As turn the page to 2018, now isn’t the time to sit back with your arms folded, even if you’re dominating your league. There will always be a new opportunity and one of the biggest indicators at this time when it comes to finding that opportunity is what you see when reading trade rumors. Players who are in these rumors are essentially auditioning for other teams to draw interest. Teams will let these players have more playing time just so they have more of a chance to showcase their skills and how they would fit as a puzzle piece on a contender. While trade rumors can be simply rumors, keep an eye on those players you read about and watch their minutes on a per-game basis. The NBA Trade Deadline is not far away.

 

OWNERSHIP PERCENTAGES: Yahoo! Sports

Gerald Green SG/SF HOU-39% Ownership: Green is a perfect example of a veteran who is taking advantage of an opportunity with top fantasy option James Harden out and since signing with the Rockets, we’re all left wondering where this guy has been all season. He’s scored in double figures in four of his first five games with Houston and has scored over 20 points in his last two games. Green has grabbed at least three boards in his last three games and will step inside the arc to grab boards despite mainly producing from three-point land. Remember, Green has leaping ability and will attack the lane if it’s open. Green is also helpful on defense and has two multi-steal games in his last four. Green has been getting consistent minutes since signing and even played into the 30’s last game. Even when Harden comes back, if Green keeps producing as effectively as he has, it could be Eric Gordon competing for minutes against him. This isn’t Green’s first rodeo and it’s safe to say what we’re seeing from him is not out of nowhere.

Delon Wright G TOR-23% Ownership: Backup Point Guards deserve love too and whether it’s been in volume or with full minutes Wright has made an impact since returning. His scoring is inconsistent, but he’s helpful in other categories. He’s coming off a 13-rebound game and has grabbed at least four boards in three of his last four games. Wright has provided minor assist help lately, but his defense on the perimeter has been stifling. He’s been very helpful with steals and blocks. He’s coming off a four-steal game and has grabbed steals in six of his last seven games. His blocking ability has been most impressive. His jumps are timed just right and doesn’t bite on many pump fakes. Wright’s blocked shots in his last six games including two multi-block games. He’s been compiling blocks in games that he doesn’t see 20 minutes of playing time. He will have his high scoring games, but pick him up as a defensive specialist at this point.

De’Aaron Fox PG SAC-39% Ownership: Fox hasn’t had the easiest transition to the NBA, but the ball-handling skills are there and he attacks the rim and will bang against bigger players. He’s been a bit banged up, but when thinking about the Kings long-term, it’s all about Fox. George Hill has been struggling and Garrett Temple has been up and down and Fox is going to see a ton of minutes moving forward. The Kings played him 33 minutes coming off an injury, which shows the faith the Coaches have that he’s 100 percent healthy. Fox is going to be a multi-category producer. His shot is slowly improving and he can rotate to both guard spots. He’ll also help with boards, assists and steals. He can shoot from the outside, but is still looking for consistency in his stroke, but throughout the rest of the season, he’ll be utilized more. Plus, the Kings don’t get consistency on offense inside and Fox will be relied on to command the ball and attack the rim to draw the extra defender leaving one of his low-block teammates open. The Kings don’t have a set offense and even when Fox struggles, expect him to play in the late 20’s-early 30’s. Hill will start to take more of a backseat as the season continues.

Tyson Chandler C PHX-16% Ownership: A lot of fantasy players are turned off by Chandler because the Suns tend to rest him every few games, but remember, the trade deadline is coming up and the Suns are expected to shop one of their big men and Chandler’s rebounding and history with being an impact player on Championship teams makes his appeal sexier. Chandler has grabbed double-digit rebounds in four of his last five games and he’s been consistent lately in registering a block in most of his games. Chandler is a big intangibles guy and if he’s traded, his defense will be needed down the stretch. The Suns are going to be forced to play him more to draw more interest from the market because not many are biting on him. Now is the best time to take a flier on Chandler as a defensive specialist. View his scoring as an added bonus. He still gets it done inside on the glass and the Suns are dangling him.

Kyle Anderson SG/SF SAS-15% Ownership: Anderson has struggled a bit over the last few weeks, but with Rudy Gay and Danny Green hurt, Anderson will have a much longer leash even when struggling. When he doesn’t score he helps on the glass and on the floor grabbing loose balls. Anderson grabs a ton of long rebounds and has grabbed at least five in his last six games. Anderson has been struggling shooting, but has posted double figures in two of his last four games. He hustles on the court and while Kawhi Leonard is seeing more playing time, the Spurs will need Anderson to relieve him to keep him healthy. Anderson has also compiled steals in his last five games including two multi-steal games. Anderson will shoot from the outside, but will attack the lane even when it’s partially closed off. As long as Anderson’s commitment to defense stays as is and doesn’t turn the ball over too many times, his playing time should be safe and secure for the duration of the season. When Gay comes back, he’ll have to rotate at PF as well which helps Anderson’s prospects of keeping consistent minutes.

