The NBA season is right around the corner, and fantasy basketball drafts are in full swing. An important part of prepping for any fantasy draft is being familiar with average draft position (ADP) and targeting players that outperform their ADP. Here are some players outside the top 75 in ADP that I’m targeting in my drafts.
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Fantasy Basketball Sleepers
Matas Buzelis (SF, PF – CHI) | ADP: 94 (Yahoo)/129 (ESPN)
Matas Buzelis started his rookie year slowly, coming off the bench for the first four-and-a-half months of the season. He was moved into the starting lineup after the trade deadline, and his increase in minutes led to increased production. His averages increased by 7.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while getting double the minutes. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan are in the rearview mirror, and it’s time for some youth in Chicago.
Buzelis is the perfect youngster to step up, and he can provide value in both nine-category and points leagues. His projected stat line averages for this season are 11.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.7 stocks (steals + blocks) on a 45% field goal rate. Those numbers don’t even reach what he did as a starter last season, nor account for any progression.
Payton Pritchard (PG – BOS) | ADP: 71 (Yahoo)/ 83 (ESPN)
Payton Prichard is coming off a career year, during which he won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year, so it’s hard to call him a sleeper. However, the Boston Celtics’ roster has changed dramatically, expanding his role. After thriving off the bench, he will move to the starting lineup alongside Derrick White.
Pritchard averaged 17.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists, with a 48.5% field goal rate in games with 30-39 minutes played last season. He will likely see most games in this minutes range, although there will be more defensive focus on him as a starter. Pritchard can be especially valuable in nine-category leagues with a high number of three pointers, low turnovers, a solid field goal rate and a positive in rebounds at the point guard position.
Ausar Thompson (SF, PF – DET) | ADP: 84 (Yahoo)/96 (ESPN)
Ausar Thompson struggled with injuries last season, but found his stride from February on. From that point forward, he averaged 11.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.6 stocks on 55.6% shooting. His elite defensive prowess helps mask his lack of three-pointers and low free-throw rate.
Thompson was ranked 20th in the league in total steals and was the only player in the top 20 with fewer than 68 games played (he played in only 59 games). Another year of healthy development and a rising Pistons team will hopefully unlock another level of offense for the talented wing.
Andrew Nembhard (PG, SF – IND) | ADP: 73 (Yahoo)/100 (ESPN)
Andrew Nembhard is stepping into a big role with Tyrese Haliburton and T.J. McConnell‘s injuries. Between those two players, the Pacers are losing 27.1 points and 13.6 assists per game from last season. Nembhard is coming off a season where he recorded a career-high 10 points, 3.3 rebounds and five assists per game. His usage is going to shoot up.
Pascal Siakam, Bennedict Mathurin and Aaron Nesmith should handle the majority of the scoring, leaving Nembhard as the best option for a playmaker on the roster. In 43 games played without Haliburton, Nembhard averages 13 points, 2.6 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game.
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