2026-27 Fantasy Basketball Dynasty Sleepers: Day'ron Sharpe Primed For Breakout Season

The dynasty sleepers of today are the fantasy stars of tomorrow. Or perhaps a few years from now, but the point remains the same: if you can get these guys, get them now before they realize their potential.

Under the assumption that your dynasty league will last a while (because who can really plan for a league to fold after two years when it starts), it takes a few years to truly separate yourself from the pack. It’s important to make the right moves for your team, and acquiring players before they become stars is the best way to do that. If you bought in on Jalen Johnson or Austin Reaves a few years ago, you’re probably sitting pretty in your league.

So who can be the next breakout star for fantasy managers? Here are eight candidates that shouldn’t be impossible to trade for in your league:

Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets

Here’s the breakout lock. Sharpe is already going in the top-100 in redraft leagues, but we might not be ready for just how effective he’s going to be. Over the last few years, he has been elite on the offensive glass and a strong passer for a big man. We saw Nic Claxton have his best passing season last year, and now that he’s gone, Sharpe will fill the void.

Brooklyn ranked near the top of the league in three-point attempt rate last season, so having an elite board man like Sharpe is incredibly valuable. For fantasy managers, he was also able to contribute plenty of steals last year, but he’s a genuinely effective defender. There is a lot to like about Sharpe, and he may be about to put the league on notice and solidify his role as Brooklyn’s center of the future.

Kasparas Jakucionis, Milwaukee Bucks

There are going to be plenty of opportunities for everyone in Milwaukee to get a chance to shine this season, but Jakucionis is going under the radar. He didn’t get to play much early on in Miami, but he did show some flashes during his rookie year and obviously showed a lot during his lone season at Illinois. The defense is an issue at this point of his career, but the Bucks are at least a couple years away from being a true playoff team, so there is time to improve. Right now, he can be a PRA machine that shoots triples at a high rate.

Oso Ighodaro, Phoenix Suns

While everyone is focused on Khaman Maluach, don’t forget about Ighodaro! He’s an effective defender and a strong playmaker for a player that’s nearly seven-feet tall. He’s quite different from Maluach, which means they can be staggered in different lineups based on their strengths and potentially be used at the same time. I’m bullish on Oso’s future in the NBA, and I think the Mark Williams shoulder injury will open the door for both Maluach and Ighodaro to thrive.

Noah Penda, Orlando Magic

I was intrigued by Penda entering the draft last summer, but he showed legitimate fantasy star traits as a rookie. We knew he could pass. We knew he could defend and accumulate defensive stats. However, it wasn’t clear how he’d score. He didn’t finish well as a prospect, and the jump shot was questionable. Neither of those became strengths, but he showcased a far stronger jump shot than I expected. He won’t truly pop behind Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, but he’ll eventually get the opportunity. Buy in now before he takes legit strides this year.

Joan Beringer, Minnesota Timberwolves

Buy in now, because we could see a mini breakout this season and really see Beringer become a fantasy star within 2-3 years. With Naz Reid now in Charlotte, Beringer is officially the backup center in Minnesota. Rudy Gobert was at 31.3 minutes per game last season, but that number has dropped for three straight years. Beringer should split the center minutes, meaning he could hover at 18-19 minutes per game. That’s enough time for him to showcase his talent on the glass and as a defender. He won’t be a fantasy star as a reserve, but he’ll prove that he is a per-minute monster.

Davion Mitchell, Miami Heat

Mitchell’s development over the last two years should allow him to be an excellent fit as the starting point guard for this Heat team, potentially for the next few seasons. You don’t get the nickname Off Night for no reason, so we know his perimeter defense will be vital for the Heat to be successful. However, it’s his improvement as both a playmaker and as a spot-up shooter that will really make a difference for Miami. They traded away the aforementioned Jakucionis just one year after taking him in the first because of their belief in Mitchell to be the team’s point guard.

Ja’Kobe Walter, Toronto Raptors

After a slow start to his career, Walter started to figure things out late last season, and I’m intrigued by what he could be and how he fits on this current Raptors team. He shot 40.9 percent from deep last season and was a positive defender in just his second season. For fantasy managers, he can provide steals and threes in bunches when he gets the minutes. With the way this Toronto team is currently structured, I wonder if he is a better fit as a starter than RJ Barrett. It isn’t realistic for Walter to start over Barrett, especially after Barrett had arguably the best season of his career. However, Walter is still intriguing enough for me to target him at a discount.

Sergio de Larrea, Dallas Mavericks

I was trying to avoid putting rookies on this list, but de Larrea has to be the exception. There was a chance he was going to be stashed overseas, but after landing with Dallas, there was no need. He’ll compete with Marcus Sasser to be the Mavs’ backup point guard behind Kyrie Irving. His playmaking and shooting are both enticing attributes for a tall playmaker, and he’ll have the opportunity to develop into the point guard of the future next to Cooper Flagg. Take a chance on him.