This guide punts three-pointers made (3PM), the usual nine-category scoring column. A league that counts three-point percentage needs a different calculation. In head-to-head categories, conceding 3PM makes room for Amen Thompson's rebounding and efficient finishing or Dyson Daniels' passing and steals. The early picks still need enough offense to support those later choices: Shai supplies 31.1 points and 87.9% free throws on 9.0 attempts, while Johnson offers 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists from forward.
Rebounds and blocks require separate choices. Duren supplied 10.5 boards and 65.0% shooting but only 0.8 blocks, while Holmgren blocked 1.9 shots. Free throws need the same care: Daniels shot 61.5% on 1.6 attempts, Clingan 69.2% on 2.5, Duren 74.7% on 6.1 and Zion 71.6% on 7.5. Compare combined makes and attempts; the lowest individual percentage does not necessarily create the largest roster cost.
Points and assists can slip away while you keep adding defenders. Scorers such as Kawhi and Bane can be useful even when their threes are discarded, and passing forwards can reduce the need for an early point guard. Turnovers still count in nine-category leagues. In roto, deliberately sacrificing threes costs standings points across the season, making the strategy less forgiving than in weekly category matchups.
The live board removes 3PM from corrected 2025-26 production. Compare that historical view with the projected Top 150 and current Yahoo ADP. Written draft ranges retain the September 26 ADP snapshot and use Yahoo standard pre-ranks checked October 3. Pre-rank can affect draft-room attention, while role changes and availability can alter the value of an older price.
Build around the categories your best players supply
This guide covers three-pointers made (3PM), the usual nine-category scoring column. A league that counts three-point percentage needs a different calculation. In a 12-team head-to-head league, punting 3PM lets you accept a likely loss in threes and invest in eight other categories. That opens space for guards such as Amen Thompson and Dyson Daniels, whose rebounding, passing and defense can justify their cost despite very little outside shooting.
The first pick should establish enough offense to support those later choices. Shai averaged 31.1 points on 55.3% shooting, with 87.9% free throws on 9.0 attempts and 6.6 assists. That combination gives a team room to draft a defensive specialist without immediately conceding points or the line. Jokić supplies even more rebounding and passing, while Johnson offers a route from the first-round turn through 10.3 boards and 7.9 assists. Each opening creates different needs: Shai needs frontcourt volume; Johnson needs more scoring efficiency and foul-line support.
Three-point shooters can still be the right selections. Kawhi's points, steals and percentages remain valuable after his threes disappear, as do Bane's scoring and free throws. The test is what the pick adds to your remaining categories at its actual price. In roto, deliberately finishing near the bottom in threes costs standings points across the season, making this approach less forgiving than it is in weekly category matchups.
Where the build needs balance
FG% and rebounds are accessible through efficient finishers, but blocks need separate attention. Duren shot 65.0% and collected 10.5 rebounds while blocking only 0.8 shots. Johnson supplied 10.3 boards and just 0.4 blocks. Holmgren's 1.9 blocks or Barnes' defensive contribution can therefore matter more than another rebounder. Use shooting attempts when judging FG% impact too: Duren's rate on 11.5 attempts can influence the team result much more than a similar rate from an occasional reserve.
Free throws are the most common route into a second punt. The attempt volumes change the comparison considerably: Daniels shot 61.5% on 1.6 attempts, Clingan 69.2% on 2.5, Duren 74.7% on 6.1 and Zion 71.6% on 7.5. Daniels' lower percentage can be easier to accommodate than Zion's higher rate. Shai's 9.0 attempts and Bane's 90.8% on 4.2 offer useful support, but the whole roster decides whether the line remains competitive. Add total makes and attempts instead of averaging individual percentages.
Points and assists can slip away while you keep adding appealing defenders. Daniels offers 5.9 assists but only 11.9 points; Wallace supplies two steals with 8.6 points and 2.6 assists. Pairing several players like that makes scoring increasingly dependent on the first few picks. Passing forwards can help you avoid an early point guard, but a frontcourt full of finishers still needs creation. Later options such as Fox or Tre Jones solve a different problem from another defensive center.
Turnovers remain part of the price of that creation. Johnson averaged 3.4, Randle 2.7 and Jokić 3.7. Bridges and DeRozan can contribute with fewer giveaways, though no late pick guarantees a turnover win. Eight-category leagues remove that constraint and make high-usage passers more attractive; FT% and points still need deliberate support.
The round-by-round draft targets, the building blocks and the example rosters for this build come with a Draft Pass.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this guide punt 3PM or 3PT%?
It punts three-pointers made, the 3PM category in a standard nine-category league. Three-point percentage is a separate category with different player values and attempt-volume effects; removing 3PM does not model that format.
Can I pair Amen Thompson with Dyson Daniels?
Yes, if the surrounding roster supplies enough points and free-throw volume. Amen shot 77.9% on 4.9 foul shots and Daniels 61.5% on 1.6, so their actual impact differs from what a simple average of those percentages suggests. Their passing and defense fit well; adding another low-scoring poor foul shooter makes the construction harder.
Why draft a player whose threes I will discard?
Because the remaining production can be worth the pick. Bane offers points, passing and meaningful FT% support; Kawhi supplies efficient scoring and steals. Compare those contributions with your roster's needs and the available alternatives instead of treating every made three as a reason to pass.
Are rebounds and blocks both automatic strengths?
No. Duren and Johnson offer strong rebounding with much less shot blocking than Holmgren. A roster can dominate the boards and still need blocks, while several low-scoring defensive centers can leave points and assists short. Check each category separately.
How should I use the example teams?
Treat them as plausible snake-draft paths with stated availability assumptions. Their totals sum historical per-game lines with equal appearances, and percentages use combined makes and attempts. They show the remaining needs; they do not predict weekly scores, current minutes or guaranteed category wins.
What changes in eight-category leagues or roto?
Eight-category leagues remove turnovers, making high-usage passers easier to accommodate. Free throws and points remain central constraints. In roto, a deliberate low finish in threes costs season-long standings points, so this guide's main application is head-to-head category play.