Punt blocks gives you room to spend on scoring, passing and shooting without paying extra for rim protection. Karl-Anthony Towns is a useful example: his 11.9 rebounds and 85.8% FT come with only 0.5 blocks. Remove that weakness and the next pick can strengthen the backcourt instead of compensating with a shot blocker. This guide assumes a 12-team, nine-category head-to-head league, with the aim of building several ways to reach five weekly category wins.
The strongest version still has a frontcourt. Jokić supplies rebounds and efficient shooting alongside elite assists. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gives you accurate volume in both percentages but needs more help on the boards. Bam Adebayo illustrates why rebounding and FG% must be judged separately: ten rebounds came with 44.2% shooting on 15.7 attempts. Jalen Duren provides much stronger FG%, with a larger free-throw cost to accommodate.
Turnovers and steals also need deliberate picks. A roster full of scoring guards may still need a Murphy or Anunoby for defense, while Quickley and Pritchard can add passing with fewer turnovers than another primary creator. Free-throw rates need their attempt volume too: Daniels' 61.5% on 1.6 attempts is a different problem from a weak shooter taking six or ten a game. Those distinctions determine which player fits the surrounding roster.
The live board uses corrected 2025-26 production with blocks removed. Compare it with the projected Top 150 and current Yahoo ADP for the coming season. Written draft ranges reference the 2026-09-26 ADP snapshot and use Yahoo standard pre-ranks checked 2026-10-13.
The strategy
Punt blocks lets you stop paying for rim protection and spend those picks on scoring, passing and shooting. Towns is a useful example: his 11.9 rebounds and 85.8% FT come with only 0.5 blocks. In a balanced draft, you may feel pressure to pair him with a shot blocker. Here, the next pick can strengthen assists or steals instead. Pritchard is another good fit because almost all of his useful production survives when blocks are removed.
The strongest version still has a frontcourt. Replacing every center with a guard often gives away rebounds and FG% as well as blocks, leaving very little room for an off week in the perimeter categories. Jokić makes the balance easier through his rebounding, passing and efficient volume. Shai gives you exceptional percentage support from guard. Near the first-round turn, a Mitchell-Towns opening can establish the offense and boards together. Each route asks for different help in the following rounds.
This guide assumes a 12-team, nine-category head-to-head league. The aim is to create several reliable ways to reach five category wins, not to declare the same five columns won on draft night. A team with strong guards can still compete in rebounds or FG% if the picks are deliberate. In roto, conceding a full season of blocks costs standings points that must be recovered elsewhere, so the same roster choices require a different calculation.
Natural strengths & weaknesses
Points, threes, assists and FT% are accessible through the guards, but steals need deliberate attention. Brunson averaged 26.0 points and 6.8 assists with only 0.8 steals; Murphy gave you 1.5 steals alongside 3.2 threes. That difference matters when the team already has enough passing. Anunoby, Daniels and Wallace offer other ways to add defense without buying blocks you do not intend to use.
Rebounds and FG% are separate problems. Bam supplied ten boards but shot 44.2% on 15.7 attempts, so he can solve the first while making the second harder. Duren gave you 10.5 rebounds and 65.0% FG, with a different cost at the line: 74.7% on 6.1 attempts. Towns is easier to fit in FT%, while Hart adds 7.4 boards from a wing. Choose the particular kind of rebounding your early percentages can support.
Free-throw volume can make an apparent mismatch workable. Daniels' 61.5% came on 1.6 attempts, and Hart's 72.0% on 1.9. Those rates deserve attention, but they do not have the same influence as a weak shooter taking six or ten a game. Bane and Daniels combine to about 82.7% when their historical makes and attempts are weighted with equal games. Conversely, a player who shoots nearly 90% on one attempt cannot repair a large deficit alone.
Turnovers are the other easy category to lose. Luka averaged four and Harden 3.5, so collecting assists without regard to who supplies them can become a second punt. Murray gave you 7.1 assists with 2.3 turnovers; Quickley supplied 5.9 with 1.5. Once the early scoring is established, those differences can be more valuable than adding another impressive points average. Removing blocks has no effect on any of those possession costs.
