Brooklyn Nets

Cam Thomas scored 26 points (11-21 FG, 2-5 3PT, 2-3 FT) to go along with two rebounds, one assist and one block in the Nets' 129-128 loss against Charlotte.

Fantasy Impact: Thomas picked up right where he left off. He played just 25 minutes off the bench, but wound up scoring over a point for every minute he played in his return. Thomas will continue to see his minutes get back to where they were and should soon re-enter the starting lineup.

Nic Claxton scored 20 points (9-13 FG, 2-2 FT) to go along with 14 rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks in the Nets 129-128 loss against the Hornets.

Fantasy Impact: Claxton recorded a season-high in rebounds to go along with his second 20-point game on the season. He continues to also deliver on the defensive end of the floor as he continues to see his minutes slightly limited.

Royce O’neale totaled 18 points (6-12 FG, 6-12 3PT), seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks in the Nets’ 115-103 win over the Raptors.

Fantasy Impact: O’neale scored 18.0 points in the Nets’ win over the Raptors, making this his second consecutive game with more than 15.0 points, at least 7.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. So, what I am supposed to say is that his recent level of play is encouraging and that, given his ability to produce as a multi-categorical contributor, albeit sporadic, he should warrant some streaming consideration. But we all know how this story ends. We’ve seen this trend of production from O’neale many times, and we all know it doesn’t last, ending when you finally decide to play him only to have him implode at the most inopportune time. Or maybe that is just me? In any case, despite there being some opportunity to ride this trend and leverage his potential upside, I am going to avoid the folly of recommending his deployment so that we can prevent this from going badly. In fact, I am going to do you all a favor. I am going to recommend that you don’t roster him in any formats, just so he can continue this production streak and hopefully help you realize some returns in response to my lack of belief in his consistency and contribution. O’neale has a usage rate of 12.3 percent, a plus-minus of -1.7, and is averaging 29.9 minutes, 8.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 38.3 percent from the floor and 40.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Spencer Dinwiddie totaled 23 points (5-17 FG, 3-11 3PT, 10-10 FT), nine rebounds, eight assists, and four steals in the Nets’ 115-103 win over the Raptors.

Fantasy Impact: Dinwiddie “ate” in the Nets’ win over the Raptors, almost completing a “three-course” triple-double consisting of 23.0. points as the main course, 9.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists for the appetizers, and 4.0 steals for dessert. He has been in solid form as we approach the conclusion of the first full month of play this season. Historically, his production has fluctuated from month to month; however, he has still been able to sustain a solid production floor. Although he is a must-start asset in your rotation, still be mindful of the matchups, as the composition of his value can tend to be a tad too matchup-dependent to rely on him for consistent production across specific categories night in and night out. Dinwiddie’s price point will surely increase given his recent form; despite this, he could still be a viable option in daily formats. He has a usage rate of 19.9 percent, a plus-minus of 5.3, and is averaging 31.0 minutes, 14.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game while shooting 40.2 percent from the floor and 35.8 percent from beyond the arc.

Cameron Johnson totaled 18 points (6-11 FG, 1-4 3PT, 5-5 FT), nine rebounds, and three assists in the Nets’ 115-103 win over the Raptors.

Fantasy Impact: Johnson scored 18.0 points in the Nets’ win over the Raptors, nearly posting his second double-double performance in the process, falling short by one rebound. Johnson is a viable multi-categorical asset in season-long leagues, hitting career-highs in rebounds and assists. Historically, his scoring has gotten stronger as the year progresses; barring any health setbacks, he looks poised to continue that trend this season. Given his recent play, Johnson’s price point is trending up, which could lead to a bit of short-term inflation; however, his upside is promising enough to warrant some consideration in daily formats. He has a usage rate of 20.1 percent, a plus-minus of 5.1, and is averaging 29.2 minutes, 15.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game while shooting 47.0 percent from the floor and 37.1 percent from beyond the arc.

Mikal Bridges totaled 22 points (9-17 FG, 1-3 3PT, 3-3 FT), ten rebounds, and five assists in the Nets’ 115-103 win over the Raptors.

Fantasy Impact: Bridges scored 22.0 points in the Nets’ win over the Raptors while on his way to posting his third double-double of the season with 10.0 rebounds. This game marked his eighth consecutive game with at least 15.0 points. Bridges is having a solid month as his scoring production is higher than it was around the same time last season; this could be a great sign of things to come as Bridges’ scoring grew strong as the season progressed based on last season’s trends. He has also shown a healthy increase in his rebounds and assists, posting career highs this season. Bridges’ multi-categorical versatility makes him an invaluable fantasy asset in all season-long leagues. Although his price point is on the verge of inflated status, his promising upside could be strong enough to warrant an investment in daily formats. He has a usage rate of 25.3 percent, a plus-minus of -0.4, and is averaging 34.8 minutes, 21.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.7 percent from the floor and 34.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Lonnie Walker IV totaled 20 points (6-13 FG, 6-10 3PT, 2-2 FT), one rebound, and two steals in the Nets’ 118-109 win over the Bulls.

Fantasy Impact: Walker scored 20.0 points in the Nets' win over the Bulls, putting together an impressive scoring performance that saw him drain six three-pointers. His role and raw production have been relatively consistent this season, and he has demonstrated the ability to bolster your offensive production through points and efficiency rates. Walker is a viable streamer in season-long leagues but may be too expensive to warrant consideration in daily formats. Walker has a usage rate of 25.5 percent, a plus-minus of 4.0, and is averaging 21.7 minutes, 15.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game while shooting 49.7 percent from the floor and 47.1 from beyond the arc.

Dorian Finney-Smith totaled nine points (3-10 FG, 3-7 3PT), four rebounds, one assists, two steals, and one block in the Nets’ 118-109 win over the Bulls.

