Fantasy Hoops

Hoops Rumors is examining the fantasy basketball landscape in order to help you dominate the competition both during championship week and in daily fantasy. Check back weekly for more analysis.

Band-Aids In Atlanta

Right as the league enters a crucial stretch for playoff spots and seeding, the Hawks get ravished with injuries. Being undermanned has caused Atlanta drop seven straight games and fall out of contention for a top-4 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Help may be on the way. Kent Bazemore is planning to re-join the team on Wednesday night against the Sixers. For those of you in your fantasy championships (Congrats!), I’d wait to see Bazemore’s workload before adding him. However, if sees 20-30 minutes and doesn’t suffer any setbacks, he’s becomes quite valuable.

Tim Hardaway Jr. will see his value drop upon Bazemore’s return and even more so when injured swingman Thabo Sefolosha is able to see the court. The shooting guard has seen 32.9 minutes per game in the month of March and he’s averaged 20.1 points and 1.2 steals per contest while shooting 48.9% from the field since the calendar turned. He’ll still deliver quality production once everyone is healthy, just don’t expect the gaudy stat lines we’ve seen recently.

Paul Millsap will be sidelined until at least Sunday’s tilt with the Nets and it’s not certain that he’ll be back then. The power forward was enjoying an excellent season, averaging 18.1 points and 7.7 rebounds while adding 1.3 steals and a block per contest. In his absence, Ersan Ilyasova has started and he’s produced in the points and rebounds categories, averaging 11.8 and 9.0 respectively over his five starts. The 37.7% shooting is troubling, but if field goal percentage is not a concern, he makes a solid waiver-wire pickup or cheap play in daily fantasy.

One more player to keep an eye on is Taurean Prince. He played 38 minutes against the Nets on Sunday, contributing 17 points, six rebounds, three steals, and a block. He’s a nice play against the Suns tonight, but when Bazemore and Sefolosha return, he may not have much of role.

Here’s more fantasy notes and analysis from around the league:

• Gordon Hayward is nursing a left quad injury and if can’t play this week, Rodney Hood could be a nice fantasy option. Hood scored 20 points on 16 shots and added six rebounds and three assists against the Pelicans on Monday. Joe Ingles also belongs on the fantasy radar while Hayward is sidelined. Later this week, the Jazz will take on the Kings (a team that has the fifth-worst defensive rating since the All-Star break) and the Wizards, (sixth-worst defensive rating since the break).
• The Wizards are also giving the third-most points and second-most made 3-pointers while allowing the second-best field goal percentage to the opposing shooting guards over their last 10 games. Washington takes on the Lakers tonight before playing the Clippers, Jazz, and Warriors later in the week.
• The Wolves are having a hard time containing opposing shooting guards over the last 10 games, allowing them to make 51% of their shots (worst mark in the league).
• The Knicks are doing something right. Over their last 10 games, no team has allowed fewer points per contest to the shooting guard position. New York has allowed opposing twos to shoot just 35.6% from the field over that stretch, which is the stingiest mark in the league.
• The Pacers have been a particularly terrible match-up for opposing point guards lately. Over their last 10 games, they’ve given up just 16.4 points (stingiest in the league) to the position. Indiana has also allowed opposing ones to make 38.6% of their shots, which is the second-best mark in the league (behind only the Spurs).

Fantasy questions? Take to the comment section below or tweet me at @CW_Crouse.

Statistics are current through Tuesday afternoon.

The fantasy playoffs are underway and Hoops Rumors wants to help you become your league’s champion. Didn’t make the playoffs? Don’t worry, we’ll help you find players who may be undervalued in daily fantasy. Here are some notes and analysis from around the league.

