The NBA has a game in London this week, and as a result, two teams play just once this week. Three other teams play twice, with the other 25 teams playing at least three games. As a result, I have a hard time advocating too many of the players with one or two games. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the week ahead for all 30 NBA teams.
Atlanta Hawks (@LAC, @DEN, BKN): Dewayne Dedmon has a decent chance of returning this week, and fantasy players should be aware. Dedmon averaged 13.0 points and 7.9 rebounds in just 24.2 minutes per game in November, and he would be really interesting if he ever saw his minutes increase.
Boston Celtics (@PHI): The only thing that can slow down the Celtics is the schedule, as Boston gets a lone game in London this week. It is a shame, because Terry Rozier might be worth adding if the Celtics had a couple more games this week. Rozier is averaging 14.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in just 23.6 minutes per game over the last two weeks.
Brooklyn Nets (TOR, DET, @ATL, @WAS): The two road games are back-to-back, and that could really be problematic if Chris LeVert and D’Angelo Russell are still out by then. That being said, we have seen signs of life from DeMarre Carroll and Jahlil Okafor in recent days, which is awfully encouraging.
Charlotte Hornets (DAL, UTA, OKC): It doesn’t get much worse than a back-to-back against the Jazz and Thunder, and even Dallas ranks 12th in opponents points this season. If you have been thinking about dropping Jeremy Lamb or even Nicolas Batum, now may be a good time.
Chicago Bulls (HOU, @NY, DET): Kris Dunn is yet another reminder that just because a young player doesn’t do well in one particular situation does not mean we should give up on him. That being said, he has scored exactly two points in two of his last eight games. I don’t know that he will ever be completely trustworthy for fantasy, especially when Zach LaVine returns.
Cleveland Cavaliers (@MIN, @TOR, @IND): Lost in all of the hand-wringing over where LeBron will go next is the fact he might be better off in Cleveland. Isaiah Thomas looked great in his season debut, and even if he doesn’t play like that every night, he should fit well with LeBron offensively. Perhaps more importantly, LeBron and Kevin Love appear to have finally found some chemistry together. Throw in the Brooklyn pick (even though it will probably be borderline top-10), and Cleveland may have the best assets to offer LeBron for the next couple of seasons.
Dallas Mavericks (ORL, @CHA, LAL): The Mavericks were doing their best impersonation of the Bulls by winning four games in-a-row before losing consecutive games to the Warriors and Bulls. Dwight Powell has looked good despite inconsistent minutes, and he would be a nice add if one of Dallas’s other bigs were to suffer an injury.
Denver Nuggets (@GS, ATL, MEM, @SA): This would be a pretty brutal schedule under the best circumstances, but the Nuggets will lose an hour going to San Antonio after hosting Memphis the night before. The only good news is the Hawks are allowing 197.9 points per game this season.
Detroit Pistons (@NOR, @BKN, @CHI): Detroit was never a particularly deep team, and it has pretty shocking they were able to beat the Spurs and Rockets with Reggie Jackson, Stanley Johnson and Andre Drummond all battling injuries. Of course, they also scored 89 points against the Magic and 78 against the 76ers with Jackson out. You probably have to keep playing Drummond and Tobias Harris, but I’m not expecting great things going forward. At least Ish Smith and Boban Marjanovic have been decent with Jackson and Drummond out.
Golden State Warriors (DEN, LAC, @MIL, @TOR): The two road games are back-to-back, and even if Kevin Durant is playing by then, he could sit for one of those games. The craziest thing about the Warriors is that Stephen Curry wasn’t even shooting particularly well (by his standards) before suffering his ankle injury. It is probably too late to buy low, but he could be in for a big few months to end the season
Houston Rockets (@CHI, POR, @PHO): I find it hard to believe Gerald Green will continue to see fewer minutes than P.J. Tucker going forward, but there should be plenty of minutes for both. Green will inevitably cool off, but he should continue to get open shots playing alongside Chris Paul and Eric Gordon. All three are benefiting from James Harden’s absence.
Indiana Pacers (MIL, MIA, CLE, @PHO): Myles Turner has averaged 10.4 points, and 4.4 rebounds in 24.6 minutes over his last five games. He appears to be losing playing time to Domantas Sabonis, and if I owned either of them, I would be looking to sell. I still think Turner is athletic enough for them to play together, though they do have a -0.9 net rating in 173 minutes together. Either player would be great for fantasy with 30+ minutes per game, but that seems unlikely to happen this season.
Los Angeles Clippers (ATL, @GS, @SAC, SAC): Blake Griffin left Saturday’s game with a concussion, and it is an indictment of the Clippers that they probably need Griffin if they hope to beat the Hawks or Kings. That being said, this could be a great week for Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, as the Hawks and Kings rank 28th and 27th in rebound percentage this season.
Los Angeles Lakers (SAC, SA, @DAL): Kyle Kuzma looked like a world-beater in December, but he is averaging 9.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 24.0 minutes per game in January. He came off the bench Friday and went 2-for-14 from the field. Kuzma will probably be fine, especially if the Lakers can ever ease the logjam in the frontcourt, but if someone is willing to pay you for the guy who averaged 19.5 points and 7.6 rebounds in December, you should do it.
Memphis Grizzlies (NOR, @DEN): Mike Conley still doesn’t have a timetable to return, and I might consider dropping him at this point. The Grizzlies are 7.5 games out of the eighth spot in the West, and even if Conley is healthy in March, there could be little reason to play him at that point.
