Below are André Snellings' Pacific Division player profiles for the 2018-19 season.
For all other player outlooks, click here.
For sortable player projections, click here.
Click on a team to view their player profiles below:
Golden State Warriors
LA Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers
Phoenix Suns
Sacramento Kings
Golden State Warriors
Durant just about broke the high-volume scoring/efficiency scale in his first season with the Golden State Warriors, and though he regressed slightly in Year 2, he still turned in a higher field goal percentage (51.6 FG%) than any he logged with the Thunder, and his 41.9 percent shooting behind the arc was just behind his best mark from Oklahoma City (42.2 3FG% on 3.1 attempts/game in 2008-09) but on almost twice the volume (6.1 attempts/game). Durant remains one of the most naturally gifted scorers in NBA history, and with all of the attention garnered by his Warriors teammates, he has been able to improve his efficiency as well as his peripheral categories (5.5 APG, 2.5 3PG, 1.8 BPG, 6.8 RPG) to solidify himself as a top-10 points-based performer with No. 1 overall upside in roto.
Curry battled injuries last season, which held him to 51 games, his fewest since the 2011-12 season. When he was on the court, he was his usual self, though, and in the Kevin Durant era, Curry has settled in with consistent averages of 25.7 PPG (47.8 FG%, 90.8 FT%), 6.4 APG, 4.7 RPG, 4.1 3PG and 1.7 SPG with little variance the past two campaigns. When healthy, he is a top-10 points-based talent with No. 1 overall upside in roto.
The Warriors, as a group, settled into their roles in their second season with Kevin Durant, and Green was no exception. His volume averages last season were similar across the board to what he produced during the 2016-17 season (11.0 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.3 BPG, 1.4 SPG, 1.1 3PG), but both his field goal percentage (45.4 FG%) and his free throw percentage (77.5 FT%) improved dramatically to give him top-15 roto upside to go with his top-25 points-based credentials.
Thompson is coming off his fourth straight season averaging 20-plus PPG on at least 46.0 FG% and 83 FT% with at least 3.1 made 3PG on 41.0 3FG% or better. His other numbers, such as rebounds, assists, blocks and steals, are similarly consistent, if not quite as impressive, and he is a clear top-40 roto prospect, even though his points-based ranking is limited by his lack of volume outside of scoring.
Cousins was in the conversation for No. 1 overall producer in both points-based and roto leagues last season before he tore his Achilles tendon to end his season. He is expected to miss some portion of the upcoming season while recovering and has signed on for a much lesser role with the Warriors, even when he's healthy. The Warriors have a clearly established hierarchy of scoring, so when Cousins does return, he should see much smaller volume scoring opportunities than he is used to, though he still has solid rebound and defensive stat potential. His healthy upside looks more like top-100 in points-based leagues this season, which is a big step down but still worthy of consideration if his health doesn't scare you off.
Bell had some solid moments in his rookie season but is expected to have a much larger role early as a sophomore as the potential starting center until DeMarcus Cousins returns from his Achilles injury. Bell is undersized but athletic for a center, and on the fast-paced Warriors, he has decent potential to flirt with double-digit scoring while packing solid defensive and peripheral numbers. He might not be quite draft-worthy, but he is worth considering and/or keeping an eye on in deeper leagues.
LA Clippers
Williams stepped into the vacuum in the LA Clippers' backcourt created by the departure of Chris Paul last offseason and responded with the best season of his career at 31 years old, taking home the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award. His shot opportunities were very similar before (16.8 FGA, 6.2 FTA) and after (17.1 FGA, 6.2 FTA) the All-Star break, which indicates that Williams maintained his primary role through the regime change from Blake Griffin to Tobias Harris and crew. Williams should thus have the opportunity to play well again this season, though if Avery Bradley is healthy as the starter, he could potentially eat slightly into Williams' opportunity and push him to the lower-end of the top 50 in points-based leagues, though he remains a top-30 talent in roto league.
Tobias Harris
Harris responded well to becoming a primary offensive option for the Clippers after the trade from Detroit, as his shots increased (would-be career-high 16.0 FGA with the Clippers), his shooting percentage also improved to 47.3 FG%, and he improved to 3.1 APG during those 32 games. Harris projects to again be the primary scorer in the starting lineup and could be in for a career season, earning top-40 consideration in both points-based and roto leagues.