• The Suns shut down Eric Bledsoe for the remainder of the season and the move creates a massive opportunity for Tyler Ulis. Since Bledsoe was sidelined, Ulis leads the league in minutes per game with 41.3. Over that four-game stretch, he’s fifth in the league in assists per game and he’s added 1.8 steals per contest. He’s available in nearly 50% of ESPN leagues and he faces a great matchup against the Nets on Thursday.
• The Bulls recently shut down Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo has seen his fantasy value increase as a result. Over the past three games, Rondo saw 31.6 minutes per contest and he averaged 11.7 points, 7.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.
• The Lakers shut down their two highest paid players earlier in the month. Brandon Ingram is starting to benefit from the team’s decision. The rookie has seen 38.5 minutes per contest over his last four games, which ranks sixth in the league. Over that stretch, he’s averaging 17.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals while shooting 51.9% from the field. He’s available in nearly 60% of ESPN leagues.
• Ivica Zubac, who we discussed in last week’s edition of Fantasy Hoops, is available in over 80% of ESPN leagues. He’s seeing more playing time since the team shut down Timofey Mozgov. Over his last three games, the rookie is averaging 15.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in 28.3 minutes per game.
• Keep an eye on the status of Jeremy Lin. He injured his ankle over the weekend and Spencer Dinwiddie started and played well in Lin’s place against the Pistons on Tuesday. On Thursday, the Nets will take on the Suns, a team that has given up the most points, the fourth-most assists and the second most steals to the point guard position over the last 10 games. If Lin suits up, both players could be risky plays, but if Lin is ruled out, Dinwiddie could have sneaky upside.
• Check your waiver wire to see if Marvin Williams is available (as he is in 37% of ESPN leagues). The North Carolina product has seen his role on the Hornets grow recently. Since the All-Star break, he’s averaging 36.1 minutes per game, which is the 10th highest mark in the league over that stretch.

Fantasy questions? Take to the comment section below or tweet me at @CW_Crouse.

Statistics are current through Wednesday afternoon.

Happy π day everyone! In honor of the day and of the fantasy playoffs, Hoops Rumors wants to make this a stat-driven edition of Fantasy Hoops. Here’s some fantasy notes and analysis from around the league.

• The Clippers may appear as a tough matchup for centers, but over the last 10 contests, only the Knicks have allowed more points per game to opposing fives. Over that span, no team has allowed a better shooting percentage to opposing fives and only three teams (Nets, Nuggets, and Kings) have allowed more assists to the position. L.A. will take on the Bucks, Nuggets, Cavs, Knicks and Lakers over their next five games.
• The Lakers shut down Timofey Mozgov and the move should give Ivica Zubac an opportunity to become a fantasy contributor. On Monday night, the rookie saw 30 minutes of action and made 12 of his 15 shot attempts on his way to 25 points and 11 rebounds.
• Jusuf Nurkic is available in nearly 30% of ESPN leagues. That number should be closer to zero, as he’s averaging 15.3 points per games since the All-Star game and he’s one of 15 players in the league averaging at least one block and one steal per contest over that span.
• Alan Williams is also one of those 15 players.  In addition to contributing in the blocks and steals categories, he’s averaging 13.8 points and 9.7 rebounds in 25.4 minutes per game since the break. Williams is available in nearly 50% of ESPN leagues.
• Jeremy Lin is starting to significant minutes again. Over his last five games, he’s seeing 24.8 minutes per game and averaging 16.6 points, 3.8 assists, and 1.0 steals per contest.
• Over the last 10 games, no team has allowed a better shooting percentage to opposing point guards than the Grizzlies. Only three teams ( Suns, Blazers, and Bulls) have allowed more points per game to the position over that stretch. Memphis plays Chicago on Wednesday and Rajon Rondo could be a nice streaming option. Patty Mills could be a sneaky good fantasy option as well over the next two weeks. The Spurs play the Grizzlies twice over their next five games.
• Keep an eye on Michael Beasley‘s status. The former No. 2 overall pick remains out with a knee injury and he isn’t traveling with the Bucks on their current 5-game road trip. In the five games prior to his injury, Beasley played a major role in the offense, averaging 17.4 points per game and ranking second on the team is usage rate. Beasley could be a fantasy contributor. The 28-year-old could be an excellent fantasy asset once he returns to the court.

