The NBA season has now hit full swing and the 2024-25 season is off to the races. While fantasy basketball rosters have already been selected, the management of your rosters can be considered an even more important part of achieving success. This is especially the case considering the constant injuries that occur during the 82-game season.
With the injury bug already having been active to start the season, some unique opportunities have presented value in the fantasy basketball world. Here are five names who should be in line for increased production in the early part of this season.
Tre Mann – Charlotte Hornets, Guard (17.7% rostered)
It has not been an easy path for Tre Mann in the NBA to this point. He was initially selected by the Thunder in the 2021 Draft and then traded to the Charlotte Hornets last season. He saw his greatest NBA opportunity following the trade as he averaged 31 minutes per game in the final 28 games with the Hornets.
Charlotte is expected to continue leaning on the Florida product, especially following the hip injury to Brandon Miller, which will keep him out for at least a week. Mann has made the most of the opportunity thus far and dropped 24 points, six rebounds and an assist in the opening game.
Mann is a high-level shooter with impressive creation ability. He is capable of getting red-hot and could grow into a significant part of the Hornets’ offense if he plays up to his abilities. Expect the team to count on him and for Mann to deliver. The early weeks of this season could either end up being the start of carving out a significant role or his peak for the season, so get him in your fantasy basketball lineups before the opportunity is missed.
Andre Drummond – Philadelphia 76ers, Center (23.3% rostered)
The Philadelphia 76ers are headlining the injury issues across the NBA, as neither Joel Embiid nor Paul George have been available to start the year. As the NBA investigates the situation with Embiid, look for Andre Drummond to continue filling his shoes and delivering in a major way by fantasy standards.
The former All-Star returned to Philadelphia and will provide the most stability the organization has had at the backup center spot during the Embiid era. Drummond is the self-proclaimed ‘best rebounder of all time’ and will have an opportunity to prove this while Embiid remains on the sideline. The four-time rebounding champion is a double-double machine who once made 20-point and 20-rebound games his normal and has welcomed the challenge of being a regular starter again.
While his best days may be behind him to an extent, Drummond is plenty capable of filling up the stat sheet in a way that converts to fantasy basketball success. He should be in your lineups while Embiid remains out and don’t be surprised if that ends up being a longer period of time than most have acknowledged. It is clear the Sixers are focused on the load management of their superstar, so look towards Drummond for being the biggest beneficiary on the season overall.
Norman Powell – Los Angeles Clippers, Forward (14.2% rostered)
While you will not confuse him for Kawhi Leonard or Paul George in the Clippers offense, expect Norman Powell to have significant production growth this season. Los Angeles has officially opened up their own arena, with it getting some impressive praise from opposing players and fans alike. The Clippers still have hopes of fielding a contending team even amid all the changes this offseason and will need Powell to step up.
For his career, Powell has averaged 12.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists. During the four years he has spent with the Clippers, he has averaged 15.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists. He finished the season fourth in Sixth Man of the Year voting twice during this time.
In the debut of this season, Powell logged 40 minutes in which he produced 17 points, four rebounds and four assists. This also comes with him shooting just 5-for-16 from the field and 1-for-7 on three-point attempts. Powell is a career 46.8% shooter from the field and 39.4% from beyond the arc. Los Angeles is putting more on his plate this season than ever before and the numbers should be expected to inflate because of this. Brush opening night off as a poor shooting night and expect even greater games ahead.
Tobias Harris – Detroit Pistons, Forward (79.4% rostered)
The Detroit Pistons won just 14 games last season, finishing with the worst record in the NBA. They had an active offseason, as they look to turn things around, with Tobias Harris being one of their notable additions. Harris has continually found himself in situations where he was unable to deliver up to expectations and may now be in a spot in which he can flourish.
Plenty of the talking points regarding Harris have been about his veteran presence and leadership, but there is still going to be plenty of production on the court. Throughout his career, he has averaged 16.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists across nearly 900 NBA games.
In the season opener, Harris logged 36 minutes in which he tallied 13 points, two rebounds and an assist. He shot just 1-for-6 from beyond the arc in the loss. Expect there to be better days ahead for the 13-year veteran and for Harris to quietly emerge as a consistent fantasy basketball performer. He likely will never have the true top-end flashes of production you would hope, but pencil in Harris for a consistent 15-plus points and seven-plus rebounds per night once he gets settled. You could do far worse than utilizing him in your lineups.
Julian Champagnie – San Antonio Spurs, Forward (6.3% rostered)
There is rightfully some significant buzz surrounding the San Antonio Spurs this season. Victor Wembanyama will be looking to rise into the elite class of superstars in the NBA, but cannot do this alone. While additions like Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes are notable, a familiar face in Julian Champagnie is also worth keeping in mind.
In the opening game of the season, Champagnie produced 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists for San Antonio while knocking down four of his eight three-point attempts. While he does not hold the star potential as some of the other young talents on the roster, Champagnie is showing some signs of a “star in your role” type player which would set him up for a strong career.
He is a name that you want to get familiar with early, as players like Stephon Castle may eat into his minutes as the season goes on. However, don’t rule out Champagnie proving capable of holding them off and in the short-term, he is in line for a significant opportunity. Keep him in mind as an intriguing fantasy basketball roster option and if he continues to knock down shots at a reliable rate he could grow into a more significant part of the Spurs than expected.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is seanbarnard) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
