As we get closer to the NBA trade deadline, keep track of players who are on expiring contracts. Expiring contracts are trade chips and teams will surrender draft picks in order to get players with expiring contracts. If a team trades a player with a high 2019 salary on an expiring contact, teams will need to trade multiple players from their team so the salaries add up. Players will be on the move over the next few weeks and you can get ahead of the game by trading these players before they are dealt. Always stay one step ahead of the game. Watch the rumor mill and make sure you know which players are on expiring contracts.
Bobby Portis PF, C CHI-39% Ownership: Portis has been banged up this season, but his spot is safe and secure in the Bulls rotation and now that he’s back, he’ll be able to produce a lot with the Bulls second unit. The Bulls are monitoring his minutes for now, but that will soon come to an end. He’s able to stretch the floor and hit shots from the arc. Since returning, Portis has scored at least 15 points hitting multiple three’s in both games. As he continues to heal, he’ll spend more time in the post. He’s proven that he can bang around in the post with the big guys and he compliments the Bulls other big men very nicely. Expect him to start grabbing more boards soon enough. He’s grabbed 7.5 boards per game this season. Even though Jabari Parker played a few games ago, he shouldn’t take minutes away from Portis. Parker hasn’t seen the floor in the next few games. Portis should see his minutes and boards elevate very soon. He’s a very safe grab.
Raul Neto PG UT-17% Ownership: With Alec Burks off the team and Ricky Rubio and Dante Exum out for the next few games, Neto is a good short-term solution if you need PG depth. The Jazz are out of options and Neto should see close to 30 minutes per game for the next few. Rubio is suffering from a Hamstring injury and he’ll be re-evaluated at some point next week, but, just because Rubio is being re-evaluated, it doesn’t mean that he’s a lock to return to the court next week. Exum is looking like he’ll definitely miss multiple weeks with an Ankle injury. Since his minutes have gone up over the last two games, Neto scored 10 points in both contests and he won’t stay exclusively at the arc. He’ll look for the free lane first. He’ll look to drive and dish or take it right to hole. He won’t shy away though from shooting the long ball. Neto has grabbed a steal in two of his last three games and we should expect his assist-numbers to go up because he’ll be operating out of the PG spot as the main option for at least the next few games.
Dwyane Wade G MIA-30% Ownership: Wade continues to be a double-digit scoring machine and for the most part, he’s been able to stay on the court. Wade can play three positions if needed and with Goran Dragic still hurt, expect him to provide consistent assists. He’s dishing four dimes per game while playing steadily in the 20’s. Just because he’s one of the oldest players in the league, it does not mean the Heat will limit his minutes. This is Wade’s final season and he’s an attraction and the fans will go to the Heat games just to see him. He’ll get time running the point, being the off-guard spot-up shooter and he’ll even get a little time at SF setting up at the elbow and taking mid-range jumpers. As a veteran guard, seeing him grab 3.6 rebounds per game is very encouraging from the fantasy standpoint. Wade has also grabbed steals in his last three games. He’s a more consistent player than Tyler Johnson and he’ll see between 10-12 shots in the majority of his games. He still finds ways to get to the rim even though he’s past his prime.
Terrence Ross SG, SF ORL-32% Ownership: Ross has been a very quiet producer in fantasy this season. Even though fantasy players shouldn’t expect huge scoring nights on most occasions, Ross is still scoring 13.3 points per game while playing over 25 minutes per game. Ross has scored in double figures in five of his last six games. He’ll get open a lot at the arc because of the amount of attention the Magic frontcourt requires from the opposition. Ross is another guard-forward who grabs over three boards per game. Ross grabbed five boards in two of his last three games. Ross’ defense will often keep him in games. His minutes are safe. Ross has stolen the ball in five of his last six games. He plays better defense than both Evan Fournier and Jonathon Simmons . If you need the scoring and steals boost, Ross is a safe player to add. The Magic continue to lack depth in their backcourt and that benefits Ross.
Shabazz Napier PG BKN-6% Ownership: Napier is another scoring option that fantasy players can rely on for the short-term. Napier has hit double figures in scoring in his last seven games. He has tremendous speed and will be able to take advantage of teams second units on transition. Napier has seen playing time in the 20’s and 30’s over his last six games. Caris LeVert and Allen Crabbe being out has given him a chance to work his way into the rotation. Napier will fight for boards against bigger players and he’ll even have time to facilitate the offense. He’s grabbed at least three boards in five of his last six games. He’s also dished three or more dimes in his last six games. Napier will fight through screens and he’ll grab steals on the perimeter as he has in his last three games. It’s hard to tell whether or not he’ll stick in the rotation as the Nets rely heavily on D’Angelo Russell, Spencer Dinwiddie and Joe Harris , but, because they’re dealing with injuries to their forwards, other mid-court options need to fill the void at PF and that has indirectly helped Napier’s minutes and production.
