Fantasy Basketball Rookie Report: Approaching the NBA Trade Deadline

Happy end of January! Earlier this month, we looked at each rookie’s possibility of change from the NBA trade deadline, and it is certainly heating up. There are some very strong possibilities of increased or decreased minutes. Not to mention, no one loves recency bias quite like the National Basketball Association. This week, we are going to break down which NBA rookies have been performing, and what to watch out for in the short term and long term for these players. After the deadline is over next week, there will be a full-length breakdown of what each trade means for their respective rookies. Let’s get to it!

Fantasy Basketball Rookie Report: One Week Until the Deadline

Victor Wembanyama

There’s a reason for this. From a fantasy perspective, Vic is in a league of his own.

Victor Wembanyama (C/PF, San Antonio Spurs, 19)

• Last Week: 29.2 MPG, 23.0 PPG/11.3 RPG/4.5 APG/4.3 Stocks on 47.2%/30.0%/78,3%.
• Short Term: He’s only going to continue to get better. It’s scary, really.
• Long Term: Good luck trying to get him in a dynasty league.

Rookie Risers

Cam Whitmore (SF/PF, Houston Rockets, 19)

• Last Week: 20.2 MPG, 18.8 PPG/7.5 RPG/0.8 APG/0.3 Stocks on 48.2%/48.2%/39.3%.
• Short Term: Great minutes. Getting a ton of love on social media and by pundits. Was a draft darling and finally showcasing it.
• Long Term: Buy!

GG Jackson (SF/PF/C, Memphis Grizzlies, 19)

• Last Week: 24.1 MPG, 13.0 PPG/3.5 RPG/1.5 APG/0.8 Stocks, on 50%/45%/81.8%
• Short Term: Top 10 in fantasy production for rookies this last week.
• Long Term: At this point, it’s not just development time it is real production.

Chet Holmgren (C, Oklahoma City Thunder, 21)

• Last Week: 29.6 MPG, 11.6 PPG/10.2 RPG/2.0 APG/3.4 Stocks on 45.5%/26.3%/37.5%
• Short Term: The rebounds and stocks are up, which helps with the bad shooting week!
• Long Term: If he is available in a package long-term deal, yes.

Dereck Lively II (C, Dallas Mavericks, 20)

• Last Week: 31.2 MPG, 12.5 PPG/8.3 RPG/1.5 APG/2.5 Stocks on 73.3% FG/46.2 FT%
• Short Term: Big man, he still puts the ball in the hoop. Just crazy efficiency.
• Long Term: I enjoy the way he plays basketball as a big man. Try and get him.

Brandon Miller (SF/PF, Charlotte Hornets, 21)

• Last Week: 33.5 MPG, 17.3 PPG/7.5 RPG/3.0 APG/0.8 Stocks on 43.5%/34.6%/75.0%
• Short Term: This is exactly what I was looking for with Terry Rozier gone. Buy this stock.
• Long Term: I hope you’ve had a chance to buy while he’s been down.

Amen Thompson (SG/SF/PF, Houston Rockets, 20)

• Last Week: 16.1 MPG, 6.0 PPG/5.0 RPG/3.0 APG/2.3 Stocks on 60%/66.7 FT%.
• Short Term: Maybe Amen is as good of a rebounder as Ausar. Seems like he’s being utilized correctly.
• Long Term: Developing in a winning environment is good. Buy now!!

Gradey Dick (SG/SF, Toronto Raptors, 20)

• Last Week: 23.1 MPG, 10.5 PPG/4.5 RPG/2.5 APG/1.0 Stocks on 42.1%/37.5% 3P%/66.7 FT%
• Short Term: Second week in a row! Starting to be for real.
• Long Term: Buy in deeper leagues. Shooters do shoot.

Scoot Henderson (PG/SG, Portland Trailblazers, 19)

• Last week: 20.1 MPG, 12.4 PPG/2.4 RPG/3.6 APG/1.0 Stocks on 42.2%/41.2%/100%
• Short Term: Still not getting a TON of usage, but when he makes his shots everything comes around.
• Long Term: Buy still.

