Two-Way Wing
3PT · PDEF · ATH
Add FIN, REB and CLU for a low-hole profile.
Tradeoff: Requires disciplined choices because no single secondary slot can be ignored.
Real engine data · SF
Best Small Forward build
SF is the balance test: 3PT leads, but FIN, PDEF, and ATH sit close behind. The best wing uses that flexibility to remove weaknesses, not to accept average grades everywhere.
Position identity
Small Forward has the flattest meaningful weight curve. Nine attributes carry at least 1.5 weight, so the position rewards good decisions across the entire draft. The trap is confusing versatility with mediocrity: a winning SF still needs one elite scoring pillar and one elite two-way pillar before filling the broad middle.
Guide benchmark
90
OVR
No guessed rankings
Every attribute weight
These values are read directly from the same OVR formula used after your 13th pick. Weight share shows how much of the position's normalized rating comes from that slot; a better grade still matters at every weight.
| Rank | Attribute | Meaning | Weight | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3PT | Three-Point Shooting | 2.5 | 12.8% |
| 2 | ATH | Athleticism | 2.0 | 10.2% |
| 3 | FIN | Finishing | 2.0 | 10.2% |
| 4 | PDEF | Perimeter Defense | 2.0 | 10.2% |
| 5 | CLU | Clutch / IQ | 1.5 | 7.7% |
| 6 | DNK | Dunking | 1.5 | 7.7% |
| 7 | HAN | Ball Handle | 1.5 | 7.7% |
| 8 | MID | Midrange | 1.5 | 7.7% |
| 9 | REB | Rebounding | 1.5 | 7.7% |
| 10 | PAS | Passing / Vision | 1.0 | 5.1% |
| 11 | STR | Strength / Physicality | 1.0 | 5.1% |
| 12 | BLK | Blocks | 0.8 | 4.1% |
| 13 | IDEF | Interior Defense | 0.8 | 4.1% |
Rounds 1–13
Draft plan
- 01
Open with one identity pick: 3PT for spacing, FIN for pressure, or PDEF for a stopper. Do not wait until round ten to decide what the wing does.
- 02
ATH connects every SF route and carries a 2.0 weight. It is a premium stabilizer after the first defining skill.
- 03
Use REB, HAN, MID, DNK, and CLU to shape the archetype rather than drafting them randomly. All matter, but none replaces the core.
- 04
Cover IDEF or BLK with a respectable late grade. Their 0.8 weights are not priorities, yet leaving both weak undermines the position's two-way advantage.
Three viable identities
Choose a build route
Slashing Forward
FIN · DNK · ATH
Use PDEF and REB as support, then secure one usable jumper.
Tradeoff: A poor 3PT grade hurts more at SF than it does at PF or C.
Point Forward
HAN · PAS · FIN
Pair creation with ATH and one of 3PT or PDEF.
Tradeoff: Interesting all-around build, but PAS has only a 1.0 SF weight.
From the current 94-player pool
Premium attribute donors
You may steal an attribute from any player on the spun team; the donor does not need to play SF. These are the first top-grade candidates found in the live fan-simulation dataset for the five largest weights.
Three-Point Shooting
3PT
Weight 2.5
- Chet Holmgren2025 Oklahoma City ThunderA+
- Jayson Tatum2025 Boston CelticsA+
- Kristaps Porzingis2025 Boston CelticsA+
- Derrick White2025 Boston CelticsA+
Athleticism
ATH
Weight 2.0
- Jaylen Brown2025 Boston CelticsA+
- Aaron Gordon2025 Denver NuggetsA+
- Michael Jordan1996 Chicago BullsA+
- Scottie Pippen1996 Chicago BullsA+
Finishing
FIN
Weight 2.0
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander2025 Oklahoma City ThunderA+
- Jalen Williams2025 Oklahoma City ThunderA+
- Jayson Tatum2025 Boston CelticsA+
- Jaylen Brown2025 Boston CelticsA+
Perimeter Defense
PDEF
Weight 2.0
- Jalen Williams2025 Oklahoma City ThunderA+
- Derrick White2025 Boston CelticsA+
- Jrue Holiday2025 Boston CelticsA+
- Michael Jordan1996 Chicago BullsA+
Clutch / IQ
CLU
Weight 1.5
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander2025 Oklahoma City ThunderA+
- Jrue Holiday2025 Boston CelticsA+
- Nikola Jokic2025 Denver NuggetsA+
- Jamal Murray2025 Denver NuggetsA+
Ratings are illustrative fan simulation data, not official NBA ratings.
Spend rerolls with intent
Reroll rules
- Reroll early only when a roster cannot improve any of 3PT, FIN, PDEF, ATH, REB, HAN, MID, DNK, or CLU. SF has more acceptable solutions than any other position.
- Keep a roster that patches a true low grade, even if it does not improve the headline attribute. The SF weighting rewards removing holes.
- Save one reroll for the final four rounds; broad builds are more vulnerable to an unfillable last weakness than narrow builds are.
Information changes the plan
Mode strategy
- Classic
- Track the whole sheet. Once two A-range pillars are secured, use visible grades to lift the weakest weighted slot.
- Blind
- Versatile two-way stars are safer than specialists because SF asks for more categories above replacement level.
- Chaos
- SF-friendly skills are highly portable. Prioritize 3PT, ATH, PDEF, FIN and CLU to remain viable at almost any reveal.
What drags the OVR down
Common SF mistakes
| Mistake | Why it costs | Correction |
|---|---|---|
| Accepting B grades everywhere | The sheet has no weakness, but also lacks the elite pillars needed for a high ceiling. | Secure at least two A-range identity skills before smoothing the rest. |
| Building a guard in a bigger slot | HAN and PAS do not carry enough weight to replace REB, ATH, FIN, or PDEF. | Keep creation, but add wing physicality and defense before another guard skill. |
| Leaving 3PT until last | At 2.5, 3PT is the largest SF weight and a late weak grade is expensive. | Solve shooting early unless the build deliberately starts with an elite slashing core. |
Calculated by the live engine
90 OVR planning target
This target uses two-way balance without flattening the sheet: shooting, finishing, perimeter defense, rebounding, and athleticism all reach A-range.
3PT
A
MID
B+
FIN
A
DNK
A-
HAN
B+
PAS
B
PDEF
A
IDEF
B
BLK
B-
REB
A-
ATH
A
STR
B+
CLU
A-
This is a planning benchmark, not a guaranteed draft or season result. Every run still depends on team spins and available donors.
Small Forward FAQ
Is SF the easiest position?
It is the most flexible, not automatically the easiest. More attributes matter, so careless average picks accumulate quickly.
Should an SF prioritize shooting or defense?
3PT has the largest weight, but PDEF and ATH are close enough that an elite defensive wing can start there and add shooting next.
Does a point-forward build work?
Yes, if HAN and PAS supplement rather than replace 3PT, FIN, ATH, and defense. PAS alone has modest SF weight.