With the 2017-18 NBA season upon us, fantasy basketball league managers are scrambling to build the perfect teams for this season. While everybody is gunning for the top picks on the board, it’s the sneaky sleeper picks that most fantasy GM’s might not forecast that could make the biggest difference between winning and losing in your league. Here is a look at one sleeper fantasy basketball option for each Northwest Division team.
Joe Ingles, Utah Jazz
Rodney Hood is getting the bulk of the attention in Utah. However, with such a high average draft position the love for Hood has created a situation where his value has decreased based on where he is being selected. Meanwhile, one name that continues to fly under the radar for the Jazz is Ingles. Ingles finished second on the team in three-point shots and assists despite posting one of the lowest usage rates in Utah last season. With a greater opportunity to contribute, Ingles could be a decent sleeper option for the Jazz this season.
Patrick Patterson, Oklahoma City Thunder
Patterson was getting a lot of attention from poolies before the trade for Carmelo Anthony. While another quality scorer takes some more touches away from the veteran big man, he could still be a sneaky good contributor in Oklahoma City this season. Patterson averaged a career-high 1.4 three-point shots per game last season so his value is even higher in leagues that count three-point shots. Patterson could turn out to be the fourth or fifth-best fantasy option on a talented Thunder team in the Northwest Division.
Maurice Harkless, Portland Trail Blazers
Harkless averaged just under 29 minutes per game for the Trail Blazers last season but could see a lot more opportunity now that Allen Crabbe has been traded to the Brooklyn Nets. One of the main reasons why the Trail Blazers were willing to part with Crabbe just one year after giving him the huge contract is because the analytics show that they were a better team with Harkless on the court instead of Crabbe.
Evan Turner will play some minutes at the small forward position but the opportunity is there for Harkless to see an increase in playing time as well. Considering he was a top-100 option in standard leagues a year ago, Harkless could be a decent sleeper option in Northwest Division this season.
Gary Harris, Denver Nuggets
Nine players knocked down more than 100 three-point shots while shooting over 50-percent from the floor last season. Harris is one of them. His efficiency increased as the season went on and he produced an underrated fantasy stat line. Harris averaged 17.0 points, 3.3 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 three-point shots per game. Harris still has enough left in the tank to be a capable fantasy option so it’s worth taking a chance on him if he is still available late in your draft.
There’s a reason the Nuggets just signed Gary Harris to a four-year, $84 million extension. They think very highly of him and if you’re playing fantasy basketball this year, you should too.
Jeff Teague, Minnesota Timberwolves
While Teague isn’t going to fall too far in fantasy basketball league drafts, his perceived value has taken somewhat of a hit after his move to Minnesota. The reality is that poolies are way too down on Teague following the move. He is an excellent scorer and he might actually be an underrated passer after dishing out the sixth-most assists in the entire league dating back to the 2012-13 season.
Take a look at the roster around him as he moves into the Northwest Division. While he didn’t have much to work with in Indiana last year, this is a completely different story. The Timberwolves acquired Jimmy Butler and have added him to a lineup that includes Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. Teague should be able to pile up the assists. At the same time, he’s not going to see much defensive attention as he’ll be the fourth man that opposing defenses try to stop. Teague could be an excellent value in the middle rounds of fantasy basketball league drafts.
The 2017 NBA futures are out. It’s been a wild offseason already, but keep an eye on the betting lines as they move around at Diamond Sportsbook! Get the latest NBA betting lines right here.
