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Rookies · 2026-27

2026-27 rookie fantasy outlooks: projections and draft value for the rookie class

13 rookies have a fantasy role in 9cat’s 2026-27 projections. Rookies come with the widest range of outcomes on the board: there is no NBA record behind the numbers, and minutes can move a lot in the first weeks. Here is what 9cat projects for each, and where that puts them against their ADP.

By 9cat ·

ADP rank is his place when players are ordered by average draft position across ESPN, Yahoo and Fantrax drafts; rounds assume a 12-team league. Beside it are two 9cat ranks (All categories): total, on projected totals so missed games count, and per game, which ignores them. Stats are 9cat’s projected per-game numbers; green and red show where a player helps or hurts on total.

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At a glanceThe 6 rookies going earliest in drafts

  1. Rd 6Cameron Boozer MEM · ADP rank 62 · 9cat 83
  2. Rd 7Caleb Wilson CHI · ADP rank 77 · 9cat 66
  3. Rd 7AJ Dybantsa WAS · ADP rank 84 · 9cat 90
  4. Rd 9Darryn Peterson UTA · ADP rank 108 · 9cat 166
  5. Rd 10Darius Acuff Jr. SAC · ADP rank 112 · 9cat 142
  6. Rd 11Yaxel Lendeborg GSW · ADP rank 122 · 9cat 174

Cameron BoozerMEM · PF · ADP rank 62

9cat projects 17.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks in 30.9 minutes a game, shooting 48.2% from the field and 78.5% at the line, over 73 games. He goes in round 6 by ADP; 9cat has him 83rd on total, closer to round 7. The projection helps most in REB and STL and costs you in TO and 3PM. His best fit is a punt TO build, where he ranks 62nd (punt TO rankings).

  1. Cameron BoozerRookie

    MEM · PF · 73 GP · 30.9 MPG · Helps REB, STL · Hurts TO, 3PM

    ADP rank 62Total 83-21Per game 94
    FG%48.2FT%78.53PM0.9PTS17.3REB7.7AST3.9STL1.2BLK0.6TO2.8

Caleb WilsonCHI · SF · ADP rank 77

9cat projects 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks in 31.1 minutes a game, shooting 48.4% from the field and 75.2% at the line, over 72 games. He goes in round 7 by ADP; 9cat has him 66th on total, round 6 value. The projection helps most in BLK, REB and STL and costs you in AST and 3PM. His best fit is a punt AST build, where he ranks 45th (punt AST rankings).

  1. Caleb WilsonRookie

    CHI · SF · 72 GP · 31.1 MPG · Helps BLK, REB, STL · Hurts AST, 3PM

    ADP rank 77Total 66+11Per game 81
    FG%48.4FT%75.23PM0.9PTS15.9REB8.1AST2.0STL1.1BLK1.2TO2.0

AJ DybantsaWAS · SF · ADP rank 84

9cat projects 20.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.8 blocks in 32.2 minutes a game, shooting 47.8% from the field and 80.9% at the line, over 72 games. He goes in round 7 by ADP; 9cat has him 90th on total, closer to round 8. The projection helps most in PTS and costs you in 3PM. His best fit is a punt 3PM build, where he ranks 65th (punt 3PM rankings).

  1. AJ DybantsaRookie

    WAS · SF · 72 GP · 32.2 MPG · Helps PTS · Hurts 3PM

    ADP rank 84Total 90-6Per game 101
    FG%47.8FT%80.93PM0.7PTS20.1REB4.9AST2.8STL1.0BLK0.8TO1.9

Darryn PetersonUTA · SG/PG · ADP rank 108

9cat projects 17.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.4 blocks in 30.4 minutes a game, shooting 43.8% from the field and 81.1% at the line, over 71 games. He goes in round 9 by ADP; 9cat has him 166th on total, outside the 13 rounds of a 12-team draft. The projection helps most in STL and costs you in TO and FG%. His best fit is a punt TO build, where he ranks 124th (punt TO rankings).

