With the 2014-15 NBA regular season coming to a close tonight, it’s safe to say that we have seen a sufficient sample size for fantasy production from the center position. Players such a DeMarcus Cousins, Brook Lopez, Marc Gasol, and Andre Drummond were obvious starting options for the duration of the season, no matter what matchup.
But, regardless of the fantasy format, a second option is needed, and usually for cheap if you’re in a salary league. The four centers listed below proved themselves to be reliable second options, and should experience the same or even better numbers for the 2015-16 campaign, so be sure to bookmark this and reference it before draft time rolls around in October.
Gorgui Dieng – Minnesota
Season Averages: 9.7 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.7 BPG, 1.0 SPG, 50% FG, 78% FT, 1.7 TPG
Dieng hasn’t played since suffering a serious concussion back on March 29, but he had a great year regardless. As usual, starting center Nikola Pekovic struggled with injuries throughout the season, and recently had surgery that will keep him out for up to six months heading into training camp. Dieng performed well in Pekovic’s absence, and also produced solid numbers while sharing playing time with him. In the month of January, Dieng averaged 11.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.1 blocks, 0.8 steals, 49 percent field goal shooting, 81 percent free-throw shooting, and 2.1 turnovers per game on 32.2 minutes per game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEsa31L8K3M
Regardless of whether he starts or not in 2015-16, Dieng maintains high fantasy value due to his high number of assists and blocks, which are a commodity in one-day leagues. His free-throw percentage is good for his position as well, and he should continue to shoot in the high 40’s percentage-wise from the field regardless of minutes as well.
Kelly Olynyk – Boston
Season Averages: 10.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.6 BPG, 1.0 SPG, 47% FG, 33% 3PFG, 67% FT, 1.6 TPG
Like Dieng, Olynyk has flourished in his second season despite splitting minutes with starters. While it’s true that Olynyk and fellow Celtics center Tyler Zeller have similar numbers (and similar minutes played,) it’s Olynyk that possess more upside and will cost you less on the salary end in all fantasy formats. He’s sort of fizzled out a bit the end of this regular season, but that shouldn’t distract away from what he’s done over the course of the 63 games that he’s appeared in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oDjDXkQloY
Olynyk made the most of some increased playing time back in December, averaging 13.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.4 blocks, 1.2 steals, 53 percent field goal shooting, 63 percent free-throw shooting, and 1.4 turnovers per game in 25.4 minutes per game.
Nerlens Noel – Philadelphia
Season Averages: 9.9 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.9 BPG, 1.8 SPG, 46% FG, 60% FT, 1.9 TPG
It might seem strange that a Rookie of the Year candidate flew under the radar this season, but it’s true — Noel was highly underutilized in fantasy leagues this year. His offensive numbers might not jump off the page, but the truth is that Noel improved steadily in scoring as the year wore on, averaging 12.2 points per game after Feb. 2. Noel’s minutes remained largely the same throughout the season, so his statistical improvement in nearly ever category was simply from his overall growth as the season wore on. It’s wise to remember that this is Noel’s second season in the league, although he missed all of last year while recovering from injury. Still, the experience from hanging around an NBA team one full season prior to actually playing paid off well for Noel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aOK9xUkAMg
Joel Embiid, the 76ers’ top pick from the 2014 draft, is in a similar position to Noel’s from last year, as he will make his NBA debut next season after spending this season recovering from surgery. Philadelphia actually played Noel in the power forward position over the last few weeks to prepare him for playing alongside Embiid next season, so don’t worry about Embiid’s presence affecting Noel too much, especially early in the season.
ZaZa Pachulia – Milwaukee
Season Averages: 8.4 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.3 BPG, 1.1 SPG, 45% FG, 78% FT, 1.8 TPG
Yeah, at age 31, Pachulia isn’t exactly some up-and-coming player, but he has been one of the league’s more consistent players over his 12-season tenure. Pachulia is a legitimate double-double threat (15 this season) every time he steps on the floor, even with his minutes hovering around 24 per game for the season. His 8.4 points per game are his most since averaging 12.2 per game as a member of the Atlanta Hawks back in 2006-07, and it seems that he’s found a perfect fit on a Milwaukee team that is relevant again for the first time in years, under first-year coach Jason Kidd nonetheless.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICNjxUtSylw
Pachulia is an excellent passer, and his higher-than-usual amount of assists per game comes in handy in all formats, which more than makes up for his low block totals. The sudden departure of Larry Sanders definitely had something to do with Pachulia’s numbers this season, but there is no reason to think that he won’t be putting up the same numbers next season, and for a very cheap price.
