NBA Stock Watch: DeAndre Jordan is rising while Rajon Rondo is falling
STOCK UP
DeAndre Jordan: Over the past month, Jordan has shot a hideous 34.8 percent from the free throw line. The only player to hurt fantasy owners in the category more over that span is Andre Drummond, yet despite this, Jordan has been a top-50 player during this stretch. That’s because he’s been so good on the glass, grabbing 13.9 rpg while swatting 2.3 bpg over this span. He leads the NBA in rpg (13.4), FG% (71.5) and ranks second in bpg (2.3). He also has 20+ more dunks than any other player in the league. If you’re punting free throw percentage, Jordan has been the third most valuable fantasy player so far this season.
Victor Oladipo: The sophomore has really turned it on over the past month, when he’s averaged 19.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.2 3pt over 15 games. Oladipo has been a top-30 fantasy player over that stretch, and while his Usage Rate has actually decreased this year compared to his rookie campaign, a big improvement in efficiency has more than countered that. Meanwhile, teammate Elfrid Payton has also shown marked improvement of late, and he’s available in more than 40 percent of Yahoo leagues. Tobias Harris will eventually return from his ankle injury, but Elfrid is must-own in deep leagues in the meantime, while Oladipo is a must-start even in shallow formats.
Alex Len: Over the past five games, Len has averaged 10.6 boards and 1.2 steals. Over the last nine contests, he’s averaged 2.9 blocks. Len’s playing time remains inconsistent, and the 21-year-old is hardly a volume scorer at this stage of his career, but those in need of rebounds and blocks should look no further.
Nerlens Noel: The rookie remains a problem at the free throw line (although at least there’s not huge volume there) but continues to impress in the defensive stats, as Noel has averaged 2.4 steals and 2.0 blocks over the past five games. Despite being a 20-year-old rookie coming off a major injury and barely seeing 30:00 mpg this season, Noel is one of only three players in the NBA to average both 1.5 spg and 1.5 bpg this year (the other two being Anthony Davis and Draymond Green). Noel has been the No. 41 ranked player over the past two weeks and should only improve from here on out.
Brook Lopez: He was the No. 28 ranked player in 2012/13 and No. 12 last season before his year was cut short by an injury, so Lopez has been one of the bigger disappointments so far, as he currently comes in as the No. 58 fantasy asset. Still, he’s played better lately, and there increasingly looks like a chance he gets traded. Wherever that’s to, it’s likely a safe bet his minutes increase, as he’s currently seeing a career-low 26:12 mpg while toiling on a Brooklyn team that sports the fifth-lowest PACE (94.2) in the league. Lopez’s stock is about to jump assuming he gets dealt.
Here’s Nikola Vucevic posterizing Pau Gasol.
Here’s Florida’s Devin Robinson mildly overestimating his dunking ability.
This Stephen Curry no-look pass to Harrison Barnes was pretty sick.
STOCK DOWN
Nicolas Batum: As someone who’s been a top-40 fantasy player in each of the past three seasons (including No. 21 in 2012/13), Batum’s current rank at No. 86 has been both disappointing and surprising so far this year. He’s struggled even worse of late, as he’s shot an ugly 28.8 percent from the field (and just 68.8 percent from the line) over the past two weeks, when he hasn’t been a top-200 fantasy asset. Maybe the wrist injury he’s been playing through is more severe than we were led to believe, but Batum has too strong of a track record to ignore, making him more of a buy-low candidate than anything else. His Usage Rate could soon see a big jump if the thumb injury LaMarcus Aldridge left with Monday proves serious.
Tony Parker: After finishing as the No. 27 fantasy player in 2012/13, Parker came in at No. 119 last season, but that looks like a huge profit compared to what he’s done so far this season, when he’s ranked as the No. 179 player. He’s been dealing with injuries all season, but Parker’s 4.7 apg are the lowest he’s gotten since his rookie season back in 2001/02, and this hasn’t really been a volume issue, as the point guard hasn’t been a top-250 fantasy player on a per-36 minute basis this season, which is pretty incredible.
Nikola Mirotic: His future looks extremely bright, but it’s clear when Chicago’s frontcourt is fully healthy, it’s tough for Mirotic to hold much fantasy value. If injuries strike, there’s a ton of upside here, but Mirotic is getting dropped in droves in Yahoo leagues right now for good reason.
Ryan Anderson: Here are his final fantasy ranks over the past three years, respectively: 8, 49 and 18. Anderson has been the No. 177 player over the past month, when he’s suffered through a major shooting slump (he’s shooting 31.8 percent from the floor over the past seven games). Anderson’s minutes have predictably taken a hit with his new role off the bench this season, but his Usage Rate has actually increased this year compared to last. The biggest problem has been his 34.8 percent shooting from downtown, which is easily a career worst.
Rajon Rondo: He’s always been a volatile fantasy player whose importance came down to format, and despite seeing his FGA jump from 9.1 to 12.5 after getting traded from a depleted Boston team to a loaded Dallas squad, it’s actually hurt his fantasy value, as the FG% hit has been bigger, and the point guard has also shot an insane 23.5 percent from the free throw line since joining the Mavericks. Rondo has combined that with grabbing fewer rpg and dishing out his fewest apg (8.1) since the 2007/08 season with his new team. He’s been the No. 288 most valuable fantasy player over the past two weeks.
