Centers to avoid in your 2020-21 fantasy basketball draft

The 2020-21 NBA season is almost a week away and you should be getting ready for your fantasy basketball draft. In order to prepare, it’s important to consider all your options. Center is an interesting position this season because there’s going to be a ton of value later on in your draft. As a result, you’re going to want to weed out some options to make the best selections. In this piece, we’re going to go over some potential bust candidates at center based on ADP.

Note: Average Draft Position on ESPN can be found via FantasyPros.

Kristaps Porzingis, Dallas Mavericks

ESPN ADP: 49

This isn’t really a knock on Porzingis. When healthy, he’s the second-best player on the Mavericks and can provide a ton of fantasy basketball value as a stretch big. The issue is the health. Porzingis has had major knee surgery and it’s been bothering him ever since. The injury popped back up in the playoffs last season and Porzingis is expected to miss the start of 2020-21. Porzingis comes in as a top 50 asset according to ADP but I think that’s a bit too high. You’re taking on a lot of risk if Porzingis can’t stay on the court with the shortened season. I’d only look to draft the big man if he falls down to around 60-75 in terms of ADP.

Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks

ESPN ADP: 52

This may be an overreaction to the first preseason game, but Robinson came off the bench with Nerlens Noel starting at center for the Knicks. New coach Tom Thibodeau for lack of a better phrase is a hard ass. Thibs may opt for the veteran as opposed to the youngster in Robinson. His upside is there, but right now Robinson is being drafted on average as a top 15 center. He can get there but again, we’re talking about a one-dimensional specialist. Robinson has more value in a league that has field goal percentage as a category. If not, he’s strictly a blocks guy.

Clint Capela, Atlanta Hawks

ESPN ADP: 54

I mentioned above how Porzingis is a stretch big and that’s valuable in fantasy. Capela is more of an old school rim runner, so he really won’t provide much value outside of rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage. That lack of diversity in Capela’s resume makes it tough to consider him this high in most formats. The Hawks improved their roster dramatically, but I think it only takes away from Capela’s potential point output. Atlanta should keep the ball around the perimeter with plenty of shooters. Cap will have a shot at offensive boards and putbacks, but that’s about it. If you look at some names around Capela’s draft range, you see Jusuf Nurkic (better team, more versatile), Jonas Valanciunas (more upside), it’s just tough to consider Cap this high, I’d rather pick an elite center higher or wait.

Al Horford, Oklahoma City Thunder

ESPN ADP: 77

I get that Horford is one of two actual players on the Thunder heading into the season, but still, did you not watch him on the Sixers? This past season was pretty bad for Horford, who is 34 years old and losing his luster. Horford doesn’t appear to be starting level and I could see a scenario in which OKC opts to get younger players more minutes. Horford is also an injury risk and just isn’t a very efficient player anymore. This is an easy fade for me in most formats, don’t take Horford inside the top 100.