New seasons present new opportunities for teams and players to rewrite chapters of their legacy. We all love a good bounce-back story, and today, we’ll explore which players seem poised to write a new path and take advantage of the upcoming season to remind us of their potential value for our squads.

We’ll also look at players who may have played well but not well enough to stay high on your radar. These players deserve a chance to “bounce back” to priority-level relevance and help you lead your team to success. But first…

Key Takeaways From Last Week: 8 Must-Have Players to Draft (2024 Fantasy Basketball)

• Defining the type of roster build you want to deploy can provide a huge advantage when evaluating talent to acquire early in your drafts.
• Do you enjoy the consistent and safe value provided by holding on to long-term assets? Or are you more pragmatic and responsive, winning your weekly matchups by streaming and capitalizing on hot opportunities?
• Do you prefer building teams that aim to win by monopolizing all categories with generalist-based acquisitions? Or do you pick and choose your battles, strategically playing a more selective game by deploying specialists?
• Do you like assets that complement each other synergistically, building towards a total team win? Or do you prefer winning with elite single-contributor big-play ballers who can carry a team to victory on their own?

Now, let’s get to it.

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• Consensus NBA Rankings

Bounce-Back Players to Consider in Fantasy Basketball

Deciding who to give a chance or another chance can be a challenging task, especially when their past shortcomings are still fresh in mind. While past performance can indicate future outcomes, staying present and seeing the field for what it is today can lead to game-changing decisions and championship-winning outcomes.

Fantasy Format

Scoring Type:

Head-to-Head (Most Categories)

Player Stat Categories:

• Points Scored (PTS)
• Total Rebounds (REB)
• Assists (AST)
• Steals (ST)
• Block Shots (BLK)
• 3-Point Shots Made (3PTM)
• Field Goal Percentage (FG%)
• Free Throw Percentage (FT%)

Roster Positions:

• Point Guard (PG)
• Shooting Guard (SG)
• Guard (G)
• Small Forward (SF)
• Power Forward (PF)
• Center (C) x 2
• Utility (UTIL) x 2
• Bench (BN) x 2
• Injured List (IL) x 3

Data Sources

• NBA Player Stats: NBA.com – 2023-2024
• NBA Player Fantasy Rankings: Yahoo.com – 2023-2024
• Average Draft Position (ADP): Source FantasyPros – 2023-2024

Term Guide

Bounce-Back Players to Consider in Fantasy Basketball

Points

Jaden Ivey (PG, SG – DET) | 15.4 PPG – Rank: 92nd

Darkest Before Dawn

Detroit hasn’t been performing well, and after acquiring coach Monty Williams for their talented team, finishing last in the league for the second year in a row didn’t inspire much confidence. As Harvey Dent famously said, “The night is darkest before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming.” I have a saying, too: One of the good things about the darkest of days is that it’s easier to see the light. This sheds light on the team’s current state.

The subtle but impactful moves the team made this past year have been impressive, indicating a possible shift in mindset. New President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon, Sr. VP Dennis Lindsey, EVP Michael Blackstone and Scout Jon Holden serve as the foundation of a rising dawn in the organization.

Moving on from coach Monty Williams to J.B. Bickerstaff sent a clear message: Unacceptable early returns are no longer tolerated. With a new coach, the team did something crucial for this young, talented and competitive squad. They have the right experience and talent to develop a culture of maturity, performance and commitment. This could ensure their explosive talent lasts longer than a firework this season.

Talent With Character, Chemistry and Culture

Re-acquiring Tobias Harris and acquiring Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley adds character, production and chemistry to the team. Fifth-round pick Ron Holland II offers promising depth to their frontcourt. The team has created a framework where we can see the light in this dark era. Enter Jaden Ivey.

The talented rookie from the 2022 class showed incredible offensive talent, averaging 16.3 points per game despite a horrendous season. However, his production dropped to 15.4 points per game. He also took a step back in rebounds, assists and steals. This inconsistency was due to his role in the rotation, an inconsistent rotation and the team’s inability to find and sustain an identity.