Avery Bradley
Bradley was a less-heralded part of the package that the Pistons sent to the Clippers in exchange for Blake Griffin, as most focused on Tobias Harris. However, the Clippers thought highly enough of Bradley to extend him with a $25 million contract even after an injury-filled season. When healthy, Bradley has proved to be capable of averaging mid-to-upper teens scoring while knocking down the trey, playing strong on-ball defense and even contributing on the glass as needed. This combo of skills gives him fantasy starter upside when healthy, but his history of injury could be enough for him to slide to the end of some drafts.
Beverley tore the meniscus in his right knee early and had to sit out most of last season, but he should return healthy this season. He is a tough, defensive-minded guard with the ability to score in the low double digits and contribute in 3-point shooting and steals in addition to modest contributions to rebounds and assists. Beverley may have to battle rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander along with Milos Teodosic and even Lou Williams for minutes, which limits his upside to being draftable in roto leagues but more of a wait-and-see option in points-based leagues.
Gallinari is a strong fantasy contributor ... when he's healthy. Unfortunately, he has missed at least 19 games due to injury in five of his last six full-length seasons, and he missed a whopping 61 games due to a combo of injuries last season. When healthy, Gallinari is a plus-scorer with good 3-point range and modest contributions to rebounds and assists. However, his injury history relegates him to late-draft status in most fantasy formats.
Harrell got a big boost in opportunity down the stretch of last season after the Blake Griffin trade and the various injuries to the Clippers' front line. He responded by averaging 14.6 PPG (65.8 FG%, 62.1 FT%), 4.3 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.6 BPG and 0.5 SPG in 20.2 MPG in 26 games after the All-Star break. Harrell will have to compete with new acquisition Marcin Gortat for minutes in the middle, but he's shown enough ability to be productive in a bench role that he is worth at least consideration to be drafted in fantasy leagues.
Marcin Gortat
Gortat joined the Clippers this offseason and projects to start in place of the departed DeAndre Jordan. Gortat is a bit better as a scorer than Jordan, and though he's not the rebounder that Jordan is, he did average a double-double during the 2016-17 season. That double-double upside is worthy of draft consideration in both points-based and roto leagues, especially if he can push his scoring average into the low/mid-double digits as he has done four times in his career.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Gilgeous-Alexander was the first of the two lottery talents that the Clippers brought in from the 2018 NBA draft (along with Jerome Robinson), and based on the buzz from Las Vegas, he was the more impressive of the two. His 6-foot-6 height makes him a unique point guard prospect, and he projects as a cross-category contributor, but he may not have the minutes to make him fantasy draftable just yet.
Los Angeles Lakers
James is still the best player in the NBA, so his migration this offseason from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Los Angeles Lakers changed the entire landscape of the NBA. It also changes James' fantasy fortunes, as he goes from a team in desperate "win now!" mode to a young team that is trying to put it together. Thus, James seems likely to back off from the league-leading 3,026 minutes that he played last season to more of the 2,500-2,800 minutes he had averaged in the previous three seasons. Also, the Lakers have two high-volume distributing point guards on the roster, which suggests that James might be more finisher and less distributor this season than he has been in years past. No matter his role, he remains a surefire first-round fantasy pick even in his 16th season in the NBA.
Ball was one of the most hyped rookies to enter the NBA last season, in large part due to his bombastic father and his much publicized lack of a jump shot. However, the swirling media circus and the injuries that cost him 30 games obscured that he was playing outstanding basketball in a unique style unseen since the days of Jason Kidd. Ball's rookie production suggests the possibility of him approaching averages near a triple-double with two 3-pointers, two steals and a blocked shot per game. Even if his shooting percentages remain low, that type of all-around upside should take him off the board in the early portion of fantasy drafts.
