It’s always about finding the next guy. When a trade occurs, look at all of the pieces. Jahlil Okafor was the name that caught everyone’s eye immediately. If you haven’t visited your waiver wire, unless you're in a 10-team league with a short bench, you’re likely out of luck if you wanted to play into the mystique of Okafor. What about Nik Stauskas? He wasn’t able to get a true rotation commitment in Philly, and now with Brooklyn, can he take minutes away from Caris LeVert and Joe Harris? There’s still time to watch and see if Stauskas can crack the Nets rotation. He’s barely owned, and after a few weeks, we’ll see how much Stauskas is involved in the Nets rotation. Everyone is already in on Okafor, but keep an eye on Stauskas' minutes.
*OWNERSHIP PERCENTAGES: Yahoo! Sports
Alex Len PF/C PHX-32% Ownership: In a very interesting turn of events, Tyson Chandler has been sitting out of games this season and a few being healthy scratches. It’s very strange, but it’s time to look to capitalize if the Suns get rid of him and Alex Len would benefit the most. Len is an inside player who can work his way in the lane and he bangs for boards. Len doesn’t take a lot of shots and does a lot of the dirty work inside and he’ll mainly help with rebounds as he’s grabbing nine per game this season. The playing time hasn’t been great over the last few games but neither has the health of his Ankle and the Suns are looking to be careful. It doesn’t matter if Chandler is on the team or not, Len is going to ultimately get the minutes as the season continues and even with Greg Monroe around, Len will still be able to play. He’ll provide blocks inconsistently, but has had a few multi-block games this season.
Norman Powell SG/SF TOR-11% Ownership: While the theme of Powell has been boom or bust, prior to his last game he scored in double figures in five straight games and was helpful with rebounds and steals to a lesser extent. It’s hard to take shots away from Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan but if Powell gets playing time with some of the other Raptors bench players, he could be more beneficial. He’ll score more with the Raptors second unit and can hit long-range jumpers. He’s good at hitting the Raptors post players in the paint and is able to contribute a few assists. He’s not a must-add, but a player to constantly keep an eye on and he’s been able to put double digit scoring outings together in under 20 minutes of playing time.
Jarrett Jack G NY-7% Ownership: It’s not easy to players on the waiver wire who average 6.1 assists per game and start, but Jack refuses to relinquish his role as the Knicks starting Point Guard. Jack has quick passes in the lane and despite health issues over the last few years, Jack has been able to play games in the 20’s and 30’s consistently when it comes to playing time. Jack can shoot from the outside and occasionally will score in double figures, but it’s the assists and even his rebounding (3.3rpg) that are consistent. At this time Jack doesn’t have too much competition for minutes and Tim Hardaway Jr. is out and the Knicks will certainly look to utilize their long-range shooters to keep a consistent offensive flow while THJ recovers and Jack will be in the mix as a bailout option. He will attack the rim when the lane is open. Jack has been the most reliable of the Knicks Point Guards after coming into training camp as the last guy off the bench. He starts and has rotation security.
Troy Daniels G PHX-2% Ownership: Someone has to score in Phoenix. Between the departure of Eric Bledsoe, the inconsistent use of their frontcourt and Devin Booker getting hurt, the Suns are running out of options. Daniels has seen a major increase of minutes playing in place of Booker and has scored in double figures in his last two games after playing over 20 minutes in both of them. Daniels is a short-term solution because when Booker returns he’ll be relegated to the bench, but can earn minutes and more of a rotation commitment if he proves himself over the next few weeks. Daniels is an effective three-point shooter and has the ability to stop and pop off the screen and doesn’t need that much time to get a good shot off. He can create on the ball and will attack the rim and go to the free-throw line. He’ll provide minor rebounding and steals help. Daniels has recorded a steal in three of his last four games. Most of the Suns scoring will come out of their back and mid-court and that will give Daniels more shot opportunities. With the Suns frontcourt hurting it will keep the ball in his hands and when new top scoring option T.J. Warren draws the double-team, he’ll be a bailout option from the arc.
Dwight Powell PF/C DAL-5% Ownership: Powell has been taking advantage of the Mavs lack of frontcourt depth and has been seeing a few more minutes. Powell mainly helps with defensive stats. Powell has grabbed five rebounds per game this season and has grabbed at least seven boards in his last four games. He’s dished three assists in two of his last four games and has blocked a shot in three of his last four games. Powell is low-post player and with Nerlens Noel out, Powell should get more playing time in the rotation. Powell has stolen the ball in three of his last five games. Even though we can expect most of his production in the post, Powell has a small outside game that he’ll utilize when he’s open. Powell has scored in double figures in four of his last six games. This multi-category production in recent games and seeing that he’s played at least 20 minutes in four of his last five games is certainly encouraging.