Where the value sits in the draft
Start with scoring and percentage support, but keep a real plan for rebounds. Durant offers an efficient second-round scoring foundation, while Flagg brings rebounding and passing upside. Neither makes Towns or Bam redundant if your opening guard leaves the frontcourt thin.
Murphy and Markkanen are third-round targets; Quickley can supply passing in the middle rounds. Bane is worth a fourth-round selection when his percentage balance matters more than White's remaining production after blocks are removed. Brown needs a discount because this punt does not solve his turnovers or uncertain scoring volume.
Sabonis fits the category plan, but his small prior-season sample and availability concern matter at the price. Vučević is a final-round consideration because Orlando's center minutes are uncertain. Cameron Johnson and Harper offer different alternatives: complementary shooting versus developing guard creation. Choose the contribution your roster needs, not simply the biggest name available.
How to use the board and draft targets
The Top 150 estimates overall draft value; this guide focuses on the categories you intend to win. A player's best fit and sensible buying range can differ from his overall rank.
The table and example-team totals use 2025-26 per-game results with the punted category excluded from value; they do not forecast games played. Players with a known multi-week absence stay on the table, but their Value is scaled down by the share of a healthy season we expect them to deliver (marked INJ), and the GP column shows each player's 2025-26 sample, so weigh low totals before trusting a high rank. The written round targets are where 2026-27 roles, injuries and known absences are priced in. Rookies without an NBA season row are excluded from the historical radar, not assigned zero projected production. Example rosters illustrate category trade-offs rather than guaranteed draft paths.
Round-by-round draft targets
Round 1
Nikola Jokić. The easiest opening for this build because he solves the problems a guard-heavy draft usually creates. Jokić supplied 12.9 rebounds and 56.9% FG on 17.4 attempts, while his 10.7 assists let you spend later guard picks on shooting or steals instead of chasing another primary creator. Losing his 0.8 blocks is a relatively small cost beside the rest of that production. His 83.1% FT also comes on enough volume to support a weaker shooter later. The category that still needs care is turnovers: at 3.7 a game, he makes Bridges, Pritchard and other efficient secondary passers particularly appealing. You can build a strong backcourt around him without taking a lead guard at every opportunity.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Shai gives a perimeter-first team an unusual advantage in both percentages. He shot 55.3% on 19.4 field-goal attempts and 87.9% on nine free throws, enough volume to shape the whole roster. His 31.1 points and 6.6 assists come with only 2.2 turnovers, which leaves more room to choose another creator than a Luka opening does. The missing contribution is rebounding: 4.3 boards means you cannot simply keep drafting guards and expect the frontcourt to take care of itself. Towns is an excellent theoretical partner, but his ADP around 15 means he is unlikely to reach Shai's next turn. Be ready to address boards through the available center and a rebounding wing rather than assuming that pairing.
Luka Dončić. Luka is the most direct route to a large points, threes and assists advantage. His 33.4 points, four threes, 8.2 assists and 7.7 rebounds give you plenty to build around even when the 0.5 blocks disappear. The difficult part is protecting the less visible categories. He shot 47.6% on 22.7 attempts and 78.0% on ten free throws, so both percentages depend on what follows. Four turnovers also make another high-usage passer a more expensive choice than his assist total suggests. Towns or an efficient rebounder can help the frontcourt; Bane and low-turnover wings can keep the perimeter strong. Luka works here, but he needs a more deliberate finish than Shai.
Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell is a second-round target overall, with a case near the first-round turn specifically when blocks are removed. His 27.9 points, 3.2 threes and 1.5 steals come with 48.3% FG and 86.5% FT, so the scoring does not require accepting a major percentage weakness. He offers less passing than Harden, but 5.7 assists are a useful start, and the 0.3 blocks cost little to remove. Our Top 150 places him at 16 against Yahoo ADP near 14; his Yahoo pre-rank of 8 may still push him earlier than our second-round valuation. If he reaches you, Towns is an attractive next pick because Mitchell's 4.5 rebounds need support. That pairing can establish the offense without sacrificing the center categories you still want to win.
Other relevant targets: Tyrese Maxey, Jayson Tatum, Jalen Johnson, Anthony Edwards.
