There is no way around it: this is the boring part of the NBA schedule. With the trade deadline over and All-Star weekend looming, this week kind of feels like a letdown. No team plays more than two games this week, so while matchups and back-to-backs still matter, there isn’t as much to be gained from the schedule as in other weeks.
That being said, this could still be a huge week for fantasy news. While we are all trying to wrap our minds around all of the new-look teams following the trade deadline, this could be a huge year for the buyout market. The buyout deadline is three weeks after the trade deadline this year, rather than one week as it has been in the past. That means the buyouts may trickle in, or they could come mostly during the All-Star break. With that in mind, let’s dive into the week ahead for all 30 NBA teams.
Atlanta Hawks (@MIL, @DET): The Hawks lose an hour traveling to Detroit for a back-to-back and their fifth game in seven days. Tyler Dorsey has double-digit points in three consecutive games, and with Marco Belinelli going to Philadelphia, Dorsey is interesting in deep leagues.
Boston Celtics (LAC): I love the Greg Monroe signing for Boston, but it is doubtful he produces for fantasy unless Al Horford suffers an injury. I would much rather have Marcus Morris, who is averaging 13.2 points and 5.7 rebounds over the last two weeks.
Brooklyn Nets (LAC, IND): Brooklyn will probably be cautious with Caris LeVert and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson this week, which could mean more playing time for Allen Crabbe and Joe Harris. Both have been very good of late, and are worth picking up this week.
Charlotte Hornets (@ORL): I really thought Nicolas Batum and Kemba Walker would have been great for the Cavs (or even 76ers). While Cleveland was taking on future money, they might as well have gone big. Batum is averaging 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists in the last two weeks, and I am willing to believe he is finally healthy and can be a fantasy asset the rest of the way.
Chicago Bulls (ORL, TOR): Kris Dunn has cleared the concussion protocol, and while he may not play this week, he should be good to go after the All-Star Break. Jerian Grant has been pretty useful with Dunn out, but he is droppable after this week. The Bulls don’t have any back-to-backs this week, which is good news for Zach LaVine’s owners.
Cleveland Cavaliers (@OKC): George Hill, Larry Nance Jr. and Rodney Hood should probably be 100 percent owned, though it wouldn’t surprise anyone if they are inconsistent while they try to integrate into their new team. Hill should be a great fit alongside LeBron, so long as his numerous injuries have not sapped his athleticism.
Dallas Mavericks (SAC): Even if Dirk Nowitzki and Wesley Matthews return for Tuesday’s game, I see no particular reason to play them. Outside of Harrison Barnes and Dennis Smith Jr., there isn’t much to like here.
Denver Nuggets (SA, @MIL): Paul Millsap is expected to return in early-to-mid March, and with short slates this week and next, it wouldn’t be a terrible idea to pick him up now if he is available in your league. Until then, Trey Lyles is interesting, and it is worth noting Wilson Chandler is averaging 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists over his last two games.
Detroit Pistons (NOR, ATL): Detroit host the Pelicans Monday after playing in Atlanta Sunday, and then plays Atlanta again on Wednesday. I think I want to see James Ennis have a good game or two before I add him, but Detroit is pretty desperate for solid wing players, and Ennis should have plenty of playing time just by supplanting Langston Galloway, Dwight Buycks and Luke Kennard.
Golden State Warriors (PHO, @POR): Golden State hasn’t made any waves in the buyout market yet, but that should change before long. If the Warriors can sign a couple of solid rotation players, those players would have a lot of upside on days the starters rest.
Houston Rockets (@MIN, SAC): It is hard to imagine Brandan Wright unseating Clint Capela or even Nene, but he would likely have a prominent role if either of those players suffers an injury. Wright is good at crashing the glass and rolling to the rim on the pick-and-roll, and that could have a lot of value in Houston.
Indiana Pacers (@BKN): Darren Collison has already missed one of the 2-to-3 weeks his knee injury is expected to keep him out, and he could be ready to go by the end of the All-Star Break. He isn’t exactly a special talent, but he has been solid this season, and he probably needs to be owned in all leagues.
Los Angeles Clippers (@BKN, @BOS): Unless the Clippers suffer even more injuries, there do not appear to be enough shots to go around for Avery Bradley, Austin Rivers or Milos Teodosic to be fantasy relevant. That being said, DeAndre Jordan and Danilo Gallinari should continue to excel now that Blake Griffin is gone.
Los Angeles Lakers (@NO, @MIN): Maybe LeBron James and Tyronn Lue deserve some of the blame for Isaiah Thomas’s struggles in Cleveland. Brad Stevens put Thomas in a lot of off-ball actions to get Thomas open looks, and Thomas never had to stand in the corner and wait for the best player in the planet to pass him the ball. Thomas should be a better fit with the Lakers, and while the jury is still out on Luke Walton, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who thinks he is a worse coach than Tyronn Lue.
With Larry Nance Jr. gone, Julius Randle looks like a safe fantasy play for the rest of the season, and Kyle Kuzma should go back to being a fantasy starter in all formats. Brook Lopez should get a boost in fantasy value as well, unless he is bought out.
