2009-2010 NBA Fantasy Sleepers

With the 2009-2010 NBA season on the horizon, fantasy drafts are heating up. Bona fide superstars are key to a successful season, but its the role players that will be the glue that holds your team together over the long haul. As experienced fantasy fiends know, value is the key to drafting a championship contending group. By definition, a sleeper is a player who flies under the radar – one that is picked in the mid to later rounds. If you expend an early pick on one of these unheralded contributors, they are sleepers no more. Utilize your early picks on proven veterans who you can trust week in and week out. As the the talent pool begins to run dry, check out these players who will be available in later rounds and will give you valuable depth that every formidable fantasy squad needs.

Aaron Brooks, Houston PG
Brooks is a matchup problem for most NBA point guards based on his speed alone. His ability to break down defenses was on display in the playoffs last year, something that he will only get better at. With Yao out for the season and Ron Artest in LA, AB will be needed to carry some of the scoring load so you should see his PPG go up. The third-year speedster has a decent 3-point shot and will be given the freedom to launch at will, most likely. I expect a big year out of Brooks, who should see his stats balloon as he becomes a fantasy stalwart at PG.

Joakim Noah, Chicago PF/C
His hair isn’t pretty. His game isn’t pretty. Matter of fact, nothing that Joakim Noah does on the hardwood actually looks good; but he gets the job done. If you can snag this guy deep in your draft – do it. He’ll give you everything he’s got every night on the court; that you can be sure of. This means blocks, defensive rebounds, offensive rebounds, good shooting percentage and the occasional double-digit game in points. He’s got the ability to run the floor and will see about 30 minutes a night. He’ll be overlooked in most drafts, simply because of his ugly game and mug to match.

Anthony Randolph, Golden State PF
Get your hands on this guy if you can. He showed flashes of brilliance last year in limited minutes, but that will change this year. He is slated to be the starter at power forward for the Warriors, and he will see much more court time. Randolph will be a double-double machine and doesn’t bring many negatives to the table, if at all. He should sport some impressive, broad-ranging stat lines that includes blocks, steals, rebounds and great percentages across the board. As an added bonus, look for him to average 15 points a game. He is very impressive and will run with fury in Don Nelson’s high-octane offense; not to mention all of the upside this guy possesses.

Roy Hibbert, Indiana C
The Georgetown Giant should see a boost in playing time in his sophomore season – especially if he earns the starting job at center in Indiana. An impressive preseason campaign thus far bodes well for this to come to fruition. Hibbert possesses size that is difficult to match, regardless of who guards with him. He’ll fill the stat sheet with blocks, as well as rebounds of both varieties. His shooting percentage should hover around 50 percent, if not greater – and his PPG should increase, too. His back-to-the-basket post up game is underutilized in today’s game, but Hibbert should prove that it still holds value in a modern, fast-paced game.

Marreese Speights, Philadelphia PF
SPEIGHTS! Love the name, love his game. The second year forward/center can be considered a sleeper in deep leagues, depending on his minutes per game. Assuming he sees 25 mpg, he’ll give you a lot of scoring at a good field goal percentage. His rebounding rate should increase if he comes into the season with better conditioning, considering his size and length.

Thaddeus Young, Philadelphia, SF
Thaddeus Young will see a ton of minutes this year for what should be a run-and-gun Sixers squad. Philadelphia sports an athletic starting five that suits Young’s game well. Expect to see an abundance of fast breaks with Young, Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams at the helm. The upside here is huge, and a good preseason has built the hope that Young builds on a strong finish to the season last year. He has good size for a small forward, standing at 6’8″, combined with a wealth of athleticism that is hard to find, even in the NBA.

Luis Scola, Houston PF/C
There will be multiple players who’s fantasy value will surge because of the absence of Yao Ming – but none more than Luis Scola. This guy has proven his value in the NBA, as well as at the international level. The crafty Argentinian won’t contribute to your block totals or free throw percentage, but won’t hurt you in any other areas. He shoots a high percentage from the field, mostly because of his skills near the basket. He has an unorthodox offensive game that is hard for bulkier power forwards to keep up with. His jump shot isn’t bad either and he has a knack for rebounding. The opportunity is there, and so is the skill – Scola should be a nice addition to any fantasy team this year.

Paul Millsap, Utah PF
Regardless of the Boozer situation in Utah, Paul Millsap will be relevant in the fantasy realm again this year. Millsap defines the term workhorse. He’s a smart player who took advantage of increased playing time last year when Boozer was out for an extended stretch. Millsap will give you an abundance of offensive rebounds, points, field goal percentage, as well as a steal per game. If Boozer is dealt, Millsap will be the starter for the Jazz and his production will skyrocket. Be sure to check out this situation before your drafts.

Other Notables:

Kevin Love, Minnesota PF; Jason Thompson, Sacramento PF/C; Carl Landry, Houston PF; Courtney Lee, New Jersey SG; Mike Miller, Washington SG/SF; Sam Young, Memphis SF