Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry and James Harden are bound to be the top players off the board in almost every NBA fantasy draft this fall and for obvious reasons. However, while the top picks are easy to pick out there is a small group of sleeper fantasy basketball assets available in later rounds that contribute across the board, which can have an underrated impact on the way that a team performs. Here is a look at the top fantasy basketball assets that can contribute across the board in NBA fantasy as players that do it all.
SF: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
There has been a lot of talk over the years about Leonard being the most complete all-around star in the NBA and the numbers support the idea that he is. Leonard averaged 21.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.0 block per game last season and his ability to contribute across the board made him an underrated NBA fantasy asset. Leonard is still just 25-years-old and he is only now entering his prime. That means he will have the potential to be even better in 2016-17 and it won’t surprise anybody if Leonard is in the MVP conversation for the Spurs.
C: Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies
Gasol will be back for a Memphis team that he is the perfect fit with based on his all-around ability. The veteran big man averaged 16.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steal per game last season and we are fully expecting him to produce similar numbers this season. He’s actually coming off a downer of a year as he only played in 52 games. Remember that in 2014-15, he averaged 17.4 points per game while collecting 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.6 blocks, 4.3 free throws and 0.9 steals. Those are incredible numbers but after an injury-plagued campaign, some people are forgetting about one of the better centers in the NBA.
Gasol’s ability to contribute across the board makes him an underrated fantasy asset and at 31-years-old, he should have at least a couple of productive years left in him.
C: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
Towns made an immediate impact as the Rookie of the Year award winner in 2015-16 when he averaged 18.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.7 blocks per game as a 20-year-old. Towns should be even better with another year of experience and growth as an NBA player. What you have to love about Towns is how he finished the season. Before the All-Star break, he averaged 17.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.4 assists and 2.7 free throws. After the break, he averaged 20.8 points per game with 11.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.4 blocks, 0.9 steals and 2.8 free throws. As you can see, he delivers in almost every category except for three-pointers. He really looks like he’ll be a stud for the Timberwolves in and NBA fantasy.
The Timberwolves have the potential to be one of the most improved teams in the association this coming season and Towns should thrive as a fantasy asset that can contribute in a number of areas across the board.
PG: Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies
It won’t surprise anybody that the Grizzlies are represented twice on this list with Conley in the mix as a veteran point guard that has thrived at both ends of the floor. That’s why Conley got such a huge contract in the offseason. He’ll need to stay healthy in order to prove his value next season after he appeared in just 56 games a year ago. Conley averaged 15.3 points, 6.1 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game last season but the potential is there for him to put up even better NBA fantasy numbers if he can stay healthy in 2016-17.
PG/SG: Kent Bazemore, Atlanta Hawks
Bazemore could very well be one of the most underrated fantasy assets in the NBA right now based on the production he put up in limited minutes a year ago. Bazemore averaged 11.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals in just 27.8 minutes per game coming off the bench for the Hawks a year ago. There is every indication his production will improve with more minutes for Atlanta following Jeff Teague’s exit so keep an eye out for Bazemore as an underrated fantasy asset that can o it all contributing across the board.
