A week and a half is all we have left until most fantasy basketball leagues hit the postseason, which leaves very little room for error if you are someone still fighting for a playoff spot. This means that every move you make over these final days has to be impactful, and there is no more time to hold onto dead weight. So let’s take a look at some recent trends across the league and identify a handful of players who could be major difference-makers down the stretch as you continue your quest for a championship.
Fantasy Basketball Stock Report
Stock on the Rise
Dennis Smith Jr., PG, Charlotte Hornets
Despite some grossly inefficient shooting percentages over the past couple of weeks (under 38% in five of his last eight games), Dennis Smith Jr. has provided some solid value for fantasy basketball purposes of late, reaching double figures in four of his past seven contests, to go along with 6 or more assists in three of his last five. He has also been a menace on the defensive side of the ball, tallying a steal in each of his last nine games, totaling 16 thefts in that span. With LaMelo Ball now out for the remainder of the season, Smith should see both his minutes and usage increase over the season’s final weeks, making him an immediate high-impact player in fantasy hoops, as his stock will continue to rise from here on out.
James Wiseman, C, Detroit Pistons
Being traded to Detroit at the trade deadline has given James Wiseman new life, as the former second-overall pick has now made three starts in a row for a rebuilding Pistons team that has no reason not to feed minutes to the young big man. Wiseman has averaged 9 rebounds per game across his last four, and he’s shown flashes of greatness on offense with 23 points against the Hornets on Monday night. He has seen his minutes increase in each of his past five games excluding one in which he fouled out after just 20 minutes, and the Pistons are banged up in the frontcourt so he should have every reason to play as many minutes as he can handle down the stretch. The 21-year-old’s stock is quickly on the rise as he looks to get his promising young career back on track.
Matisse Thybulle, SG/SF, Portland Trailblazers
Similarly to Wiseman, Matisse Thybulle being traded a few weeks ago was a fantastic upgrade for his playing time, as the 25-year-old has become a regular starter for his new team. While not overly productive in the scoring department, Thybulle has been extremely valuable for fantasy basketball teams due to his ability to rack up stats in the specialist categories. Since joining his new team, Thybulle is averaging 2.0 steals, 1.2 blocks, and 2.4 threes. This type of performance can be the difference between winning and losing each of these categories, so taking advantage of the defensive stalwart would be wise. His stock is skyrocketing at just the right time of the season to help you win your league, so don’t miss out!
Austin Reaves, SG/SF, Los Angeles Lakers
Seeing minutes in the mid to upper 20s over the past couple of weeks, Austin Reaves has worked his way back from injury just in time to make in impact down the stretch of the fantasy season. Reaves has scored 17 or more points in three of his last four games, adding 4 or more assists in three of those four as well. With a steal per game in that span, along with eight straight contests with at least one made triple, Reaves is peaking at just the right time. And with LeBron James now slated to miss a significant chunk of time, Reaves should only see his usage rate and playmaking opportunities increase over the next couple of weeks. He is a sneaky impact player who could really explode down the stretch, so take advantage of it while you can.
Stock on the Decline
Precious Achiuwa, PF/C, Toronto Raptors
After putting up multiple double-doubles and seeing around 30 minutes a game for a solid stretch, Precious Achiuwa has seen his minutes decline significantly of late. The big man has seen 22 or fewer minutes in each of his last four games, with that number dropping all the way down to 12 on Tuesday. Again, we are no longer at the point in the season where you can hold onto someone who might be useful later. It’s now or never, and in this case, it doesn’t seem like now is the answer. His stock is quickly on the decline, and he is far from a must-have player in fantasy basketball.