With only a couple games remaining before the regular season tips offs, there have been a few more potential sleeper/ break out potential players, emerge from the depths of their team bench, and just possibly show fantasy life this season. I have covered the general sleepers in previous blogs, but today I am going to focus on each team, and who those players are that may provide more fantasy value than you would expect.
For general lists, take a second to review the other sleeper analysis I have been doing in various phases of preseason: Ten Deep Sleepers - Sleepers Part 1 - Sleepers Part 2
- Atlanta Hawks - Marvin Williams: Marvin never got going last year do to his wrist injury in preseason. This year he is entering the 3rd year charm when most players begin take off, and he has shown lots of life in preseason. There isn’t may shots to go around in Atlanta, but averaging 14-7 with some threes and assists looks realistic. Advice: draft mid-rounds.
- Boston Celtics - Tony Allen:Everyone knows about the big three and Rondo, but watch for Tony Allen to be a focal point of this offense coming off the bench. His assists will go up based on the players around him, and he is already an excellent source of steals. Any games the Celtics are winning easily, they will go to the bench early and often, to rest their stars. Advice: draft late.
- Toronto Raptors - Jason Kapono: The Raptors have a logjam at SG/ SF, but Kapono’s shooting will keep him on the floor, as he is an excellent compliment to Bosh and Andreas. He has already been named the starter and will be getting 30+ minutes a game. Advice: draft mid-late rounds.
- Portland Trailblazers - Martell Webster:Webster’s value took a hit last season with the emergence of Brandon Roy. Both were battling to play the same position and Roy was obviously winning out. Well, with the team going with youth in an effort to rebuild around Oden, Aldridge and Roy, Webster suddenly finds himself the starting SF. He has had an excellent preseason, and though may lose minutes to Travis Outlaw some games based on defensive matchups, he will be an excellent source of threes this season. Advice: draft late.
- Denver Nuggets - Linas Kleiza:- Kleiza showed flashes of a scorer on many occasions last season, which is difficult to do when you play on the same team as Iverson and Melo. With Atkins hurt and Iverson starting at PG, there has been no solid shooting guard named for this team. Expect Kleiza to get these minutes. He has done everything to earn them in preseason, is a gritty defender and has range to stretch the offense. I really don’t know why he hasn’t been named the starter already. Even if Iverson moves back to SG, expect Kleiza to get a bulk of minutes. Advice: watch as a free agent, unless he is named starter, then draft late.
- Sacramento Kings - Kevin Martin: Kevin Martin is no typical sleeper. He is on everyone’s radar. But Bibby just went down for six weeks with a thumb injury, so expect Martin’s stat line to soar even more, and be well rounded with assists to go with his scoring, steals and threes. Advice: draft early.
- Houston Rockets - Luis Scola: Has firmly planted himself in the starting PF spot in Houston with his hustle play. Expect 10-12 points and 7-9 rebounds from this Euro star. Not much of a ceiling past these stats, but he’ll give you these right from the get-go. If your league requires a rookie on the roster, he is an excellent choice. Advice: draft late.
- Seattle Sonics - Chris Wilcox:The Sonics are being built around Durant, but as a rook, Durant is not going to have his “A” game every night. Other players are going to have to step up and I think it will be Wilcox. Collison is going to provide a solid 12-10, but Wilcox should be in the 17-8 range this season. He is an energetic player who will be looked at as a top scoring option, and the #1 option in the post. He is still young and is a core piece of this team. Advice: draft mid-rounds.
- NY Knicks - David Lee: I don’t think Curry and Randolph will be able to co-exist on the floor well together. Nobody does. With Lee’s energetic play, rebounding and knack for points around the hoop, expect him to get substantial minutes regardless of the starting lineup. Lee is a late round sleeper, don’t reach for him, but a good choice if you are searching for rebounds late in your draft. Advice: draft late.
- New Jersey - Marcus Williams: The sleeper on this team is going to come down to Magloire or Williams. I think Kidd will finally begin to play fewer minutes, opening the door for Marcus to play more and more as the season goes on. He is worth monitoring more as a free agent than drafting at this time, unless Kidd gets hurt. Advice: watch as a free agent.
- Philadelphia - Jason Smith: Rodney Carney is a major candidate here, but even if Carney plays decent minutes I think he will contribute little fantasy wise. Jason Smith is really the only other true “Big” on this team, and Dalembert is very slow to recover from his foot injury. If Smith gets time early in the season due to Dalembert’s injury, watch for him to be in the rotation all season. Advice: watch as a free agent
- Indiana - Mike Dunleavy: Dunleavy has let me down almost every single season. Well he is the perfect fit for this Pacer’s offense, and after one year to get used to their system and an offseason of getting his jumper back, I am giving him one more chance to step up. If his jump shot is working he could easily average 15-5-4 in this offense. Advice: draft late
- Chicago - Tyrus Thomas: If Tyrus can stay healthy he will be an excellent source of blocks and steals, and occasionally give you a decent scoring game. He is currently slated as the starting PF, so minutes should be much better this year. He is worth a bit of a reach, given how hard blocks are to get. Advice: draft mid-late round.
