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The 2020-21 NBA season is set to begin this month and that means it’s time to start prepping for fantasy basketball. There’s a wealth of talent at the point guard position but some players are being propped up and might not be as productive as the masses believe they can be. Let’s take a look at four bust candidates who could fail to meet the expectations set by their ESPN ADP.
Note: Average Draft Position on ESPN can be found via FantasyPros.
Dejounte Murray, San Antonio Spurs
ESPN ADP: 80
Many projected a breakout year from Murray after his return from injury but he only averaged 10.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game for the Spurs in 2019-20. Derrick White and Brynn Forbes averaged just as many minutes per game. Patty Mills wasn’t far behind. San Antonio added Tre Jones in this year’s draft and Lonnie Walker will also be in the backcourt rotation. I can’t see Murray taking a big step forward with so much competition at his position. DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge should limit his upside as well.
Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics
ESPN ADP: 84
Smart has room for growth now that Gordon Hayward is gone but Boston has acquired a more competent backup point guard in Jeff Teague to create for the Celtics off the bench. He’s a great hustle player who can do a little bit of everything and his scoring prowess exceeded expectations in the playoffs. However, regular-season Smart is much different. His career highs of 12.9 points and 4.8 assists last year are modest compared to what other top 100 players can put up.
Eric Bledsoe, New Orleans Pelicans
ESPN ADP: 90
Bledsoe averaged 14.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game as the Milwaukee Bucks and will likely be a third option in New Orleans behind Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. He should play like more of a 2 guard with a playmaker like Lonzo Ball running the point but will also have to make way for JJ Redick’s sharpshooting off the bench.
Mike Conley, Utah Jazz
ESPN ADP: 104
Conley scored less than 15 points per game for the first time since 2011 last season. He opted to return to Utah but could see a reduced role with Jordan Clarkson also returning. It’s clear that the Jazz are Donovan Mitchell’s team and Bojan Bogdanovic and Rudy Gobert are also much more appealing than Conley from a fantasy perspective.