Fantasy Basketball Weekly Rookie Report: 10 Lords a Leaping

This week’s rookie report will be a bit different. There have only been three games for most teams in the last week, which can definitely help make some decisions. However, I want to set some parameters for my rookie rankings over the next month. First, there will be a post-Christmas ranking. Second, this ranking is going to include how each team is working out and who will benefit the most from impending trades. Finally, the next two notes are going to be centered around in-season fantasy trades and daily lineup setting.

Fantasy Basketball Weekly Rookie Report: 10 Lords a Leaping

Players of Note

• Sir Chet Holmgren (Lord #5, C, Oklahoma City Thunder)
  • Had an overall down week.
  • Last three games: 13.7 PPG/6.7 RPG/1.7 APG/4.4 Stocks. 46% FG/27.3% 3P/100% FT.
  • His efficiency is down again for the second week in a row. Getting defended better. With lower efficiency brings lower results. Defensive metrics up.
  • Short Term: Hold, he’s having two down weeks but that comes with being a rookie.
  • Long Term: Hard Buy
• Jordan Hawkins (SG/PG/SF, New Orleans Pelicans)
  • With McCollum and Trey Murphy II back, has less responsibility and a different role. Was not even top 20 in points last week.
  • Last three: Negligible stats.
  • Short Term: Sell, has not played much, but demonstrated good value for long-term buyers.
  • Long Term: Buy. He’s demonstrated his future fantasy worth in the last two months and has good potential as a shooter.
• Seigneur Victor Wembanyama (Layup Lord #1, PF/C, San Antonio Spurs)
  • Had a low-efficiency week but still performed well from a purely statistical perspective. 16 PPG/2.7 APG/16.0 RPG/4 Stocks on 39.6%/8.3(!)%/69.2%(!).
  • Low efficiency this week on a bad team. Being completely relied on.
  • Short Term: Buy. Still attribute a lot to non-efficiency stats.
  • Long Term: Buy more!
• Senor Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Layup Lord #2 SF/PF, Miami Heat Culture)
  • Three-pointers are down and rebounds and assists are down. Didn’t have a huge non-points week.
  • Shooting 52.9%/33.3%/100% with 15.7 PPG/1.0 RPG/2.0 APG over the last week.
  • Short Term: Buy, averaged 30 minutes per game last week again.
  • Long Term: Hard buy still. A well-rounded forward with good efficiency never hurt a fantasy team, even with a down week in non-points numbers.
• Sir Brandon of Miller (Layup Lord #3, SG/SF, Charlotte Hornets)
  • Miller rising high this last week, up to second-best scorer last week at 16 ppg.
  • Shooters shoot. Shot nearly 50% on 3s last week, with 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Thrown in the fire defensively thus far this season but had a block per game.
  • Short term: Buy! Up to the 5th best scorer on the Hornets behind LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, M**** B*****, and Gordon Hayward.
  • Long Term: Buy! 40% on threes this season already.
• Seignor Bilal Coulibaly (Lord #6, SF/PF, Washington Wizards)
  • Tied for 6th in scoring this week! Three-point percentage finally lowered.
  • 12.7/6.3/3.0/1.6 Stocks in the last week on 51.9%/28.6%/54.5%
  • Short term: Buy, he’s been increasing his minutes and usage. Wizards are going to start selling soon.
  • Long-term: Buy(?). Even with the underlying shooting numbers.
• Ser Toumani Camara (Lord #7, SF/PF, Portland Trailblazers)
  • Still improving on pure stat line, but shooting numbers were horrendous last week.
  • 9.0/8.7/0.7/1.0 on 30%/17.6%/0%. Yikes.
  • Short term: Buy still, Jerami Grant very likely to depart!
  • Long-term: Improving on everything but efficiency. Has played 32 minutes per game.
• Count Dereck Lively II (Lord #8, C, Dallas Mavericks)
  • Great option for a backend of the roster center for an average fantasy league. ”ve been starting him in a weekly league.
  • 12.0 PPG/9.7 RPG/1.7 APG/2.4 stocks on 85.7% FG. Didn’t take any free throws or threes.
