Paolo Banchero

The top pick from the 2022 draft took down Rookie of the Year honors, and it wasn't really close. Despite some midseason struggles, Banchero averaged 20.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks per game. Those are remarkable averages from a rookie, but that looks like his floor going forward. The versatile forward shot just 43 percent from the field and 30 percent from three-point range, and we have to anticipate those averages rising in his sophomore season. It was also encouraging to see the Rookie of the Year post a 27.5 percent usage rate because he could get above 30 percent this season. Orlando is one of the worst rosters in the NBA, and Banchero can run the show with how much talent he possesses. A spike in assists should be on the horizon, along with his shooting averages, especially since we saw Paolo provide 4.6 assists across the final month of last year.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 Draft was so good in Las Vegas that the Magic opted to shut him down after seeing what they needed to see in just two Summer League games. For the most part, Banchero arrived as advertised. He's a jumbo-sized forward who handles the ball like a guard and is more than happy to facilitate in the halfcourt. Banchero's field goal and three-point percentages will likely go through major swings throughout the season. Still, he projects to have a well-rounded stat profile buoyed by above-average passing for his size and position. Rebounding and scoring shouldn't be a concern, though it remains to be seen how much of an impact Banchero will make at the defensive end. He's also a below-average free throw shooter (72.9% FT as a freshman at Duke), which may be a concern if he can get to the line anywhere close to the rate he did in Vegas (20 FTA in 60 total minutes). There may also be some concern about where Banchero fits in on a Magic roster that includes Franz Wagner and 2021 No. 5 pick Jalen Suggs, as well as other recent first-rounders in Cole Anthony, Markelle Fultz, Jonathan Isaac and Chuma Okeke. Orlando indeed has more talent than most teams that historically pick No. 1 overall, but Banchero is easily the highest-upside piece of that group, so fantasy managers should not be overly concerned about the team failing to prioritize his development as a future No. 1 option.