We haven’t seen too many trades made around the league in the last year, but, when a trade is made, immediately check the depth charts of the team’s that are involved in the trades. Jordan Clarkson being traded to Utah impacts both the Jazz and the Cavs. Other rotation players on both teams will either gain or lose minutes from the trade. The Jazz guards are lucky because they are currently without Mike Conley and there is enough playing time for Clarkson and the other guards to get minutes. Royce O’Neale’s value is safe for now.
Ivica Zubac C LAC-23% Ownership: Zubac has been able to stick with the Clippers rotation and he’s a volume add if you’re looking for a player that doesn’t need a lot of playing time to produce points and boards. Zubac has scored in double figures in three of his last four games. He’s a low-block exclusive center who compliments the other forwards nicely because they play at the arc and elbow and Zubac’s job on defense is to clear the ball out of the lane. On offense it’s to give the Clippers second chance scoring opportunities. He’s shown improved toughness in the post. Zubac has grabbed eight-plus boards in his last three games. Zubac will mainly provide help with points and boards, but, he has been a bit helpful with steals swiping the ball in two of his last four games. His playing time has averaged in the 20’s in the last two weeks of action.
Isaiah Thomas PG WSH-39% Ownership: Thomas picked up right from where he left off when he got suspended by the league. Thomas has scored 20 points in his last two games, and he should continue to have 20-plus point potential with Bradley Beal ’s leg banged up. If Beal sits, Thomas becomes the prioritized scorer and will have the most time with the ball. Expect him to be fed more shots and if he gets double-teamed a decent amount, his assists should rise, as another player should be open at the arc or cutting in the lane. Thomas has taken at least 13 shots in four of his last five games. The Wizards continue to lose players and to say they are running out of established scoring options is a huge understatement because they are signing players and immediately inserting them into the rotation. Thomas dished 4.8 assists per game and will provide relief in that category as well.
Glenn Robinson III SG, SF GSW-26% Ownership: Eric Paschall ’s hip issue will continue to benefit Robinson for the next couple of games. View Robinson as a short-term solution. Robinson earns his minutes from his good perimeter defense at the elbow and arc. He’s grabbed steals in two of his last three games. Playing time will always be on his side as he plays nearly 32 minutes per game. Damion Lee will impact his minutes a little because of how well he’s played lately, but he’ll impact Alec Burks minutes more than Robinson’s. He’s scored in double figures in three of his last five games. He isn’t a traditional bailout option as he’ll start at the arc and will slowly creep into the lane. If the cutter is blocked off, he’ll creep around the elbow and try to get open for a jumper. He’ll help pull down boards as he grabs 4.6 per game.
Aaron Holiday PG IND-30% Ownership: Holiday has taken full advantage of Malcolm Brogdon being out multiple times this season. Brogdon is dealing with an injured hamstring and Holiday, who has been playing over 23 minutes per game, benefits by getting more time with the ball and has even been drawing starts. He’s scored 17 or more points in his last three games. Holiday has solid speed, and will thrive on transition. He will keep the Pacers offense moving at a quicker pace when he’s on the floor. He can shoot from long range and has hit ten three-pointers total in his last three games. Holiday has grabbed steals in four of his last five games as well. Despite dishing only 3.1 assists per game, he’s surpassed his average in four of his last six games. Even when Brogdon returns, Holiday is still in the rotation, so you don’t have to immediately drop him, but his assists will go down a bit and if you start seeing his scoring numbers dip, release him.
Cedi Osman F CLE-20% Ownership: Jordan Clarkson being traded should benefit Osman by giving him more shots. Osman has scored in double figures in five of his last six games. Osman has taken ten or more shots in six of his last eight games. Even though he plays a lot at the arc, Osman does a great job waiting until the play is over before getting back on defense and he’s able to grab long boards. He compiled at least five boards in his last two games. Osman will also help grab steals in the lane and he’s grabbed swipes in four of his last six games. Osman’s defense and lack of competition at the small forward position will continue to benefit him. With Kevin Love a bit banged up, Osman may be able to grab a bigger offensive role and be fed more at the arc. He’s not afraid to fight in the lane and he’s gone to the line at least once per game on average.
