It’s the final weekend before the NBA regular season begins, which means you’re coming here for your fantasy basketball drafts.
Should you draft Paolo Banchero this season? Here’s the latest outlook, projections, and rankings for the Orlando Magic Power Forward.
Should You Draft Paolo Banchero in Fantasy Basketball?
Paolo Banchero’s 2024 season started with fireworks. Unfortunately, a right oblique strain sidelined him for 34 straight contests, limiting his impact and disrupting Orlando’s chemistry. Even when active, his inefficient shooting and modest defensive numbers kept him from cracking the elite per-game tier in category formats. Still, his scoring continued to climb, averaging 25.9 points with 1.9 threes per game, showing steady offensive growth.
Orlando believes it’s ready to contend in 2025, having traded Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for sharpshooter Desmond Bane and signing Tyus Jones to stabilize point guard play. Bane’s elite perimeter ability should open up more driving lanes for Banchero and Franz Wagner, giving the young forward a clearer path to big production inside. The Magic also solidified their core long-term, including handing Banchero a five-year rookie max extension. Health permitting, he could push toward the breakout many have been expecting.
Banchero’s profile makes him more valuable in points leagues, where his scoring, playmaking, and rebounding outweigh efficiency concerns. His gradual improvement in volume and production suggests a high ceiling if he stays on the floor. At 23 and entering his prime alongside an upgraded supporting cast, Banchero has the opportunity to stuff the stat sheet and climb into fantasy’s second tier by season’s end.
Looking for more fantasy basketball outlooks? Head over to our NBA landing page for analysis on 200 players.
What Are Paolo Banchero’s Fantasy Basketball Projections This Season?
Based on our proprietary metrics here at PFSN, we project Banchero to score 3,629.0 fantasy points this season, with him averaging 25.2 points per game.
This includes 8.6 field goals per game, 2.1 three-pointers per game, 5.9 free throws per game, 7.4 rebounds per game, 5.9 assists per game, 1.1 steals per game, and 0.7 blocks per game.
Where Does Paolo Banchero Rank in the Upcoming Fantasy Basketball Season?
Banchero is ranked sixth overall and second at his position. The five players ranked ahead of him overall include Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cade Cunningham, and Luka Dončić.
The five players ranked behind him overall include Alperen Sengün, Domantas Sabonis, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, and Karl-Anthony Towns.
The player ranked ahead of him at his position is Giannis Antetokounmpo. The five players ranked behind him at his position include Karl-Anthony Towns, Pascal Siakam, Victor Wembanyama, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Julius Randle.
