Standard fantasy basketball leagues consist of 12 teams, but there are plenty who compete in larger ones. And in those larger leagues, the task of drafting a team can get tricky. For many, that may mean reaching for a player earlier than you would in a standard league, as there’s a higher likelihood that your desired target won’t be available in the following round. Recently, Rotoworld writer Raphielle Johnson participated in a 16-team mock draft hosted by Menace Podmen’s Steve St-Pierre.
Picking either early or late in a larger draft is preferable to being stuck in the middle, and I held the sixth pick in this mock exercise. Starting with Philadelphia guard Tyrese Maxey, the hope was to put together a team that would only punt on assists. Below are the round-by-round results and some analysis.
Round 1
Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
C
Victor Wembanyama
San Antonio Spurs
2
C
Nikola Jokić
Denver Nuggets
3
G
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Oklahoma City Thunder
4
G
Luka Dončić
Los Angeles Lakers
5
G
Cade Cunningham
Detroit Pistons
6
G
Tyrese Maxey
Philadelphia 76ers
7
F
Jayson Tatum
Boston Celtics
8
G/F
Kawhi Leonard
LA Clippers
9
G
Anthony Edwards
Minnesota Timberwolves
10
G
Donovan Mitchell
Cleveland Cavaliers
11
F
Jalen Johnson
Atlanta Hawks
12
G/F
Cooper Flagg
Dallas Mavericks
13
G
Tyrese Haliburton
Indiana Pacers
14
F/C
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Miami Heat
15
F/C
Scottie Barnes
Toronto Raptors
16
G/F
Kevin Durant
Houston Rockets
According to Hashtag Basketball, Maxey currently has an ADP of 16.9 in Yahoo! leagues, which would put him right at the first/second round turn in a 16-team league. While there is clearly concern on the part of some managers about how the additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown will affect his production, Maxey is well worth the risk in the middle of the first round. Having two additional offensive weapons should keep defenses from loading up too much to slow Maxey down. Also, he’ll be healthy after a finger injury limited his productivity in the postseason. And the players selected immediately after him in this mock draft, Tatum and Leonard, have some health questions of their own.
Round 2
Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
F/C
Karl-Anthony Towns
New York Knicks
2
G
Amen Thompson
Houston Rockets
3
F/C
Anthony Davis
Washington Wizards
4
G
Stephen Curry
Golden State Warriors
5
G
LaMelo Ball
Minnesota Timberwolves
6
G
Jamal Murray
Denver Nuggets
7
F/C
Chet Holmgren
Oklahoma City Thunder
8
F/C
Austin Reaves
Los Angeles Lakers
9
G
Kyrie Irving
Dallas Mavericks
10
G
Trae Young
Washington Wizards
11
C
Walker Kessler
Los Angeles Lakers
12
G
James Harden
Cleveland Cavaliers
13
C
Jalen Duren
Detroit Pistons
14
G
Josh Giddey
Chicago Bulls
15
G/F
Trey Murphy
New Orleans Pelicans
16
F/C
Alperen Şengün
Houston Rockets
With 76ers head coach Nick Nurse saying earlier this offseason that LeBron will initiate much of the team’s offense, Maxey may take the biggest hit in assists. Also, adding quality bigs in a 16-team draft is not something that I’m willing to hesitate on. Even with him coming off a season in which he played just five games, Kessler was the second-round pick for me. Given the Lakers’ lack of true big men and the defensive frailties of their starting guards, he could be in for a big debut season in Los Angeles regarding rebounds and blocks. And playing off Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves should positively impact Kessler’s field goal percentage.
Round 3
Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
G
Jalen Brunson
New York Knicks
2
F
Lauri Markkanen
Utah Jazz
3
F/C
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Utah Jazz
4
F/C
Bam Adebayo
Miami Heat
5
C
Onyeka Okongwu
Atlanta Hawks
6
F/C
Evan Mobley
Cleveland Cavaliers
7
G
Devin Booker
Phoenix Suns
8
G/F
Dyson Daniels
Atlanta Hawks
9
G
Derrick White
Boston Celtics
10
F/C
Domantas Sabonis
Sacramento Kings
11
G
Dejounte Murray
New Orleans Pelicans
12
F
Paolo Banchero
Orlando Magic
13
G
Darius Garland
LA Clippers
14
F
Jalen Williams
Oklahoma City Thunder
15
C
Donovan Clingan
Portland Trail Blazers
16
F
Brandon Miller
Charlotte Hornets
If you use an early pick on a player with injury concerns, selecting another player who can help compensate for a potential absence is key. And in a 16-team league, the pickings are likely to be slim if you find yourself counting on the waiver wire for help during the season. As a result, I went with Mobley in the third round, and his forward eligibility is a bonus. His 2025-26 numbers were similar to the prior season, with slight increases in assists and blocks. With Mobley and Kessler in the fold, I should be highly competitive in blocks every week.