Markelle Fultz G ORL-39% Ownership: We continue to see slow and steady growth from Fultz and he’s been playing over 26 minutes per game. Fultz is clearly a better driver than jump shooter but, the Magic will continue letting him take shots from long distance. Fultz has hit triples in three of his last four games. He’s scored in double-digits in six of his last seven games. Fultz has no fear driving on bigger defenders and drawing contact. Fultz has also served as Orlando’s primary playmaker and he’s dished six dimes in his last two games. He’s also grabbed at least one steal per game. His overall production should continue to improve as the season goes on. There are a lot of options in front of him, but he’ll still spend a lot of time with the ball and he’ll especially benefit when he’s on the court with the Magic second unit. When Nikola Vucevic and/or Jonathan Isaac is off the floor, the paint is more open for him.
Nemanja Bjelica PF SAC-40% Ownership: Just when we thought we were out on Bjelica, the Kings injuries pull us back in. Both De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley III are once again injured and Bjelica’s value is currently safe until we figure out how much time both players are missing. From the way it looks, Bagley will be out a bit longer than Fox and that benefits Bjelica. Bjelica has hit the 30-minute mark in four of his last six games. He’s scored in double figures in five of his last six games. He’ll shoot from downtown and than crash the boards to try to keep plays alive. Bjelica grabs six boards per game. He’s also blocked shots in his last four games. We saw the impact he made with Bagley and Fox out before and we should expect him to be given more minutes and shots and his defense will keep him in the rotation. Richaun Holmes shouldn’t impact his minutes much until Bagley returns. He’s a strong player to add right now.
Gary Payton II SG, SF WSH-26% Ownership: The main scorers in the Wizards offense are currently Bradley Beal (if he can make it back to the court in the next game or two), Isaiah Thomas , Troy Brown Jr. and Jordan McRae . Payton was just signed and just like his father did, he’s shown tremendous defensive prowess. Payton has recorded two six-steal games in the three that he’s played for Washington. He has also scored in double figures in all three games as well. Payton will hit shots from long-range, but he won’t be afraid of attacking the rim. Even when Beal returns to the floor, Payton’s performance on both sides of the ball should keep him in the rotation. Payton has also been helpful with boards and dimes. He’s grabbed 7.3 boards per game and he can also bring up the ball. Payton has produced four dimes per game in the three games he’s been active for. Normally Payton would be considered a short-term solution, but with the way he’s been playing, he should be signed for the rest of the year. The Wizards would be stupid not to sign him because they truly are limited because of all of the injuries they’ve faced.
Darius Garland PG CLE-21% Ownership: It hasn’t been the smoothest year for the Cavs rookie but with Jordan Clarkson off the team, it opens up more minutes at both guard spots. Dante Exum being added in the Clarkson trade shouldn’t take many minutes away from the other guards because of his inability to stay on the floor. Exum has dealt with knee issues throughout his career and the Cavs won’t take away time and reps from players like Garland and Collin Sexton to trot out the oft-injured Exum. It just doesn’t make any sense. The Cavs wanted picks for Clarkson and they got them. Garland has scored 14-plus points in his last three games. Garland is smart with the ball and will pull up for mid-range jumpers, even on the drive. When opposing defenses set up all the way back on transition, the elbow and the top of the paint is often left open and Garland takes advantage. He’s grabbed steals in his last two games, but steals and assists are categories he must improve in. He’s shown signs of improving his assists in recent weeks by putting a few five-plus assist games together and maybe with Clarkson out of the way, he’ll have more time to set up the Cavs offense.
WILDCARD PICK UP: Gorgui Dieng PF, C MIN-30% Ownership: There are a lot of questions surrounding Dieng because Karl-Anthony Towns is on his way back and Dieng may have one more game without Towns in the Timberwolves lineup. He’s a wildcard because once Towns comes back, he’ll log a lot of minutes and the offense will feature him more than any other player and it’ll take Dieng out of the picture. Dieng has hit double figures in five of his last six games. He’s even grabbed double-digit rebounds in two of his last four games. The amount of playing time he’s been able to add in the last week just shows the lack of depth the ‘Wolves have at PF/C. Dieng has also grabbed steals and blocked shots in his last four games. Once Towns returns, will Dieng only be able to play 13-16 minutes? Has he earned enough respect from the coaches to be given more minutes once Towns returns? Will there be enough shots for him to take eight per game? All of these questions make Dieng a true wildcard. Add him while he’s hot. Give him a couple of games with Towns back in the lineup, but look for someone else on the wire to replace him with at the position. He could go back to being irrelevant once Towns returns.