Tasked with producing some “rest of season” fantasy rankings for after the All-Star break, I needed something a little more exciting and stimulating to work on. So I started thinking about player values for next season and beyond, and I couldn’t resist the urge to create some fantasy basketball dynasty player rankings from scratch.
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To formulate these rankings, I simply asked myself, “If I were joining a long-term Roto dynasty league that started today, who would I be targeting, and ahead of which players?”
When it comes to dynasty leagues, the objective should be to find the perfect balance between forming a championship-winning team in the present, while setting yourself up for an even more successful future. That’s no easy task, but where there’s a will — and a useful set of rankings to follow — there’s a way.
Obviously, a player’s current age and future outlook is quite important for these rankings. I’m not just looking two or three years down the road, but five years and beyond. As a result, a few surefire Hall of Famers have been omitted from this list. Instead, there’s more of a focus on the fantasy stars of the near and distant future.
Some of the younger players were extremely hard to rank, and I’m sure I’ll swing-and-miss on a few of these rankings. But that’s bound to happen, and at the very least, this list should help get your mind churning about the future values of these players.
Let’s start the countdown!
Player ages shown are as of February 1st, 2024.
80. Deni Avdija, WAS (23 years old)
- His offensive game has made a huge jump in Year 4, with his effective FG% soaring from 50% to 58%, as he blossoms into a reliable do-it-all forward.
79. Jalen Suggs, ORL (22)
- Has managed to both stay healthy and become a potent 3-point threat this season, while still wreaking havoc on the defensive end — 1.9 steals and 0.8 blocks per 36 minutes.
78. Derrick White, BOS (29)
- Having a career year playing on a loaded Celtics squad, White is one of those players who almost always outperforms his fantasy ADP.
77. Austin Reaves, LAL (25)
- Stronger defensive stats would be nice, but he’s established himself as one of the most efficient shooting guards in the league, and he’s about to enter the prime of his career.
76. Brandin Podziemski, GSW (20)
- He’s supplanted future Hall of Famer Klay Thompson from the starting lineup — no easy task — thanks to his youthful exuberance, rebounding prowess, high basketball IQ and timely shooting.
75. Dereck Lively II, DAL (19)
- It’s tough to say what his fantasy ceiling will look like, but he’s had a fine rookie campaign, and he has the advantage of Luka drawing all kinds of attention.
74. Cam Whitmore, HOU (19)
- Has less than 500 NBA minutes under his belt, but it’s hard to ignore his combination of physicality, athleticism and shooting ability. He’d surely be a lottery pick if they re-did the 2023 draft.
73. Bilal Coulibaly, WAS (19)
- One of the youngest players in the league, yet he’s been thrown into the fire this season and has performed about as well as could be expected. His upside is intriguing, to say the least.
72. Paul George, LAC (33)
- If I did a dynasty draft right now, I’d opt for Podcast P over fellow superstars who are older than him, such as Jimmy Butler, James Harden and LeBron James. He should age pretty gracefully thanks to his shooting ability.
71. Myles Turner, IND (27)
- His shot-blocking being down for the fourth straight year is cause for concern, but he’s still a reliable floor-spacing big man who shoots free throws at a 78% clip.
70. Jalen Green, HOU (21)
- He’s a tough player to evaluate, but he’s still very young, and when he’s firing on all cylinders he looks like a future All-Star. That being said, he may never realize his full potential.
69. Jaden Ivey, DET (21)
- Ivey oozes athleticism, but he’s still figuring out how to play the right way. I trust his career progression more than Green’s, but his free throw shooting will need to improve.
68. Shaedon Sharpe, POR (20)
- Was having a breakout year before injuries started to slow him down, and he still has enormous upside given he won’t turn 21 years old until May.
67. Onyeka Okongwu, ATL (23)
- It’s somewhat concerning how hard it’s been for him to supplant Clint Capela, since Capela is solid but not an All-Star. Okongwu’s future still looks pretty bright.
66. Nic Claxton, BKN (24)
- He’s proven himself in the paint and he’s still pretty young, but his terrible free throw shooting makes it hard to rank him any higher than this.
65. Kyrie Irving, DAL (31)
- Drafting Irving in a dynasty league at this point in his career would be a high-risk maneuver but, in theory, his shooting ability and craftiness should age pretty smoothly.
64. Mark Williams, CHA (22)
- He’d rank higher on this list if it wasn’t for the back injury that has really limited him this season. If you’re risk-averse, you may want to avoid him until you see him back on the court.
63. Walker Kessler, UTA (22)
- Some have jumped off Kessler’s bandwagon since he hasn’t taken much of a leap in Year 2, but he’s up to 4.2 blocked shots per 36 minutes, and has been pretty injury-free.
