As we get closer to the NBA trade deadline, be mindful of what teams are circling the rumor mill because you can be trading for a player who could be in danger of losing their spot in their team’s rotation if a trade is made. Don’t trade for Ante Zizic if you start to see rumors that the Cavs are trying to trade for a Center. Picking Zizic up off of waivers is different than trading for him. The Cavs have not given any inclination that they are in the market for a center. Zizic is the perfect example of a player who has seen an improvement in playing time and production because of lack of depth at the position. One of your league-mates who has a surplus of big men will try to see Zizic high. Keep track of what teams are planning on being buyers over the next couple of weeks.
Ante Zizic -C CLE-34% Ownership: The confidence in Zizic keeps growing throughout each game. The Cavs are strapped when it comes to depth right now and Zizic has seen over 30 minutes of playing time per game in three of his last four games. Zizic uses his big body to work his way in the lane and he has no problem taking contact. Remember, the Celtics coveted this player until the opportunity came to trade for Kyrie Irving and ditch Isaiah Thomas . The Celtics were talking about Zizic like he was going to take over as their center of the future once Al Horford was out of the way. He’s scored in double figures in his last five games and he’s been a reliable rebounder grabbing six-plus per game during that span. Tristan Thompson and Larry Nance Jr. will eventually return, but the Cavs are the worst team in the league and they should look to give Zizic as much experience as possible. He’ll provide help with blocks as well. His big frame makes him hard to keep out of the paint. He’s a must-add at this point.
Patrick Beverley G LAC-26% Ownership: Things have cleared up a bit more when it comes to the Clippers guard situation and depth since the last time Beverley was in this article. He doesn’t have as much competition at the position. Milos Teodosic should be a constant threat on his minutes, but he’s not in the rotation and that keep Beverley playing regularly in the 20’s and 30’s. Beverley is a defensive-minded guard who us safely in the rotation. Doc Rivers will extend him past 40 minutes every few games and even though his scoring is completely all over the place, his defensive stats make him a valuable add. Beverley will get minutes at both guard spots. He’ll score a good amount of points off of three-point shooting. He’s grabbed 4.3 boards per game and he’s compiled steals in 4 of his last 5 games. Expect random help with blocks on the perimeter. The commitment to defense alone will keep his minutes up. He will still do his due diligence when it comes to facilitating the Clippers offense. He dishes 3.3 assists per game. Grab him expecting mainly boards and steals.
Kenneth Faried PF, C HOU-40% Ownership: I had to take about five deep breaths before writing about Faried. As much as I can’t stand his game and he looks like a Deer in the headlights whenever he gets the ball, he’s landed in the right place at the right time in Houston. This guy couldn’t crack the rotation in Brooklyn. BROOKLYN! The Nets preferred playing Jared Dudley over him. Faried joins a Rockets team that lacks big man depth and Nene ’ is too old to be able to put up serious minutes each time out. Faried has been able to produce points and boards in 23 and 26 minutes thus far in Houston. He’s scored in double figures in both games with Houston and he’s grabbed 14 boards total in the 2 games. Faried is also coming off of a three steal and three block game. He’s proven in the past that when given a rotation commitment, the least he will do is grab rebounds. He’s a safe add at this point due to the lack of depth. Faried doesn’t even need 20 minutes to grab a chunk of boards. He also has a small long-range game. His offense has worked thus far in Houston, but he’s more of a defensive-stat producer.
Allonzo Trier SG NY-12% Ownership: Trier has been given more minutes lately and he does have a future with Knicks as they did extend his contract with them. Trier has tremendous handles. He’s broken a lot of Ankles (not literally) with his great hesitation dribbles. As soon as you think he’s going to drive to one side of the lane, he’ll cross you over and get to the rim. He has good leaping ability and a long-range game. He’s also a very committed defender and is coming off of a double-double in his previous game. Trier has scored 10.5 boards and grabbed 3 boards per game. He’s also been helpful moving the ball around. He’s dished at least three dimes in his last three games. He’s also grabbed steals in his last three games. Trier’s quickness will benefit the Knicks on transition. He’s been one of the few bright spots for the Knicks this season and he’ll get more playing time down the stretch. He’s gotten 30-plus minutes in his last 2 games.
Cedi Osman F CLE-21% Ownership: Even though he’s been an inconsistent scorer over his last few games, the Cavs are badly hurt and need all of the scoring help they can get. Osman will get minutes at both forward spots and because the Cavs have a badly injured frontcourt, he’s needed to be more than just a bailout scorer. He’s scored 17-plus points in 2 of his last 3 games. Osman loves hanging at the arc on offense, but he has stepped in and grabbed long rebounds. Osman has grabbed 4.6 boards per game and he’s played 30-plus minutes in his last 3 games. You’ve seen Osman in this article before and he’s back because the Cavs big men keep getting hurt. Osman has grabbed multiple steals in two of his last four games. Even when Thompson and Nance return, Osman will still have a role in the offense because he stretches the floor with his long-range shooting ability.