Round 2
Austin Reaves. Reaves offers accurate shooting on meaningful volume, which becomes more important as you add guards. He shot 48.7% FG and 86.8% FT on 7.1 attempts at the line, with 22.9 points and 5.5 assists. LeBron's departure creates room for more creation beside Luka, but last season's 51 games mean the upside also depends on availability. The 2.9 turnovers are a reason to avoid treating him as a completely clean second guard. Compared with Murray, you get less proven passing and outside shooting; compared with many lower-efficiency scorers, the percentages are easier to support. Our rank of 11 against Yahoo ADP near 22 makes the opportunity attractive when the first pick has a dependable workload.
Cooper Flagg. Flagg moves ahead of Kawhi on the general board, and his 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists give this build more than a scoring bet. You discard his blocks, but still keep useful wing rebounding and steals. Kyrie's return makes an automatic usage leap less likely; the upside is improving the efficiency and balance of the existing line. I would take him early in round two when the roster needs broad production, while recognizing that Yahoo's much earlier pre-rank can remove the opportunity.
Kevin Durant. Durant's scoring is useful here because it comes with percentage support rather than another problem to repair. His 26 points on 52.0% FG and 87.4% FT fit beside a high-volume guard, while the modest blocks are easy to give up. That is not a durability guarantee after a 78-game season; leave room for age-related absences and find your steals elsewhere. He is an early-second-round option, not a player to defer simply because Yahoo orders him later.
Kawhi Leonard. Kawhi supplies unusually efficient scoring and steals at a second-round price. His 27.5 points, 1.8 steals and 50.8% shooting make sense without blocks; Toronto's new offense and his age keep the availability risk in the price. For this punt, Durant is particularly attractive when both percentages need support, while Flagg offers more growth potential. Take Kawhi in round two when the fit warrants it, not because September's ADP promises another full round to wait.
Jamal Murray. Murray supplies enough of the difficult guard categories to make an early center pick easy to live with. He averaged 25.4 points, 3.3 threes and 7.1 assists across 75 games, with 88.7% FT and only 2.3 turnovers. That last number matters: he gives you considerably more passing than many wings without the turnover rate of Harden. Denver's addition of DeRozan could reduce some of his scoring opportunities, so the appeal is the established shooting and creation rather than another usage jump. After Jokić, he reinforces the backcourt while the first pick already covers rebounds. After Shai, I would like the guard pairing but make the next frontcourt selection a priority.
Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns is the early center whose main weakness fits the plan. His 0.5 blocks no longer matter, leaving 11.9 rebounds, 50.1% FG and 85.8% FT on 5.5 attempts. That free-throw volume is what separates him from the usual rebounding center: he can strengthen the line while filling a position many guard-heavy teams struggle to cover. His 1.5 threes help too, although they are not enough to treat him as a substitute for a high-volume shooter. The 2.5 turnovers remain a cost. Around the first/second-round turn, I particularly like him beside Mitchell or another scoring guard; managers picking near the very top should not count on him surviving until their second selection.
Other relevant targets: Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Cade Cunningham, LaMelo Ball.
Round 3
Trey Murphy III. Murphy is an excellent complement to an early passer because he improves shooting and steals without adding many turnovers. He made 3.2 threes and averaged 1.5 steals, with 21.5 points and only 1.8 turnovers. His 5.7 rebounds also give you more frontcourt support than a pure shooting guard. The 88.6% FT helps on 3.7 attempts, while 47.0% FG is manageable beside an efficient first pick. You lose only 0.4 blocks here, so most of his value remains useful. Our Top 150 ranks him 21 against Yahoo ADP near 40. I would be willing to take him before the end of round four rather than assume that gap survives another turn.
Bam Adebayo. Bam's ten rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals are useful contributions from center, and you give up little by removing his 0.7 blocks. The important caution is FG%. He shot 44.2% on 15.7 attempts, so he cannot be the efficient big expected to repair a run of guards. His 77.8% FT on 5.8 attempts also needs support if the line is meant to be a strength. Giannis' arrival changes Miami's shot distribution; easier looks are possible, but an efficiency rebound should be treated as upside rather than assumed. I prefer Bam after Jokić or Shai, where accurate volume is already established. After Harden, the same selection could make both shooting percentages harder to manage.