Round 4
Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
C
Kel’el Ware
Milwaukee Bucks
2
G/F
Deni Avdija
Portland Trail Blazers
3
G/F
Jaylen Brown
Philadelphia 76ers
4
G
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Atlanta Hawks
5
G/F
Kon Knueppel
Charlotte Hornets
6
F
LeBron James
Philadelphia 76ers
7
C
Joel Embiid
Philadelphia 76ers
8
G/F
Desmond Bane
Orlando Magic
9
F
Jaden McDaniels
Minnesota Timberwolves
10
F
Franz Wagner
Orlando Magic
11
F/C
Pascal Siakam
Indiana Pacers
12
G
Tyler Herro
Milwaukee Bucks
13
G
Keyonte George
Utah Jazz
14
F
Matas Buzelis
Chicago Bulls
15
F
OG Anunoby
New York Knicks
16
G
Stephon Castle
San Antonio Spurs
The fourth round is where many managers take a swing, hoping to land a player with significant upside. Among those selected in this mock draft, Joel Embiid would certainly qualify, as he can offer first-round value when on the court. Keyonte George, Matas Buzelis, and Stephon Castle represent fourth-round picks in this draft, where managers are betting on them to step up in a major way. I went with Siakam, betting that Tyrese Haliburton’s return from an Achilles tendon rupture will give Spicy P the playmaker he needs to get back into the top-50 in fantasy basketball.
Round 5
Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
G
Damian Lillard
Portland Trail Blazers
2
G
Ryan Rollins
Milwaukee Bucks
3
F/C
Naz Reid
Charlotte Hornets
4
C
Alex Sarr
Washington Wizards
5
C
Myles Turner
Milwaukee Bucks
6
G
VJ Edgecombe
Philadelphia 76ers
7
C
Zach Edey
Memphis Grizzlies
8
F
Paul George
Boston Celtics
9
F
Cameron Boozer
Memphis Grizzlies
10
G/F
Brandon Ingram
Toronto Raptors
11
G
Immanuel Quickley
Toronto Raptors
12
C
Ivica Zubac
Indiana Pacers
13
F
Michael Porter Jr.
Brooklyn Nets
14
F
Julius Randle
Brooklyn Nets
15
C
Jarrett Allen
Cleveland Cavaliers
16
G
De’Aaron Fox
San Antonio Spurs
If there’s a 76ers player who stands to see his fantasy value take a hit with the roster changes, it may be Edgecombe. He’s the youngest of the five starters, so assuming that he’ll be the one asked to sacrifice early on is not a wild position to take. However, those additions could make Edgecombe a more dangerous offensive weapon due to increased opportunities to attack closeouts. Also, he averaged 5.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals+blocks per game as a rookie. Those are categories where Edgecombe can provide added value, regardless of how many shots he gets. I’m willing to bet that will be the case next season.
As for some of the other picks in this round, Turner was the eye-opener, given his struggles during his first season in Milwaukee. With the players acquired in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, the backcourt situation is even more jumbled, and the Bucks also received center Kel’el Ware in the deal. Maybe Turner bounces back, but I’m not convinced, especially considering his limited rebounding numbers.
Round 6
Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
G
Coby White
Charlotte Hornets
2
G
Dylan Harper
San Antonio Spurs
3
G
Ty Jerome
Memphis Grizzlies
4
G
Ja Morant
Portland Trail Blazers
5
F
Mikal Bridges
New York Knicks
6
C
Rudy Gobert
Minnesota Timberwolves
7
G
Payton Pritchard
Boston Celtics
8
F
AJ Dybantsa
Washington Wizards
9
G
Jalen Suggs
Orlando Magic
10
G/F
Norman Powell
Chicago Bulls
11
G/F
Ausar Thompson
Detroit Pistons
12
F
Caleb Wilson
Chicago Bulls
13
F/C
Zion Williamson
New Orleans Pelicans
14
C
Day’Ron Sharpe
Brooklyn Nets
15
G/F
Josh Hart
New York Knicks
16
C
Nic Claxton
Chicago Bulls
While he does not offer much in the way of three-point production and his free-throw percentage remains poor, Thompson’s ability to fill an entire stat line makes him an asset in category leagues. Last season, the Pistons wing averaged 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.9 blocks per game, and he made a career-best 73 appearances. I chose him in the sixth round because of his rebounds and defensive stats; I highly doubt Ausar would have been on the board in the seventh.