Fantasy questions? Take to the comment section below or tweet me at @CW_Crouse.

Statistics are current through Tuesday afternoon.

Hoops Rumors is examining the fantasy basketball landscape in order to help you dominate the competition. Check back weekly for more analysis.

Players To Target

Injuries and trade deadline deals have impacted the fantasy world. Finding undervalued players is key in daily fantasy and in season-long leagues, it could help you find a contributor on the waiver wire before your league-mates do. Here are some players to keep an eye on:

• Richaun Holmes has a dozen blocks since the All-Star break, which is behind only Rudy Gobert and Giannis Antetokounmpo for most in the league. Holmes has seen an uptick in minutes since the Sixers traded away Nerlens Noel. He makes a nice daily fantasy play when Jahlil Okafor sits and with Philadelphia’s propensity to be “cautious” with injuries, Holmes could become valuable down the stretch in season-long leagues.
• Jordan Clarkson is averaging nearly three more shot attempts per game since the Lakers traded away Lou Williams. Before the trade, Clarkson played approximately 75% of his minutes next to Williams, as I mentioned in a recent edition of Fantasy Hoops. In addition getting up more shots, Clarkson is averaging more points, steals, assists and minutes per contest than he was prior to the deal.
• Tyler Ulis is making a case for March’s Western Conference Rookie of the Month award, but I’m not adding him yet in season-long leagues. There are likely stronger options available on your league’s waiver wire with Cory Joseph being a player to target. Toronto’s point guard is averaging 11.8 points and 4.7 assists per game since Lowry hit the sideline and he’s available in nearly 80% of ESPN leagues.
• Willie Cauley-Stein is still available in 70% of ESPN leagues, though that figure should be much lower. The big man has taken on a significant role in Sacramento since DeMarcus Cousins‘ departure. He has 13.2 points and 6.2 rebounds while adding at least a steal and block per game over his last six contests.
• Tyreke Evans is scoring 13.2 points per game in Sacramento after only scoring 9.5 per game in New Orleans. He’s not playing back-to-back, so his value is limited in season-long leagues, but he could be a nice option in daily formats on nights where he hits the floor.

Fantasy questions? Take to the comment section below or tweet me at @CW_Crouse.

Statistics are current through Tuesday afternoon.

Hoops Rumors is examining the fantasy basketball landscape in order to help you dominate the competition. Check back weekly for more analysis.

Breaking Down The Trades: Part 3

Mavericks acquire Nerlens Noel; Sixers acquire Justin Anderson, Andrew Bogut, and Mavericks’ 2017 first-round pick (top-18 protected).

• Trending upward: Jahlil Okafor. Between this trade and the latest Joel Embiid news, Okafor is free to own the paint AND crash the glass. We should see more outings like his recent 28 point, 10 rebound game against the Knicks.
• Trending downward: Andrew Bogut. The center position on the waiver-wire is always shallow, but don’t be tempted to pick up Bogut once he signs with the Cavs. He likely won’t get enough opportunity to be on the fantasy radar.
• Extra dribble: Nerlens Noel could fit into the trending upward spot. In his first two games with the Mavs, he only scored a total of 15 points in 55 minutes of action, but he’s added 16 rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. Expect him to see even more playing time as he gets acclimated to his new team.

Hawks acquire Ersan Ilyasova; Sixers acquire Tiago Splitter, Heat’s 2017 second-round pick (top-40 protected), and the right to swap Warriors’ 2017 second-round pick for Hawks’ second-round pick.

