Fantasy Basketball: Breaking Down the True Sleepers of 2012-13

Most NBA fantasy drafts are already in the books, but that doesn't mean that you can't find a way to grab a sleeper or two through either a trade or the waiver wire.

Nailing your early-round selections is key to having a successful season, but unearthing a diamond in the rough may be the difference between missing your fantasy playoffs and taking home your league crown.

This season, the NBA is loaded with stat-stuffers who weren't drafted until the latter rounds of most fantasy leagues (if at all). Having a few of these guys on your roster won't just give you a leg up on your competition, but will also grant you a little room to brag once these players perform to their true potential.

Damian Lillard, Portland

It's typically wise to avoid picking rookie guards in the early rounds of a fantasy basketball draft, but Portland's Damian Lillard is an exception to the rule.

Lighting up the competition in the Vegas Summer League is one thing (26.5 PPG, 5.3 APG), but Lillard's performance during the exhibition season (16.2 PPG, 5.8 RPG) proves that he's ready for prime time.

Turnovers will likely be an issue for him (he is a rookie after all), but Lillard is a fantasy starting-caliber guard from Day 1. Not only does he represent great value in the middle rounds in any format, but he's a fantastic pick for those in keeper leagues.

Nick Young, Philadelphia

Nick Young doesn't pass the ball all that much (0.9 APG for his career), nor does he rebound with any regularity (2.1 RPG in 2011-12), but he's an exceptionally talented scorer who should thrive as the 76ers' sixth man this season.

Former Sixer Lou Williams actually led the team in scoring while coming off of the bench last year (14.9 PPG), and while Young may not be able to replicate that feat, he could easily average14-15 points per game on a Philadelphia team that prides itself on spreading the ball around.

Young's lack of production in most of the other categories (as well as his low shooting percentage) could lead to him going undrafted in deeper leagues, but passing up his proven scoring ability would be a mistake.

Glen Davis, Orlando

Someone has to score for the Orlando Magic, and Glen Davis appears to be the player who'll carry the load on offense this season.

His game lacks polish, but the 6'9", 289-pound Davis always finds a way to fill up the stat sheet. He led the team in scoring during the exhibition schedule (16.9 PPG), and with Dwight Howard out after back surgery, Davis was a monster in the Eastern Conference playoffs last season (19.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG).

Davis is especially valuable in that he's eligible at both the forward and center positions in many fantasy leagues. His numbers won't do much in terms of wins and losses for the Magic, but expect Davis to average about 16 points and eight rebounds this year.

Lou Williams, Atlanta

Lou Williams may not start a single game for the Hawks this season, but he'll still wind up among Atlanta's top three scorers by the time the year is out.

Williams is the prototypical high-volume shooter, so be wary if your league penalizes harshly for missed shots. Even so, the 6'1" guard is a very solid option in deeper leagues and will even throw in a few assists per night for good measure. And if he beats out either Jeff Teague or Devin Harris for a starting spot, his stock will rise exponentially from a fantasy perspective.

Chris Kaman, Dallas

Chris Kaman is finally healthy (or as healthy as can be expected) and should excel for the Mavericks this season, especially now that Dirk Nowitzki will miss about a month or so with a balky right knee.

Expecting Kaman to average a double-double this season is a tad optimistic, but 13 points and eight rebounds a game seem like reasonable averages for the 30-year-old center. He'll get the lion's share of the minutes at the 5 spot all season long, and with talented players around him capable of stretching the floor, Kaman is a solid pivot man in any fantasy format.

O.J. Mayo, Dallas

Disregard O.J. Mayo's lackluster preseason numbers (10.9 PPG on 35.8 percent shooting), the Mavs' guard is a player to watch in 2011-12.

For most of the past two years, Mayo has languished on the bench for the Memphis Grizzlies, but now has the chance to shine in a starring role in Dallas. From a fantasy standpoint, Mayo is decent in just about every category, and if he can improve his shot selection, he's a very good third or fourth guard in deeper leagues. Mayo should be extra popular for those in rotisserie formats: The 24-year-old guard has made at least 96 three-pointers in each of his four NBA seasons.

Michael Beasley, Phoenix

The 29 points and 10 rebounds that Michael Beasley put up in the Suns' preseason finale is a good sign that he'll be one of the team's focal points on offense in 2011-12, making him a solid mid-round fantasy selection.

Beasley has always been productive: With him, it's always been a matter of securing consistent playing time. With the 6'10" forward penciled in at the starting 3 spot for the Suns, Beasley may be in line for the best season of his career. He'll make a good spot starter in most fantasy leagues and a solid utility player in leagues of 12 teams or more.

Byron Mullens, Charlotte

If you knew that Byron Mullens led the Charlotte Bobcats in both scoring and rebounding during the preseason (15.0 PPG, 7.8 RPG), give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back.

The former Ohio State center is probably one of the least-recognizable players on the Bobcats' roster (aside from the fact that he's nearly seven feet tall), but he represents extraordinary value for someone who is still available on the waiver wire in most leagues.

He won't average 15 and eight during the regular season (if he does, Charlotte is in trouble), but one thing Mullens will do is fill it up from beyond the arc. He was 16-for-36 from downtown during the exhibition slate (41 percent) and is the perfect backup center/utility player in deeper leagues, especially those that use the rotisserie format.