RADIO
There is less than a week to go until the start of the 2015-16 NBA season. Last week on RotoBaller, we took a look at some players in new roles who are being undervalued in fantasy drafts. This week we've got even more sleepers to target for draft profit at their current values.
Fantasy Basketball Sleepers: More Undervalued NBA Players
Robert Covington (SG/SF, PHI)
During their lengthy and controversial rebuild, the Sixers have been a fantasy goldmine for quick pick-ups of overlooked players. They might not field the best roster, but the Sixers have to give minutes to someone, and minutes often lead to value. Robert Covington might be more than just a quick add, though. His length and ability to hit the three ball have earned him some staying power in the turnstile Philadelphia roster. Last season, he was able to score 13.5 points to go along with 2.4 threes and 1.4 steals.
While Covington's .396 field-goal percentage was not pretty to look at, he can shoot over 80 percent from the line, so he's not completely inefficient like back-court teammate Tony Wroten. Covington looks to be one of the few mainstays in the Philadelphia roster, and his fantasy contributions in threes and steals might go overlooked due to the fact that he plays for the Sixers. The Sixers complete lack of depth at the guard and wing positions also hints that Covington might see a lot more minutes this year.
Eric Gordon (SG, NO)
Despite all the injury woes Gordon's dealt with, he actually played over 60 games in each of the past two seasons. Although he hasn't topped 20 points per game since the 2011-2012 season, his peak ability has always been there, tempting fantasy owners to draft him. Past disappointments aside, this may be the year he finally puts all his injury issues behind him.
The pressure Anthony Davis puts on the opposing teams defenders allows Gordon more room to work from behind the arc. Last season, he shot .448 percent from the three point line – second only to Kyle Korver and ahead of the likes of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. With the Warriors's former associate head coach Alvin Gentry taking over in New Orleans, we could see a greater emphasis on utilizing Gordon's ability to shoot the three. If the injuries to the rest of New Oreans's back-court persist, Gordon could see a lot of usage over the coming season.
Ryan Anderson (PF/C, NO)
Watch out for Ryan Anderson this year. He’s had injuries and struggled to start over the past few seasons, but as a PF who has shown he can shoot over 40% from the three-point line on high volume, he is a valuable commodity for any NBA team. He should especially do well in Alvin Gentry’s new fast paced offense.
Anderson won’t get you much in the way of traditional big man stats. However, if you’re looking to gain some out of position threes and free-throw percentage, look no further than his average of 2.5 threes per game and .883 FT% over the last two seasons. He’s started out rusty this pre-season, but recently showed he can heat up quick, putting up 18 points and pulling down 10 rebounds against the Chicago Bulls, including 4 three-pointers. He also just scored 23 points with 11 rebounds against the Houston Rockets. As a result of his previous injuries and off-shooting year, Anderson is likely to go overlooked in many drafts. However, these injuries seem to be the exception rather than the norm, so expect the 27-year old to make it rain from deep in Gentry’s small ball lineups as he confronts his extension-eligible season.
Tyson Chandler (C, PHO)
Chandler’s reputation has suffered from a down year with the Knicks. But who can really blame him, really. The 2013-2014 Knicks were a disaster, and only look respectable in comparison to the absolute catastrophe that was the 2014-2015 season. Tyson turned it around once he was traded back to Dallas where he won his only ring. He showed that despite being age, he can still hang above the rim and anchor a defense.
His effort with the Mavericks was enough to net him a 54 million dollar contract from the Suns. The Phoenix medical staff has proven itself to be miracle workers in the past, so have faith in Tyson’s ability to stay healthy this year. Last year in Dallas, he put up 10.3 points, 11.5 boards, and 1.2 blocks shooting 66% from the field and 72% from the line. Alex Len is his only real competition for minutes, and he’ll likely benefit from playing with playmakers Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe. Tyson doesn’t really hurt your free-throw percentage, which makes him even more valuable for a center. Expect big things from the former DPOY in 2015-16.
