Fantasy Basketball: The Best 2024 NBA Rookies to Draft and More to Track

Last season’s rookie class shook up the entire NBA landscape. And we knew this would happen, years before. Victor Wembanyama was arriving, Chet Holmgren had entered the class and there were other big names scattered throughout the draw who would come in and start for their teams immediately.

This season’s group doesn’t have nearly the same type of expectations. There is some interesting young talent, but the most NBA-ready members of the class have gone to teams where they might not start right away. And the talent at the top of the draft was a little more raw and may need some time to acclimate before hitting its stride.

However, there are some rookies worth considering when it comes time for your fantasy basketball drafts. In this space, we will discuss the most prominent names that could produce fantasy-worthy stats this season.

Draft-Worthy Rookies

Reed Sheppard, SG, Houston Rockets: Sheppard was hailed as the best shooter in college basketball after making 52% of his 3-pointers last season for the Kentucky Wildcats, and he brings that shooting/scoring ability to the pros on a Rockets team that needs just that. During the Las Vegas Summer League, the third overall pick also displayed natural ability as a floor general, with one courtside reporter comparing him to former Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Mark Price. Sheppard has the game to produce as a rookie and is off to a strong start in the preseason, but it will be difficult for him to break into the Rockets’ starting lineup, so his increased production is limited. The Rockets are very young, though, and Sheppard is clearly a cog in their future, so he could earn those starting minutes before the season ends.

Stephon Castle, PG/SG, San Antonio Spurs: Castle was known for his defense in college, and that defensive ability may be what first earned him trust and time in Gregg Popovic’s lineup, but he’s also electric on offense. The former UConn star can create his shot at will from the jump, using a quick, explosive first step to get into the lane to finish or kick out to teammates. Castle wasn’t initially projected as a starter, but Devin Vassell’s injury may have opened the door for the fourth overall pick to enter the lineup alongside Chris Paul on opening night. Castle is having a strong preseason as he tries to step into the starting role.

Zach Edey, C, Memphis Grizzlies: Edey missed much of summer league with an ankle issue, but when he was there, he displayed similar dominance and traits to what he showed at Purdue. In the game where he injured his ankle, Edey scored 14 points and had 15 rebounds and four blocks. The No. 9 overall pick actively participated in training camp and started the preseason with Jaren Jackson Jr. (hamstring) out, but he has a chance to win the starting center spot with Jackson moving to the 4. If he has, Edey has double potential with good block numbers, even though he is a rookie.

Donovan Cligan, C, Portland Trail Blazers: Cligan could be one of the best shot blockers in the NBA from the moment he steps on the court. He was dominant in rim defense at UConn, then backed that up by blocking 4.3 shots per game in the Las Vegas Summer League. The main question for Cligan is how many minutes he will play with Deandre Ayton still in the squad. Both are true centers and are unlikely to be on the court at the same time. But the Trail Blazers were very committed to getting Cligan in the draft (7th overall pick), they are in the middle of a rebuild and it is a very long season. It wouldn’t be surprising if Cligan was a starter before the end of the season.

Newbies to keep an eye on

Zaccharie Risacher, SF, Atlanta Hawks: Risacher was the first pick in this year’s draft and will face veteran De’Andre Hunter to be the starter. Risacher has excellent length for a striker, a record of strong defending in international games (he played in the top flight in France) and a smooth attacking style that suggests he will become a goalscorer over time. But in Las Vegas, Risacher’s game seemed to need a little more seasoning before translating his potential into fantasy-worthy stats. He’s worth keeping an eye on, though, and he scored 18 points off the bench in his preseason debut.

Alex Sarr, PF/C, Washington Wizards: Sarr was the second overall pick, but many thought he had the best tools and highest ceiling of any player in the draft. Sarr struggled with his shot in the Las Vegas Summer League, shooting just 19.1% from the field and 11.8% from behind the arc in four games, and it looked like he could use more polish on his game before contributing at the NBA level. . But Sarr had two strong games in the preseason and appears to be the Wizards’ starting power forward. Even though his defense remains ahead of his offense, he can be a plus shot blocker and is worthy of some late-round/free agent fantasy hoops consideration.

Ron Holland II, SF, Detroit Pistons: Holland appears to be part of the Pistons’ future core, but for now the No. 5 G League Ignite pick will have to compete with veteran Tobias Harris for minutes. The Pistons currently have four starters between the ages of 20 and 23 in addition to the 32-year-old Harris, so it wouldn’t surprise me if Holland was a starter before the end of the season.

Rob Dillingham, PG, Minnesota Timberwolves: Dillingham was one of the most impressive scorers in this draft class, and with the Timberwolves in need of perimeter shooting and an heir apparent at point guard behind the aging Mike Conley, it initially looked like Dillingham might have a big run as a rookie. But he struggled a bit in summer league, and more importantly, the Timberwolves got Donte DiVincenzo back in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade. On a Timberwolves team with championship aspirations, DiVincenzo appears to fill the sixth-man shooter/scorer role that would have been Dillingham’s. Dillingham, the eighth overall pick, dropped 21 points in his preseason debut, so the talent will be there if the opportunity arises for him to get significant playing time.

Matas Buzelis, F, Chicago Bulls: Buzelis was a popular pick for the Bulls in this year’s lottery, and although his scoring efficiency has declined, he has had some impressive moments during the Las Vegas Summer League. Buzelis is likely to come off the bench for the Bulls as is currently constructed, but this is also a rebuilding team, so I can see him getting minutes sooner rather than later.

Dalton Knecht, SF/SG, Los Angeles Lakers: Knecht is mature for a college player and has the type of shooting/instant offensive scorer skills the Lakers need. It’s unclear if he’ll start the season in the main rotation, but he logged 34 minutes in his preseason debut and scored 13 points with eight rebounds and four assists. Once he finds his groove and gets his minutes, the 17th overall pick out of Tennessee will have the game to produce immediately at the professional level.

Kel’el Ware, C, Miami Heat: Ware was one of the Las Vegas Summer League’s most impressive rookies, earning NBA 2K25 All Summer League First Team honors. He was also strong in his preseason debut, scoring 13 points with five rebounds and four blocks in just 17 minutes. Ware, Indiana’s No. 15 pick, plans to start the season backing up Bam Adebayo at center, but Adebayo could have the versatility to play at the 4 if Ware plays well enough that the Heat feel he needs minutes.

Cody Williams, SF, Utah Jazz: Williams will compete for a rotation spot from the jump, and on a very young and rebuilding Jazz team, the 10th pick in the draft has the opportunity to earn a significant role before the end of the season.

Bub Carrington, SG/SF, Wizards: Carrington will fight for a rotation spot in Washington, but he had a strong summer league and is on a rebuilding team that already plans to start a rookie. It wouldn’t be surprising, if he plays well when called upon, to see Carrington earn big minutes before the end of the season.