• Trending upward: Dario Saric. He was a must-own before the trade, but since moving into the starting lineup, he’s scoring 20.0 points per game while adding 11.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 35.9 minutes per contest. The Homie is on his way to winning the Rookie of the Year award (a feat that becomes easier if Embiid misses the rest of the season). In addition to taking home the league hardware, I image Saric is going to be on many championship rosters in fantasy this season.
• Trending downward: Ersan Ilyasova. He was very involved in the offense in Philly, but that won’t be the case on his new team. In three games with the Hawks, he’s seen just 19.3 minutes per game (compared to 27.3 before the trade). His points and 3-pointers made per game have been cut in half and he’s droppable in season-long leagues.
• Extra dribble: Robert Covington could see a slight boost in value. He’s a must-own in all season-long formats and with the frontcourt clearing up, he could see some time at power forward in a small-ball lineup.

Wizards acquire Bojan Bogdanovic and Chris McCullough; Nets acquire Andrew Nicholson, Marcus Thornton, and Wizards’ 2017 first-round pick (top-14 protected).

• Trending upward: It’s hard to find a player who benefits substantially from the transaction. Joe Harris should see more opportunity with Bojan Bogdanovic out of the picture. He’s seen 25.3 minutes per game since the trade, but he hasn’t played well. Sean Kilpatrick saw 29 minutes against the Warriors on Saturday and recorded a double-double, but made only one of his five 3-point attempts. If I had to bet on one of the two players, it would Kilpatrick, but neither is consistent enough to warrant a roster spot in season-long leagues.
• Trending downward: Bogdanovic. His value takes a massive hit. He’s seeing nearly as many minutes per game in Washington as he did in Brooklyn, but his usage has dropped over six percentage points and he’s averaging 4.6 fewer shot attempts per game
• Extra dribble: Ancillary parts on the Nets hold value because the team leads the league in pace. That, coupled with the team’s porous defense, makes Brooklyn’s rotation important down the stretch. Spencer Dinwiddie is a player to keep an eye on. He averaged 14.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game while added a steal and nearly two 3-pointers per contest over his last four games.

Raptors acquire P.J. Tucker; Suns acquire Jared Sullinger, Raptors’ 2017 second-round pick, Raptors’ 2018 second-round pick, and cash ($1MM).

• Trending upward: T.J. Warren. I know! You’ve seen T.J. Warren‘s name in earlier editions of Fantasy Hoops, but this time, he should actually back up my recommendation. Warren has seen 38.7 minutes per game since P.J. Tucker left Phoenix and he’s averaging 20.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest. He’s a streaky player, so expect off nights, but the opportunity is there on a team that ranks third in the league in pace.
• Trending downward: P.J. Tucker. The 35-year-old can help your fantasy team in the steals category, but other than that and rebounds, there are not many reasons to roster Tucker in season-long leagues.
• Extra dribble: Keep an eye on Alan Williams. The power forward has played sporadically this season, but in the two games since the trade, he scored a total of 33 points while adding 18 rebounds and three steals.

Thunder acquire Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott, and Bulls’ 2018 second-round pick; Bulls acquire Cameron Payne, Joffrey Lauvergne, and Anthony Morrow.

• Trending upward: Denzel Valentine. In two games since the trade, Valentine has seen 27.1 minutes per contest. He nearly doubled his shots per game and he’s making 60% of his attempts. He’s averaging 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 6.5 3-point attempts per contest since being given more playing time and his diverse stat line makes him useful in daily fantasy, as well as season-long leagues.
• Trending downward: Enes Kanter. The big man returned from a broken hand last week and while he put up a decent stat line over his first couple games back, the presence of Gibson hurts his value.
• Extra dribble: Nikola Mirotic belongs in the trending upward section as well. Since Gibson left town, Mirotic is seeing over 10 more minutes per contest and he’s averaging eight more points and nearly four more rebounds per game.

[RELATED: Breaking Down The Trades Part 1 & Part 2]

Deals Without Much Fantasy Impact

Nuggets acquire Roy Hibbert; Bucks acquire Nuggets’ 2019 second-round pick (top-55 protected).

Nets acquire K.J. McDaniels; Rockets acquire cash ($75K).

