Early-Round Rankings and In-Depth NBA Mock Draft Analysis for the Upcoming Season.Giang

NBA players aren’t the only ones who need to make the most of training camp.

Fantasy basketball managers should follow their lead and get all of their preparations in place for the upcoming 2023-24 season.

Opening night will be here soon, and most league drafts will likely arrive even sooner. Let’s get rolling, then, with our top-30 rankings, plus the first five rounds of a simulated mock draft (via FantasyPros) and our top takeaways from that mock.

1. Nikola Jokić, C, DEN

2. Luka Dončić, PG, DAL

3. Joel Embiid, C, PHI

4. Jayson Tatum, SF/PF, BOS

5. Tyrese Haliburton, PG/SG, IND

6. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG/SG, OKC

7. Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF/C, MIL

8. Stephen Curry, PG/SG, GSW

9. Domantas Sabonis, PF/C, SAC

10. Anthony Davis, PF/C, LAL

11. Donovan Mitchell, PG/SG, CLE

12. Damian Lillard, PG, MIL

13. Kevin Durant, SF/PF, PHO

14. Trae Young, PG, ATL

15. Devin Booker, SG/SF, PHO

16. Anthony Edwards, SG/SF, MIN

17. LaMelo Ball, PG/SG, CHA

18. Mikal Bridges, SG/SF, BKN

19. Jimmy Butler, SF/PF, MIA

20. LeBron James, SF/PF, LAL

21. Jaren Jackson Jr., PF/C, MEM

22. De’Aaron Fox, PG, SAC

23. Bam Adebayo, C, MIA

24. Lauri Markkanen, SF/PF, UTA

25. Kyrie Irving, PG/SG, DAL

26. Jaylen Brown, SG/SF, BOS

27. Paul George, SG/SF/PF, LAC

28. Dejounte Murray, PG/SG, ATL

29. Pascal Siakam, PF/C, TOR

30. Paolo Banchero, SF/PF, ORL

Round 1

1. Nikola Jokić, C, DEN

2. Joel Embiid, C, PHI

3. Luka Dončić, PG, DAL

4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG/SG, OKC

5. Tyrese Haliburton, PG/SG, IND

6. Jayson Tatum, SF/PF, BOS

7. Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF/C, MIL

8. Stephen Curry, PG/SG, GSW

9. LaMelo Ball, PG/SG, CHA

10. Damian Lillard, PG, MIL

Round 2

11. Kristaps Porziņģis, PF/C, BOS

12. Kevin Durant, SF/PF, PHO

13. Kyrie Irving, PG/SG, DAL

14. Anthony Davis, PF/C, LAL

15. Trae Young, PG, ATL

16. Domantas Sabonis, PF/C, SAC

17. Devin Booker, SG/SF, PHO

18. Pascal Siakam, PF/C, TOR

19. Anthony Edwards, SG/SF, MIN

20. Donovan Mitchell, PG/SG, CLE

Round 3

21. Jaren Jackson Jr., PF/C, MEM

22. James Harden, PG/SG, PHI

23. Kawhi Leonard, SF, LAC

24. Jimmy Butler, SF/PF, MIA

25. Karl-Anthony Towns, PF/C, MIN

26. Fred VanVleet, PG, HOU

27. LeBron James, SF/PF, LAL

28. Lauri Markkanen, SF/PF, UTA

29. Mikal Bridges, SG/SF, BKN

30. Bam Adebayo, C, MIA

Round 4

31. Desmond Bane, SG/SF, MEM

32. Paul George, SG/SF/PF, LAC

33. Dejounte Murray, PG/SG, ATL

34. DeMar DeRozan, SG/SF, CHI

35. Myles Turnerr, C, IND

36. Darius Garland, PG, CLE

37. Jaylen Brown, SG/SF, BOS

38. Nikola Vučević, C, CHI

39. Jordan Poole, PG/SG, WAS

40. Victor Wembanyama, PF/C, SAS

Round 5

41. Cade Cunningham, PG/SG, DET

42. Jalen Brunson, PG, NYK

43. De’Aaron Fox, PG, SAC

44. Jrue Holiday, PG/SG, POR

45. Evan Mobley, PF/C, CLE

46. OG Anunoby, SG/SF, TOR

47. Chet Holmgren, PF/C, OKC

48. Zach LaVine, SG/SF, CHI

49. Jamal Murray, PG/SG, DEN

50. Walker Kessler, C, UTA

If there is one message seemingly sent from every draft—real and mock—it’s that if you really want a player, you should feel free to go get them.

Pre-draft rankings and average draft positions can be helpful guides, but they aren’t universal truths. Kristaps Porziņģis isn’t a top-30 fantasy player for me this season—he could be a fourth option in Boston, and who knows how often he’ll suit up—but he wound up going in the No. 11 spot in this mock. That feels (super) early, but it’s a good reminder that some curveballs are likely coming your way at your draft.

That pick was by far the biggest head-turner, but a few late third-round selections caught my attention in a good way: LeBron James at No. 27 and Mikal Bridges at No. 29. Both hold top-20 spots on my board, so the value looks great. James hasn’t showed his age in anything other than games missed, and given all the logic-defying elements of his legendary career, it would surprise no one if he appeared in 65-plus games in his age-39 season. Bridges, meanwhile, looked like an All-Star following his deadline deal to Brooklyn and should get all the touches he can handle.

One last takeaway is just the sheer talent left on the board even after 50 picks. The sixth round featured the likes of Zion Williamson (No. 51), Brandon Ingram (No. 52), Deandre Ayton (No. 54) and Julius Randle (No. 57). The sixth round included Scottie Barnes (No. 65), Josh Giddey (No. 66), Jalen Williams (No. 67) and Tyrese Maxey (No. 70). All of these players have potential paths to top-10 finishes in fantasy if everything breaks right this season.