With Great Vision Comes Great Possibilities

With a committed and focused vision from the top, the pieces should start falling into place under this new coaching regime and culture. This offers hope for a brighter future. Ivey has a history of acclimating well to new environments, as seen during his two years at Purdue. There, he improved from 11.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.7 steals in his first year to 17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 0.9 steals per game. With the right focus, culture and rotation, Purdue created an environment for great outcomes. I hope the same is true for Detroit.

Nothing is guaranteed, but having spent years as a passionate Eagles fan, I know the power of the right front-office moves. They can change the mindset of an organization and translate into on-field success. The Pistons are making the right moves. Hopefully, after showing the right returns, the light can shine bright in this darkness, especially for this talented player. He offers value in shooting but can be much more. With the right strategy, snagging him could be a brilliant move to bolster and round out your lineup. I’m confident in the team’s future and the potential of these moves to bring success.

Additional Bounce-Back Considerations

Ja Morant (PG – MEM) | 25.1 PPG – Rank: 18th

• Bounce-Back Category: Step-Back to Bounce-Back Player

Devin Vassell (SG, SF – SAS) | 19.5 PPG – Rank: 57th 

• Bounce-Back Category: Bounce-Back Player

Assists

Chris Paul (PG – SAS) | 6.8 APG – Rank: 15th

Living Legend Pushing Limits

Coach Gregg Popovich is a living legend. While the Spurs didn’t have the typical season associated with this Hall-of-Fame coach, it was a success in many ways. Coach Popovich tested the potential and limitations of his talent, utilizing and maximizing the generational talent of Victor Wembyama, who did not disappoint. The Spurs have an incredibly talented team. Although some of Pop’s moves didn’t always make sense, like the Jeremy Sochan and Tre Jones dance in the backcourt, he tested various looks to understand the necessary moves to maximize his roster for the next season.

Conservative Flex

Acquiring Chris Paul might be one of the most brilliant, low-key flexes I’ve ever witnessed, potentially paying off tremendously for the team and Paul believers. While Paul may not single-handedly take over a game offensively at will, he has the pedigree to be a deadly maestro when commanding an incentivized and talented band. Yes, he’s in the latter stage of his legacy, and it shows. His assist numbers, which have varied from season to season, saw a significant drop from 8.9 assists per game in 2022 to 6.8 assists per game in 2023. Interestingly, his worst marks in assists came during single seasons with teams seeking a credible, safe and effective jumpstart to their journey to relevancy — the Warriors last year and the Thunder in 2019.

A Legendary Band

It seems fitting Paul finds perhaps the final chapters of his career on a team with a legendary coach and one of the most legendary players in sports history. With a strong and disciplined culture, a coach who matches his skill set to the right opportunities and a stable of young and hungry talented players, Paul might have found the band needed to reignite his fire and borderline elite fantasy pedigree. His leadership and experience could be the missing piece the team needs to reach new heights. While he won’t contribute much in terms of offensive scoring, he’ll make up for it through offensive facilitation and his stingy defense, giving you an incredible lift in this nuanced category. Paul could be on the brink of putting up All-Star reserve numbers. Those who remain disciplined in their vision for their team and leverage his strengths could be happy in the long run.

Additional Bounce-Back Considerations

Coby White (PG, SG – CHI) | 5.1 APG – Rank: T-47th

• Bounce-Back Category: Add-To-Radar

Dennis Schroder (PG – BKN) | 6.1 APG – Rank: 25th

• Bounce-Back Category: Step-Back to Bounce-Back Player

Rebounds

Jeremy Sochan (PG, PF – SAS) | 6.4 RPG – Rank: 64th

No Comfort, No Problem

Another star on a promising Spurs team, Jeremy Sochan found success even when pushed out of his comfort zone. Having prominent roles in both the front and backcourt presented risks to his production due to threats to his ability to sustain his performance from game to game. However, he succeeded during this experimental season in the franchise’s history. While he made a significant jump from Year 1 to Year 2 in his rebounding, going from 5.3 rebounds per game to an impressive 6.4 rebounds per game, one can only imagine what might have been if he had a consistent role to grow into for the entire season.

