Fantasy tips by Leksas: Seven recommendations for the EuroLeague's first round / News - Basketnews.com
Credit BNS, D.Repečka, Imago images, Passion2Press - Scanpix | BasketNews.lt illustration/E.Alšauskas The Euroleague starts next week, along with it - BasketNews Fantasy, where participants are invited to compete in the Classic game mode.
BasketNews journalist Jonas Leksas presents seven players who could bring the most bang-for-the-buck before the first round of the EuroLeague. These inexpensive players could help you fill out your roster alongside established EuroLeague stars.
After completing the first round, you will be able to make up to three substitutions, depending on the changing player prices and their opponents. Keep in mind that you start the game with 9 million. It is, therefore, crucial to increase the budget as much as possible during the first rounds.
Detailed rules of BasketNews Fantasy Classic mode can be found here.
Guards
Elie Okobo (ASVEL Villeurbanne) Price: 550,000
Credit AP – Scanpix "Who is he?" last season's fantasy league winner Karolis Tiskevicius asked during the live BasketNews League draft. While still relatively unknown, Frenchman came to replace Norris Cole and could be a prominent player in the EuroLeague.
1.91 m player was selected 31st overall in the 2018 NBA Draft after a successful season with Elan Bearnais, Pau Ortez. Although his NBA career did not pan out, pre-season games with the ASVEL show that he could have a significant role on the team.
550,000 shouldn't be the amount that scares you, and the first-round opponents Zalgiris Kaunas are not demonstrating the defense that could lock up Okobo, who will soon be celebrating his 24th birthday.
Marial Shayok (Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul) Price: 700,000
Credit AFP-Scanpix Another EuroLeague debutant with NBA experience. This year, Fenerbahce have assembled a very deep roster, and it is still difficult to gauge where Alexandar Djordjevic sees the Canadian. But Shayok has enough talent to prove himself in the EuroLeague, and that's a fact.
Last season with Bursa's Frutti Extra, the 1.98 m athlete demonstrated a versatile game - 18.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists.
Shayok can play both the second and third positions and produced double-digit performances in pre-season games. So 700,000 price is worth the risk, especially with Crvena Zvezda Belgrade as his first opponent in round one.
Marcus Eriksson (ALBA Berlin) Price: 850,000
Credit BasketNews.lt/D. Lukšta This one is more like the EuroLeague's wolf. The 27-year-old Swede is ready to start his fifth season, and his role could be unprecedented.
Eriksson has averaged 10.7 EFF in the EuroLeague over the past two years, but his play in pre-season games - Eriksson was a clear team leader - could be a signal of more offensive production.
Although ALBA's first opponent will be FC Barcelona with their league-leading team defense, the motivation against a former team makes us suggest this investment.
Lukas Lekavicius (Zalgiris Kaunas) Price: 900,000
Credit Basketnews.lt/Dainius Lukšta Last year, the defender didn't always seem to get involved in Martin Schiller's game schemes, but he was the only one left on the team from the main perimeter players this summer, so he will have to take the lead at least at the beginning of the season.
Pre-season games and first official matches showed that the diminutive guard is ready to take on more responsibilities and, maybe, even have a career year. Until now, the most successful season was 2019-20, when he averaged 10.5 points and 10.2 EFF.
Zalgiris' first opponent will be ASVEL, whom Lekavicius enjoyed playing against - 17 points and 16.5 EFF in two games last season.
Forwards
Alpha Diallo (AS Monaco) Price: 300,000
Credit USA Today Sports – Scanpix Monaco made eyebrow-raising moves just before the start of the EuroLeague, with Mike James, Donatas Motiejunas, Danilo Andjusic, and Will Thomas taking center stage in the French Riviera. However, league rookie Diallo should also find his place.
Last season in the Greek league, he averaged 12.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game and already managed to have flashes in pre-season games.
The first opponent for Dialo will be Panathinaikos OPAP Athens, whose coach Dimitris Priftis did not want to see Diallo on his team. The motivation of the 24-year-old athlete will be apparent, and the 300,000 seems ridiculously low for a player of such potential.
Sasha Vezenkov (Olympiacos Piraeus) Price: 1,100,000
Credit BasketNews/D.Repečka The Bulgarian, who had a breakthrough season last year, does not intend to slow down and is ready to become the leader of Olympiacos.
Vezenkov just turned 26 and will play his seventh EuroLeague season. He has the experience, and this year, he has great partners on the team, pick & roll genius Kostas Sloukas, and the amazing task performer Thomas Walkup.
The 2.06 m athlete is the most expensive player on this list, but watching his play in friendly matches shows that 20 EFF will be reached more than once this season. We wouldn't rule such a possibility already in the first round at home against Baskonia Vitoria.
Center
Filip Petrusev (Anadolu Efes Istanbul) Price: 500,000
Credit Milano Olimpia nuotr. The Serbian heard his name called in this year's NBA Draft, but the American dream will have to wait another year. This season he will have to prove his worth on the EuroLeague champions team.
Petrusev, who replaced Sertac Sanli, was one of the most productive players with the Serbian national team and during Anadolu Efes pre-season games. Last year, the 21-year-old's play earned him the MVP of the Adriatic League (28.1 EFF). Sports commentator Robertas Petrauskas believes in Petrusev's potential so much that he picked him in the second round of the BasketNews Fantasy draft!
The biggest concern regarding Petrusev is how much trust will he receive from Ergin Ataman? However, the supply of centers in the game is relatively narrow, and 500,000 price seems logical even knowing that Real Madrid, which has the most threatening front line, is waiting for Petrusev in the first round.
You can start playing here: BasketNews Euroleague Fantasy.
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