Believe it or not, the NBA season tips off Oct. 24 with the Lakers at Nuggets and Suns at Warriors on a TNT doubleheader. The season is less than a month away and fantasy draft season is officially upon us.
There are few things better than NBA opening night. Your team’s record is unblemished, there is nothing but hope and excitement in your future and maybe there aren’t a bunch of red crosses littering your roster.
Sleepers in fantasy hoops are becoming a thing of the past as managers have a ton of information at their fingertips. Reaching for guys we like is becoming more prevalent. In any case, here’s my attempt at unearthing some sleepers that may not be on everyone’s hot list.
Nikola Jokic DEN C - Just kidding.
Mikal Bridges BKN SG/SF
I’m not sure he qualifies as a sleeper after he blew up in Brooklyn last season. This is not as much of a sleeper alert as it is a note of caution. Bridges averaged 26.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.6 blocks and 2.5 3-pointers in 27 games with Brooklyn last season. But in 56 games with Phoenix he averaged just 17.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 dimes, 1.2 steals, 0.8 blocks and 1.2 triples. He’s determined to play all 82 games again, and he’ll build on the confidence he gained last year and continue to dominate in Brooklyn.
However, Kevin Durant was hurt for a big chunk of his run, I’m not really sure Bridges can score more than he did last year, and his steals aren’t anything to write home about. I love his game, and while I’m hoping to draft him heavily this season there is a chance that he’s going to go earlier than he should. In fact, he ranked at No. 27 in eight-cat for his time in Brooklyn last season. The point is that taking him in Round 2 is a definite reach and after some lengthy discussion and more thought, I’m not going to grab him until Round 3.
James Harden PHI G
Harden’s a tricky one after he blasted Daryl Morey this summer and said he won’t play another game for the 76ers. The rant cost him $100,000 and it doesn’t sound like the Sixers have much interest in moving him to another team.
Is Harden going to cave and play, or sit out and force Morey’s hand again? The good news is that probably means you can get Harden late in Round 2 or even in Round 3.. And despite his advanced age (34) Harden was still the No. 17 player in eight-cat last year.
If you can get a guy like Harden in Round 3 of your draft he has some serious steal/sleeper potential and while he probably will also be in a future Risk vs. Reward column that I’ll write, he’s going to be a very tough call on draft night. For me, there are just too many question marks to take a gamble on him. But if you like to gamble and want to get a potential first-round player in the third, it makes sense to take a flier on him.
Cade Cunningham DET G
Cunningham played in just 12 games in his rookie season, averaging 19.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks before being shut down and having surgery on his left shin. He should be fully healthy entering the season and while he’ll play for the lowly Pistons, they’re going to build around him and have him be the focal point of the offense.
Going all in on a guy who has played 12 NBA games in the third round is another risk vs. reward call but Cunningham has the potential to be a Top 30 player if he can stay healthy. And if he replicates or builds on last season’s small sample size of stats, he could even be Top 20. I think he’s worth a third-round fantasy pick and even better if you can get him in Round 4. Either way, he’s all upside and should be primed for a big season if he can stay healthy.
OG Anunoby TOR SG/SF
Anunoby isn’t flashy and doesn’t appear in the TV highlights all that often but he quietly returned Top 30 fantasy value last season and may be available in the fourth or fifth rounds of drafts this year. He’s only 26 years old, averaged 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.7 blocks and 2.1 3-pointers for the Raptors last season. He won’t hurt you anywhere (career-high 83.8% from the line last season), is an elite stealer of the ball and one of the more underrated players in the league. Add in the fact that Fred VanVleet is now in Houston and Anunoby will probably be asked to do more offensively this season and you’ve probably got a very nice sleeper option in Round 5 of your draft.
Franz Wagner ORL SG/F
The 22-year-old Wagner took a nice step in year two by averaging 18.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.6 3-pointers with solid shooting percentages, returning ninth-round fantasy value. His lack of blocks hurts him a little but you’re not necessarily looking for them from a wing player in Orlando. He jumps up to Top 90 value if you throw out blocks and he played in 80 games for the Magic last season. The Magic are not going to be a great team and Wagner should lead the offense. If he takes another leap forward in year three (he should) he could easily be a Top 50 player and he will be available in Round 6 in many fantasy drafts. He’ll need to bump up his scoring, rebounds and assists to make it happen but all the tools are there and if nothing else, he’ll be a safe mid-round pick either way.
Tyrese Maxey PHI G
With all the Harden drama in Philly Maxey’s got a chance to be special this season, especially if Harden doesn’t play. Even with Harden around for part of the time last season Maxey was an early fifth-round value and he wasn’t taken until Round 6 in the industry mock I wrote about earlier. I don’t see how he’s worse than a fifth-round value this year and if you can get him in Round 6 or 7, you’ve got a potential steal on your hands. And if Harden is MIA for most of the season, the sky’s the limit on Maxey. The 22-year-old played in 60 games and averaged 20.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.8 steals and 2.7 3-pointers last year and needs to boost those dimes and steals to enter elite territory.
Devin Vassell SAS SG/SF
Vassell was a sixth-round value last season and is just 23 years old. He averaged 18.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.7 3-pointers but played in just 38 games due to a left knee injury that required surgery. It sounds like Keldon Johnson could be moved to the bench and Vassell could have an even bigger role this season, despite the addition of Victor Wembanyama to the Spurs. Vassell’s game is very fantasy friendly and if he can stay healthy, he could take a big step forward this season. And he should be available in Round 6 or 7 of most drafts. But staying healthy will be the key to his success or failure.
