In the latest installment of the 2024 fantasy basketball draft kit, Adam Ronis highlights his favorite fantasy basketball sleepers for 2024:
We are trying to get bargains and deals daily in life when purchasing items. The same applies to Fantasy Basketball drafts. Trying to identify players that are mispriced in the market and will return better value than their Average Draft Position (ADP) can lead teams to a championship.
Keep in mind the ADPs vary across different platforms and a player can be considered a sleeper on one site and not on another. Here are some sleepers that will turn out to be great values.
Sleepers for Fantasy Basketball 2024 – Guards
Tyus Jones (Phoenix Suns)
Jones is coming off a career year with the Wizards and moves to Phoenix where the usage will decrease. Jones wasn’t reliant on scoring and can put up good stats in Phoenix. He shot 48.9% from the field, averaged 1.6 three-pointers, 7.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and scored 12 points per game.
With Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal around him, Jones will pile up the assists. He will get a lot of open looks and if he can average more than a steal per game with excellent shooting percentages, he will be valuable.
Jordan Poole (Washington Wizards)
It was a disappointing season for Poole in his first season with Washington after coming over from Golden State. He improved in the second half and it’s difficult to find a scoring point guard with assists, threes, and steals at his ADP. The poor shooting is priced into the draft cost and depending on the build of a team, he could be a bargain.
In the second half, Poole averaged 20.9 points, 5.8 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 3.2 three-pointers, and 1.1 steals, while shooting 43.4% from the field and 91.4% from the foul line and averaged 31.7 minutes. Poole is going to start at point guard and could see an increase in minutes, especially with Malcolm Brogdon out for the first month of the season.
Colin Sexton (Utah Jazz)
On some sites, Sexton’s ADP is too low. He was in and out of the starting lineup last season and is expected to start at shooting guard. In 51 games as a starter last season, Sexton averaged 21.1 points, 5.6 assists, 1.9 three-pointers, 0.9 steals, and shot 49% from the field in 28.8 minutes per game. Sexton helps in the shooting categories, can score, and will add assists.
Amen Thompson (Houston Rockets)
The Rockets have a lot of depth, but it will be difficult to limit Thompson.
He impressed as a rookie and had a great performance in Las Vegas over the summer. He’s versatile and can play any position. He’s likely going to come off the bench to start the season, but he can pile up the stats even in a reserve role.
Thompson got better in the second half averaging 12.1 points, eight rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.9 blocks, and shot 55.7% from the field.
Fantasy Basketball Sleepers – Forwards/Centers
Deni Avdija (Portland Trail Blazers)
Avdija can fill up the stats in several categories. Last season, he averaged 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.2 three-pointers, 0.8 steals, and shot 50.6% from the field. He was traded from Washington and should get plenty of opportunities on a young team.
Noah Clowney (Brooklyn Nets)
Clowney is likely to start the year in a reserve role, but the Nets are rebuilding and many of the veterans will be traded. The power forward is 6-foot-9 and 230 pounds and didn’t play much in his rookie season last year. He flashed his potential in April when he averaged 29.3 minutes over seven games. Clowney had 22 points, 10 rebounds, and three three-pointers in 17 minutes against the Pacers and 10 points, seven rebounds, and seven blocks in 39 minutes against Toronto.
In the seven games, Clowney averaged 12.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 1.3 assists, and 1.1 three-pointers and shot 60.4% from the field.
Zach Edey (Memphis Grizzlies)
At 7-foot-4 and 300 pounds, Edey has a chance to be a force on offense, especially if he can develop chemistry with Ja Morant.
Edey was selected ninth overall and will start for Memphis. He averaged 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in his final season at Purdue. Edey’s skills are a good fit for this team.
Walker Kessler (Utah Jazz)
The minutes will be key for how good Kessler will be. After a good rookie season, Kessler only started 22 of 64 games last season. He started the first two games of the preseason and even if he starts, it doesn’t mean the center will get 30 minutes, but 26-28 can still make him valuable. The blocks will be there for Kessler. He averaged 2.4 blocks per game in 23.3 minutes per game.
Jonathan Kuminga (Golden State Warriors)
It’s time for Kuminga to shine. Golden State has been slow to unleash him and it will happen this season. Klay Thompson is gone, Steph Curry and Draymond Green are a year older and Kuminga will be needed. He improved in the second half and averaged 17.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, one steal, and shot 51.9% from the field and 79.3% from the free throw line.
Naz Reid (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Reid was an important player for Minnesota last season and his minutes increased as the season went on. In the second half of the year, Reid averaged 16 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.5 three-pointers, 1.2 blocks, one steal, and shot 45.8% from the field in 28 minutes per game.
Karl–Anthony Towns is gone to New York and Reid will be the backup for Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Reid average around 30 minutes per game.
Ivica Zubac (Los Angeles Clippers)
Zubac has an ADP of 136 on ESPN, which is way too low. The Clippers lack depth in the frontcourt and while the minutes can vary for Zubac, there’s a chance he can get close to 30 minutes per game. He had a career-best 28.5 minutes per game two years ago.
The center averaged 11.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.2 blocks, and shot 64.9% from the field last season. Zubac signed a three-year, $58,4 million contract in August and will be needed more with Paul George gone and Kawhi Leanord dealing with a knee injury.