62. Zion Williamson, NOR (23)
- Sorry, Zion, but 5.5 rebounds per game is not going to cut it for your fantasy managers. The health has been encouraging this season, but he’s hardly a safe dynasty pick.
61. Coby White, CHI (23)
- He’s been one of the few bright spots for Chicago this season, and there’s a good chance he’ll be able to build upon this season moving forward.
60. OG Anunoby, NYK (26)
- He may never become a 20 ppg scorer, but his stint with the Knicks has shown how valuable he is in real life, and he’s sneaky valuable in fantasy leagues, too.
59. Immanuel Quickley, TOR (24)
- I was expecting better scoring numbers after joining Toronto, but he’s made up for it by boosting his assists. He may never be an All-Star, but his fantasy future is bright.
58. Keegan Murray, SAC (23)
- His 3-point shooting has been up-and-down, but he’s improved in other areas this season, and we should see continued growth for several more years.
57. Anfernee Simons, POR (24)
- He’s become a dynamic scorer, but just 19 stocks (steals + blocks) in 1,039 minutes played this season is cringe-worthy for us fantasy hoopers.
56. Kristaps Porzingis, BOS (28)
- Boston has been an excellent landing spot for Porzingis, and I like his value moving forward as long as he continues wearing Celtic green.
55. Scoot Henderson, POR (20)
- A rough rookie season has clouded his future outlook somewhat, but you can’t teach his speed, and I like his unselfishness. One thing I know is that it’s way too early to jump to conclusions, and we’ll have a better grasp of his potential next year.
54. Dejounte Murray, ATL (27)
- I think Murray, and many NBA fans in general, would have welcomed a change of scenery, but perhaps that will happen in the offseason. His improved 3-point shot is encouraging.
53. Miles Bridges, CHA (25)
- It’s a bit surprising to see Bridges shining without LaMelo Ball setting him up, but it’s a sign of his on-court growth. Now let’s hope he matures off the court as well.
52. Keyonte George, UTA (20)
- He’s scrawny and his shot has been inconsistent as a rookie, but his feel for the game is evident, and his learning curve appears to be ahead of Scoot’s at this point in their careers.
51. Tyler Herro, MIA (24)
- Weak steals and blocks will continue to limit his fantasy ceiling, but it’s an offensive league, and Herro is about to enter the prime of his career.
50. Jonathan Kuminga, GSW (21)
- Over the past two months, he’s taken the leap forward that many of us have been waiting for. Now that the confidence is there, his upward trajectory looks strong.
49. Mikal Bridges, BKN (27)
- Has shown us that last year’s numbers with the Nets were a little too good to be true, and that he’s better off having an All-Star sidekick to play next to.
48. Jabari Smith Jr., HOU (20)
- His shooting percentages have improved significantly in Year 2, and he’s becoming a reliable rebounder as well. Younger than many players in this year’s draft class, his upside is high.
47. Ausar Thompson, DET (21)
- He’s not yet comfortable from the charity stripe or behind the 3-point line, but his tenacious defense and open-court athleticism are excellent building blocks.
46. Amen Thompson, HOU (21)
- Similar to Ausar, but with even better play-making chops. With 43% of his shot attempts being within three feet of the hoop this year, improving from the foul line will be crucial.
45. Damian Lillard, MIL (33)
- He still made the All-Star team this season, but his scoring efficiency has really fallen off, and he’ll turn 34 years old over the summer. He’ll be under the microscope in the postseason.
44. Jaylen Brown, BOS (27)
- I like how beefed up Brown has gotten, but it’s had a negative impact on his free throw shooting. Still, he’s a better player than this season’s numbers would indicate.
43. Jamal Murray, DEN (26)
- Widely considered the best active player in the NBA to never make an All-Star team, I’d rank Murray higher if I didn’t have some reservations about his health moving forward.
42. Brandon Ingram, NOR (26)
- He’s quietly getting the job done this season, but dropping from 88% to 79% FT has stung a little bit. Is his fantasy ceiling a little higher, or has he already peaked?
41. Jarrett Allen, CLE (25)
- One of the most dependable centers around, and in the prime of his career. A very safe pick for both dynasty and redraft leagues, no matter the scoring format.
40. Devin Vassell, SAS (23)
- Has come on strong over the past two months, with intriguing upside if he can put it all together. Signed a big extension before this season began, ensuring several more season’s as Wemby’s sidekick.
39. Darius Garland, CLE (24)
- It’s been a disappointing season thus far, but Garland’s finest fantasy seasons should still be ahead of him. An excellent 87% FT shooter for his career.
