Week 9 - The way too early list of keepers I like....

Here’s my WAY too early list of potential keepers for 2022/23 (JBL 32).  As I’ve said here many times before, having a good crop of keepers heading into the Auction can set up teams for great success. So, ask yourself this, do I have great keepers for next season? By the way, the keeper deadline, as always, is All Star weekend. If you want to potentially protect a player for next season he must be on your roster by the Sunday midnight PST after the All-Star game (Sunday, February 20^th).

 

So, what makes a good keeper? I would say a couple things factor into who to keep for next season. First and foremost, do you like the player or enjoy watching him/his team play? Fantasy basketball is supposed to be fun so I do think this plays a small part. But be careful, don’t just keep someone because he’s on your favourite team. You have to use your head as much as your heart. Second, how much do you think you are saving in terms of what you would pay for the player as well as what you think the astute JBL owners would pay for that player? What is the players actual value versus how much you can protect him for? You should also consider category scarcity. If everyone is protecting shot-blockers and you are on the fence about your guy – maybe you should keep your shot-blocker too otherwise you’ll have to pay $33 bucks for someone like Isaiah Stewart. This can also backfire if you think there is a lack of big men in the auction so you protect Jusuf Nurkic instead of Tyrese Haliburton. So, there is no sure fire method I guess is what I’m saying. Do what you want!! HAHA

 

OK, enough about what I think makes a good keeper. Let’s get into some of the top keepers for 2022/23 (in my humble opinion). I’ll include their keeper price (add $5 to current JBL salary) as well as how many more years they can be protected (which should be a factor). Stats up to Dec 16/21.

 

1.    LaMelo Ball – Maui – keeper price = $22 dollars – 3 years

How good has he been? The numbers are elite at 20-8-8 with 55 stocks in 24 games. He’s shooting 39% from downtown on 7+ attempts per game. What does he go for at auction? $40? $50? More? An absolute gem and I’ve got him at #1 since he has another 3 years of protection availability. And just for comparison (cause you know I like those) – here’s another elite player/keeper – 26-8-8 with 33 stocks in 21 games while shooting 45/33. Who is better? LaMelo? Or his comparison – Luka Doncic?

 

2.    Kawhi Leonard – Bellingham - Keeper price = $7 bucks – 2 years

We all know what Kawhi can do when healthy. We’ve seen him go for over $50 bucks at auction. Maybe even $60+ if memory serves. The key word with Kawhi has always been ‘health’. We saw in 20/21 that a healthy Kawhi Leonard was able to help Brussels win his first ever JBL title. If he can come back healthy, then you’re getting a potential superstar at a fraction of the price. It means your $260 budget is really more like $300 bucks when you factor in the potential savings. He would be the #1 keeper if always healthy.

 

3.    Evan Mobley – Maui – keeper price = $17 – 4 years

Staying in Maui to create a potential dynamic duo with LaMelo we find ourselves looking at Evan Mobley. The Cavaliers have thrown him right into the fire and he’s responded with 14 and 8+ with almost 2 blocks a game. He can shoot (48%) and even his ATO is respectable for a rookie big man. Skies the limit for this kid I think.

 

4.    Scottie Barnes – Bangkok – keeper price = $14 – 4 years

Another outstanding rookie who could be on your team for another 4 seasons with $5 incremental salary bumps. Ummm, yes please. Averaging 15 and 8 with good stocks and shooting really well in TO. Plus, under Nick Nurse, as with most Raptors, he’s playing 36 minutes a night as a rookie!

 

5.    Cade Cunningham – Vancouver – keeper price = $20 bucks – 4 years

While his stats haven’t measured up to some of the other rookies this year, his potential is sky high and he appears to be figuring things out. He’s up to 16-6-5 with 43 stocks in 21 games. His 3PT% is climbing and he’s the cornerstone piece for a rebuilding Detroit franchise.

 

6.    Ja Morant – Chilliwack – keeper price = $27 bucks – 2 more years.

Good luck prying him away from the Wack as Benny must be drooling over the Ja/Luka potential pairing in 22/23. Before his injury, I felt like he was on his way to the MIP award. He’s averaging 24-6-7 while shooting 48/36 and most impressively finally started to get those steals (30 steals in 19 games). Plus he’s fun to watch and a nightly highlight reel.

 

7.    Robert Williams – Cali – keeper price = $14 bucks – 1 more year

The Timelord was actually projected very highly coming into this season. He hasn’t lived up to all the hype but is still averaging 9 and 8 while shooting almost 75% from the field. Add in 50 stocks in 20 games and he can be an anchor in the middle for any contending JBL team.

 

8.    Anthony Edwards – Bangkok - $19 – 3 more years

The kid is having a solid 2^nd season averaging 22ppg and almost 6 rebounds. The %’s are getting better and while the ATO isn’t the best he’s added 64 stocks in 28 games!! On many nights, he’s become the #1 scorer in Minnesota and we all know how valuable scoring can be in the JBL.

 

9.    Jakob Poeltl & Alperen Sengun – Brussels – keeper price = $16 and $10 – 1 year and 4 more years

Don’t shake your head at me. Brussels is defending champ and if I want to put 2 of his guys at #9 – I can do that – get your own blog. Mr. Poeltl already played an essential role in Brussels championship squad last season. And now, he’s even better. 12 and 9 and shooting over 60%. He’s averaging 1.6 blocks per game as well. The only downside is you’d only get to protect him for one more season. The upside play here is Mr. Sengun in Houston. I swear the Houston coaches have been told to limit his minutes because they aren’t playing him very much. The thing is, if you follow along on Twitter, everyone is saying he’s ALREADY their best player. The season long numbers are lower because he only plays 18 minutes per game. He’s averaging 9ppg, 5rebs, has 49 stocks in 27 games, shooting 50% and has a respectable ATO. And he’s doing that in 18 minutes!! The kid (aka The Gun) is a star in the making.

 

10. Bobby Portis – Juan de Fuca – keeper price $11 – 2 years

Another one you might not have seen coming but Crazy Eyes has been amazing this year. While Brook Lopez fades away into the sunset, Portis has taken full advantage of his opportunity and posted 16 and 9 with 45 stocks in 23 games. He’s also shooting 47% from the field and 41% from downtown (which is actually down from last season). He’s not the big sexy name but he’s providing value way above his JBL salary.

 

Honorable Mentions:

I’m going to include all the injured guys drafted at auction (or protected) who haven’t played yet.

So, I’m talking about Zion $30, Jamal Murray $15. Kyrie $22, Thomas Bryant $8 and Klay $15. All of these guys would go for way more than these salaries if they are healthy. But that’s the risk and reward factor. Can you really risk taking a chance on one of these guys and then get nothing from them? Getting a good keeper should be a major building block for your team in the coming year(s) so is it worth the risk keeping guys like this?

 

Anyways, there’s my annual way-too-early keeper ranks. I looked back over the Chronicles and it looks like I did keeper lists quite a bit – so I’m just keeping with tradition. And I know there are many more players worthy of protection. I see you Cole Anthony, Tyler Herro, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Trae Young, Terry Rozier, Richaun Holmes, Miles Bridges and on and on….

So - make sure you have yourself some guys you like for next season. Lots of time to still grab some - the deadline isn't until the NBA All Star break.