Fantasy basketball: Five prominent players experts say to pass on at draft time
fantasy-basketball-five-prominent-players-to-pass-on-at-draft-time
Experienced fantasy analyst Steve Alexander warned managers on Oct. 8, 2025 that spending early draft capital on players with shaky health or shrinking roles can derail an entire season. In his latest outlook, Alexander listed five high-profile names he believes should be avoided when fantasy basketball drafts begin.
Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers
The reigning MVP candidate has averaged only 50 appearances across nine NBA seasons and logged just 19 games a year ago. Embiid has never topped 68 contests in a single campaign and has reached 60 games only four times. Although dominant when available, off-season reports cast doubt on his durability. Managers who still gamble on Embiid are advised to add rookie center Adem Bona as insurance for nights when the veteran sits.
Anthony Davis, PF/C, Dallas Mavericks
Davis’ injury history followed him to Dallas, and the Mavericks now pivot to rookie sensation Cooper Flagg while Kyrie Irving (Achilles) is set to miss a large portion of the schedule. Dallas is not projected to contend, increasing the likelihood the club rests Davis after any setback. The 31-year-old played 76 games in 2023-24, but Alexander calls that season an outlier and labels Davis an unsafe first-round selection.
Paul George, SF/PF, Philadelphia 76ers
George, 35, suited up for only 41 games last season and underwent knee surgery in July. His status for opening night remains uncertain. With Philadelphia considered a strong candidate to tank in hopes of retaining this summer’s draft pick, and Joel Embiid’s health still in question, Alexander expects the Sixers to protect veteran minutes. He plans to leave George undrafted regardless of how far the forward slips.
Ivica Zubac, C, LA Clippers
Zubac delivered career highs of 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds and 32.8 minutes last season, largely because the Clippers lacked a reliable backup. The front office remedied that by signing long-time starter Brook Lopez. Alexander projects Zubac’s workload to fall to roughly 25 minutes per night, an eight-minute drop that should drag his averages closer to the 11.7 points and 9.2 rebounds he posted two years ago.
Kristaps Porziņģis, PF/C, Atlanta Hawks
Porziņģis rarely plays back-to-back games and now joins an Atlanta frontcourt that features emerging center Onyeka Okongwu. Over his 10-year career, the 7-foot-3 big man has appeared in at least 60 games only three times, with season totals of 42, 57, 65, 51, 43, 57, 0, 48, 66 and 72. Alexander doubts Porziņģis will exceed 55 games in 2025-26, making him an unreliable fantasy investment despite elite per-game production.
Alexander concludes that prioritizing availability over name recognition is essential for fantasy managers hoping to stay competitive throughout the season.
Source: ESPN