Michael Beasley F NY-6% Ownership: Since Tim Hardaway Jr. went down, Michael Beasley has been given more playing time and is showing potential as a volume scorer. Beasley has scored in double figures in his last three games and with Courtney Lee needing to shift to SG while THJ is out, it’s opened up the mid-court and Beasley has seen success driving and long-range game. Beasley has been rebounding a bit more lately as he’s grabbed at least four boards in four of his last six games. Beasley will be battling Lance Thomas for playing time and will play more than Thomas against weaker defenses. Beasley’s next four match ups are against the Bulls, Hawks, Lakers and Nets and should be able to take advantage of weaker match ups. Beasley is a high-energy player who’s is often feast or famine and has been on the outside looking into the Knicks rotation. Beasley will play aggressively on both sides of the ball and with THJ hurt he’ll get more shot opportunities over the next few weeks.
Tyler Ulis PG PHX-18% Ownership: Ulis has been seeing a ton of playing time lately and is holding off Mike James from taking too many minutes away from him. Ulis has scored in double figures in four of his last six games. Ulis can drive and shoot from the outside. He’s dished at least six assists in two of his last three games and will be a minor help with rebounding and steals. Ulis is the quickest of the Suns active Point Guards and he’s played in the 30’s in 2 of his last 3 games. Ulis has no fear attacking the rim and he’ll take a lot of contact. With Devin Booker hurt, it keeps the ball in Ulis longer and he’ll benefit by taking more shots. Even though he turns the ball over a bit, he gets a longer leash because of the Suns lack of depth and being that he’s still playing in the 30’s shows how desperate the Suns are and with T.J. Warren drawing top defensive coverage on the perimeter, like Daniels, Ulis will also be used as a bailout option on the perimeter and on the drive. Ulis has a little more familiarity with the Suns offense and will continue seeing a ton of playing time and will use his quickness to help the Suns pick up the pace on offense and tire out the opposition.
Darius Miller SF/SG NO-6% Ownership: Miller has taken advantage of Anthony Davis being out as other players have had to shift in the rotation to different positions and he’s been a reliable shooter, especially from downtown. He is on a tremendously long streak of hitting at least two three-pointers per game and he’s been given more playing time. Even with Davis in the lineup, Miller will continue to get a secure amount of playing time. Miller has recorded a steal in three of his last five games and he will attack the rim when the lane is open and go to the free-throw line. Even though there are a lot of mouths to feed in New Orleans, Miller has been one of the Pelicans more reliable three-point shooters and will also provide minor assist help. Need a quick scoring solution? Miller is that guy, especially because of the consistency we have seen with his minutes.
Garrett Temple PG/SG/SF SAC-7% Ownership: Prior to his last game, Temple scored in double figures in four straight games, hitting multiple three-pointers in all of them and even providing minor rebounding assistance. Temple’s grabbed two steals in both of his last two games and has grabbed at least three boards in three of his last five games. Temple has the ability to rotate to multiple positions on the court and he’s played into the 30’s in five of his last seven games. The Kings backcourt uses the hot-hand approach when it comes to which player gets the most shots per game. Temple is often used as a bailout option at the arc when other teammates such as De’Aaron Fox are driving. The Kings often kick the ball back out when the lane is closed. Temples has been a defensive presence and that’s given him more security in the Kings rotation. Temple has blocked at least one shot in five of his last eight games. He provides relief in a lot of categories.
WILD CARD PICK UP: Fred VanVleet PG TOR-4% Ownership: When looking at which Raptors have been consistently helping outside of their two stud-players, VanVleet definitely stands out. He’s scored in double figures and played over 20 minutes in three of his last five games. VanVleet has filled in for Delon Wright nicely and once Wright returns, he’ll be in a competition for minutes if VanVleet continues running the point and the Raptors second unit as efficiently as he has. VanVleet has dished at least five assists in his last four games and has stolen the ball in four of his last six games. He’s good at running the floor and is especially beneficial when the Raptors second unit is on transition. VanVleet also see’s a good amount of open outside shots and owners can count on him hitting at least one three-pointer per game. Even though, he’s not a priority scorer in the rotation, his defense and assist numbers show that he’s getting a little more love from the Raptors Coaches and if you need a short-term solution for assists, he’s a candidate to add.