Last week we covered the Atlantic Division in our search for fantasy sleepers in the upcoming NBA season. Our quest for hidden fantasy value continues this week as we wrap up the Eastern Conference with the Central Division. The division took a hit this summer as the Pacers and Bulls lost their superstars. Luckily for fantasy owners, moves like that can create opportunities for other talent. Whether it’s from incoming players or veterans who will have more of an impact, superstar trades will always create fantasy opportunity. Those two trades are no exception, as the Pacers and Bulls look to replace an immense amount of production.
Kris Dunn, Chicago Bulls
Last season was essentially a lost year for Kris Dunn. He received only 17.1 minutes per game and played on a team that had some serious spacing issues. That should change this year as he moves to Chicago to be the lead guard for the Bulls. He should start immediately with Zach LaVine unlikely to be ready by the season opener. Once LaVine returns, he will most likely start next to Dunn, rather than instead of him. This, of course, assumes Dwyane Wade takes a major backseat as the Bulls launch into a full blown rebuild.
Dunn will have the luxury of having LaVine and Lauri Markkanen next to him in the starting lineup by midseason. With the incredible shooting ability of LaVine and Markkanen, the lane should open up for Dunn to attack the rim. He’ll have the opportunity to grow his game next to the type of players he needs to be surrounded with to succeed. Dunn will need to develop his offensive game, but he’s already a quality contributor defensively. In limited minutes last year, Dunn averaged a steal per game. With his increase in minutes and expected development, there’s no reason Dunn can’t be a fantasy contributor this season, with the upside to be much more.
Derrick Rose, Cleveland Cavaliers
[the_ad id=”384″]It’s been a rough summer for the Cavaliers, with Kyrie Irving demanding a trade, and Kevin Pritchard reportedly nixing a trade at the last second that would have landed Paul George in Cleveland. Strapped for cap space, the Cavaliers didn’t have many avenues to improve, but they were able to add a potential starting point guard at the veteran’s minimum in Derrick Rose. With Irving wanting to leave, it made sense for Cleveland to add a guard who can start if he goes. Rose is just that, and possibly more. The former league MVP never regained his footing in the league after suffering an ACL tear in 2012. Luckily for him, he’s landing in the perfect spot to play his best since the injury.
Even if Irving stays, Rose should be able to be a solid fantasy contributor next season. He will most likely be the first guard off the bench and lead the Cavaliers’ second unit. That will allow him to maintain his high usage rate and stuff the stat sheet. If Irving leaves, Rose becomes the starter for one of the best offensive teams in the NBA. His scoring ability and his ability to get to the hoop will make up a lot of his fantasy value, although he also rebounds the ball well for a guard.
Thon Maker, Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks were fairly inactive this offseason, so their fantasy sleeper must come from a player developing from within. Thon Maker fits that bill perfectly, and he really started to show why in the playoffs this past season. Maker averaged 5.8 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game, and two assists per game in the playoffs. That may not seem like much, but it was in 19.3 minutes per game, which shows that Milwaukee may be ready to trust him with a larger role. Since they gave him those minutes in the most important games of the season, there’s no reason to believe that won’t carry over to this coming season.
Maker also fits exceptionally well with the Bucks’ starting unit. He can stretch the floor on offense. That is vital for a team headed by Giannis Antetokounmpo because of his poor shooting ability. Maker should get starters minutes this year, which will allow him to get more shots up. Per 36 minutes last year, he averaged 14.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.8 made threes. While I don’t expect him to average those numbers yet, he should be able to get around 75 percent of those stats. His fantasy value is even greater when you consider where his contribution comes from. The fact that he can make threes and secure blocks greatly increases his fantasy contributions and makes him an easy sleeper choice.
Lance Stephenson, Indiana Pacers
This pick may be a surprise, but Lance Stephenson is primed for a resurgence as a key fantasy contributor. Stephenson is back in Indiana, where he first began his NBA career. With Paul George and Jeff Teague gone, Stephenson will have an opportunity to step in as the team’s primary ball handler. He will reportedly see minutes as the team’s point guard, which only increases his fantasy value. Stephenson loves to stuff the stat sheet, and with the ball in his hands, it can only increase his desire to do just that.
In his last full season in Indiana, Stephenson averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. That was four years ago, but Stephenson will still be only 27 years old when the season begins. It would not be a surprise to see him get to those numbers again, thanks to an atrocious Pacers roster that lacks a go-to scorer. Stephenson has an alpha dog personality on the court, which helps his fantasy value, even if it hurts his basketball value. If Stephenson is given the reins to the Pacers offense, he has the chance to be one of the best breakout fantasy stars in the league this year.
Avery Bradley, Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons made a surprising move this offseason when they chose to renounce restricted free agent Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Of course, the move was made possible thanks to their trade for Avery Bradley, who is set up to have a breakout season in a contract year. Bradley is likely to see only a slight uptick in his minutes, if any, but that doesn’t affect his upside. He’ll be the best guard on the floor for the Pistons whenever he is there, and his offensive statistics should benefit.
Bradley should see an increase in his usage, which should increase both his scoring and his assist numbers. Bradley has a chance to average 20 points per game in Detroit, mostly because they have very limited offensive options. He’s a 36.6 percent career shooter from deep, who took five threes per game last season. That was playing next to Isaiah Thomas, who was fairly ball-dominant. Now in Detroit, he should have the keys to the offense, allowing him to become more of a facilitator and scorer than he was in Boston. While Bradley was already a quality fantasy starter, he has the chance to become a fantasy star this season in Detroit.