2022 Fantasy Basketball ADP Player Debates: James Harden vs Jayson Tatum
Who should I draft in the first round of my fantasy basketball draft? That is a question all fantasy basketball managers are asking themselves leading up to the opening of the 2022 NBA season and it is not something that should be overlooked. While it is just one pick, it is the first one and ultimately sets the tone for both the remainder of your draft and the season as a whole. Under that guise, let us take a look at a very real decision you could potentially be forced to make in the first round of your draft between two dynamic and potentially polarizing players; Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics and James Harden of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Why You Should Draft Jayson Tatum
It is unclear how the coaching drama regarding Ime Udoka will impact Tatum and the Celtics, but let us assume that it will not. Boston promoted Joe Mazzulla to the head spot so there should be a level of continuity, and at this point, Tatum has proven to be immune to any changes on the bench.
The forward is entering his sixth season in the NBA and one thing we do not have to worry about is durability as not only has Tatum only missed five games in his career, but he averaged 36 minutes per game last year. Tatum hit career highs across the board in the 2021-22 campaign with 26.9 points, eight rebounds, and 4.4 rebounds per game while also being efficient both from the field (45.9%) and free throw line (85.3%).
What we saw from Tatum last season will be hard to top, but the addition of Malcolm Brogdon should only serve to benefit him as it is hard to find flaws in his game. There is nothing he does not do well, and while Boston might work a little harder to manage his workload, I am not sure it will be anything noticeable as there is no questioning who the number one option is in Boston.
Why You Should Draft James Harden
Harden can be a walking triple-double. There are few players with Harden’s prolific and well-rounded skill set, and when all is going right for the star, we have no reason not expect said triple-double on a nightly basis as he is simply that good.
Last season was a mess in every sense of the word for Harden as he demanded a trade yet again and ended up in Philadelphia alongside Joel Embiid. The guard appeared to take to Philadelphia and actually signed a two-year contract extension to stay with the 76ers at less than maximum value.
Even with everything seemingly being a disaster for Harden, he still managed to average 22 points, 10.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game. That production is difficult to argue with as the only blemish was seeing his field goal percentage drop to 41% although he did maintain an 87.7% mark from the free-throw line. Over the past two seasons, we have seen Harden’s success from the three-point line drop from over four per game to just 2.3 last year, but the guard certainly fills up the stat sheet.
Verdict
While we always want to draft for the present, I feel a lot more comfortable going with the youth in Tatum here over the 33-year-old Harden. Durability has proven to be an issue for Harden, and even as he looks to start out the year strong, we do have to worry about his health and overall stamina throughout the season. When things are good, they are good, but the decreasing efficiency from the field is concerning here and the last two years have been a little rough for Harden. That does not mean he is still not worthy of being a first-round pick, as the risk (and perhaps reward) is higher here, but I prefer the security of Tatum as it appears he settles in at the top of the mountain.
Player News
Buddy Hield had 15 points (5-of-14 FGs), three rebounds, one assist, one steal and four three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Hield moved into the Warriors’ starting lineup in the first round and the team became somewhat reliant on his scoring. With Stephen Curry (hamstring) out in Game 2, Hield started and played 29 minutes. The 32-year-old shooting guard led the Warriors in field goal attempts, though no one in a Golden State uniform was able to reach 20 points. The Warriors weren’t able to overcome a double-digit first half deficit. Despite the four made three-pointers, they’re going to need more from Hield as the series shifts to Golden State, especially if Curry remains out.
Jimmy Butler had 17 points (6-of-13 FGs), seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and two three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Butler couldn’t get it done without Stephen Curry (hamstring) on the road in Game 2. The Warriors fell behind by double-digits early and never recovered. Butler had 17 points on 13 shots, which wasn’t far off from the 20 points he had in Game 1. Still, the Warriors have to regroup as they head home for Games 3 and 4 as they try to figure out a way to keep this series close until Curry can return to the court.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 20 points (7-of-13 FGs), two rebounds, three assists, one block and four three-pointers in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Alexander-Walker was a key scorer off the bench in Game 2. He, Naz Reid and Donte DiVencenzo combined for 10 made three-pointers off the bench. In a game where the Warriors were desperate for scoring without Stephen Curry (hamstring), those bench points were too much to overcome as the Timberwolves won by 24 points.
Julius Randle had 24 points (10-of-17 FGs), seven rebounds, 11 assists and one three-pointer in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Randle led the Timberwolves in scoring in the Game 2 victory. The 30-year-old power forward was just three rebounds away from a triple-double. He was a steadying presence in his 33 minutes as Anthony Edwards dealt with an ankle injury towards the end of the first half. Edwards recovered from his injury to play 34 minutes, but Randle is still the next most important player in this series for the Timberwolves.
Anthony Edwards had 20 points (6-of-13 FGs), nine rebounds, five assists, three steals, one block and two three-pointers in the Timberwolves’ 117-93 victory over the Warriors in Game 2 on Thursday.
Edwards appeared to suffer a sprained left ankle towards the end of the second quarter as the Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis landed on his foot. Edwards turned the same ankle in the first round against the Lakers and appeared to re-aggravate the injury. The 23-year-old shooting guard would go on to start the second half and play a team-high 34 minutes in the Game 2 victory. Edwards will only have one full day off before the series resumes in Golden State for Game 3 on Saturday.
Warriors will start Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Quinten Post in Game 2 against the Timberwolves on Thursday.
No surprise here as Curry was always a long shot to make it back for Game 2 after leaving Game 1 with hamstring injury. While there has been a report that the 37-year-old point guard is expected to miss a week, there is no firm timetable for his return. The Warriors will go big with their starting lineup for Game 2 with center Quinten Post entering the lineup in Curry’s absence.