RADIO
When you set out to win your league, you have to build a good team. The top picks are your foundation for success, but the true difference-makers are the sleepers that most people don't identify. These can help you get a leg up on your competition by seeing the potential in certain players before them.
Today I will be talking about some very deep sleepers for the center position. These sleepers will most likely be available towards the end of your draft for you to select. These sleepers are guys that I think will outperform their draft status this season.
Ok, now that you have the gist of what the article is going to contain, let's hop straight into my list of five very deep center sleepers for the 2023–2024 fantasy basketball season.
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Mark Williams - Charlotte Hornets
Mark Williams is a player that I'm personally very high on. I think his mix of length, athleticism, and intangibles will make him a great fantasy player this season. Williams didn't play a ton last year prior to the trade deadline, but once the starting center was traded, his minutes increased from 15.9 to 26.2. In 43 games of action, he averaged 9.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game.
Heading into this season, Williams is primed to be the Hornets starting center. With a whole season of consistent minutes, I think that Williams can easily average a double-double. He has multiple facilitators to feed him the ball anytime he is lingering around the rim. He will also be the main anchor of the Hornet's defense; although his block numbers aren't impressive, he does almost average a block and steal per game. For a center, this is very good. I really love Williams as a late-round pick, and I would go so far as to say he could easily be a good mid-round pick for your team.
Mason Plumlee - Los Angeles Clippers
After another solid year as the Hornets' starting center, Plumlee was dealt to the Clippers so that the Hornets could open up minutes for Mark Williams. After the deal, Plumlee was regulated to a backup spot behind Iviza Zubac, but he still thrived. Now that he has resigned with the Clippers, he has a full offseason to get more acclimated to guys like Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard, which should bode well in the upcoming season.
In 23 games of action with the LA Clippers, Plumlee averaged 7.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 20 minutes. I think that the versatility of Plumlee allows him to play in more lineups compared to Zubac. I think that Plumlee is the best backup center in the entire league, so I think it would be smart to prioritize him. He will consistently flirt with a double-double no matter how much playing time he gets; he is a must-get in the later rounds, in my opinion.
Isaiah Hartenstein - New York Knicks
Now this is one of my favorite players in the whole league, a hard-working hustler who is just so valuable to his team. Isaiah Hartenstein earned a contract from the Knicks after a very impressive 2021–2022 campaign with the LA Clippers. Hartenstein served as a backup last year, but he still flashed his impressive versatility on offense and defense, which quickly made him a fan favorite in New York. I don't have any indications if he will get a bigger role this year, but even if he doesn't, he will still produce, no matter what.
In all 82 games of action, Hartenstein averaged 5.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 19 minutes per game. The rebounding from Hartenstein makes him an instant impact player; his ability to track misses and create second chances is a really good skill that most bigs can't recreate. Also, his underrated durability gives you insurance just in case some of your top-end talent gets hurt. He should get some attention as a late-round pick, as he could end up making a huge difference.
Daniel Gafford - Washington Wizards
Coming into this year, I'm really excited about the endless potential of this young Wizards team, and I'm especially intrigued by what big man Daniel Gafford can do. I think that absurd athleticism and rim protection could land him another breakout season. In past years, I felt like the Wizards frontcourt was too crowded with big men, which snatched playing time away from Gafford, but he certainly won't run into that problem this year.
Last season, Gafford started 47 of 78 possible games; he averaged 9.0 points per game, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks. He also shot 73.2% from the field in 20 minutes per game. He won't have to fight for any starter minutes as he is one of the only true big men on the Wizards' entire roster. I think with a minute increase, you could see a jump from him in all statistical categories. He already has a multitude of talented facilitators, so I think once again he will be a great lob threat. Now on defense, he will once again be a great anchor and could possibly creep close to 2.0 blocks per game. I think everyone should look at Gafford as a priority once you hit the mid or late rounds of the draft.
Zach Collins - San Antonio Spurs
Lost in the very deserved Victor Wembanyama hype has been the impressive play of center Zach Collins. He impressed so much last year that he will stay as the Spurs starting center because he provides so much for them on both ends consistently. After a rocky start to his career in Portland, it seems as though he has found a permanent home in San Antonio. All of the skills that wowed scouts during his draft process have finally been unlocked, and now he will look to put together another good season.
In 63 games of action, Collins averaged 11.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 22.9 minutes per game. Collins has been a prominent part of the Spurs offense because of his unique blend of skill and shooting, so look for his role to only expand as he gets more comfortable. I know you think that his usage will decrease because of all the guys around him, but I promise he will produce. He also should see an increase in his minutes, so he should serve as a great option in mid-to-late rounds.
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