Memphis Grizzlies (OKC): I dropped Tyreke Evans while Memphis was holding him out, and while I was actually able to pick him back up after the trade deadline in one league, it still hurts that Memphis didn’t trade him. They did trade James Ennis, however, which should mean even more playing time for Wayne Selden and Ben McLemore, at least until Chandler Parsons returns.
Miami Heat (@TOR, @PHI): I don’t love Dwyane Wade, but he should get as many minutes as he can handle in Miami, and he was pretty decent for fantasy last season with the Bulls. Wade’s presence could mean the end of Wayne Ellington as a fantasy contributor, and it could hurt Tyler Johnson as well.
Milwaukee Bucks (ATL, DEN): Milwaukee has a day off between games this week, which is a big deal while Jabari Parker makes his way back from injury. Thon Maker had 13 points in 26 minutes Saturday with John Henson out, and Maker could be useful in deep leagues while Henson is out.
Minnesota Timberwolves (HOU, LAL): I think we can all agree it would be awful if Minnesota signs Derrick Rose. Rose can help a handful of teams who need a backup point guard (like Washington), but he is not better than Tyus Jones or even Jamal Crawford, and he famously clashed with Jimmy Butler in Chicago. Minnesota needs at least one more bench guy who can actually play, but Rose isn’t the answer.
New Orleans Pelicans (@DET, LAL): Rajon Rondo is averaging 10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 7.4 assists over the last two weeks. He still isn’t good, but with DeMarcus Cousins out, Rondo has the ball in his hands quite a bit, and he is putting up fantasy numbers.
New York Knicks (@PHI, WAS): Now that the Knicks are unofficially out of the playoff race, they should give all of their point guard minutes to Frank Ktilikina and Emmanuel Mudiay. That seems unlikely to happen, especially if Jeff Hornacek is coaching for his job, but both young point guards would be interesting for fantasy if they get 25+ minutes. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Michael Beasley should see increased usage with Kristaps Porzingis out, but of the two, I would much rather have Beasley.
Oklahoma City Thunder (CLE, @MEM): Tuesday’s game against Cleveland will be fascinating, at least if Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony play. If they don’t, Ray Felton could be playable for fantasy, which is never a good thing. The Thunder are in desperate need of rotation players, and they should be active in the buyout market.
Orlando Magic (@CHI, CHA): Aaron Gordon has been ruled out for Monday’s game against the Bulls, and there is no reason to think he will return two days later against the Hornets. With Gordon out and Elfrid Payton gone, this team has some interesting players, but nobody who can consistently put up fantasy numbers. That being said, Jonathon Simmons, Evan Fournier, Mario Hezonja and D.J. Augustin are all worth DFS considerations.
Philadelphia 76ers (NY, MIA): Robert Covington has not been great since signing his contract extension, and he probably needs to be dropped. He is averaging 10.3 points and 4.1 rebounds over the last two weeks.
Phoenix Suns (@GS, @UTA): I guess we can finally give up on Alex Len. I thought Len would be a great play Saturday with Tyson Chandler out, but Dragan Bender started at center while Len played just 11 minutes. Bender is addable for at least as long as Chandler is out, and he could be the biggest beneficiary of playing with a legit NBA point guard, which the Suns haven’t had since Eric Bledsoe’s Salon tweet.
Portland Trailblazers (GS): Jusuf Nurkic had a poor game against the Kings Friday, but he is still averaging 14.3 points and 10.0 rebounds over the last two weeks. He isn’t terribly consistent game to game, but overall, he is still producing for fantasy.
San Antonio Spurs (@UTA, @DEN): You probably have to play LaMarcus Aldridge this week, but he is the only Spur I would say that about. San Antonio plays two road games at altitude back-to-back. Go ahead and drop Pau Gasol and Dejounte Murray.
Sacramento Kings (@DAL, @HOU): Even though the Bulls keep giving away second-round picks for no good reason, it is refreshing to know Sacramento is still the worst run franchise in the NBA. De’Aaron Fox should get more minutes with George Hill gone, but his numbers with Hill out weren’t that great, anyway. Justin Jackson has shown signs of life lately, and while he isn’t addable yet, he could be soon.
Toronto Raptors (MIA, @CHI): Serge Ibaka is officially droppable. He has scored eight points or fewer in four of his last five games, and he has topped five rebounds just once in his last six games. If you need blocks, I guess you can hold onto him, but he has just two in six games in February. He will bounce back to some degree, but not enough to justify taking up a roster spot.
Utah Jazz (SA, PHO): Before you get excited about Ricky Rubio, keep in mind he was awesome in November, too, and now he is dealing with a hip injury. Alec Burks inexplicably only played 11 minutes Friday against the Hornets, but Utah will almost certainly have to lean on him more if Rubio is out.
Washington Wizards (@NY): The Wizards are reportedly interested in Derrick Rose, and after Tim Frazier suffered a broken nose Saturday, they might be even more motivated to sign Rose. Rose averaged 18.0 points per game for the Knicks last season, and he would have a chance at similar numbers in Washington. Tomas Satoransky is worth adding at least until Washington signs another point guard.