Identifying dynasty keepers for next season can be difficult but rewarding for the General Managers that are prepared to invest a little time at the end of the year to transition. At this point in the season, rosters are in flux and other General Managers will drop players to compete in the playoffs, while teams out of contention will ignore the waiver wire. This is your time to strike by adding players set to increase their value next year. These players can come in a variety of packages: young, old veterans, or injured players. While dynasty leagues will skew towards investing in young talent, don’t be afraid to look to an older player that may be overlooked.
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Dynasty Keepers for the 2021-22 NBA Season
Young and Developing
Mo Bamba – ORL – C
Mo Bamba is only 23 years old and spent the majority of his career playing behind Allstar Nikola Vucevic. Now that Vucevic has been traded, Mo Bamba has the opportunity to compete with Wendall Carter Jr. for Orlando’s center minutes. In the last two weeks, Bamba has averages 12 points, 11 rebounds, 2.8 blocks in 26 minutes per game. Bamba gives you the big man stats with elite blocks and can average a three per game. His field goal percentage is not strong like you would expect from the position, but with another summer to mature his game and body, Bamba is a great big man option in deep keeper leagues. Bamba has been a hot addition for his play at late, but an illness (non-covid) kept him out of the lineup while WCJ returned. If a General Manager dropped him to compete for a championship, go ahead and stash him for next year.
Tyrese Maxey – PHI – PG/SG
Tyrese Maxey has been stellar for the 76ers. Maxey has played himself into a position where the coach has to find him minutes in the rotation. From a fantasy perspective, Maxey’s minutes are too inconsistent to rely on this year. However, Maxey has flashed enough potential to warrant a dynasty stash. As a starter, Maxey averaged 17 points, 4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, on 48% shooting in 31 minutes per game. Maxey could work himself into 20 plus minutes role in the 76ers backcourt next year. Stash him now in case he has a big summer, or the 76ers make moves to free up minutes for their young guard.
Brandon Clarke – MEM – PF/C
Jaren Jackson Jr. gets all the attention in the Memphis frontcourt. Xavier Tillman is the shiny new prospect. This leaves Brandon Clarke as almost an afterthought for the Grizzlies. While Clarke is a good basketball player with lots of potential, he has an inconsistent role and an uncertain future. In 24 minutes per game, Clarke has averaged 10.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1 block on 51% shooting. General Managers in your league might have given up on Clark after a down year, but he provides a solid floor with great upside as a deeper league dynasty keeper.
Overlooked Veterans
Victor Oladipo – MIA – SG
Victor Oladipo is out for the season with right quad tendon surgery and will not be ready for next season, returning around the December timeframe. This makes Oladipo’s future uncertain, and from a fantasy perspective expendable for many general managers. Oladipo has played in 88 games over the last three seasons. As general managers make decisions on their keepers, you might stumble across Victor on your waiver wire. If you have a roster spot and can afford to hold him for next season, Victor is worth a stash in deep leagues with higher than usual upside.
DeMarcus Cousins – GSW – C
DeMarcus Cousins has played a limited role for the Golden State Warriors. While Cousins likely won’t be playing for the Warriors next year, Cousins demonstrated that he has some fantasy juice when given the opportunity. As a starter this season, Cousins has averaged 13 points, 11 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1 block per game. In a deep league scenario, Cousins could be a worthy investment as a low-end keeper in deep leagues if you can’t round out your roster with young talent.
Kelly Olynyk – HOU – PF/C
Most general managers are searching for young talent that can develop into reliable role players or more. Players like Kelly Olynyk get lost in the shuffle. Usually, a bit role player to stretch the floor, Kelly has found a larger role in Houston complementing Christian Wood. In the last two months, Olynyk has averaged 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.4 steals, on 52% shooting from the field. These numbers are insane, but most general managers don’t believe it will continue once Houston puts forth a more competitive team next year. If you see Kelly on your wire scoop him up and give him a chance to repeat this stretch.
Like Bradford’s take on Dynasty Keepers? Then you’ll also want to give a read to Kyle Frank’s look at the injuries and trends that will be shaping the NBA scene over the offseason.
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