Darius Bazley

Bazley's impressive play in the NBA bubble two seasons ago led to many fantasy managers taking a gamble on him with a late pick last season. That didn't pay off. Bazley saw plenty of action (31.2 minutes per game) but he struggled with his shot and was woefully inefficient. He averaged 13.7 points but shot 39.6 percent from the field, 29.0 percent from three and 70.2 percent from the free-throw line. That led to 0.98 points per shot attempt -- in just the ninth percentile for players classified as forwards. However, on a positive note, his free-throw rate (3.2 attempts per game) was nice for someone who often relied on jumpshooting, and his rebounding (7.2 boards per game) was also productive. Despite his struggles, the 21-year-old's role isn't in too much jeopardy, as the Thunder remain committed to tanking and didn't add any frontcourt depth. Bazley will only really be competing with Isaiah Roby and Aleksej Pokusevski for minutes, and he should remain the starter at power forward. He'll need to take massive leaps in efficiency to be worth a roster spot in fantasy, however.

Bazley saw instant opportunity after being selected by the Thunder with the 23rd overall selection in June 2019. The rookie forward ultimately played 61 regular-season games (nine starts) during the shortened campaign, producing 5.6 points and 4.0 rebounds across 18.5 minutes, numbers followed up by averages 6.6 points and 6.7 rebounds across 18.0 minutes in a seven-game quarterfinal-round series versus the Rockets. Just 20 years of age after entering the league straight out of high school, Bazley naturally has an abundance of room for development, and the rebuilding Thunder figure to give him all the minutes he can handle in order to achieve that objective. At 6-foot-8, Bazley will likely continue filling out his frame for several years, which should allow him to improve his work on the glass. The Princeton High School (OH) alum also has some floor spacer in him, having netted 34.8 percent of his 2.3 three-point attempts per game as a rookie. Having gained valuable experience last season, Bazley could conceivably take a significant step forward this coming season with the Thunder having divested itself of high-usage veterans such as Chris Paul, Dennis Schroder, Danilo Gallinari and Steven Adams.

Bazley's journey to the NBA was an unconventional one. He originally committed to play at Syracuse as a five-star recruit out of high school before electing to bypass college and play in the G League. He then elected to bypass the G League and interned at New Balance to go along with his endorsement deal. Even though he spent a year away from competitive basketball, Bazley's physical tools are enough for him to remain an intriguing prospect. At 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot wingspan, Bazley boasts the frame of a prototypical versatile forward in today's NBA, but he has a long way to go as a fairly raw prospect. Given the number of versatile athletes Oklahoma City already has on its roster, it may be a year or two before Bazley becomes a reliable contributor at the next level. He was also underwhelming at summer league, averaging 4.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 blocks across 21.7 minutes in four appearances.