Would You Take a Flier On a Starting Center at Pick 120?

Storyline / Purpose of the Video

This episode is a “dark horses” guide for late-round fantasy basketball drafting—especially around the 10th–12th rounds. The host (Josh Lloyd) argues that once most managers have filled their rosters, they should take calculated bets on players who are likely to earn more minutes, often using starting-opportunity projections rather than simply chasing current ADP.

Gameplay / Drafting Approach Highlighted (Key Rules & Method)

Risk Zone

• The targets are meant for bench/late rounds (often 10th–12th, sometimes deeper).

Avoid “Too-Late” Picks

• The host suggests it’s inefficient to draft someone extremely deep (e.g., around 110th/115th) if they won’t realistically rise in value.
• In those cases, free agency/waivers are often a better strategy.

Core Selection Criteria (Main Framework)

• The player ADP/rating as of Oct 3 must be 115 or below.
• For the top 15, the player meets the “115 or below” threshold in at least 3 of 5 sources:
  • Yahoo ranking
  • Yahoo ADP
  • ESPN ranking
  • ESPN ADP
  • Fantrax ADP
• For remaining players:
  • They need to be outside the top-115 in only 1 metric (with “more format-dependent” rules depending on league settings).

Order of Discussion

• The list is roughly ordered by expected upside (higher projected results earlier).

Gameplay / Strategy Tips and Late-Round Targets Mentioned

“Top 15” Late-Round Targets (with Upside Reasons)

1. Jusuf Nurkic (Utah) – expected to benefit if he starts; tied to last season’s opportunity after injuries (referencing Walker Kessler leaving Utah).
2. Keegan Murray – liked for the outcome range; warned about platform-to-platform ranking differences, but still targeted for a top-100-type ceiling.
3. Coloko / rookie big for Toronto – name is garbled in subtitles; host expects he’ll finish games and log meaningful minutes; hopes for top-100 potential if he reaches ~30 minutes.
4. Jeremiah Fiers / “Fiers” (New Orleans) – host leans on reports that he could start; risk is justified if he gets ~30 minutes and contributes across categories.
5. Brandin Podziemski (Golden State) – expects more playing time; realistic shot at a top-100 level season.
6. Guy Santos (Golden State) – valued for passing/defense; expected to provide fantasy utility even without huge usage.
7. Yaksel – described as a 10th/11th-round risky minutes swing; minutes are uncertain.
8. Jaylen Green (Phoenix) – despite poor prior results, host expects more minutes and better fantasy production (scoring + threes + some assists).
9. AJ Mitchell (Oklahoma City) – host thinks the value is overstated, but still likes him due to roster losses; expects more minutes if other players miss time.
10. Cam Johnson (Denver) – thinks he’s being ignored and should see more involvement; best-case upside around top-90 territory.
11. Iago Dos Santos (Brooklyn) – second-year risk play; hopes for expanded shot profile and more overall stat contribution beyond threes.
12. Cam “Maluach” (Phoenix) – framed as “almost a guaranteed starter”; host prefers him over another similarly discussed option.
13. Isaiah Jackson (Clippers context) – late gamble on starting center minutes; notes foul/temporary upside downside.
14. Daniel Gafford (Dallas) – expects him to start in certain first-game scenarios; evaluates upside for short stretches while noting role/injury volatility.
15. Yves Missi (New Orleans) – projected starting-center role with improved shot-blocking and rebound double-double upside.

Additional “Quick Burn-Off” Late-Round Ideas (More Targets by Team)

Below are extra dart throws/bench adds mentioned as additional options due to injury openings, starting-role uncertainty, or category upside:

