The Cavaliers project a clearer path to the Finals through Mobley’s growth and a healthier, deeper core, while the Clippers lean into depth and frontcourt versatility to stay dangerous even if senior stars miss time. Chicago eyes a youth surge from Buzelis and Asen, and Portland bets on development over immediate glory with Scoot Henderson anchoring a defensive-minded, lottery-driven rebuild. Across the league, stars like Durant and Edwards highlight how star power still shapes playoff odds.

Five names anchor a thoughtful fantasy convo: Edwards sits at the edge of a high-upside pick six, but durability and per-game upside vs totals split the debate; Banchero carries holes in scoring efficiency and category coverage, making him a nuanced pick near the turn; Brown’s volume is tempting but injury volatility dampens the ceiling; Zubac faces a crowded frontcourt in LA that could sap per-game upside even as totals stay solid; Amen Thompson’s all-around game and Houston’s youth movement keep him squarely on the radar as a potential late-1st/early-2nd round target with multi-cat upside.

FanDuel chatter nudges Minnesota over 49.5 wins into play, subtly boosting Edwards’ upside if the squad stays healthy and cohesive. The show weighs risk tolerance in formats like rotisserie versus head-to-head, emphasizing total-stat strategies and durability, while sizing up how new teammates and backcourt depth affect minutes and fantasy ceilings across the board. An expert, roster-aware look at where the value lies as boards shuffle every few weeks.

Yahoo’s top-10 for 9-cat fantasy basketball is out, led by Nikola Jokic at No. 1. Giannis Antetokounmpo sat at No. 2, with Victor Wembanyama at No. 3 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at No. 4. Luka Dončić sits at No. 5, followed by Anthony Edwards, Cade Cunningham, Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Domantas Sabonis completing the top 10. The host argues Jokic’s multi-category supremacy makes him a safe, productivity-saturated anchor, while projecting upside and risk across the board for the rest. Giannis’ placement sparks debate due to severe free-throw penalties in nine-category formats, making him a mid-first-round pick in some builds. Wembanyama’s ceiling is enormous, but he’s not a foolproof path in every format, especially if you’re not punting certain categories. The discussion then pivots to building around the big names with eye-catching durability, with attention paid to how health, games played, and category emphasis shape value for Edwards, Cunningham, Davis, Towns, and Sabonis. The host also dives into scoring profiles, field-goal efficiency, and the tricky balance between punting and balancing categories in both nine-cat and roto setups, offering practical draft-landing zones and pairing strategies for a season that demands both steady floor and ceiling bets.