Midrange picks. NBA supercoach.

Guns and cheapies or a team built on balance? It’s the conundrum facing SuperCoaches as we head into the opening week of NBA action. Either way, you will need to nail your midrange assets to ensure points + cash generation and an easy jump to your season long keepers.

Most teams i’m seeing at the moment are building their squads around 4 guns which doesn’t leave alot of room for the mid range cash cows. I’ve gone in a different direction with just 3 guns and a strategy to build as much team value through mid range players as quickly as possible.

Schedule plays a big part and if you are split 50/50 games per week is king. Oscar has a great article which walks you through it.

Time to rip in 

Boston Tea Party

I’ve grouped these 3 players together. With a friendly early season schedule and no Jason Tatum these guys are undervalued. I think you will want at least one of these guys in your team.

Jaylen Brown BOS - $13,920,000 (22.2% owned)

Where does Jason Tatum's 31.1% usage rate go? Many believe Brown will see an uptick here however with 28.8% usage himself last season, how much extra ball will he see? Still a safe option with the responsibility of being the primary scorer sure to see more fantasy points but these next two may have more value.

Buy

Payton Pritchard BOS - $10,290,000 (5.2% owned)

Last season in 28 minutes per game he averaged 14/4/3 on 47% shooting and 19% usage. With an uptick in both minutes and usage incoming plus starting at PG, this is a no brainer. My sneaky pick for most 3’s made this season.

Strong Buy

Derrick White BOS - $12,670,000 (12.1% owned)

I really like this one. Like Pritchard, will see an uptick in usage from 19.8% last season. I expect to see a significant uptick in all metrics including Stocks (Blocks + Steals). It’s not a stretch to see a 20/6/6 season with 4 Stocks per game here. 

Strong Buy

Andrew Nembhard IND - $9,030,000 (26.6% owned)

A very popular buy and you can’t go wrong at the price but I have concerns. A very strong post season has SuperCoach players hyped, however his regular season stats were pretty average. Where does Halliburton’s usage go? It was only 21.6% anyway and likely gets split between a few players including the next one on this list.

Buy/Avoid

Bennedict Mathurin IND - $10,090,000 (3.5% owned)

I actually like this buy better. More usage, more play making and better production. Dare I say a better player? Owned by 23% less than Nembhard. This is the play.

Buy

Pascal Siakam IND - $14,630,000 (5% owned)

Is this where the Halliburton usage goes? Maybe, but as mentioned above, I think it will be split by committee. I don’t know that the number improve that much.

Watch

Amen Thompson HOU - $14,870,000 (8.5% owned)

Voted by GM’s as the player most likely to have a breakout season and this was before the Fred Vanvleet injury. Does it on both ends of the floor and will have stretches bringing the ball up the court. It’s not a matter of if you bring him in but when. Houston have a poor early season schedule so for that reason he’s an early season avoid until week 11.

Buy Week 11

Donovan Mitchell CLE - $14,480,000 (9% owned)

Another one I really like. With Garland missing the start of the season Mitchell will have the ball in his hands a lot. Add the favourable early season schedule you can’t go wrong with this pick. I can see Mitchell averaging 28 Pts per game over the first month.

Buy

Alex Sarr WAS - $10,060,000 (8.4% owned)

Not a bad early season schedule and will see an uptick in minutes. Shooting was the issue in his rookie season. With shooting % the biggest improver for rookies in their second season, I like the upside.

Buy

Josh Giddy CHI - $14,720,000 (20.1% owned)

There is value here, even if the shooting numbers from the back end of last season don’t hold. High usage in a team he will be doing everything on. Tricky early schedule with a week 5 pick up on the cards for me.

Buy Week 5

Deni Avdija POR - $13,090,000 (4.9% owned)

Priced at an average of 21, Deni went ballistic at the back end of last season averaging 33 across the last 13 games. Starts the year with three 3 game weeks before the schedule really favours him. Don’t mind going early however it looks like he picked up a minor injury in his final preseason game. Monitor injury report.