Lauri Markkanen. Markkanen gives you scoring and shooting from a big roster slot without the turnover cost of another lead guard. His 26.6 points, 2.7 threes and 89.6% FT on 6.4 attempts came with only 1.5 turnovers. That is a valuable combination after Luka or Harden. The 6.8 rebounds help, but they do not replace a true rebounding center if the opening has been all guards. He played 42 games, and Utah's additional frontcourt scoring makes another season at the same usage uncertain. Our rank of 23 is well ahead of his ADP near 39 because the per-game production is strong. I would still pair him with dependable availability rather than turn the whole draft into a health bet.
James Harden. Harden can give you an assist and free-throw foundation in one pick. His 7.9 assists came with three threes and 88.2% FT on 7.4 attempts, so the percentage contribution is substantial. Cleveland now has him sharing the offense with Mitchell, which limits the case for simply projecting his old usage upward. More importantly, 43.2% FG and 3.5 turnovers remain real costs after blocks are removed. A Shai start gives you room to consider that trade; a Luka start makes it much harder to protect both categories. I would take Harden when creation and accurate free-throw volume are the needs, then favor an efficient rebounder and lower-turnover wings with the next picks.
Jalen Brunson. Brunson fits the punt because you are giving up almost nothing in blocks. His 26.0 points and 6.8 assists came with 2.4 turnovers across 74 games, a useful combination of creation and recent availability. The limitation is on the rest of the counting stats: 3.3 rebounds and 0.8 steals leave more work for the next selections. Murray supplies more threes and assists at a similar Yahoo price, so I would generally prefer him if both are available. Brunson makes sense when you need another established scorer and can pair him with a rebounder and a defensive wing. His ADP near 22 is earlier than our overall rank of 33; the build improves his fit, but it does not erase the price difference.
Dyson Daniels. Daniels is a useful antidote to a guard-heavy opening that has become short of rebounds and steals. He gave you 6.8 boards, 5.9 assists and two steals with only 1.8 turnovers, while 51.7% FG helps the percentage rather than undermining it. The shooting limitations need different treatment: 0.3 threes is a major gap, whereas 61.5% FT came on only 1.6 attempts and can be supported by accurate volume elsewhere. Bane and Daniels together shot about 82.7% with equal games and attempts properly weighted. I prefer Daniels when the earlier picks already shoot; if they include several non-shooters, Anunoby may do more for the categories that remain close.
Jalen Duren. Duren is worth considering even though his clearest home is a free-throw punt. His 65.0% FG on 11.5 attempts and 10.5 rebounds can repair two of this build's common weaknesses, while 19.5 points keep the offense useful. You are not paying primarily for his 0.8 blocks. The tradeoff is 74.7% FT on 6.1 attempts, enough volume that the surrounding guards need to be strong at the line. Towns is the easier balanced fit; Duren is the more powerful FG% choice once accurate free-throw volume is already secured. I would consider him near his late-third-round price after Shai or a Mitchell-Towns opening, with a clear plan to buy threes afterward.
Domantas Sabonis. The category fit is obvious: Sabonis supplies rebounds and passing while contributing almost no blocks. The latest season is much less reassuring as a projection base. He played only 19 games, averaging 11.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists, with 54.3% FG and 72.7% FT. His earlier passing ceiling is appealing, but a return to that level needs to be earned through health and workload rather than assumed. Yahoo's ADP near 27 is ahead of our rank of 41, so I would want some room in the price or a particularly strong need for boards and center assists. He also adds little shooting and 2.7 turnovers. A good punt fit does not make all of those costs disappear.
Desmond Bane. Bane is the guard I would look for when the early picks already supply creation and the roster needs dependable scoring and percentages. He played all 82 games, averaged 20.1 points and 4.1 assists, and shot 48.3% FG with 90.8% FT on 4.2 attempts. His two turnovers are manageable for that workload. White offers more blocks, but that advantage has no value in this build; Bane's much stronger FG% becomes the more useful distinction. He gives you two threes rather than the volume of Murphy, so the choice depends on whether shooting quantity or overall efficiency is the priority. Around the fourth round, he fits particularly well after a riskier early selection.
