We're back!
Last year, we did this all season long, and we're bringing it back for the 2024-25 season.
If you're new here, welcome to the Fantasy Basketball Notebook, where we'll tackle all things Fantasy Basketball on a weekly basis. As far as qualifications go, I've been playing fantasy basketball for about 16 years (since middle school) and beat my esteemed Action colleagues in our company league last week.
Throughout the season, we'll focus on waiver wire risers and fallers, major injury news, game distribution, and other notes.
And we'll try to squeeze in as many useful notes as possible because y'all ain't here to read paragraphs anyway. Hell, you probably aren't reading this right now.
WEEK 1 GAME DISTRIBUTION
Three-Game Teams:
Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics
Brooklyn Nets
Charlotte Hornets
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
Detroit Pistons
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers
Memphis Grizzlies
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
New Orleans Pelicans
Oklahoma City Thunder
Orlando Magic
Phoenix Suns
Philadelphia 76ers
Portland Trail Blazers
Toronto Raptors
Notes:
The Nets, Celtics, Warriors, Timberwolves, Pelicans and 76ers don't have any back-to-backs. The Hawks, Blazers, Pacers and Bucks have no back-to-backs during Week 1, but their Sunday games are on the front of B2B's. All of the Lakers and Blazers' first three games are at home.
Two-Game Teams:
Dallas Mavericks
Denver Nuggets
Miami Heat
New York Knicks
Sacramento Kings
San Antonio Spurs
Utah Jazz
Washington Wizards
Notes:
No back-to-backs here. The Nuggets, Jazz and Wizards have no road games this week.
INJURY RADAR
Many of these players are going to be out to start the season, or at the very least, have lingering issues to monitor.
- Boston Celtics: C Kristaps Porzingis (foot)
- Charlotte Hornets: C Mark Williams (foot)
- Cleveland Cavaliers: G/F Max Strus (ankle)
- Los Angeles Clippers: F Kawhi Leonard (knee)
- Memphis Grizzlies: G/F Vince Williams Jr. (knee)
- Memphis Grizzlies: F GG Jackson (knee)
- Memphis Grizzlies: F/C Jaren Jackson Jr. (hamstring)
- Milwaukee Bucks: F Khris Middleton (ankle)
- New Orleans Pelicans: F Trey Murphy (hamstring)
- New York Knicks: C Mitchell Robinson (ankle)
- New York Knicks: F/C Precious Achiuwa (hamstring)
- Philadelphia 76ers: F Paul George (knee)
- Portland Trail Blazers: F Shaedon Sharpe (shoulder)
- Oklahoma City Thunder: F Jalen Williams (ankle)
- Oklahoma City Thunder: C Isaiah Hartenstein (hand)
- San Antonio Spurs: G Devin Vassell (foot)
Notes: All are draft and stash-worthy except for maybe the Grizzlies but if you have a healthy team post-draft with multiple IR spots, a speculative add for the time being as a placeholder is fine. The Grizzlies both will compete for minutes, but showed they could be fantasy relevant with the requisite minutes, and given the nature of modern-day NBA injuries, you just never know if they'll become must adds, as was the case when both were flourishing last year unannounced. It's still TBD if Williams and George will undoubtedly miss any time, as of this writing, but those situations are true day-to-days, it appears.
Add/Drop:
Stream-worthy players during Week 1 of the season.
G Andrew Nembhard
Indiana Pacers
If you didn't get him late in the draft, he could be a must-add soon if last year's playoffs were any indication. I think Nembhard is a slept-on a Most Improved Player candidate who should take a step for a Pacers team that will be competitive all season long.
Cleveland Cavaliers
G/F Caris LeVert
With a Kenny Atkinson reunion, Caris LeVert was already projected to have a big role in Cleveland, now with Max Strus out, the likely Sixth Man of the Year contender should get volume and closing opportunities — even next to a loaded offensive backcourt.
Philadelphia 76ers
C Andre Drummond
Andre Drummond will be a double-double threat even when he comes off the bench.
Oh, and Joel Embiid won't play back-to-backs? Say less.
Honorable Mentions:
F Deni Advija – Portland Trail Blazers
G/F Kelly Oubre – Philadelphia 76ers
C Donovan Clingan – Portland Trail Blazers (stash)
Drop Candidates:
Seriously? It's Week 1!
But for real, check back in when we start listing drop candidates next week. Let's see how draft picks fare early. Patience!
