NBA Fantasy Dunkest: Draft Picks Tips

In the Dunkest Draft Mode Guide, our advice on which players to pick during the 2026/27 NBA Fantasy Basket auction couldn’t be missing.

You’re about to discover the strategies to adopt to choose the best available players and all the ones to target, position by position.

After clarifying how much budget to allocate for each position, here are the recommended players for the Dunkest Draft, obviously position by position:

• Centers
• Forwards
• Guards
• Possible surprises
• Most interesting rookies
• Big names to avoid

Centers

Walker Kessler (Los Angeles Lakers)

One of the most interesting centers to keep an eye on in your Dunkest Draft. In 2024/25, Kessler averaged 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game, numbers that perfectly explain why his game translates so well to NBA Fantasy.

Kessler doesn’t need a huge offensive workload to put up big fantasy scores. Rebounds, double-doubles and, above all, blocks give him a solid foundation for consistent production. In the five games he played at the start of the 2025/26 season, he also showed encouraging signs offensively, averaging 14.4 points on 70.3% shooting, along with 10.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks.

His move to the Lakers could add another dimension to his game. Playing alongside Luka Dončić, and taking advantage of his ability to create out of the pick and roll and draw defensive attention, could give Kessler plenty of high-percentage opportunities around the rim.

Most of his Dunkest value will probably continue to come from what he does in the paint, but if he can add a few more easy points to his rebounds and blocks thanks to Dončić, his NBA Fantasy upside becomes even more interesting.

Ivica Zubac (Indiana Pacers)

Zubac finished the 2025/26 season averaging 14.1 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, building much of his fantasy value through consistent rebounding, efficient shooting and his ability to record double-doubles on a regular basis.

What makes him even more intriguing is his new situation in Indiana, where he’ll play alongside Tyrese Haliburton, back after missing the entire previous season. For a center like Zubac, who doesn’t need a lot of touches to be effective, playing with one of the league’s best creators could be a major advantage.

Pick and rolls, deep catches and finishes around the rim could become an important part of his game, giving him the chance to increase his offensive production without changing what already makes him valuable on Dunkest.

Rebounds, efficiency, double-doubles and now Haliburton creating for him: if the Draft price is right, Zubac could be a very interesting center to target.

Forwards

Miles Bridges (Phoenix Suns)

Bridges could be one of the most interesting players to target in your Dunkest Draft, especially if his price stays relatively low. Last season, he averaged 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.9 three-pointers per game, once again showing his ability to contribute across multiple categories.

That’s exactly what makes him so appealing from an NBA Fantasy perspective. Bridges doesn’t necessarily need to score 25 or 30 points to produce a strong fantasy performance: he can add rebounds, assists and threes, giving him different ways to score even when his shot isn’t falling. In 2024/25, after all, he averaged 20.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, proving he can handle an even bigger workload.

His move to Phoenix naturally raises some questions about his role and the number of touches he’ll get, but that could also turn him into a potential Draft bargain. If his price doesn’t climb too high, his all-around production and upside compared to expectations could make him a great value pick.

Anthony Davis (Washington Wizards)

Anthony Davis is one of those players who can make a huge difference in a Dunkest Draft without necessarily needing a perfect shooting night. The reason is simple: he has so many different ways to produce fantasy points.

Points and rebounds provide the foundation, but his defensive production is what really raises his ceiling. Blocks and steals can make a major difference and allow him to put together excellent Dunkest scores even when his offense isn’t at its best.

Another factor to watch is his chemistry with Trae Young. Playing alongside a point guard who can create advantages and find him in the pick and roll should give Davis plenty of easy opportunities around the rim, while AJ Dybantsa adds another offensive threat who can help open up the floor.

There is still the question of his durability, something that has followed him for several seasons, but Davis remains a player with massive Dunkest potential thanks to his ability to fill almost every category on the stat sheet.

Guards

Darius Garland (Los Angeles Clippers)

The former Cavs guard could be one of the most interesting names to watch in your Dunkest Draft, especially considering the offensive situation the Clippers will face at the start of the season.

Brandon Ingram’s injury takes an important ball-handler and perimeter creator out of the lineup, potentially leaving even more responsibility to Garland. More touches should mean more opportunities to contribute not only as a scorer, but also as a playmaker and assist producer.

His game fits this situation perfectly: he can create out of the pick and roll, attack the rim, find teammates on the perimeter and take a good volume of three-pointers. From a Dunkest NBA Fantasy perspective, all of that can translate into strong production.

Ingram’s absence could therefore create a great opportunity for Garland, at least early in the season. If he’s still available at an attractive price in your Draft, don’t overlook him.

Trae Young (Washington Wizards)

When it comes to offensive production, Trae Young remains one of the players you have to consider in a Dunkest Draft. Having the ball in his hands, handling a huge workload and creating for teammates have never been issues, and his new situation could give him even more options.

The presence of Anthony Davis and AJ Dybantsa gives him two major offensive weapons. Davis could become the perfect pick-and-roll partner and interior target, while Dybantsa adds another option on the perimeter and in isolation.

