Panic-O-Meter: Should You Worry About These Struggling Players?

Assigning appropriate levels of panic for a list of the NBA’s slowest starters

Two games. That’s the most any team in the NBA has played to this point. And yet, it’s already here. That dreaded feeling we all know too well.

You know the feeling I’m talking about, right?

You can smell it on others, but you often fail to realize when you’re consumed by it yourself.

What I’m talking about, of course, is panic. Every year at this time it rears its ugly head.

Of course, it doesn’t take hold of everyone. Some people are seemingly immune to it and prey on those poor souls who aren’t. That’s often how advantages are won in fantasy leagues.

I feel like I’m pretty good at resisting the panic bug. Part of my game-plan every season is to immediately look for opportunities to buy low on players who get off to poor starts. I know all I need to do is find a panicked manager and offer a lesser player who is off to a strong start. It’s a proven formula that helps me add value to my roster and improve my chances of success.

That said, even I can get shaken by early season struggles from time to time. I have to remind myself not to get caught up in the fear and doubt that comes with a new season.

If you’re rostering any of the players listed below, odds are you’re experiencing at least a little fear and doubt at the moment, if not complete panic. Fortunately, I’m here to help walk you back from the ledge.

In fact, I’ll go ahead and spoil most of this article right now. NOBODY should be in panic mode right now. If you’re considering dealing your best players or making sweeping changes to your roster, don’t!

Sure, you should be aggressive on the waiver wire and seek value in trades where you can find it. It’s never too early for that. But don’t panic!

You’ll notice from my panic-o-meter ratings below, very few players are registering high levels of panic for me at the moment. So take heed of my advice and keep your wits about you until at least two weeks of games have concluded. And even then, you should be careful. You don’t want to be the manager who deals Tyrese Haliburton for 50 cents on the dollar, like so many did last season.

My panic-o-meter scale is 1-10 and here’s a general guide to what that means:

10 - Full panic mode

7.5 - Very high concern

5 - Moderate concern

2.5 - Very little concern

0 - No panic

Amen Thompson, PG/SG/SF, Houston Rockets

Season Stats: 2 GP, .400 FG%, 0 3PM, .667 FT%, 14 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST, 0.5 STL, 0.5 BLK, 3 TO

Analysis: Amen enjoyed an incredible breakout last year and was in many ways the darling of the ‘25-26 draft season. Expectations were sky-high before Fred VanVleet injured his Achilles and then shot to the moon immediately after, as hopes of a larger role prompted managers to select him as early as the second round. Ironically, it’s the weight of added responsibility that is currently weighing him down — his usage rate has jumped from 17.5% last season to 22% this year, a massive increase that is clearly having a negative impact on his efficiency and maybe even his performance on defense. Last year, Amen’s focus was to pick his spots on offense, dominate on defense, and play to his strengths. This year, he’s learning it’s very difficult to be a lead man, asked to carry the load on a team with playoff aspirations and few other options at the point. All that said, I do think he’ll eventually settle into his new role and the team will figure out ways to bring out the best of him on both ends of the court. I’m personally not panicked. If anything, I’m throwing out offers, hoping to buy low.

Panic Level: 3, depending on expectations (higher if you expect second round value)

Paolo Banchero, PF, Orlando Magic

Season Stats: 2 GP, .344 FG%, 0.5 3PM, .706 FT%, 17.5 PTS, 8.5 REB, 1.0 AST, 0.5 STL, 0.5 BLK, 2.5 TO

Analysis: While his teammate, Franz Wagner, is running on all cylinders, Banchero is struggling as both a shooter and facilitator. Fortunately, there’s no reason to believe that will continue. Orlando is certainly tinkering with new ways to improve an offense that ranked bottom third in the league last season, but Banchero is too talented and too important to not figure things out. He had some hot and cold stretches last year, too. This one just appears to be ill timed. The only reason I’m assigning him a level 2.5 panic rating and not 1 is because there is a chance Franz‘s ascent to stardom gets in the way of what we assumed with be Paolo’s continued ascent. That just means a season closer ‘24-25 than another big step forward like many—myself included—predicted.

Panic Level: 2

Dyson Daniels, SG/SF, Atlanta Hawks

Season Stats: 2 GP, .455 FG%, 0 3PM, .000 FT%, 5 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL, 0.5 BLK, 2.5 TO

Analysis: If you ignore the low point totals and the ghastly low FT%, Daniels’s start to the season is mostly in line with expectations. The Hawks are deeper this season, as we knew they would be, and there is definitely a chance that impacts Daniels’ usage and scoring—as it is already is. However, he should still average roughly 30-32 minutes per game, while continuing to contribute average or better stats across multiple categories, much like he has in his first couple of games. I also still expect double-digits scoring, and if anything, he’s one of the better buy-low targets to go after right now considering you’re still getting elite steals and all the counting stats that made him so desirable coming into the year. Overall, I’m concerned about his role on offense, but I’m not concerned about his ability to provide strong value this year. Worst case, he’s a rich man’s version of Herbert Jones, who consistently ranks in the top 100 on an average basis on the back of strong efficiency numbers and defensive stats.