Round 7
Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
F/C
John Collins
Detroit Pistons
2
G
Brandin Podziemski
Golden State Warriors
3
G/F
Anthony Black
Orlando Magic
4
G
Darryn Peterson
Utah Jazz
5
G
Fred VanVleet
Houston Rockets
6
G
Ayo Dosunmu
Minnesota Timberwolves
7
F/C
Derik Queen
New Orleans Pelicans
8
C
Neemias Queta
Boston Celtics
9
C
Mark Williams
Phoenix Suns
10
F
Miles Bridges
Phoenix Suns
11
G/F
Andrew Wiggins
Miami Heat
12
C
Isaiah Hartenstein
Oklahoma City Thunder
13
C
Kristaps Porziņǵis
Golden State Warriors
14
F/C
Collin Murray-Boyles
Toronto Raptors
15
F
Keegan Murray
Sacramento Kings
16
G/F
Cedric Coward
Memphis Grizzlies
Dosunmu’s fantasy prospects looked better before the Timberwolves signed Jonathan Kuminga, as he could now be relegated to a sixth-man role. However, that’s still a spot in which he can offer quality fantasy value, especially with Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) expected to miss most of next season, if not all of it. Also, Dosunmu averaged nearly 29 minutes per game in his 24 regular-season appearances for the Timberwolves, making nine starts. As he showed last season, Ayo has top-100 potential, whether he starts or comes off the bench.
Round 8
Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
G/F
Zach LaVine
Sacramento Kings
2
F/C
Jabari Smith Jr.
Houston Rockets
3
G
Ajay Mitchell
Oklahoma City Thunder
4
G/F
Cason Wallace
Oklahoma City Thunder
5
G/F
Aaron Wiggins
Atlanta Hawks
6
F/C
Sandro Mamukelashvili
Los Angeles Lakers
7
C
Wendell Carter Jr.
Orlando Magic
8
G
Kevin Porter Jr.
Milwaukee Bucks
9
F
Toumani Camara
Portland Trail Blazers
10
F
Peyton Watson
Cleveland Cavaliers
11
F
Saddiq Bey
New Orleans Pelicans
12
F
DeMar DeRozan
Denver Nuggets
13
G/F
RJ Barrett
Toronto Raptors
14
G
Reed Sheppard
Houston Rockets
15
C
Jakob Poeltl
Toronto Raptors
16
G/F
Jalen Green
Phoenix Suns
Was Saddiq Bey‘s career year simply a product of the Pelicans’ many injuries? Or can he provide similar value in 2026-27 under a new head coach? I’m better on the latter, even with the rotation even more crowded due to Dejounte Murray and Herb Jones being healthy. Given their respective résumés, DeRozan would have been the safer pick, but what’s the fun in that? And the Pelicans could be a team to watch at the February trade deadline, especially if they aren’t in the mix for a postseason spot, because of the veterans on that roster.
Round 9
Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
C
Maxime Raynaud
Sacramento Kings
2
G/F
Grayson Allen
Charlotte Hornets
3
C
Jusuf Nurkić
Utah Jazz
4
F
Jimmy Butler III
Golden State Warriors
5
G
Jrue Holiday
Portland Trail Blazers
6
G
CJ McCollum
Atlanta Hawks
7
G
Andrew Nembhard
Indiana Pacers
8
F/C
Paul Reed
Detroit Pistons
9
G/F
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Milwaukee Bucks
10
G
Darius Acuff Jr.
Sacramento Kings
11
F
Cameron Johnson
Denver Nuggets
12
G/F
Kyshawn George
Washington Wizards
13
G
Jeremiah Fears
New Orleans Pelicans
14
C
Moussa Diabaté
Charlotte Hornets
15
G/F
Quentin Grimes
Los Angeles Lakers
16
C
Mitchell Robinson
Boston Celtics
McCollum may not be a “sexy” pick at this point in the draft, but I wanted proven offensive production. Once the Hawks moved him into the starting lineup, his production increased and the team played better. I expect that to remain the case in 2026-27, and McCollum has shown in the past that he has a top-100 floor when used as one of his team’s primary offensive options. He averaged just over four assists per game for the Hawks last season, but that isn’t a category that I was too concerned with in this build.
Round 10
Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
G
Egor Dëmin
Brooklyn Nets
2
F/C
PJ Washington
Dallas Mavericks
3
G
Davion Mitchell
Miami Heat
4
F
Dillon Brooks
Phoenix Suns
5
G
Collin Gillespie
Phoenix Suns
6
G
Daniss Jenkins
Detroit Pistons
7
F
Yaxel Lendeborg
Golden State Warriors
8
F
Julian Champagnie
San Antonio Spurs
9
G/F
Devin Vassell
San Antonio Spurs
10
C
Daniel Gafford
Dallas Mavericks
11
F
Ace Bailey
Utah Jazz
12
G
Mikel Brown Jr.