- Detroit - Jason Maxiell: He has been on all my other sleeper lists. Energetic big man who will provide some life to this offense. He will get you about 10 points, but will have decent steals and blocks and could be thrust into the starting lineup if there was an injury. Advice: Draft just before the late rounds where someone else may reach for him.
- Milwaukee - Charlie V: CV’s first season with the Bucks was a forgettable one. He couldn’t stay healthy and was out much more than he ever saw the court. Well look for him to begin to take that next step from his rookie season now, and though he will have to hold off YI for minutes, his game should keep him on the floor for 30+ minutes easily. Expect 15-7 with threes. Advice: draft mid-rounds
- Cleveland - Daniel Gibson: Gibson is not going to get you point guard assists, but he is an excellent source of threes. He has been the first PG to be in synch with LeBron, play defense and still confident enough to score on his own, so expect him to remain the starter. He played so well in Cleveland’s 2007 playoff run, that he is almost expected to take that next step with regular playing time. Advice: draft late
- Orlando - JJ Redick: Before he injured his hand/ wrist late in preseason, he was on his way to earning a starting role in the backcourt. It may take a little longer for him to get those minutes now but he is worth watching. Threes aren’t that hard to come by, but Redick can put them up in bunches. Advice: watch as a free agent
- Washington - Nick Young: This team really only has three scoring options - Arenas, Butler and Jamieson. Whenever any of those players are in foul trouble or injured this team is in trouble. Daniels is the only offense off the bench and he is inconsistent. Watch for Young to be the sparkplug player by the second half of the year, as this kid can slash and shoot the jumper. Advice: watch as a free agent.
- Charlotte - Matt Caroll: I expect Jason Richardson to have an even better season than most expect, but he will be drafted high regardless. Caroll on the other hand may be forgotten. Matt played exceptionally well last year when Morrison struggled, lighting up the fantasy stat sheet for threes and points. Well Morrison just went down to a season ending knee injury, which once again opens the door for Caroll to get significant minutes. Advice: draft mid-late rounds.
- Miami - Udonis Haslem- The Ricky Davis trade was for two reasons. one - to get another legitimate scorer in the backcourt and two - to give Haslem 40 minutes a game (with Walker gone). Haslem is a workhouse and with significant minutes will easily bring you 12-1o. Advice: draft mid rounds.
- Utah - Ronnie Brewer: Brewer was hardly a spec on the radar last season as a rookie. Well after a diligent offseason program, Brewer came into camp this season and has impressed everyone. He will not be one of the top options on this team, but as a starter will have enough minutes to give you 10-5-5 if he keeps up his preseason pace. Advice: draft late, or watch his first couple games and be ready to grab him.
- Minnesota - Entire Team: This is actually a complete sleeper starting five. Al Jefferson is ready to explode the stat sheet, Foye is one of the top PG sleepers available, Rashard McCants is shooting lights out in preseason, and now with the Davis trade the door is wide open for Corey Brewer to play big minutes. Even Ratliffe is back in the picture blocking shots as well as any center in the league.
- Golden State - Monta Ellis: Some may be scared off by his neck injury in preseason. Don’t be. I would be shocked if he doesn’t average 18 a game with great steals and if Baron goes down with his normal assortment of injuries, Ellis steps in with assists too. Advice: Draft rounds 5-7.
- Phoenix - Boris Diaw: Diaw was last years super sleeper, and he was not in shape and didn’t fit in very well once Amare was back. Diaw worked himself this offseason to be ready, and will know his role on the team this year. He is not drafted for points, but his overall stat line normally challenges triple doubles regularly. Advice: draft mid-rounds
- LA Clippers - Corey Maggette:Don’t sleep on Maggette very long. He could be in for a HUGE season as their top scorer. Could put up top 20 stats if he just stays healthy. Advice: draft early
- LA Lakers - Andrew Bynum: Everyone is saying Bynum is in a fight for minutes with Kwame and Mihm. Bynum will easily prove the most valuable here, and is also their future at center. Bynum will be inconsistent scoring, but his rebounds and blocks should be solid all season. Advice: Draft mid-late rounds.
- San Antonio - I don’t think any player will step up much differently than recent years. This team is basically identical as last season, and apparently that is good enough to win a few championship titles along the way.
- Dallas - Jerry Stackhouse:If Stackhouse can keep himself healthy, he may have a starting role this season as the MAVS want to move Terry to the bench. Hard to think that Terry will stay as the bench player, but that may be best for the team so he and Devin Harris can rest each other, rather than both going off and no PG being available. if Stackhouse is the starter, look for lots of scoring and threes. Advice: Draft mid-rounds and monitor minutes.
- Memphis - Darko: Preseason did not seem to indicate that Darko could score with any consistency, but he is defintely a great source of rebounds and blocks if he has close to starter minutes. Advice: Draft mid-late
- New Orleans - Peja: You have to pick the return of a player who recently averaged 25 a game. Peja is insisting his back is healthy and that means lots fo kick out passes from Chris Paul for points and threes. Advice: draft mid round