The first few weeks of the NBA regular season will usually provide a decent indication of what to expect in NBA fantasy leagues for the remainder of the season. However, there are always situations where players underachieve based on slow starts while others overachieve early on. There are a handful of slow starters whose stock might be low enough to buy at a decent value before they start to turn things around. Here is a look at four buy-low candidates in NBA fantasy leagues right now.
PG: Rajon Rondo, Chicago Bulls
After leading the NBA with 11.7 assists per game last season, Rondo hasn’t had the same level of success out of the gate in Chicago. The veteran point guard has averaged just 6.2 assists in 29.0 minutes per game with the Bulls and it’s hard to envision him registering too many nights with double-digit assists totals while playing on the same team as Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler, who both love having the ball in their hands. However, Rondo’s assists per game could easily climb above 8.0 with a couple more touches per game. Rondo has averaged 8.0 points and 5.6 rebounds per game over his last 10 contests so if the assists totals climb, Rondo could turn out to be a decent addition if you can get him at the right price right now.
PF: Serge Ibaka, Orlando Magic
Ibaka has averaged a respectable 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game with the Magic but his blocks and steals are down right now and that could mean his owners are down on his stock. Ibaka has averaged 1.5 combined blocks and steals per game after averaging 2.4 combined blocks and steals last season. Part of the problem could be getting used to a new environment in Orlando where there are a ton of new pieces as the Magic are looking to improve as the season rolls on. Ibaka’s points and rebounds totals are good enough to take a chance on him with the hope that his blocks and steals shoot back up as he becomes more comfortable in Orlando this season.
PF: Jabari Parker, Milwaukee Bucks
Parker is averaging a respectable 19.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 32.1 minutes per game this season and while at first glance those numbers aren’t great the fact that he is averaging career-highs in rebounds and assists per game is worth consideration. Parker still hasn’t reached his peak potential and at 21-years-old there is still room for improvement as the season progresses. The fact that Parker is getting so many touches should help boost his NBA fantasy stock as the season progresses so it might be worth trying to buy low on him right now.
C: Clint Capela, Houston Rockets
Capela’s stock is down as a result of him averaging just 23.3 minutes per game in Mike D’Antoni’s offense this season. However, he is still averaging decent enough totals to consider him a buy-low option right now. Capela has averaged 9.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game so it would be reasonable to expect substantial averages with a potential boost in playing time. Capela is still just 22-years-old so he is worth considering as a buy-low option in NBA fantasy leagues right now.
PF: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
A lot of people were excited about Jokic – especially after what he did in the 2016 Summer Olympics, carrying his team. He then backed that up with a solid preseason, looking like one of the best young players in the NBA that was ready for a breakout. However, some people were concerned that the Nuggets frontcourt was crowded and they shied away, and that has proven to be the right decision so far.
The issue is that Denver has another burgeoning young player in the frontcourt – Jusuf Nurkic – and the two of them haven’t been the best fit. On top of that, Kenneth Faried is also in the picture. That has led to a very disappointing 8.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game for Jokic so far this season. He’s still averaging 0.8 steals, which is nice, but all of the other peripheral numbers are down from where his owners would have hoped they’d be. He had 23 points and 17 rebounds against Portland at the end of October but that was in a game where he saw 34 minutes. He’s played much less since then and has scored in double figures just twice in his last nine games. The Nuggets will probably move Faried at some point or simply bench him to develop Jokic, which is what makes him a good buy-low candidate in NBA fantasy.