Brooklyn Nets
13
C
Brook Lopez
LA Clippers
14
G/F
Tari Eason
Houston Rockets
15
G
Tre Jones
Chicago Bulls
16
F/C
Isaiah Stewart
Memphis Grizzlies
So, what should fantasy managers make of Ace Bailey as he goes into his second NBA season? He put up quality numbers after the All-Star break as a rookie, averaging 18.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.1 blocks and 2.8 three-pointers per game. However, much of that production came without key players on the floor, most notably Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. Add in lottery pick Darryn Peterson, and Bailey’s numbers are likely to take a hit. However, the upside can’t be ignored, especially if the Jazz decide to start Bailey as part of a bigger lineup.
Round 11
Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
G/F
Isaiah Joe
Detroit Pistons
2
G/F
Christian Braun
Denver Nuggets
3
G
Cam Spencer
Memphis Grizzlies
4
F
Kelly Oubre Jr.
Indiana Pacers
5
F
Morez Johnson Jr.
Dallas Mavericks
6
F/C
Bobby Portis
Miami Heat
7
G
Shaedon Sharpe
Portland Trail Blazers
8
C
Robert Williams III
Portland Trail Blazers
9
G
Keaton Wagler
LA Clippers
10
C
Deandre Ayton
Washington Wizards
11
F
Jonathan Kuminga
Minnesota Timberwolves
12
F
Rui Hachimura
LA Clippers
13
G
Scoot Henderson
Portland Trail Blazers
14
F/C
Joan Beringer
Minnesota Timberwolves
15
F
Gui Santos
Golden State Warriors
16
F
Tobias Harris
San Antonio Spurs
Portis was a relatively safe pick; in hindsight, I wish I had considered Robert Williams III because of what he can bring as a shot-blocker, even as the backup center in Portland. However, even with the Heat adding Nick Richards to their roster, Portis is someone they’re going to count on consistently to supplement the efforts of Giannis and Bam Adebayo in the frontcourt. And his three-point production has increased over the years, with Portis most recently averaging 2.0 makes per game in 2025-26 while making 45.6 percent of his attempts.
Round 12
Pick
Position
Player
Team
1
G
Scotty Pippen Jr.
Memphis Grizzlies
2
F/C
Aaron Gordon
Denver Nuggets
3
F/C
Draymond Green
Golden State Warriors
4
G
De’Anthony Melton
Golden State Warriors
5
G/F
Luke Kennard
Phoenix Suns
6
G/F
Aaron Nesmith
Indiana Pacers
7
G
Isaiah Collier
Utah Jazz
8
F/C
Kyle Filipowski
Utah Jazz
9
G
Jamal Shead
Toronto Raptors
10
F
Hannes Steinbach
Charlotte Hornets
11
G/F
Bennedict Mathurin
New Orleans Pelicans
12
C
Nikola Vučević
Orlando Magic
13
C
Jay Huff
Indiana Pacers
14
C
Khaman Maluach
Phoenix Suns
15
F
De’Andre Hunter
Sacramento Kings
16
C
Dereck Lively II
Dallas Mavericks
It’s always fun when the player you wanted to use your final pick on goes off the board one spot before you come up. That’s what happened here, as I hoped to use my final pick on Charlotte’s Hannes Steinbach. Even with the Hornets having Moussa Diabaté and Ryan Kalkbrenner, the rookie out of Washington is the best rebounder in this rookie class and can provide immediate value in that category.
With Steinbach off the board, I went with Mathurin, who has been a better option in points leagues than category leagues throughout his career. As noted above, the Pelicans’ rotation is a bit crowded, but Mathurin is a player the team holds in high regard after signing him recently. And one could do far worse than him with their final pick in a draft.
Final Team
G Tyrese Maxey
C Walker Kessler
F/C Evan Mobley
F/C Pascal Siakam
G VJ Edgecombe
G/F Ausar Thompson
G Ayo Dosunmu
F Saddiq Bey
G CJ McCollum
F Ace Bailey
F/C Bobby Portis
G/F Bennedict Mathurin
While assists and free-throw percentage are weaknesses for this team, it has multiple strengths. Points, rebounds, steals and blocks should be strengths for this roster, and turnovers shouldn’t be a major concern. The Kessler pick could determine this team’s ceiling. If he can stay healthy and mesh well with the Lakers’ stars, the 7-footer can be a highly valuable fantasy asset. If not, this group could be in some trouble, even with Mobley, Siakam and Portis all having center eligibility.