Buy

Ausar Thompson DET - $10,130,000 (5.4% owned)

The other twin. With an uptick in minutes coming and Cade Cunningham feeding him quality ball, Ausar is also in for a big season on a strong East contender. With Jaden Ivey now set to miss significant time, Ausar’s value just skyrocketed. I like it!

Strong Buy

Laurie Markkanen UTA - $11,120,000 (11.3% owned)

Don’t do it! Chronic back injuries and a wrist issue picked up at Euro basket are enough to avoid. Add playing on a bad team with trade rumours swirling and there is too much risk in this pick for me. See better options above.

Avoid

Dyson Daniels ATL - $14,380,000 (7.1% owned)

An Aussie playing on a good team off the back of a great season, what isn’t there to like? Well the one question mark is where does the improvement come from? 14/6/4 with 4 stocks per game. I’m not sure he does much better than that this season. No value for me.

Avoid

Stephon Castle SAS - $9,130,000 (5.7% owned)

Attractive at the price but I just don’t see it. Fox is injured to start the season yes, but that doesn’t necessarily mean an uptick in usage for Castle. I think there are better options.

Avoid

Jalen Green PHX - $11,340,000 (5% owned)

Was an exciting pick up before injuring his hamstring in preseason. Will miss up to the 1st month.

Avoid

Chet Holgram OKC - $14,060,000 (4.1% owned)

Playing power forward or centre on the best team in the league. There should be improvement and the upside is a top 30 fantasy player.

Buy

Mikal Bridges NYK - $11,530,000 (4.4% owned)

Maybe I’m missing something here but not on my radar. With a new coach who values player welfare (we will miss those Thibs minutes will be missed by fantasy players) I think there may be too much uncertainty around roles and minutes.

Avoid

Brandon Miller CHA - $12,110,000 (3.4% owned)

Has been in and out of my team 3 or 4 times. Played much of last season without Melo so I’m expecting an uptick in shooting %. Does he average 25/7/4 this season with 2 stocks? Maybe.

Strong Buy

LaMelo Ball CHA - $14,480,000 (3.3% owned)

I’m torn on this one because I love watching this kid play. The problem is he's very much rocks or diamonds. He can drop 50 and 10 one night then go 4 of 33 shooting the next. Need to catch him at the right time.

Watch

Jaren Jackson Jr MEM - $14,660,000 (3.3% owned)

Was in my plans until we learned of his off season surgery. JJJ was a surprise inclusion in the final preseason game and played 25 minutes. I like the play at some point with an increased role after Bane’s departure however I’m worried his minutes will be ramped up over the opening month.

Avoid

Ja Morant MEM - $14,250,000 (2.6% owned)

Also in my plans before tweaking his ankle in training camp. Missed the preseason and listed week to week.

Avoid

Santi Aldama MEM - $11,040,000

Again, in my plans before the news of JJJ’s return. I don’t mind the play however with this much uncertainty it’s an early season wait.

Watch

Super PODs

At least one of these players will be joining The Closers squad prior to season tip off and all are criminally underowned.

Kristaps Porzingas ATL - $14,820,000 (0.7% owned)

Owned by just 167 Super Coachers, Kristaps is ripe for the picking. Traded to a good team with a big role, the Latvian is now free of the illness that plagued his 24/25 season. Priced at an average of 24, he achieved an average of 28 points per game in non injury affected games the previous season. 

Buy

Austin Reeves LAL - $14,070,000 (1.3% owned)

Last season Reeves averaged 28/8/7 in 9 games without Lebron James. With the King missing the first month of the season and the Lakers great schedule, seems like a good time to strike.

Buy

Shaedon Sharpe POR - $10, 480,000 (2.0% owned)

Consistency has been the issue but does Shaedon break out this season? Possibly. Looking very good in pre season. May feature heavily at some point.

Watch/Buy

Honourable Mentions

Jaden McDaniels

Jordan Poole

Toumani Camara

Donovan Clingan