Updated Top 20 Fantasy Basketball Rookies

With the season only a week away I figured there’s no better time than to finally update my rookie rankings.  Going into the draft I had some thoughts on certain players that have really changed after watching them in Summer League and in the preseason.  Some players are NBA ready and others are going to need some seasoning.  These rankings are for keeper/dynasty leagues.

1. Karl-Anthony Towns
2. D’Angelo Russell
3. Kristaps Porzingis
4. Jahlil Okafor
5. Stanley Johnson   – Johnson was my biggest post draft mover and it all had to do with seeing how his game would fit at the next level.  I knew he had an NBA ready body, but I had no idea just how much his game was made for the NBA as opposed to college.
6. Emmanuel Mudiay
7. Justice Winslow
8. Myles Turner – I was worried about Turner’s athleticism, but his long arms and nose for the shooter’s launch point have showed that he will continue to block shots at the next level.
9. Mario Hezonja
10. Willie Cauley-Stein
11. Bobby Portis – I hate the landing spot, but I love Portis’s game.  He is ready for big minutes in a rotation, but may need to wait his turn in Chicago.
12. Frank Kaminsky
13. Devin Booker – Booker’s shooting ability and length could see him marked a little low down here, but I think it may take two to three years to see him break into heavy minutes.
14. Trey Lyles
15. Jerian Grant – Grant landing with the Knicks was the perfect spot for him.  He has the ability to beat out Calderon and is not held back in the least by playing in the triangle.  His deft cuts to the basket and athleticism will see him do well in that offense.
16. Cameron Payne
17. Rashad Vaughn
18. Kelly Oubre – Oubre is far from ready, but he has a ton of upside in a year or two.
19. Delon Wright
20. RJ Hunter – Hunter showed a lot this preseason on defense with his long reach and could play his way into big wing minutes next year.

I love Terry Rozier and Joseph Young, but they just miss out on this list for me.