Panic Level: 3.5, again depending on expectations

Myles Turner, C, Milwaukee Bucks

Season Stats: 2 GP, .300 FG%, 1 3PM, .500 FT%, 7.5 PTS, 6.5 REB, 3.5 AST, 0.5 STL, 2.5 BLK, 2.0 TO

Analysis: While Turner is playing for a different team for the first time in his 10 year career, his production is mostly unchanged. The only issue is he can’t seem to get a shot to fall, but over a two game sample that’s essentially meaningless. Unless the rims are higher in Milwaukee than they were in Indiana, there is no need to panic here. Great buy-low target.

Panic Level: 1

Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers

Season Stats: 1 GP, .111 FG%, 0 3PM, 1.000 FT%, 4 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK

Analysis: I know he’s rusty and still making his way back from what seems like a never-ending list of ailments, usually related to a knee, but Embiid looked awful in his first game. Granted, most of us didn’t even expect him to play at all to start the year. But, it’s hard to ignore the fact that he basically couldn’t jump in that game. I had Embiid on my ‘do not draft’ list entering the season and while the ramp up towards the end of preseason fueled hope and optimism, I’d say the first game undid all of that and brought many people back to square 1.

Panic Level: 9

Rudy Gobert, C, Minnesota Timberwolves

Season Stats: 2 GP, .667 FG%, 0 3PM, .667 FT%, 6.5 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0.5 BLK, 0.5 TO

Analysis: Rudy hasn’t looked great to start the season, and at age 33, that could be cause for concern. He’s averaged 30 minutes per game, so the opportunities have been there, he just hasn’t delivered. Granted, he got off to a slow start last year as well, with two of his first four games basically mirroring his ‘25-26 production. His production did take a step back last season. He’s also seen his blocks per game average decline each of the last four seasons, which is especially concerning when you consider how much of his value is predicated on that statistic. Odds are he’ll be fine and I don’t foresee a major collapse in his production this year. Monitor his performance over the next few games just to make sure another trip around the sun hasn’t taken another tick off his fastball, but if anything this is probably a good buy-low opportunity for teams in need of FG%, rebounds, and blocks.

Panic Level: 3.5

Christian Braun, SG/SF, Denver Nuggets

Season Stats: 1 GP, .429 FG%, 0 3PM, 0 FT%, 6 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO

Analysis: Braun’s debut wasn’t great and concerns that the suddenly deep Nuggets roster might chip away at his usage and production are at least somewhat founded. However, he still played 38.5 minutes in the team’s thrilling double-OT opener, and there’s no doubt they will continue to rely on him heavily for his valuable glue-guy traits all year. It’s a shame we likely won’t get to see him take on an even larger role offensively, but I think he’ll be fine and continue to produce numbers mostly in line with what he did last season. Odds are you didn’t pay a huge price for Braun in your draft (his ADP was just below 90), and he should still be a very productive and efficient player this year who returns value around his ADP.

Panic Level: 2.5

Mark Williams, C, Phoenix Suns

Season Stats: 2 GP, .400 FG%, 0 3PM, 0 FT%, 4 PTS, 8.5 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0.5 TO

Analysis: The Suns don’t appear to be very good. Fortunately, Williams has a track record of producing big numbers for bad teams, so he should feel right at home. He dealt with foul trouble in his second game and the Suns got throttled by 27 points, so his services weren’t really needed and his stat line suffered. He usually produces when healthy, even playing limited minutes, and I see no reason why that should be any different for the Suns, especially after they invested a first round pick to acquire him. I do worry about him staying healthy for a full season, but I’m not overly concerned about his slow start.

Panic Level: 3

Tari Eason, SF/PF, Houston Rockets

Season Stats: 2 GP, .273 FG%, 1 3PM, 0 FT%, 5.5 REB, 1 AST, 0.5 STL, 0.5 BLK, 2.5 TO

Analysis: His value has always been predicated on defensive stats and efficiency, so he should find his way at some point on a roster struggling to find its identity. Despite putrid shooting, he’s still played 25 minutes per game, which is up slightly from last season. The Rockets need him desperately for his defense and 3 point shooting ability. Once his shot starts falling, he should be fine.

Panic Level: 3

Reed Sheppard, PG/SG, Houston Rockets

Season Stats: 2 GP, .273 FG%, 2.5 3PM, .500 FT%, 2 REB, 2.5 AST, 2 STL, 0.5 BLK, 2.5 TO

Analysis: This was not the start to the season many of us hoped for. Yes, Sheppard is currently shooting .455 from three point range, a huge improvement from last season and step in the right direction. However, he literally can’t seem to make a shot from anywhere else on the court (.273 FG%) and despite averaging two steals per game his defense has been abysmal. After shooting under 40% from the field last season, and struggling again during summer league, it’s hard not to be a bit worried. I’d still try to give him a couple of weeks to see if he comes around, but the onus really is on him to start producing very, very soon.

Panic Level: 7