Fantasy Basketball: Nikola Mirotic Leading Depleted Bulls
This week will feature the best option on the waiver wire while also noting a few public service announcements when it comes to injuries. Let’s get started.
*All league ownership percentages are courtesy of ESPN.com
Nikola Mirotic (Chi PF, 30.9% of leagues): Here is a list of currently injured Bulls: Jimmy Butler (sprained elbow, 2-5 weeks), Derrick Rose (torn meniscus, 3-5 weeks), and Taj Gibson (ankle, week-to-week). The Bulls are falling apart at the worst time as they try and cling to that third seed in the Eastern Conference. The aforementioned players average a combined 49.2 points per game, which is just under half of what the Bulls average as a team (101.1). Mirotic has played sparingly behind Gibson, Pau Gasol, and Joakim Noah, but has dazzled when given the opportunity. In the five games that Gibson has recently missed, Mirotic has averaged 21.4 points and 7.2 rebounds in 31.0 minutes of action. By comparison, in February he only averaged 5.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in 14.3 minutes. The immediate assumption is that Gibson’s absence is key to Mirotic’s success, but with Gasol in the lineup, I think that Butler’s absence is equally as essential. Tony Snell has seen some minutes at small forward, but the 6’10” Mirotic is versatile enough to play the small forward position while Gasol and Noah are also on the court. Additionally, Mirotic has shot 6.2 three-pointers in the last five games. While he has only shot.226 from behind the arc, the potential is there for even more. Unfortunately, this pickup has a clock attached to it because once the Bulls’ stars return, there will not be enough points for everyone.
Andrea Bargnani (NY PF/C, 24.6% of leagues): It’s no secret that the Knicks are pretty terrible. They are 29th in scoring and have only averaged 84.7 in four games in March. The only real positive that can be seen is that Bargnani averages twice as many points as any other player on the team (besides Alexey Shved) in that span. Granted that total is only 16.3, but hey, at least he’s producing on the worst team in the NBA. Obviously, this can change at any moment as the Knicks have four other power forwards and centers on the team. But his injury at the beginning of the year was the only thing really holding Bargnani back. If no one else is going to play decent basketball, he might as well take the reins! I would only recommend Bargnani for deeper leagues since his rebounding (despite being 7’0″) is quite subpar at the center position.
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Jeremy Lin (LAL PG, 38.1% of leagues): While Lin has had a decent start to March (13.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 6.6 APG), I’m here to tell you to temper your expectations. I have had multiple Lakers on here before, and it seems that each and every one of them eventually falls off the radar. This team is clearly not going anywhere, and it seems that every game features a different player. A few weeks ago, it was Wayne Ellington; recently, it was Jordan Clarkson; now, it’s Lin. You’re certainly welcome to take advantage of Lin’s small hot streak, but don’t be surprised if you’re dropping him next week.
Kemba Walker (Cha PG, 69.1% of leagues): Just a little reminder that Walker could be returning in a few weeks, if you need some playoff help.
Arron Afflalo (Por SG, 50.8% of leagues): Unfortunately for Portland and fantasy owners, Wesley Matthews tore his Achilles last week. He certainly will be missed, as he is fourth in the league in made three-pointers this season. Afflalo shoots about half the amount of three-pointers that Matthews does, but Afflalo figures to see the bulk of his minutes. He’ll be about the fourth option on offense, but for desperate owners who are at a loss with Matthews’ injury, Afflalo could be a sustainable substitute.
Guys I’ve mentioned previously who are still worth a pickup: Ed Davis (LAL PF/C, 18.1% of leagues); Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Cha SF, 34.4% of leagues); Rodney Stuckey (Ind SG, 28.6% of leagues); Gerald Henderson (Cha SG, 20.3% of leagues)
Guys I would be comfortable dropping or trading: Jamal Crawford (LAC SG, 72.8% of leagues); Roy Hibbert (Ind C, 60.0% of leagues); Joe Johnson (trade)(Bkn SG, 82.0% of leagues)