Fantasy Basketball Pickups: Nick Richards is worth the risk

In addition to an 11-game slate on the busiest day of Week 12, fantasy basketball coaches were also given a trade to evaluate. With a dire need for help at the center position, the Suns acquired C Nick Richards (26% subscribed, Yahoo) from the Hornets in exchange for Josh Okogie and three future second-round picks. The Suns were already light on draft capital due to deals made to acquire Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, and now have even fewer options at their disposal.

However, they have added a player in Richards who can provide the rebounding and rim protection the current rotation lacks without having to play for him offensively. While there were opportunities to shine in Charlotte, it was clear that first-round pick Mark Williams was the center of the team’s future (and present). The move to Phoenix makes Richards well worth the risk in fantasy leagues, even if he’s not a lock to thrive.

As for the centers already on the Suns roster, one has to wonder if this is the end of the road for Jusuf Nurkic. While out with an illness, he took CD-DNP in the last two games he was available for. Rookie Oso Ighodaro offers higher fantasy upside than Mason Plumlee, but the play of those two (especially in Tuesday’s loss to the Hawks) didn’t inspire confidence. Richards is expected to be the starter in Phoenix, and if he can hit 20 minutes consistently, he can have value in 12-team leagues.

As for Okogie, he is in an interesting place. Charlotte’s current rotation wings are Josh Green and Cody Martin, and neither has been consistently productive. Does this mean Okogie will be able to compete for playing time? Or is Charlotte looking to see if they can add draft capital to their coffers by moving Okogie to a playoff team before the February trade deadline? In the short term, he didn’t do enough in Phoenix to merit being added now, but keep an eye on him.

Let’s take a look at some of Wednesday’s best fantasy picks:

PF/C Santi Aldama (46%), Memphis Grizzlies

Aldama was excellent early in the season, providing reliable fantasy value whether he started or came off the bench. With the Grizzlies’ frontcourt healthier, he has more competition for minutes, but the 2020 first-round pick keeps coming. He finished Wednesday’s win over the Spurs with 20 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and a 3-pointer in 27 minutes, shooting 9-for-15 from the field. For the season, Aldama has provided 7th round value in 9 cat formats.

SG/SF Buddy Hield (36%), Golden State Warriors

When you want to consider giving up on Hield, he has a night that makes some fantasy managers reconsider. He played 29 minutes in Golden State’s win over the Timberwolves, scoring 18 points with one rebound, three steals, two blocks and three triples. Defensive production draws attention, as that hasn’t been the norm for Hield. It will not do so consistently. But what he can do is shoot the basketball. If Hield can keep his field goal percentage around 50% while hitting a few 3-pointers per game, he’ll be worth a look again in some 12-team leagues.

PF/C Nikola Jovic (34%), Miami Heat

While Jimmy Butler has said he intends to play after his suspension is over, it’s not easy to imagine the Heat putting him on the court when he’s made it clear he wants out. Fantasy managers should then add Jovic or SF Jaime Jaquez Jr. (36%)? Jovic had his best night in Wednesday’s loss to the Lakers, and has provided top-100 value per game over the past two weeks. Jovic played 32 minutes off the bench, finishing with 12 points, four rebounds, eight assists, one blocked shot and two 3-pointers.

PG Cole Anthony (29%), Orlando Magic

Anthony didn’t shoot the ball well in Wednesday’s loss to Milwaukee, scoring 11 points on 5-for-13 shooting (3-for-1-5). However, he dished out eight assists before fouling out, with foul trouble limiting the Magic guard to 27 minutes. Anthony should be issued as long as the Magic are without Jalen Suggs, who has missed all six games with a lower back strain.

PG/SG Spencer Dinwiddie (25%), Dallas Mavericks

Wednesday’s game against the Pelicans was Dallas’ second in as many nights that Kyrie Irving (back) did not play. Dinwiddie returned to the starting lineup and was productive in a three-point loss to New Orleans, finishing with 20 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals and three three-pointers in 38 minutes. PG/SG Jaden Hardy (4%) also had a good night, posting a 21/5/2/1 line with four 3-pointers in 25 minutes off the bench. However, Dinwiddie’s production has been less volatile when allowed to take on a more prominent role. He may not be an option for Friday’s game against the Thunder, but Dinwiddie may be worth a look in Dallas’ Week 13 straight.

SG/SF Max Christie (15%), Los Angeles Lakers

Over the past month, Christie has provided eighth-round value in 9-cat formats. After starting the last 15 games for the Lakers, it’s safe to say he’ll play that role for the foreseeable future. Christie played 37 minutes in Wednesday’s win over the Heat, adding 16 points, three rebounds, two steals, a block and three 3-pointers. What also boosts Christie’s value for the rest of Week 12 is that the Lakers play two more games, Friday at home against the Nets and then Sunday at the Clippers.

PG/SG Stephon Castle (12%), San Antonio Spurs

Due to 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 three rebounds, four assists and two 3-pointers in 33 minutes. While the 9-for-21 night from the field wasn’t his best, Castle only committed one turnover. It’s worth getting in until Sochan plays unrestricted, especially with the Spurs having two more games on their Week 12 schedule.

SF/PF Brice Sensabaugh (10%), Utah Jazz

Utah has been without John Collins for six straight games and 11 of its last 12 games. While his absence hasn’t propelled Sensabaugh into the starting lineup, it has made the second-year forward a more critical member of Utah’s bench rotation (as has Jordan Clarkson’s foot injury). A double-digit scorer in four straight games, Sensabaugh finished Wednesday’s loss to the Hornets with 19 points, four rebounds, four assists and two 3-pointers. He doesn’t offer much defensive value, but the offensive upside makes him worth the risk in deep leagues. Another jazz player to consider is the rookie PG Isaiah Collier (7%), who recorded his first double-double (11/3/10 with a triple in 27 minutes). His value moving forward depends on the availability of Keyonte George and Collin Sexton, with the latter sitting out of 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 before Wednesday’s win over Denver that they hoped to get him back on Houston’s current road trip, which concludes Saturday at Portland, there’s no guarantee that will happen . So it pays to have Whitmore in deep leagues until Eason can play. He played 24 minutes off the bench against the Nuggets, finishing with 16 points, nine rebounds, one assist, one steal, one blocked shot and two 3-pointers. Whitmore shot 7-for-11 from the field, and the rebounding production was incredibly encouraging.

PG Keaton Wallace (< 1%), Atlanta Hawks

Trae Young did not play in Wednesday’s game against the Bulls, giving Wallace his second career start. Very few fantasy managers took the plunge and added Wallace, and with good reason. But he put on a show in the Hawks’ win over Chicago, setting career highs in points (27), rebounds (six) and three-pointers (four), while also tallying six assists and four steals (which matched with his career). -high). Young will be back for Saturday’s game in Boston, so there’s no need to think about adding Wallace now. But his performance against the Bulls will land the rookie guard on some managers’ radars the next time Atlanta is without Young.