Lakers acquire Tyler Ennis and draft rights to Brad Newley; Rockets acquire Marcelo Huertas.

Suns acquire Mike Scott, draft rights to Cenk Akyol, and cash ($500K). Hawks acquire Suns’ 2017 second-round pick (top-55 protected).

There’s not much fantasy news out of these four trades. If K.J. McDaniels makes his way into the rotation in Brooklyn, he’d put himself on the fantasy radar. As of this writing, he’s not. Tyler Ennis could see opportunity down the stretch, but he only saw eight minutes in his debut with the Lakers.

Outside of the fantasy realm, it’s interesting to see Cenk Akyol‘s name in another team press release. Akyol was a draft-and-stash prospect who was selected by the Hawks in the 2005, but he never made the leap to the NBA and he likely never will. His rights have been traded five times over the last 12 years, including twice this season. His rights have been traded for Antawn Jamison and JaVale McGee among other players and prospects.

Fantasy questions? Take to the comment section below or tweet me at @CW_Crouse.

Statistics are current through Tuesday afternoon.

Hoops Rumors is examining the fantasy basketball landscape in order to help you dominate the competition. Check back weekly for more analysis.

Breaking Down The Trades: Part 1

Magic send Serge Ibaka to the Raptors for Terrence Ross and a 2017 first-round pick

Ibaka was a top-50 player before the trade and his overall ranking doesn’t change that much. He was averaging 15.1 points per game, which ties the highest mark of his career, and while that figure will probably decrease, it won’t hurt his overall value too much. He’ll likely offset a dip in scoring with an increase in field goal percentage, as Toronto’s offense should get him better looks than what he saw in Orlando’s clogged sets.

Ross should see additional opportunities with the Magic and he should be on the fantasy radar by the time he settles into a role with his new team. He was scoring 10.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game while adding a steal per contest in Toronto. He was only seeing 22.4 minutes per contest before the trade. The Magic rank 29th in the league in offensive efficiency, so Ross will likely see an increase in minutes as coach Frank Vogel looks to improve the team on that end of the floor.

Aaron Gordon is the player whom could see his fantasy value rise the most as a result of this trade. By shipping Ibaka north, the Magic can give Gordon more run at the power forward spot, which is his natural position. The offense should be better overall and Gordon should be able to take advantage of the extra space in the post.

Blazers trade Mason Plumlee and a 2018 second-rounder to the Nuggets for Jusuf Nurkic and a 2017 first-round pick

The deal isn’t great for Plumlee’s stat line. He’s going to come off the bench for the Nuggets and it remains to be seen whether or not he can play meaningful minutes next to Nikola Jokic. If he can’t, his value takes a major dive, as he will likely go from a player seeing 28.1 minutes per contest to someone who sees about two-thirds of that figure.

The trade is good news for Nurkic. He didn’t see action in five of his final 17 games with the Nuggets and in the 12 he played, he only saw 12.5 minutes per contest. While there’s not much elbow room in Portland’s frontcourt, the team doesn’t have one future star soaking up all the center minutes. Nurkic will get his opportunity to prove he deserves court time and I suspect he’ll eventually settle into a role that’ll provide him with 20-25 minutes per night. That’s enough run to make him worth adding in most leagues, though I’d let the situation develop before dropping a productive player for him.

There was another trade this week: Cleveland shipped Chris Andersen to Charlotte, but that deal doesn’t have any direct fantasy impact. Here’s more fantasy notes and analysis from around the league:

• Pau Gasol should be back on the court for the Spurs after the All-Star break and he’s a top-75 fantasy player going forward. If someone in your league dropped him when he injured his hand, pick him up now.
• Trevor Booker, who I wrote about in the inaugural edition of Fantasy Hoops, has been taken out of the starting lineup in Brooklyn, but that doesn’t mean you should do the same with him in your fantasy lineups. Since becoming a reserve, he has a higher field goal percentage and he’s averaging more points and steals per game than he did as a starter.
• Since the start of February, Darren Collison is sixth in the league in minutes per game. He’s taken on a bigger role on the Kings since Rudy Gay went down with a torn Achilles and he’s available in roughly 34% of ESPN leagues.

