James Harden showed he still has gas in the tank. (Ken Blaze-Imagn Images)
This week, we learned that defending champion OKC will open the season at home against Houston; Boston has locked up Coach Joe Mazzulla to a long-term deal; and trouble keeps finding Malik Beasley, as he’s now been evicted from his apartment. Other Fantasy basketball stories we’re following include…
The Beard Is Back
The Los Angeles Clippers slipped slightly to 50 wins in 2024-25, but have made the playoffs in each of the last three campaigns. However, with three straight first round losses, frustration has been mounting for L.A.’s “other” NBA team.
In an effort to find a way to win in the playoffs, the team mixed things up this summer, signing veteran big man Brooks Lopez and guards Bradley Beal and Chris Paul, while trading for John Collins.
But perhaps their biggest move was to bring back James Harden after he opted out of the final season of his deal, worth US$36.3 million. His new two-year, US$81.5-million deal offers the team a bit more flexibility, as year two is a partially-guaranteed player option.
Had Harden chosen to explore the open market, he would have been one of the top free agents available. although not one without a history of drama.
Still, he enjoyed a strong comeback effort last season, even if his shooting touch has regressed in the last couple of years. Flashing skills from his Houston days (see video below), Harden averaged three treys for the first time since 2020-21 (yes, he took a hell of a lot more last season) and 1.5 steals for the first time since 2019-20, so he definitely showed that even at age 35 (turning 36 in a couple of weeks), he has plenty left in the tank. Hell, he’s also completed more four-point plays than anyone in NBA history, for what it’s worth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDq9ABeb18c
One of the best parts of Harden’s season was the fact he managed to play in his most games (79) since 2016-17, really only missing time periodically to rest. Durability has never been in the Beard’s toolbox, so this was very promising.
The third overall pick in 2019, he was lauded for his intangibles as a prospect, and while that’s been a good thing at times, it’s also caused headaches in some situations. But any concerns about his size (6’5”) at the two were overblown as it has not stopped him from posting 24.1 points, over seven assists and 5.6 boards over 1,151 NBA games.
Consider Harden a solid investment in the second round of your Fantasy draft.
Jaren Jackson Jr. to Honour Dad
After managing just 27 wins in 2023-24, the Memphis Grizzlies improved to 48 victories last year, a massive upgrade that would have rewarded you generously had you played those odds.
The team helped consolidate those gains by locking up young star Jaren Jackson Jr. to a five-year extension worth US$205 million. Memphis’ starting four – who plans to honour his father this season by switching from number 13 to 8 — wasn’t quite able to duplicate his breakout 2023-24, but still showed progress in some areas.
JJJ is definitely injury prone, having topped 74 games just once in his seven-year career, but has incrementally improved throughout his career.
Last season, he sunk more buckets than ever while returning to the two-trey per game level for the first time since his sophomore season in 2019-20. Jackson shot much better from beyond the arc, although he regressed slightly in assists, blocks and points.
While we’d love to see what he can if fully healthy, he remains a very strong pick at the start of the fourth round.
RotoRob Tune of the Day
Songwriter Donald McLean III was better known to the world simply as Don McLean. Here’s Part II of his seminal 1971 hit “American Pie.”