You may’t go away a fantasy basketball draft with out taking an opportunity on no less than a number of sleepers. That will not change for the 2024-25 draft season. Right here, Dan Titus is joined by RotoWire analysts Alex Barutha and Kirien Sprecher to disclose their favourite targets with sleeper potential.
Our favourite sleeper picks at guard
Collin Sexton, Utah Jazz (Yahoo ADP: 119)
Sexton loved a mini breakout within the 2020-2021 season, however accidents and a commerce to Utah halted his momentum. That was till final 12 months when the now 25-year-old vet loved the second-best fantasy season of his six-year profession. Sexton’s effectivity (48/39/86 capturing splits) and mixture of scoring and facilitating put him on the cusp of being a top-100 participant. As soon as he moved to the beginning unit in December, his numbers improved dramatically, from 14.1 factors, 2.7 boards and three.6 assists in 22.5 minutes to 21.1 factors, 2.6 boards and 5.6 assists in 28.8 minutes per night time. The Younger Bull is penciled in because the beginning SG and, with a disrespectful ADP of 119 on Yahoo, y’all are snoozing on the most effective values in fantasy hoops. — Dan Titus
Tyus Jones, Phoenix Suns (ADP: 110)
Jones had a profession 12 months in his lone season with Washington and cracked the highest 100 gamers in eight class leagues for the primary time. He’ll have much less utilization with the star-studded Suns, however Jones is predicted to be the first level guard and may reap the advantages of elevated ground spacing. If Jones can flirt with 50/40/90 capturing splits, dish out eight-plus assists and file a steal per sport, he ought to simply clear his present ADP (110.4) even when he isn’t scoring at a excessive clip. Jones additionally has a powerful observe file of staying wholesome, enjoying no less than 65 video games in seven straight seasons, together with 70-plus appearances 4 instances. — Kirien Sprecher
Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons (ADP: 141.2)
Ivey’s first two years within the NBA have been a blended bag. He had a strong rookie season however misplaced all momentum final 12 months when Monty Williams took over as head coach and mainly determined to not play Ivey for 2 months. Now that Williams is gone and J.B. Bickerstaff is in, my hope is that the group re-focuses on Ivey being the crew’s secondary playmaker to Cade Cunningham. I nonetheless have my questions on Ivey as a shooter and defender, however it’s not usually a participant with draft pedigree and upside like Ivey is obtainable within the 140 vary in fantasy drafts. — Alex Barutha
Our favourite sleeper decide at ahead
Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets (ADP: 124.4)
The Rockets have a depth concern, however the second-year playmaking wing might be within the rotation and has proven he can stuff the stat sheet even with restricted minutes. The quickest path to enjoying time is consuming into Dillon Brooks’ function. Per Cleansing the Glass, Thompson logged 42% of his minutes at SF final 12 months and his lineups have been a +11.6 in plus-minus.
From a complicated stats perspective, what stands out most is how he is an distinctive rebounder (eightieth percentile), steals specialist (97th percentile) and playmaker (79th percentile). His jumper is a piece in progress, however Thompson offsets his inefficiency with elite ending close to the rim (71% on his makes an attempt). Thompson carries an Eleventh-round ADP, so he is nicely value a late-round decide together with his upside as a fantasy jack-of-all-trades. — Titus
Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves (ADP: 141)
McDaniels was a breakout candidate final 12 months, however he took a step again in mainly each class. The arrival of Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle might be seen as a menace to McDaniels’ standing in Minnesota following a disappointing marketing campaign. Nonetheless, all studies forward of camp recommend the Washington product will stay a key piece of the Timberwolves group.
In 2022-23, McDaniels averaged 12.1 factors, 3.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.9 shares on 52/40/74 capturing splits, good for a 76th-place end in eight-category leagues. His ADP is 141 this season. It takes some wishful considering to anticipate McDaniels to return to that sort of manufacturing, however it’s actually believable, particularly with Karl-Anthony Cities now not within the image. I’m keen to take a flier on an uber-talented teenager enjoying 30-plus minutes for a contending crew. — Sprecher
Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors (ADP: 98.2)
Kuminga was lastly given a much bigger function in the course of final season after vocalizing his displeasure with the group. After getting his level throughout, Kuminga had an amazing finish to 2023-24 that I anticipate being a jumping-off level for this season. With the departure of Klay Thompson and the disappearance of Andrew Wiggins, somebody needs to be this crew’s No. 2 possibility — all indicators level to Kuminga. Plus, Steph Curry and Draymond Inexperienced do not get any youthful. If you happen to anticipate them lacking significant time, there might be loads of nights this season when Kuminga would be the go-to man. — Barutha
Our favourite sleeper decide at heart
Karlo Matković, New Orleans Pelicans (ADP: Undrafted)
You most likely have but to listen to of Karlo, however I watched him play a number of instances within the 2024 Vegas Summer time League and he blew me away together with his athleticism, shot-blocking and comfortability from past the arc. Daniel Theis was introduced in to switch Jonas Valančiūnas, and realizing how clogged the paint will get with Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram working from the put up to mid-range areas and Dejounte Murray getting downhill, New Orleans wants ground spacers and gamers who can run in transition — each locations the place Matković thrives.
Matković’s rebounding wants work, however the rookie has the talent set to beat out Theis and provide extra versatility to the middle spot than in earlier seasons. I am fairly positive Matković will go undrafted in most leagues, however he is the deepest sleeper of the season. — Titus
Jonas Valančiūnas, Washington Wizards (ADP: 86)
In signing Valančiūnas to a three-year, $30 million deal this offseason, the Wizards appear dedicated to beginning rookie Alex Sarr at energy ahead. Valančiūnas’ function had been declining in New Orleans, however this represents a chance for him to get again to seeing minutes within the higher 20s with consistency. His utilization might be greater as nicely, given the dearth of offensive expertise on this squad. These two elements level to a possible bounceback season for Valančiūnas, who flashed top-50 upside not so way back. — Barutha
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Golden State Warriors (ADP: 127.4)
At 34 years previous, what number of minutes do you suppose Draymond Inexperienced can play at heart? Inexperienced has made greater than 55 regular-season appearances solely twice during the last 5 seasons and has averaged fewer than half-hour per sport thrice. Kevon Looney is now a full-time backup, leaving Jackson-Davis in a chief place to interrupt out.
As a rookie, Jackson-Davis performed no less than 22 minutes 24 instances, averaging 12.0 factors, 8.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.9 blocks and 0.7 steals on 72% capturing. Free-throw share is actually a priority, however with an ADP of 127, you may overlook his lone fault. It could take a while for Jackson-Davis to completely cement himself as a 20-plus-minute man, however I anticipate that to occur sooner or later this season. — Sprecher