Fantasy questions? Take to the comment section below or tweet me at @CW_Crouse.

Statistics are current through Tuesday afternoon.

We’ve hit the third quarter of the NBA season and Hoops Rumors is examining the fantasy basketball landscape in order to help you dominate the competition. Check back weekly for more fantasy basketball analysis.

Breaking Down Dallas’ Backcourt

Something very interesting is happening in Dallas. A rookie has taken control of the team and elevated them just as everyone thought the franchise was done for the season. No, we’re not talking what Dak Prescott just did for the Cowboys and we’re not talking about their running back Ezekiel Elliot either (although, you could find out the latest on those two at our sister-site Pro Football Rumors). We’re talking about what undrafted point guard Yogi Ferrell has done for the Mavericks.

If Pierre Jackson doesn’t injure his hamstring nearly two weeks ago, Ferrell isn’t on this team. If J.J. Barea doesn’t remain sidelined with a calf strain and Deron Williams‘ toe injury doesn’t linger, Ferrell never gets to start. Yet, all of those things happened and it’s led to an incredible opportunity for the former Indiana Hoosier.

Ferrell has seen the most court time on the team since arriving in Dallas. His 36.7 minutes per game ranks 15th in the league since his first start on January 29th. He’s scoring 16.3 points per game and he’s shooting 47.1% from behind the arc. The team has gone 4-2 in Ferrell’s six starts, but they were a missed C.J. McCollum floater away from being 5-1.

The 23-year-old has become a nice asset in fantasy and he’ll remain one as long as injuries keep the team’s regulars on the sideline. Barea is a few weeks away from returning and Williams’ toe injury may keep him out until the All-Star break. The Mavs have four more games before the break, so if Ferrell is available (owned in roughly 45% of ESPN leagues), he’s worth adding.

Once Williams is healthy, there’s a chance that he’ll be dealt. The Cavs were considering him as a trade acquisition, though for the time being, Dallas appears reluctant to deal the veteran point guard. If the team were to move him, Ferrell becomes a must-own in all leagues.

Ferrell isn’t the only Mavs guard worth rostering while the team gets healthy. Seth Curry, who signed a two-year, $6MM deal with Dallas over the summer, is having a nice season. Over his last 12 games, he’s shooting 51.0% from the field, a figure that ranks fifth in the league among players seeing at least 32 minutes per game. However, he now finds himself on the injury report after hurting his shoulder in Tuesday’s game against the Blazers. As of this writing, it doesn’t appear to be serious, but if he’s not back up and running for Thursday’s game against the Jazz, Devin Harris should see more opportunity. Harris could be a nice low-cost option in daily fantasy if Curry is out.

My end-of-season rankings for the backcourt are as follows: Williams, Ferrell, Curry, Barea, Harris. Keep an eye on this situation for the rest of this season, as Dallas guards have ever-changing fantasy values due to a number of injuries on the team.

Here’s more fantasy analysis and notes from around the league:

• Rudy Gay ruptured his Achilles in mid-January and since he was sidelined, DeMarcus Cousins has become even more involved in the offense. The big man is averaging nearly six assists per contest since the small forward’s injury compared to 4.4 per game before it. That’s the good news. The bad news is that Cousins is suspended for tonight’s game against the Celtics as a result of picking up his 16th technical of the season and if he picks up two more technicals, he’ll be suspended for another game.
• Since MLK day, only Stephen Curry and Isaiah Thomas have made more three-pointers than Otto Porter. The small forward has made 54.9% of his shots from behind the arc over that stretch. Porter can become a restricted free agent after the season and he’s playing like he wants to get paid. He’s a top-40 fantasy option for the rest of the season.
• Joel Embiid has missed nine of the Sixers’ last 10 games, including tonight’s tilt with the Spurs, because of a knee injury. Coach Brett Brown said that the team is simply being cautious with Embiid and the big man is expected back on the court soon. I implored fantasy owners to trade Embiid in a recent edition of Fantasy Hoops since his fantasy value was at an all-time high. I would still consider trading him in the right deal due to his injuries woes and the Sixers propensity to be “cautious” with injuries.

