Fantasy Basketball Draft Preview: 7 Sleepers To Save Your Season
Great NBA fantasy drafts are not consequences of the LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Chris Paul first round picks which are obvious to every team manager. Superior teams are constructed through value picks.
While these draft choices who fall to later rounds will not contribute to your team as much as those consensus first round picks, these "sleepers" will be the difference between beating your opponent by five points or losing by five points, between making the playoffs and falling a spot short and between winning that elusive fantasy title or falling in the championship game.
"Sleepers" are not players who should be going a couple picks higher. These are players that for one reason or another are being passed by other managers for entire rounds. Whether it is because they are coming off of injury, they are an aging veteran or they are an unproven rookie or sophomore player, these players are consistently overlooked.
Here are the seven sleepers that can make or break your fantasy basketball team this year:
Tony Parker
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Average Draft Position (Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball): 93.4 (Early-Ninth Round)
Parker is an anomaly in that his basketball talent on the court does not always translate to relevant fantasy basketball statistics. However, the San Antonio Spurs point guard still remains undervalued as a ninth round pick and here's why.
Parker comes off an injury plagued season where his statistics in nearly every major category slipped, yet just two years ago the Belgium-native averaged 22 points and nearly seven assists per game.
While Parker certainly has some negative factors associated with his fantasy contributions including the larger role played by George Hill, his limited defensive statistics, relatively poor free throw shooting and his lack of a three point shooting threat, he makes up for it with a terrific shooting percentage from the field, high volume of assists and ability to score in bunches.
Players With Higher Average Draft Positions:
Jameer Nelson, Jrue Holliday, Jamal Crawford and Jason Terry
Where Parker Should Be Drafted:
Mid-Seventh Round
Jose Calderon
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Average Draft Position (Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball): 115.2 (Mid-11th Round)
Despite a large drop off in his statistics last year, Calderon remains a viable candidate to contribute big numbers to any fantasy team this season. Just two years ago, Calderon was averaging almost 13 points and nine assists per game for the Toronto Raptors.
With Chris Bosh gone, Calderon will be called upon to handle a much larger role in the offense spreading the ball amongst several options rather than a concentrated few. The Spaniard's ability to distribute will allow him to rack up huge amounts of assists on a nightly basis.
Calderon is not only about the assists, however. The Raptors point guard will likely add a steal a game while shooting high percentages from both the floor and the free throw line. His 98.1 free throw percentage from two years ago could contribute to teams lacking strong free throw shooters.
Players With Higher Average Draft Positions:
Mike Conley, Jrue Holiday, Jameer Nelson
Where Calderon Should Be Drafted:
Late ninth round
Andrew Bogut
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Average Draft Position (Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball): 58.7 (Late-fifth Round)
The former top overall pick has improved every year since entering the league in 2005. This year an improved Milwaukee offense could allow Bogut to truly break out.
Last year, the Australian native averaged a double-double with 15.9 points and over 10 rebounds per game. Bogut also contributed a whopping 2.5 blocks per game last season, while limiting his turnovers to under two per game.
Bogut will drastically improve any teams field goal percentage, and while Bogut does not shoot at a great clip from the charity stripe, he typically does not go to the line too much limiting his influence on that category. With stronger offensive weapons surrounding Bogut, he is likely to face fewer help-side defenders leading to greater opportunities for points and offensive rebounds.
Players With Higher Average Draft Positions:
LaMarcus Aldridge, Marcus Camby, Troy Murphy and Joakim Noah
Where Bogut Should Be Drafted:
Early fourth round
DeMarcus Cousins
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Average Draft Position (Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball): 106.8
The rookie out of Kentucky is undoubtedly a risky pick, but in the 10th round what do you have to lose? Cousins has shown flashes of brilliance in the preseason averaging 14.3 points and eight rebounds per game. While rookies obviously face growing pains and greater risk in adapting to NBA style of play, Cousins appears to be an exception who can seamlessly translate from college to the pros.
