Caris LeVert is able to contribute across the board
The NBA season is really flying by. Here we are in Week 14, a little past the mid-point of the NBA season. It feels like just the other day that we were setting up our big boards and going through endless amounts of mock drafts just to try and create the perfect team. However, no matter how much research you do, and no matter how many mock drafts you take part in, nothing can prepare you for the inevitable injuries that happen in professional sports. In the past week, we’ve lost three of the NBAs best players in Chris Paul (finger), Pau Gasol (finger), and Rudy Gay (ruptured Achilles, done for the year). As with every sport, the grind and the wear and tear eventually starts to take its toll. However, never fear, if you lost any of those players or just need some better talent on your roster to help turn your season around, you are in luck. Today we will discuss four players that are owned in less than 25% of leagues that can really help improve your team.
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David Lee (PF – SAS) 13.3% Ownership
Week 14 Schedule, four games- Monday @ Brooklyn, Tuesday @ Toronto, Friday @ New Orleans and Sunday VS Dallas
A bit of a blast from the past here. Usually, my number one pickup of the week is a younger player really starting to breakout (like Malcolm Brogdon). This week, however, the hottest pickup of the week is the 12-year veteran and journeyman David Lee. Known as an All-Star and double-double machine less than a decade ago, the former New York Knick hasn’t been very relevant in recent years. However, with Spurs starting center Pau Gasol set to miss four-to-six weeks, Lee is back in the limelight. In the previous two games without Gasol, Lee has two double-doubles averaging 12 points, 13.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.0 block in 34.5 minutes per game. Statistically, the Lee of 2009-2010 has returned. Now, it’s only been two games, but as long as Lee is receiving 30 plus minutes per contest, I don’t see any reason he doesn’t continue this level of production. He’s a top 100 player in every format as long as Gasol is out.
Raymond Felton (PG – LAC) 22.8% Ownership
Week 14 Schedule, three games- Monday @ Atlanta, Tuesday @ Philadelphia, and Saturday @ Golden State
Wow, another veteran on the deep sleeper list. Like Lee, Felton is a 12-year veteran and journeyman that is in line for more minutes because a star in front of him went down with a finger injury. With the news that superstar point guard Chris Paul will be out six-to-eight weeks, there are minutes to be filled in the Clippers’ backcourt. While everyone is rushing to pick up Austin Rivers (with good reason), it may be the under-the-radar veteran Felton that proves to be the more valuable pickup. Over the last four games, Felton has averaged 13.5 points, 5.3 assists, and 3.0 rebounds in 30 minutes a game. With the Clippers’ two best players (Paul and Blake Griffin) out of the lineup, look for them to lean on the veteran for leadership as the Clippers make their playoff push.
Caris LeVert (PF/SG – BKN) 5.5% Ownership
Week 14 Schedule, four games- Monday VS San Antonio, Wednesday VS Miami, Friday @ Cleveland and Saturday @ Minnesota
Finally, a deep sleeper that you may not have heard of. If you don’t know anything about LeVert, you’re probably not alone, which is why now is the perfect time to pick him up. The rookie from Michigan has been making a name for himself with veteran Jeremy Lin out of the lineup with a hamstring injury. Listed as both power forward and shooting guard (I don’t think I’ve ever seen that) LeVert seems to be a mini Giannis Antetokounmpo with his freakish ability to play multiple positions. In fact, he was actually referred to as “Baby Durant” back in Michigan. In the last three games, the rookie has averaged 13.3 points, 4.7 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 1.8 three-pointers, and 1.7 steals per game. With the Nets having little chance of making the playoffs and a roster consisting of numerous injury-prone veterans such as Lin and Brock Lopez, I would expect the Nets to feature their younger players down the stretch. The Nets also have a very favorable fantasy playoff schedule as the Nets lead the league with 17 games during that stretch. This could be a player the helps you win a championship. Pick him up now while there is little fanfare, because in a week it may be too late.
JaMychal Green (PF/C – MEM) 24.2% Ownership
Week 14 Schedule, three games-, Wednesday VS Toronto, Friday @ Portland, and Sunday @Utah
I feel like this is about eighth time I’ve put Green on one of these lists. And while the former 2012 undrafted rookie from Alabama is far from specular he may be one of the more underrated players in the NBA. For the season, Green has averaged 9.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 0.6 blocks in 29.4 minutes a game. He reminds me a lot of Houston Rockets center Clint Capela. Both players have a similar skillset, are both a bit injury prone, and both are very up and down. While Green can be a frustrating player to own, his stock seems to be trending up. In his last four games, Green has averaged 10 points, 8.5 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 0.6 blocks a game. While he’s nothing more than a streaming candidate in standard-sized leagues, Green is a very valuable in deeper leagues with the potential for a double-double every night and the ability to rack up both blocks and steals.
That’s it for this week. We’ll be back as we continue to scour the depths of the waiver wire to find players owned in less than 25% of leagues who can help you win your week and who could be long-term sleepers that help you win your leagues. If you have any question, feel free to hit me up on Twitter.
Steve Maro is a correspondent with FantasyPros. For more from Steve, check out his archive or follow him @maro_steve.