Other relevant targets: Michael Porter Jr., Nickeil Alexander-Walker, LeBron James, Deni Avdija.
Round 5
Franz Wagner. Wagner is a useful way to add scoring without another guard-sized rebounding line or a large turnover total. His 20.6 points came with 5.2 boards, 48.1% FG and 1.7 turnovers. The concern is availability after only 34 games, which is why this is a fifth-round decision rather than a straightforward early pick. His 1.4 threes also mean he will not repair a major shooting shortage on his own. I prefer Bane when the roster needs dependable games and stronger free-throw support; Wagner is more appealing when the forward slot and rebounding matter. After an injury-risk opening, I would be cautious about adding another player whose projection needs a large improvement in games played.
Keyonte George. George supplies real free-throw impact as well as scoring. His 89.1% FT came on seven attempts, alongside 23.5 points and 6.1 assists, so he can support a weaker-shooting big more effectively than a high-percentage guard who rarely reaches the line. The price is 45.9% FG and 3.1 turnovers, plus a 54-game season. Utah has also added Peterson to the backcourt, creating competition for some of the ballhandling. I would consider George when points, assists and FT% are all needs, with enough efficient volume already in place. After Luka or Harden, the turnover total makes a cleaner guard more attractive. His fifth-round ADP is reasonable only if those particular contributions improve the whole team.
Mikal Bridges. Bridges is valuable when the first few rounds have already supplied the scoring and the turnover count is climbing. His 3.7 assists came with only one turnover, alongside 1.3 steals, 1.9 threes and 49.0% FG. He played all 82 games, a useful recent record after a Kawhi or Markkanen pick. You lose his 0.8 blocks here, so he is less of a specialist bargain than in a build that keeps every defensive category. The rest of the line still fits without asking you to change direction. Anunoby gives you more steals and threes; Bridges offers more passing and cleaner possessions. Around pick 80, that can be the better use of a wing slot than another scorer.
Payton Pritchard. Pritchard gives you much of the guard production this build wants while contributing almost nothing in the category you are removing. He made 2.7 threes and averaged 5.2 assists with 1.4 turnovers and only 0.1 blocks. That makes him especially attractive compared with paying several rounds more for White and then discarding White's rim protection. His 46.3% FG still needs support, and 89.0% FT on 1.7 attempts is helpful rather than enough to carry the line. Boston's changed offense may trim some creation, so I would value a repeat of the supporting role rather than another usage increase. After an early scoring guard and a rebounding big, he can finish the passing without making turnovers worse.
Other relevant targets: Ryan Rollins, VJ Edgecombe, Darius Garland, Paolo Banchero.
Round 6
OG Anunoby. Anunoby gives this build steals without forcing you to draft another primary creator. His 1.6 steals come with 2.3 threes, 48.4% FG and 1.8 turnovers, so he can strengthen the perimeter while leaving the offense to your early picks. You discard 0.7 blocks, but enough of the line remains useful. The 5.2 rebounds help a little; the 2.2 assists will not solve a shortage of passing. Compared with Daniels, Anunoby is the easier shooting fit and the weaker source of rebounds and assists. I like him after an opening that already has two creators, especially if adding another high-usage guard would put turnovers beyond reach. His 67 games keep availability part of the decision.
Tyler Herro. Herro is appealing when the team needs shooting and has already covered defense. He supplied 20.5 points and 2.5 threes while making 91.7% of his free throws, with 48.0% FG keeping the scoring reasonably efficient. His move to Milwaukee creates an opportunity for offense, but only 33 games last season makes health a large part of the bet. He also adds limited steals, so choosing him after several score-first guards can leave that category thin. Bane offers the more reassuring recent workload; Herro is the later upside choice when your early picks are dependable and a defensive wing is already in place. I would not assume that a new team automatically produces a larger, healthier season.
Immanuel Quickley. Quickley is a particularly useful later guard for a team trying to stay competitive in turnovers. He averaged 5.9 assists and 2.5 threes with just 1.5 turnovers, enough creation to support a star without duplicating the star's possession cost. He also added 1.3 steals. The 44.3% FG on 12.9 attempts is the main category sacrifice; this is a more comfortable pick after Jokić than after several inefficient guards. Kawhi's arrival in Toronto may reduce some ballhandling, so last season's assist total is a reference rather than a promise. Near pick 97, I would prefer Quickley to another scorer when passing, threes and ball security are the categories that still need help.
