With the NBA Finals tipping off on Thursday, we're taking a brief detour from our Way-Too-Early Mock Draft series to spotlight some dynasty league sleepers.
These six dynasty basketball sleepers represent the perfect blend of opportunity, talent, and upside that could make them league-winning picks next season and for years to come. (Statistics as of June 3, 2025)
1. Onyeka Okongwu
(C, Atlanta Hawks)
2024-25 stats: 13.4 PPG, 8.9 RPG
2.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG
56.7 FG%, 32.4 3P%, 75.9 FT%
After backing up Hawks center Clint Capela for his first four-and-a-half NBA seasons, Onyeka Okongwu finally took over the starting role in mid-January and shined the rest of the way. Over the last 40 games, Okongwu averaged 15.0 PPG and 10.1 RPG, solidifying his spot in the Hawks’ lineup going forward.
Okongwu capably replaced Capela’s elite rebounding, especially on the offensive end, finishing top-ten league-wide in that area at 3.0 per game. After taking over the starting spot, he also showcased skills we haven’t seen from Capela, including 1.2 SPG and nearly a three-pointer per game at 36.2%.
Capela’s minutes declined sharply in 2024-25, his first season not averaging a double-double since 2016-17, and he missed significant time down the stretch with a hand injury. An unrestricted free agent this offseason, Capela is expected to move on from Atlanta, freeing up additional responsibilities for Okongwu.
Still just 24 years old with plenty of experience over five seasons, Okongwu is in line for top-ten center production for the foreseeable future.
2. Isaiah Collier
(PG, Utah Jazz)
2024-25 stats: 8.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG
6.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.2 BPG
42.2 FG%, 24.9 3P%, 68.2 FT%
Over his first two seasons, Keyonte George has not done much to lock down the point guard slot in Utah. He shot identical 39.1% rates from the field his first two seasons and may have been the worst individual defender in the league, according to advanced metrics.
The basement-dwelling Jazz experimented with rookie Isaiah Collier as the starter beginning in January and some of the results were promising. Over a stretch of 37 consecutive games as the starting point guard from late January to early April, Collier averaged 12.0 PPG and 7.7 APG while shooting 45.8 FG%.
Collier was significantly worse than George from distance, shooting just 24.9 3P% on the season, and was not a major improvement defensively, but showed flashes of elite playmaking and improvement as a shooter down the stretch. Collier easily led all rookies in APG and his assist-to-usage ratio far outpaced George, who is known as a passer.
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The Jazz could use the fifth pick in the upcoming draft to add another point guard in Jeremiah Fears or Kasparas Jakucionis, but if they go another direction, Collier has a great chance at a solid sophomore season.
3. Bub Carrington
(PG, Washington Wizards)
2024-25 stats: 9.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG
4.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG
40.1 FG%, 33.9 3P%, 81.2 FT%
It was an up-and-down rookie season for Bub Carrington of the Eastern Conference-worst Washington Wizards, but he had some exciting stretches and ended the season strong. Over the final 11 games, Carrington averaged 14.8 PPG, 6.6 APG, and 4.9 RPG, while taking care of the ball (2.2 turnovers per game).
Carrington’s three-point shooting was particularly impressive, as he converted 2.7 per game on 41.1% over that same span, and finished the season tied for the rookie lead with 138 makes.
An extremely young team with little to no expectations for next season, Washington will give Carrington every opportunity to form a promising core with Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr.
4. Jaylen Wells
(SG, Memphis Grizzlies)
2024-25 stats: 10.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG
1.7 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.1 BPG
42.5 FG%, 35.2 3P%, 82.2 FT%
Jaylen Wells was the rookie who matched Carrington’s three-point total, displaying a solid shooting stroke throughout the season. Wells slotted into the Grizzlies’ starting lineup almost immediately and held onto that spot the whole season, quite a feat for a second-round pick on a Play-In team.
An All-Rookie First Team selection, Wells shined as a perimeter three-and-D role player and also showed signs of an expanded scoring skill set, shooting 62.5% on limited looks in the 10-16 feet range.
In terms of fantasy relevance, Wells does not provide much outside of scoring, but the value he has already displayed on both ends of the court should be enough to earn him the playtime and experience he needs to develop in other areas. A scary fall took him out in early April, but Wells is expected to make a full recovery and can easily come back stronger in year two.
5. Julian Strawther
(SF, Denver Nuggets)
2024-25 stats: 9.0 PPG, 2.2 RPG
1.3 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.2 BPG
43.2 FG%, 34.9 3P%, 82.2 FT%
Game Six of the Western Conference Semifinals was the first time many had heard of Julian Strawther, as the second-year player made 3-of-4 threes to help keep Denver alive after averaging just 2.4 PPG in the playoffs to that point. It also may have been an audition for the starting small forward role next season.
With Michael Porter Jr. set to earn over $38 million next season, the Nuggets are rumored to be exploring a trade this offseason in exchange for more depth around Nikola Jokic. Porter Jr. could be replaced externally, but Strawther has a chance to take his spot after showing strong development in year two, especially in terms of efficiency.
He has plenty of areas that need significant improvement, including defense first and foremost, but Denver certainly has a reputation for developing fringe talents into starring role players. If Strawther can come anywhere close to matching teammate Christian Braun’s third-year jump, his value will skyrocket.
6. Ryan Dunn
(SF, Phoenix Suns)
2024-25 stats: 6.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG
0.8 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.5 BPG
43.0 FG%, 31.1 3P%, 48.7 FT%
In a forgettable season for the Phoenix Suns, rookie Ryan Dunn was one of the few positives, taking the final sport among our Under-the-Radar Dynasty Assets for 2025-26. With a 7’1 wingspan, Dunn emerged as a highly versatile defensive stopper and his offense came along as his responsibilities increased.
After posing a minimal threat from deep most of the season, Dunn got hot in late March, converting at least two three-pointers in eight straight games. Dunn’s steals and rebounding also shot up late in the season and he closed the year with back-to-back double-doubles, including a 26 and 11 showing on April 11.
With the defensive prowess to justify more playtime next season, and the three-point shooting, rebounding, and steals upside he has already demonstrated, Dunn should be a valuable commodity in dynasty formats.