As the calendar flips to February, the consistency of most NBA rotations continues to be in flux. And as the season slowly nears its end, these changes will only increase, as teams begin to either fall out of the playoff race or position themselves for a postseason run. As a result, a number of players, particularly younger players will likely see their stock rise over the coming days and weeks, while some other players will see their stock take a nosedive as they fall out of the mix for playing time. So let’s dive right in and identify some of these players, whose stock is already starting to rise or fall due to the changing philosophies of their teams.
Fantasy Basketball Stock Report
Stock on the Rise
Gabe Vincent, PG, Miami Heat
With Kyle Lowry still out of the lineup, Gabe Vincent has been starting in his place and performing admirably for the Miami Heat. The 25-year-old has seen over 35 minutes per game over the past two weeks, and he has put up solid averages of 13.4 points, 6.1 assists, 1.4 steals, and 3.1 triples per game in that span. The shooting hasn’t been the most efficient at just 40.7%, but the strong 85.7% mark from the free-throw line helps to make up for it. Vincent’s value will obviously take a bit of a hit once Lowry does return, but his value is sky-high for as long as he remains the team’s starting point guard. His stock has never been higher during his three-year career, so take advantage of the returns while you can.
Isaiah Jackson, PF/C, Indiana Pacers
With Domantas Sabonis and Goga Bitadze both out of the lineup, the Indiana Pacers were finally forced to turn to Isaiah Jackson for big minutes, and he did not disappoint. The 20-year-old rookie got 29 minutes in his first career start, and he exploded for 26 points and 10 rebounds, adding a three, a steal, and a pair of blocks without committing a turnover in the contest. He also shot an efficient 12-for-19 from the floor, making it five straight games for the big man shooting 50% or better from the field. Jackson definitely impressed his coaches enough to keep feeding him minutes while Sabonis is out of action, and that means at least another handful of games with major minutes as Sabonis deals with health and safety protocols. Jackson’s stock is quickly on the rise, and he could be a major fantasy contributor as long as he is seeing minutes in the mid-20s or higher.
Jaxson Hayes, C, New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans made a very interesting move with their starting five the other day, and Jaxson Hayes is by far the biggest beneficiary of the alteration. Hayes has gotten two starts in a row now, due to New Orleans electing to go big with Hayes and Valanciunas in the starting five, and the decision seems to be working fairly well for the team. The Pelicans had a close 3-point loss to the Cavaliers, followed up by a victory over the Pistons last night. For his part, Hayes played 31 and 26 minutes, averaging 12.5 points, 7.0 boards, and 2.0 blocks. The Pelicans are 13 games below .500 and might as well try anything at this point, so there’s no reason why they won’t stick with this big lineup as long as it’s kind of working. As a result, the former lottery pick’s stock is trending up.
Stock on the Decline
Bismack Biyombo, C, Phoenix Suns
It was a nice ride, but unfortunately, the ride has come to an end. With Deandre Ayton finally returning to action after an extended absence due to an ankle injury, Bismack Biyombo will no longer be playing enough minutes to continue piling up double-doubles the way he has over the past two weeks. The veteran big man had an impressive stretch in which he totaled five double-doubles over a seven-game span, but he will now be lucky to see the court for 10 minutes a night with Ayton back in the mix and soaking up most of the minutes at the center spot. Biyombo is now an easy drop candidate in fantasy, as his stock plummets to next to nothing.
Spencer Dinwiddie, PG/SG, Washington Wizards
Spencer Dinwiddie has had an extremely inconsistent season in his first year back from the second torn ACL of his career, but things have been considerably worse of late. Dinwiddie has struggled mightily shooting the ball in recent games, going an abysmal 8-for-41 (19.5%) from the floor across his past four games. During that stretch, the veteran guard averaged a miserable 6.5 points per game, failing to top 10 points in any of them. On top of this poor play now is also the news that many of his teammates don’t want him there. With both on-court and off-court issues now plaguing the 28-year-old, it’s hard to envision this situation not ending poorly. Dinwiddie’s stock is quickly trending down, along with this entire situation.
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