Cousins will likely score close to the basket contributing a high field goal percentage. Also, Cousins will likely be a powerful scorer, rebounder and defensive presence, racking up crucial blocked shots.
With fellow rookies John Wall and Blake Griffin receiving all of the attention, Cousins could slip by and create some real value towards the end of your fantasy draft.
Players With Higher Average Draft Positions:
JaVale McGee, Robin Lopez, Andris Biedrins
Where Cousins Should Be Drafted:
Early ninth round
Carl Landry
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Average Draft Position (Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball): 95.1 (Mid-ninth round)
As a member of the Houston Rockets last season, Landry was enjoying a fine breakout season. When he was traded last season to the Sacramento Kings, it provided him an even greater opportunity. As a member of the Kings, Landry averaged 18 points a game while contributing 6.5 rebounds as well as a steal per game.
Landry shoots at a high percentage from the field and will contribute some defensive statistics to your fantasy team. His free throw percentages are relatively high for a forward. With only three years of NBA experience under his belt, the former Purdue Boilermaker has plenty of room for improvement.
Landry can contribute far more to your team than similar options in the ninth round.
Players With Higher Average Draft Position:
Channing Frye, Elton Brand, Tyrus Thomas
Where Landry Should Be Drafted:
Late-seventh or early eighth round
J.J. Hickson
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Average Draft Position (Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball): 114.7 (Mid-11th Round)
This summer a LeBron James-sized hole was left in the offensive production of the Cleveland Cavaliers. While there are many candidates to fill this hole including Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison, Hickson will be given an opportunity to prove to Dan Gilbert that not trading him for veteran help was the correct decision.
Hickson, in limited minutes last season, produced some encouraging numbers averaging 8.5 points and almost five rebounds per game. Hickson can contribute fantasy statistics in several other ways including a high field goal percentage, blocks and steals in addition to rebounds and points.
At an average draft position of 114.7, Hickson is a candidate to surprise many by breaking out this season.
Players With Higher Average Draft Positions:
Anderson Varejao, JaVale McGee, Robin Lopez
Where Hickson Should Be Drafted:
Late-ninth round
Rodney Stuckey
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Average Draft Position (Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball): 108 (Late-10th Round)
Since Chauncey Billups was traded to the Denver Nuggets, Rodney Stuckey has played the majority of the minutes at point guard for the Pistons. Stuckey has responded well to the increased minutes averaging 16.6 points and almost five assists to go along with four rebounds last season.
Additionally, Stuckey can contribute with some defensive statistics averaging 1.4 steals per game last year. While Stuckey has some downsides including a relative lack of a three point threat to other point guards, as well as a low shooting percentage from the field, his ability to contribute to points, assists and rebounds as well as free throw percentage makes him more valuable than his average draft position would suggest.
On a weak Pistons team, Stuckey will be counted on to maintain a large role and see tons of minutes giving him the opportunity to rack up some big statistics for your fantasy team.
Players With Higher Average Draft Position:
J.R. Smith, Anthony Morrow, Marcus Thornton
Where Stuckey Should Be Drafted:
Early-ninth round
Other Possible Sleeper Candidates
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Point Guards:
Ty Lawson
Average Draft Position (Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball): 136.3
Goran Dragic
Average Draft Position (Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball): 136.3
Shooting Guards:
Leandro Barbosa
Average Draft Position (Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball): 124.5
J.J. Redick
Average Draft Position (Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball): 134.0
Small Forwards:
Thaddeus Young
Average Draft Position (Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball): 130.0
Shawn Marion
Average Draft Position (Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball): 123.8
Power Forwards:
Paul Millsap
Average Draft Position (Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball): 69.8
Michael Beasley
Average Draft Position (Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball): 107.7
Centers:
Luis Scola
Average Draft Position (Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball): 75.8
DeJuan Blair
Average Draft Position (Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball): 134.5
