Three OKC Thunder fantasy sleepers to pick up and help win your fantasy pool.
The 2020-21 NBA season begins this evening and the OKC Thunder will start their season in Houston on Wednesday. With the season beginning it’s also time to cement your fantasy teams.
While Thunderous Intentions shared where the pundits ranked Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the fantasy drafts it’s also notably few other members of the roster are drawing much love.
In fact, ESPN only cited two players currently with the team (SGA and Al Horford) as well as Trevor Ariza in their top 200 draft selections. Ariza isn’t with the team and there isn’t any indication he’ll be joining them any time soon. It could be a similar situation to what Andre Iguodala did with the Grizzlies last season.
Iggy didn’t join the Grizzlies electing instead to stay in shape off sight until the trade deadline when he could be moved to a contender. The result was he was traded to the Heat. If the Thunder can undertake the same pattern with Ariza it’s likely that will be the goal (with another draft pick coming back in return for his services).
As TI noted there is a rational explanation for part of the equation on why only SGA and Horford are making the top 200 draft selection list. This team for all intents and purposes is completely revamped. Of the 15 players who were on the club last season, only six are back. Of those, the majority of the core contributors are gone.
Certainly, Gilgeous-Alexander‘s usage will expand, and subsequently, his overall production should blossom. Yet, to assume only SGA and Al Horford will make up the core stats of 83.7 points, 31.1 rebounds, and 17.4 assists that were lost per game is beyond a rational reach.
So as fantasy zealots complete their teams and use the analysts’ tools there won’t be Thunder players noted other than SGA, Horford, and Ariza on most. The latter as noted isn’t joining the team anytime soon so selecting him feels like a wasted pick.
As such there are Thunder players who fantasy players can get in the later rounds and might help you win your fantasy pools. The following trio is the players TI suggests for your consideration: