The 2022-2023 Fantasy Basketball season is off and running. Every season starts off with volatility before the law of averages kicks in. The most important thing general managers can do after week one is to maintain patience with your key players but be aggressive with free agents on the periphery of your roster and work the trade market with panicked managers. Inventory your league’s ‘buy-low’ and “sell-high” opportunities and match them with appropriate players on your team. Here are a few players to kick the tires on. We will cover these in more depth and detail later.
Buy Low:
- Cade Cunningham
- Desmond Bane
- Zion Williamson
- Domantas Sabonis
- Cam Johnson
Sell High:
- Jonas Valanciunas
- Donovan Mitchell
- Andrew Wiggins
- Kyle Kuzma
- Mike Conley
NBA Schedule Preview
While you work the trade market, don’t forget to optimize your lineups for this week. Here is the schedule and streaming options for week 2:
This week’s schedule:
- Monday (10/24): 8 games
- Tuesday (10/25): 4 games
- Wednesday (10/26): 10 games
- Thursday (10/27): 4 games
- Friday (10/28): 11 games
- Saturday (10/29): 7 games
- Sunday (10/30): 8 games
Teams with 4 games this week:
CHI, MIN, MIA, SAS, PHI, DAL, BKN, UTA, GSW, IND, DEN, NYK, DET, ORL, HOU
Teams with 3 games this week:
WAS, ATL, TOR, PHO, MEM, LAC, CHA, POR, OKC, CLE NOR, BOS, LAL, MIL
Teams with 2 games this week:
SAC
Optimize your Streaming:
When we talk about streaming, think of designating your final roster spot (or two) as a streaming position. This position rotates each week (or even each day) to add games and stats in order to tease categories specific to your match-up. Adding just a few games can make a big difference if done properly. Just remember, while fringe streamers can help you, they can also hurt you if you are not careful (think percentages and turnovers).
The following teams offer the best schedules to maximize your games played. Depending on your league the players available will vary, but the players below should be available in most 12- or 14-team formats.
Dallas Mavericks (T/TH/SAT/SUN)
- Dorian Finney-Smith (SF/PF – threes/steals) Dorian Finney-Smith sprinkles stats across threes, rebounds, and steals without hurting you in percentages or turnovers. His upside is limited but he is a stable contributor for his schedule this week.
- Reggie Bullock (SF – 3’s specialist) Bullock offers deep league streaming value in three-pointers and that is about it. However, he won’t hurt you in categories either.
- JaVale McGee (C – FG%/Blocks/Rebounds) McGee is a starter but won’t be playing many minutes. Stream JaVale to bolster FG% and blocks, which could perhaps be enough to even swing the category.
- Maxi Kleber (PF – FG/Positional threes) Kleber is capable of contributing value across multiple categories, namely threes, rebounds, steals, and blocks. Despite a moderate 24 minutes per game role, Kleber is a deep-league streamer only.
- Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG/SF – 3’s specialist) We all want Hardaway to be more, but at this point, Hardaway Jr. is a threes specialist. He is worth a look this week due to his schedule, but otherwise, leave him on the wire.
Golden State Warriors (T/TH/SAT/SUN)
- James Wiseman (C – rebounds, FG%, blocks) The upside is there, but the role is not. At this point, Wiseman is a specialist and streamer that can deliver rebounds, FG%, and blocks in a 4-game week.
- JaMychal Green (PF – all-around production) In 24 minutes per game, JaMychal Green is the Warrior’s glue guy. This won’t lead to big lines but expect Green to chip in most all categories, especially threes, rebounds, and FG%.
Oklahoma City Thunder (T/TH/SAT)
- Aleksej Pokuseveski (PF/C – All-around contributor) As a small ball center, Poku should be useful, if not a permanent part of your roster. Poku has upside in points, threes, rebounds, and assists from the center position. His role may be inconsistent, but he is a great add for this week and potentially the rest of the season.
- Tre Mann (PG – points/threes contributor) Unless Shai and Giddey miss time, Mann will continue to be in a 20–25-minute role. However, Mann can provide points, threes, and some steals. Not the worse pick-up for deep leagues.
- Darius Bazley (SF/PF – Overall contributor) I want to believe in Bazley, as he is capable of big lines, especially as a small ball center. Bazley could add a great amount of value to your team this week but be mindful of your FG% because he can absolutely drag it down.
Los Angeles Clippers (T/TH/SUN)
- Robert Covington (SF/PF – threes, steals, blocks) The Clippers are deep which will affect how Covington is used, but he can still provide value in threes, steals, and blocks which is all we care about anyway. If Leonard sits, even better. While low volume, keep tabs on his FG% so you can mitigate elsewhere.
- Luke Kennard (SG/SF – threes, points) Again, this Clippers team is deep so it’s hard to tell how consistent Kennard’s role will be. However, there is always room for a shooter and Kennard can provide exactly that. Stream Kennard for threes, points, and some light assists as a secondary ball handler.