Fantasy Basketball: Pick Up Julius Randle For Rebound Help
By Mike Marteny
Who can help you on the waiver wire if you need rebounds?
Here we are, almost at another NBA All Star break. We here at Fantasy CPR mostly cater to you daily players, but we also realize that many of you still play season-long leagues. And yes, some of you even play – gasp! – category leagues. Yes! I know you are out there!
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Whether you play in a head-to-head weekly category league or a traditional roto league, there is at least one category that you are always losing, or one that you can gain a few points in between now and the end of the season.
You weekly people need to shore up those sore spots to make sure you don’t get bounced in the playoffs. Who are the one-category wonders that are lurking on waiver wires? I can help you find them.
Picking up a guard who rebounds well can be the difference between you going home in March and you making your league finals! We will take a look at who can help at all positions.
Whether you play in a big or a small league, here are the players that can help in rebounds.
Next: Who Can At Point Guard?
Point Guards:
Shallow Leagues (20-50% available):
Ish Smith, 76ers: Smith has taken the starting PG job and ran with it in Philly. He has proven to be an efficient rebounder, hauling in 4.4 per game over the last month. the cautionary tale with Smith is his sub-par shooting percentage (37.2% over that span). If you can take the hit in shooing percentage, Ish can help boost your rebounding totals.
Jordan Clarkson, Lakers: Clarkson is averaging a tad lower at 4.0 rebounds over the last month, but he is also shooting much better from the field (43.6%). Clarkson is a much better shooter across the board than Smith, but Smith gets far more assists. Pick the one that best suits your team’s needs.
Medium Leagues (51-84% available):
Marcus Smart, Celtics: Sure, the Boston backcourt is crowded, but they are committed to Smart. He is still playing 28.3 minutes per game over the last month, and is averaging 4.7 rebounds per game over that span. Only Stephen Curry, John Wall, Michael Carter-Williams, Rajon Rondo, and Russell Westbrook are better rebounders. The difference is that Smart is available in 57% of ESPN.com leagues.
Patrick Beverley, Rockets: Beverley is averaging right at 4 rebounds per game over the last month. He is in no danger of losing his starting job, and is available in 84% of ESPN.com leagues. He is also a good shooter, hitting nearly 40% of his threes in the last month. About the only thing he wont do for you is score a bunch or rack up assists. He is probably the most underrated PG in category leagues.
Deep Leagues (85% available or more):
Langston Galloway, Knicks: Galloway went a short stint as the Knicks’ starting shooting guard, but is now back to the bench. However, he is still averaging 4.0 rebounds per game over the last month, and has SG eligibility for those of you leagues with strict position requirements. Galloway is also a good shooter (45.4%), but only shoots about seven times per game.
Donald Sloan, Nets: Sloan is still splitting time about evenly with Shane Larkin, and the team is reportedly on the lookout for a new PG via trade, but if that doesn’t happen, Sloan is a good pick up. He is solid across the board, and shoots an impressive 46% from beyond the arc over the last month. Sloan is a sneaky pick up if you need help in any of the counting stats.
Next: Who Can Rebound At SG?
Shooting Guards:
Shallow Leagues (20-50% available):
Kent Bazemore, Hawks: Bazemore has hauled in an averaging of 5.6 rebounds per game over the last month, and has only been below eight once in his last five games. If your league counts turnovers against you, he will hurt a little, but not enough to dissuade you if you need rebounding help.
Evan Turner, Celtics: Turner is averaging 4.7 rebounds per game on the season, and frequently gets more than five assists per game. He isn’t much of a scorer, but he will help you everywhere else in category leagues. Except for three point shooting. Turner is near 50% from the floor and 90% from the stripe, but he is around 10% from long range over the last month. The good part is that he doesn’t shoot enough deep shots to really hurt your percentage.
Medium Leagues (51-84% available):
P.J. Tucker, Suns: The season ending injury to T.J. Warren has Tucker’s stock rising anyway. Tucker has averaged more than six rebounds per game over the last month, all while boasting good numbers in every other category. With his minutes trending upward, he should be able to help you out even more.
Andre Iguodala, Warriors: The return of Harrison Barnes has cut into Iguodala’s minutes a little, but he is still a good rebounder. He is averaging 4.7 per game even with Barnes back, and offers great shooting percentages across the board.
Deep Leagues (85% available or more):
Tony Allen, Grizzlies: If you are used to points leagues, Allen really isn’t on your radar, but for those of you that play category leagues, Allen is a nice commodity. He is averaging 6.6 rebounds per game over the last month, and it also shooting 57% from beyond the arc with good percentages everywhere else.
Justise Winslow, Heat: The Heat are committed to playing the rookie more, and he has responded well. He is averaging 6 rebounds per game over the last month and has not missed a free throw in that span. He isn’t much of a scorer, but he certainly wont hurt you anywhere.
Next: Who Can Help At SF?
