To help fantasy basketball managers prepare for dynasty drafts in 2025-26, here are rankings for the ninth round.
2025 20th overall pick Kasparas Jakucionis is a combo guard out of Illinois who adds backcourt security to the Miami Heat. While the 19-year-old may not be a consistent presence in the starting lineup right out of the gate, he has a lot of upside. He provides scoring, playmaking, rebounding and three-point shooting, but struggles with field goal consistency.
Two seasons ago, Cam Thomas established himself as an offensive leader on the Brooklyn Nets. The shooting guard dazzled managers with his scoring and range. While Thomas’s game is better suited for point leagues, he has increased his assists and rebounds. Poor field goal percentage is a product of the 23-year-old’s high volume attempts, and he’s struggled to stay healthy.
Christian Braun took a massive jump up the rankings thanks to his new starting role. In that position, he set new career highs across the board. The shooting guard stood out most in points, rebounds, steals, blocks and turnovers with efficient shooting splits. Following his breakout, the 24-year-old should continue to receive a heavy workload.
Coming off a career season and his best fantasy finish, Jaden McDaniels’s value is on the rise. The forward stands out most on the defensive end through his stocks and rebounds. Offensively, he also provides some scoring on decent percentages. The 24-year-old’s biggest problem has always been his inconsistency.
Since entering the league in 2022, Shaedon Sharpe has continuously improved. The guard’s calling card is his scoring, as he lacks versatility. Although he can make smaller impacts in rebounds, assists, steals and threes. The 22-year-old figures to be a significant part of the Portland Trail Blazers’ future.
It’s unfortunate to see former No. 1 overall fantasy player Joel Embiid fall so far. Due to injuries, it’s unlikely he’ll ever be the same. His health and availability raise major concerns, making the 31-year-old a risky dynasty pick. In limited action last season, the big man was still a good contributor, but his numbers were a shadow of what they used to be.
RJ Barrett’s first full season with the Toronto Raptors saw him set new personal bests in multiple categories. However, the forward’s profile is better suited for points leagues due to his poor shooting percentages and turnovers. The 25-year-old can also be up and down at times. Aside from that, Barrett provides good points, assists, rebounds, steals and threes.
The Trail Blazers are embracing their rebuild, and Toumani Camara should be a key part of their future. The 25-year-old’s role has increased each season in Portland, and he earned a starting job last year. Camara is a defensive-minded forward with a developing offensive game. He can pile up stocks and rebounds and has shown potential as a scorer and three-point shooter.
Some have called Egor Demin a boom-or-bust prospect, but he’ll get the chance to prove himself on the Brooklyn Nets. However, he’ll be playing in a crowded backcourt. The point guard’s strongest category is assists, and he also utilizes his size to his advantage, being active on the glass. Shooting and defence are the biggest points of development for the 19-year-old.
Brandin Podziemski‘s first two seasons in the NBA have been frustrating for managers. His lack of a consistent role results in a limited fantasy impact. However, he’s fairly versatile despite his numbers not jumping off the page, and his value can increase if his minutes rise. The 22-year-old doesn’t hurt any category much, except for blocks and field goal percentage.
The Sacramento Kings’ trio of stars leaves Keegan Murray as the fourth option. The 25-year-old is still a solid option in the later rounds, but his upside, especially offensively, is limited with the team’s current roster construction. The forward is a 3-and-D player whose playmaking and shooting from the floor are the main weaknesses in his game.
Jabari Smith Jr. may have fallen out of the starting lineup for the Houston Rockets, but he still holds dynasty appeal. The talent is there, and once he finds a solid role and improves his consistency, he can climb up the fantasy rankings. The 22-year-old can contribute points, rebounds, blocks and threes, with assists and steals being his downfalls.
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