Fantasy Impact: Smith scored 9.0 points in the Nets' win over the Bulls while contributing to every category of the stat sheet in the process. Given the size of his opportunity in the starting rotation and his ability to contribute to every performance category of the stat sheet, he could be a viable streaming option in category leagues for those looking to bolster their rebounds and point production; he can also be a viable option in points leagues given the versatility of his game. However, Smith's inconsistent and sometimes conservative production level could minimize his impact and lower his fantasy appeal. Given his respectable floor, volume, and price point, Smith could be a viable option in daily formats. He has a usage rate of 13.7 percent, a plus-minus of -5.6, and is averaging 31.3 minutes, 11.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 47.2 percent from the floor and 44.9 percent from beyond the arc.

Ben Simmons (back) remains out for Thursday's game against the Miami Heat. (Source: NBA Injury Report)

Fantasy Impact: Simmons will miss another game on Thursday while a back issue bothers him. Recent reports told us that it's a nerve issue for him, and the team expects him to miss some real time. Lonnie Walker IV and Spencer Dinwiddie are both prime candidates to continue to receive more work for however long he remains out moving forward.

Dennis Smith Jr. (hip) is unlikely to play in Wednesday's game against the Miami Heat. (Source: NBA Injury Report)

Fantasy Impact: Smith suffered a hip injury of some kind during Monday's win over the Hornets that will likely leave him sidelined on Wednesday. He will likely be day-to-day for the time being and may have to miss a few games while recovering. Lonnie Walker IV and Cam Thomas will both get more work if he's out against the Heat on Wednesday.

Yuta Watanabe has agreed on a deal with the Phoenix Suns. (Source: Shams Charania on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Watanabe is coming off shooting a career-high 44 percent from deep last season. He will be a capable shooter and defender with the Suns second unit.

Seth Curry agreed on a two-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks. (Source: Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Curry heads back to Dallas where he previously played after two seasons with the Nets. He figures to primarily be a three-point shooter for the Mavericks alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Joe Harris has been traded to the Detroit Pistons for two future second-round picks. In addition to Harris, the Pistons get two additional second-round picks from the Nets via Dallas and Milwaukee. (Source: Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Harris adds a veteran presence for a young team lacking experience. He also adds valuable outside shooting, being a career 40% three-point shooter. It’s a good trade for the Pistons, but it’s unlikely to result in any fantasy renaissance for Harris.

Edmond Sumner (hip) will be out for Sunday's game against the Orlando Magic. (Source: NBA Injury Report)

Fantasy Impact: Sumner will miss Sunday's game because of a hip injury that he's dealing with. It's not thought to be a major issue, but it's enough for him to miss some time. He doesn't get a lot of work even when healthy, so his absence won't have a big impact on Brooklyn's rotation against the Magic.

Day’ron Sharpe totaled two points (1-1 FG), three rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and one steal in the Nets’ 131-87 loss to the Bulls.

Fantasy Impact: Sharpe stuffed the stat-sheet in the Nets' loss to the Bulls, making the most out of his time on the floor. If the team gives him a real shot at being a core contributor and investing more time in integrating him into the system, he could potentially be a significant difference-maker on this squad. Sharpe has the ability to dominate the boards and could allow more versatility in the front-court should they pair him and teammate Nic Claxton. At this point, he is a tremendously risky flier in any format outside of single-game contests or micro-slates. I would scoop him up in deeper season-long leagues if you have the chance, as he could be an asset that can pay off in a big way.

The Brooklyn Nets and coach Jacque Vaughn have agreed on a multi-year contract extension. (Source: Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Vaughn has done a tremendous job this season handling a number of different situations with the Nets team, most recently the transition from Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to now a more balanced team. The Nets are currently the No. 5 seed in the East and will look to hang in long enough to avoid the play-in tournament.

Jae Crowder has been traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for five second-round picks. (Source: Shams Charania on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Crowder won't be a part of the Nets for long as he is now headed to Milwaukee. He hasn't appeared in a game this season due to demanding a trade away from Phoenix, so it's unclear how quickly he will be integrated into the rotation and to what extent. He averaged 9.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in just over 28 minutes per game last season.

The Brooklyn Nets have traded Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns as part of a package in which they will receive Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, Cam Johnson, a 2028 pick swap, and four first-round picks per Shams Charania. (Source: Shams Charania on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Durant will now join a Phoenix starting five alongside stars Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and Deandre Ayton to form one of the most lethal units in the NBA in their quest to win an NBA championship. His fantasy value should only improve in a much better situation with plenty of talent around Durant on a nightly basis for the rest of the season.

T.J. Warren (shin) is expected to play in Brooklyn's matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. (Source: NBA Injury Report)

Fantasy Impact: Warren has missed a good chunk of time thanks to a shin injury of some kind, but he is considered probable and is likely to make his return for Monday's game. He may be on a minutes limit to start, but he should continue to be a streaming option when fully ramped up in the near future.

The Brooklyn Nets traded Kyrie Irving to Dallas in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a first-round, and multiple second-round picks on Sunday afternoon. (Source: Shams Charania on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Just two days after Irving publicly requested a trade out of Brooklyn, his wish has been granted. Though multiple teams threw their hats into the ring in the Kyrie sweepstakes, it seemed like the Mavericks and Lakers were the frontrunners from the get go. The former ended up winning out, and the result is arguably one of the most talented guard-duos in NBA history. Irving and Luka Doncic are going to wreak havoc on the NBA for the rest of this season if not longer. The only question mark now is if the newly acquired guard will be able to finally keep the off-court distractions to a minimum in his new home. Given Irving's track record in recent years, only time will tell here. Regardless, Dallas needs to be pushed up the board as a frontrunner in the Western Conference for the remainder of the 2022-23 season.