38. Jaren Jackson Jr., MEM (24)
- His disappointing play in last summer’s FIBA World Cup carried into this season, where he’s really struggled without Ja Morant. Let’s hope a long summer of hard work is on the horizon.
37. Kevin Durant, PHO (35)
- Has shown no signs of slowing down, and is having his healthiest season in a long time. If you’re in win-now mode, you’ll want to value him higher than this, of course.
36. Jalen Johnson, ATL (22)
- Congrats if you also targeted Johnson near the end of your drafts, as he’s had a massive breakout year. He’ll continue to improve, but it remains to be seen if this ranking is too aggressive.
35. Brandon Miller, CHA (21)
- Hard to find something to complain about over his 16 games leading into the All-Star break: 22.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.8 blocks and 3.0 threes per game on nearly 49% FG and 88% FT shooting. The Hornets made the right choice in selecting this PG-clone over Scoot, and he’s only scratching the surface of his abilities.
34. Desmond Bane, MEM (25)
- Unlike JJJ, Bane was still able to thrive with Morant out of the lineup. He’s entering the prime of his career, so he should start getting mentioned as a possible All-Star soon.
33. Anthony Davis, LAL (30)
- Davis is having one of the finest seasons of his accomplished career, but there’s a lot of wear-and-tear on his 30-year-old body. Hence, I value the younger big men listed below a bit more than AD.
32. Jalen Duren, DET (20)
- If you think this ranking is too bold for Duren, I’ll let you know that I considered ranking him several spots higher. The next step in his evolution will be improving his shot-blocking.
31. Kawhi Leonard, LAC (32)
- Has been absolutely locked in and dominant this season, with only five games missed thus far. Despite Kawhi being a few years younger than Steph Curry, I think Curry’s body will age a bit better over the next five years or so.
30. Bam Adebayo, MIA (26)
- Some will assume that Bam’s fantasy value has plateaued due to no major leaps in any particular category in recent years, but I think he has another gear in store, which we’ll see once Jimmy Butler is out of the picture.
29. Stephen Curry, GSW (35)
- Similar to what we’ve seen with LeBron over the past five years, I don’t expect Curry to stop playing like an All-Star simply because he’s turned 35 years old.
28. Jalen Brunson, NYK (27)
- Brunson continues to defy expectations, and he may have several more All-Star years ahead of him. If you want to rank him ahead of Fox and Morant, I wouldn’t argue with it.
27. De’Aaron Fox, SAC (26)
- Some inexplicable changes this season from Fox, as his steals and 3-point shooting are way up, but his 2-point shooting and free throw shooting are way down. Now he just has to put it all together.
26. Ja Morant, MEM (24)
- Perhaps his season-ending shoulder injury was karma for all his off-court mishaps, but when he played, Morant looked as unstoppable as ever.
25. Lauri Markkanen, UTA (26)
- I think Markkanen has silenced all of the critics at this point, given how he’s pushing two seasons in a row of nearly making the 50/40/90 club.
24. Franz Wagner, ORL (22)
- His fantasy numbers are starting to look a lot like Ingram’s, and he’s still just 22 years old. Are he and Paolo Banchero the next Brown and Jayson Tatum?
23. Jalen Williams, OKC (22)
- Amazing efficiency this season, as his 45.3% shooting from 3-point range is amongst the league leaders, while his 57.3% shooting on twos is on par with LeBron and Durant.
22. Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN (28)
- He’s put up better fantasy stats in his younger days, but Towns has sacrificed personal gains for more team wins. No reason to expect him to start slowing down soon.
21. Evan Mobley, CLE (22)
- His shooting touch is starting to come around, at nearly 76% FT and 10-of-24 shooting from deep thus far. Let’s hope his knee surgery was just a blip on the radar, and that he’ll step up in this year’s playoffs.
20. Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL (29)
- Lots of appreciation for his career-bests of 61.6% FG shooting and 6.4 assists per game, but his foul shooting remains a major drag. Remember that these are Roto dynasty rankings — in points-based or head-to-head formats, he ranks quite a bit higher.
19. Joel Embiid, PHI (29)
- Hard to rank for dynasty leagues, given his elite fantasy numbers over the past two years, but also his current meniscus injury and dicey track record when it comes to his health. About to turn 30 years old in March, I don’t suggest valuing Embiid as a Top 10 fantasy player for dynasty leagues.
18. Domantas Sabonis, SAC (27)
- As if last year’s 12.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game weren’t enough, Sabonis has turned it up to 11 this season, with a sweet 13.2 boards and 8.3 dimes per game. He also has a much healthier track record compared to Embiid.
