The NBA preseason is in the books and while basketball fans can’t wait for the real action to begin it’s worth looking back at some noteworthy performances from the exhibition schedule. While strong preseason numbers need to be kept in perspective some of them could very well provide indicators for sleeper potential heading in to the year. Here is a look at the biggest studs of the NBA preseason that are worth monitoring in fantasy basketball leagues this season.
PF/SF: Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic
Gordon averaged 16.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steals and nearly a three-point shot per game after the All-Star break last season. That mini breakout could be a strong indicator of what is to come. The Magic is expected to start Gordon at the small forward position, which could make him even more valuable in fantasy basketball leagues. Gordon has been Orlando’s best player this preseason with a combined 25 points, 13 rebounds, one block and three triples in just 35 minutes on the floor. It could be a strong sign of things to come for the 22-year-old this season. He’s still very young. The question is whether or not he’ll get an opportunity. Previous coaching staffs have kept him on the bench as he developed but the way he’s played in the preseason, it looks like it’s time for him to be unleashed.
SG: Josh Richardson, Miami Heat
Richardson’s defensive ability is by far his biggest strength but he is also capable of putting up decent offensive numbers, which is something we have seen from him in the preseason. Richardson has averaged 9.0 points, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steal and 2.0 blocks in just 24.8 minutes per contest this preseason. If he can carry those averages in to the regular season then he could emerge as a legitimate depth guard or FLEX option that could really help boost a team’s defensive stat totals in fantasy basketball leagues.
PF: Kyle Kuzma, Los Angeles Lakers
Kuzma won’t be able to maintain the numbers he has put up for the Lakers this preseason but based on his production it’s impossible to ignore him as a sleeper pick in fantasy basketball leagues. The rookie power forward has averaged a team-high 21.0 points and 2.7 three-point shots per game while shooting 56.8-percent from the field in 27.6 minutes per game during the exhibition season. Kuzma will have a difficult time shooting like that in the regular season but he will have every opportunity to contribute in his first year and all signs point towards him putting up some strong scoring numbers in his debut season.
SG: Jeremy Lamb, Charlotte Hornets
A preseason injury to Nicolas Batum has opened the door for Lamb to play big minutes throughout the first third of the NBA regular season. Lamb averaged 15.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.0 three-point shot in 30.2 minutes per game in five contests when Batum was sidelined last year and we could see similar numbers from him early on this season. Keep an eye on Lamb’s health as he missed Friday’s game with a groin injury. It’s not expected to be serious but he did also miss Wednesday’s game. He might start the season being rested until he’s fully healthy.
PF: Derrick Favors, Utah Jazz
Favors finally looks healthy again and it’s expected he will have a larger role in the Utah offense following the departure of Gordon Hayward. They are going to need someone to step in and fill the scoring void left by Hayward and Favors could be one of the beneficiaries.
There is an obvious injury risk when you take Favors in fantasy basketball leagues but if he slides far enough in your fantasy basketball league draft then it might make sense to take a chance on him. He’s stated multiple times that he was playing on one leg last year, which is what hampered his numbers. If that’s true, he has plenty of upside. There is obvious boom or bust potential with the former third overall pick but there is enough upside to like him as a late round sleeper pick following a strong preseason for the Jazz.
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