We had a very active NBA Trade Deadline in which a lot of teams made moves and while players get used to the new systems that they’re playing in, teams will often rely on their bench options a bit more until new players can run with the offense. It brings more opportunity for a ninth man in a rotation to get more playing time.
Seth Curry G DAL-12% Ownership: While Luka Doncic has been out of action, other Mavericks guards have also been getting hurt. Curry has missed a few games and Jalen Brunson is banged up, but in the two games he’s played in since returning, Curry has scored 20 or more points and grabbed at least three boards and a steal. Doncic will likely need a few more games off, and Curry has been seeing over 20 minutes in games. Consider him a short-term solution, and he’ll help lead the Mavericks second unit in scoring. Curry can also help run the point if needed and just like his brother Steph, he can also hit shots from long-range. Curry is good at attacking the lane and teams will often play up on him because they always expect to pull up and shoot and he’ll read a screen and then charge towards the lane. There’s a chance he stays in the rotation once Doncic comes back. He currently has a leg up on Delon Wright who hasn’t been producing consistently.
Jordan McLaughlin PG MIN-3% Ownership: Ultimately, D’Angelo Russell will be logging a lot of minutes but he’s not healthy right now. McLaughlin has been very impressive because he drives the lane hard and that gives the ‘Wolves a nice change of pace player off the bench once Russell is ready to go. McLaughlin should continue to see starts until Russell returns. He’s coming off of back to back games in which he hit the 30-minute mark, and he’s even grabbed steals in five of his last six games. His defense will keep him on the court for longer, and Minnesota trading Shabazz Napier benefits McLaughlin. He’s dished seven or more dimes in his last two games. Expect his scoring numbers to continue to go up. He’ll be battling Jarrett Culver for extra minutes and Culver has been very hit or miss when it comes to his shooting all year and McLaughlin certainly has a chance to overtake him at the PG spot.
Terence Davis SG TOR-16% Ownership: Davis has exploded with Norman Powell out and he should be able to see more games in the high-20’s in terms of minutes. Davis has been coming through on the defensive end lately. He’s clearly fighting for boards and has grabbed eight in his last two games. He has even swiped the ball in his last three contests. The Raptors need more secondary scoring when the second unit is in and Davis has hit at least three three-pointers in his last four games. Seeing him get double-digit shots should give us confidence that he’ll be able to keep his spot for the next few weeks. He’s scored in double figures in his last four games. He doesn’t turn the ball over too much and when Kyle Lowry is active, he’ll be splitting shots with Lowry and Fred VanVleet , but he’s been more reliable than Patrick McCaw . He’ll drive at times and then crash the boards after he shoots and should be on rosters.
Chandler Hutchison SG, SF CHI-3% Ownership: We’ve been looking for more reliable mid-court options in Chicago, and with Otto Porter and Kris Dunn banged up, Hutchison, as long as he can stay healthy, should be able to see meaningful minutes. Hutchison can help push the ball inside, and with Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. still out Hutchison’s scoring is needed. He’s been getting at least 20 minutes a lot more lately and he’s been helpful grabbing boards and steals as well. The Bulls need all of the defensive help they can get as they’re horrible on that side of the ball. Hutchison will read screens inside and then pop out to the elbow and he’ll see a decent amount of open looks. The Bulls are literally desperate as they continue to get plagued with injuries. Other complimentary weapons haven’t come through and even with Daniel Gafford returning, it won’t take away shots from Hutchison and other mid-court options.
Tim Hardaway Jr. SG, SF DAL-39% Ownership: Hardaway will continue to be the second scoring option until Doncic returns from injury. Hardaway has scored no fewer than 14 points in each of his last four games. Hardaway will mainly settle for jumpers, but he does have the ability to drive with the ball. He’s also dished five or more dimes in three of his last four games. He’s been helping out a bit more with defensive stats over his last few games. He’s grabbed four or more boards in three of his last four games. Hardaway should see minutes in the 30’s even when Doncic comes back. He’ll serve as the team’s third scoring option ultimately. He’s grabbed steals in two of his last three games. Hardaway has hit 2.7 three-pointers per game and he’ll continue seeing nearly 12 shots per game.