• Boston: Balsa Štimać
• Brooklyn: De’Ron Sharp (plus discussion suggesting rotation uncertainty)
• Charlotte: Grayson Allen; Moussa Diabaté; Harden (backup center minutes speculation)
• Clippers: Max Strus (described as likely starter by the host)
• Cleveland: Peyton Watson (minutes could open via injury)
• Denver: DeMar DeRozan (bench risk); Christian Brown (not overly high, but could be a starter)
• Detroit: Paul Reed (if Duren’s minutes cap him); Danish Jenkins (rare rotation speculation); John Collins mentioned again
• Golden State: De’Anthony Melton; Kristaps Porziņģis (format warning—needs roster/rotation tolerance)
• Houston: Jabari Smith; Reed Sheppard; Fred VanVleet; Tari (late-round volatility angle)
• Indiana: Aaron Nesmith (dependent on shooting rebound); Kelly Oubre (needs injury/rotation)
• Lakers: Quentin Grimes (minutes/role swing); Sandro Mamukelashvili (not expected to start); “Matisse Týbull” (injury-limited, but streamer upside for categories/defense)
• Memphis: Zach Edey; Cedric Ceballos (start/increase usage expectations); Scottie Pippen Jr. (defensive upside if role changes); Jeremy Grant (only a weak “maybe”)
• Miami: Peyton Pritchard; Davion Mitchell (low-usage risk for steals/secondary production)
• Milwaukee: Kevin Porter Jr.; Juancho Hernangomez (role-based speculation); Miles Turner (ADP-based gamble)
• Minnesota: Jonathan Cummings (starting promise uncertainty); possible Ayo Dosunmu angle
• New Orleans: (revisited) Fiers and Missi; Saddiq Bey (expected to produce but with minutes constraints)
• New York / Thunder angle: Isaiah Hartenstein (very late value in some formats); Cason Wallace (stresses steals + interception upside)
• Orlando: Anthony Black (if injury creates a starting spot); Jaylen Suggs (injury-dependent)
• Phoenix: Colin Gillespie (bench-to-start only if top players miss time); plus “Osun/role-minutes” note and the Maluach angle
• Portland: Demetrious Morant; Tamani Kamara; Robbie Williams; Sterling Henderson; Jens rotation hinges
• Sacramento: Zach LaVine; Nick Claxton and other big/role uncertainty mentions; (Simmons only for deeper leagues)
• San Antonio / Ugh section: general “not strong” speculation
• Toronto: Jakob Pöltl (minute-based blocking upside); RJ Barrett (category contributor if starting and minutes stable)
• Utah: Daron Payne; Ace Bailey (host implies neither may start, but dart-throw upside exists)
• Washington: Keyshawn George (host expects him to start; offense usage lower but could still help in later rounds)

Key Risk Framing the Host Repeats

• You’re not drafting for week 1 stability—you’re drafting for minutes/role opportunities that can emerge via injury or rotation changes.
• Even if a player’s projection “isn’t impressive,” late-round upside may come from:
  • potential starts,
  • potential 25–30+ minute workloads,
  • category spikes (especially steals/blocks/assists),
  • and wider outcomes than mainstream “safer” picks.

Gamers / Sources Featured (as mentioned)

Podcast Host / Brand

• Podcast host: Josh Lloyd (Locked On Fantasy Basketball podcast)
• Podcast/brand sources referenced:
  • Locked On Fantasy Basketball / Locked On Podcast Network
  • FanDuel (sponsor)
  • Basketball Monster (presented by)
  • Gametime (sponsor)

Fantasy Ranking / ADP Sources Used

• Yahoo
• ESPN
• Fantrax

Other Named People / Mentions

• Shamit Dua (reporter referenced regarding New Orleans)
• A long list of players is referenced throughout (including Jusuf Nurkic, Walker Kessler, Keegan Murray, Jeremiah Fiers, Brandin Podziemski, Guy Santos, Jaylen Green, AJ Mitchell, Cam Johnson, Iago Dos Santos, Cam Maluach, Isaiah Jackson, Daniel Gafford, Yves Missi, and many others), with several name garbling issues noted in subtitles.

Monster Drop Contest Winners Mentioned

Aaron Smith; David Wimmer; Adebayo (first name garbled); Chuck Wood Academy; Dean Dobatin; Chester Wong; Max Wilson; Camden Anderson; Don Dang; Dominic Butalides; Miguel Hernandez; David Cho; Anthony Wong.