NBA Fantasy Basketball Draft Landmines: Players to Avoid in the 2025-26 Season

RotoWire Fantasy Basketball Mock Breakdown

Aug 05, 2025

Every fantasy basketball draft has its pitfalls, and the RotoWire inaugural category league mock draft is no exception. Using their fantasy mock draft as a guide, let's dive into the players who might leave you feeling less than excited about your draft strategy.

Round-by-Round Draft Disappointments

1st Round: Bam Adebayo (7th Overall)

Draft Hesitation: Adebayo epitomizes the "great NBA player, not-quite-as-great fantasy asset" dilemma. His scoring trajectory is trending downward, and at 28, expecting a career renaissance feels optimistic. While reliable, he lacks the explosive potential you'd want from a first-round selection.

Better Alternatives: James Harden (9th) or Cade Cunningham (10th) offer more dynamic fantasy potential.

2nd Round: LeBron James (23rd Overall)

Draft Hesitation: Father Time remains undefeated. James will increasingly become a load management master, with diminishing minutes and potential rest days. In a fantasy landscape prioritizing young, ascending talent, LeBron feels like he’ll soon be yesterday's news, at least when it comes to being a top-25 pick.

Better Alternatives: Jaren Jackson (24th) or Alperen Sengun (28th) represent the future of fantasy basketball.

3rd Round: Josh Giddey (25th Overall)

Draft Hesitation: Peak hype might be artificially inflating Giddey's draft stock. While talented, his current valuation seems more speculative than substantive.

Better Alternatives: Jalen Brunson (27th) or Amen Thompson (32nd) offer more consistent production.

4th Round: De'Aaron Fox (38th Overall)

Draft Hesitation: The Spurs' crowded backcourt presents significant usage challenges. Fox's inefficiency combined with potential slight role reduction makes him a riskier fourth round selection.

Better Alternatives: DeMar DeRozen (39th) or Franz Wagner (43rd) provide more reliable fantasy contributions.

5th Round: Nikola Vučević (53rd Overall)

Draft Hesitation: Another high-floor, low-ceiling option. Vucevic's declining production suggests diminishing returns on draft investment.

Better Alternatives: Kristaps Porzingis (57th) or OG Anunoby (60th) offer more upside.

6th Round: Michael Porter Jr. (61st Overall)

Draft Hesitation: Limited assist production severely caps his overall fantasy value, despite increased Brooklyn opportunities.

Better Alternatives: Deni Avdija (62nd) or Jordan Poole (70th) provide more well-rounded stat lines.

7th Round: Lauri Markkanen (74th Overall)

Draft Hesitation: Injury history and consistent statistical regression make Markkanen a risky investment.

Better Alternatives: Cody White (82nd) or Miles Bridges (83rd) present more intriguing options.

8th Round: Deandre Ayton (88th Overall)

Draft Hesitation: Persistent injury concerns limit his fantasy reliability in his first Los Angeles season.

Better Alternatives: Onyeka Okongwu (91st) or Kel'el Ware (94th) offer more upside and consistent playing time.

9th Round: Malik Monk (98th Overall)

Draft Hesitation: Crowded Kings rotation will have Monk taking a back seat to DeRozen, LaVine, and potentially, newcomer Dennis Schröder.

Better Alternatives: Bennedict Mathurin (102nd) or Kyrie Irving (104th) provide more upside.

10th Round: Stephon Castle (109th Overall)

Draft Hesitation: Already crowded Spurs backcourt and potential emergence of rookie Dylan Harper.

Better Alternatives: VJ Edgecombe (110th) or Kyle Filipowski (112th) might offer more immediate fantasy impact.

Conclusion

Draft wisely, fantasy managers. These players aren't necessarily bad, but they represent potential draft landmines that could derail your championship aspirations. Always prioritize upside, consistency, and potential over name recognition.