The Eastern Conference’s Atlantic division is loaded. The Knicks are the defending champs, the 76ers boast one of the best starting fives of recent memory, the Raptors are welcoming back Kawhi Leonard, the Celtics remain in contention and the Nets are… better than they were last year!
With star talent found in every corner of the division, there are plenty of fantasy options to either headline or round out your squad.
Let’s highlight one player per team to keep an eye on as we approach the start of the season.
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Fantasy Basketball Atlantic Division Players to Draft
Payton Pritchard (G – BOS)
Yahoo Sports’ Tom Haberstroh said in the days following the Jaylen Brown trade, “The Celtics trading Brown is a bet that [Payton] Pritchard is their in-house version of New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, a diminutive player who didn’t fully show his talents until Luka Doncic was out of the picture.”
It may sound absurd at first glance, but the line of thinking is more than reasonable. Pritchard has shown he’s capable of maintaining a high level of on-ball productivity on high-ish volume. Should we expect Brunson-esque numbers without Brown on the team? No, but boosts to his 17.0 points, 5.2 assists, 13.8 field goal attempts, and 30.7 fantasy points per game (FPPG) are all easy to envision as he heads into his seventh season.
He’ll serve as Jayson Tatum‘s most capable offensive counterpart as a secondary ball handler and catch-and-shoot piece.
Egor Demin (G – BKN)
On a team filled with play finishers, Egor Demin has a chance to be the glue that ties them all together.
Brooklyn selected the Russian guard with the eighth overall selection last year; the team’s first of five in the 2025 first round. Demin’s rookie season came with some growing pains but was elevated by late season performances which cemented him as a legitimate three-point shooter.
Demin’s role last season involved a mix of that shooting, and a fair amount of playmaking responsibilities. The passing is what can make him a viable fantasy asset. Demin will be leaned on in a big way playing a full season next to Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle, and incoming rookie Mikel Brown Jr..
Josh Hart (F, G – NYK)
Josh Hart was the most unheralded part of the Knicks’ championship season. To be frank, the championship doesn’t change much – he’s been underrated for several years.
His 12.0 points, 7.4 assists, 4.8 assists, and 1.4 stocks (steals plus blocks) per game in 2025 combine to make his fantasy profile as appealing as any non-All-Star you could hope to draft. Since Hart joined the Knicks, he’s averaged 30.8 FPPG, a figure similar to that of Rudy Gobert, Norman Powell, as well as his teammates OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges.
We shouldn’t expect anything different from Hart in the upcoming campaign and that’s just fine. A productive season like those of the recent past will make him a fantasy darling once again.
VJ Edgecombe (G – PHI)
Admittedly, LeBron James was the leading entrant for Philadelphia before it was revealed that he’s battling chronic arthritis in his left foot… and the same back injury that sidelined him for a lengthy period last season. James debuted for the 76ers in their second preseason game and played well, but going out of your way to target a 41-year-old with arthritis has a chance of turning south real quick.
Let’s pivot to VJ Edgecombe instead.
Edgecombe’s career started with a bang when he went for 34 points and seven assists in his debut in Boston. Aside from the occasional, and expected rookie lull here and there, Edgecombe’s rookie season was a resounding success. The Baylor product averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.9 stocks, and 33.1 fantasy points across 75 games.
Between James’ current ailments and the ever-present injury concerns for Joel Embiid, there projects to be some extra work for Edgecombe, tJaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey, too. Edgecombe will be the fifth 76ers starter to be taken in fantasy drafts and while that’s not wrong, it could end up looking like a mistake by the season’s end.
Collin Murray-Boyles (F, C – TOR)
Collin Murray-Boyles is a beast, point blank. The 6-foot-7 combo big really came along during Toronto’s seven-game playoff run in which he averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.4 stocks in an encouraging 27.3 minutes per contest.
While he lacks ideal scoring volume, Murray-Boyles does everything else well. He and Hart aren’t too different to that end. Murray-Boyles’ blend of strength and athleticism make him a particularly productive rebounder and defender. Add that splash of playmaking and you’ve got one of the most intriguing young players in basketball.
Sandro Mamukelashvili, who signed with the Lakers in July, was the primary barrier to consistent regular season minutes for Murray-Boyles. And when Jakob Poeltl was healthy, which isn’t a frequent occurrence these days, the 21-year-old assumed the third-string big man job. Considering Murray-Boyles’ strong postseason play, he could end up replacing Poeltl in the starting lineup outright in his second year.
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