Fantasy Basketball Faceoff: Jimmy Butler vs. DeMar DeRozan

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Here's a look at whether fantasy basketball owners would be better off selecting Chicago Bulls SG Jimmy Butler or Toronto Raptors SG DeMar DeRozan in 2016 drafts:

2015 Stats

The Case for Butler

With ex-Bulls PG Derrick Rose regularly dealing with injuries, Butler slowly became the focal point of all things Bulls - culminating in his highest PPG average for his career in 2015-16. With a stronger passer in Rajon Rondo feeding him the ball, another jump in his scoring totals could be on the way.

Since shooting under 40 percent in his first season as a full-time starter in 2013-14, Butler has increased his accuracy while also taking more shots per game. At a relatively thin position, Butler will provide a steady stream of scoring as long as he stays on the court.

Another season of 20-plus points per game is almost assured, as new arrival Dwyane Wade likely won't take too much of his production away even if it means Butler moves to the wing.

Best-Case Scenario: The new acquisitions bolster Butler's production and while he plays a lower volume of minutes overall, he isn't worn out down the stretch. He finishes as a top-5 scorer and cements himself as one of the most reliable at his position.

Worst-Case Scenario: The new acquisitions flop and Butler is forced to put the team on his back again. While he has several high-end early games, his usage wears him down and he either misses time or is ineffective over the last month of the season.

The Case for DeRozan

For three consecutive seasons, DeRozan has eclipsed 20 points per game. Beyond his scoring ability, he hasn't done much else, but the scoring alone has made it easier to focus on other role players, and the trend will likely continue. DeRozan will offer borderline elite scoring, a smattering of assists, and rebounds without murdering field goal percentage.

With the Raptors re-signing him to a long-term deal, they know what they have in DeRozan; fantasy owners shouldn't expect much to change. While he has missed some games here and there, he has been mostly durable and he scored 25 or more points in 12 of his last 20 games in 2015-16. He also made 555 free throws, good for a distant second behind James Harden (720).

There is no reason to believe he'll be any worse than he has been, even with his unfortunate showing in much of the NBA playoffs. Real world playoffs don't amount to anything in fantasy. DeRozan should do exactly what's expected of him.

Best-Case Scenario: More of the same. DeRozan's value is tied to his consistency and that's exactly what happens only with steps toward higher totals across the board. Boring but effective.

Worst-Case Scenario: The 2016 playoffs version of DeRozan shows up. Prior to Game 5 against the Miami Heat, DeRozan shot poorly and disappeared on defense. While he topped 30 points twice against Indiana, he also scored 10 or fewer on three occasions, more than he did in the regular season.

Verdict

Both players are fairly one-dimensional in their approaches and results. Butler has provided a little more in the secondary counting stats than DeRozan has while the Toronto SG has shown a greater ability to stay healthy. That is what factors into the final decision most, and is why DeRozan should be selected if the two are the top ranked available in a draft.

There are too many questions surrounding the new-look Bulls while the Raptors should, more or less, be the same team from the last few seasons. Butler's ceiling is higher - he topped 40 points three times last season - but his floor is lower, as he scored 10 or fewer points six times compared to two in more GP for DeRozan.