After covering the Southeast Division’s sleepers last week, this week we move on to the Atlantic Division. The division includes two teams fighting for a conference finals berth, one team coming to the tail end of “the process,” and two more teams who are stuck in the basement of the NBA. The varying situations of the teams in the Atlantic Division create an interesting fantasy dynamic. The sleepers for the two best teams are players who can fill roles in a fantasy lineup, while the other three could be legitimate fantasy breakout players this season. Without further ado, we begin with the reigning conference champions.
Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics
The Celtics are loaded with depth after the offseason, which puts a damper on most of their players’ fantasy values. There just aren’t enough minutes available for most of their quality players to make a large fantasy impact. However, minutes opened up at the guard with the departure of Avery Bradley, making Marcus Smart the best sleeper option on the team. He should pick up most of the minutes the team lost when they moved Bradley. That could push his minutes above the 30.4 he averaged last year.
Smart will continue to be a box score stuffer when it comes to fantasy basketball. Even if his minutes don’t increase, he’s going to be a solid contributor at worst. He’ll once again average around 10 points per game but should add value as a shooter as well. Smart is a below average shooter from deep, but his willingness to fire away will keep his three point makes high. Smart is also a good rebounder for a guard, netting about four boards per game. That number could see an increase, because the Celtics are still a bad rebounding team. There will be plenty of boards available for Smart, and his aggressiveness should help his cause on the glass.
CJ Miles, Toronto Raptors
The Raptors decided to keep their core together this offseason and make another run at the Eastern Conference Finals. The one addition they made to their lineup also doubles as their best fantasy sleeper. CJ Miles should be locked in as a starter on the wing alongside DeMar DeRozan. He’ll be relied on as one of the team’s main deep threats as soon as he steps on the floor. With DeRozan’s ability to get to the hoop, and the ball movement of the Raptors’ offense, Miles should get plenty of open looks from beyond the arc.
Miles will be the team’s third best scorer and that should cause an increase in his scoring output. While Miles doesn’t provide much in the way of assists, rebounds, and defense, his scoring should easily make him a big fantasy positive. He averaged 2.2 made threes per game over the last three years, which could increase if he gets more open looks. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Miles get closer to three made threes per game and more than 15 points per game. Miles is an ideal three-point specialist in fantasy basketball, and a higher shot volume could make him much more than that.
Richaun Holmes, Philadelphia 76ers
[the_ad id=”384″]The 76ers appear to have a fairly set starting lineup that is oozing with potential. The trio of Markelle Fultz, Ben Simmons, and Joel Embiid has as much potential as any young trio in the league. Unfortunately for Sixers fans, the most proven of the three, Embiid, has struggled with injuries. That injury concern could give Richaun Holmes immense fantasy value this season. Holmes is not as good as Embiid, but he can provide some of the same skills that Embiid does. Embiid could also miss back-to-backs this season, opening up even more opportunities for Holmes.
Holmes was able to produce in limited minutes last season, averaging 9.8 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, and a block per game. He could see an increase in the 20.9 minutes per game he played last year because of Embiid’s health and Holmes’ ability to play both the four and five. While Holmes provides an immense amount of energy, which can translate to extra points around the rim, boards, and blocks, he’s also improving as a shooter. He shot 35.5 percent from deep last year on 77 attempts, a huge step up from shooting 18.2 percent his rookie year. Holmes provides a lot of fantasy versatility, combining the attributes of a typical high-energy player with an improving jumper. All he needs now are the minutes to make him a legitimate fantasy breakout player.
Tim Hardaway Jr., New York Knicks
The Tim Hardaway contract may have been a bad deal for the Knicks, but it was perfect for his fantasy value. Hardaway enters a situation where he could be the Knicks’ primary source of offense. With Carmelo Anthony seemingly on his way out of New York, the Knicks will be in desperate need of some instant offense. Hardaway should be able to provide that sort of offensive spark. Hardaway is an above average ball handler, and a good shot maker who isn’t afraid to take difficult shots. While that sort of mentality isn’t great for a team looking to win games, it is great for a fantasy owner in need of some scoring.
Hardaway is an average shooter from deep, but that didn’t stop him from hoisting up 5.3 three-point attempts per game last year. That number should increase with the lack of scoring options in New York. Hardaway could also see an increase in his free throw attempts per game. He can attack the rim, and with the spacing of a Knicks team featuring Kristaps Porzingis, the lane should be relatively clear to attack. With Derrick Rose gone, Hardaway will be relied on as the team’s primary scoring guard, an opportunity that will give him immense fantasy value this season.
Allen Crabbe, Brooklyn Nets
The Nets will need a miracle to make the playoffs this year, but that doesn’t mean that they’re irrelevant in fantasy. They need to replace the scoring production of Brook Lopez, and the tandem of D’Angelo Russell and Allen Crabbe will be the primary options to do that. While Russell has a higher ceiling and is the more popular player, Crabbe will see the bigger boost in his fantasy output. Crabbe has the chance to be the best fantasy player in Brooklyn this season.
Crabbe will start for the Nets right away and see a bigger role than the one he had in Portland. He won’t have Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum taking 37.8 field goal attempts per game this season. While Russell likes to shoot as well (13.8 field goal attempts per game), he doesn’t do it nearly as much as the Blazers’ dynamic duo. Crabbe should see plenty of open shots thanks to Russell’s elite court vision. He could average almost 20 points per game this year, thanks to his knockdown shooting ability (41.2 percent from three for his career). I expect Crabbe to be a legitimate fantasy stud this year, and one of the best sleeper options in the NBA.