Jaden McDaniels. McDaniels can still help a punt-blocks roster, but I would choose him for a specific reason rather than automatically carry over his value from another build. His one block disappears, leaving 51.5% FG, 83.5% FT, 1.1 steals and 1.4 threes. Those percentages are useful after a low-efficiency guard, while the 4.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists are more modest contributions. Hart does much more for rebounding and passing at a similar draft stage. McDaniels is the choice when those categories are already covered and the wing slot needs efficient scoring and steals. Minnesota's new backcourt may change his shot opportunities, but defense remains the reason to expect him to earn minutes.
Other relevant targets: Ty Jerome, Paul George, Julius Randle, Ja Morant.
Round 7
De'Aaron Fox. Fox is useful when you need assists but cannot afford another serious FG% penalty. His 6.2 assists came with 48.6% shooting and 2.3 turnovers, a more manageable balance than several earlier lead guards. He also made 1.8 threes, so the shot distribution is not as restrictive as a non-shooting passer's. The 76.0% FT on 3.4 attempts is the cost to check, especially if the frontcourt already includes Duren or Bam. Pritchard is the better shooting-and-ball-security option; Fox adds more scoring, assists and steals. Sharing San Antonio's creation with Castle and Wembanyama limits the case for a scoring rebound. I would use him to fill a specific passing gap around his seventh-round price.
Norman Powell. Powell is one of the later ways to buy a meaningful scoring contribution. His 21.7 points and 2.7 threes came with 47.0% FG and 82.7% FT on 5.5 attempts, so the line supplies more than empty shot volume. Chicago signed him after his Miami season, and the new offense gives him an opportunity without guaranteeing the same usage. His 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists explain why he should finish an established core rather than be expected to do everything a guard provides. He also played 58 games. I like the eighth-round price when points and threes are still short, with rebounding and passing already secured and room for some availability risk.
Dylan Harper. Harper's preseason starting opportunity alongside Fox and Castle earns him a place in the middle-to-late rounds. His rookie line of 11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists needs more minutes to become a strong fantasy package, but a punt-blocks team can use growth in scoring and passing without demanding rim protection. Do not assume three starting guards all receive lead-guard usage. He is a calculated upside pick after dependable shooting, not your only answer for assists.
Josh Hart. Hart solves a problem that another scoring wing usually cannot. His 7.4 rebounds are substantial from a perimeter slot, and 4.8 assists with 1.9 turnovers keep the passing useful without adding another lead guard. He shot 50.8% FG, so those extra boards do not come with a shooting penalty from the field. His 72.0% FT needs context: on 1.9 attempts it is a manageable drag if the earlier picks supply accurate volume. The 12.0 points and 1.5 threes are modest, which makes him a much better fit after established scorers than on a team still chasing offense. Around the end of round eight, I would prioritize him when rebounding is the last major weakness.
Other relevant targets: Kevin Porter Jr., Grayson Allen, Brandin Podziemski, Miles Bridges.
Round 9
CJ McCollum. McCollum remains a practical way to add offense after the primary creators are gone. His 18.7 points and 2.5 threes came with 3.9 assists and 1.8 turnovers, so he can support the backcourt without needing to run the whole fantasy team. Atlanta re-signed him, but the workload alongside Daniels and the other creators still matters. His 45.5% FG and 77.2% FT on 3.1 attempts are the reason I would not treat him as an automatic percentage-friendly veteran. Powell gives you more scoring and stronger FT% at an earlier price; Quickley offers more assists. McCollum fits when your first picks have covered the percentages and the remaining need is points and shooting.
Other relevant targets: Bennedict Mathurin, Toumani Camara, Andrew Wiggins, Cedric Coward.