Small Forwards:
Shallow Leagues (20-50% available):
Marvin Williams, Hornets: Williams has been enough of an asset with Al Jefferson out to hold down a big part in the Hornets’ rotation. He is also averaging 7 rebounds per game over the last month to go with good percentages. He even gives you about three assists per game!
Markieff Morris, Suns: Morris has busted out since Jeff Hornacek was removed as the head coach. Since then, Morris is averaging 21 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5 assists, and a steal per game. Pick him up in all leagues right now!
Medium Leagues (51-84% available):
Aaron Gordon, Magic: The Magic are finally giving Gordon an extended run. He has responded with three consecutive games with double digit rebounds, and has done so in five of his last seven. He also has 7 blocks in the last three games. He is a good add in all formats right now.
Robert Covington, 76ers: Covington seems to have established himself back in Philadelphia’s rotation. He is averaging 7.1 rebounds per game over the last month, and is shooting decent enough percentages to keep from hurting your squad. You just have to be careful if your league counts turnovers.
Deep Leagues (85% available or more):
Matt Barnes, Grizzlies: Sure, Winslow or Tucker will also slot in here, but you came here for information. Barnes is averaging 5.2 rebounds per game over the last month, and is a solid passer and excellent free throw shooter. He is one to target if you also want some help in the percentages. He shoots and makes enough threes to help you out there as well.
Jerami Grant, 76ers: Grant usually gets enough playing time to warrant looks. He also still snags a few spot starts. Enough to keep him averaging 5 rebounds per game over the last month. He is also a good shooter from the floor and from distance, and will get enough blocks to make a difference.
Next: Who Can Help At PF?
Power Forwards:
Shallow Leagues (20-50% available):
Julius Randle, Lakers: Randle has been scooped up in most leagues due to him earning a starting job for the young Lakers. However, he is still available in 20% of leagues. Randle is averaging 11.1 rebounds per game over the last month, and is only getting better. If he is still out there, go grab him. He is even shooting 74% from the foul line over that span, a notoriously sore spot for most big men.
Tristan Thompson, Cavaliers: Thompson is still a bench player, but he can rebound with the best of them. He has four straight games of double digit boards and is averaging 9 per game over the last month. He wont help you anywhere else – he is a good shooter but doesn’t shoot enough to make a difference – but those rebounds could make a huge difference.
Medium Leagues (51-84% available):
Taj Gibson, Bulls: Injuries to the Bulls up front have created room for Gibson to log more playing time, and he has done well with his court time. He is averaging 8.4 rebounds per game over the last month, but is also a good shooter and averages more than a block per game. Keep an eye on his status after the All Star break since he left Wednesday’s game, but it he wont miss any time, pick him up.
Amir Johnson, Celtics: Johnson sometimes has a hard time carving out minutes in a crowded Boston frontcourt, but he is still averaging 7.1 rebounds per game over the last month. He is also a good shooter and averages more than two assists per game as well, so he can help you in other spots as well.
Deep Leagues (85% available or more):
Lavoy Allen, Pacers: Allen has taken a back seat to surging rookie Myles Turner, but he is still the top backup at both frontcourt positions for the Pacers. He has averaged 6.7 rebounds per game over the last month. He wont do much else, but he wont hurt you either.
Cody Zeller, Hornets: He shares Allen’s rebounding total over the past month, but he will also shoot well enough to help your percentages and he also averages a block per game.
Next: Who Are The Best Centers?
Center:
Shallow Leagues (20-50% available):
Zaza Pachulia, Mavericks: Pachulia is not a flashy name, but he still averages double digit rebounds per game. He also averages a steal per game! If you can get that from your center, you are ahead of the game!
Gorgui Dieng, Timberwolves: The Timberwolves have unleashed the youngster as of late. Dieng is riding a streak of four straight double-doubles, and is only going to get better. Pick him up while you still can.
Medium Leagues (51-84% available):
Tyson Chandler, Suns: Alex Len has shown signs that he might be ready to take this job full time, but that has not yet come to fruition. The veteran Chandler has still carved out 26 minutes per game over the last month, and has hauled down 11.1 rebounds per game. Not to mention double digit blocks and steals. There is no reason not to own Chandler in a roto league.
Andrew Bogut, Warriors: Bogut is still barely averaging over 20 minutes per game, but he is still pulling down 8.4 rebounds per game over the last month. He is also a sneaky source of assists, averaging nearly two per game. He still holds value in leagues larger than standard size.
Deep Leagues (85% or more available):
Omer Asik, Pelicans: Asik’s minutes are down to just 19.2 per game over the last month, but he is still averaging 8.8 rebounds per game. That’s all he does, but if that is what you need, it is widely available.
Alex Len, Suns: He is playing more than Tyson Chandler, but he is not producing more. Well, most games anyway. Len is still averaging 8.6 rebounds per game over the last month while giving you good percentages from the field and the line.
Stay tuned for other roto stats breakdowns over the NBA All Star Break!