NBA Sleepers 2014

 One of my favorite parts of the NBA season is getting to see who's up next in the line of NBA stars. In last years NBA playoffs, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard became stars overnight as they shined in key moments. Jrue Holiday, Damian Lillard, and Kyrie Irving all showed promise with young exciting teams. Seeing guys take the leap from just another player to a guy who can change a franchise is one of the things that makes the season worth watching. Here are some of the people that I think than make those leaps this year

Derrick Favors, PF Utah; In 23 minutes per game, Favors averaged 9.4 points, 7.1 boards and 1.7 blocks and .9 steals. He was supposed to be the future of the Nets but they traded him in a blockbuster for all-star Deron Williams. For 3 years he was stuck behind Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson, who made for one of the best offensive front courts in the league. All I can say is there is a reason Utah let Jefferson, a 20-10 center, and Millsap, one of the hardest workers in the game, walk in free agency. The Jazz know Derrick Favors is ready to explode this year and finally get his chance to be the guy for this franchise. With off-the-charts efficiency, and huge upside, Favors is prime for a big year.

Eric Bledsoe, PG, Phoenix; Much like Favors, Bledsoe is another player with a ton of talent and freakish athleticism, but behind Chris Paul on the depth chart. Now he finds himself in Phoenix, with Goran Dragic, Marcin Gortat, and a bunch of mediocrity. He has the keys to the offense, so the stats will add up (yet everyone is forgetting about him in fantasy basketball!) Anyways, his efficiency is where the truth lies. Per every 36 minutes on the court last year, he averaged 14.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.4 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.3 blocks! The guy is a freak and that's all I can really say, and this year, everyone will see how good he really is. 

Andre Drummond, C, Detroit; With a great off season and good players filling out the roster, some are overlooking what Detroit already had. Drummond only played 19 minutes a game last year, so his averages were 7.9 points, 7.1 rebounds 1.0 steal and 1.6 blocks. Doesn't seem like much, but in 19 minutes, that more than most starters in the NBA. Per 36 minutes, he averaged 13 points and rebounds, 1.7 steals and 2.8 blocks. He just needed a bump in his minutes and he's getting it this year. The Pistons put young standout Greg Monroe at power forward permanently to make sure Drummond had a spot in that starting lineup, and because of it this front court will be a force for years to come. 

I'm not saying any of these guys are the next Chris Paul or Tim Duncan, but they are going to have an impact on their teams. No one is talking about any of these players, but they are oozing with potential, and people will start to take notice. These three guys are very underrated and they will be talked about much more this time next year.