  • Short term: Buy. Last week I said the Mavericks are putting more faith in him. At 29.3 minutes per game, they are buying in.
  • Long-term: Buy. High-efficiency big men with defensive statistic upside are hard to find! Almost averaging a double-double.
• Szlachta Brandin Podziemski (Lord #9, SG/SF, Golden State Warriors)
  • Averaging 22.1 minutes last week, down by ten minutes.
  • Last three: 7.5/5.5/2.5/1.5 on 42.9%/40%/33%. Not getting to the line a lot.
  • Short Term: Buy still. Down week but that will be in flux over the next.
  • Long Term: Buy. Again.
• Sir Scoot Henderson (Lord #10, PG/SG, Portland Trailblazers)
  • Up to 14 Field Goals per game over the last week.
  • Averaged 12.7/3.0/4.3. Shooting percentages are low.
  • Short Term: Low buy, the increase in points and assists is good. Still concerned about efficiency.
  • Long Term: Buy low.
• Julian Strawther (SG/SF/PF, Denver Nuggets)
  • Efficient in accumulating points in short minutes. 15.1 minutes per game.
  • 7.3/2.0/1.0 on 33.3/35.3/50.0. Not great, but useful in deeper leagues.
  • Short Term: Unless it’s a deep league, no purchasing.
  • Long Term: Buy low!
• Ausar Thompson (SG/SF/PF, Detroit Pistons)
  • Back and forth in minutes played. Hard to gauge. Started last night.
  • Last week: 23 minutes played. 10 PPG/4.0 RPG/1.3 APG/1.0(!) stocks. 42.9%FG/18.5%3P/57.1%.
  • Short Term: I do not trust the Pistons.
  • Long-term: Great prospect, defensive metric, and rebounding forward/wing with great instincts. I do not trust the Pistons.
• Cason Wallace (PG/SG, Oklahoma City Thunder)
  • Increased MPG again to 24.7.
  • Last Week: 8.3 PPG/2.3 RPG/0.7 APG on 55.6%/50%/50%. Doesn’t take many free throws still.
  • Short Term: Buy. The increase in minutes is good.
  • Long Term: Buy.
• Marcus Sasser (PG/SG, Detroit Pistons)
  • No longer establishing a role as a key backup. Got 5 minutes per game last week.
  • Short Term: Sell/Hold
  • Long Term: Hold.
• Sir Keyonte George (Layup Lord # 4, PG, Utah Jazz)
  • 31 minutes per game. The best scorer last week.
  • 17.3/2.3/7.0 on 43.6/38.9/78.6. Crazy when he shoots how much better his numbers are.
  • Short Term: The last stint of assists and shooting are showing what his potential is.
  • Long term: Buy, easy.
• Anthony Black (G/F, Orlando Magic)
  • Low usage, low shooting type, but has started a lot of games. Part of an elite defense, but does not convert fantasy-wise.
  •  5.7 PPG/2.0 RPG/1.0 APG. 63.6 % FG%.
  • Short Term: Sell? This is a bit confusing. I was not a fan at the draft for fantasy.
  • Long Term: Hold. Hard to figure out whether they are a buy or sell type.
• Olivier-Maxence Prosper (SG/SF/PF, Dallas Mavericks)
  • Playing! 14.8 Minutes per game.
  • 5.7 PPG/3.0 RPG/3.3 APG on 50/44.4/50. Showing good numbers in short minutes. The free throw rate is low but not drawing fouls.
  • Short Term: Buy, may be involved in a Mavericks trade.
  • Long Term: Buy!
• Kobe Brown (SG/SF/PF, Los Angeles Clippers)
  • Has not accumulated enough stats to make a difference, but getting some wiggle room. Could be sold in the trade market.
  • Still getting minutes and stats, but not much!
• Kris Murray (PF, Portland Trailblazers)
  • Getting minutes now!
  • 5.5 PPG/5.0 RPG on 40%/42.9% and no free throws.
  • Short Term: Buy low
  • Long term: Buy low, getting more minutes and shots.
• Taylor Hendricks (SF/PF, Utah Jazz)
  • Got 20.8 minutes per game! Not shooting well yet.
  • Averaged 6.0 PPG/1.3 RPG/0.7 APG on 46.7%/30.0%/100%.
  • Short Term: Buy, Utah should start trading some of its veteran depth.
  • Long Term: See above.
• Duop Reath (C, Portland Trailblazers)
  • Come onto the scene since the Robert Williams injury.
  • 23.2 MPG, 10.0 PPG/5.0 RPG/2.3 APG on 38.5%/29.4%/83.3%. Is a shooting big!
  • Short Term: Buy
  • Long Term: Buy low!

Other Rookies Getting Minutes

• Amen Thompson (G/F, Houston Rockets)
• Maxwell Lewis
• Jalen Hood-Schifino
• Jett Howard