Round 10
Collin Gillespie. Gillespie lets you add threes and passing without another large turnover total. He made 2.9 triples and averaged 4.6 assists with 1.6 turnovers across 80 games, a useful late version of the contributions Pritchard offers earlier. The important difference is FG%: Gillespie shot 41.8% on 10.5 attempts. His 87.4% FT also came on only 1.1 attempts, so it cannot compensate for a weak team line by itself. Phoenix brought him back, but Booker and the other scorers keep the creation ceiling in perspective. I would take him near the tenth/eleventh-round turn for shooting and secondary assists, with enough efficient volume already secured to absorb the field goals.
Ayo Dosunmu. Dosunmu offers a different kind of late guard help from the volume shooters. He made 51.7% of his field goals and 87.6% of his free throws, with 3.6 assists and 1.4 turnovers. That makes him appealing after Quickley or another guard whose shooting needs support. His 1.8 threes are useful, though he will not replace a missing high-volume shooter or steals specialist. Minnesota's Ball-Edwards backcourt creates competition for minutes and creation, so I would keep expectations tied to a supporting role. Around the tenth round, the existing efficiency is enough to make the case if the rotation gives him the floor time; there is little need to assume a breakout.
Tre Jones. Jones is one of the few late passers who can improve FG% while adding assists. He averaged 5.4 assists with 1.4 turnovers and shot 55.3% on 9.5 attempts, making him a useful follow-up to a low-efficiency early guard. His 84.1% FT on 3.5 attempts helps as well. The tradeoff is 0.6 threes, so he fits a team that has already bought outside shooting. Giddey remains a major creator in Chicago; the argument is for Jones' existing supporting production, not a prediction that he takes over the offense. If percentages and assists are your remaining gaps, his price near 116 can make more sense than another wing who only adds threes. His hip absence also needs an availability check before you use him as an immediate passing fix.
Other relevant targets: Andrew Nembhard, Devin Vassell, Ajay Mitchell, Tari Eason.
Round 11
Saddiq Bey. Bey is useful when the roster still needs points and rebounding from a wing without another turnover burden. He averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 boards and 2.1 threes with only 0.9 turnovers, while 84.1% FT on 4.1 attempts adds meaningful support at the line. His 45.1% FG and modest steals keep him from being a complete late solution, but his limited blocks cost nothing here. Compared with Wallace, Bey does much more for offense and rebounds; Wallace is the specialist for a steals deficit. Near the tenth/eleventh-round turn, choose according to the category that is actually short rather than take another guard just because the build began on the perimeter.
Cason Wallace. Wallace can make sense even when the rest of the team already has plenty of guards. Two steals with 0.9 turnovers give him a distinct job on a roster whose early scorers supplied little defense. His 8.6 points and 2.6 assists are too modest to repair an unfinished offense, and 43.2% FG still needs support despite the limited shot volume. Daniels provides more rebounds and passing at a much earlier price; Wallace is the cheaper way to address steals once those other categories are handled. I would use him near the end of round ten or early eleven when points and threes are healthy, instead of assuming the smallest scoring line is automatically unsuitable for a guard-focused build.
DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan is a useful late choice when the team needs scoring and free throws more than another outside shooter. He averaged 18.1 points and 4.1 assists with only 1.2 turnovers, shooting 49.5% FG and 86.5% FT on 5.5 attempts. That is enough volume to support a weaker free-throw shooter elsewhere. Denver's offense will run through Jokić, so the new role could reduce some touches; the efficiency and ball security are the reasons to consider him. His 0.6 threes and 2.9 rebounds are real limitations. After several shooting guards and a dependable center, he can help the remaining categories; after a low-three opening, another scorer is not the same as the shooter you need.
Other relevant targets: Jrue Holiday, RJ Barrett, Anthony Black, Coby White.
Round 12
Cameron Johnson. Johnson is a late shooting option when the early frontcourt has already handled rebounds and passing. Denver does not need him to become a primary creator for that role to help, and giving up blocks costs this profile relatively little. Choose him for complementary offense rather than hoping the preseason makes him a steals specialist. Keep the pick flexible if regular-season minutes disappoint.
Nikola Vučević. Vučević can still supply 8.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and low turnovers, but Orlando's shared center minutes limit how much you should pay. Removing blocks helps the profile without creating more playing time. I would wait until the last rounds and check the rotation rather than chase the September ADP near 115. If you need boards immediately, a center with an established workload is a better answer than hoping the old scoring role follows him to a new team.