Cory Joseph PG IND-6% Ownership: Joseph has taken full advantage of Victor Oladipo being hurt and has made more of an overall impact. He’s scored in double figures in each of his last four games and grabbed at least four boards in his last three games. Joseph is an excellent backup PG who has always been good at filling in for banged up players. He has a minor outside game, but mainly scores from driving and right outside the paint. Joseph has also been a consistent playmaker for the Pacers and has dished at least four assists in his last four games. Joseph is good at anticipating screens and working around those screens and he gets steals on the perimeter. Joseph has stolen the ball in his last three games. Know that this could be a short-term solution until the Pacers return to full strength, but this is familiar territory for Joseph and he’s been able to take advantage of second units and he’s played at least 30 minutes in three of his last four games.

Tristan Thompson PF/C CLE-30% Ownership: Slowly but surely, the production is starting to improve from Thompson and he’s being rewarded with more minutes. The Cavs decided at the beginning of the season to start Jae Crowder at PF and Kevin Love at C and that sent Thompson to the bench, and then he got hurt. He’s hit the 20-minute mark in two of his last three games and is coming off one of his best performances of the season. He looks like he’s running better and has grabbed at least eight boards in his last two games. Thompson mainly scores off of second chance opportunities and give n’ go plays. He’s scored in double figures in two of his last three games. Thompson is not a flashy player and he hasn’t been able to keep up with the quickness of the Cavs offense in years passed. Now with their second-unit, he should be able to produce more and owners should expect boards and close to double digit scoring. The recent uptick of minutes shows the Coaches confidence in him and it’s not out of the question that he can work his way back into the starting lineup, but he’ll have to be able to keep up. His injured Calf looks like it’s finally behind him and we should be seeing more 20-minute games from him moving forward because the Cavs can use the help on the defensive end. He’s also blocked shots in two of his last three games.

Marco Belinelli SG/SF ATL-25% Ownership: Belinelli has been very efficient on offense and has scored in double figures in six of his last seven games. Belinelli will shoot from all over the floor, but see’s the most opening from the arc. While Belinelli seems like a one-trick pony, he’s good at faking passing inside thus pushing defenses back and stepping inside the arc to score. Belinelli is a strong mid-range shooter. His playing time should remain in the 20’s for the most part not only because of his offense but also because of his defense. Belinelli has compiled steals in his last six games and that should help keep his playing time intact. Belinelli isn’t reckless with the ball unlike some of his other teammates. He keeps the turnovers down and doesn’t take stupid shots, unless given the ball with three on the shot clock. He won’t hurt your percentages and he see’s a lot of high percentage shots. If the second defender doesn’t appear after the first screen is set at the top of the key, he’ll attempt to work his way inside to try to draw contact. He’s good at getting players to bite on the fake and he’ll draw contact while shooting. Belinelli has a very high Basketball I.Q. and his consistency of late when it comes to scoring and steals makes him a safe pick up.

Jarell Martin PF/C MEM-3% Ownership: JaMychal Green has not impressed the Grizzlies Coaches lately and they’ve given Martin more playing time because of Green’s struggles. Martin has hit the 20-minute threshold in his last 5 games and he’s scored in double figures in three of them. Martin is quicker than Green and could be used more down the stretch, especially when Mike Conley returns. Martin has also grabbed at least six boards in four of his last six games. He’s also been helpful with steals and blocks. Martin is coming off of two double-steal games and has blocked shots in four of his last six games. Chandler Parsons being out of the lineup has given Martin a longer leash on the court, but remember, when Green was hurt earlier this season, Martin was the primary fill-in option and he doesn’t turn the ball over down low. His playing time alone should put the fantasy focus on him because he’s been hitting 20 minutes consistently and could steal more minutes down the stretch.


WILD CARD PICK UP: Terrance Ferguson SG/SF OKC-3% Ownership: We haven’t seen much of Ferguson this season, but with Andre Roberson hurt, Ferguson is seeing more playing time. Alex Abrines has also been banged up and that should give Ferguson some breathing room. Ferguson has played over 30 minutes in his last two games and scored in double figures in both games. Ferguson will attack the lane, even when it’s crowded and does have a long-range game and has put it to good use. He recently had a three-steal game and he can keep up on the ball on defense on the perimeter. Ferguson will continue to see open shots because teams won’t want to give him the lane, and they have to keep an eye Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony. Roberson is a solid defender and will likely start once he returns, but Ferguson is starting to show that he can be a good long-term complimentary player and if the Thunder need a knock-down three-point shooter, they’ll sub in Ferguson. The minutes commitment shows that the Thunder are going to go with Ferguson for now. He has flash, but can also shoot off of screens and we should expect to see more double-digit scoring outings moving forward.