Blake Griffin Now a Piston
That doesn’t sound right, does it? After seven and a half seasons with the Clippers, Blake Griffin will now be playing some DEEEETROIT BASKETBALL. Sorry, I’ve always loved that chant they do. Early last week, the Clippers sent Griffin to the Pistons for Avery Bradley, Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic, and a first-round pick. For Griffin, the trade doesn’t move the needle on his fantasy value very much. However, it certainly does for the three players heading to Hollywood in this deal.
Other Fantasy Fallout from the Griffin Trade
Avery Bradley – This one is simple. Bradley was barely worth owning in the first place and is going to a team with a more crowded backcourt and tons of uncertainty. Bradley himself might even be on the move again. If you need someone to drop for a hot free agent, give Bradley the boot.
Tobias Harris – This move is good for Harris’ fantasy value and could soon be great if Lou Williams is dealt out of town. Harris scored 24 in his Clippers debut and is a good bet for 20+ PPG the rest of the way.
Boban Marjanovic – If the Clippers continue this firesale and get rid of DeAndre Jordan, Boban would be a must add. Marjanovic has already what he can do in limited minutes and would be a top-100 player if given 20-25 minutes a night.
Games Played by Team This Week
4 Games: ATL, BOS, CHA, CLE, DAL, DET, HOU, IND, NOR, ORL, POR, UTA, WAS.
3 Games: BKN, CHI, DEN, GSW, LAC, LAL, MEM, MIA, MIL, MIN, NYK, OKC, PHI, PHO, SAC, TOR.
2 Games: SAS.
Waiver Wire
Jarrett Allen (PF/C – BKN)
Now that Jarrett Allen has the starting center role in Brooklyn, he needs to be added in all leagues. Over his last six games, Allen is averaging 13.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 0.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks on a ridiculous 80.5% shooting. Obviously, Allen isn’t going to shoot that well the entire season, but he should still be an asset in that category with those counting stats I mentioned above serving as a benchmark for what he could do going forward. Actually, those numbers are likely his floor.
Once those minutes keep creeping up towards 30, expect bigger and better things from Allen. As a potential top-75 player the rest of the way, Allen shouldn’t be sitting on any waiver wires right now.
Josh Jackson (SG/SF – PHO)
Is this a waiver wire section or the all-afro team? More playing time has opened up in the desert for Jackson with Devin Booker now playing point and Isaiah Canaan done for the season with a gruesome ankle injury. In the last six games, the rookie has averaged 16.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 1.2 3-pointers. And that’s including a two-point stinker against the Rockets last weekend. Unfortunately, those stats come with a subpar FG% and literally no assists. However, Jackson is trending up and the talent/upside makes him an intriguing waiver wire target.
Terry Rozier (PG/SG – BOS)
With Kyrie Irving sidelined the last two games, Terry Rozier has gone absolutely bonkers. The third-year guard has averaged 24.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.0 blocks and 4.5 3-pointers on 53.1% shooting. Rozier has had plenty of promising flashes this season, but wasn’t getting enough minutes to sustain prolonged fantasy success. Those minutes have been there with both Irving and Marcus Smart out of the lineup. Irving is only day-to-day, but it sounds like Smart will be out for the next two weeks or more.
Rozier is a must-start player every game Irving is out and might have even leapfrogged Smart on Boston’s depth chart. His upside is definitely worth an add to see how this playing time situation pans out over the next couple weeks.
Injury Report
Kevin Love (PF/C – CLE)
Another star player bites the dust. Love fractured his hand Tuesday in Detroit and will miss the next 6-8 weeks. This one puts Love’s fantasy owners in a bind. Eight weeks out is nearing the end of March, which basically means that Love won’t be showing you and love for the rest of the fantasy basketball regular season.
My motto has always been, “make the playoffs then go from there.” Love isn’t going to help you get to the playoffs and there’s a good chance that Cleveland babies him for the rest of the NBA regular season to get him ready for the playoffs. Depending on your position in your league’s standings, it might be time to move on from Love if you can’t afford to stash him. As always, try the trade route first. Love can still be an attractive piece to a front-runner in your league and you can still likely get a decent return.
Kyrie Irving (PG/SG – BOS)
A right quad contusion has kept Irving sidelined for the last two contests, but most seem to think it’s mostly precautionary. If this were the playoffs, Irving would likely be out there. This doesn’t seem like a long-term injury, but for however long Irving is out, Rozier gets a nice bump in value.
Hassan Whiteside (C – MIA)
This really isn’t an injury, but a stomach virus kept Whiteside out Saturday night in Detroit. He just can’t seem to shake this bug. Consider him questionable for Monday. In his absence, both Kelly Olynyk and Bam Adebayo get a small boost in value.
Aaron Gordon (SF/PF – ORL)
I honestly don’t have any idea what a hip flexor is, but Aaron Gordon stained it and has missed the last three games because of it. The Magic have back to back games Monday and Tuesday, so don’t be surprised if Gordon sits out the front end of that set.
Eric Gordon (SG – HOU)
A sore back forced Gordon out of Thursday’s game and also caused him to miss last night’s game against Cleveland. Though, they didn’t really need him in their blowout win. This doesn’t sound serious and Houston expects Gordon to be back soon. Consider him questionable for Tuesday’s game against Brooklyn.
Trevor Ariza (SG/SF – HOU)
Unlike his teammate above, it doesn’t appear that Ariza is going to play anytime soon. He’s already missed the last three games with a hamstring injury and likely won’t suit up for Houston’s upcoming four-game road trip. Ryan Anderson benefits the most here in the fantasy world.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF – BKN)
A groin injury has caused RHJ to miss the last four games and today will be number five. He’s still listed as day-to-day and likely will return Tuesday or Wednesday.
Thank-you for reading and I hope you can use this article to your advantage and get a leg up on your fellow league members. Got a question about a player not covered here? Then follow me on Twitter @EricCross04 and ask me there.