An Uncomfortable Dance

Considering coach Gregg Popovich had to game plan around a promising franchise-changing Victor Wembanyama and the balancing act between winning and being competitive and losing and looking aloof, this season can be seen more as a promising success than a letdown. Sochan increased his production across several major categories from his first season. He went from averaging 11.0 points, 2.5 assists, 0.4 blocks and 0.8 steals per game to 11.6 points, 3.4 assists, 0.5 blocks and a sustained 0.8 steals per game this past season.

Last Year’s Love, This Year’s Problem

While this season may not be much of a comeback in performance per se, it could be a comeback on your radar kind of season in which he can make good on all the preseason love he received heading into last year’s campaign. Sochan can be a problem for teams once the Spurs figure out how to deploy him in their new-look offense. While his utility may be limited, given their latest acquisitions and a more disciplined play, he could be of tremendous value as the team looks for utility plays to help them remain competitive in nuanced categories.

Additional Bounce-Back Considerations

Ausar Thompson (SG, SF, PF – DET) | 6.4 RPG – Rank: 66th

• Bounce-Back Category: Step-Back to Bounce-Back Player

Precious Achiuwa (PF, C – NYK/TBD) | 6.6 RPG – Rank: 60th

• Bounce-Back Category: Step-Back to Bounce-Back Player

Steals

Ben Simmons (PG, SG, PF – BKN) | 0.8 SPG – Rank: 167th

Long Game, Large Gain

Brooklyn has been playing the long game since acquiring Mikal Bridges and they continue that strategy after securing a haul of value to support the later phases of their rebuild, which arguably began back in 2022-2023. Word is, Ben Simmons is in the best shape of his career. After experiencing just how good this guy can be, it wouldn’t surprise me if he plays at an All-Star level this season, provided he remains healthy.

Simmons is a multi-categorical juggernaut, and there’s no reason to doubt the production he exhibited last November reflects his true value. In November, he averaged 10.0 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.3 blocks and 0.7 steals per game. His 8.3 points per game still carry some of the offensive stench he birthed in Philly, but Simmons is a utility player with offensive upside. His rebounding, assisting and stealing abilities gave ‘The Process’ the mechanism to remain competitive.

Bad Rep With the Brotherhood

While his poor performance in the playoffs led to a negative narrative about his potential as an elite league talent, which was then further exacerbated and magnified by his inability to stay healthy, there’s much more to respect and analyze here than one might think. Despite averaging only 0.8 steals per game last season (still impressive for just 15 games), Simmons has averaged above 1.0 steals per game for his entire career.

We can’t argue against his talent, nor can we ignore how badly we can make a player look once he’s disappointed us and our Philadelphia brotherhood. But I urge you, let’s leave the past behind us and look to the future. This guy made me look like a genius at one point last season, and he could do the same for you if you insulate the risks of his health with a strong build paced by patience when drafting him at the right time.

Nail the Comeback Kid

Nail this and you could have a complete game-changer for deploying your sets on a week-to-week basis. Although he hasn’t played much lately, when he has played, he has demonstrated value. Being on a Brooklyn team that could make him part of their core identity during their rebuild, alongside a talented Cam Thomas, could be a recipe for success in the increasingly competitive Eastern Conference. Simmons is worth bouncing back on your radar.

Additional Bounce-Back Considerations

Amen Thompson (PG, SG, SF – HOU) | 1.3 SPG – Rank: 30th

• Bounce-Back Category: Add-To-Radar

Alex Caruso (PG, SG – OKC) | 1.7 SPG – Rank: 8th

• Bounce-Back Category: Add-To-Radar

Blocks

Trayce Jackson-Davis (PF, C – GSW) | 1.1 BPG – Rank: 28th

Good Bye Yesterday, Hello Tomorrow

The Warriors are on the verge of a rebuild. While they have the talent to endure the inevitable growing pains, the culture and commitment to the Steph Curry–Draymond Green–Klay Thompson dynasty are deteriorating. This means anyone could find themselves outside the new vision, including Green and fan favorite Kevon Looney. The team’s decision to move on from Thompson, a beloved player, suggests more changes are on the horizon. Jonathan Kuminga has shown promise despite some team chemistry issues with Jordan Poole and others. Kuminga isn’t the only one demonstrating promise; Trayce Jackson-Davis also seems poised to answer the call. The rookie out of Indiana had an impressive season, flashing signs of elite talent for the frontcourt despite averaging only 16.6 minutes per game.

