In addition to the 11 games played on the busiest day of Week 12, fantasy basketball managers also had a trade to evaluate. The Suns, who needed help at the center position, traded Josh Okogie and three future second-round picks to the Hornets for Nick Richards (26% rostered on Yahoo). The Suns had already traded away some of their draft picks to acquire Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, and now they have even fewer picks available.
However, they gained a player in Richards who can help with rebounding and rim protection, areas where their current rotation is lacking. He doesn’t need plays run for him on offense. While Richards had chances to stand out in Charlotte, it was clear that first-round pick Mark Williams was seen as the team’s future (and present) center. Moving to Phoenix gives Richards a chance to be valuable in fantasy leagues, though it’s uncertain if he will succeed.
For the current centers on the Suns, it’s fair to wonder if Jusuf Nurkić’s time with the team is over. He’s been out recently due to illness and didn’t play in the last two games he was available. Rookie Oso Ighodaro has a higher fantasy upside than Mason Plumlee, but their performances, especially in the loss to the Hawks, didn’t inspire confidence. Richards is expected to be the starting center for Phoenix, and if he can get consistent minutes in the 20s, he could be useful in 12-team leagues.
As for Okogie, he’s in an interesting position. The current wing players for Charlotte are Josh Green and Cody Martin, neither of whom have been consistently effective. Will Okogie be given a chance to compete for playing time, or could Charlotte try to trade him to a playoff team before the trade deadline in February? In the short term, Okogie hasn’t done enough in Phoenix to be added in fantasy leagues right now, but it’s worth keeping an eye on him.
Here are some more top fantasy pickups from Wednesday’s games:
PF/C Santi Aldama (46%), Memphis Grizzlies
Aldama started the season strong, providing reliable fantasy value whether he started or came off the bench. With more players healthy on the Grizzlies’ frontcourt, Aldama faces more competition for minutes, but the 2020 first-round pick has continued to perform well. He had 20 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 three-pointer in 27 minutes during Wednesday’s win over the Spurs. For the season, Aldama has provided seventh-round value in 9-cat formats.
SG/SF Buddy Hield (36%), Golden State Warriors
Whenever it seems like Hield might be worth dropping, he has a game that makes fantasy managers rethink. He played 29 minutes in the Warriors’ win over the Timberwolves, scoring 18 points with 1 rebound, 3 steals, 2 blocks, and 3 three-pointers. His defensive stats were impressive, but they’re not typical for him. While he might not do that consistently, he can still shoot well. If Hield can keep his field goal percentage around 50% and hit a few three-pointers each game, he’ll be worth considering in 12-team leagues again.
PF/C Nikola Jović (34%), Miami Heat
While Jimmy Butler has stated he plans to return after serving his suspension, it’s hard to imagine the Heat playing him after he’s expressed a desire to leave the team. Should fantasy managers add Jović or SF Jaime Jaquez Jr. (36%)? Jović had the better performance in Wednesday’s loss to the Lakers and has provided top 100 value over the last two weeks. He played 32 minutes off the bench and finished with 12 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 block, and 2 three-pointers.
PG Cole Anthony (29%), Orlando Magic
Anthony didn’t shoot well in Wednesday’s loss to Milwaukee, scoring 11 points on 5-of-13 shooting (1-of-5 from three). However, he had 8 assists before fouling out, limiting him to 27 minutes. Anthony should be added in leagues as long as Jalen Suggs remains out with a lower back strain, as Suggs has missed the last six games.
PG/SG Spencer Dinwiddie (25%), Dallas Mavericks
In Wednesday’s game against the Pelicans, Dallas played their second game in two nights, so Kyrie Irving (back) did not play. Spencer Dinwiddie started in his place and was productive in a three-point loss to New Orleans. He finished with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 3 three-pointers in 38 minutes. Jaden Hardy (4%) also had a strong performance, posting 21 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and four 3-pointers in 25 minutes off the bench. Dinwiddie has been more consistent when given a larger role, though he might not be an option for Friday’s game against the Thunder. He could be worth considering for Dallas’ back-to-back games in Week 13.
SG/SF Max Christie (15%), Los Angeles Lakers
In the past month, Christie has provided eighth-round value in 9-cat formats. Having started the Lakers’ last 15 games, it’s clear he will likely continue in that role. Christie played 37 minutes in Wednesday’s win over the Heat, scoring 16 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, and 3 three-pointers. Christie’s value for the rest of Week 12 is boosted by the Lakers playing two more games: one at home against the Nets on Friday and another at the Clippers on Sunday.
PG/SG Stephon Castle (12%), San Antonio Spurs
Because of Jeremy Sochan’s back injury, Castle has started the Spurs’ last three games. He was very productive in Wednesday’s loss to the Grizzlies, scoring a season-high 26 points with 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 three-pointers in 33 minutes. Although he shot 9-of-21 from the field, Castle only had one turnover. He is worth adding to your roster until Sochan returns without restrictions, especially since the Spurs have two more games in Week 12.
SF/PF Brice Sensabaugh (10%), Utah Jazz
Utah has been without John Collins for six straight games and 11 of their last 12. While Collins’ absence hasn’t moved Sensabaugh into the starting lineup, it has made him a more important part of the Jazz’s bench rotation, especially with Jordan Clarkson also injured. Sensabaugh has scored in double digits in four straight games, and in Wednesday’s loss to the Hornets, he finished with 19 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 three-pointers. He doesn’t provide much value defensively, but his offensive potential makes him worth considering in deep leagues.
Another Jazz player to watch is rookie PG Isaiah Collier (7%), who recorded his first double-double (11 points, 3 rebounds, 10 assists, and one three-pointer in 27 minutes). His value going forward depends on the availability of Keyonte George and Collin Sexton, with Sexton sitting out Wednesday’s loss.
SF/PF Cam Whitmore (5%), Houston Rockets
Tari Eason remains out with a left leg injury. While Rockets coach Ime Udoka said they hope to get him back during Houston’s current road trip, which ends Saturday in Portland, there’s no guarantee of that happening. As long as Eason is out, Whitmore is worth having in deep leagues. He played 24 minutes off the bench against Denver, scoring 16 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, and 2 three-pointers. Whitmore shot 7-of-11 from the field, and his rebounding performance was particularly impressive.
PG Keaton Wallace (< 1%), Atlanta Hawks
Trae Young did not play in Wednesday’s game against the Bulls, which gave Wallace the chance to make his second career start. Very few fantasy managers decided to add Wallace, and that made sense at the time. However, Wallace had an impressive game in the Hawks’ win over Chicago, setting career-highs with 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 three-pointers.
He also had 6 assists and 4 steals, which matched his previous career-high. Young will be back for Saturday’s game in Boston, so there’s no need to add Wallace now. However, Wallace’s performance against the Bulls might make some managers consider adding him next time Atlanta is without Young.