  1. Darryn PetersonRookie

    UTA · SG/PG · 71 GP · 30.4 MPG · Helps STL · Hurts TO, FG%

    ADP rank 108Total 166-58Per game 181
    FG%43.8FT%81.13PM1.2PTS17.4REB3.6AST3.8STL1.3BLK0.4TO2.8

Darius Acuff Jr.SAC · PG · ADP rank 112

9cat projects 16.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks in 30.6 minutes a game, shooting 44.4% from the field and 84.3% at the line, over 73 games. He goes in round 10 by ADP; 9cat has him 142nd on total, closer to round 12. The projection helps most in AST, FT% and STL and costs you in TO and FG%. His best fit is a punt TO build, where he ranks 95th (punt TO rankings).

  1. Darius Acuff Jr.Rookie

    SAC · PG · 73 GP · 30.6 MPG · Helps AST, FT%, STL · Hurts TO, FG%

    ADP rank 112Total 142-30Per game 163
    FG%44.4FT%84.33PM0.9PTS16.9REB3.3AST5.9STL1.1BLK0.3TO2.9

Yaxel LendeborgGSW · SF/PF · ADP rank 122

9cat projects 10.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.8 blocks in 24.6 minutes a game, shooting 47.0% from the field and 78.9% at the line, over 71 games. He goes in round 11 by ADP; 9cat has him 174th on total, outside the 13 rounds of a 12-team draft. The projection doesn’t stand out in any one category, and costs you in 3PM and PTS. His best fit is a punt 3PM build, where he ranks 133rd (punt 3PM rankings).

  1. Yaxel LendeborgRookie

    GSW · SF/PF · 71 GP · 24.6 MPG · Hurts 3PM, PTS

    ADP rank 122Total 174-52Per game 192
    FG%47.0FT%78.93PM0.3PTS10.6REB5.1AST2.2STL1.0BLK0.8TO1.5

The rest of the classBy 9cat’s total rank

  1. Morez Johnson Jr.Rookie

    DAL · PF/C · 71 GP · 24.7 MPG · Helps BLK · Hurts 3PM, AST

    ADP rank 194Total 187+7Per game 204
    FG%49.4FT%75.43PM0.3PTS10.6REB5.6AST1.6STL0.8BLK0.9TO1.1

  2. Keaton WaglerRookie

    LAC · PG/SG · 70 GP · 28.1 MPG · Helps FT% · Hurts 3PM, REB

    ADP rank 167Total 202-35Per game 214
    FG%45.7FT%84.33PM0.6PTS13.3REB3.1AST4.3STL1.0BLK0.2TO2.3

  3. Brayden BurriesRookie

    MIL · SG · 71 GP · 25.8 MPG · Hurts 3PM, REB

    ADP rank 207Total 210-3Per game 225
    FG%45.0FT%82.43PM0.4PTS11.0REB2.7AST4.1STL1.1BLK0.3TO2.1

  4. Kingston FlemingsRookie

    ATL · SG/PG · 71 GP · 24.8 MPG · Helps STL · Hurts 3PM, REB

    ADP rank 229Total 217+12Per game 231
    FG%43.3FT%79.73PM0.4PTS10.9REB2.8AST3.7STL1.2BLK0.5TO2.1

  5. Mikel Brown Jr.Rookie

    BKN · PG · 71 GP · 30.2 MPG · Helps STL · Hurts FG%, REB

    ADP rank 158Total 228-70Per game 246
    FG%42.1FT%80.13PM0.7PTS15.9REB2.5AST3.4STL1.3BLK0.2TO2.4

  6. Hannes SteinbachRookie

    CHA · PF · 71 GP · 17.9 MPG · Helps BLK · Hurts PTS, 3PM

    ADP rank 208Total 251-43Per game 268
    FG%47.3FT%76.13PM0.2PTS7.1REB4.1AST1.1STL0.7BLK0.9TO0.9

  7. Nate AmentRookie

    MIL · SF · 70 GP · 17.7 MPG · Hurts PTS, 3PM

    ADP rank 276Total 283-7Per game 302
    FG%42.9FT%70.33PM0.2PTS5.7REB3.6AST0.7STL0.7BLK0.8TO1.1