30 Late-Round Fliers from all 30 NBA teams in your fantasy draft

When you hit the later rounds of your fantasy basketball draft, it’s time to take some calculated risks. This is one of the key strategies I follow religiously that’s led me to win many leagues. Late rounds of drafts is where you can find those potential diamonds in the rough—players who could significantly outperform their draft position. After pick 120, it’s time to “get your guys.” If you’ve got a solid base of 8 ‘safe’ players, you can even start reaching earlier in the 105-110 range. Here’s a list of late-round fliers to consider, split into those worth drafting and those to monitor in a standard 168-player draft . Some of these players are also great handcuffs, so check out my previous article on that strategy if you haven’t already. Remember, these picks aren’t meant to be league-winners, but they have the opportunity to beat their draft position by many rounds. If they’re not trending well, don’t hesitate to drop them and scoop up hot free agents from the wire.

Atlanta Hawks: Dyson Daniels
Does he start at the 2? Possible. Does he get 25 minutes regardless? I’d tend to think so. With a fantasy skillset that includes defensive stats, rebounds, and assists, he’s definitely one to draft.

Boston Celtics: Al Horford
Horford will sit on back-to-backs, but with Porzingis possibly out until December, he’s one of the better late-round options on this team.

Brooklyn Nets: Noah Clowney, Ben Simmons
Two real gems here. Clowney could start at PF and deliver solid late-round value on a team possibly trying to capture the Flagg in the 2025 NBA Draft. Simmons is a high-risk, high-reward pick. If you grab him outside the top 120 and he plays 60 games while giving you 12-6-6, you’ve got a top-90 player. If not, you can drop him for a wire pickup.

Charlotte Hornets: Josh Green
Not many options here. I could have chosen Richards as a handcuff to Williams, but Josh Green might play 25 minutes and provide threes and steals. He’s more of a monitor than a draft.

Chicago Bulls: Patrick Williams
The $90 million man is likely starting at the 4 for Chicago. Williams has decent percentages and theoretical defensive stat potential. Monitor.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Caris LeVert
Cleveland hasn’t added anyone significant, and LeVert is the sixth-man handcuff I mentioned in my last piece. He offers back-end value as a sixth man and steps into a larger role when a starter misses time. If you draft Garland or Mitchell, consider picking LeVert late.

Dallas Mavericks: PJ Washington
Inconsistencies will always be there with PJ Washington, but after pick 120, his 12-5 with close to a block and a steal is solid.

Denver Nuggets: Russell Westbrook
Westbrook can still rack up rebounds and assists, and could have a larger role in Denver. He has some fantasy deficiencies, but he’s worth a late-round shot. If you draft Murray or Jokic, consider grabbing Westbrook late.

Detroit Pistons: Ausar Thompson
Assuming Thompson starts for this suddenly loaded Detroit team (not loaded to win, but with lots of bodies), his defensive stat potential alone makes him worth a draft pick.

Golden State Warriors: Trayce Jackson-Davis
Does he start? Does he get 25 minutes? If TJD gets 25 minutes, he’s standard league-worthy. Golden State has a crowded roster, but he’s worth a shot for his solid FG%, rebounds, and blocks.

Houston Rockets: Amen Thompson
Thompson is a high-upside pick, even with Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, and Reed Sheppard in the mix. A fantasy darling like his brother, last season, he was a top-100 player in just 27 minutes per game after February 1st. Even if we assume the worst and his minutes drop slightly(unlikely), he should still provide standard league value. If VanVleet misses time or Green's role diminishes, Thompson could significantly outperform his draft spot. He’s a great late-round gamble with plenty of upside.

Indiana Pacers: Jarace Walker
Does Walker get more minutes at the 3? He’s got a good fantasy skill set and high draft capital. Another one to consider is Isaiah Jackson as a handcuff to Myles Turner.

