Fantasy Basketball: A Dozen Dimes, Week 17
Welcome back to our weekly transactions article, where we dish out 12 dimes of advice fantasy hoops advice, including the top adds, drops, buys, and sells for this upcoming week and beyond.
These are generally listed in relative order of importance. If you're looking for even more advice, check the "related news" section underneath to cycle through other recent editions of this column. We try not to repeat ourselves too much from one week to the next, so you might find more ideas you like from previous weeks that are still valid.
All fantasy rankings are courtesy of BasketballMonster.com.
Okay, let's get down to it.
Buy Nikola Mirotic
It's an exciting time to have Nikola Mirotic shares in fantasy hoops, as he should finally be able to unlock his true fantasy potential now that he's been traded to the New Orleans Pelicans.
He's going from splitting time with rookie breakout Lauri Markkanen and face-breaker Bobby Portis with the Chicago Bulls, to joining a Pelicans team that lacks depth at his position, has to rely a little too heavily on Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday to win, and will be without DeMarcus Cousins for the rest of the season.
And Mirotic is in the midst of the best season of his career from both a fantasy and real-life perspective anyway, despite coming off the bench for 23 of his 26 games played.
Over those 26 contests, Mirotic has been the 41st-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging career-highs in points (16.8), triples (2.8), rebounds (6.6), assists (1.6), field goal percentage (47.5%) and free throw percentage (81.0%). His defensive production isn't quite there, as he's averaging only 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks per contest, but his marks of 1.2 and 0.8 over his last five games shows some signs of life in that department, too.
And if he's been able to do that in just 25.3 minutes per contest, imagine what he'll be capable of doing going forward if the 35-plus minutes he got in his Pelicans debut on Saturday was any indication to how they team plans on using him. He posted 18 points, 3 triples, 12 boards, 2 assists, 4 steals, and a block in that one, and that might actually be modest returns, considering it was his first time playing with his new teammates and he still came off the bench.
One has to think Mirotic will eventually supplant Dante Cunningham in the starting five, but if you can somehow convince his owner that he'll continue to ride the pine in New Orleans, maybe you can buy in before the true breakout begins.
Add Terry Rozier
Terry Rozier has certainly benefited from being one of the last guards standing as Kyrie Irving (quad), Marcus Smart (hand), and Shane Larkin (knee) all nurse various ailments and miss time, but he still shouldn't be on any waiver wires while he's playing this well.
Over his last six games, Rozier has been the 38th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 15.2 points, 2.5 triples, 6.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.5 blocks, and 1.2 turnovers in 30.5 minutes per contest, while shooting 41.9% from the field and 77.8% from the charity stripe.
He'll surely take a step back when Irving returns, but he's still the 128th-ranked player on the year and 106th over the last month, so his late-round value is pretty safe, regardless of his role.
At the very least, someone who pulled off a triple-double in his first career start and followed it up with a career-high 31 points in his second over the last week should be owned in more than 50% of Yahoo leagues and 35% on ESPN right now. If he's available in your league, grab him and ride the wave.
Add Jarrett Allen
Rookie Jarrett Allen has finally supplanted Tyler Zeller as the starting center for the Brooklyn Nets and he's running away with the opportunity.
Over Allen's last seven games (including four consecutive starts), he's averaged 13.7 points, 0.1 triples, 7.1 boards, 0.7 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.9 blocks, and 1.3 turnovers in 22.8 minutes per contest, while shooting a blistering 76.9% from the field and 75.0% from the line.
His 58th-ranked nine-category value over that span is obviously rooted heavily in his ridiculous field goal percentage, but the starting role and contributions in points, boards, blocks, percentages, and low turnovers make him a must-add player for those in need of a big man.
He's still available in 55% of Yahoo leagues and 85% on ESPN, but he won't be for much longer.
Add Tomas Satoransky
John Wall is out the next six weeks following a knee procedure and Tomas Satoransky has taken his place in the Washington Wizards' starting lineup.
In four games as a starter, Satoransky has averaged 11.0 points, 1.5 triples, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.3 blocks, and 1.5 turnovers in 26.0 minutes per contest, while shooting 51.9% from the field and a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line. He's been the 37th-ranked player in nine-category leagues over that span and looks like he'll have a shot at mid-round value for as long as Wall is sidelined.
Satoransky is only owned in about 20% of Yahoo leagues and 10% on ESPN, so he's widely available if you're looking for help at point guard.
Buy Gary Harris
We tackled Gary Harris' ridiculous ownership percentages in Week 6, back when they were 80% in Yahoo leagues and 60% on ESPN.
Well, it's now two-and-a-half months later and those percentages have skyrocketed all the way to...85% and 75%. Seriously, people. How are there still leagues where this guy is unowned?
On the year, Harris is the 24th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 17.4 points, 2.3 three-pointers, 2.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.3 blocks, and 1.9 turnovers in 35.0 minutes per contest, while shooting 48.5% from the field and 83.8% from the line. Maybe nothing in that line stands out as elite (although the combination of threes and steals is fantastic), but the rebounds and blocks are the only real weaknesses, while everything else ranges from good to great.
Harris ranks up among the likes of 100%-owned assets like Klay Thompson (23rd), Kemba Walker (26th), and Draymond Green (27th), and even outranks Russell Westbrook (31st), yet it seems like no one is treating him like he belongs up in that stratosphere.
Well, he's proven all year that he does. If you can find an owner that's not respecting Harris' top-25 value, see if you can acquire him for an underperforming top pick with a more recognizable household name.
Add/Buy Joe Ingles
Joe Ingles hit a bit of a rough patch from mid-December to mid-January, but has been nearly a top-50 player since January 17th.