Having more scorers around him shouldn’t necessarily be seen as a negative for Young. If anything, it could help him maximize one of his biggest strengths: creating advantages and putting his teammates in position to score.

From a Dunkest perspective, his upside isn’t just about scoring. Assists, three-pointers and his massive offensive workload are all part of the package. With Davis and Dybantsa to feed, there should be plenty of opportunities to fill the stat sheet.

Potential Breakouts: Looking for Value

Khaman Maluach (Phoenix Suns)

Mark Williams’ shoulder surgery could open up a major opportunity in terms of playing time for the ninth pick in the 2025 Draft, who already showed encouraging progress during Summer League.

If Maluach gets consistent minutes, his rebounding and rim protection could immediately make an impact. Those are exactly the kind of stats that work well in Dunkest, making him an interesting minimum-price option with the potential for a significant increase in value.

Egor Demin (Brooklyn Nets)

Another player from the 2025 Draft class, Demin struggled mostly from a physical standpoint and wasn’t able to fully emerge among Brooklyn’s large group of young players.

Already at Media Day, however, Demin showed significant physical development, standing out even compared to other players at his position. If he can combine that improved frame with his excellent basketball IQ, he could carve out an important role and become one of the surprise NBA Fantasy picks of the season.

Most Interesting Rookies

Dailyn Swain (Chicago Bulls)

With the first pick outside the Lottery, the Chicago Bulls selected a pure scorer. Swain averaged 17.3 points per game in college while shooting 52% from the field, adding 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists.

A low-pressure environment focused on developing young players looks like the perfect situation for him to grow at the NBA level, and at his price he could become a very interesting Dunkest gamble.

Cameron Boozer (Memphis Grizzlies)

Cameron Boozer is definitely one of the rookies to put on your Dunkest Draft watchlist. At Duke, he averaged 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game, numbers that highlight his most appealing trait: his ability to contribute all over the stat sheet.

That’s exactly why his profile is so interesting for Dunkest. Boozer can produce through points and rebounds while also adding assists, steals and three-pointers, meaning his fantasy value doesn’t depend entirely on his shooting.

He backed that up in Summer League, averaging 18.5 points, 8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals across eight games.

In Memphis, which selected him with the third overall pick, he should have the minutes and responsibility to develop right away, forming an exciting young frontcourt partnership with Zach Edey.

There is always some uncertainty with rookies, but Boozer’s combination of scoring, rebounding and playmaking makes him an ideal NBA Fantasy profile. If his Dunkest Draft price is reasonable, he could be one of the most intriguing rookie picks available.

Caleb Wilson (Chicago Bulls)

If you’re looking for a rookie with upside and the ability to fill the stat sheet, Caleb Wilson is definitely a name to remember for your Dunkest Draft.

Selected fourth overall by the Chicago Bulls, Wilson enters the NBA after averaging 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game at North Carolina.

His NBA Fantasy potential comes mainly from his ability to contribute beyond scoring. Wilson is an excellent athlete who runs the floor, attacks the rim and rebounds well, while also having the physical tools to make an impact defensively. Steals and blocks could therefore provide valuable bonuses on Dunkest.

His situation in Chicago could also work in his favor. The Bulls invested a high pick in him as part of a young project and should give him the minutes and responsibility he needs to develop throughout the season.

The first signs already arrived during Summer League: 23.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 2.5 blocks per game, while also shooting 41.9% from three.

Summer League numbers should always be taken with caution, but they show just how complete his impact can be.

The transition to the NBA is still the big question, but if you’re looking for a high-upside gamble, Wilson has plenty of tools that could translate extremely well to Dunkest.

Stars to Avoid

Kevin Durant (Houston Rockets)

Let’s start with the obvious: Kevin Durant is still Kevin Durant. He finished the 2025/26 season averaging 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, proving he’s still one of the NBA’s elite scorers.

For Dunkest Draft purposes, however, the real question is different: how much are you willing to pay for him?

Dunkest scoring rewards much more than points, and compared to other superstars, a significant part of Durant’s fantasy production comes from scoring and three-pointers. He still contributes rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, but usually not at the same volume as other stars who can consistently fill four or five categories every night.

Age is another factor. At 37 years old, workload management throughout the season is something to consider, especially when investing a major part of your budget in one player.

So the issue isn’t Durant himself, but rather paying superstar-level Draft prices for him. If the bidding gets too high, it may be worth looking elsewhere: at the same price, you could find players who aren’t quite as dominant as scorers but offer a more complete and potentially more valuable profile under Dunkest’s scoring system.

Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)

The arrival of a true point guard like LaMelo Ball could take away a significant part of Edwards’ playmaking responsibilities, potentially reducing his assists and the number of possessions he spends with the ball in his hands.

Ant-Man has already shown during the seasons he shared the backcourt with Mike Conley that his statistical production can take a hit when he has fewer opportunities to control the ball.

From a championship perspective, the partnership with LaMelo could work extremely well. For Dunkest NBA Fantasy, though, it could limit Edwards’ upside compared to his Draft price.

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