Five fantasy basketball experts reveal their five must-draft players for the season, signaling where the draft crowd will chase early-round staples and where shrewd upside can be found. Edwards sits at the center of Minnesota’s offensive engine, with MVP-like potential if the Wolves sustain chemistry post-trade. Banchero benefits from spacing after the Magic add Desmond Bane, while Giddey should push triple-doubles with Chicago’s lineup. Ayton anchors a Lakers frontcourt, Porter Jr. could explode in Brooklyn, and a raft of rookies and WYSIWYG veterans sit as late-round gambles. The consensus pieces together a draft blueprint built on usage, health, and role clarity.

New York accelerates toward a title run by stacking veteran guard depth behind Jalen Brunson. Malcolm Brogdon and Landry Shamet joined camp on non-guaranteed deals and could land guaranteed spots, potentially by trading youngsters like Pacome Dadiet or Kolek to stay under the second apron. If kept, they provide reliable backcourt versatility, playoff experience, and defensive grit; even without guaranteed deals, the Knicks look poised for a strong run with injuries forcing East open.

Jalen Brunson sets a reset mindset for the Knicks, insisting no one should assume a path back to the Eastern Conference Finals. New additions, including Towns, Clarkson, Yabusele, Shamet, and Brogdon, aim to deepen depth and training-camp competition while preserving chemistry. The East is wide open with Tatum and Haliburton hurt and Lillard departed, but New York remains focused on the next step, not last season’s glory.

Ricky Pierce wore No. 22 for the Golden State Warriors in the 1994-95 season, a compact line in a sprawling jersey-number history that spans the franchise’s 75-year saga and 600-plus players. A Rice alum drafted 18th by Detroit in 1982, Pierce also suited up for the Pistons, Clippers, Bucks, and Sonics before Oakland. He averaged 12.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in his single Warriors year, a snapshot of how one season threads into a larger, ever-shifting roster tapestry.

Five-tier forward rankings anchor fantasy boards for 2025-26. Tier 1 blends multi-category supremacy with durability: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, Paolo Banchero, and Jaylen Brown. Tier 2 leans veteran floor with upside: LeBron James, Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, Julius Randle, Kawhi Leonard, and Cooper Flagg. Tier 3 features Mobley, DeRozan, Markkanen, Jalen Williams, Jimmy Butler, Miles Bridges, Zion, Jalen Johnson, Franz Wagner, Mikal Bridges and Brandon Ingram. Tier 4 highlights Zion’s upside against durability concerns, and Tier 5 stacks reliable vets like Aaron Gordon and Cameron Johnson, plus John Collins, OG Anunoby, and Kyle Kuzma. Honorable mentions add late-round firepower.