Welcome to week 15. Roster optimization has never been more important. Across the league, the debate about player “rest” days continues to heat up. Steve Kerr even advocated for a 72-game season. While the NBA figures out how to deal with back-to-back games and star players sitting out, we continue to look for opportunities to mitigate the problem. In addition to week-to-week roster additions to boost games played, trades that focus on players more likely to play in the second half of the season could be the difference in a first-round playoff exit or a championship.
Check out below for a few players to target via trade, the week’s schedule, and streams for the week to boost your games played.
Fantasy Basketball Schedule Preview
Trade Targets
The following teams should be playing for playoff positioning until the very end. They aren’t in the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes nor are they able to rest their top players down the stretch.
New York Knicks:
- Jalen Brunson (PG/SG)
- Julius Randle (PF)
- Mitchell Robinson (Center) (Inj.)
Atlanta Hawks:
- Dejounte Murray (PG/SG)
Indiana Pacers:
- Tyrese Haliburton (PG/SG) (Inj.)
Chicago Bulls:
- Zach LaVine (PG/SG)
Los Angeles Lakers:
- Lebron James (SF/PF)
- Russell Westbrook (PG/SG)
- Anthony Davis (PF/C)
Minnesota Timberwolves:
- Rudy Gobert (Center)
- Karl-Anthony Towns (PF/C)
- Anthony Edwards (SG/SF)
This week’s schedule:
- Monday (01/23): 7 games
- Tuesday (01/24): 7 games
- Wednesday (01/25): 10 games
- Thursday (01/26): 6 games
- Friday (01/27): 5 games
- Saturday (01/28): 11 games
- Sunday (01/29): 4 games
Teams with 4 games this week:
CHI, MEM, CLE, MIN, MIL, LAC, IND, BOS, ORL, HOU, NOR, SAS, CHA
Teams with 3 games this week:
PHO, POR, SAC, ATL, MIA, DET, WAS, LAL, TOR, UTA, BKN, DAL, DEN, NYK
Teams with 2 games this week:
GSW, PHI, OKC
Week 15 Streamers: Optimize your Streaming
The schedule is different this week with low nights on Friday and Sunday, with a relatively even spread otherwise. The Cleveland Cavaliers have the best schedule with 4 games this week on the low nights and Tuesday/Thursday. The Bucks come in next with four games this week and playing on the Friday/Sunday low nights. The Miami Heat offer coverage for the Friday/Sunday weekend slate as well.
Depending on your league the players available will vary, but the players below should be available in most 12- or 14-team formats.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (TUE/THUR/FRI/SUN)
- Caris LeVert (SG/SF): LeVert has had a disappointing season and the Cavaliers continue to search for a wing player to complement their starting 5. Until such a player is added, LeVert remains a scoring threat with the ability to add rebounds and assists. LeVert is a great streamer this week if Donovan Mitchell remains out but otherwise can still provide value with the best schedule this week.
- Kevin Love (PF/C): At this point in his career don’t expect much from Love, but he can provide rebounds and on occasion a nice scoring burst, a few threes, and assists as well.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS (MON/WED/FRI/SUN)
- Grayson Allen (SG): Without Middleton and Giannis in the lineup, Allen has been a steady source of points and threes. They are expected to return next week but even when the Bucks are healthy, Allen should still provide a spark in threes.
- Joe Ingles (SF): Ingles will be asked to be a facilitator for the second unit on a healthy Bucks team which makes Ingles a useful streamer for assists with value in threes and even rebounds as well.
- Pat Connaughton (SG/SF): If Giannis and Middleton return next week, Connaughton is a threes streamer with upside in rebounds.
MIAMI HEAT (TUES/FRI/SUN)
- Caleb Martin (SG/SF): Given Miami’s weekend schedule, Martin is a deep league or conditional streamer. Martin will produce some points, threes, and rebounds in a utility role for the Heat.