Lucas Nogueira, C Toronto Raptors: Blocks
“Bebe’s Revenge” sounds like the possible name of some conveniently forgettable, low-budget movie in which the director is also head of wardrobe, but thankfully what we’re currently watching in Toronto promises to be significantly more entertaining. Nogueira took advantage of extended minutes when Jonas Valanciunas (knee) was out of the lineup and has successfully turned that opportunity into becoming the clear and unquestioned backup center. And as we learned from Bismack Biyombo last season, that can be a rotation spot that carries sustainable fantasy appeal.
Although Dwane Casey and Co. have made good on the promise to increase JV’s minutes this year, it’s impossible to deny that Nogueira brings a brand of rim protection that Valanciunas simply doesn’t offer. In Toronto’s last three contests, the big-haired man in the middle has averaged 8.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals and a whopping 3.0 blocks. Forget the nonsense that he makes sense as a speculative deep league add—this is a player that carries immediate relevance in 12-team formats. Nogueira blocked a career-best five shots while closing Toronto’s most recent game vs. New York, and it will not be surprising if he continues to play down the stretch so long as he remains effective.
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Channing Frye, PF/C Cleveland Cavaliers: 3-pointers
Frye was on the radar in deeper formats as a specialist before burying six treys on Sunday in a tight win over Charlotte. The Hornets were a good matchup for him and J.R. Smith (ankle) was out of the lineup so Frye received a little more run than usual, but he’s shown that he can play a role even while seeing between 15-20 minutes nightly. Before Sunday’s 20-point explosion, Frye had averaged 11.0 points and 3.0 triples over his previous four, so he’s got a little bit of Nick Young in him from a different position. This is a recommendation for leagues with at least 14 teams because Frye’s got very little upside and is a limited contributor on a team with plenty of offense, but bargain bin category-hunters won’t have to invest anything in order to make him a member of the squad.
Larry Nance Jr., PF Los Angeles Lakers: Steals
To some, Nance is a marginal 12-team asset that can be cut loose for a “hot” free agent. To me, “Junior” is a player worth investing into with the understanding that his role will continue to grow as the season progresses.
Nance was really playing a nice brand of basketball before sustaining a concussion and continues to show very positive signs of development in his sophomore season. Luke Walton has already shown an affinity to play small-ball lineups featuring a frontcourt of Nance with Julius Randle, and I’d expect we continue to see more of that as the Lakers keep growing together. Nance’s unique combination of hustle, defense and basketball IQ gives him a chance to stay on the floor and there is no doubting his offensive game is growing. I like him a lot for his value as a steals specialist alone (top 25 in the NBA entering Sunday’s game at Minnesota), but Nance is a player capable of evolving into a multi-cat contributor with deceptive fantasy value.
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Jared Dudley, G/F Phoenix Suns: 3-pointers
Dudley is in the C.J. Miles category of fantasy hoopers: He’s worth using when he’s hot, not worth keeping when he’s not. Is there something to the fact that both players are rolling at the same time? As a sixth grade math and science teacher I’d love to pretend that there is some logical connection, but the reality is it’s just a coincidence and nothing more.
Although Phoenix has really moved Dudley to the bench in favor of rookie Marquese Chriss, the veteran swingman has fared better since joining the second unit. Prior to Sunday’s matchup at Golden State, Dudley had averaged 18.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, a block and 4.0 triples in his last two games while playing 28-30 minutes. And it wasn’t one weighted game that had Dudley looking good, but instead an equal performance on both nights—one tight win and another blowout loss. The Suns do have nice depth at small forward with T.J. Warren’s emergence, but Phoenix cannot say the same at power forward given Alex Len does not belong there, Chriss is still very much a work in progress and Dragan Bender isn’t ready for prime time. Dudley makes sense for those with a recyclable spot at the back end of the roster.
Clint Capela, PF/C Houston Rockets: Blocks
I was pretty down on Capela when it looked like Mike D’Antoni was about to get too cute for his own good, but Double-C has reestablished himself on firm enough ground in Houston and has actually been putting up some sneaky numbers over his last four outings: 12.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks on 23-of-34 (67.6%) from the field. And although he’s a drain on free throw percentage—Capela was a surprising 4-of-8 during his four-game run—he just doesn’t get to the line often enough to torpedo your team like Andre Drummond. I’d still like to see Capela consistently get 24-28 minutes on a nightly basis—even he has said that D’Antoni constantly pulling him has impacted his game—but that’s a wish that is likely to go unfulfilled.
