Keep reading those trade rumors because they can indicate what players will get more playing time over the next month. Never forget that all teams should be accounted for unlike in other fantasy sports. Look for those teams who are struggling and find out which players are rentals. Expiring contracts are very attractive to teams and players who are on the final year of their contract are more likely to get dealt if their team is not contending. Use the NBA Standings to take advantage of your competition.

OWNERSHIP PERCENTAGES: Yahoo! Sports

JaMychal Green PF/C MEM – 17% Ownership: What a difference a week makes. Just when we thought we were out on Green, he pulls us back in. Green’s scored in double figures in his last three games and has played over 20 minutes in each of them. The trend of Green’s playing time shows that the Coaches have more confidence in him again and with the health issues the Grizzlies continue to face, Green is forced to be a factor. Green has blocked shots in his last three games and has grabbed at least five boards in all of them. Don’t forget Green has a long-range game and see’s a good amount of open shots. He can hit from downtown and with the attention Marc Gasol commands on the perimeter and in the post, teams will take their eyes off of Green. Expect Green to continue to show consistency in scoring and rebounding. He has also secured three multi-steal games in his last four games. The commitment to defense is there and is moving better on the court.

Denzel Valentine SG/SF CHI – 20% Ownership: With Zach LaVine returning on Saturday, Valentine is likely the odd man out, especially when LaVine is back to running at 100-percent with the rest of the team. View the next few weeks as a serious audition for Valentine and he’ll have a chance to retain his playing time. Will his minutes drop a bit eventually? Yes! But, can he still get at least 20 minutes of playing time down the stretch? Also, Yes! Valentine has scored in double figures in his last three games. Valentine has grabbed at least five boards in his last six games. Valentine plays better defense than Justin Holiday and that also can keep him in the rotation. Valentine has grabbed steals five of his last six games. Valentine is a good ball-handler and has also been good at hitting the cutter. He’s dished four assists or more in three of his last four games. Remember, LaVine will get a minutes restriction to start to conserve his health and Valentine will still be seeing playing time in the late 20’s.

Joe Johnson SG/SF/PF UT – 3% Ownership: Since returning from injury Johnson has been filling in at multiple positions and he’s been a big help on the glass. We all know that he can shoot, especially from the outside, but we can’t always rely on him to score in double figures. Johnson has grabbed seven boards in three of his last four games. He’ll provide minor assist help and he’s been a good defender at the elbow. As long as Johnson is rebounding and getting sufficient minutes, he’s a good last guy off your fantasy bench player and even if he doesn’t score in double figures, there’s still a chance that he’ll hit multiple three-pointers. The Jazz pride themselves on their defense and without Rudy Gobert in the middle, the rest of the players have to rotate at the elbow to keep teams out of the lane. The Jazz will rely on Johnson down the stretch for not just his shooting, but also for his ability to keep players from driving.

Frank Kaminsky PF/C CHA – 40% Ownership: With Cody Zeller still out, Kaminsky’s minutes are safe and his perimeter shooting is needed, especially since Marvin Williams is such a non-factor this season. Kaminsky has been hot shooting from the field lately as he’s scored in double figures in his last five games and grabbed at least five boards in three of them. Kaminsky has compiled steals in three of his last five games and he sets good screens on the perimeter. Kaminsky doesn’t take a lot of inside shots because of Dwight Howard, but when Howard draws the double-team, Kaminsky is often left open. He’s been shooting the ball better and has been rewarded with 20 minutes or more in four of his last five games. The Hornets backcourt commands the ball a ton, but Kaminsky still gets in his chunk of shots and has shot 10 or more shots in three of his last five games.

Davis Bertans F SAS – 7% Ownership: As boom or bust of a player he’s been this season, Bertans should be seeing more minutes down the stretch. The modern day Matt Bonner see’s a ton of open shots on the perimeter and has scored in double figures in four of his last six games. He hit six three-pointers a couple of games ago and he’s even been a minor assist help in his last few games. Pau Gasol is an inside specific player and Bertans gives the Spurs not only good shooting ability from the outside, but he’s also good at rotating and even guarding players up top. He’s played over 20 minutes in four of his last five games. Bertans will also block shots. He’s blocked shots in three of his last five games.