Josh Okogie SG MIN-8% Ownership: The Timberwolves guard injuries has given Okogie life in their rotation. He has a long-range game and often waits to get fed at the arc. Okogie has shown a lot of promise with his strong on the ball defense. Derrick Rose isn’t a good defender and Okogie compliments him well. Okogie has grabbed steals in his last six games. He’s also grabbing just under three boards per game and for three boards per game for guards is key when deciding whether or not to pick them up. Even when Tyus Jones returns, Okogie should still see 20 minutes per game in the Timberwolves rotation. I’m not a Doctor, but, I’d say the chances of Jeff Teague and Derrick Rose missing more games is pretty high because they’ve proven that they have trouble staying healthy. Okogie has scored in double figures in four of his last six games. Pick him up for points, steals and three-pointers. He won’t just stay at the arc as Okogie regularly goes to the free-throw line after taking contact in the lane. The hustle on offense and defensive skills should keep him in the mix.
T.J. McConnell PG PHI-7% Ownership: McConnell does just enough to be considered a safe player to add. With Ben Simmons being more of a Point-Forward, McConnell often plays off the ball when he shares the court with Simmons, but he will still get his time to run point with the Sixers second unit. Due to the Sixers sickness bug traveling around the locker room, McConnell has been able to benefit by getting more love in the offense. He’s scored in double figures in his last two games, but it’s his defense and dimes you should be focusing on with him. McConnell has grabbed at least four boards in two of his last four games. He’s dished 3.9 assists per game. He’s grabbed steals in every single game in January and he’s even blocked shots in three of his last five games. He’ll keep the turnovers down and he should be able to hit the 20-minute mark in most of his games. He’s very scrappy and a constant defensive threat on the perimeter.
Terrance Ferguson SG, SF OKC-5% Ownership: The Thunder center their scoring around Russell Westbrook , Paul George , Steven Adams and Dennis Schroder for the most part, but, there are still shots to go around and Ferguson gets a lot of minutes in the Thunder’s rotation. Ferguson is a good perimeter defender and he’s grabbed steals in his last four games. He regularly plays in the 20’s and 30’s and even as the seventh or eighth man, he still serves as a bailout option on the perimeter and owners should expect him to shoot seven to eight shots per game. Ferguson has hit multiple three-pointers in his last four games and hit double-digits in scoring in three of those games. Ferguson doesn’t really step inside the arc too much, but he has grabbed more long rebounds in the last couple of weeks. He’s grabbed three or more boards in four of his last six games. He’s solidified in the Thunder’s rotation and he’s a good short-term add. Andre Roberson isn’t close to returning to action and there’s something going on between Alex Abrines and Thunder management because he continues to not play.
Wilson Chandler SG, F PHI-4% Ownership: The Sixers lost a lot of forward firepower when they traded for Jimmy Butler . After Joel Embiid , the Sixers frontcourt is comprised of Amir Johnson , Mike Muscala , Jonah Bolden and Wilson Chandler ….NOT IDEAL! The Sixers are in the market for another PF, but that shouldn’t impact his minutes too much if they do make a trade. Chandler will help owners out a lot with defensive stats and he’ll play multiple positions. Chandler is an inconsistent scorer, but he’s grabbed 4.7 rebounds per game. Chandler will regularly help with steals and blocks. Chandler blocked shots in five of his last seven games. Chandler will also have some time to facilitate the offense in a good chunk of games and that will help his assist numbers. His versatility will keep him in the game. He played four positions when he was on the Nuggets last season. Chandler is a good short-term solution if you need defensive stats. View any scoring he provides as a bonus.
WILDCARD PICK UP: Kevon Looney PF, C GSW-8% Ownership: Looney is fighting to keep his playing time in the Warriors rotation. DeMarcus Cousins coming back should naturally limit Looney’s production, but, the Warriors will want to watch Cousins minutes for at least another week or two and that will benefit Looney. Looney has grabbed double-digit rebounds in two of his last four games. He’s recorded three multi-steal games in his last five. Looney fights for a lot of loose balls. Looney has surpassed 20 minutes of playing time per game since Cousins returned. Looney has blocked a shot in every game except one in January. He’s even dished three or more assists in four of his last six games. Don’t expect double-digit scoring from Looney, but he will do all of the dirty work and he deserves to get minutes behind Cousins and Draymond Green for the rest of the way. Pick him up for short-term production, but know that once the Warriors completely loosed the leash on Cousins playing time, it could really limit Looney. For now, take a shot on him for defensive stats.