Ingram was the second overall pick in the 2016 draft, and last season at age 20, he started to show his potential with averages of 16.1 PPG (47.0 FG%, 68.1 FT%), 5.3 RPG, 3.9 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.7 BPG and 0.7 3PG. Ingram slides into a secondary scorer role with the arrival of LeBron James, but he should also see easier shots than ever as opponents focus on James. Ingram will also be playing with some combination of three outstanding playmakers (James, Lonzo Ball and Rajon Rondo) who should also put him in position to score efficiently even if his own budding assist numbers suffer a bit as a result. Ingram projects as a midround prospect with upside, this season.
Rajon Rondo
Rondo had been a journeyman during the past several seasons since leaving the Boston Celtics but seemed to have found a home last season with the New Orleans Pelicans. Rondo's on-court leadership, especially after DeMarcus Cousins went down and in the playoffs, was credited for a lot of the Pelicans' team success. However, he played his fewest minutes since his rookie season and continued to settle into a firmly secondary role as a fantasy producer. This season, that trend looks to continue as the Lakers might depend upon his leadership and experience even as his minutes dwindle behind Lonzo Ball, who is in many ways a younger, more talented version of Rondo himself. Rondo projects as barely draft-worthy in points-based leagues, and though his assists could be a boon in roto leagues, his percentages and lack of volume anywhere else could land him on more waiver wires than rosters to start the season.
Kuzma was a late first-round pick in 2017 who surprised everyone, taking a hot start in the Las Vegas Summer League and using that as a springboard to an excellent season that earned him first-team All-Rookie honors. Kuzma started roughly half of the games that he played last season, and it is unclear whether he will start or come off the bench this season behind potential starting forwards LeBron James and Brandon Ingram. Either way, Kuzma should get starter minutes and projects as a near 20 PPG scorer with plus contributions in 3-pointers and rebounds that make him an early-to-midround prospect in fantasy leagues.
Caldwell-Pope was solid in his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging career-bests in field goal percentage (42.6 FG%), 3-pointers (2.1 3PG), rebounds (5.2 RPG) and steals (1.4 SPG) with a decent 13.4 PPG scoring average. KCP could start again this season, but he faces competition from second year player Josh Hart, veteran point guard Rajon Rondo and even Brandon Ingram, as players who could get time at the shooting guard slot. As such, his upside is limited enough that he projects as either a late-round draft pick or perhaps a free agent to keep an eye on in fantasy leagues.
Phoenix Suns
Booker continued his positive career trajectory last season, averaging career highs with 24.9 PPG (43.2 FG%, 87.8 FT%), 4.5 RPG, 4.7 APG and 2.7 3PG to vault into the top 25 of both points-based and roto leagues. He is still only 21 years old, which gives him even more upside in Year 4, though he underwent surgery on his shooting hand Sept. 10 and likely will miss at least the first couple of weeks of the season.
Ayton, a giant but athletic center with legitimate 20 and 10 upside even as a rookie, was the top pick in the 2018 NBA draft. It is unclear whether Ayton will get full starter minutes from the jump, or whether he may instead cede early minutes to Tyson Chandler as he is developed, but Ayton has impact ability and should produce sooner rather than later. Based on his talent, he has clear top-40 upside in points leagues. The questions of how many minutes he'll get and how soon are the only things keeping him from early-round consideration.
Warren is another young player on the Suns who has improved significantly in each season of his career, up to career-best marks of 19.6 PPG (49.8 FG%) and 5.1 RPG last season. He has missed 16 and 17 games during the past two seasons, so health has been a question mark, but he enters Year 5 with upside to move past the 20 PPG threshold and earn a slot as a top-75 points-based prospect with top-50 roto upside.
Jackson was the fourth overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft and had a solid overall rookie season with some good highs but also some poor lows. Questions exist over his shot selection, his ability to fit into an offense while maintaining high levels of defense, and even his physique as a thin, 6-8 athlete with springs in his legs. Jackson will try to establish himself as the power forward of the future for the Suns this season but will have to battle with newcomers Ryan Anderson and Trevor Ariza for playing time. That means he starts the season just outside the top 100 of points-based prospects with low shooting efficiencies that further limit his roto upside.
