As we make our way toward Christmas Day basketball, there are several question marks surrounding a number of players and teams in the league. Health and safety protocols have seemingly wiped out half of the NBA, and the league has had to go as far as changing roster rules to allow for more replacement players on each team. These increasing absences, however, create opportunities for just as many players, who are being forced into major minutes out of pure necessity. And while most of these players will only remain useful in the short term for fantasy purposes, their stock has nonetheless sky-rocketed in the interim. So let’s dive right in and take a look at some of these players who have seen their stock surge in recent days.
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Fantasy Basketball Stock Report
Stock on the Rise
DeMarcus Cousins, C, Milwaukee Bucks
It seems like every year we hear rumblings at some point during the season about DeMarcus Cousins becoming fantasy-relevant, but this time, at least for the next week or so, it seems very legitimate. Cousins was given a season-high 27 minutes the other day, and the veteran capitalized on the opportunity. The big man notched a double-double in Milwaukee’s losing effort, putting up 12 points and 12 rebounds to go with a whopping 5 steals, a block, and a pair of threes. The former All-Star still seems more than capable of contributing in a big way to fantasy rosters, and it seems that he will have every chance to do so while Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis remain in health and safety protocols. And with the Bucks scheduled for three games in the next four days, Cousins will have plenty of chances to produce some more massive stat lines before they are both cleared to return.
Max Strus, SG/SF, Miami Heat
Known almost entirely for being a sharp-shooter, Max Strus has been shooting the lights out of the ball of late, and he has taken full advantage of Jimmy Butler‘s absence over the past week. Seeing 34 minutes in each of Miami’s past two games, the 25-year-old combined for 56 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 three-pointers. His shot is falling like it never has before, and he is doing it at a time when Duncan Robinson and Gabe Vincent have both struggled with their shot, and Jimmy Butler continues to sit out with a tailbone injury. If you need a quick source of scoring and triples in the coming games, Strus could be the answer. His stock is easily at its highest point this season.
Sandro Mamukelashvili, PF/C, Milwaukee Bucks
Similar to DeMarcus Cousins, Sandro Mamukelashvili has been thrust into enormous minutes for the Bucks in light of so many players falling under health and safety protocols. The rookie out of Seton Hall saw 42 minutes against Cleveland last game, and he should continue to see the floor for as many minutes as he can handle until Milwaukee starts to get their depth back. Mamu put up 17 points with a steal, a block, and 4 threes, making it the second game in a row in which he recorded at least one steal, block, and three-pointer. The big man has a very fantasy-friendly game in that he is an excellent shooter for a big man, and he is still capable of providing those defensive stats as well. This, combined with Milwaukee’s desperate need for minutes from anyone who is able, makes him a strong temporary option in upcoming games. As stated above, the Bucks play three games in the next four days, so Mamu will have ample opportunities to make an immediate impact for your fantasy teams. The rookie’s stock is very much on the rise.
KJ Martin, SF, Houston Rockets
Another young player whose stock is climbing is KJ Martin. The 20-year-old forward has started to see minutes in the mid-20s after being unable to crack the teens in most games, and he has taken advantage of the extra playing time to put up some nice stat lines. Martin has scored in double figures in five straight, recording one double-double and knocking down a three in each of them. Martin proved down the stretch last year that he can be an extremely valuable player in fantasy when given enough minutes, and it looks like he finally might start to see them consistently, as he still saw 28 and 24 minutes even with Christian Wood back in the lineup. Martin averaged 18.1 points, 8.4 boards, and 2.3 triples per game in nine May appearances to finish off his season last year, so the ceiling is definitely there for the sophomore. And with Houston likely to fall out of the playoff race as the season progresses, they will have no reason not to develop their young talent and give them more minutes down the stretch. Martin’s stock should only grow higher by season’s end.
Onyeka Okongwu, PF/C, Atlanta Hawks
Onyeka Okongwu finally made his season debut the other night after recovering from shoulder surgery, and the big man didn’t miss a beat. Okongwu didn’t miss from the floor or the free-throw line, scoring 10 points to go with 2 boards and a steal as he was eased back into action with 14 minutes of playing time. The 2020 sixth overall draft pick has been excellent in his young career on a per-minute basis, and now he will get a chance to earn more playing time with Clint Capela finding himself under health and safety protocols. He averaged 13.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 2.0 blocks per-36 minutes in his rookie campaign, so he only really needs minutes in the low-20s or higher to provide valuable production in fantasy. He can easily reach those numbers in the short term, and I think he can play his way into those minutes as the season progresses as well. Okongwu’s stock is on the rise, and he could become a true difference-maker if he does in fact play his way into more minutes on a regular basis.
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