Tyrese Maxi lands as a standout late-2nd round target in NineCat formats, especially with Joel Embiid’s health in question and a guard-heavy premium looming. Maxi’s upside is real—top-10 NineCat production without punting categories makes him a compelling anchor in roto and head-to-head alike. Miles Turner follows as a high-upside, low-variance piece alongside Giannis in Milwaukee, where his 3s, blocks, and improved durability could push him into steady value territory. Payton Pritchard steps into a starting role for Boston when Tatum is out, a golden opportunity to catapult in assists and 3s. Isaiah Jackson and Ace Bailey emerge as late-round sleepers for Indiana and Utah, respectively, each with a clear path to minutes and meaningful blocks and scoring. Cade Cunningham and a Detroit-flavored thread weave through the convo, underscoring the broader guard-heavy drafting ethos.

Overall, the show maps a guard-centric draft plan: lock top-quality guards early, then raid the late rounds for wings and bigs with clear starting paths. Health and role clarity drive most projections, with the Pacers and Celtics offering the clearest on-court paths for 9-cat value. The conversation also nods to Vegas-season-win expectations, helping gauge which teams are likely to keep players in rotation late into the year.

A summer of roster turnover places leadership on a shared stage for the Celtics, with Derek White urging a deeper bond among a core now joined by new talents. The group prioritizes off-court connection—games, concerts, and a growing podcast—to accelerate learning and trust while pushing a faster, more transition-oriented attack on the floor.

From San Antonio to Portland and beyond, White and the veterans describe a collective charge: elevate JB, Payton Pritchard, and Sam Hauser, lean into a more ball-friendly system, and pressure turnovers to generate easier buckets. The aim is a cohesive, competitive season where leadership is a team affair rather than a single figurehead.

Anthony Simons joins Boston with excitement about the Celtics’ spacing and the chance to showcase his shooting on a national stage. He envisions a role where he can catch and shoot, play off the ball, and grow alongside Payton Pritchard, Derek White, Sam Hauser, and Jaylen Brown, all while weaving into Jason Tatum’s gravity.

The conversation covers adapting to Boston’s culture, embracing the system, and the journey from Portland to a blue-blood franchise. Light moments about dunk contests, a T-Mac jersey, and the rallying Celtics vibe cap a plan to maximize his offensive impact and fantasy upside.