Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
There will be no first-year players participating in Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans, but two of last year’s stud rookies — Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard — will showcase their talents for the Western Conference All-Stars.
Watching these young phenoms on Sunday is a friendly reminder that rookies can always have an impact on the game, whether it be in real basketball or fantasy hoops.
The Philadelphia 76ers Michael Carter-Williams and the Orlando Magic’s Victor Oladipo are easily the standout rookies in the NBA this year, but as the season winds down, more players from the 2014 draft class will start to emerge.
The Boston Celtics’ Kelly Olynyk and the Milwaukee Bucks’ Nate Wolters are two rookies who are primed to break out in the second half of the season and should be added in all competitive fantasy basketball leagues of 12 teams or more.
» Kelly Olynyk, C, Boston Celtics:
The Dallas Mavericks selected Olynyk with the 13th overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft, but immediately shipped him to Boston for the rights to Lucas Nogueira and two future second round picks — a move that was received very well among the Celtic faithful.
A fantastic Summer League performance (18.0 points, 7.8 rebounds) for the Celtics had Olynyk labeled as a potential fantasy sleeper, but a slow start to the regular season found him back on most waiver wires.
As of Sunday, Olynyk was owned in just 1.1 percent of ESPN.com fantasy leagues — but that needs to change.
By hoarding draft picks and unloading pricey vets, Celtics President Danny Ainge has masterfully crafted this team to win in the future — and go in “tank mode” now. With that in mind, Ainge and coach Brad Stevens had no reason to rush Olynyk into a big role early on, but that will change very soon.
Olynyk is averaging a lackluster 6.9 points and 4.7 rebounds this season, but with a usage rate of 19.1 (fourth among rookies), things are bound to turn around for the 22-year-old.
His last four games seem to be a move in that direction, as Olynyk has scored 11.5 points and grabbed 9.0 boards, while draining two 3-pointers and dishing out 10 assists. His 25.0 minutes of playing over that stretch also marks a substantial increase over his season average of 18.5 minutes per game. As a center who can shoot the three (0.7 made per 36), he could have a ton of value in the fantasy playoffs.
With the Celtics going young, guys like Brandon Bass and Kris Humphries could be traded — potentially opening up a spot in the starting five for the former Gonzaga Bulldog. All signs point to Olynyk trending upwards, and as a fantasy owner you’d be wise to grab him off the waiver wire.
Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
» Nate Wolters, PG, Milwaukee Bucks
Like Olynyk, Wolters was not drafted by the team he currently plays for. The Washington Wizards took him with the 38th pick, but then turned around and traded him to Sixers, who subsequently traded him to the Bucks.
A four-year star at South Dakota State, Wolters has been one of the lone bright spots in what has been a disastrous season for the Bucks.
Bucks coach Larry Drew is as fickle as it gets when it comes to deciding a rotation, but one constant over Milwaukee’s last seven games has been Wolter’s minutes.
After slapping him with the dreaded DNP-CD in five of the Bucks’ previous 10 games, Drew — in true Drew nature — has given Wolters a chance to shine. A stellar 11-point, four-assist performance in just 19 minutes vs. the Phoenix Suns on Jan. 29 might’ve done the trick.
Since then, Wolters has started alongside Brandon Knight in the Bucks’ backcourt and played very solid basketball. In those seven starts, the 22-year-old averaged a fantasy-friendly 9.8 points, 4.3 assists, and 4.5 rebounds in 30.5 minutes. He only committed a meager 0.8 turnovers per game during that stretch. In fact, excellent ball security has been Wolter’s trademark, who leads all rookies with a 3.81 assist/turnover ratio.
Wolters has a usage rate of 17.9, which should only continue to grow once Milwaukee starts slashing salaries. Gary Neal has already been the focus of many trade discussions, and his departure, along with other players like O.J. Mayo and Luke Ridnour, could lead to Wolters getting 40+ minutes per night. Minutes — and opportunity — are king in fantasy basketball, making Wolters a potential fantasy goldmine.
Nate Wolters is available in 99 percent of ESPN.com fantasy basketball leagues.