Three “sleeper” players to keep an eye out for this season

I’m excited to see almost every new addition to the team suit up and take the floor, as the increased vacancy gives most an opportunity to develop and prove themselves to this league. My anticipation largely sits on players like Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, and Ochai Agbaji. However there are a few players who I’m more excited to see than most fans:

**1:** ***Talen Horton-Tucker***

Now hear me out. I hear a lot of people write Talen off as washed or already out of the rotation, but let me make an argument for him. Statistically, he has gotten worse, there’s no getting around that. There is a chance, however, that the terrible season from the Lakers last season has something to do with it, if not simply the addition of Westbrook.

Let me be clear, I don’t believe he will 100% have a breakout season this year and lead us to the playoffs or anything. I do, however, believe that if there was a situation in which he would flourish, it would be this one (or anywhere besides LA.) THT is a player that could have a long time left in the NBA, and this is a very low risk situation for him now. The last thing I will remind everyone of is how young this NBA champion is. Going into his 4th NBA season, as a 21 year old, the only two Jazz players younger than him are Johnny Juzang and Walker Kessler, both rookies.

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**2:** ***Jarred Vanderbilt***

Hearing how the Jazz were unwilling to give up Jarred in trades makes me really happy. I think this man is a stud muffin with sprinkles. Vanderbilt is also young, at 23 years old, but he is already earning himself all defensive praise. Last season he was well in the running to receive an all NBA defensive selection, before [injuries](https://zonecoverage.com/2022/timberwolves/what-happened-to-jarred-vanderbilt/) plagued his home stretch.

Now that he’s had an entire off season to rest and heal up from his injuries, I hope he can come back stronger and hungrier than ever. And while I know the hole that Rudy left in his departure won’t ever quite be filled, I think Vanderbilt can at least start to fill it.

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**3:** ***Udoka Azubuike***

Now for the player I think more people should be excited for. Selecting Azubuike at 27 in 2020 is looking like a blunder, in front of notable players like Jaden McDaniels and *Desmond Bane.* That being said, Dok can still prove himself to be a very solid NBA player. He didn’t quite have this opportunity behind players like Gobert and Whiteside, but now I can see him ending the season as a solidified starter.

In the month of February 2022, [Dok averaged](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/4066299/udoka-azubuike) 20 minutes 10 points and 8 rebounds, with a FG% of 77%. Now that there’s a vacancy at the center position, I believe the only thing standing between Dok and a starting position is his own health. According to Udoka, he’s “getting there,” as he’s working up to 5 on 5 basketball. He has missed a lot of games, and health will always be a theme in Dok’s career, but if he can work through his current injury, I’ll be very excited to see him play.