Tyrone Wallace SG LAC – 10% Ownership: The Clippers need all of the help they can get as they continue losing players to injuries. While Austin Rivers is out, Wallace has emerged as a spark in many ways. Wallace has played over 30 minutes in three of his four games he’s played with the Clippers. Milos Teodosic being out has helped his cause, but between Rivers injury, Patrick Beverley being out for the season and Danilo Gallinari still out, Wallace could sneak his way into the rotation for the remainder of the season. He’s quick on both sides of the ball and has shown that he could be a very effective driver. He’s scored in double figures in three of his last four games and he’ll grab long rebounds and even dish a few assists. Wallace has blocked shots in two of his last three games and has three multi-steal games in his four games with the Clippers. Wallace is more of a driver than a jump shooter, but he can hit from long-range as well.

Larry Nance Jr. PF/C LAL – 33% Ownership: Nance is trending upward again as he’s been making more of an impact and has scored in double figures in his last three games. Nance mainly scores from in the paint and utilizes his baby jumper. We can always expect Nance to be gritty and to put up consistent gritty stats when it comes to steals. He’s stolen the ball at least once in his last six games. Nance has blocked shots in two of his last three games. Nance is also reliable on the glass (despite his numbers being down in the last month). Nance battles inside and is unfortunately in a major timeshare with Julius Randle, Kyle Kuzma and even Brook Lopez, but he’s played over 20 minutes in four of his last six games and he’s grabbed eight or more rebounds in his last three games. He’s definitely a player to consider grabbing while he’s hot.

Joe Harris SG BKN – 6% Ownership: The Nets continue to battle injuries and Harris has taken advantage of his playing time. He’s developed his game a bit more as last season he was a strict jump shooter. Harris will attack the lane and battle for boards. He grabbed 12 a few games ago and he’s grabbed at least three in seven of his last eight games and as I always say, Guards who rebound will secure more minutes and that benefits fantasy players. Harris can hit from beyond the arc and from mid-range. Harris has attacked the rim a bit more this year and he’s been going to the free-throw line in his last four games. Harris can play multiple positions and he’s seen time at PG, SG and SF this season and that should keep his playing time consistent even when other Nets return from injury. Harris has played over 20 minutes in his last seven games and his hustle on the court alone makes him deserving of a rotation spot.

DeMarre Carroll F BKN – 33% Ownership: Carroll is hurt right now, but should be back in the next couple of games and he’s a player you can’t forget about. Carroll has improved his offense throughout the season and has been a consistent rebounder. He’s grabbed 6.7 boards per game and gets a lot of playing time from his defense alone and the Nets don’t have too many good defenders. Carroll is not only a good defender on the perimeter, but he guards the post well. Fantasy owners can expect him to grab steals. Carroll also has a long-range game and has had multiple games in which he’s hit multiple three-pointers. Before getting hurt Carroll scored in double figures in four of his last five games. He had been helping with blocks before he got hurt to a lesser extent. Carroll will bang inside and has helped Rondae Hollis-Jefferson guards the paint a lot this season because Timofey Mozgov is allergic to defense and they got rid of Trevor Booker. Carroll does a bit of everything and when he’s healthy he starts and should be owned in standard leagues.

WILD CARD PICK UP:

Manu Ginobili SG/SF SAS – 5% Ownership: You want wild? How about the Spurs rotation this season? Ginobili has been shooting the ball better and scored over 20 points in two of his last three games. Ginobili has been helpful in moving the ball around and will provide assist relief. Ginobili is still good at fighting through screens on defense and provides inconsistent steals and blocks help. He can hit shots from long range and even at his age can still drive effectively (just like Tony Parker). Spurs Coaches have admitted in the past that Ginobili essentially does what he wants on the court and has the green light to shoot whenever he feels that he has a good shot. The Spurs continue to deal with injuries and Ginobili will be asked to put in time down the stretch, but always be prepared for a rest day. He’s pushing 90 (in NBA years).