Lakers: Anthony Davis’ place in age 28 and under fantasy draft

28 and under fantasy draft, picks 7-9:

7) Devin Booker | Phoenix Suns | Age 24

Look away middle age to elderly basketball purest community, the NBA’s average scoring output from this past year was actually 112.1. Like it or not, the league is primarily about compiling the most scoring prowess you possibly can with defense and rebounding next. Not to say Booker is some abysmal player in those areas as he’s improved there, it just speaks to what a special scorer he is.

Parents with young basketball players, show them nothing but Booker and or Klay Thompson when it comes to shooting form and release point. Booker is impeccable in that area and has rounded himself out as a complete scorer as well. His bubble explosion and that experience and combined with now the great Chris Paul’s presence will definitely bode well for him moving forward.

8) Jamal Murray | Denver Nuggets | Age 24 

Go ahead try to call me a prisoner of the moment but I’m taking Mr 50 bubble burger next. Now, his numbers this year before the truly unfortunate ACL tear a month back haven’t been some stellar follow-up, especially from a scoring volume standpoint for year five.

But, he has had a 7% increase in field goal and three-point percentage since his rookie year. Murray is an explosive athlete and still should be after his knee rehab. And, showed over and over he can come through at the highest leverage moments down in Orlando before some of these young guns have. He ultimately falls just a spot below his actual NBA draft in 2016.

9) Ben Simmons | Philadelphia 76ers | Age 24

Now I already know the fan base known to be littered with the most delusional and rabid individuals nationwide will give me heat for not having this man, Ben Simmons, higher. Frankly, we’re splitting hairs with these 4-12 and there’s an angle to justify taking each of these guys before the other.

Simmons is obviously a far superior defender, passer, and rebounder than these guards just ahead of him. He’s improved as a free throw shooter to an extent up to 61%. But, being unable to score from outside of seven feet from the basket is the blockade from keeping him top three in this draft. Reiterating my exact same statement when I did this draft a couple of years ago. However, he does have a solid arsenal within that interior area from a scoring standpoint.

If Simmons is able to take a serious, eye-raising leap in the postseason and live up as the east’s top seed this draft position may fluctuate. But clearly, Brooklyn is far more equipped, Milwaukee and Miami are also still marginally more equipped as well to come out of the east.