OKC Thunder players and sleepers to draft in NBA fantasy league
Round 3: Fred VanVleet
I won’t argue VanVleet is a smart selection in this spot. The Raptors guard is already underrated (he should’ve been an All-Defense team) and will undoubtedly have a larger role with Lowry’s exit and Pascal Siakam’s absence for at least the first month due to offseason shoulder surgery.
I’m also a big advocate of OG Anunoby taking a big leap this season and suspect Nick Nurse will employ some new schemes this season with his uber long and talented defensive roster. Anunoby looks great in preseason showing off a greater offensive versatility and ballhandling.
Hot take: Toronto will be a top-five defensive club and will recognize upticks in key statistical categories. If your fantasy league rewards steals and blocks make sure you have at least one Raptors player on your team (Precious Achiuwa is another great dark horse late pick).
Round 4: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Jrue Holiday
There is something to be said for a defending champion. The OKC Thunder got a taste of it in their preseason match. Invariably, the champs have a swagger that carries over and as such, it won’t be surprising if each of Antetokounmpo, Holiday, and Middleton deliver career-best statistics this season.
Snellings offered the following for Gilgeous-Alexander:
"Holiday and Gilgeous-Alexander both have fourth round ADPs but have third-round grades in my projections-based rankings… Gilgeous-Alexander, on the other hand, is the sole proven producer on a team so deep into rebuild most of the team lacks casual name recognition. He’s already shown that he can put up major numbers in this role, however, and at only 23 years old he’s only getting better."
Although preseason games are hardly enough of a sample to showcase what the Thunder will do this season there are obvious offensive issues. The team struggled at times to score and opponents are keying in on SGA specifically. That may end up resulting in his efficiency taking a dive compared to last season, but his shot was so efficient it would be very difficult to match those levels again (not that he won’t try).
Regardless of his field goal, perimeter and free throw percentage SGA should recognize steady growth in all the core stats categories. Luguentz Dort‘s performance in Milwaukee offered hints his offense has grown. While it’s unlikely Dort will be expected to be the secondary scoring option or deliver much in the way of assists on a nightly basis he’d be a great late-round pick-up for your fantasy team.