Over that nine-game span, he's averaged 13.6 points, 3.3 threes, 2.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.0 turnovers in 30.1 minutes per contest, while shooting 57.9% from the field and 80.0% from the free throw line.
Ingles' current ownership rates of 65% on Yahoo and 35% on ESPN are pretty low for a guy ranked 81st in nine-category leagues on the season and 52nd over his last nine games. It's quite possible that he was dropped in your league during that recent dry spell or he was somehow never owned, so scour your waiver wire for him right away.
If he is owned, now would be a good time to buy in on him, as the Utah Jazz have won six of their last seven games with Ingles in the starting lineup. Rodney Hood is back from injury, and the Jazz admittedly have a bit of a logjam on the wing with Ingles, Hood, and rookie breakout Donovan Mitchell all clamouring for minutes, but Ingles has performed well enough to keep his starting spot next to Mitchell safe for the foreseeable future.
Add Reggie Bullock
Reggie Bullock has scored in double figures in four of his last five contests, while hitting a ton of triples.
Over his last five games, he's been the 89th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 15.0 points, 3.2 threes, 3.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.0 turnovers in 33.0 minutes per contest, while shooting 50.9% from the field and 71.4% from the free throw line.
With Avery Bradley shipped to the Los Angeles Clippers in the Blake Griffin trade, Bullock's starting role with the Detroit Pistons is as secure as it's ever been, and there's a good chance he can maintain mid- to late-round value going forward. He's still available in 75% of Yahoo leagues and 85% on ESPN and is worth a shot if you're looking for a boost in points and triples.
Add Stanley Johnson
Stanley Johnson is another Piston who has benefited from the departure of Avery Bradley, as his recent shift into the team's starting five has resulted in better production.
Over Johnson's last four games (three starts), he's averaged 16.8 points, 1.0 three-pointer, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.5 blocks, and 2.0 turnovers in a healthy 34.8 minutes per contest, while shooting 43.1% from the field and 76.5% from the free throw line. The ho-hum shooting split has kept his ranking in nine-category leagues down to 110th over that span, but the scoring, rebounds, assists, defensive contributions, and occasional triples have made up for it.
He's still out there in 80% of Yahoo leagues and 85% on ESPN, and is worth an add for as long as the minutes and production are at this level. Bullock is a safer Piston to add if he's available, however, since Detroit is actively shopping Johnson, and a trade could torpedo his newfound fantasy value.
Sell Marc Gasol
Marc Gasol is the last man standing on a lottery-bound Memphis Grizzlies and it's becoming less likely that he finishes the season with the team. Even if the Grizz are adamant that he's not for sale, there's little reason for a team with no playoff aspirations to play their 33-year-old All-Star all that much down the stretch.
With a trade still possible before Thursday's deadline (let's be honest, teams rarely keep their "we're not trading this guy" promises), and little chance that Gasol plays all that much as the fantasy season begins to wind down, you should be doing everything you can to offload the big man while he's still at peak value and putting up big numbers.
Over the last couple weeks (seven games), Gasol has been the 28th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 17.7 points, 1.9 triples, 9.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.6 blocks, and 2.0 turnovers in 33.2 minutes per contest, while shooting 40.6% from the field and 92.6% from the free throw line. If you can turn that production into a different early-round asset with more late-season upside, do so immediately.
Add Andrew Harrison
Outside of an aging Marc Gasol, an out-for-the-season Mike Conley, and a soon-to-be-traded Tyreke Evans, the Memphis Grizzlies don't have a single other player posting average standard league fantasy value. Andrew Harrison is starting to flirt with it, however.
Over his last four games, Harrison has been the 82nd-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 14.5 points, 1.0 triple, 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 2.5 turnovers in 29.8 minutes per contest, while shooting 47.7% from the field and a perfect 12-for-12 from the charity stripe.
It's a lost season for the Grizz, but if Harrison can keep this going, at least he'll be a bright spot for fantasy players. If you're looking for guard help, he's widely available with a current ownership rate of only 15% in Yahoo leagues and a little over 10% on ESPN.
Add Bobby Portis
With Nikola Mirotic out of town, Bobby Portis is now the Bulls' unquestioned backup to Lauri Markkanen, so he should have a decent shot at maintaining late-round fantasy value going forward.
Over his last five games, Portis has averaged 12.6 points, 0.6 threes, 9.6 boards, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steal, 0.2 blocks, and 1.4 turnovers in 22.7 minutes per contest, while shooting 35.5% from the field and 88.9% from the line. The low shooting mark has held his nine-category ranking down to 128th over that span, but if he can maintain that kind of production while shooting something closer to his 46.9% season-long mark from the field, his fantasy owners will be in business.
Portis is owned in about 50% of Yahoo leagues and 30% on ESPN, but expect those rates to rise soon. He's worth an add now that his role is solidifed, especially if you're in need of some boards.
Drop Kevin Love
Kevin Love has a broken hand and will be out for up to eight weeks after opting for "a non-surgical treatment and rehabilitation process to repair the injury", according to Cleveland.com.
Even if Love comes back exactly when that eight-week timetable is up, that only leaves two weeks to the regular season and the Cavaliers only have eight games left on the schedule at that point. One has to imagine that they would ease him back into game action leading up to the playoffs, with the possibility of minute restrictions and rest games, and that's while being optimistic that he'll even return when first projected.
If you have an unused injury spot on your roster, or if your league goes right to the final day of the season, sure, you could stash Love for his early-round upside. If you have anyone else with a less-daunting timetable to throw in that slot, or if you have fantasy playoffs that end a week or two early, there's really no point to holding onto Love at this point.
He's still owned in 90% of Yahoo and ESPN leagues, but he can be pretty safely dropped if you don't have a painless way of holding him.