Fantasy questions? Take to the comment section below or tweet me at @CW_Crouse.

Statistics are current through Wednesday afternoon. 

We’ve hit the third quarter of the NBA season and Hoops Rumors is examining the fantasy basketball landscape in order to help you dominate the competition. Check back weekly for more fantasy basketball analysis.

Overlooked Across The Border

With the level of great point guard play this season, it’s easy to overlook Kyle Lowry‘s impressive game. He got off to a slow start and it appeared that it was finally time for DeMar DeRozan to take sole reign of the Raptors franchise. However, with half a season worth of data, it’s clear that Lowry is still the team’s most important player.

Toronto has a -3.9 net rating when Lowry sits and a 9.9 net rating when he’s on the court, per NBA.com. The team actually has a worse net rating with DeRozan on the floor than it does with him off of it, though both ratings are still positive. Lowry ranks 7th in the league in total points added (TPA), a metric provided by NBAMath.com that examines a player’s effectiveness on both sides of the ball on a per-possession basis. On offense, he has the third-best TPA, behind only James Harden and Russell Westbrook, while DeRozan sits at a respectable, but less impressive, 29th-best.

Lowry’s slow start likely contributes to NBA fans overlooking his exceptional season. He was merely above-average for the first few weeks of the season, but since Thanksgiving, he’s done the following:

• Hit 47.5% of his three-pointers, which is the best mark in the league among guards seeing at least 28 minutes per game.
• Made 51.9% of his shots overall, a figure which is tops among guards not named Giannis Antetokounmpo (putting him here as a guard for now).
• Rank in the top-10 among guards in points, assists and steals per game.
• Rank inside the top-10 in rebounds per game among point guards.
• Made more three-pointers per game than any player in the league with the exception being Eric Gordon.

As I wrote last week, savvy fantasy basketball players should always look for an undervalued/overvalued player because there lies an opportunity to improve your squad. Lowry is having a phenomenal season. He’s playing like a top-12 fantasy player overall and the only guards I wouldn’t trade for him are Stephen Curry, Westbrook, Antetokounmpo, and Harden.

If you can trade any of the following for Lowry, you should pull the trigger: Thomas, John Wall, Damian Lillard, Jimmy Butler, Paul George, Draymond Green or Kyrie Irving (a player who now starts for the Eastern Conference All-Stars despite averaging fewer assists, rebounds, and steals per game than Lowry and having a lower field goal percentage, three-point percentage, Player Efficiency Rating, Win Share and Assist Ratio than Lowry does. However, we’re not here to talk about an exhibition game).

The 30-year-old point guard will be a free agent after the season and he is setting himself up for a massive payday. Enjoy his production if you have him on your fantasy team and target him in trades if you don’t.

Here’s more fantasy analysis and notes from around the league:

• C.J. Miles is a player worth monitoring. He replaced Glenn Robinson in the starting lineup on Monday, and should be in line for a larger role after Monta Ellis, someone who shouldn’t be rostered in re-draft leagues, sprained his right ankle. Miles could provide nice production for a team that ranks in the top 10 in pace.
• Austin Rivers is taking advantage of Chris Paul‘s absence. He’s averaging 21.0 points per game while shooting 51.1% from the field over his last three contests.
• Looking for a point guard in daily fantasy? Target players going against the Pistons, Nuggets and Nets. Each of those team have given up at least 27.1 points and 7.6 assists per game to opposing point guards over their last 10 games.

Fantasy questions? Take to the comment section below or tweet me at @CW_Crouse.