The Specialists: Money McCollum
C.J. McCollum wasn’t a household name when this NBA season began, but he’s deservedly become a well-known commodity well before the All-Star break. The Lehigh product continues to show that all he needed was a real opportunity, and it’s been an enjoyable ride for those who gambled on his upside.
In this week’s trip around the league, we’ll focus extensively on Matt Barnes and Gerald Green finally appearing to find their respective NBA homes, and it’s resulted in very real fantasy value for each well-traveled swingman.
3-Pointers
Gold Star: C.J. McCollum, G Portland Trail Blazers
Last 7: 21.8 pts, 2.8 reb, 5.5 ast, 1.3 stl, 3.5 3PM, 2.3 TO, 47.1% shooting, 70% FT shooting
It doesn’t sound like C.J. McCollum’s ankle injury is a major concern, so that’s not going to be a factor here. An absolute workhorse for a team that needs him to play major minutes, McCollum has emerged as one of the best draft-day values of the fantasy basketball season.
McCollum is never going to be the most efficient shooter due to the volume of shots he takes on a team that lacks scorers, but he’s become more than just a 3-point shooter en route to dominating that category, as well. McCollum is seventh in the NBA with 72 triples on the year, and his assists have steadily climbed as the year has progressed, as well. McCollum is going into uncharted territory with his usage and minutes this season, but this isn’t a sell-high candidate.
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No Discounts: J.J. Redick, SG Los Angeles Clippers
Last 7: 19.0 pts, 3.5 3PM, 0.8 TO, 51% shooting, 90.9% FT shooting
The numbers speak volumes for J.J. Redick, and it’s imperative that he remains as involved as he has been of late if the Clippers are going to come close to reaching their ceiling. Redick has hit at least three triples in five straight contests, connecting on an absurd 18-of-35 attempts (51.4%) during that stretch. Also of note: Redick hasn’t attempted fewer than six triples in any of those games, and it’s clear the Clippers are relying on him to be a big contributor from deep.
There is always a health concern with Redick who has not played a full 82-game season (and won’t this year) since 2009-10 in Orlando, and he’s a guy I’d be floating in trade talks if he were on my roster.
Bargain Bin: Gerald Green, G/F Miami Heat
Last 7: 17.5 pts, 3.0 3PM, 1.0 TO, 55.1% shooting, 57.1% FT shooting
Gerald Green’s inaugural season in Miami got off to a strange start due to his bizarre off-court incident, but he’s been *Randy Moss Voice* straight cash since being given an opportunity to fulfill an increased role.
Green has nine triples over his last two games alone, but the more surprising statistic may be the fact that he’s played 26-plus minutes in every December game with the exception of just two contests. He doesn’t do anything except score the basketball and hit the 3-point shot, but his role is secure and he is a cheap source of triples for those in need of exactly that.
Steals
Gold Star: Ricky Rubio, PG Minnesota Timberwolves
Last 7: 10.5 pts, 5.8 reb, 11.0 ast, 3.5 stl, 1.3 3PM, 1.8 TO, 31.3% shooting, 89.5% FT shooting
If Ricky Rubio could shoot, he’d be a fantasy darling. Of course, if I were another foot taller, I’d be playing basketball professionally instead of writing about it, but we’re all forced to play the hand that life deals us.
Despite the truly terrible efficiency from the field, Rubio is doing everything and everything else right now and is riding a nice little hot streak. Over his last three games alone, Rubio has a total of 35 assists and 14 steals. This is the time to make a move to ship him out and elevate the ceiling of your roster in the process.
No Discounts: Matt Barnes, F Memphis Grizzlies
Last 7: 13.3 pts, 5.5 reb, 2.3 stl, 1.5 blk, 2.0 3PM, 48.7% shooting, 87.5% FT shooting
I’m not sure how many times Dave Joerger has to say that Matt Barnes’ starting role is not going to be changing for a while for him to be rostered in more leagues, and it’s absolutely ridiculous that he has just a 52% ownership rate on the Yahoo platform. As good as he’s been in just the last week, Barnes has brought almost every time he’s grouped with the starting five, averaging 13.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 0.9 blocks and 2.4 triples on 47.1% shooting.
Unlike in many of Barnes’ previous stops, this is a team that actually needs what he provides and embraces his on-court personality. The well-traveled forward is logging 32.5 minutes per game as the starter while posting numbers that can only help every fantasy team he’s on. A rare member of the VIP 1/1/1 club, if Barnes available in your league, please invite me to play with you and your friends next season.
Bargain Bin: Dennis Schroder, PG Atlanta Hawks
Last 7: 13.8 pts, 5.5 ast, 2.8 stl, 1.5 3PM, 1.8 TO, 47.5% shooting, 84.6% FT shooting
This is scraping the bottom of the bargain bin, but there’s nothing wrong with doing that sometimes when searching for a buried treasure. Schroder, who hadn’t eclipsed 20 minutes of playing time in any December contest prior to the last week, played at least 20.5 minutes in all four of his games, racking up 11 steals in the process.
Jeff Teague is annually overdrafted as one of the bigger disappointments on fantasy basketball rosters, and perhaps this is a good time to point out that as Schroder’s playing time has risen, Teague’s has declined with fewer than 30 minutes in five straight games. During that stretch, Teague also has 18 assists compared to 14 turnovers.
Blocks
Gold Star: Hassan Whiteside, C Miami Heat
Last 7: 14.5 pts, 12.5 reb, 0.5 stl, 3.5 blk, 1.5 TO, 62.5% shooting, 57.1% FT shooting
Hassan Whiteside is on his own planet when it comes to blocking shots. He’s the only player in the league with 100-plus blocks, and the next closest (DeAndre Jordan) isn’t even sniffing 80. After his first (and only) game without a single block this season, Whiteside has responded emphatically. With 10 swats over his last two games alone, the former YMCA product has now blocked multiple shots in 24 of his 26 games to date.
Erik Spoelstra is stepping outside of his comfort zone by beginning to play Hassan Whiteside down the stretch in the fourth quarter, and that can only be good news for Whiteside and those with him on the roster. He’s a matchup nightmare in a contract season on a team looking to increase his involvement.
No Discounts: DeAndre Jordan, C Los Angeles Clippers
Last 7: 12.0 pts, 12.5 reb, 2.8 blk, 1.3 TO, 77.3% shooting, 38.9% FT shooting
You knew the deal about DeAndre Jordan’s free throw shooting when you drafted him onto your team, so complaining about that is like going outside and saying it’s cold when you wore basketball shorts in the snow. Nobody wants to hear it.
Jordan isn’t being more involved offensively despite promises to do so when he re-signed with the Clippers, but that’s never been where his fantasy value has lied. He makes sense for teams that have already made the decision to punt the free throw percentage category entirely.
Bargain Bin: Kristaps Porzingis, F New York Knicks
Last 7: 9.7 pts, 5.7 reb, 2.3 ast, 0.7 stl, 3.7 blk, 1.7 TO, 34.4% shooting, 85.7% FT shooting
The reason Three, Six Latvia is in the bargain bin is because he’s struggling offensively, but he’s still making his impact felt on the defensive end of the floor. Porzingis blocked 11 shots this week, and it’s just another reminder that K.P.’s value is based in more than his ability to score the basketball.
Despite the fact that Porzingis will play more than he ever has in his career, I’m not at all worried about the rookie’s ability to sustain production throughout the course of his first NBA season. For a guy who was getting moved for second-round picks as little as three weeks ago, Porzingis can currently be had for a lot less.
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