The regular season is rapidly approaching, and it's time to identify the most intriguing position battles that could shape fantasy rosters. Several teams enter the preseason with notable uncertainties at key positions, creating opportunities for sleeper picks and late-round values to emerge.
These Five Depth Chart Battles to Monitor at NBA Training Camp feature players whose fantasy stock could rise or fall based on how the next several weeks unfold. (Statistics as of September 11, 2025)
1. PG, Milwaukee Bucks
Notable players: Kevin Porter Jr, Cole Anthony, Ryan Rollins
Damian Lillard’s two-year stint in Milwaukee came to an end this offseason when the Bucks waived the nine-time All-Star, and he proceeded to rejoin the Portland Trail Blazers on a three-year deal. Lillard had a rocky 2024-25, missing time at the end of the regular season due to a Deep Vein Thrombosis diagnosis before tearing his Achilles tendon in the first round of the playoffs.
In Lillard’s absence, Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins filled in at PG last season, but neither has extensive experience running offenses at the NBA level. Porter Jr. has primarily served as an off-guard/secondary playmaker over his five seasons, while Rollins has averaged just 1.5 APG in 81 appearances over three years.
Despite the lack of PG experience, both Porter Jr. and Rollins filled in capably in Lillard’s absence late last season. Over the 15 games Lillard missed at the end of the regular season and in the first round against the Pacers, Porter Jr. averaged 4.9 APG, and Rollins averaged 3.9 APG. However, the position remained an area for improvement, leading the Bucks to sign former Magic point guard Cole Anthony to a one-year deal this offseason.
Anthony is a more traditional point guard, but has also posted pedestrian assist numbers, averaging just 2.9 per game in limited minutes last season. All three guards have a decent chance at significant playtime this season, and the fantasy implications are massive with the opportunity to set up perennial MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has led the league in made twos for three straight years.
Based on financial commitments and past performance, Porter Jr. appears to have the edge here for now, but this job is certainly up for grabs.
2. C, New Orleans Pelicans
Notable players: Yves Missi, Kevon Looney, Derik Queen
Back in June, we highlighted how Yves Missi's rookie performance may have been inflated due to the Pelicans’ lack of center competition. New Orleans addressed its big man depth this offseason, both in the draft and free agency.
On draft night, the Pelicans made the controversial decision to trade a 2026 first-round pick and their 23rd overall selection, Asa Newell, for the 13th overall pick, Derik Queen. Later that month, New Orleans signed three-time NBA champion and longtime Warrior, Kevon Looney, to a two-year, $16 million contract.
Each of these players brings unique strengths and weaknesses to the center position, and each could realistically secure a key spot in the rotation.
Missi was one of the league’s top offensive rebounders as a rookie, but struggled on the defensive glass and lacks offensive versatility. Queen is the most offensively skilled of the bunch with elite playmaking for his size (despite leading Summer League in turnovers per game) and punishing interior scoring, but does not stretch the floor well and can be overmatched on defense. Lastly, Looney brings consistent rebounding and interior defense, but has the lowest ceiling as he enters year 11.
Looney may have the early advantage due to experience, but the long-term starter will likely be the player who demonstrates the best frontcourt chemistry with franchise star Zion Williamson.
3. SG, Detroit Pistons
Notable players: Jaden Ivey, Duncan Robinson, Caris LeVert, Chaz Lanier
Detroit’s offseason got off to a chaotic start when Malik Beasley, coming off the best season of his career as one of the top three-point shooters in the league, became the target of a federal gambling investigation. Beasley’s NBA future is now in question, and the Pistons responded with moves for a handful of potential replacements.
With the 37th overall pick in the draft, the Pistons selected Chaz Lanier, a five-year college player known for his outside shooting. They signed another experienced sharpshooter, Duncan Robinson, to a three-year deal on July 1st and added a versatile two-guard in Caris LeVert a week later.
Robinson has not been able to match the historic three-point shooting display from his 2019-20 campaign, but he had a solid 2024-25 with shooting splits and production in line with his career averages. LeVert’s impact waned in his final year in Cleveland, but following an in-season trade to Atlanta, he posted the best efficiency of his career in 26 games off the bench and will look to keep that momentum going in Detroit.
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Jaden Ivey will also look to get his development back on track. He showed signs of breaking out last season, posting his best NBA statistics to date, but broke his fibula on New Year’s Day and missed the rest of the season.
Ivey should have the early edge in terms of shooting guard minutes given his upward trajectory pre-injury and comfort level going into his fourth year with the same team. However, with an injury of that magnitude, nothing is certain. Each of the other three names has a great shot at considerable backcourt action alongside Cade Cunningham in 2025-26.
4. C, Phoenix Suns
Notable players: Mark Williams, Nick Richards, Khaman Maluach
After a forgettable 2024-25, Phoenix made major changes, adding Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to the roster while offloading stars Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
The Suns also revamped their center position. Having already acquired veteran Nick Richards back in January, they traded for another former Hornets center in Mark Williams in June, and selected the highly touted Duke big man Khaman Maluach with the 10th overall pick in the draft.
Richards is the most experienced of the three, but Williams started over him in Charlotte and has posted more impressive numbers, despite missing significant time due to injury over his three professional seasons. Both are imposing figures, but Williams also has a slight physical advantage over Richards with one of the league’s longest wingspans.
Meanwhile, the lottery pick used on Maluach signals the Suns’ commitment to developing the rookie into their future starter. Maluach is another towering center, but unlike Richards and Williams, he has great mobility for his size and potential to be one of the top defenders in the league.
Williams' 2024-25 production of 15.3 PPG and 10.2 RPG, combined with his physical tools, should make him Phoenix's day-one starter. That said, if Maluach can translate his high-efficiency interior scoring to the next level and showcase just a bit of offensive versatility (he made four threes at Duke), it won't be long before he claims the lion's share of center minutes.
5. C, Boston Celtics
Notable players: Chris Boucher, Neemias Queta, Luka Garza
Taking the final spot among our five depth chart battles to monitor at NBA training camp is Boston’s center situation, which we’ve already discussed a couple of times this offseason. When it comes to deciphering how this rotation will truly play out, the next month or so should provide some much-needed clarity.
Boston sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Hawks in July, and Al Horford is expected to sign with the Warriors in the coming days, gutting the Celtics’ big man depth ahead of a potentially lost season with star Jayson Tatum set to miss the entire year.
Neemias Queta is Boston’s top center option from last season’s roster, providing a mix of solid inside efficiency, rim protection, and strong rebounding numbers in limited minutes. Queta has also earned rave reviews from Celtics GM Brad Stevens and Head Coach Joe Mazulla, but given that he’s appeared in just 110 NBA games over four seasons, his role is far from secured.
Boston added center depth beyond Queta, signing former Timberwolves backup Luka Garza to a two-year deal in July and adding former Raptor Chris Boucher on a one-year deal earlier this month.
None of these three players has held down a starting center role at the NBA level, but Boucher has advantages in both experience and offensive versatility. He often played a critical role in Toronto’s rotation over his seven years there and converted 70 threes last season on 36.3%. At the same time, Boucher is undersized and could occasionally feature at the PF slot, depending on Mazulla’s preference.
This depth chart battle is the most uncertain and could be further complicated by any additional moves Stevens chooses to make.