Miami Heat (@TOR, @IND, MIL): Justise Winslow practiced for the first time Thursday, and he could be a few days away from ruining the fantasy values of Josh Richardson and Wayne Ellington. That being said, you should probably still start those guys this week with a decent schedule.
Milwaukee Bucks (@IND, ORL, GS, @MIA): Matthews Dellavedova recorded five assists for the fourth consecutive game Saturday despite getting tossed for one of his trademark dirty plays. With DeAndre Liggins gone, Dellavedova should continue to see significant minutes, and he is worth a look for anyone who needs assists.
Minnesota Timberwolves (CLE, OKC, NY, POR): Last week I recommended adding Tyus Jones, especially if you need steals, and I really like him and his teammates this week. Minnesota gets a day off between each game, and the Thunder and Knicks are each allowing 7.9 steals per game or more to opponents this season.
New Orleans Pelicans (DET, @MEM, POR, @NY): Rajon Rondo may be the most frustrating player in fantasy over the last handful of years. Rondo has played 30, 20, 24, 15 and 22 minutes in his last five games, and has put up 25, 8, 12, 3 and 3 assists in those contests. I certainly wouldn’t want to own him, unless I was desperate for assists.
New York Knicks (CHI, @MIN, NOR): Michael Beasley is averaging 19.3 points and 9.3 rebounds over the last week, and while I would still like it if he played more minutes, he is 26th in the entire NBA in usage, immediately ahead of LaMarcus Aldridge, Lou Williams, Bradley Beal, Dennis Smith Jr., Tyreke Evans and Donovan Mitchell. Beasley probably needs to be owned until Tim Hardaway Jr. returns.
Oklahoma City Thunder (POR, @MIN, @CHA): Terrance Ferguson is averaging 17.5 points per game in two starts since Andre Roberson went down. Ferguson is unlikely to contribute much in other categories, but he could be useful so long as he continues to get 30+ minutes per game. Ferguson was the 21st pick in the 2017 draft, and considering how good the rest of the draft class has been, it probably shouldn’t be surprising to see Ferguson play well since given the opportunity.
Orlando Magic (@DAL, @MIL, @WAS): The Magic are 12th in the NBA in defensive rating since Nikola Vucevic went down. Bismack Biyombo may clog things up offensively, but Orlando is no longer a great matchup, especially for players who make their living at the rim.
Philadelphia 76ers (BOS): It obviously depends on your options, but I don’t think I’m playing any 76ers this week. How good would their one game have to be to justify missing out on 2+ games of somebody else? Joel Embiid is certainly capable of playing well enough in that one game that you regret benching him, but I think I would be willing to take that risk.
Phoenix Suns (HOU, IND): Marquese Chriss has scored at least 12 points in each of his last five games, and he is averaging 7.4 rebounds over that span, as well. Chriss is probably legit, but with only two games each of the next two weeks, you can afford to wait before you pick him up. If he is still playing well towards the end of the month, you can probably still pick him up then.
Portland Trailblazers (@OKC, @HOU, @NOR, @MIN): As if four road games against playoff teams wasn’t bad enough, the first two are on the road. Jusuf Nurkic, Al-Farouq Aminu and Evan Turner have all put up better numbers over the last week, but that likely has as much to do with facing the Hawks, Cavs and Bulls as anything else. I certainly wouldn’t be in a hurry to start any fringe Trail Blazers this week.
San Antonio Spurs (@SAC, @LAL, DEN): Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green and Tony Parker will sit Sunday, so they should be good to go in all three games this week. Unfortunately, with Rudy Gay out, you are probably only starting Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge, anyway.
Sacramento Kings (SA, @LAL, LAC, @LAC): De’Aaron Fox and Willy Cauley-Stein led the Kings with 18 and 17 points Saturday with George Hill and Zach Randolph out, and if Sacramento had competent leadership, they would have traded Hill and Randolph away by now. Sacramento has a lot of fantasy potential, but it will never be realized while half of the team’s minutes are going to Hill, Randolph, Garrett Temple, Vince Carter and Kosta Koufos.
Toronto Raptors (@BKN, MIA, CLE, GS): The Warriors and Nets rank fourth and fifth in the NBA in pace, while the Cavs rank 15th in pace and 28th in defensive rating. That should be enough to move Serge Ibaka into must-start territory for the week.
Utah Jazz (@WAS, @CHA): Rodney Hood has scored 12 points or fewer in five of his last six games. Hood is droppable this week thanks to poor production and a lousy schedule. In fact, Donovan Mitchell is the only Jazz player you have to own this week, though I would probably try to hang on to Derrick Favors, Ricky Rubio, Rudy Gobert and possibly even Joe Ingles.
Washington Wizards (UTA, ORL, BKN): Washington’s best five-man lineup is radley Beal, Marcin Gortat, Kelly Oubre Jr., Otto Porter Jr. and John Wall. Those five have a 20.4 net rating, one of the best in the NBA, in 176 minutes. Their starting lineup, which features Markieff Morris instead of Kelly Oubre Jr., has a 6.0 net rating in 317 minutes. This may be silly to say with Morris riding a streak of three consecutive double-doubles, but I think he and the Wizards might be better off bringing Morris off the bench. Morris and Kelly Oubre Jr. are addable right now anyway, but I think I would like them better if Oubre got to start.