Fansided

2017-18 fantasy basketball preview: Sleepers to target

By Bryan Toporek

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 27: Darren Collison #7, Buddy Hield #24 and Skal Labissiere #3 of the Sacramento Kings face off against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 27, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 27: Darren Collison #7, Buddy Hield #24 and Skal Labissiere #3 of the Sacramento Kings face off against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 27, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 2: Marcus Smart
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 2: Marcus Smart /

Marcus Smart, PG/SG, Boston Celtics (Rank: 95; ADP: 117.0)

Let’s get this straight: Marcus Smart finished as the 115th-ranked player on a per-game basis in nine-category leagues last season despite shooting just 35.9 percent overall and starting only 24 games behind Avery Bradley. This season, Bradley now plays for the Detroit Pistons, Smart has two new All-Star teammates in Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward who will draw away defensive attention, and he’s still an elite late-round source of steals with 3-pointers, points, assists and rebounds sprinkled in as well.

With all of that in mind, how is his ADP lower than where he finished last year?

If you’re in a rotisserie league, Smart is less enticing due to his horrendous field-goal percentage — he has yet to shoot above 36.7 percent in any of his three seasons — but he also isn’t a high-volume shooter. This isn’t like Kobe Bryant jacking up 20-plus shots per game in his final few seasons. Smart will undeniably hurt you in that category barring drastic improvement on his end, but he’ll help make up for that with his well-rounded output elsewhere.

If you snag a high-efficiency big man such as Rudy Gobert, DeAndre Jordan or Hassan Whiteside early on, they can help mitigate the damage Smart does to your squad’s field-goal percentage. Those who construct a roster to account for that weakness will be ecstatic to land Smart in the 10th or 11th round of 10-team drafts.

Next: Josh Richardson, SG, Miami Heat

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