Summer Dynasty Rankings Update Player Notes

I recently updated my dynasty rankings for the first time. To accompany every update, I will write blurbs about 10 players that are worthy of discussion beyond their ranking.

Luka Doncic G DAL

I have Luka as my number 1 player, but I do not feel great about it. Through his first 4 seasons, he has yet to have a top 25 season on a per-game basis, while the three guys behind him have just churned out elite finishes. I put Luka in the top spot because of his age, the addition of Christian Wood, and there are areas he can improve that will increase his fantasy output. That being said, Luka is not shoulders above Jokic, Giannis, and KAT and if I were in a dynasty startup, I'd prefer to pick in the 3 or 4 spot and take whoever falls to me.

Jaren Jackson Jr. F MEM

The buying window is back open for JJJ. The injuries suck and make him a frustrating player to hold, but when JJJ is on the court he is something special for fantasy. I am trying to scoop him anywhere I can and just hope everything heals well and he will return by the new year. He is still comfortably in my top 20.

Kristaps Porzingis F/C WAS

Another injury-riddled big man that can be a fantasy monster as long as he can stay on the court. Blocks, rebounds, and threes on good percentages is not an easy skill-set to come by, and at only 26, KP could put up big numbers for years to come. A player whose perceived value is much lower than their actual ability level.

Alperen Sengun C HOU

With the Christian Wood trade, Sengun's buy-low window is over but I am still trying to buy everywhere I can even with the increased price. His playmaking and jump shot potential could be a fantasy goldmine for anyone who is willing to take a risk on the second-year big man. The addition of Jabari Smith III was probably the best-case scenario for Sengun as well, with Smith being a low-usage shooter who will help space the floor and defend.

Franz Wagner F ORL

Franz Wagner is one hell of a player, and the dynasty and general NBA communities have not quite realized just how good he can be. He's a 6'10 forward who can score at all three levels and has shown great potential as a secondary ballhandler and can even run the pick and roll. And the crazy part is, his defense is the best part of his game. The Magic picking Paolo Banchero over Jabari Smith III was not ideal for Wagner's usage, but I am confident they can play alongside each other and that Wagner slot in anywhere in the lineup from shooting guard to power forward.

Miles Bridges F FA

Plain and simple, I want no part of Miles Bridges whether he plays this year or not (he shouldn't).

D'Angelo Russell G MIN

To me, DLo was far and away the biggest winner from the Rudy Gobert trade. The Wolves no longer have the financial flexibility to move on from Russell and I imagine that they will try to work out a long-term deal with the point guard in the near future. What I am even more excited about, however, is the addition of a true roll threat in Rudy Gobert. This will hopefully help bring DLo back to his Brooklyn Nets form where he and Jarrett Allen formed a true partnership in the pick-and-roll. The perception of Russell has nose-dived in recent years and the price should not be too high to get at a good price.

Jonathan Isaac F ORL

There are a couple of talented players with concerning injury histories on this list, but none carry more risk than Jonathan Isaac and his knee. We have yet to see Isaac since he tore his ACL two years ago, which would indicate that there has been at least one setback on his road to recovery and that he might not ever return to his 2019-2020 form. With that in mind, I am still buying. When healthy, JI is a top 30 fantasy player (and probably real-life player too) that is an elite defender and has shown a good feel for his jumper. Even if he never returns to his pre-injury form, there is still room for profit if you are buying right now. I don't think the price will ever be lower, and at only 24, Jonathan Isaac is a risk I am willing to take.

Kelly Oubre Jr. F CHA

Kelly Oubre has always been an intriguing fantasy player, bringing a healthy combination of points, threes, and defense numbers to the table. Last year, however, he was relegated to a smaller role on a Hornets team that had good depth on the wing. That has changed. With Miles Bridges no longer on the team (and hopefully no longer in the league) and Gordon Hayward aging and the subject of many trade rumors, it seems likely that Oubre will be able to see his minutes tick back up to over 30 a game which will allow him to be a really nice fantasy option. On top of it all, this is a contract year for Oubre if he needs any extra motivation to perform well.

Kevin Porter Jr. G HOU

KPJ is an incredibly polarizing player. He's an immense talent, but a huge headache off the court which has made him a tough rank. Even when putting his issues in the locker room aside, I don't think Kevin Porter Jr. is the answer at starting point guard for the Rockets (or any team for that matter). Inconsistent performances and too many turnovers have plagued his first three seasons and led to him earning a 'Flop' sophomore profile, which indicates a low likelihood of future fantasy success. Although the three-point shooting improved in his third year, 41% from the field is just not going to cut it, and with the Rockets having a boatload of future assets, plus Tyty Washington from this year's draft, I see no reason that they don't move on from viewing Porter Jr. as their point guard of the future unless something dramatically changes in the way he plays.