NBA Player News

Initially listed as available for Thursday’s game, Larsson is now questionable. That doesn’t bode well for his availability, and the Heat are already without Jimmy Butler. Larsson’s absence alone doesn’t impact fantasy basketball, as Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jaquez Jr. are available.

While Jackson-Davis hasn’t made the jump that some fantasy managers hoped he would before the season began, he’s played well recently. The second-year big has hit double figures in points in four straight appearances while also grabbing at least eight rebounds in each. Jackson-Davis’s production has been good for 6th-round value in 9-cat formats, a welcome development for a player ranked outside the top 200 for the season.

Working a new player into a team mid-season is rarely easy, and Schroder is the latest example. In five games with the Warriors, he has averaged 8.2 points, 1.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.8 3-pointers in 26.3 minutes. Schroder hasn’t even provided the top 300 fantasy value since being traded, which is very concerning for managers who have him rostered.

With Stephen Curry inactive, Kuminga was the one Warriors player who took full advantage of the opportunity. Not only did he record his first double-double (ninth of his career), but his 34 points were also a career-high. However, Kumings’s role fluctuates based on the availability of Curry and Draymond Green, who also sat out Friday’s game. That makes it difficult for fantasy managers to trust Kuminga, who will be a restricted free agent this summer.

Few, if any, fantasy managers expected Anderson to provide suitable streaming value with Draymond Green out of the lineup. That’s what happened, with SloMo only playing 15 minutes despite receiving the starting nod. Under normal circumstances, there’s no need to roster Anderson, and he hasn’t done enough to merit being streamed when the Warriors are shorthanded, either.

Hield couldn’t find his shot on Friday, going 1-of-6 from beyond the arc. In Friday’s game, he appeared to offer higher value with Stephen Curry sidelined, and Hield could not come through. Golden State hosts Phoenix on Saturday, and Curry could be back in the lineup. If so, Hield’s fantasy value will take a hit.

Like his time with the Mavericks, Jones has not offered much fantasy value despite being a fixture in the starting lineup. Ranked just outside the top 100 in 9-cat formats over the past two weeks, “Airplane Mode” barely holds onto a spot in the top 150 regarding season-long value. That’s unlikely to change anytime soon, especially with Kawhi Leonard reportedly targeting January 4 to make his season debut.

Dunn has reached double figures twice in 10 games in December, with Friday’s point total being his highest since November 15 (13 vs. Houston). While he has filled in admirably alongside James Harden, Dunn doesn’t provide much fantasy value in 8- or 9-cat formats. Outside of extremely deep leagues, there aren’t many leagues where he should be rostered.

One game removed from recording a season-high four steals in a win over the Grizzlies, Zubac blocked five shots and recorded a double-double against the Warriors. He’s exceeded his Yahoo ADP (84) in 8- and 9-cat formats, providing consistent value for the Clippers and fantasy managers. The Clippers are finished for Week 9, but they’ll play four games in Week 10, beginning with the reeling Pelicans on Monday night.

With only 12 players from each conference making the All-Star Game, Powell’s odds of making his first appearance in the midseason classic may be slim. However, he’s played exceptionally well for the Clippers, helping to keep the team in a good spot while they await Kawhi Leonard’s return. Powell is providing 3rd-round value in 9-cat formats, well ahead of his Yahoo ADP (130). Thus far, he has been one of the most valuable players in fantasy basketball when considering the gap between ADP and in-season production.

Harden’s efficiency woes continued on Friday, as he finished with nearly as many turnovers (six) as assists (seven). Over the past two weeks, The Beard has averaged 5.4 turnovers per game, which is why he’s ranked outside the top 50 in 9-cat formats during this period. The turnovers aren’t a significant concern for fantasy managers in 8-cat leagues or with turnover-punt builds, but Harden hasn’t been as valuable in 9-cat formats.