12-Team Categories Fantasy Basketball Mock Draft from the 6th Pick: Building Around Cade Cunningham and Jalen Brunson
Morgan conducts his second fantasy basketball draft of the year, selecting sixth in a 12-team categories setup.
It's time for another fantasy basketball mock draft!
Here was my first mock draft of the year. This mock was done through the FantasyPros mock draft simulator.
This 12-team categories setup has me drafting from the sixth slot. There's 15 roster spots: a starter at point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, guard and forward, two centers and utility spots and then five bench slots.
Let's dive in!
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Round 1 - Cade Cunningham
I decided on Cunningham for my first-round pick.
I wanted to start my team off with a well-rounded player, and Cunningham is that. He averaged 26.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 9.1 assists last season. With 0.8 blocks and 1 steal per game, plus other good shooting percentages and marks, he's a great first-round pick to build around.
Round 2 - Jalen Brunson
I went with another point guard in round 2 with Brunson. He just felt like the best draft value.
He averaged 26 points, 2.9 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.1 blocks last year, so he's not super well-rounded but adding in good shooting percentages and some 3-point shooting makes him another nice early-round pick.
Round 3 - Evan Mobley
I debated taking Mobley in the second round, so he was a no-brainer pick here in the third round.
He averaged 18.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 blocks and 0.9 steals last season. He can stretch the floor a bit, and had better shooting percentages than Chet Holmgren, who was another good option in my eyes, so I went with the Cavs' big man.
Round 4 - Jalen Johnson
Johnson was another guy who caught my eye last round, so he was a pretty easy pick in the fourth.
He averaged 18.9 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 1.6 steals and 1 block across 36 games this past season before getting injured. Johnson is expected to be ready to go at the start of the regular season, and I'm hoping he can put some injury woes in the past and deliver a big fantasy season.
Johnson could be a guy who swings the fortunes of my fantasy season.
Round 5 - Myles Turner
I debated Desmond Bane here, but felt that center was the more pressing need for me, so I chose Turner instead.
He averaged 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2 blocks and 0.8 steals last season with Indiana, along with posting pretty good shooting percentages, and being able to stretch the floor a bit. I see him thriving alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, so I'm loving this pick.
Round 6 - Jimmy Butler III
I decided to take Butler here, which rounds out my starting forwards already.
He averaged 17.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and assists, 1.4 steals and 0.3 blocks a game, so that's some well-rounded production that I love in a category setup. Butler shoots it well, but isn't a big 3-point threat, so I'll need to chase that stat a bit going forward.
Round 7 - Darius Garland
I debated Coby White here, but landed on Garland instead.
He averaged 20.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 0.1 blocks and 1.2 steals per game a season ago. The difference in assists and overall shooting percentage is why I took Garland over White, even if it fills a utility spot over an actual position.
Round 8 - Coby White
White was still around in round 8, so I decided to take him here.
He averaged 20.4 points, 3.7 rebounds. 4.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.2 blocks per game. He's another good 3-point asset, and fills out my guard spots, as he can fill the SG spot.
Round 9 - Zach LaVine
The guards just keep falling, so I keep scooping them up. Here, I got LaVine, which I view as a draft steal.
LaVine averaged 23.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.2 blocks per game a season ago. Add in good 3-point shooting and shooting percentages overall and I really like LaVine's value here.
Round 10 - Devin Vassell
If it's not clear by now, centers and big men are flying off the draft boards, and instead of reaching, I'm just stacking my lineup with guards and forwards instead.
Here I land Vassell, who averaged 16.3 points, 4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.4 blocks per game last season. He's another good 3-point threat, but has some lower shooting percentages.
Round 11 - Wendell Carter Jr.
I finally decided to reach on a center to fill out my starting lineup.
Carter averaged 9.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks last season. He's not a big 3-point threat, but fills the stat sheet pretty well and shoots respectable percentages from the floor.
Round 12 - Keegan Murray
I needed more depth at forward, so I went with Murray.
He averaged 12.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.8 assists, so those aren't bad numbers to have coming off the bench. Murray can add 3-point value, and has pretty solid overall shooting percentages.
Round 13 - Kyle Filipowski
With everyone starting to get guards and forwards again, it allowed some centers to stick on the board finally. Filipowski gives me a little center depth.
He averaged 9.6 points. 6.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.3 blocks per game in 2024-25. Filipowski adds some 3-point value and shoots a good percentage from the field. Most importantly though, he's an option at power forward and center.
Round 14 - P.J. Washington Jr.
Washington is another player who is eligible at a couple spots (power forward and small forward), so it makes sense to add him for a bench guy.
He averaged 14.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocks and steals, so those are pretty well-rounded numbers. I see Washington as a draft steal and big-time draft value, as he also is a 3-point threat.
Round 15 - Zaccharie Risacher
Risacher is eligible at three spots (shooting guard, small forward, power forward) so he's another versatile piece to have on my bench.
He averaged 12.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks as a rookie, and I'm hoping he can build on that this coming year. Risacher is another 3-point threat, and I'm hoping he'll increase his shooting percentages, which will help offset the presence of Johnson in Atlanta.
Final Thoughts
The FantasyPros simulator gave me a B+ grade for this draft. That ranks third among the 12 teams.
My draft steals were Garland, White and LaVine, while Carter was my only big reach.
My starters grade out as the fourth-best in the league, while my bench guys were ranked the third-best.
I feel pretty confident in my guards and forwards, and despite not landing a ton of centers early, I graded out well there too. I definitely think I'd entertain trading a guard or forward for a center before the season started.
I could package a couple players and go after a really good center. With enough other depth on this team, I feel I could add a solid player off the waiver wire and then be the favorite going into the season.
Overall though, I'm pretty pleased with this mock draft. Be sure to get mock drafts in before the season to feel prepared for your league's fantasy draft!
Keep checking back for more fantasy basketball coverage from FantasySP! We'll increase our coverage as the regular season nears, and then be with you all regular season!
