My Sleeper NBA Draft: Get My Guys, Leave Room for Upside

By Michael ChenPublished 2026-10-20

This was a 12-team draft with third-round reversal, and I was drafting from the 10th spot. The third round ran in the same direction as the second before the draft went back to alternating. That gave me picks 10, 15 and 27 to start.

I was mostly reacting to the board in this draft. I wanted to get my guys, but I wasn't trying to follow a rigid plan for every round.

The two things I did want to avoid were taking too many centers early and filling the end of my roster with players whose ceiling didn't really interest me. There are only so many center spots on the fantasy team, and I thought there would be good options later. With the late picks, I'd rather go for potential than a known mediocre option.

That doesn't mean I love every pick now. There are a couple I'd reconsider. But this was the thinking behind all 13.

Pick 10: Cooper Flagg

I liked what Flagg did last season, and I think he can take another step. He's still developing, and I liked the idea of him playing next to Kyrie with some of the pressure taken off him.

I was more worried about the competition for usage with some of the other players around this pick. With Maxey, I was thinking about new and returning teammates taking touches. With Scottie Barnes, I was thinking about Kawhi. Flagg was the one I wanted to bet on continuing to improve.

Pick 15: Jamal Murray

Jamal was already a strong fantasy performer last year, and I didn't think enough had changed to expect that to suddenly go away. If anything, I thought Peyton Watson's departure could help him.

There were other big names available, including Donovan Mitchell, Alperen Sengun and Anthony Davis. I preferred Jamal's situation and what I expected him to give me again this season.

Pick 27: LaMelo Ball

LaMelo playing a lot of games last season mattered to me. I also liked what I expected his role in Minnesota to look like.

I see him as the main playmaker in a better offense, with more help around him. He shouldn't have to do everything himself. I'm hoping that means he can preserve himself a bit more while still getting plenty of assists and keeping that high ceiling.

Pick 46: Jaren Jackson Jr.

My thinking with Jaren was that Utah traded for him, so I expected them to use him. I liked the role I thought he would have in that frontcourt and the players around him.

Looking back, I probably should have taken Lauri Markkanen, who went at 47. But I don't mind either. It's more that I'd lean Lauri if I were making the choice again, not that I hate having Jaren.

Pick 51: Dejounte Murray

Dejounte was a sleeper pick for me. I liked what I had seen from him in limited minutes coming back from the Achilles injury, and I was betting on what he could do fully healthy.

That's the main reason I wanted him here. I think he can perform really well if he gets back to full health.

Pick 70: Matas Buzelis

I reached a bit for Buzelis. I know that.

But I liked how much he developed last season, and I think having Giddey as a playmaker is a good fit for him. He's still young and improving. I'm also hoping he stays healthy. This was a player I wanted to take a chance on, even if it meant going a little earlier than I otherwise would have.

Pick 75: Nickeil Alexander-Walker

I saw last season as a breakout for Alexander-Walker after changing teams, and I didn't see a big reason for that to stop. My view was that he'd already performed much better than the price I was getting him at.

This wasn't really about needing another leap. I was mostly betting on him keeping it up.

Pick 94: Alex Sarr

I wasn't especially high on Sarr, but I liked the potential at this point in the draft.

I was thinking about what his opportunity could look like if Anthony Davis missed time or was traded. I also liked the idea of Trae Young feeding him while he continued to develop. I was betting on more room opening up for him, not treating that as something guaranteed to happen.

Pick 99: Darryn Peterson

This is one I regret a bit. I still think Peterson has a high ceiling and plenty of room to develop as a rookie. My concern is how much opportunity he gets right away.

Utah already has Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. That's a lot of talent on the same roster. I think it could be hard for Peterson to get the kind of role I'd want from him immediately, even if I still like his long-term potential.

Pick 118: Keegan Murray

I was looking for a bounce-back from Keegan after an injury-filled season. With DeMar and Russell no longer in the Kings picture I was looking at, I expected him to have the ball more.

At 118, I thought he could easily outperform where I drafted him. The bet was on better health and more opportunity.

Pick 123: Cameron Johnson

Cam was another bounce-back pick. I thought injuries hurt him last season, but I still liked the fit as a spacer next to Jokic.

With more time to mesh with the team, I expected things to go better. I liked the chance of a bounce-back season in that situation.

Pick 142: Cason Wallace

I took Wallace expecting him to be the starting shooting guard. It was a flier on what he could do with that role.

I don't have huge expectations. This was just another spot where I preferred taking a chance on potential late in the draft.

Pick 147: Daniel Gafford

Gafford was more of a short-term pick. With the injuries I was looking at in Dallas' frontcourt, I hoped he could give me a few good weeks to start the season.

After that, I'd probably swap him out. I wasn't drafting him because I expected to hold him all year. I wanted the early production I thought might be available.

Where I landed

I got players I wanted, left centers until later and took some chances toward the end. Some picks were about getting more of what a player had already shown. Others were about development, a bounce-back or a bigger role.

I already have second thoughts about Peterson, and I'd probably take Lauri over Jaren if I had that choice again. But I'd still rather take a few late chances on players who could give me more than fill those spots with players I don't expect much from.