NBA Preseason Team Previews: Philadelphia 76ers
Preseason is upon us! Over the next two weeks, we will break down each team and give you their fantasy outlook coming into the 2017 NBA regular season. This article will break down the offseason moves, the fantasy MVP for the team, a DFS sleeper and a DFS bust pick.
Projected Starting Lineup:
Key Bench Players: Dario Saric, Amir Johnson, Jahlil Okafor, T.J. McConnell
Offseason Summary
Trust. The. Process.
The youth movement is here and its home is in Philly. This team made a handful of moves this offseason to bring in supporting pieces, but primarily this team is made of drafted players. The 76ers brought in sharpshooter J.J. Redick from the Clippers, Amir Johnson from the Celtics and Markelle Fultz and Furkan Korkmaz via the draft. They didn’t let important supporting pieces walk, so this team looks very familiar to the awful squad we saw last season. We should expect a vast improvement on many fronts, especially due to the immediate impact of Ben Simmons on the 76ers rotation. His athleticism paired with a healthy force of Joel Embiid should bode well for the production of the team going forward. Fultz is a talented playmaker and shot creator off the dribble, Redick will space out defenses on the perimeter and the consistency of Robert Covington on the wing will provide stability to the starting lineup that the 76ers did not have in the past. Not to mention the depth that players like buzzer-beater wonder T.J. McConnell and a still-developing Jahlil Okafor. Watch out for this young cast, they look to make some noise early in the new season.
Fantasy MVP: Joel Embiid
 A whole season of this guy could mean a legitimate top-10 player overall finish for Embiid. He is by far the most versatile player the 76ers have and he looked unstoppable before his injury last season. In DFS, his price will reflect this potential, but if you can fit into your daily lineup you are only moments away from 40 and 50-burgers. A defensive and rebounding force, as his scoring output develops, Embiid’s fantasy value will only rise. One of the safest big men selections that you can have when he’s healthy. Even though at this point in his career, that hasn’t been a sure thing.
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Daily Fantasy Sleeper: Dario Saric
The second place finisher in the 2016 Rookie of the Year vote behind Malcolm Brogdon, Saric had an incredible second half for the 76ers. During the run, Saric played over 30 minutes per game and was a consistent rebounder and scoring option at the power forward. Head coach Brett Brown has already noted that Saric will come off the bench to start the season, which may bode well for his overall DFS value for the season. I would venture to guess that Saric will start the season as an affordable option that merits consideration for a forward/utility spot on your daily lineups. Keep an eye out for Simmons’ health, if he falters again in his rookie campaign, look for Saric to take advantage in a big way.
Daily Fantasy Bust: J.J. Redick
Redick was a DFS guard flex spot staple last season, as his price and needed mark to return value placed him in good positions nightly to bring success in your lineups. However, on this new Philly team, they will look to their other rising stars for production rather than Redick’s sweet stroke. They will have more scoring options than in years past, which will cap Redick’s nightly upside. When on some nights in Los Angeles, Redick would score 26, those high scoring nights could look more like 14 or 16 points with the volume of producers now in Philly. He will still retain value, but it will likely be harder and harder as the season progresses to trust Redick’s output in DFS for his price as a starter.
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