The shooting guard position in fantasy basketball can be somewhat deceptive because while it appears there is a deep talent pool available, the reality is that once the top few names are off the boards, it becomes really difficult to find a top talent. It should help fantasy general managers that there are a number of underrated shooting guards coming off strong seasons that could fly under the radar heading in to next year’s NBA fantasy drafts. Here is a look at four NBA shooting guards on the rise.
Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
The days of NBA fantasy GM’s selecting Lance Stephenson ahead of Butler are in the past and you can add the latter’s name to the list of players that have the potential to put up elite numbers next season. Butler averaged 20.0 points, 3.0 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game for Chicago during the regular season and, at 25 years old, he is only now entering in to the prime of his career.
Factor in that the Bulls might hire a more offensive-minded coach in lieu of the defense-oriented Tom Thibodeau, and Butler’s stock could continue to climb. The Bulls have done an excellent job building a contending team in the Eastern Conference with Butler as one of their core pieces and he should be considered a shooting guard on the rise looking forward to next year.
Kyle Korver, Atlanta Hawks
Korver has been very inconsistent throughout this year’s playoffs but he earned an All-Star nod for a reason. In fantasy, he is still a very underrated commodity at the position. Korver averaged 12.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.9 three-point shots per game throughout the regular season. While his three-point percentage has been down throughout the playoffs, that won’t matter next year when he is getting the opportunity to beat up on some of the weaker teams in the Eastern Conference. Korver won’t be selected among the top players at the shooting guard spot but he is worth keeping an eye on as a shooting guard on the rise next season.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Detroit Pistons
The eighth-overall pick from the 2013 NBA Draft took a major step forward for the Pistons this year when he averaged 12.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.9 three-point shots per game for Detroit. At just 22 years old, Caldwell still hasn’t reached his ceiling in terms of potential but the fact that the Pistons are willing to lean on him and surround him with the support he needs to succeed provides even more indication of his future upside. It’s worth noting that KCP’s post-All-Star numbers were better than pre All-Star and that has to do with Reggie Jackson’s arrival. These two are set in stone as the Pistons back court and playing with real point guard has helped KCP’s value.
Caldwell-Pope doesn’t deserve to be considered in the same class as either Butler or Korver just yet but he will be a sneaky draft pick at the SG position – particularly in keeper leagues where fantasy GM’s can keep him for future seasons as he continues to improve his game.
Rodney Hood, Utah Jazz
Hood is another former first-round pick with high upside that should get every opportunity to play more minutes this season. It will be interesting to see how quickly he progresses looking forward to 2016 when he has the potential to be a deep sleeper pick. Hood averaged 8.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game for the Jazz this season but his averages improved after the All-Star break when he recorded 11.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 three-point shots per game down the final stretch. And in the 21 games he started, he averaged 12.7 points per game with 2.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.6 threes and 0.9 steals.
Hood’s numbers should continue to improve as a core player on a young Utah team, so keep an eye on him as a shooting guard on the rise looking forward to the 2016 NBA season.