Hooos-ierrr Daddy!?

He averaged just 7.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.1 blocks and 0.4 steals per game. However, his larger body of work coming out of Indiana is a tremendously promising indicator of his early career potential in the league. In his final season with the Hoosiers, he averaged 34.6 minutes, 20.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.9 blocks and 0.8 steals per game while shooting an impressive 58.1% from the floor. If we double the time he was given in his rookie season, we could assume around 15 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.2 blocks and 0.8 steals per game, which would be admirable for this young talent. The potential impact of Jackson-Davis on the team’s performance should excite Warriors fans and analysts alike.

Rudimentarily Elite

While this is a rudimentary projection approach, it speaks to his raw talent and potential to land a high-priority spot on your radar this season. This could happen if the Warriors find a way to quickly bandage, forge and rebuild the rich culture they have spent several years cultivating, especially with two major cogs of their dynasty still in place. Where Jackson-Davis will be deployed and how is still uncertain, as he can find success at both the four and five positions. However, if history is any indication of his promise, he should adapt well to a routine role where he is trusted and deployed in an aggressive, practical and intentional way.

Let Dem’ Boys Play

If Steve Kerr is less conservative in his deployment of these assets and lets his talent take flight under his leadership, Jackson-Davis could be a valuable mid-to-late-round target, allowing you more flexibility with your early-round selections. This reiteration of Jackson-Davis’s potential should instill confidence in his abilities, while the other moves already made by the Warriors indicate they are now looking towards the future and should signal more opportunities for him to further cement the foundation of his promising professional sports and fantasy sports career.

Additional Bounce-Back Considerations

Jonathan Isaac (SF, PF – ORL) | 1.2 BPG – Rank: 21st

• Bounce-Back Category: Add-To-Radar

Isaiah Jackson (PF, C – IND) | 1.0 BPG – Rank: 38th

• Bounce-Back Category: Add-To-Radar

Three-Pointers Made

Klay Thomspon (SG, SF – DAL) | 3.5 3PTM – Rank: 5th

Impressive Implosion

The Mavericks imploded in the finals. While their impressive season and post-season showing ended anticlimactically, their journey to becoming a menace for Western competition next season and beyond seems promising. They have an incredible frontcourt with the timely acquisitions of PJ Washington Jr. and Daniel Gafford to accompany standout rookie Dereck Lively II.

Nasty Heroics

Now, they’ve gotten even nastier in their backcourt with the acquisition of Klay Thompson. Say what you want about his underwhelming performance last season; his career, characterized by his on-the-court production and his heroic journey back to the hardwood, has been admirable and should set him up for success in his new home in Dallas.

The Calming Splash

Despite his tumultuous, at times, underwhelming ramp-up back to starting “Splash Brothers” form, his production this past season, though one of his least impressive, has been better than some others’ best. He still averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.5 blocks and 0.6 steals per game. While his three-pointers made per game fell from a career-high 4.4 in 2022 to 3.5 last year, his marks were still on par with those posted during the team’s championship season.

Texas Titan

Thompson is joining an exciting team where each star can exist together and independently. He will be relied upon for a core strategic function the team needs to become even deadlier offensively. He will be able to play for a championship right away while still being part of re-setting and solidifying a rebuild on a team that can remain competitive for the next several seasons.

The Birth…of Heat Wave

The team’s decision to move on from Tim Hardaway Jr., although coming at no surprise, as evident in how they used him last year, opens up massive opportunities for Thompson to recalibrate and refocus his shooting arsenal. This could be the perfect circumstance to rebrand himself as much more than a splash brother in Texas and in our lineups… I dunno… Heat Wave, although terrible and thoroughly cheezy, has a charming yet appealing ring to it. Ahh.. moving on.

