We continue our fantasy sleeper pick analysis by switching conferences from the East to the West. Identified for your fantasy draft considerations are another four players that went undrafted in leagues last year.
Each of these players is a bona-fide contributor; they just need to crack their teams starting lineups. If these players can get legitimate minutes their production will soar and you will look like a fantasy GM genius.
Kawhi Leonard – San Antonio Spurs
This second-year player out of San Diego State figures to play a more prominent role with the San Antonio Spurs this season. In his first season in the League, Leonard cracked a reigning Champions line-up and managed to get 24 minutes of court time out of Gregg Popovich.
In a recent NBA.com interview Popovich heaped praise on Kawhi. Popovich is a coach of few words when it comes to interviews so when he states publicly that “Kawhi Leonard is going to be a star” and that “he’ll be the face of the Spurs”, that “he’s a very special player” and “that he’s going to be something else”; well I think Ol’ Popovich is a pretty good judge of talent.
All this being said, look for Leonard’s court time and productivity to increase. Already averaging 8 ppg and 5 rpg; look for Kawhi to have a breakout season. A late round pick for this small forward would not be a waste at all. If you are in a keeper league, this might be the year to snag him. If you wait till next season the hype machine will be in full-swing.
Isaiah Thomas – Sacramento Kings
Here is another second-year player fighting for some court time. He starting only 37 games last season, and averaging only 25 minutes a game; despite that, Thomas was seriously impressive. As a rookie, he averaged 11.5 ppg and 4.1 apg. Thomas’s 36 minute per game averages leap to 16.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
Sacramento went out and signed Aaron Brooks this off-season to play point guard. I have to figure this is nothing more than an insurance policy and that the starting spot will be Thomas’s to lose in training camp.
This Sacramento team might not win many games, but they should play some exciting up-tempo basketball. I really like this kid from Washington; while he might not quite meet his 36 minute averages, he is easily a top 15 pick at point guard. I would actually go higher if necessary to get this kid; his stock is rising quickly.
Jason Thompson – Sacramento Kings
Another up-and-comer for the Sacramento Kings scrounging for minutes is Jason Thompson. Drafted 12th overall in the 2008 NBA entry draft by Sacramento, Thompson is already considered a veteran on this young Kings squad.
Last season was a down year for Thompson as his minutes were widely inconsistent. Head coach Keith Smart seems to have an odd-approach to determining player rotations. One stretch saw Thompson post five consecutive double-double games, followed by two with zero minutes.
Thompson figures to get playing time at the center position behind DeMarcus Cousins as well as at the power forward spot. Given his ability to score and rebound the ball, look for Thompson’s minutes to increase slightly to around 28 per game.
I like Thompson as a late round pick, only at the center position; if he plays some forward then it’s a bonus. With a combustible Cousins starting, you never know when Thompson will find himself in that starter’s role.
Derrick Favors – Utah Jazz
The time has come in Utah to get this guy into the starting rotation. Stuck for now behind Paul Millsap at the power forward spot; Favors will start the season in a reserve role again. Hopefully last season’s playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs opened some people’s eyes to what Favors can do. He averaged a near double-double for the series, while still coming off the bench.
Millsap is in the final year of an $8 million contract, so the potential for a trade is there. Favors has two years left on his deal that pays just over half that of Millsap. Should Favors get Millsap’s minutes, he will become a double-double machine. Favors had 13 double-doubles last season in starting only 9 games.
In only 21 minutes per game last season, Favors averaged 8.8 ppg and 6.5 rpg. If Coach Tyrone Corbin can get Derrick 28-30 minutes per game; an increase in production to 11 ppg and 8.5 rpg is very realistic.
If Favors is available in your draft at the center position he is a steal of a pick in the late rounds. At the forward spot there is a lot of competition out there, but still worthy of a late round consideration. Personally, I’m really high on this guy having a breakthrough year for the Jazz.
Honorable Mention:
Pretty much everyone on the Houston Rockets: Royce White, Terrence Jones, Jeremy Lamb and Patrick Patterson can be considered sleeper picks. Until Kevin McHale figures out who is playing and where, there is a whole lot of uncertainty and potential. Someone is going to have to score and rebound outside of Jeremy Lin and Kevin Martin; identify who and you got yourself a sleeper.