With roughly seven weeks until the start of the NBA season, fantasy basketball is already a hot topic around the water coolers. As managers lay the groundwork for what promises to be a hectic draft season, deciphering player projections is going to be key to compiling a competitive team. Which brings us to the topic of breakout candidates. Who is positioned to take their game to the next level this season? With that in mind, here are a few players I think are worth considering in your draft, assuming winning is on your agenda this season.
Kel'el Ware, Bucks 
(Yahoo ADP: 75)
Coming off a clunky season in Miami, Ware was moved during the offseason, arriving in Milwaukee as part of the Giannis Antetokounmpo deal. He played 77 games during his sophomore season, averaging 11.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 1.2 three-pointers in just 22.1 minutes per game. While that was good enough for top 60 value in nine-category leagues, Ware's role was largely underwhelming, at least from a consistency standpoint. His playing time fluctuated from one game to the next, as did his position in the starting lineup. Miami toyed with the idea of starting him alongside Bam Adebayo, but then opted to go in another direction late in the season, presumably as a means for hunting victories. While ultimately, it was a strong campaign for Ware, it's safe to say that managers would love to see him step into more of a typically starter-level role,
With roughly seven weeks until the start of the NBA season, fantasy basketball is already a hot topic around the water coolers. As managers lay the groundwork for what promises to be a hectic draft season, deciphering player projections is going to be key to compiling a competitive team. Which brings us to the topic of breakout candidates. Who is positioned to take their game to the next level this season? With that in mind, here are a few players I think are worth considering in your draft, assuming winning is on your agenda this season.
Kel'el Ware, Bucks (Yahoo ADP: 75)
Coming off a clunky season in Miami, Ware was moved during the offseason, arriving in Milwaukee as part of the Giannis Antetokounmpo deal. He played 77 games during his sophomore season, averaging 11.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 1.2 three-pointers in just 22.1 minutes per game. While that was good enough for top 60 value in nine-category leagues, Ware's role was largely underwhelming, at least from a consistency standpoint. His playing time fluctuated from one game to the next, as did his position in the starting lineup. Miami toyed with the idea of starting him alongside Bam Adebayo, but then opted to go in another direction late in the season, presumably as a means for hunting victories. While ultimately, it was a strong campaign for Ware, it's safe to say that managers would love to see him step into more of a typically starter-level role, allowing him to make the most of what is clearly a fantasy-friendly skill set.
Now with the Bucks, Ware's time may have come. Although he will have to compete with Myles Turner for minutes at the center spot, Ware's versatility could also see him start alongside Turner, should Milwaukee decide to go down that path, much like Miami did early last season. After trading away its franchise piece, it would appear as though Milwaukee now has an eye on the future, meaning Ware's path to minutes could be a little clearer, at least for the time being. Assuming he can flirt with at least 26 minutes per game, we could be looking at a potential top 50 asset, at worst. Given the relatively small sample size, it's hard to know what Ware's ceiling might be. However, given he was a top 60 player in just 22 minutes per game last season, his current ADP of 75 feels like a real bargain.
Day'Ron Sharpe, Nets 
(Yahoo ADP: 92)
For years, Sharpe has been one player fantasy managers have considered a potential breakout. However, circumstances have not worked in his favor, largely serving as a backup option behind Nic Claxton. He played 62 games during the 2025-26 season, averaging 8.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.5 combined steals and blocks in 18.7 minutes per game. While there were flashes throughout the season, Sharpe's opportunities were few and far between.
Fast forward to the upcoming season, and it would appear as though Sharpe could be about to land the best opportunity of his young career. Claxton was traded to Chicago during the offseason, leaving Sharpe and Danny Wolf as the two primary candidates for the starting center spot. Although Wolf has the ability to space the floor, Sharpe certainly makes a lot more sense, particularly on the defensive end. How Brooklyn chooses to deploy Sharpe remains to be seen. While it is likely we see him running with the starters, the chances of him playing what might be considered typical starter-level minutes are modest. If we consider 24 minutes per game as a relatively safe floor, Sharpe should be able to flirt with top 100 value. From there, it's all upside, particularly if you can land him anywhere beyond the eighth or ninth round. While he doesn't have the appeal of someone like Ware, Sharpe should be a tasty late-round target. If he is elevated into a 30-minute per-night role, he could end up impacting a lot of fantasy leagues in a good way.
Collin Murray-Boyles, Raptors 
(Yahoo ADP: 121)
Murray-Boyles delivered a serviceable rookie campaign, despite ending the season outside the top 150 in standard nine-category formats. While his overall numbers were somewhat underwhelming, he certainly ended the season strongly. In 23 appearances over the final three months, he was basically a top 100 asset, averaging 10.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.0 combined steals and blocks, shooting 63.0 percent from the floor and 68.3 percent from the line. This came while playing 23.6 minutes per game, a number that is almost certainly going to increase heading into his sophomore season.
The fact that Jakob Poeltl missed a significant portion of the season, allowing Murray-Boyles to spend time at center, can't be ignored. However, while it does appear as though Poeltl is healthy, there is a chance Toronto opts to limit him somewhat, allowing Murray-Boyles to function as a backup option. With Sandro Mamukelashvili now in Los Angeles, Murray-Boyles should also be utilized at the four. Ultimately, we could see him on the floor a bit more, providing the Raptors with upwards of 26 minutes per game. Assuming this is the case, we are looking at a player who could very well push inside the top 70, assuming he can maintain his defensive production. If you are struggling to envisage what type of player he could be, think Draymond Green with slightly less upside in assists.
Matas Buzelis, Bulls 
(Yahoo ADP: 58)
Buzelis appears to be on everyone's radar heading into this season, having put together an impressive sophomore season, despite his role continuing to fluctuate. He finished the 2025-26 season as the 74th-ranked player in standard leagues, averaging 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.2 three-pointers and 2.2 combined steals and blocks in 29.2 minutes per game. Things were even more promising if we shift our attention to the final two months of the season. In 22 appearances during that time, he was a borderline top 45 player, averaging 19.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.7 three-pointers and 2.5 combined steals and blocks, playing 31.5 minutes per contest.
Heading into his third season, Buzelis looks primed for a breakout. A new head coach could very well mean he plays upwards of 32.0 minutes per game, as opposed to being underutilized, which has been the case in the past. Chicago is going to play a fast brand of basketball, which feeds into the way Buzelis likes to play. His overall skill set is built for fantasy, providing managers with an ability to contribute across the board, including elite out-of-position block numbers. As usual, there will be numerous questions when it comes to what the Bulls might achieve this season, particularly given the depth in the Eastern Conference. However, if everything goes to plan, there is no reason to think that Buzelis can't flirt with being a third-round player, which would obviously mean a massive ROI for managers.
