Alex Slitz/Getty Images
With the start of the 2024-25 NBA season on Tuesday, fantasy basketball managers could find several key contributors late in the draft in order to round out their rosters.
While it’s a certainty that top stars such as Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Dončić will stuff the stat sheet when healthy, the difference between winning and losing in fantasy is often determined by the players surrounding the stars on each squad.
With that being said, here are some sleeper options to target in later rounds or claim on waivers following the draft.
Trayce Jackson-Davis, C, Golden State Warriors
As a rookie, Jackson-Davis emerged as an instant contributor in head coach Steve Kerr’s rotation in 2023 and appears to be in line for a larger role in 2024.
The 24-year-old started in 16 of his 68 appearances last season. In those 16 games, he averaged 11.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks each night.
Jackson-Davis surpassed Kevon Looney in the Warriors’ center rotation during the preseason, starting in each of the team’s final three contests. He averaged 6.7 points and 6.2 rebounds in six preseason games, shooting 69.2 percent from the field.
With a lack of conventional centers on the roster outside of two-way rookie Quinten Post, Jackson-Davis will likely receive plenty of playing time whenever Kerr wants to experiment with a bigger lineup.
His individual production should continue to increase in a larger role, especially considering he’d be spending most of his minutes alongside Stephen Curry. Jackson-Davis is currently available in 64 percent of ESPN leagues, via FantasyPros.
Stephon Castle, G, San Antonio Spurs
Drafting a rookie is always risky, especially one who doesn’t have an immediate starting role. Still, Castle could entrench himself in the Spurs’ rotation after a string of impressive preseason performances.
The 19-year-old averaged 11.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 21.1 minutes per game on 44.7 percent shooting.
He’s already left an impact on head coach Gregg Popovich, who said that he was “very impressed” with Castle in training camp (via Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express News).
Even if he isn’t part of San Antonio’s opening five-man unit, he should still receive several opportunities to get on the floor as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft.
It’s also worth noting that the Spurs are coming off a 22-60 season. While the team is headlined by rising star Victor Wembanyama and made several veteran additions over the offseason, there’s still a chance that San Antonio isn’t able to secure a playoff spot in the Western Conference just yet.
If the Spurs are eliminated before the end of the regular season, Castle and other young players could receive extended playing time while fantasy basketball playoffs are occurring.
Jalen Smith, F, Chicago Bulls
The Bulls spent the 2024 offseason pivoting towards a younger roster, with veterans such as Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan exiting over the summer.
With Chicago turning towards a youth movement led by Coby White and Josh Giddey, the team could also get younger in the frontcourt as the 2024-25 season wears on.
Nikola Vučević is currently the Bulls’ starting center, but he’ll be 34 years old on Thursday. Vučević has just two seasons left on his contract, with Action Network’s Matt Moore reporting that Chicago was looking to move the veteran on June 27.
If a deal materializes during the season, it opens up the door for Smith to enter the starting five. The former lottery pick averaged 9.9 points in 17.2 minutes per game with the Indiana Pacers last year and continued to excel during the preseason.
In three appearances with the Bulls, Smith recorded 11.7 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per contest while averaging less than 18 minutes on the floor each game. At 24 years old, he fits the timeline of White and Giddey.
Even if Vučević isn’t traded, Smith still represents an option with high upside and is available in 97 percent of ESPN leagues.
