Fantasy Basketball 2015: Top NBA Player Rankings and 1st-Round Mock Draft
Most people think of football when fantasy sports are brought up, but fantasy basketball also has a solid system going.
In fact, fantasy basketball is probably truer to real life. Players like Anthony Davis, Stephen Curry, James Harden and LeBron James are surefire first-round picks and also some of the top basketball players in the world. There's no stigma surrounding certain positions that require them to be selected at certain points of the draft. Players at all positions have the opportunity to dominate in fantasy.
With the NBA season starting in just over two weeks, let's project the top 10 guards, forwards and centers for standard-scoring, nine-category leagues and then go through a 10-team first-round mock draft. With each position, we'll also put one player under the microscope who might be slotted higher than expected.
ESPN's positional distinctions will be used, but the website sometimes lists players at multiple positions. Any player who fits that bill is eligible for inclusion on any list that corresponds with one of his listed positions.
Guard
| 1 | Stephen Curry | PG/SG | Golden State Warriors |
| 2 | James Harden | SG | Houston Rockets |
| 3 | Russell Westbrook | PG | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 4 | Chris Paul | PG | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 5 | Jimmy Butler | SG/SF | Chicago Bulls |
| 6 | John Wall | PG | Washington Wizards |
| 7 | Damian Lillard | PG | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 8 | Paul George | SF/PF/SG | Indiana Pacers |
| 9 | Klay Thompson | SG/SF | Golden State Warriors |
| 10 | Gordon Hayward | SG/SF | Utah Jazz |
SG/SF Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
With Derrick Rose proving repeatedly that he's never going to return to MVP form, Butler is becoming the alpha male the Bulls need to assume the role of on-court leader.
Chicago took the proverbial training wheels off for its talented swingman last season, and it resulted in a huge breakout season for Jimmy Buckets both in fantasy and reality. He averaged 20.0 points per game despite using just 21.6 percent of the Bulls' offensive possessions.
Not surprisingly, the 26-year-old Butler won the Most Improved Player award for his efforts.
In new head coach Fred Hoiberg's sophisticated, uptempo offense, Butler will get the ball even more and in better positions to score. Butler didn't hurt you in any fantasy category last year and should be better pretty much across the board this year.
Per-game statistical predictions: 22.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.5 blocks, 1.6 turnovers, 1.2 three-pointers, 46.6 field-goal percentage (16.1 attempts), 84.2 free-throw percentage (7.7 attempts)
Forward
| 1 | Anthony Davis | PF/C | New Orleans Pelicans |
| 2 | Kevin Durant | SF/PF | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 3 | DeMarcus Cousins | C/PF | Sacramento Kings |
| 4 | LeBron James | SF/PF | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 5 | Jimmy Butler | SG/SF | Chicago Bulls |
| 6 | Kawhi Leonard | SF | San Antonio Spurs |
| 7 | Blake Griffin | PF | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 8 | Paul George | SF/PF/SG | Indiana Pacers |
| 9 | Carmelo Anthony | SF/PF | New York Knicks |
| 10 | Klay Thompson | SG/SF | Golden State Warriors |
SF Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
Don't be scared by LaMarcus Aldridge's arrival in San Antonio when considering Leonard's fantasy value. The players he'll take fantasy value from are more likely to be veterans Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Boris Diaw, not the improving 24-year-old Leonard.
Kawhi took off down the stretch last season, with 17.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.6 steals, 0.8 blocks and 1.0 threes to go with 52.1 percent from the field, 80.0 percent from the free-throw line and just 1.5 turnovers.
The ceiling for Leonard is relatively low, because the Spurs will probably cap his minutes around 33, but he's an extremely versatile fantasy weapon who will dominate in steals.
Per-game statistical predictions: 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.5 steals, 0.7 blocks, 1.6 turnovers, 1.1 three-pointers, 50.2 field-goal percentage (13.8 attempts), 80.1 free-throw percentage (4.7 attempts)
Center
| 1 | Anthony Davis | PF/C | New Orleans Pelicans |
| 2 | DeMarcus Cousins | C/PF | Sacramento Kings |
| 3 | Rudy Gobert | C | Utah Jazz |
| 4 | LaMarcus Aldridge | PF/C | San Antonio Spurs |
| 5 | Brook Lopez | C | Brooklyn Nets |
| 6 | Serge Ibaka | PF/C | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 7 | Marc Gasol | C | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 8 | Pau Gasol | PF/C | Chicago Bulls |
| 9 | Chris Bosh | C/PF | Miami Heat |
| 10 | Andre Drummond | C | Detroit Pistons |
C Brook Lopez, Brooklyn Nets
There's a legitimate possibility that Lopez will end up being the best fantasy center not named Anthony Davis or DeMarcus Cousins.
The Brooklyn Nets' man in the middle came on very strong last season after the All-Star break, notching 19.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks on 52.5 percent from the field and 81.7 percent from the line, which is rare for a big man. That was with only 32.0 minutes of playing time per game, too.
In 2015-16, Lopez is the only intimidating inside scorer on the roster, and Deron Williams is now gone, freeing up touches for the 7-footer. Brooklyn might not be very good, but its center could put up some gaudy numbers if he stays healthy.
Per-game statistical predictions: 20.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.9 blocks, 1.6 turnovers, 0.0 three-pointers, 51.1 field-goal percentage (16.1 attempts), 80.1 free-throw percentage (5.4 attempts)
Mock Draft
| 1 | Anthony Davis | PF/C | New Orleans Pelicans |
| 2 | Stephen Curry | PG/SG | Golden State Warriors |
| 3 | James Harden | SG | Houston Rockets |
| 4 | Kevin Durant | SF/PF | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 5 | DeMarcus Cousins | C/PF | Sacramento Kings |
| 6 | LeBron James | SF/PF | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 7 | Russell Westbrook | PG | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 8 | Chris Paul | PG | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 9 | Jimmy Butler | SG/SF | Chicago Bulls |
| 10 | Kawhi Leonard | SF | San Antonio Spurs |
Tier 1: Davis, Curry, Harden and Durant
Davis takes the lead, because the 22-year-old is still quickly improving and is now switching to a more uptempo offense under new head coach Alvin Gentry. Harden will cede some assists and points to new point guard Ty Lawson and some rebounds to a healthy Dwight Howard, and that's enough for Curry and his elite scoring and shooting to overtake him. Durant is an obvious injury risk, but he dominates in scoring, shooting percentages and threes along with solid performances in most other categories.
Tier 2: Cousins, James, Westbrook and Paul
The 25-year-old Cousins is in line for career numbers under George Karl and playing with pass-first point guard Rajon Rondo. LeBron has officially entered the "chill during the regular season" stage of his career, which means his numbers won't be near as gaudy as they were. Westbrook and Paul are inarguably two of the league's three best point guards. Russ is dominant in scoring, assists, steals and free throws, while CP3 cleans up in assists, steals, threes and has only one weak category: blocks.
Tier 3: Butler and Leonard (among others who just missed the cut)
A pair of top-notch two-way wings check in here as late first-round picks due to their all-around abilities. Butler is a clear-cut No. 1 scoring option on the bulls, while Leonard is probably looking at a 1A-1B situation with Aldridge.
Jimmy's and Kawhi's defensive abilities may be shortchanged by the fantasy scoring system, but their efficiency is not.
