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Does Moritz Wagner have lasting value?

Moritz Wagner

Moritz Wagner

Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

The Orlando Magic got healthier Friday night, as Wendell Carter Jr. and Gary Harris were cleared to return from their respective injuries. Both were on minutes restrictions for the win over the Spurs, with the former playing 19 minutes off the bench and finishing with eight points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Magic coach Jamahl Mosley decided to leave Moritz Wagner in the starting lineup, and he once again played well. Extending his double-digit scoring streak to six games (and nine of his last 10), Wagner finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, one assist, and one 3-pointer in 26 minutes. Over the last two weeks, Wagner, rostered in 53% of Yahoo leagues, is providing 4th-round per-game value in 9-cat formats.

So, is Wagner worth holding onto in the aftermath of his last performance? Probably not, due to Orlando’s frontcourt rotation getting deeper due to Carter’s return. Both are top 100 players for the season, but Carter averages 32.0 minutes per game. As he continues to ramp things up, Mosley will have to find minutes for WCJ, and Wagner is a prime candidate to take the hit. With Orlando beginning a three-game week Tuesday night against the Lakers, fantasy managers will have to, at the very least, entertain the possibility of moving on from Wagner.

Royce O’Neale (42%)

O’Neale is above the 40% threshold we try to stick to, but he’s still undervalued. Sitting just outside the top 100 in 9-cat, per-game value, O’Neale is one of three Nets averaging at least 35 minutes per game, with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant being the others. The veteran forward knocked down five 3-pointers in Brooklyn’s 118-100 win over the Bucks, scoring 17 points and grabbing one rebound. The production outside of points and 3-pointers was lacking, but he’s averaging 5.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game. In that regard, Friday’s performance was an anomaly for O’Neale. Fantasy managers looking to strengthen the back end of their rosters can do a lot worse than O’Neale.

Norman Powell (40%)

After scoring 14 points in his first game back from a strained groin, Powell was even better in Friday’s loss to the 76ers. Shooting 8-of-13 from the field, he tallied 21 points, four rebounds, four assists, one block, and two 3-pointers in 23 minutes off the bench. Powell didn’t have a great night at the foul line, going 3-of-7, but this bench-scoring role is what Tyronn Lue envisioned for the guard. If most of his minutes are spent with either Paul George or Kawhi Leonard as opposed to both of them, which would be the case if he were a starter, Powell has a shot at maintaining fantasy relevance at a minimum.

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Naz Reid (25%)

After playing 12 minutes in his return to the bench Wednesday night, Reid played 25 minutes in Friday’s loss to the Celtics. And he was productive, tallying 14 points (6-of-10 FGs), five rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and two 3-pointers. The absence of Kyle Anderson (back spasms) ensured that Reid remained a factor in the rotation, which essentially went seven players deep before the game’s final minute (Bryn Forbes played eight minutes). If Anderson’s back spasms continue to linger, Reid will continue to have value, as the Timberwolves are still without Karl-Anthony Towns (calf).

Austin Reaves (16%)

The Lakers are still having trouble defensively, but Reaves has been a bright spot. He played 29 minutes off the bench in Friday’s 134-130 loss to the Hornets, finishing with 20 points, two rebounds, two assists, one steal, and three 3-pointers. With the Lakers without Anthony Davis, they will need the others to step up in the aid of LeBron James. Reaves is one player who has the skill needed to do just that. Another name to watch in the aftermath of Friday’s defeat is Wenyen Gabriel (1%), who accounted for 13 points, seven rebounds, and one block in 16 minutes. Why? Because Thomas Bryant injured his right shoulder during the fourth quarter. While an extended absence for him could result in Damian Jones (1%) entering the rotation, Gabriel would be the better streaming choice.

Jaylen Nowell (13%)

Nowell was the other Timberwolves reserve to hit double digits in minutes played Friday night, logging 22. He finished the loss to the Celtics with 14 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one 3-pointer. The shooting accuracy wasn’t good (6-of-17), but anyone getting 17 shots will be worth a look in deep leagues. Austin Rivers (10%) has started three straight and five of Minnesota’s last six games, hitting double figures on four occasions. Neither he nor Nowell is a “great” fantasy streamer (if they were, it wouldn’t be easy to add them), but they’re in a similar boat to the aforementioned Reid. If Anderson’s back remains problematic, there aren’t many other places for Chris Finch to turn when his starters need a break.