Additional Bounce-Back Considerations

Devin Booker (PG, SG, SF – PHX) | 2.2 3PTM – Rank: 58th

• Bounce-Back Category: Step-Back to Bounce-Back Player

Corey Kispert (SG, SF – WAS) | 2.3 3PTM – Rank: 55th

• Bounce-Back Category: Add-To-Radar

Field-Goal Percentage

Tyler Herro (PG, SG – MIA) | 44.1% FG – Rank: 326th

Not Enough Dramatic Effect

The Heat are a talented squad and have been a perennial threat in the East since 2019. The team managed to grow substantially. While they didn’t showcase their full potential last season due to injuries and the injection of young talent, the acquisition of Terry Rozier III for their backcourt showed promise. However, the effects weren’t as dramatic as expected.

With Tyler Herro showing signs of being an elite star in the making, a scenario in which he comes in at full health and locked in could lead to career-defining results this upcoming season. Despite his injury-riddled season, he posted his second-highest scoring percentage rate last season at 44.1% and a career-high 20.8 points per game.

No Ceiling, No Scratching, No Limits

While his performance doesn’t fit the traditional bounce-back narrative, his ability to take over a game offensively might have caused him to lose some visibility on your radar due to the team’s “shortcomings” last season. Herro is still very young in his career and has much potential, possibly not even scratching the surface of his ceiling yet.

Just Starting as a Star

Remember, he only had one year in college and set incredible marks in his transition into the league, gradually moving into his sizable role. It wasn’t until 2022 that he became a full-time starter. With a full, healthy year ahead of him and the chance to compile an entire season’s work on a loaded team, Herro has even more opportunity to hone and demonstrate his explosiveness.

To Luka or Not to Luka? That is the Question.

He could reach Luka Doncic-esque scoring productivity if he stays healthy and adjusts his game to create synergy with young, promising assets Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic, as well as the ever-intriguing offensive contribution of Duncan Robinson. Herro has a lot of upside as a potential multi-categorical asset. Look for him to bounce back and forward at excellent value this season if you’re looking to capitalize on offensively focused assets.

Additional Bounce-Back Considerations

Kelly Olynyk (PF, C – TOR) | 55.5% FG% – Rank: 83rd

• Bounce-Back Category: Add-To-Radar

Paul Reed (PF, C – DET) | 54.0% FG% – Rank: 88th

• Bounce-Back Category: Add-To-Radar

Free-Throw Percentage

Bradley Beal (PG, SG – PHX) | 81.3% FT% – Rank: 190th

Better Days for Sunshine

The Suns have seen better days. While they were unable to capitalize on their promising lineup due to injuries and untimely momentum shifts, they remained competitive in the West. This was encouraging, given the excitement surrounding the union of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. While Beal didn’t pay off as much as the team intended in his first season, he was still impressive, averaging 18.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.5 blocks and 0.1 steals per game while shooting 51.3% from the floor and 43.0% from beyond the arc.

Give Some Charity, Recieve Some Charity

His production at the charity stripe did take a noticeable dip, falling from 3.8 made free throws on 4.6 attempts per game at 84.2% to 2.1 made free throws on 2.5 attempts per game at 81.3%. While his health has been an issue over the past five seasons, one has to think he can turn a corner heading into next season in a must-produce year for the franchise before they consider a reset and possible rebuild.

In a must-perform year, Beal can find success for those willing to see past the risks outside his play on the court. He may not be an immediate lock for success, but he can be a scary sight for opponents if he begins to click early and often.

Additional Bounce-Back Considerations

Norman Powell (SG, SF – LAC) | 83.1% FT – Rank: 149th

• Bounce-Back Category: Add-To-Radar

Terance Mann (SG, SF – LAC) | 83.2% FT – Rank: 148th

• Bounce-Back Category: Add-To-Radar