With the trade deadline coming February 9th for the NBA and week 15 on the way in Fantasy Basketball, here are some great streaming options and even a few hidden gems that could become potential league winners. NBA teams will be moving players around, giving us a better understanding of the team’s view of the rest of their season and the fantasy landscape. Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings will try to add players that could help the team on a playoff push, as seen with the Miami Heat recently trading for Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier. These moves could decrease certain players’ fantasy values or increase their minutes in the team’s lineup. However, the best way to find fantasy gems is by looking for bad teams that are looking toward the upcoming draft, allowing their young players to play extended minutes. Currently, there are multiple teams with available options leaning toward this direction, either due to poor play or injuries.
Potential Streamers
Harrison Barnes does have limitations in rebounding, assists, and defensive categories. Barnes is only true value in fantasy basketball is his scoring abilities, which he has had a great start to January, averaging 19 points the past two weeks with back-to-back 30-point games. The Kings play the Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers, and Chicago Bulls for week 15 of the Fantasy Basketball Season. The Heat will be a tough matchup, but Barnes should succeed in the other three contests, especially in a game against the Pacers, who play at one of the top places in the league.
Jarred Vanderbilt tonight:
17 PTS (Laker career-high)
5 REB
3 STL
8 FGMJoins LeBron and AD as the only current Lakers to have those numbers in a game. pic.twitter.com/JYkfE76gmu
— LakeShowMuse (@lalakersmuse) January 26, 2024
Jarred Vanderbilt has averaged 8.9 points per game the past two weeks, double his average of 4.4 points per game. The increase in scoring is significant, but what’s better is the 13 steals over the past two weeks, nearly 2 per game. Over this stretch, Vanderbilt has been averaging over 22 minutes per night and could see a potential increased role if Rui Hachimura or others are traded before the deadline.
Marvin Bagley was traded from the Pistons to the Wizards, and in his first game, Bagley played 39 minutes and finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds, two steals, and three blocks. Marvin Bagley had another double-double for the Wizards, 17 points and 15 rebounds, while coming off the bench in a loss to the Timberwolves. In the past two weeks with the Wizards, Bagley has averaged 17 points per game with nearly ten rebounds and one block and steal each. If the Wizards start the 2018 number 2 overall pick, Bagley could become a massive asset to fantasy managers for the rest of the season.
Injury Woes Lead to Fantasy Heroes
The Grizzlies season is off to a tough start with star point guard Ja Morant having served a 25-game suspension, and its now gotten worse with Morant sidelined for the rest of the 2023-2024 NBA season. Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart will both be out for at least six weeks as well leaving the Grizzlies more focused on securing a high draft pick rather than wins at this point. Due to this, the team will likely decrease minutes and starts for Jaren Jackson Jr., and Luke Kennard may be traded before the deadline as well, leading to great fantasy value as many young players in Memphis will be able to take advantage of high minutes and high fantasy opportunities. Vince Williams Jr has shown how valuable players can be when filling roles for injured starters. Williams is averaging 17 points, 6.7 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block per game over the past two weeks. Williams even had a career-high 24 points on January 16th, the same day Memphis signed the young defensive wing to a 3-year, 7.9 million dollar deal. Though Williams is likely no longer available in most leagues, John Konchar should be open to almost all. Konchar has been an excellent defensive contributor for the Grizzlies this past two weeks, averaging two blocks and a steal per game. This type of production will likely only last for part of the season, but there is no reason to let blocks and steals go to waste on waivers. Keep your eye on Santi Aldama and GG Jackson, as both have averaged over ten points per game the past two weeks and could get increased minutes with Jaren Jackson Jr. most likely resting more often than not with this Grizzlies team going in the wrong direction.
Steve Clifford on Mark Williams during pregame media availability today:
"I don't think he's very close. I talk to him all the time about it. He's had a couple setbacks, it's (his) back… so it's not something that you really want to mess around with."
"He does a little bit on… https://t.co/cVC50RnHDM
— /r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) January 19, 2024
Hornets coach Steve Clifford said last week that Mark Williams, who has been out with a back injury since the beginning of December, is not close to returning for the Hornets. Nick Richards has taken over for Mark WIlliams in the starting role and may hold significant fantasy value if the Hornets bring Williams back slowly. In his 21 games as a starter this season for the Hornets, Nick Richards has averaged 9.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, and over one assist and one block per game. If Richards continues to play around the 27-minute mark each game, he can help many fantasy basketball managers trying to secure a playoff spot.
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