Malik Beasley G MIN-32% Ownership: Seeing Beasley play 29 minutes in his Timberwolves debut is very encouraging. He was buried deep in Denver because of their incredible depth, and now he moves to a more open rotation in Minnesota. Beasley will provide a lot of defense for the Timberwolves and he should be a regular part of the rotation. He will lose shots once D’Angelo Russell is ready to go, but he’ll still get chances to score with Minnesota’s second unit. In his debut, he scored 23 points and grabbed ten boards with a steal. He’ll be more of a bailout shooter on offense. He’ll camp out at the arc and when defenses collapse on Karl-Anthony Towns , he’ll be wide open for long shots. Beasley will earn all of his minutes from his defense, where the Timberwolves have been very bad. He brings uniqueness on that front because he can defend the perimeter. Expect him to get between 20-23 minutes per game when the team is at full strength.
Ky Bowman PG GSW-11% Ownership: Bowman has been up and down from the G-League, but with D’Angelo Russell traded along with a lot of other options, Bowman should be running the point until Stephen Curry returns to the floor. Bowman is quick and he will take advantage of slower defenses on transition. Bowman contributed 11 assists in his first game back up with team. They don’t have a lot of scoring options and Bowman can find himself taking seven to ten shots per game. Once Curry returns, he should still be able to get 20 minutes per game. Damion Lee and Andrew Wiggins can help run the point at times, but they have had to sign players to fill their roster and Bowman is already very familiar with the Warriors offense. Curry isn’t a lock to return March 1st, but that’s what he’s shooting for when it comes to a return date.
Juancho Hernangomez F MIN-6% Ownership: Opportunity will certainly present itself because with Robert Covington and Gorgui Dieng off the team, Hernangomez should see a big boost in minutes. We’ll have to see how the Timberwolves divide the power forward minutes between Hernangomez and James Johnson . Both hit the 20-minute mark and Hernangomez was given more minutes than Johnson. Hernangomez scored 14 points and he grabbed a steal. He can hit long-range shots, but the ‘Wolves should encourage him to slash to the basket and not just be a bailout shooting option. There is enough playing time to go around between Hernangomez and Johnson. Johnson has the slight edge if one of the Timberwolves point guards get injured because he can run the point, but there’s a reason that the Timberwolves got Hernangomez, and he’ll definitely be utilized more than he was in Denver.
Gary Trent Jr. SG POR-5% Ownership: Trent has seen an uptick in minutes and shots in the rotation lately and even though the Blazers have CJ McCollum and Trevor Ariza helping in the mid-court, Trent has clearly outplayed Anfernee Simons lately and he’s been getting rewarded with more playing time. Trent has played 22 minutes or more in five of his last six games. He’s been earning his minutes from his defensive efforts as he’s grabbed blocks and steals in two of his last three games. He won’t help as much on the glass, but he will shift around the elbow on both sides of the ball. There are back up minutes to go around in Portland and Trent is clearly in the rotation to stay. We’ll have to see how his shots are impacted when Zach Collins eventually comes back to the lineup. His role on the team is safe, even if he won’t only produce from the arc.
WILD CARD PICK UP: Tyus Jones PG MEM-5% Ownership: We’ve been waiting to see which other guards can produce for the Grizzlies consistently besides Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks , and Jones has scored in double figures in his last five games. He’s been seeing a lot of open lanes and with other players on the move from the deadline, there have been more openings for shooters. Jones has played 20-plus minutes in four of his last six games and he’s grabbed steals in three of his last five. His defensive efforts will be rewarded. He has also helped dish more dimes lately. He’s produced five or more assists in two of his last four games. Jones is good at pulling up for jumpers at the elbow instead of chucking up wild shots. If he see’s the mid-court open, he’ll stop and pop even on the drive in transition. His minutes aren’t fully where we want them to be just yet, but hopefully he can still net at least 20.