While some may use the NBA All-Star Break as a few days to rest, this is YOUR time to prepare for the NBA trade deadline. Start looking up trade rumors (it truly is a fun activity) and familiarize yourselves with the depth charts of teams that are looking to be active at the deadline. The trade deadline actually provides fantasy hoops players with more short-term pick up opportunities. Remember, in order to win, you must know the landscape of your league and who is available on the waiver wire. If a player gets traded, look to add their back up at the position.
Malcolm Brogdon G MIL - 39% Ownership: While some are afraid that Brogdon’s role may be slipping away, Jabari Parker’s injury gives Brogdon new life, because the Bucks will need all of the help offensively that they can get. Even though Brogdon has two double-digit scoring games in his last four, he is still providing enough consistency on the assists front and being that distributing is his main role, his spot in the rotation should be safe. Brogdon has quick hands and has been dominating the steals category in February. Remember, good defense in the NBA translates to more playing time.
Alex Len PF/C PHX - 32% Ownership: The Suns are a mess on both sides of the floor, seeing as they have limited weapons. They are certainly looking to be active at the trade deadline and Tyson Chandler’s name is swirling around the rumor mill. Len, by default, should be seeing more playing time. Len has scored in double figures in his last four games and had no fewer than five rebounds in any of those games. Len is on a four game blocks streak and had two swats in two of those games. The production has improved and the Suns are looking to find any kind of consistency up front and with Len’s minutes surrounding that 20 minute threshold, he is a safe volume add at this point.
Nik Stauskas SG/SF PHI - 7% Ownership: Stauskas is HOT going into the All-Star break. He has scored in double figures in five straight games, hit multiple three-pointers in four of those games and he has been a minor contributor in assists, steals and even blocks. Stauskas is quick and has slashing ability in the lane. Stauskas has also grabbed at least five rebounds in four of his last five games. He has very good court awareness, as he often makes his defender chase him all over the court. Of the Guard/Forward options, he very well could be the most agile player on the team. With his playing time being safe and secure in the late 20’s-easly 30’s, he is a good end of bench add.
Michael Carter-Williams PG CHI - 21% Ownership: MCW is another good short-term add, as the Bulls are another team looking to be active at the trade deadline. MCW doesn’t have the best shot selection, but has the ability to have big scoring nights. MCW has scored in the 20’s twice in February. The best part of his game is his aggressiveness on the glass. When MCW gets to flex his muscles and play into the 20’s, he has only one game in which he grabbed less than 5 rebounds. MCW does have ups and is not afraid of attacking the rim unlike Rajon Rondo and Dwayne Wade and his slashing ability adds a bit of production to the Bulls inconsistent offensive scheme. MCW will also provide minor help in assists, steals and blocks; always a plus for a guard.
Joe Ingles SG/SF UT - 3% Ownership: Ingles has been utilized as a secondary bailout option even with Rodney Hood in and out of the lineup. Ingles is one of the best three-point shooters in the league and he also provides minor rebounding help. Ingles hovers around the arc, but does not leave the play once he shoots. He waits for long rebounds and can easily step back and hit a three-pointer. Ingles playing time is very secure in the Jazz rotation. Ingles has also shown defensive potential on the perimeter as he has stolen the ball seven times collectively in his last three games. Ingles has also dished three or more assists in three of his last four games.
Ben McLemore SG SAC - 13% Ownership: McLemore got hot at the right time and is being rewarded with more playing time. The Kings are a complete mess and have lacked any form of consistency especially since Rudy Gay went down and with their Guards hurt, McLemore has taken on the offensive burden. He has scored in double figures in four of his last five games. McLemore has hit at least three three-pointers in each of his last five games. McLemore has also shown that he can be a rebounding help in the mid court. He has been taking a couple of steps inside the arc and will fight for boards while the ball is in the air. He recently posted a nine-rebound game. During this amazing five game stretch, McLemore in the 30’s and 40’s in all but one of the games. He has taken full advantage of his opportunity due to the health issues and is certainly trending upward.
Channing Frye PF/C CLE - 39% Ownership: Frye is NOT a sexy player, especially for fantasy. He is a big man whose role is to hang out at the arc. Why?! He needs to be rebounding because of his size. The reason Frye is on this list is because Kevin Love is hurt and the Cavs need its outside shooting to remain on point. Even though Frye’s reputation is being scoring-dependant, he has grabbed five or more rebounds in four of his last five games. Frye has shot free throws over his last two games, which is encouraging. It shows that he does spend a bit of time inside the arc taking some form of contact. If Frye can utilize the pump fake properly, he will draw even more outside contact and send him to the line. We are adding Frye because he has played 30 minutes or more in his last 2 games. If his minutes drop immediately down below 20 consistently, throw him back out there.
Ish Smith PG DET - 18% Ownership: Smith’s minutes are hovering around 20 and he is standing out because of his shooting of all things. Reggie Jackson has been on a horrible shooting stretch and is proving to be a detriment to the overall offensive scheme. Smith has scored in double figures in five of his last six games and grabbed three or more rebounds in four of those games. Smith also has just one game with fewer than three assists in February. With Jackson’s name coming up in trade rumors, the Pistons could move forward and depending on what they get in return, Smith could be a potential long-term add. He drives the lane nicely and only shoots from the outside when open. He has his mind more on playmaking than Jackson does. It clearly shows when both are on the floor. Everything seems like a rush job when Jackson runs the point. Smith waits for the wall of screens to form.
Terrence Ross SG/SF ORL - 23% Ownership: Ross joins a Magic team that struggles mightily on offense. Ross is more reliable offensively than the likes of Jeff Green and even Aaron Gordon. Ross will be getting shot opportunities in Orlando and could very well be taking the second most amount of shots on the team on a night in, night out basis. Ross is another player that is walking into a good situation. He works the high post nicely and creeps out to the arc for the open trey. He has speed and agility and a bit more controlled than the other options while driving. It is hard to tell how many minutes he will walk into, but he should be playing over 20 right from the get-go.
WILD CARD PICK UP: Juan Hernangomez F DEN - 6% Ownership: The Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree as both Hernangomez Brothers have proven to be gritty in the paint. Both have a mid-range game on offense that will only grow and both are very disciplined defenders in the post. It is not easy for the opposition to fake them out. Between the Jusuf Nurkic/Mason Plumlee trade and Kenneth Faried being hurt, Hernangomez has shown he can go the distance in games as he scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in 43 minutes against the Warriors. Hernangomez has played in 33 and 43 minutes in his last two games and while those minutes are expected to drop after the All-Star break, he has shown aggressiveness in the lane. Even in games in which he played under 20 minutes, the volume rebounding potential certainly exists, as it does not take Hernangomez a lot of time to produce. His role should grow a bit towards the end of the season. He even has a long-range game that is more developed than his Brother Willy’s (New York Knicks Center).