In our recent appraisal of the top sleepers, breakouts and busts for the upcoming fantasy basketball campaign, we defined a sleeper as player who will far surpass his average draft position (ADP) in standard ESPN leagues for the 2016 season. If we consider deep as something far below the surface, then our interpretation of deep sleepers can be understood as players found far below the surface, in this case past the top 120 picks in our current ADP index, who can far exceed the statistical expectations of this tier in drafts.
In going past at least the 120th pick on average in drafts, we can offer players realistically available to you in the later rounds and some names that might not even show up on our ADP list. Working the waiver wire is crucial in fantasy hoops, but it also helps to get ahead of the market by securing some intriguing assets that have the potential to become enduring values for the coming season.
With mining for value in mind, let's delve into some deep fantasy sleepers for the 2016-17 NBA season.
Eric Gordon and Clint Capela, Houston Rockets
Gordon is a career 38.3 percent shooter from beyond the arc and just one of five players over the last three seasons to average at least two made 3-pointers while shooting at least 40 percent from beyond. With some upside in the assist department beyond his elite shooting potential in a combo role for Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo, spread offense, Gordon is an ideal pick in the twilight rounds. As for Capela, he could thrive as a blocks and boards commodity with increased minutes for a team likely to challenge for the highest pace in the NBA.
Dario Saric, Philadelphia 76ers
Dario finally made it to South Philly after spending the past two years playing in Turkey. The lottery pick will see increased minutes with Ben Simmons sidelined for several months and offers rare statistical diversity in regards to assist production.
Justin Anderson, Seth Curry and Dwight Powell, Dallas Mavericks
Curry could immediately provide cheap shooting pop for investors, as he's already flashing rare efficiency from beyond the arc in the preseason for a team that desperately needs more scoring touch from the backcourt rotation. Powell reportedly bulked up this offseason after earning a massive payday from the Mavericks. If he can earn around 25 minutes per night for a thin Dallas frontcourt, Powell could become a valuable source of boards -- as he averaged 9.9 per 36 minutes last season.
The sample size from Anderson's rookie season is truly limited, as he only averaged 11.8 minutes and appeared in 55 games for the Mavericks. Dirk Nowitzki has gone out of his several times this preseason to praise Anderson's ascending game. The minutes might not be there for Anderson to merit drafting in league smaller than 12 teams, but keep an eye on his progression given the preseason buzz and the injury-prone veterans ahead of him in the backcourt.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Trevor Booker, Brookyln Nets
We already covered "RHJ" in our bold predictions piece, but as a reminder, he's a top option for sourcing steals and could provide one of the better rebounding rates at the small forward position. As for Booker, he's slated to start at power forward and this is mostly an angle for increased minutes, as he averaged a double-double using his per-36 minutes clip from last season in Utah. With Brooklyn's thin frontcourt offering Booker tons of exposure and upside on the glass, he's a fine late stash in deeper formats.
Murray could earn meaningful minutes right away in Denver with Gary Harris due to miss four-to-six weeks due to a groin injury. Late shares of this savvy shooting rookie could prove rewarding, as he's already shown an ability to lead the pick-and-roll in the preseason and bankable shooting metrics could buoy some nice nights to start the season.
James Ennis, Memphis Grizzlies
Ennis got some love from ESPN's Kevin Pelton in our staff sleepers piece mentioned above. We agree with Pelton's endorsement, as Ennis averaged 15.9 points, 2.7 3-pointers made and 1.3 steals in just over 31 minutes per game over the past nine games for Memphis last season. Glowing reports of Ennis cleaning the glass in training camp suggest he could add some statistical diversity to his line, while any player who can average more than two 3-pointers and one steal is a valuable commodity to consider late in drafts.
Kyle Anderson, San Antonio Spurs
Known as "Slo Mo" for his lack of speed, Anderson's deliberate style of play could prove truly rewarding for fantasy purposes if he ever nets increased exposure. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich wants to get him more time this season, while a thin frontcourt featuring an aging and somewhat injury-prone Pau Gasol could eventually lead to some spikes in minutes for the versatile Anderson, who can play the three, four or even run the point. As evidence of his diverse skill set, Anderson's per-36 rates last season includes 10.1 points, 6.3 boards and 1.7 steals.
Bismack Biyombo, Orlando Magic
Biyombo played more than 25 minutes 26 times for the Raptors last season and recorded at least 10 boards and two blocks in 12 of those outings. With a surge in minutes on the way this season as the lead rim protector for the Magic, Biyombo -- going 152nd on average in ESPN drafts -- is a fine source of blocks and steals for those who loaded up on guards and wings the early rounds.
Willie Cauley-Stein and Ty Lawson, Sacramento Kings
Over the final 11 games last season, Cauley-Stein averaged 30.3 minutes and delivered 11.7 points, 6.8 boards and most valuably 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. We'd like to see more rebounds given the uptick in minutes, but this Kentucky product offers helpful potential in steals and blocks -- two of the scarcest stats in all fantasy hoops.
Lawson is merely a rental, as he's due to start the first eight games of the season with Darren Collison suspended to start the season. The speedy veteran point guard was somewhat terrible on the court last season, shooting below 40 percent from the field while averaging jut 5.7 points between stints with the Rockets and Pacers. As recently as the 2014-15 campaign, though, Lawson was a fantasy stud, with nearly 10 dimes and more than 15 points per game. Lawson is a fine rental commodity for that first two weeks of the season, giving investors a buffer to seek out more enduring point guard assets from the wire over that period.