It wasn’t the biggest game on Tuesday’s five-game schedule, but the matchup between the Jazz and Pistons was interesting for fantasy purposes. With Kelly Olynyk sidelined due to injury, rookie Walker Kessler was in the Utah starting lineup for the second consecutive game. On the other side of the matchup was another rookie, Jalen Duren, who moved into the Pistons’ starting lineup on December 9. Both rookies have provided solid fantasy production in the present, and they’re two players worth tracking for the future as well. Kessler is the highest-ranked rookie in 9-cat formats, while Duren provides late-round value in deeper leagues.
Neither rookie will be available on the waiver wire in competitive leagues, as Kessler is 57% rostered in Yahoo leagues and Duren slightly higher at 63%. But both have carved out roles for themselves and will be worth tracking for the remainder of the season. Kessler finished Utah’s 126-111 win with 10 points, nine rebounds, one assist, and two blocked shots in 27 minutes, while Duren countered with a 15-point, 14-rebound double-double. Kessler has been the more prolific shot-blocker, but Duren has the fantasy edge this week due to the schedule. While Utah only plays one more game in Week 10, Detroit has two.
Quentin Grimes (35%) and Immanuel Quickley (15%)
The Knicks have now won eight straight games, and two players with low rostered percentages figured prominently in their 132-94 demolition of the Warriors. Grimes started and accounted for 19 points, one rebound, four assists, and four 3-pointers in 32 minutes. While he was a points and triples player on Tuesday, Grimes has been a top 50 player over the last two weeks. That’s an indication that he’s been more than a 3-and-D player during the Knicks’ win streak. As for Quickley, he rebounded from a shooting slump on Tuesday, scoring 22 points with four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and five 3-pointers in 23 minutes off the bench. While fantasy managers can exercise some patience with Quickley, now is the time to add Grimes if he’s available. He’s starting and averaging more than 32 minutes per game since the lineup change in late November.
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Jonathan Kuminga (20%) and Moses Moody (2%)
With Donte DiVincenzo (illness) joining Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins on the sidelined, Moody was the “next man up” in the Warriors’ starting lineup. He played 32 minutes and finished with 11 points, three rebounds, one assist, one steal, and three 3-pointers. As for Kuminga, in 27 minutes off the bench, he accounted for 13 points, four rebounds, four assists, and one 3-pointer, but did a lot of his damage once the game was no longer competitive. Under normal circumstances, neither Moody nor Kuminga would be worth holding onto after Tuesday’s loss. But the Warriors visit Brooklyn on Wednesday, and Klay Thompson won’t play for injury management reasons. Whether or not any other veterans (Draymond Green) join him has yet to be determined, but Moody and Kuminga are worth holding onto for this reason.
Victor Oladipo (25%) and Haywood Highsmith (1%)
Oladipo and Highsmith started Miami’s 113-103 loss to the Bulls, as the Heat were without Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler, and Caleb Martin. Highsmith had the better night, shooting 7-of-10 from the field and finishing with 18 points, two rebounds, two assists, four steals, and four 3-pointers in 41 minutes. Oladipo logged 34 minutes, accounting for 14 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two 3-pointers.
Even with Miami playing just one more game this week, Oladipo is worth picking up for multiple reasons. He’s hit the thirties in minutes played in three consecutive games, and he’s the player most likely to benefit from Max Strus’ current shooting slump. Strus shot 1-of-9 from the field on Tuesday, recording a line of four points, four rebounds, six assists, and one 3-pointer, and has shot 40% or worse from the field in nine of his last 10 games. Highsmith’s prospects aren’t as good as Oladipo’s, thanks to Butler’s presence in the rotation. But keep his name in mind if the Heat endure another stretch in which they’re shorthanded.
Daniel Gafford (19%)
Gafford made his first start of the season Tuesday night in Phoenix, as Kristaps Porzingis was ruled out due to illness. The Wizards ended their 10-game losing streak with a 113-110 win over the Suns, and Gafford was one of four starters to score in double figures. He played 29 minutes, finishing with 12 points, nine rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Washington finishes its road trip with a back-to-back against the Jazz and Kings, and Porzingis should be back. If he does return, holding onto Gafford outside of deep leagues wouldn’t be feasible. And Deni Avdija (24%) deserves a mention, as he’s providing 5th-round value in 9-cat formats over the last two weeks. He’s worth, at minimum, a look in deeper leagues.
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Landry Shamet (2%)
The Suns were again without Devin Booker, which meant another start for Damion Lee. But after playing well in Monday’s win over the Lakers he didn’t offer much on Tuesday, playing 18 minutes and accounting for two points and two rebounds. Lee didn’t step up by Shamet sure did, as he played 35 minutes and went off for 31 points, two rebounds, five assists, and nine 3-pointers. With the Suns off until Friday, there isn’t much to be gained from adding Shamet or Lee. But Shamet’s performance, especially after he scored 13 points off the bench on Monday, should put him on more radars in case Booker cannot return for Friday’s matchup with the Grizzlies.
Christian Braun (1%)
Jamal Murray has been dealing with ankle and knee issues recently, so the decision was made to hold him out of Tuesday’s matchup with the Grizzlies. Enter Braun, who took full advantage of the opportunity to start for the first time. Playing well on both ends of the floor, the first-round pick out of Kansas finished with 13 points, three rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block, and two 3-pointers in 29 minutes. With Denver being off until Friday, there’s no need to add Braun now, as that could be enough time to get Murray back on the court. Also, Michael Porter Jr. is progressing in his recovery from a strained heel and could return by the end of this week. His return will also impact Braun’s fantasy prospects.
