Trades and Injuries Lead to Fantasy Basketball Best Values
Ayo Dosunmu
Ayo Dosunmu is a must-add for any 12-team league format. With the recent announcement that Bulls guard Zach LaVine will undergo surgery on his foot and miss the rest of the season. Patrick Williams is also out with an injury, and trade rumors continue around Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan. It’s clear Chicago is looking towards their future meaning Ayo Dosunmu will see an increased role going forward. Over the past two weeks, Dosunmu has averaged 16.2 points, three assists, three rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game, ranking 59th in per-game value for nine category formats, and 30 fantasy points per game, 89th in points league in that span.
Lonnie Walker IV
Lonnie Walker: “I’m on a minimum, so I carry that weight on my shoulders as far as finding a home, playing the right way, and continuing to get better.”
“Right now I’m locked in trying to find that forever home.” pic.twitter.com/ABRocsQ7wY
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) January 30, 2024
Lonnie Walker IV has had a good season off the bench for the Brooklyn Nets, averaging over 12 points per game in his limited minutes. Over the last three games, Walkers has played nearly 30 minutes a night and made the most of his time on the court, averaging 19.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, with over three made three-pointers each night. He could see an increased role in the future with multiple Nets players on the trade block.
Paul Reed
With Joel Embiid most likely out for several months, as reported recently by Adrian Wojnarowski the former MVP will have a surgery to repair a left meniscus injury and the expectation is that he will miss an “extended period of time.” Paul Reed will likely get extensive minutes with Embiid out and could play 25 to 30 minutes per night. Reed will have added benefits and category leagues as he won’t score at a consistently high rate but will provide rebound steals and blocks for fantasy basketball managers.
Precious Achiuwa
Precious Achiuwa making clutch plays on both ends of the floor. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Pw2REU6jEH
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 2, 2024
Over Paul Reed though, I would much rather have Precious Achiuwa, the other piece of the OG Anunoby trade. With reports stating Julius Randle will most likely miss multiple weeks, Precious Achiuwa should continue taking Randle’s role in the rotation and many minutes for a frontcourt already suffering from the Mitchell Robinson injury. Over the past four games since stepping in for the injured Randle, Achiuwa has been averaging 12.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. While Randall is out, Archua is a great pickup for any manager looking for a Center with double-double potential.
Nick Richards
Hornets coach Steve Clifford said two weeks ago 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 as the Hornets are still yet to announce when Williams will be back. Over the past two weeks, Richards has averaged over 13 points per game with nearly ten rebounds and two blocks. Nick Richards is currently rostered in 50% of leagues, but if you are the lucky half and he is available, grab him off the waivers quickly.
Fantasy Basketball Rookies on the Rise
Cam Whitmore
Cam Whitmore has had a fantastic rookie season so far, averaging 11 points per game on 48% shooting from the field, and it seems to be getting better from there. Over the past two weeks, Whitmore, the 20th pick in the 2023 draft, has averaged 18.7 points per game with nearly six rebounds, an assist, and a steal. In the recent Rockets game against the Lakers, Whitmore showcased his three-level scoring abilities, going on a 12-2 run by himself after entering the game for Dillon Brooks. Whitmore finished the game with 20 points. Against Toronto, Cam Whitmore had the fewest minutes played by a teenager with 25 points or more in a game in NBA history, securing six rebounds and two steals in the historic performance.
Amen Thompson
Amen Thompson is figuring it out. It’s about to get spooky pic.twitter.com/rLaSgO3erP
— V̷a̷t̷o̷r̷ (@VatorSports) February 3, 2024
The Rocket’s other rookie, Amen Thompson, twin brother of Pistons rookie Ausar Thompson, may also begin to see an increased role down the stretch of the NBA season. Over the last two weeks, Amen Thompson has averaged 8.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and three assists, with 1.4 steals and nearly one block per game. Amen, similar to his brother’s current situation with the Detroit Pistons, cannot find a consistent role in the rotation. However, if this were to change, Thompson would have immense value in all fantasy basketball formats. In the seven games where Amen Thompson has played more than 20 minutes, he has averaged 12.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game while shooting over 50% from the field.
Brandin Podziemski
CP3 finds Podziemski for 3 and the Chase Center erupts!
Podz is 3-3 from 3 in the 3Q 👀
Nuggets-Warriors on TNT pic.twitter.com/iIimYHjr4b
— NBA (@NBA) January 5, 2024
Brandin Podziemski has been averaging just under ten points per game on the season but has shown value in putting up big numbers in other categories. Podziemski has averaged nearly six rebounds, four assists, and a steal in his rookie season. The rookie out of Santa Clara has excellent versatility as a guard, putting up two double-doubles in his past two games, 12 points and 14 assists, along with seven rebounds at Memphis and 15 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists against Atlanta. With the trade deadline coming soon and rumors surrounding Andrew Wiggins, Podziemski may receive an increased role in the Warriors rotation.
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