Post All-Star Break Gems
With the All-Star break drawing closer and fantasy basketball playoffs looming, it’s time for owners to start planning ahead and to be on the lookout for players that could make or break their season. The end of the NBA season is very tricky in terms of fantasy, as many contending teams opt to rest their star players down the stretch, while rebuilding teams start to give their younger guys an extensive look. With that said, I have compiled a list of eight players who should see their role increase as the season wears on, and I believe that they will make some serious noise before it’s all said and done.
Terrence Jones, Houston Rockets
After nearly three months on the sidelines due to nerve inflammation in his left leg, Jones returned to action in a thrilling win over the Mavericks on Friday. While he was on a minutes limit, Jones showed no signs of rust and made the most of his playing time by scoring 10 points with five rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one 3-pointer in just under 21 minutes. Many people seem to forget that he was averaging 14.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.0 steal and 0.8 3-pointers per game prior to his injury, so there’s no doubt that the dude can play.
The emergence of Donatas Motiejunas and the acquisition of Josh Smith could hold Jones’ value in check for now, but I still believe that Jones will end up retaking his spot in the starting lineup when he gets his legs under him. Also, with the news that Dwight Howard could be looking at some time on the sidelines due to his ailing knee, Jones’ outlook gets a huge boost as he could be pressed into a larger role right out of the gate. If he’s available in your league, stop what you’re doing and pick him up.
Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat
After being tossed aside by several different NBA teams early on in his career, Hassan Whiteside has found a home with the Heat and has quickly become a household name in a matter of weeks. He was playing well prior to suffering an ankle injury that cost him two games last week, but his two latest outings have left fantasy owners drooling. Whiteside feasted against the Bulls last Sunday with an insane triple-double consisting of 14 points, 13 boards and 12 blocks in one of the best lines of the season. He then responded with a 16-point, 16- board performance in a season-high 36 minutes vs. the Bucks on Tuesday.
Chris Andersen is his only competition for minutes right now, and at age 36 his next injury is always right around the corner. As long as Whiteside continues to start for the Heat, he could see around 30 minutes per game down the stretch and should be considered a must-start option in all leagues.
Jusuf Nurkic, Denver Nuggets
Since Timofey Mozgov was traded to the Cavaliers, Jusuf Nurkic has taken over as the starting center in Denver but he hasn’t quite lived up to the hype just yet. The rookie has demonstrated an excellent ability to pile up rebounds and blocked shots, but he continually finds himself in foul trouble which has limited his time on the court. In 12 starts, Nurkic has averaged 6.8 points, 7.1 boards and 1.1 blocks in 22.1 minutes per game, but he has also averaged 3.7 fouls during that span as well. The Nuggets will likely prioritize his development as they fall further out of the Western Conference playoff race, so I would advise owners to remain patient and to expect big things later in the season.
Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics
When Rajon Rondo was shipped to Dallas on the cheap it was widely assumed that Marcus Smart would take over as the starting point guard, but coach Brad Stevens opted to go with Evan Turner instead. Smart got off to a rough start to the season mainly due to injuries, but he has become noticeably more confident in recent weeks and his playing time has been increasing. He has seen his minutes rise from 18.9 per game in December, to 25.6 so far in January. The Celtics will likely give him every chance to succeed as the season wears on, and I can’t see them keeping him on the bench much longer. Smart will never blow you away in any one category, but he should be able to chip in enough assists, steals and 3-pointers to make an impact down the stretch.
Jordan Clarkson, Los Angeles Lakers
For those of you in deeper leagues, Clarkson is a player worth monitoring in the coming weeks as the Lakers start to think about the future. The rookie out of Missouri has started the past four games for Los Angeles, and head coach Byron Scott recently hinted that Clarkson will remain with the starters for the foreseeable future. Clarkson averaged just 13.8 points, 3.3 assists, 2.5 boards and 1.0 steal in 34.3 minutes during those four games, but like with any rookie, some growing pains are to be expected.
The Lakers owe the Phoenix Suns their lottery pick if it falls outside of the bottom five, so they are obviously in no hurry to improve upon their position in the Western Conference. Also, The Lakers probably have no desire to give many valuable minutes to veteran Ronnie Price, and with Jeremy Lin set to become a free agent in the summer, there’s a lot to like about Clarkson’s outlook.
Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
Easily one of the most improved players in the NBA, Gobert has showcased his jaw-dropping potential on several occasions this season. He is currently third in the NBA in total blocked shots (99), trailing only DeAndre Jordan (112) and the one they call Anthony Davis (120). But the most impressive thing about this is the fact that Gobert is doing this in just 21.4 minutes per game off the bench.
Enes Kanter is currently starting over him right now for the Jazz, but it’s obvious that Gobert has way more upside and it seems like just a matter of time before Gobert finally gets the starting nod for good. Just to give you a little taste of what he can do when given the opportunity, Gobert averaged 8.8 points, 8.6 boards, 1.4 assists, 3.9 blocks and 1.3 steals in the eight games that he started this season, while also shooting 67 percent from the floor. If coach Quin Snyder finally decides to set him free, Gobert is going to be an absolute animal.
Reggie Jackson, Oklahoma City Thunder
If Jackson ends up staying with the Thunder, then his inclusion in this article will be meaningless. However, the trade rumors surrounding Jackson have heated up recently, and things have only escalated since the Thunder acquired Dion Waiters. Jackson has reportedly had some issues with some of his teammates, and he has made it well known that he wants to be a starter in the NBA. With Jackson set to become a restricted free agent in the summer, it’s highly doubtful that the Thunder will want to pay the luxury tax for a backup point guard considering they failed to bring back superstar James Harden for the same reason. If you have some dead weight on your roster, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to stash Jackson in the hope that he is traded to an ideal situation before the Feb. 19 deadline.
D.J. Augustin, Detroit Pistons
After watching him struggle for years during his stint in Charlotte, I never thought I would be telling people to go pick up Augustin in fantasy leagues. To be fair, Augustin redeemed himself last season with the Bulls and he now finds himself with another chance to start at point guard following the news that Brandon Jennings (Achilles) would be sidelined for the rest of the season. In his last three starts, Augustin has averaged 18.7 points, 7.0 assists, 3.0 boards, 1.3 steals and 2.7 3-pointers in over 35 minutes per game, so obviously there’s enough incentive to grab him. There’s still a chance that the Pistons decide to give rookie Spencer Dinwiddie an increased role if they fall out of playoff contention, but as long as the Pistons stay competitive, Augustin’s role should be safe.
For further advice and suggestions, feel free to email me your questions at jonasnader26@gmail.com and be sure to follow me on twitter @JonasNader.