Rui Hachimura (10%)

With Deni Avdija ruled out, neither Hachimura nor Corey Kispert was tabbed to fill the void in the starting lineup; Daniel Gafford was. But Hachimura had one of his best games of the season, accounting for 21 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three 3-pointers in 27 minutes. Fantasy managers who rolled the dice on him were rewarded handsomely, which can’t be said for Gafford (6/3/2/0/2 in 20 minutes) or Kispert (9/4/1/1 with one 3-pointer in 26 minutes). Does Hachimura have long-term fantasy value? It’s possible, but his ROS value will be most impacted by what happens with Kyle Kuzma and whether or not his decision to opt out of the final year of his deal prompts the Wizards to make a move before the February 9 trade deadline.

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Naji Marshall (8%)

Marshall was back in the Pelicans’ starting lineup due to Zion Williamson‘s continued absence and recorded a solid stat line. Shooting 4-of-10 from the field and 8-of-10 from the foul line, he finished the win over the Thunder with 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one 3-pointer in 34 minutes. Marshall wasn’t the low-rostered star of the night for New Orleans (more on that person below), but he was more effective than he was in Thursday’s win over the Spurs. The Pelicans host the Pacers Monday night, and Marshall would be worthy of deep league consideration if Williams still hasn’t cleared health and safety protocols.

Landry Shamet (4%)

Fresh off of a 31-point game, Shamet was in the starting lineup Friday night, taking on the role of Devin Booker‘s replacement while Damion Lee (3%) moved back to the bench. Shamet wasn’t great in the Suns’ 125-100 loss to the Grizzlies (no player for the home team was), but he did finish with 15 points, five rebounds, three assists, one steal, and three 3-pointers in 31 minutes. As for Lee, in 22 minutes, he accounted for 10 points, two rebounds, two assists, and one 3-pointer. While Booker gets closer to a return, he may not be available for Sunday’s game in Denver. If that’s the case, Shamet will be worth rolling the dice on in deeper leagues. Lee would also be worth a look, even if he were to come off the bench again.

Georges Niang (2%)

Niang is primarily a points and 3-pointers option, but his situation is one to keep track of. Niang accounted for 11 points, four rebounds, one assist, and three 3-pointers in 25 minutes off the bench in Philadelphia’s 119-114 win over the Clippers, giving the 76ers much-needed shooting at the forward position. The issue: starter P.J. Tucker is dealing with a pinched nerve in his right hand...the one he shoots with. Tucker didn’t attempt a shot on Friday, and he’s had three shots or less in six of his last nine games. The veteran forward is doing his best to play through the issue, and Philadelphia has won seven straight, but there may come a time when Tucker’s hand issue becomes too much. Niang isn’t worth adding on the strength of an 11-point performance, but keep an eye on him and Tucker.

Jaxson Hayes (1%)

With Larry Nance (Achilles) joining the aforementioned Williamson on the injury report for Friday’s game, rotation minutes opened up for Hayes. On the outside looking in on most nights this season, the bouncy big man made the most of his opportunity against the Thunder. Hayes recorded a stat line of 21 points, six rebounds, and four assists in 28 minutes off the bench, while fellow reserved Willy Hernangomez (5/6/1/0/1) played just nine minutes. If the Pelicans are down Nance and Williamson for Monday’s game against the Pacers, it wouldn’t be a terrible idea to “kick the tires” on Hayes. But his explosion in Oklahoma City may have been just as much about the matchup as it was about his staying ready for the opportunity.

Haywood Highsmith (1%)

Out of the rotation to begin the season, Highsmith has played well enough to change that over the last month. After scoring 18 points in Tuesday’s loss to the Bulls, he accounted for 10 points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one blocked shot in 23 minutes during Saturday’s loss to the Pacers. Those are Highsmith’s only double-digit scoring efforts over the last two weeks, yet he’s still providing 7th-round value during this period. Highsmith’s defensive production has boosted his value. He isn’t worth adding now, especially with Victor Oladipo being healthy, but Highsmith is a player worth tracking.