17. Paolo Banchero, ORL (21)
- I’m sure someone is going to comment on how this ranking is way too high for Paolo, citing how he currently doesn’t even rank in the Top 80 for this season, and is not a good enough shooter. Just know, that same person likely missed out on drafting Scottie Barnes this year, for much the same reasons.
16. Alperen Sengun, HOU (21)
- While his assist numbers haven’t jumped up as much as some were hoping for, Sengun has become a potent scoring threat this season, and he’ll only get better from here.
15. Cade Cunningham, DET (22)
- Most of the stats that his fantasy managers wanted to see improve have done just that, despite all of the inexperience, constant lineup shuffling and poor 3-point shooting surrounding him. That’s an encouraging sign for Cade, as those things will only improve.
14. Chet Holmgren, OKC (21)
- I would describe Holmgren as a feistier, more cerebral, much more efficient and better rebounding version of Jaren Jackson Jr. That makes him very valuable, especially for dynasty managers.
13. Tyrese Maxey, PHI (23)
- Has taken a huge step forward this season, and just made his first, of likely many, All-Star appearances. Can he go back to being a 48% FG shooter while carrying such a heavy load?
12. Scottie Barnes, TOR (22)
- Toronto wanted to feature Barnes as the new face of their franchise, and he’s more than delivered. He’s become like a play-making version of Shawn Marion, who was a fantasy superstar even without the strong assists.
11. Devin Booker, PHO (27)
- Even with Durant taking so many shots and touches away, Booker has still had a superb fantasy season. After posting the highest scoring average in last year’s playoffs, can he carry Phoenix even further this time around?
10. Donovan Mitchell, CLE (27)
- Mitchell is starting to maximize his full potential, with career-best numbers in rebounds, assists, steals and blocks this season. Now in his prime, I think he’s cemented his status as a first-round fantasy pick.
9. Trae Young, ATL (25)
- Hawks fans should be concerned that Young has made it out of the first round of the playoffs only once in his career, but that doesn’t matter for fantasy managers. He’s become a lock for 25+ points and 10+ assists per game.
8. LaMelo Ball, CHA (22)
- Without a doubt, LaMelo is the highest-risk player in my Top 10, due to his shaky injury history. But if you’re a savvy fantasy manager, that means you might get him at a nice discount for next year’s drafts.
7. Jayson Tatum, BOS (25)
- Over the next few months, Tatum could very easily move up a few spots on this list, especially if he’s able to bring Boston their first NBA championship since 2008.
6. Anthony Edwards, MIN (22)
- I’m giving Edwards the nod over Tatum because he’s a full three years younger, and his fantasy ceiling seems to be higher. If you think he’s good now, just imagine him in his prime.
5. Nikola Jokic, DEN (28)
- Jokic strikes me as the type of superstar who would like to retire while he’s still on top of the game, meaning we may only see another half dozen seasons or so from him. Still, it’s a lot easier to trust his health moving forward when compared to Embiid.
4. Tyrese Haliburton, IND (23)
- Is it just me, or was that a very quick ascension to Haliburton becoming one of the best players in the league? His supporting cast will also remain strong moving forward, because other top players want to play with him.
3. Luka Doncic, DAL (24)
- About to turn 25 years old at the end of February, Doncic is now a seasoned veteran, and fans would love to see an epic playoff run out of him. Thankfully, he finally became a respectable foul shooter and a lethal 3-point threat this season.
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC (25)
- I’m giving SGA the nod over Luka, thanks to Shai’s superior steals and blocks, and his ridiculous shooting percentages. I mean, SGA is basically producing prime Michael Jordan stats, with an amped up FG%.
1. Victor Wembanyama, SAS (20)
- It’s not very hard to justify this one, as Wemby averaged 21.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.0 steals, 3.5 blocks and 1.7 threes on 49% FG and 81% FT shooting over his final 30 games before the All-Star break. Now consider that he accomplished all of that in less than 28 minutes per game, and your head should be on the verge of exploding. I can’t wait to see what his future will look like, and we’re all lucky to bear witness.
Honorable mention players who didn’t make my cut: LeBron James, LAL (39); James Harden, LAC (34); Jimmy Butler, MIA (34); DeMar DeRozan, CHI (34); Nikola Vucevic, CHI (33); CJ McCollum, NOR (32); Pascal Siakam, IND (29); Julius Randle, NYK (29); Fred VanVleet, HOU (29); Terry Rozier, MIA (29); D’Angelo Russell, LAL (27); Deandre Ayton, POR (25); Daniel Gafford, DAL (25); Michael Porter Jr., DEN (25); RJ Barrett, TOR (23); Trey Murphy III, NOR (23); Tari Eason, HOU (22); Cam Thomas, BKN (22); Jaime Jaquez, MIA (22)
(Top photo of Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