Cameron Johnson BKN F
Johnson came on in his 25 games in Brooklyn, averaging 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.3 3-pointers while shooting it well from everywhere. He was helped by Kevin Durant’s injury woes last season and Durant is now in Phoenix, clearing the way for a full CJ breakout. He’s nothing but upside and could even challenge Mikal Bridges to lead the team in scoring. Round 6 or 7 sounds about right for Johnson.
Derrick White BOS G
Marcus Smart is in Memphis and White should be the team’s starting point guard this season. He lit the league up for 19.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.7 blocks and 28 3-pointers in 11 March games last season and should be a fun fantasy point guard to roster this season. Especially if he can play like he did last March for most of the season. He’s a solid sixth-round fantasy target.
Tyus Jones WAS PG
Jones has been trapped behind Ja Morant in Memphis for the last four seasons but will be given the keys to the Wizards’ offense this year. Yeah, he’ll have to fight Jordan Poole off to keep the ball in his hands, but Jones looks like a near lock as a breakout candidate with his new starting role for the Wiz. I’m drafting him everywhere I can.
Miles Bridges CHA F
Bridges missed last season with legal woes but is back and should be one of LaMelo Ball’s preferred passing destinations this year. Bridges broke out in 2021-22 when he played 80 games and averaged 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.8 dimes, 0.9 steals, 0.8 blocks and 1.9 3-pointers. He’s going to be trying to make up for lost time and is a great complement to LaMelo, making him a very intriguing sleeper pick. He was a third-round fantasy value in that season, and he was taken in Round 7 in the mock draft I keep referring to. If you can handle drafting a guy who’s gone through the things Bridges has over the last two years, he could pay off in a huge way. In fact, I don’t see how he returns less than third-round value again this season.
Marcus Smart MEM PG
Ja Morant (suspension) is out for the first 25 games and Smart can get things done on both ends of the court. There are several sleeper point guards available in the middle rounds of drafts this season and Smart is one of them. And even when Morant is ready to play, Smart can play minutes at shooting guard and share the court with him. This looks like the perfect year to draft Smart in fantasy.
De’Anthony Melton PHI G
Melton’s game is built for fantasy hoops (just ask Jonas Nader) and this whole Harden mess only helps his cause. Both Melton and Maxey should be really fun to roster this season and Melton was worthy of a seventh-round pick last season. If Harden’s out, Melton is going to rack up a ton of rebounds, steals and 3-pointers and should score more than the 10 points he averaged last season. I got Melton at the end of Round 8 in the mock draft and I might have been able to get him in Round 9 or 10. And I love him there.
Mark Williams CHA C
Williams is one of the worst-kept secrets in fantasy and should be ready to fully breakout after a solid rookie season. He only played in 43 games and made 17 starts, averaging 9.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 0.7 steals and a block. And while he’s not a great free throw shooter, he won’t hurt you there too badly (69.1% as a rookie). He’s a dominant field goal percentage guy (63.7%) and he averaged 11.6 points, 9.8 boards and 1.1 blocks in those 17 starts last season. The Hornets are about to fully unleash him on the league and he should be available in Rounds 8-10 in most leagues. The sky’s the limit.
Tre Jones SAS PG
I took Jones in Round 9 in the mock and he returned late eighth-round fantasy value last season. He averaged 12.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.7 triples in year three and should try to take a step forward this season. He’ll have a big target in the form of Wembanyama and I’m betting that he’ll improve his numbers across the board again this season. He hit just 28.5 percent of his 3-pointers last season but if he worked on his shot, I could see him hitting one per game this year. He’s another up-and-coming point guard you can get later in your draft.
John Collins UTA PF
Collins was a disaster in Atlanta but still had some serviceable seasons and is a good player. He never lived up to the hype iand a change of scenery could be just what the doctor ordered. He’ll have to compete with Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler and Lauri Markkanen for touches but getting Collins at the end of your draft instead of burning a fourth-round pick on him should be a pleasant experience. I think he’s going to bounce back in his new digs.
Zach Collins SAS PF/C
Collins quietly had a mini-breakout season with 11.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.8 blocks and 0.9 3-pointers for the Spurs. He’s a solid free throw shooter, should hit 50 percent from the floor and it sounds like he’ll start at center with Wemby playing forward more often than not. We’ll have to see if he can coexist with Wemby but if you need a center late in your draft, you could certainly do worse than Collins.
Bruce Brown IND G/SF
The Pacers paid Brown a lot and while he’s not listed as a starter in most depth charts, he’ll get there sooner than later. And if he doesn’t, he’ll play a big role off the bench. Brown won’t blow you away with big stats, but he does a little bit of everything and won’t hurt you anywhere. He's a very safe way to spend a late-round pick.
Dennis Schroder TOR PG
Fred VanVleet is in Houston and Schroder is the default point guard for the Raptors, as of now. The potential arrival of James Harden would crush our dreams but if it doesn’t happen, Schroder could be running the point all season. Schroder’s career averages are 14 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.7 dimes, 0.8 steals and 1.2 3-pointers and if he’s in fact given the keys to the offense, he shouldn’t have trouble beating them.
James Wiseman DET C
There are too many centers in Detroit for my liking but Wiseman is a former No. 2 overall pick. As a starter last season he averaged 13 points, 8.1 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 22 games. He’s a serviceable free throw shooter and if he can get enough playing time while dealing with Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart, he could be a solid fantasy center. There’s nothing wrong with taking a last-round flier in order to see what happens in Detroit this season. And if he doesn’t pan out, you just hit the waiver wire and find a better player.
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