Fantasy Basketball 2024: Deep NBA Sleepers After Preseason

With the beginning of the 2024-25 NBA season on Tuesday, fantasy basketball managers may discover a number of key contributors late within the draft with the intention to spherical out their rosters.

Whereas it is a certainty that prime stars reminiscent of Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Dončić will stuff the stat sheet when wholesome, the distinction between profitable and shedding in fantasy is usually decided by the gamers surrounding the celebrities on every squad.

With that being mentioned, listed below are some sleeper choices to focus on in later rounds or declare on waivers following the draft.

Trayce Jackson-Davis, C, Golden State Warriors

As a rookie, Jackson-Davis emerged as an instantaneous contributor in head coach Steve Kerr’s rotation in 2023 and seems to be in line for a bigger function in 2024.

The 24-year-old began in 16 of his 68 appearances final season. In these 16 video games, he averaged 11.3 factors, 7.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks every evening.

Jackson-Davis surpassed Kevon Looney within the Warriors’ heart rotation throughout the preseason, beginning in every of the workforce’s closing three contests. He averaged 6.7 factors and 6.2 rebounds in six preseason video games, taking pictures 69.2 p.c from the sector.

With an absence of standard facilities on the roster outdoors of two-way rookie Quinten Put up, Jackson-Davis will seemingly obtain loads of taking part in time each time Kerr needs to experiment with a much bigger lineup.

His particular person manufacturing ought to proceed to extend in a bigger function, particularly contemplating he’d be spending most of his minutes alongside Stephen Curry. Jackson-Davis is presently obtainable in 64 p.c of ESPN leagues, through FantasyPros.

Stephon Citadel, G, San Antonio Spurs

Drafting a rookie is all the time dangerous, particularly one who would not have a direct beginning function. Nonetheless, Citadel may entrench himself within the Spurs’ rotation after a string of spectacular preseason performances.

The 19-year-old averaged 11.0 factors, 2.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 21.1 minutes per sport on 44.7 p.c taking pictures.

He is already left an influence on head coach Gregg Popovich, who mentioned that he was “very impressed” with Citadel in coaching camp (through Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Categorical Information).

Even when he is not a part of San Antonio’s opening five-man unit, he ought to nonetheless obtain a number of alternatives to get on the ground because the No. 4 general choose within the 2024 NBA draft.

It is also price noting that the Spurs are coming off a 22-60 season. Whereas the workforce is headlined by rising star Victor Wembanyama and made a number of veteran additions over the offseason, there’s nonetheless an opportunity that San Antonio is not capable of safe a playoff spot within the Western Convention simply but.

If the Spurs are eradicated earlier than the top of the common season, Citadel and different younger gamers may obtain prolonged taking part in time whereas fantasy basketball playoffs are occurring.

Jalen Smith, F, Chicago Bulls

The Bulls spent the 2024 offseason pivoting in direction of a youthful roster, with veterans reminiscent of Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan exiting over the summer time.

With Chicago turning in direction of a youth motion led by Coby White and Josh Giddey, the workforce may additionally get youthful within the frontcourt because the 2024-25 season wears on.

Nikola Vučević is presently the Bulls’ beginning heart, however he’ll be 34 years outdated on Thursday. Vučević has simply two seasons left on his contract, with Motion Community’s Matt Moore reporting that Chicago was seeking to transfer the veteran on June 27.

If a deal materializes throughout the season, it opens up the door for Smith to enter the beginning 5. The previous lottery choose averaged 9.9 factors in 17.2 minutes per sport with the Indiana Pacers final 12 months and continued to excel throughout the preseason.

In three appearances with the Bulls, Smith recorded 11.7 factors, 9.0 rebounds and a couple of.3 assists per contest whereas averaging lower than 18 minutes on the ground every sport. At 24 years outdated, he suits the timeline of White and Giddey.

Even when Vučević is not traded, Smith nonetheless represents an choice with excessive upside and is offered in 97 p.c of ESPN leagues.