s a beacon of health and consistency. Donovan Clingan is going to mash the boards. Evan Mobley has been a consistent All-Star. Stephon Castle is a candidate for “The Leap.” We’re also going to work the waivers like crazy for wins around the margins.