Trevor Ariza
Ariza has played at least 33 MPG in each of his past five seasons, but that streak seems likely to end with TJ Warren, Josh Jackson and Ryan Anderson likely to get heavy forward minutes as well. Ariza is a consummate 3-and-D garbage man who has contributed solid numbers across the board. He is still likely draftable in roto leagues, but he may not get the minutes for points-based consideration.
If the season were to begin in early September, rookie second-round pick Okobo might be in the lead for the starting point guard role. He is only 20 years old, and the book on him out of college is that he is more of a lead guard/scorer than a floor general at this stage of his career. Devin Booker really improved his ballhandling and passing last season, which could allow Okobo to delegate some of those responsibilities if he were to hold onto the starting job. Any starting point guard for a fast-paced offense, even a rookie, is worthy of consideration in both points-based and roto formats.
Ryan Anderson
Anderson has been spending more and more time on the bench of late, as his 26.1 MPG with the Rockets last season represented his worst playing time since averaging 22.3 MPG back during the 2010-11 season. The Rockets needed their forwards to play defense and help on the glass in addition to knocking down the 3-pointer, and the first two aren't Anderson's strength. However, with DeAndre Ayton and Tyson Chandler in the middle, the Suns are ripe for a stretch-4 like Anderson, and he has solid top-100 upside in roto leagues, even if his lack of volume limits his points-based potential.
Sacramento Kings
Bagley is a new-age big man, with the height of a traditional center but a game versatility that includes the ball-handling, passing and shooting more traditionally found in wings. He had some great highlights but also some struggles during his summer league experiences and ultimately projects as a player who can score (if a bit inefficiently for a big man), rebound and contribute solidly in defensive and shooting categories, per minute. What isn't clear is whether Bagley will open the season as a starter or whether he might come off the bench behind a veteran like Zach Randolph. If starting, he has top-75 upside in points-based leagues, but if coming off the bench, he is still draftable but perhaps not a surefire fantasy starter.
Cauley-Stein has improved in each of his three seasons in the league. Last season was considered a bit of a disappointment by pundits who expected a huge breakout, but Cauley-Stein still turned in significant career-best volume numbers with 12.8 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.4 APG and 1.1 SPG in 28.0 MPG. Those numbers should continue to improve in his fourth season, as he continues to maintain his role as the franchise center for the Kings. He has top-50 upside in points-based leagues, though his weaker free throw percentage (61.9 FT% last season) limits his roto upside.
Fox had a solid, if unspectacular, rookie season that he can build upon as a sophomore. Fox has natural speed, but he is slight, so filling out and adding muscle can only help his professional game. He has the ability to ramp both his scoring and assist numbers into respectable enough range for points-based starting consideration, but he does need to show that he can improve upon his 41.2 FG% to move up the roto ranks.
Zach Randolph
Randolph enters his 18th season squarely in the mentorship portion of his career, coming off consecutive seasons during which he has played about half of the game on rebuilding teams. This season, he seems likely to split time with young Willie Cauley-Stein and rookie Marvin Bagley III. Randolph could still contribute to a contender, so it's possible that he gets traded during the season, but that would likely hurt his value because he will have more opportunity and likely more minutes on a poor team than he would on a contender. He is still fantasy draftable, though perhaps mainly in deeper leagues.
Bogdanovic turned in a very solid "rookie" season, averaging 11.8 PPG (44.6 FG%, 84.0 FT%) with 3.3 APG, 2.9 RPG and 1.7 3PG in 27.9 MPG as a 25-year-old first-year player. Like all second-season players, Bogdanovic has solid room to improve with experience and role, and the Kings could use perimeter scoring from the wing. His lack of volume keeps him from being much of threat in points-based leagues, but Bogdanovic is certainly draftable and perhaps startable in roto leagues.
Hield treaded water as a sophomore, as his rookie numbers in Sacramento after the midseason trade (15.1 PPG, 48.0 FG%, 2.4 3PG, 4.2 RPG, 29.1 MPG) were universally better than his corresponding numbers as a second-year player. Part of that was opportunity, as he played only 25.4 MPG last season, and part may have been a bit of a sophomore slump. With that said, Hield has strong roto upside as a volume long-range scorer with a solid all-around game, though his lack of volume limits his points-based upside.