Lakers: Anthony Davis’ place in age 28 and under fantasy draft
By Simon Brady
28 and under fantasy draft, picks 1-3:
1) Luka Doncic | Dallas Mavericks | Age 22
He may not exactly look or jump the part, hasn’t won a playoff series, and doesn’t play a whole lot of defense. But, in 2021, he currently appears to be the league’s ‘next up.’ With the icing on the cake of this top pick choice coming about in Orlando when bright-eyed young blood Luka and company had an impressive showing against the Clippers.
Though you’re playing yourself if thinking Doncic is ‘the next LeBron’ or can ever carry table scraps to the finals the way he has, he’s the first guy you’d want to build around in the league today.
Two all-star appearances and a first-team All-NBA selection before age 23 is pretty unprecedented. Averaging 28 points, eight boards, and eight and a half assists per game, while improving his field goal and three-point percentage to 48% and 35% respectfully, all as a combo guard who directly affects pace, tempo, and teammates level of play always, he’s ‘the guy’ in the under 26 NBA club.
2) Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics | Age 23
Like many real-life drafts, number two is not as clear-cut as the top pick. There are a couple of viable options here, but Jayson Tatum is the most reasonable, safest one available. Coming out of Duke in 2017, Tatum didn’t have one big glaring red flag in the draft process. So naturally, people yearn for casting doubt on young star athletes and dubbed Tatum having a ‘low ceiling’ with no other weakness to turn to.
Welp, after a historic postseason run as a 19-year-old rookie and tough growing pains and a step back in year two, he absolutely popped in his third season. We all know about the elite three-level scoring ability and rare skill and handle for someone 6’9. But, it’s the defense, rebounding, overall playmaking and maturity that has all improved just leaps and bounds from when his career began.
Though plenty of valid questions about Tatum’s leadership, decision making, and overall ‘it’ factor came about during an exhausting, tumultuous 2021 season in Boston; His rare, polished guard-like skillset and explosion at 6’9 and age 23 earns him the number two spot.
3) Zion Williamson | New Orleans Pelicans | Age 20
The well-documented injury and weight concerns coupled with his unprecedented explosion for a 6’6 284 lbs body should keep Pelicans fans on edge. It kept me on edge and gave me plenty of time to ponder this third spot. But, selecting Zion any lower than three is the definition of overthinking a pick.
Everyone and their grandma knows about the soaring dunks with that insanely thick physique at 6’6, making Williamson a household name just as a college basketball player. But, the self-awareness and efficiency for a young star, shooting 61% this year, is what’s truly outstanding for a hoop purest for someone with so much hype.
That and the great ability to run the floor with the ball in his hands are the underrated aspects of his game that make him a great candidate to start an NBA team with on top of being a rare, special athlete. He just needs to stay healthy, improve his rebounding numbers and his ceiling is the roof if the Pelicans organization can finally really move things in the right direction.