Klay

Thompson

While Thompson’s production has improved recently, he has primarily been a deep-league option for those needing three-pointers. His absence will likely result in more minutes for Jaden Hardy, who can be a bit of a wild card offensively. Feel free to leave him on the waiver wire.

While his overall field-goal percentage wasn’t great, Thompson knocked down another five three-pointers on Wednesday. Since shooting 1-of-7 from deep in the Mavericks’ November 21 win over the Pelicans, the veteran guard/forward has made at least three three-pointers in six straight games. Thompson’s overall fantasy value remains low, but his recent run from three (3.9 three-pointers per game over the past two weeks) gives him some value in deep category leagues.

Thompson was originally listed as probable and has now been cleared to suit up. He’s coming off scoring a season-high 23 points off the bench, but it has largely been a disappointing season for him. Hopefully that performance was able to kickstart a strong stretch for Klay.

Cooper Flagg wasn’t the only Maverick to record a season-high point total on Saturday. Thompson went off in the second half, shooting 6-of-8 from beyond the arc, and finished with a season-high 23 points. He’s mainly a points and three-pointers option for fantasy managers, and Thompson has started to come good on those expectations after a slow start. Of course, his role proved more prominent than expected, thanks to injuries to Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. Thompson will look to build on this performance when the Mavs open a four-game Week 7 in Denver on Monday.

The original injury report listed Klay as out for this game, but the team has apparently pivoted to wanting him available. Thompson will be back to his typical role off the bench.

Thompson is set to miss Saturday’s matchup with the Clippers for left knee injury management reasons. The 35-year-old shooting guard hasn’t been very active this year outside of a postgame spat with Ja Morant last week. Thompson isn’t worth rostering in most formats regardless of his availability.

Things got a bit heated during and after Saturday’s game, but that may have done Thompson some good. He recorded his first 20-point game of the season against the Grizzlies and hit a season-high six three-pointers. Thompson didn’t provide value in any other categories, a reminder that he doesn’t offer much in fantasy basketball beyond being a specialist at this stage in his career. The ceiling is slightly higher due to Dallas’ many injuries, but Klay should not be rostered in most leagues.

Flagg is good to go after missing Wednesday’s loss to the Knicks. His return means Klay Thompson will head back to the bench after hitting three three-pointers and scoring 13 points. Thompson is rostered in only 15 percent of Yahoo! leagues, and for good reason, as he has struggled thus far.

For the first time this season, the Mavericks were without Cooper Flagg (illness). While Klay Thompson (13/2/2 with three three-pointers) was the choice to move into the starting lineup, it was Marshall who proved more valuable to fantasy managers. And that development was unsurprising to fantasy managers, as Naji has been far more useful than Thompson in category leagues. Rostered in 17 percent of Yahoo! leagues, Marshall has been a 10th-round player in nine-cat formats. He’ll be worth streaming if Flagg remains out for Friday’s game against the Pelicans.

Due to injuries, the Mavericks have made two changes to their starting lineup. Cooper Flagg (illness) will miss a game for the first time, with Thompson returning to the starting five. The other change is Lively, who is back after missing Monday’s loss to the Timberwolves. His return means Moussa Cisse will head to the bench, but he isn’t guaranteed rotation minutes since Daniel Gafford is also available.