Eric Karabell's 'Do Draft' list includes Randle, Castle, Reaves

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  Eric KarabellSep 29, 2026, 06:39 AM ET

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  Eric Karabell is a senior writer covering fantasy football, baseball and basketball at ESPN. Eric is a charter member of the FSWA Hall of Fame, a BBWAA baseball Hall of Fame voter and author of "The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments."

When the much-maligned Julius Randle was the best player for the New York Knicks, before, you know, they eagerly jettisoned him toward the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade and won an NBA championship, he was one of the more underrated fantasy options around. I would marvel at how Randle consistently would be available outside the top 50 of drafts, despite numbers that clearly warranted better. After all, in our game, the numbers are what matters.

Remember, starting with the 2020-21 season, when Randle earned the league's Most Improved Player award, he averaged 23.2 PPG, 10.0 RPG and 5.1 APG for three Knicks seasons. He was durable, appearing in 71 or more games each season, and he led the league with 37.6 MPG that first year. No, we didn't always enjoy the shooting and turnovers, but this wasn't a top 25 option in drafts, either. Randle earned two All-Star selections, and from a fantasy aspect, routinely outperformed his ADP in fantasy drafts.

Get ready for more of that version of Randle, because the Timberwolves dumped his contract on the Brooklyn Nets this offseason, and the big numbers are coming back. They must! The Nets, if you haven't noticed, are not exactly loaded. Randle and Michael Porter Jr. will get all the usage they desire. They will score the points and, assuming they feel like it, garner myriad rebounds, too. Randle should feel like it. His usage will skyrocket. The Nets may not win much, but fantasy managers don't care. Randle, 31, should deliver the solid statistics we recall from his Knicks days and, looking at early ADP, few seem terribly interested.

Randle's efforts haven't always helped his NBA teams to much success -- the Knicks won a single playoff series in his five seasons, he played a lesser role for last season's Timberwolves, and he missed the playoffs with the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans -- but the numbers helped us, the greedy fantasy managers. Randle is a top 50 fantasy option, but sans that level of draft day commitment. Go get him.

Welcome to the latest "Do Draft" list for fantasy basketball. I do this every season, highlighting players I feel warrant earlier attention as related to their general ADP. We know ADP varies by site, but we can tell who potential managers target and those they do not. Consider durability, age, role and other factors, of course, but sometimes the risk is worth the reward. In addition to Randle, here are others that should be getting picked earlier in drafts.

James Harden, PG/SG, Cleveland Cavaliers: We are seeing a larger range of ADP possibilities than typical for Harden but, even if goes early in Round 2, he is worth it! Harden, 37, has never really failed to produce numbers. Worried about durability? He played in more than 70 games each of the past three seasons. He scores, passes, hits free throws and plays.

Jalen Johnson, PF, Atlanta Hawks: Johnson took a big step forward last season when he averaged 22.5 PPG, 10.3 RPG and 7.9 APG. A certain Denver Nuggets MVP center is the only other player to achieve all those numbers. I aim to build fantasy teams around point guards and power forwards, and when the power forward piles on assists as well and tends to slip to Round 2, that is special.

Domantas Sabonis, C/PF, Sacramento Kings: As with Randle, Sabonis may not play for a team expected to win much, but that's not our problem. Sabonis is a three-time rebounding champion who scores 19 PPG each season and contributes more assists than most every frontcourt option. You may need to secure his services in Round 2, but that is reasonable considering his talent.

Alperen Sengun, C, Houston Rockets: Sengun isn't Nikola Jokic either, but any player averaging 20 PPG, 9 RPG and 6 APG is a building block option. I have seen Sengun fall in several drafts, mocks and otherwise, and it is a mistake.

Evan Mobley, PF/C, Cleveland Cavaliers: OK, so it is time for me to stop predicting Mobley, still only 25, will finally emerge to average 20 PPG and 10 RPG. He probably could do so on most teams, but instead he delivers solid, consistent numbers just short of that, along with blocked shots. Only 13 players averaged 1.5 BPG last season, and a certain San Antonio Spurs future MVP center was the only one to average both more points and rebounds than Mobley. This is a solid fourth-round selection.

Ivica Zubac, C, Indiana Pacers: Face it, Zubac simply had a lost season for the Clippers and Pacers. However, nobody hauled in more rebounds during the 2024-25 campaign. Zubac routinely piles on rebounds, shoots 60% from the field and before last season when circumstances dictated otherwise, he played regularly. I'm not sure if I like the current aggressive Tyrese Haliburton ADP coming off a torn Achilles (though he may pile on the assists like Trae Young, in theory), but Zubac after the top 50 is solid.

Austin Reaves, SG/PG, Los Angeles Lakers: Some will question if Reaves, the team's No. 2 option after a certain Hall of Famer (the leading scorer in NBA history) left town for Philadelphia, will improve on his numbers. Must he improve them? Reaves scores, rebounds, passes and hits 3-pointers, and good luck finding a volume 3-point option shooting 49% overall from the field.

Stephon Castle, PG/SG, San Antonio Spurs: Castle's numbers in Year 2 showed growth in every aspect, and even with the likely emergence of barely younger Dylan Harper, we should expect more production ahead, especially for scoring and 3-point shooting. Castle is a responsible guard who rebounds and steals. When he starts shooting more, we should get 20 PPG, too.

Darius Garland, PG, LA Clippers: I constantly covet point guards who slip in drafts, and Garland's early ADP figures are lacking. There is little reason why, on this team, he cannot return to his days of 20-plus PPG and 7.5 APG, with steals and 3-pointers. Pass in Round 5, but Garland is going considerably later than that and it makes little sense.

Kel'el Ware, C, Milwaukee Bucks: Ware's second season went better than the first, as he flirted with averaging a double-double, he shot well and he contributed blocked shots and steals, but his role wasn't fluid. In fact, Ware averaged barely 22 MPG. That number should go way up with the rebuilding Bucks, who covet his defensive presence. Honestly, by the time we get to Round 8 or so, ADP doesn't matter much to me. If you really want a player and it is that late, don't wait!

Naz Reid, C/PF, Charlotte Hornets: As with Randle, Reid is no longer competing with selfish Timberwolves C Rudy Gobert for rebounds. Reid is a Hornet, and while we shouldn't expect double-digit rebounds, Reid is a 3-point option with scoring upside.

Several Memphis Grizzlies: The Ja Morant era has (mercifully) ended. Other than awesome rookie Cameron Boozer (I generally fade first-year players, since someone always jumps too early in drafts), who scores the points? I have doubts about C Zach Edey ever staying healthy, but his ADP reflects said risk. Sophomore SF/SG Cedric Coward is capable of 20 PPG and 8 RPG. PG/SG Scotty Pippen Jr. may average 15 PPG and 7 APG. Even PG/SG Ty Jerome, a popular sleeper but perhaps a bit too coveted in drafts, should deliver solid numbers. Remember, even bad teams produce points, boards and assists.

Others to acquire in the latter rounds: Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Sacramento Kings; Jaime Jaquez Jr., SF/SG, Milwaukee Bucks; Jakob Poeltl, C, Toronto Raptors; Collin Gillespie, PG, Phoenix Suns; Jeremiah Fears, SG/PG, New Orleans Pelicans; Egor Demin, PG/SG, Brooklyn Nets; Cason Wallace, SG/PG, Oklahoma City Thunder; Day'Ron Sharpe, C, Brooklyn Nets.