Justin Jackson SF SAC-9% Ownership: Jackson is more of a screen setter than a scorer, but over his last few games, he’s made himself a lot more involved in the Kings offense. Iman Shumpert has been hurt and Jackson has taken full advantage. Shumpert has also been involved in trade rumors with the deadline coming up and if he gets traded, that can open up even more minutes for Jackson. Jackson has scored in double figures in his last three games. Even though he just grabs three boards per game, he’s surpassed three in his last four games. Jackson has also grabbed steals in three of his last five games. View Jackson as a short-term solution. Watch for more consistency from him, especially on the scoring front. The minutes will be there for him as he’s played 22 minutes per game this season. He’s actually eclipsed 30 minutes in 2 of his last 3 games. Shumpert is clearly not part of the Kings future plans and as the season continues, the Kings will keep Jackson in the mix.
Bam Adebayo PF, C MIA-29% Ownership: One of the biggest head-scratchers in the NBA this season is Hassan Whiteside ’s minutes. The guy is averaging 12.8 points, 12.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game and his minutes are simply all over the place. Enter Adebayo who is playing over 21 minutes per game. Adebayo has scored in double figures in his last three games. He’s a low-block specific player. He’ll get points off of missed shots and draw a lot of contact in the paint. He will mainly sub in for Whiteside, but the Heat will throw a few PF minutes at him at times as well. Adebayo has grabbed 6.8 boards per game this season and he’s doing just enough to be the last big-man off your bench. If somehow Whiteside gets traded, Adebayo becomes a must-add. He’s grabbed steals in his last four games. The defense is there. He hustles on both ends of the floor and doesn’t give up on plays. His conditioning is much better this season and his toughness in the paint should keep him in the Heat’s rotation for the rest of the season.
Josh Jackson SG, SF PHX-37% Ownership: Since the start of 2019, Jackson has been very productive. Devin Booker being out has made him more of a prioritized player in the Suns offense. He’s scored in double figures in every single game in 2019 thus gar and he’s grabbed at least 4 boards in his last five games. Jackson has not only improved his defense in recent weeks as he’s coming off of back to back three-steal games, but he’s also shown the ability to facilitate the Suns offense. He’s compiled at least three dimes in four of his last five games. Jackson is very good at running the floor and driving down the middle of the lane. He’ll also shoot three-pointers when open. He doesn’t rely on his perimeter play on offense, as he’ll often look to attack the paint. Jackson has also blocked shots in three of his last five games.
Jeremy Lin G ATL-20% Ownership: This is not the first time Lin has made this list, but between his ability to produce on and off the ball and the injuries the Hawks are facing in their mid-court, Lin will continue to see more minutes and he’ll get more shots on in the offense. His main competition for minutes will be Kevin Huerter (who hasn’t been the healthiest lately), Lin has played 20-plus minutes in 5 of his last 6 games. He’ll hit spot-up three’s when he’s off the ball and he has the ability to run the point. Lin has dished at least five assists in four of his last five games. He’s also stolen the ball in three of his last five games. Lin has been rebounding a bit more too, but that’s a stat you shouldn’t be targeting if you’re considering picking up Lin. Until Kent Bazemore returns, Lin will continue to be more involved in the Hawks rotation.
WILD CARD PICK UP: Ian Mahinmi C WSH-5% Ownership: The Wizards continue to get hurt and until they make a move to get another big man, it will be Thomas Bryant and Mahinmi as their main options. Mahinmi is the true definition of a wild card add because the minutes are there for the taking and he’s played in 25 minutes in 2 of his last 4 games. He can get positioning in the post and pull down rebounds in volume. Markieff Morris and Dwight Howard won’t be coming back for a while and Mahinmi will see the court more. Even though he scored in double figures once in his last four games, he’s grabbed seven or more boards in his last three games. He’s also grabbed steals in his last four games and he’s even coming off of a five-steal game. Mahinmi will also provide blocks relief to a lesser extent. He’s recorded three multi-block games in his last four. The defensive production is there. Watch his minutes over the next few games.