In case you’re wondering, a post-hype sleeper is a player who may have disappointed us in the past but we think is going to have a bounce-back season. I suppose this could be injury or performance related so you’ll see a mixture of both here. Let’s dive right in.
LaMelo Ball PG Hornets
Injuries are a concern with Ball and limited him to just 36 games last season and 51 games as a rookie. He was on track for a monster season before an ankle injury that required surgery shut him down early, but he was averaging 23.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 4.0 3-pointers per game before being shut down. His ability to stay healthy will always be the biggest concern with Melo but he’ll be a top-10 player if he can stay on the court.
Trae Young G Hawks
Young had to adjust to playing alongside Dejounte Murray last season and also constantly heard his own name in trade rumors on Atlanta radio while playing with a mediocre supporting cast. He still produced solid numbers with 26.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, a career-high 10.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.1 3-pointers in 73 games. The scoring and triples were a bit of a letdown, but the assists and steals helped make up for it. Chances are he’s learned how to coexist with Murray heading into his sixth NBA season and he’ll be looking to build on his 2021-22 season after a bit of a down year last season.
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Cade Cunningham PG Pistons
Cunningham only played in 12 games last season before succumbing to shin surgery but is healthy and the best player on a young team. He was cooking before being shut down, averaging 19.9 points, 6.2 rebound, 6.0 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.4 3-pointers in 33 minutes per game. It’s possible the Pistons reel in his minutes a bit to keep him healthy, but he’s primed for a monster fantasy season if he can stay on the court for 70-plus games.
Chet Holmgren C Thunder
Holmgren missed the entire season with a foot injury but has looked fantastic in preseason. He’s skinny as a bean pole but can score, rebound, block shots and knock down 3-pointers at will and looks like a value pick in Round 4 of fantasy drafts. He could easily finish with second-round value if he stays healthy.
Devin Vassell SG Spurs
Vassell was cooking last season before missing a couple months with a knee injury and will be playing alongside Victor Wembanyama. While Wemby gets all the headlines in San Antonio, Vassell should not be forgotten after averaging 18.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.7 3-pointers in 38 games. The Spurs will turn him loose, he’s fully healthy and should be an incredibly fun fantasy player to roster as he enters his fourth season.
Alperen Sengun C Rockets
Sengun took a nice step forward last season, averaging 14.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.9 blocks and 0.3 3-pointers, shooting 55.3 percent from the floor and 71.5 percent from the line. He took a big leap from his rookie numbers and we’re expecting another step forward as he enters year three. A full breakout season should be coming for Sengun as long as he can stay healthy.
Deandre Ayton C Blazers
Ayton will be starting at center and won’t have to compete with guys like Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard for shots. Ayton had five solid seasons in Phoenix but probably needed a change of scenery. He averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds and 0.8 blocks last season and should be more of a focal point offensively for his new team. He’s averaged a double-double in each of his five seasons and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him clock in with 21 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks this season. Phoenix fans may regret losing Ayton at some point and he should be ready to play well in Portland.
Anfernee Simons PG Blazers
Damian Lillard is now in Milwaukee, clearing the way for Simons to either start at point guard (in front of Scoot Henderson) or shooting guard. He’s been a fun fantasy fill-in whenever Lillard has been out in the past and he no longer has to deal with having Lillard dominating the offense. Simons averaged 21.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.7 steals and 3.4 3-pointers in 62 starts last season and could be the leading scorer for the Blazers. If he can get more steals, the sky’s the limit.
Cameron Johnson SG/SF Nets
Johnson had a mini-breakout after being traded to the Nets from the Suns last season and averaged 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.3 blocks and 2.3 3-pointers in 25 games for Brooklyn. The points, boards, dimes and steals were all career highs and he should be a focal point on offense for the Nets. After Mikal Bridges, Johnson looks like the Nets’ second best player and should be able to build on last season’s success.
Andrew Wiggins SF Warriors
Wiggins missed a ton of time last year with various injuries and an extended personal leave, averaging 17.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.8 blocks and 2.4 3-pointers in just 37 games. He’s back and healthy and should return to the form that made him an All-Star starter a couple years ago. Averages of 19 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, a steal, a block and 2.5 3-pointers aren’t out of the question and he can be had in the middle to later rounds of most drafts.
Shaedon Sharpe SG Blazers
Sharpe averaged just 9.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.3 blocks and 1.3 3-pointers in 80 games for the Blazers last season. But those numbers jumped up to 18.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.4 blocks and 2.3 3-pointers in his 15 starts and the Blazers will look to him for offense. He’s one of the most exciting dunkers in the game and a full breakout season could be coming for a team looking for a young player to help replace the scoring of Damian Lillard, who is now in Milwaukee.
Dennis Schroder PG Raptors
Fred VanVleet is now in Houston and Schroder is the default starter at point guard for the Raptors. As long as they don’t turn to Scottie Barnes at the point, Schroder should be primed for a fun fantasy season. The journeyman averaged 12.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.1 3-pointers for the Lakers last season but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him average closer to 15 points for his new team. He’ll be available late in drafts and should see 30 minutes per game, making him a nice sleeper candidate.
Miles Bridges PF Hornets
Bridges will miss the first 10 games after last year’s domestic violence issues, but once the suspension is over, he could go off. The last time we saw him play was in the 2021-22 season when he averaged 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.8 blocks and 1.9 3-pointers. He’ll have to compete with P.J. Washington for minutes but if he’s in shape, Bridges should come in hungry, healthy and ready to get back to the business of basketball. There are worse ways to use a 10th-round fantasy pick.
Keegan Murray PF Kings
Murray was underwhelming as a rookie, averaging just 12.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.5 blocks and 2.6 3-pointers in 29.8 minutes over 78 games. If he can increase his scoring to 18 points, as well as build on his other stats, he could be a key asset to fantasy managers. He’s already a strong 3-point shooter and has looked more aggressive getting to the rack in the preseason. Murray appears to be poised to take a big step forward in Year 2 and shouldn’t be expensive.
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