With the NBA regular season winding down, one of the main storylines to follow for fantasy managers committed to keeper leagues or in daily fantasy leagues is the performance of a handful of players that have finished the season strong.
They certainly aren’t among the biggest superstars in fantasy basketball but the impact made by the following players since the All-Star break cannot be overlooked. This is important because it’s important to see who is developing and carrying momentum into next season. With that in mind, here are five guys that are gaining steam and will be eyed early in drafts next year.
C: Enes Kanter, Oklahoma City
Kanter’s move to Oklahoma City has completely turned around his value as he has suddenly become an elite fantasy big man playing for the Thunder. Kanter has averaged a ridiculous 18.3 points and 11.0 rebounds since the All-Star break. A look at his recent performances in some crucial games against three of the best teams in the Western Conference offers even more insight in to how dominant he can be. Kanter averaged just over 24 points and 16.5 rebounds over a three-game stretch against the Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets and all of a sudden he is being talked about among the elite fantasy big men.
SG: Reggie Jackson, Detroit
Speaking of players that have benefited dramatically from a change in scenery, Jackson is right there with Kanter among those that have transformed in to elite fantasy players since their respective trades. Jackson has averaged 17.9 points, 9.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game since the All-Star break and he will only continue to get better as the Pistons build around him and their star big men in Detroit. Jackson is exactly the type of guard that Stan Van Gundy had been looking for and he will get every opportunity to shine in Detroit moving forward now that he isn’t stuck behind Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook on his team’s depth chart.
C: Nerlens Noel, Philadelphia
The 76ers proved they are committed to doing whatever it takes to avoid long-term mediocrity and build a championship team in Philadelphia when they traded the reigning Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams to the Milwaukee Bucks. One player they won’t consider moving is Nerlens Noel, who is one of the core players they are committed to building around. Noel got off to a slow start during his first NBA season but his numbers since the All-Star break are proof of his progress. Noel has averaged 13.4 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.4 blocks over his last 25 games and will only get better as he continues to develop. He’s just 20 years old and playing in what is essentially his rookie year.
SF: TJ Warren, Phoenix
No matter where they stood in the Western Conference this season, it always seemed like a long shot that Phoenix would make the postseason. However, they do have a number of key players to build around moving forward to next year. One of the more unheralded names that has stepped up over the past couple of months is their 2014 first-round pick Warren, who has emerged as a legitimate weapon at the small forward position. Warren has doubled his average points and rebounds per game since the All-Star break and while his totals still aren’t where they need to be for him to be a valuable fantasy contributor in shallow leagues, he will only continue to get better as he matures as a 21-year-old with the Suns.
SG: Rodney Hood, Utah
This was clearly a transition season for a Utah team with an eye on the future and they have to be pleased with the progress made by a number of players, including their 2014 first-round pick. The former Duke guard has averaged 11.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.7 threes and 1.7 assists since the All-Star break. While those numbers don’t exactly jump out as fantasy relevant, the progress that he has made as a rookie certainly does. He’s had a couple of big games recently, scoring at least 18 in three straight.
The Jazz feel that Hood can make a serious leap from Year One to Year Two and after watching his development as a rookie, it’s clear he is headed in the right direction.
