Old Man Squad’s preseason session leans into an efficiency-first fantasy blueprint, weighing Anthony Davis as a high-upside first-round bet despite injury risk and pairing him with Evan Mobley for a dominant, efficient backbone. Desmond Bane emerges as a safe third-round floor, while OG Anunoby and Deni Avdija offer upside at reasonable costs. The duo also roams through Thompson twins Amen and Ausar, plus promising late-round flyers such as Jalen Suggs, Shane Sharp, Scoot Henderson, D’Angelo Russell, Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown, and Donovan Clingan to craft versatile rosters.

The conversation centers on punting a few categories strategically, optimizing field-goal and free-throw efficiency, and leveraging defense-heavy tracks to win turnovers and blocks. Mock drafts fuel their planning, but the core takeaway is to build around efficient contributors who can shoulder multi-category loads, while keeping explosive upside in reserve for late-round swing bets.

Giddy’s four-year, $100M extension cements him as Chicago’s cornerstone, shaping a cap plan that could unlock a high-end FA window by 2026-27 while keeping Kobe White and I.O. DeSumo in play. Bulls fans are weighing a potential trade path for a true star and how to balance cost with flexibility as the cap rises. Rule changes on late-heave attempts and the NBA Cup tweaks add seasonal drama and fantasy upside, even as the team plots its path around Giddy’s development.

The show weighs the 26-27 cap picture, exploring how ascending vs flat deals affect long-term space and extensions, plus whether a Brown-style blockbuster is feasible. It also emphasizes Giddy’s two core goals this season: finish at the rim with efficiency and sustain a potent three-point threat off the ball, all while leading an offense that must stay cohesive even if defense remains a work-in-progress.

Jakob Poeltl anchors late-round value with top-50 upside when healthy, but rest days and a 25-game absence keep his floor volatile. Jalen Suggs carries elite steals upside if he stays on the floor, but injury risk keeps his ceiling tempered. Payton Pritchard can push into strong 9-cat value in Boston’s shuffled lineup, while Shaedon Sharpe and Onyeka Okongwu offer high-upside, high-usage paths with caveats in efficiency and role clarity. Kristaps Porzingis, Miles Bridges, Scoot Henderson and Desmond Bane add varied pathways—floor-safe totals, durability, and breakout potential in a crowded 9-cat landscape.

Careful construction around these names can unlock strong roto totals and 9-cat upside this season, especially when rosters are built to weather rest days and shifting rotations. The episode dives into how changes in starting lineups, rest schedules, and new teammates impact usage, efficiency, and categoricals, framing a pragmatic ladder for late-round fantasy growth and early-round risk.

Orlando Magic take center stage as the standout over target, with a 50.5 win total in play and a path paved by a healthy mix of Jalen Suggs, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Anthony Black. Desmond Bane’s shooting gravity is cited as a game-changer for floor spacing. Cleveland looks prime for a regular-season surge, eyeing high 60s wins behind Mobley, Allen, and reinforcements. Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Boston, Philadelphia, and San Antonio are mapped to meaningful gains, with Wembanyama looming as a season-defining spark for the Spurs.

The chat stays firmly in regular-season terms, weighing depth, health, and coaching infrastructure against upside. Expect moves like Porzingis in Atlanta and Cooper Flag in Dallas to influence late-season pushes, while marquee stars (Luka, Jokic, Embiid, Kyrie) shape the ceiling for their teams’ totals. Fantasy players should track early-season rotations, load management, and second-unit impact as win totals tighten or swing.

Orlando’s odds for a breakthrough season have surged as the Magic push all-in. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are poised to shoulder major scoring and playmaking load, while Desmond Bane arrives to relieve their heavy usage and unlock easier shots for both stars. The team still doesn’t have a traditional point guard, leaning on a collective ball-handling approach with Suggs, Black, and Tyson Jones in the wings. Wendell Carter Jr. anchors a defense that should improve with improved spacing and a more versatile offense. The rotation emphasizes shared creation, with Bane providing off-ball gravity, and a defense-first backbone that could turn into a postseason contender if health holds.

Fantasy angles center on burden sharing and role clarity. Expect Banchero and Wagner to keep heavy usage, but Bane’s shooting and playmaking should lift their efficiency and provide easier setups. Suggs shifts toward catch-and-shoot and secondary playmaking, while Black’s defense and pace push the pace and create transition opportunities. Wendell Carter Jr. remains the steadying force in the middle, with the bench providing surges from Wagner and Mo Wagner, and Cory Joseph stabilizing secondary units. The key season question: can Orlando turn depth into reliable rotation that sustains scoring without starving its top stars?