Los Angeles Clippers: Kevin Porter Jr.
Porter Jr. is a high-risk pick. He may get suspended or play limited minutes, but with Westbrook gone, there’s a potential role for him. Mo Bamba is another name to monitor if Zubac goes down.

Los Angeles Lakers: Max Christie
Not many options here, but Christie has a solid fantasy skillset with threes and defensive stats, so he’s worth keeping an eye on.

Memphis Grizzlies: Vince Williams Jr.
Another sixth-man handcuff with a decent fantasy skillset. If you draft Ja Morant or Desmond Bane, Williams is worth a late pick. Zach Edey is another excellent choice if available.

Miami Heat: Nikola Jovic
Could easily be Kel’el Ware, but I’d monitor who Miami’s starting 4 is in preseason and draft accordingly.

Milwaukee Bucks: Delon Wright
Wright is a solid defensive guard with a well-rounded fantasy game. If you draft Damian Lillard, consider Wright late; otherwise, monitor him.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Rob Dillingham
Dillingham was a top-8 pick for the Wolves and should slot in as Conley’s backup. If Conley misses time, Dillingham could see an increased role with threes, assists, and points.

New Orleans Pelicans: Yves Missi
Could have gone with Karlo Matković here. Monitor both in preseason and decide accordingly.

New York Knicks: Josh Hart
Hart is a sixth-man handcuff who should step into a bigger role if one of the starters misses time.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Cason Wallace
Not many options here, as OKC has a strong six-man core. Wallace would be the seventh man and has a good fantasy skill set with threes, steals, and assists. No need to draft, just monitor him.

Orlando Magic: Wendell Carter Jr.
Wendell Carter Jr., once known as the "Block Panther" in college, hasn’t carried that shot-blocking prowess into the NBA. If you don’t grab your big men early— as evidenced by the crunch in big men during the mock draft I participated in, hosted by Josh Lloyd—you might find yourself in need late in the draft. In that case, Carter Jr. is a solid pick for back-end value. While those blocks may never return, he’s still worth a shot as a late-round flier.

Philadelphia 76ers: Andre Drummond
The poster boy for handcuffing. If you’ve drafted Embiid, grab Drummond late.

Phoenix Suns: Tyus Jones
The presumed starter at PG, Jones would be back-end-worthy at the very least if he gets 25 minutes. He’s a solid source of assists and steals with good percentages.

Portland Trail Blazers: Donovan Clingan
Clingan is a top-7 pick with solid blocks, rebounds, and FG%. Yes, Ayton is in front of him, but I’d draft Clingan late and see how the season unfolds with Ayton.

Sacramento Kings: Malik Monk
Monk offers a solid boost of scoring and threes late in drafts. I project him to provide standard league value.

San Antonio Spurs: Jeremy Sochan
Sochan was a top-150 player after February 1st last year and should still start on this team, making him worth a late-round pick.

Toronto Raptors: Gradey Dick
Dick will likely take Trent’s spot from last year. He flashed some playmaking skills, though it will be tough to showcase that with Quickley, Barnes, and Barrett in the lineup. Still, he’s a solid source of threes late in the draft with some upside.

Utah Jazz: Taylor Hendricks
Hendricks should start for Utah and has a fantasy-friendly game, much like Noah Clowney in Brooklyn. Very interested in drafting him late.

Washington Wizards: Alex Sarr
The 0-for-15 shooting legend. If Sarr is available past pick 120, he’s an automatic selection. He’s the No. 2 pick on a team going nowhere, with a fantasy skillset reminiscent of a mini Jaren Jackson Jr. Sign me up everywhere!

Bottom Line: Late-round fliers aren't just about finding league winners—they're about securing players who can outplay their draft position and provide value beyond their pick. Whether you're snagging handcuffs, potential breakouts, or just solid contributors, the key is to stay flexible. Don't be afraid to take chances, but be ready to move on if things don't pan out. Remember, it's all about maximizing value each round of the draft!

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