Rodions Kurucs in line to be a starter for the Nets
by Joel E. Ruffin Jr. | Fri, Jul 10th 8:03pm EDT
Rodions Kurucs started at power forward for the Nets’ first unit in practice. Even though head coach Jacque Vaughn said there are currently no set starting line-ups, Kurucs appears to be a lead candidate to see a more significant role in the rotation with the loss of Taurean Prince and Wilson Chandler. In speaking about Kurucs, coach Vaughn said, “I think his energy we’ll need to take advantage of…we’re trying to make him the best basketball player that he can be. So far, he’s accepted that challenge and is willing to play any position for us.” (Kristian Winfield on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact:
In speaking about his teammate, Garrett Temple said, “Rodi is gonna be really big for us ... His ability to offensive rebound, his ability to cause havoc on the defensive end, be a nuisance. And then offensively, knock down open shots and be a great cutter. So, we expect that from Rodi. We know he has it in him, and we’re gonna need him for that…I’m excited for the opportunity for him, especially, and hopefully, he takes advantage.” With support from coaches and endorsements from his teammate, Kurucs has the chance to become an invaluable part of this new-look Nets team. While playing in the G-League this year, he averaged 28.7 minutes of playing time, 12.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and .8 per game. In the 39 contests played with the Nets, he averaged 12.8 minutes of playing time, 4.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, .8 assists, and .4 steals per game. It seems as if he, albeit small sample size, has been able to transition his game from the G-League to NBA. With the opportunity to earn a starting role in the rotation, Kurucs will be granted more time to produce, making him an intriguing fantasy asset. He could be a steal at this point in the season, and should undoubtedly be on your radar for all fantasy formats.
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