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.

Hawks fans finally have a pivot point for the upcoming season: Kristaps Porzingis should space the floor and protect the rim, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels add two-way versatility. If Jaylen Johnson can stay healthy, Atlanta’s defensive identity could finally lead the way, turning last year’s near-miss into a playoff surge in a wide-open East. Porzingis’s health is the wild card, but even 50-60 games unlocks a higher ceiling and more lineups Trey Young can thrive behind.

Beyond Atlanta, the pod recaps two other playoff pivots. Dallas bets on frontcourt defense and Cooper Flagg’s ascent to supplement Kyrie Irving and a healthier Anthony Davis–D’Angelo Russell pairing in L.A., with Porzingis watching from ATL as a contrasting path. Philadelphia’s path hinges on Tyrese Maxi’s growth supplementing Embiid and Paul George’s fit if healthy. San Antonio leans into Victor Wembanyama and Dylan Harper to push back toward the postseason, making the West’s chase even more crowded.

Wembanyama anchors a Spurs rebuild that could flip from a 34-win floor to a much more dynamic, space-conscious attack. The convo centers on a healthy Wembanyama pressed into a multi-guard pick-and-roll ecosystem, with Dylan Harper entering the fold and Luke Cornet adding frontcourt depth. The chemistry hinges on the rookie’s health and the rotation’s ability to balance roles without bottlenecks, eyeing a realistic leap into the mid-40s win range rather than scrambling into a play-in fest.

Orlando’s youngsters are framed as a potential ceiling raiser in the East. Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs, and a floor-spacer upgrade in Desmond Bane (as discussed) could unlock a higher ceiling, potentially pushing the Magic toward a top-three seed conversation in an increasingly crowded conference. The longer arc emphasizes growth, coaching continuity, and the leverage of healthy, connected rosters heading into a pivotal camp.

On the margins, the talk weaves in De'Aaron Fox’s path—reaffirming the patience around asset allocation and the pull of a reliable core around Fox as the Kings navigate price, development, and surrounding pieces. The broader thread: this season’s narratives hinge on health, squad balance, and the strategic use of budding stars to maximize late-summer optimism rather than chasing a risky shortcut.

Overall, the episode reads like a blueprint for smart, upside-driven fantasy bets: identify teams with strong developmental curves, watch for healthy trajectories in Wembanyama and Banchero-led offenses, and bank on guard-heavy lineups that can generate shots and facilitate without compromising pace. The road from 34 wins to a meaningful leap is framed as a function of health, fit, and timely breakout performances from the rosters’ rising stars.

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?