The 2014-15 NBA fantasy basketball season was absolutely loaded at the top with Anthony Davis and Stephen Curry joining the likes of constants including James Harden, Russell Westbrook and LeBron James. While it will be no surprise to see those players at the top of our list, it’s the second tier that generates the most intrigue. Here is the second part of our midsummer rankings of the top 12 NBA fantasy players as we countdown No. 12 down through No. 6.
12. Kawhi Leonard
San Antonio Spurs
Leonard finished last season in the same category as Tyreke Evans, Isaiah Thomas and J.J. Redick in terms of points per game with 16.5 but there are two obvious reasons to buy in on him as a player on the rise and one that is worth of being on this list. The first is the fact that Leonard stuffed the stat sheet in other areas including 7.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.0 threes per game.
Second, Leonard is still 24 years old and coming in to his own as an absolute beast on a loaded San Antonio team where he will be expected to lead the way this season. A busy offseason for the Spurs could potentially limit Leonard’s point totals from improving much more than where they were last season but the fact that he does so many different things has him just outside of the top 10.
11. Carmelo Anthony
New York Knicks
It wasn’t very long ago that Anthony was a lock as a top 10 fantasy player but injuries, age and inconsistent play has forced him down to No. 11 in our midsummer rankings. Anthony played in only 40 games for New York before they shut him down last season but the Knicks are expected to take a step forward this year with Anthony leading an improved supporting cast. The veteran wing averaged 27.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.2 threes per game when he was healthy in 2013-14 and while reaching those averages this season won’t be easy, it’s reasonable to expect him to be much better now that he is back at full strength.
10. Paul George
Indiana Pacers
George is the second consecutive player on this list that is coming off a season ruined by injuries but he is younger than Anthony and has had an entire year to work on his fitness and get back in to game shape. George was a player on the rise when he destroyed his knee playing in a scrimmage for team USA last summer but he will have every opportunity to prove himself as a franchise player in Indiana this season. George averaged a career-high 21.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.9 steals per game in 2013-14 and he was in the running for league MVP. At 25 years old, he is primed for a big year – especially with the very real possibility that he plays the power forward position.
9. John Wall
Washington Wizards
Wall broke through as one of the league’s better fantasy point guards last season when he averaged 17.6 points, 10.0 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. His supporting cast is good enough to think that Wall will have another solid season – especially since at just 24 years old, he is only now entering his prime with the potential to become an elite NBA point guard.
8. DeMarcus Cousins
Sacramento Kings
It appears as though Cousins will stay in Sacramento this season and while he might have a better chance to play for a contender somewhere else, his fantasy value is at its highest playing for the Kings where he is central in everything they do. Cousins averaged a team-high 24.1 points per game to finish in the top-five in the NBA last season and he plugged the stat sheet with 12.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.7 blocks per game. Cousins is still just 24 years old and the potential is certainly there for him to actually improve on those elite numbers this season.
7. Chris Paul
Los Angeles Clippers
Wall nearly lost one of his favorite players to throw the lob up to in DeAndre Jordan before the latter changed his mind and decided to sign with the Clippers at the last second. With Jordan and Blake Griffin back in the fold along with the additions of Paul Pierce, Lance Stephenson and Josh Smith, there is no shortage of talent for Paul to spread the ball around with not to mention open up space for him to do some scoring. Paul averaged 19.1 points, 10.2 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.7 threes per game a year ago and there is every reason to think he can match those averages again as one of the elite point guards in the NBA.
