Dunkest NBA Fantasy: 5 Players to Watch in Preseason

NBA Preseason can provide some valuable clues for Dunkest: here are five players to watch before the new season gets underway.

The start of NBA Preseason marks the final stretch before the new season and, for many teams, it will be an important opportunity to answer the last few questions surrounding rotations and roles.

In this article, we’re highlighting five players worth watching closely during Preseason to understand what kind of role they could have this season and, most importantly, whether they can become interesting picks for our Dunkest NBA Fantasy teams.

Dunkest NBA Fantasy is Italy’s most-played NBA Fantasy game, with more than 200,000 fantasy managers competing every year through points, assists and rebounds since 2013. It’s free to play and available on iOS, Android and Web.

Day’Ron Sharpe (Center – Brooklyn Nets, 8.5 cr)

After years of uncertainty and competition for minutes, the Brooklyn Nets’ starting center job finally appears to have a clear favorite in Day’Ron Sharpe, following the departure of Claxton, who never fully lived up to expectations.

Sharpe brings something different to the table: less of a traditional interior presence, but more mobility and a strong enough frame to match up physically with opposing centers.

If his teammates can consistently get him involved, Sharpe could improve on the 8.7 points per game he averaged in 2025/26 while shooting an excellent 60.1% from the field.

Preseason will give us the first real indication of how big his role could be in Brooklyn’s new setup.

Cason Wallace (Guard – Oklahoma City Thunder, 8.5 cr)

The departures of Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins have left a significant gap in Mark Daigneault’s rotation in OKC.

The leading candidate to fill it appears to be Cason Wallace, who is coming off a season in which he averaged 1.95 steals per game.

His defensive impact is already a given. The next step will be maintaining his 35% shooting from three while increasing his volume, adding another dimension to his game and becoming a bigger contributor on offense.

Preseason should give us the first clues about his new role and, most importantly, how much his minutes and responsibilities are set to increase.

Jake LaRavia (Forward – Los Angeles Lakers, 7.0 cr)

“Best ability is availability,” as the saying goes. And in that department, few players can compete with Jake LaRavia, who appeared in all 82 games last Regular Season while averaging 8.2 points and 4.0 rebounds.

So far, he’s been a reliable role player, but JJ Redick has made it clear that the spots on the wing are still up for grabs. The Lakers need someone capable of taking a step forward and earning a permanent place in the starting lineup.

LaRavia will need to prove that he can handle the extra responsibility that inevitably comes with playing for a team like the Lakers. If he does, he could become a valuable two-way piece alongside Doncic and his teammates and, at 7 credits, an interesting Dunkest NBA Fantasy option as well.

Jonathan Kuminga (Forward – Minnesota Timberwolves, 7.0 cr)

With two creators like Edwards and LaMelo and two defensive anchors in McDaniels and Gobert, the Timberwolves were missing a versatile player capable of completing the starting five and adding another offensive weapon.

On paper, Jonathan Kuminga looks like a great fit. During his short spell in Atlanta, he averaged 12.2 points and 5.6 rebounds across 36 games.

Compared to LaRavia, both the upside and the risk are significantly higher here. Kuminga’s talent has never been in question, but his years with the Warriors also featured difficult stretches and a lack of consistency.

Betting on him therefore requires a good amount of confidence. The Timberwolves have decided to give him that opportunity: Preseason will tell us whether Dunkest NBA Fantasy managers should do the same.

Toumani Camara (Forward – Portland Trail Blazers, 9.5 cr)

Coach Micah Nori was pretty clear during Media Day, stressing that Damian Lillard and Ja Morant “wouldn’t make sense” together in the starting lineup, given his intention to build a team with a strong defensive identity.

The open spot appears to have a clear favorite: Toumani Camara. The Blazers have invested heavily in his player development, continuing to give him minutes even when his performances were producing more negatives than positives on the court.

That decision eventually paid off, as the Belgian forward developed into a consistent threat from beyond the arc, averaging 13.4 points while shooting 37% from three last season.

Keeping his place in the starting five will now be more challenging, with several players pushing for minutes behind him – starting with Ja Morant – and Portland seemingly ready to move beyond its rebuilding phase and become more competitive.

To hold onto his role, Camara will need to hit the ground running from Preseason, making him a particularly interesting player to watch ahead of the new Dunkest NBA Fantasy season.