Julian Champagnie. Champagnie's shooting and rebounding are useful late, but Harper's move into San Antonio's preseason starting group changes the minutes question. The previous fantasy role should not be carried forward automatically. Removing blocks does not protect you from a smaller workload, and the uncertain workload makes him a final-round option. Choose him only if threes and wing boards fit the last slot; do not treat him as a dependable starter just because the September price was earlier.
Other relevant targets: Kelly Oubre Jr., Dillon Brooks, Aaron Gordon, Davion Mitchell.
First-round building blocks
A first pick that defines the next need. Jokić gives you the boards to draft guards freely. Shai supplies accurate shooting volume but needs rebounding help. Luka supplies more threes and assists while asking more of the later percentages and turnovers.
Rebounding you can afford. Towns supports free throws, Duren moves FG%, and Hart adds boards from the wing. The right choice depends on the percentage impact and shooting already present.
Useful production without extra turnovers. Murphy and Anunoby add steals and threes; Pritchard and Quickley add passing with good ball security. Choose the missing contribution once the primary scorers are in place.
Example teams
Jokić with balanced guard production
Jokić supplies the efficient rebounding that makes this backcourt possible. Murray and Fox add creation, Murphy and Anunoby cover shooting and steals, and Hart adds boards from the wing. The eight historical lines total 162.0 points, 53.5 rebounds, 42.1 assists and 17.7 threes at 49.1% FG and 83.2% FT. Turnovers reach 17.5, so the later picks should favor ball security rather than another lead guard. Bam helps the boards, but his 44.2% shooting is why the team cannot assume FG% is dominant. At current prices, prioritize the early rebounder and use Quickley or a later shooter when the preferred wing has already gone. Have alternatives ready if the shooting wings you want are already taken.
Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Bam Adebayo, Trey Murphy III, Desmond Bane, OG Anunoby, De'Aaron Fox, Josh Hart.
Mitchell and Towns near the turn
Towns and Duren protect rebounds while Mitchell and Bane provide accurate free-throw volume. Daniels and Hart add passing and boards without another high-usage guard, and Bridges keeps turnovers down. These eight historical lines combine for 147.3 points, 54.7 rebounds, 33.0 assists and 10.1 steals at 50.8% FG and 82.5% FT, with 15.7 turnovers. Threes are the next priority at 13.7 across the group. At current prices, prioritize the early rebounder and use Quickley or a later shooter when the preferred wing has already gone. Have alternatives ready if the shooting wings you want are already taken.
Does punting blocks mean drafting as few centers as possible?
No. You still need rebounds and enough efficient shot volume to support the guards. Towns and Jokić are especially useful because their value comes from much more than blocks. A center who also blocks shots can still be the right pick; the question is whether the other categories justify the price.
Can I keep both percentages competitive?
Yes, but evaluate attempts as well as rates. Duren's FG% helps on meaningful volume and costs FT% on meaningful volume too. Daniels has a much worse free-throw rate but takes relatively few attempts. An early source of accurate volume such as Shai, Reaves or Towns gives you more room to use those profiles. A big percentage on one attempt has much less influence.
Should I avoid Derrick White because he blocks shots?
You do not have to avoid him, but losing 1.3 blocks removes an important part of what makes his price attractive. His 39.5% FG still counts against you. Bane offers stronger percentages at a similar draft stage, while Pritchard can supply comparable threes and assists later. White becomes more interesting if he falls or his remaining categories address a specific need.
How should I use the last roster spots?
Check whether the unresolved problem is rebounds, shooting or steals before taking another guard. Hart and rebounding wings may do more than a points specialist if the frontcourt is thin. Wallace can help steals when scoring is secure. During weekly matchups, extra games can worsen percentages and turnovers, so stream toward a category you can actually change rather than fill every open slot automatically.
Does this work in eight-category leagues?
Yes, but turnovers no longer separate the cleaner secondary guards from high-usage creators. Luka and Harden become easier to combine, while the relative appeal of a low-turnover specialist shrinks. Rebounds and shooting percentages still need the same care. Use an eight-category board before applying the nine-category draft ranges.