Keyonte George (PG, Utah Jazz, 20)

• Last Week: 23.8 MPG, 12.0 PPG/2.3 RPG/4.0 APG/0.3 Stocks on 33.3%/29.4%/88.5%.
• Short Term: Minutes are still down, there might not be much of a change. Very streaky fantasy.
• Long Term: Getting valuable development time.

Fence-Sitters

Cason Wallace (PG/SG, Oklahoma City Thunder, 20)

• Last Week: 19.2 MPG, 7.0 PPG/3.0 RPG/1.6 APG/1.6 Stocks on 58.3%/50 3P%.
• Short Term: Not sure how to feel about this. Has been efficient and good.
• Long Term: Buy in deeper leagues.

Bilal Coulibaly (SG/SF, Washington Wizards, 19)

• Last Week: 27.0 MPG, 6.8 PPG/2.3 RPG/1.5 APG/2.0 Stocks on 36%/30%/100%.
• Short Term: Medium production, I thought it would improve but we are still waiting on this,
• Long Term: Buy, shows good signs here and there.

Marcus Sasser (PG/SG, Detroit Pistons, 23)

• Last Week: 15.6 MPG, 8.5 PPG/2.0 RPG/3.0 APG/0.0 Stocks on 50.0%/42.9%/No free throws.
• Short Term: Backup PG/SG regardless of what happens at the deadline.
• Long Term: Buy in deeper leagues, worth the backup PG spot.

Ausar Thompson (SG/SF/PF, Detroit Pistons, 20)

• Last Week: 21.2 MPG, 8.0 PPG/2.7 RPG/0.7 APG/2.6 Stocks on 58.8%/0.0%/80%.
• Short Term: Not a good rebounding week but that may be from made shots.
• Long Term: Still a good dynasty prospect!

Fallers

Jordan Hawkins (PG/SG/SF, New Orleans Pelicans, 21)

• Last Week: 18.7 MPG, 5.8 PPG/3.3 RPG/1.3 APG/0.6 Stocks on 52.2%/52.9%/50%.
• Short Term: Still getting great rotation minutes. Has sporadic output.
• Long Term: Buy!

Ben Sheppard (SG/SF, Indiana Pacers, 22)

• Last Week: 16.2 MPG, 3.8 PPG/2.0 RPG/1.5 APG/1.7 Stocks on 28.6%/37.5%/30%.
• Short Term: Getting some minutes with injuries!
• Long Term: Buy in deeper leagues, minutes are coming and could be used as trade filler.

Jaime Jaquez (SF/PF, Miami Heat, 22)

• Last Week: 24.5 MPG, 4.0 PPG/2.0 RPG/2.5 APG/2.0 stocks on 11.1% FG/16.7% 3P%
• Short Term: Bad week for Jaquez. Needs more touches but the Rozier trade may affect that.
• Long Term: Still worth the investment!

Duop Reath (C, Portland Trailblazers, 27)

• Last Week: 13.6 MPG, 6.0 PPG/2.6 RPG/1.2 APG/0.6 stocks on 37.5% FG/30% 3P%
• Short Term: Getting fewer minutes, and fewer touches. Backup big when this happens.
• Long Term: Older prospect worth the time due to significant minutes this season!

Nick Smith Jr. (SG/PG/SF, Charlotte Hornets, 19)

• Last Week: 16.5 MPG, 5.5 PPG/ 0.3 RPG/1.3 APG/0.3 Stocks on 47.1%/60 3P%
• Short Term: Rozier trade has happened! It didn’t help Nick Smith at all.
• Long Term: Still worth it in deeper leagues.

Andre Jackson Jr. (SG/SF/PG, Milwaukee Bucks, 22)

• Last Week: 9.1 MPG, Negligible stats.
• Short Term: Nothing going on last week. Not much to do.
• Long Term: See above!

Kris Murray (SF/PF/C, Portland Trailblazers, 23)

• Last Week: 7.7 minutes, negligible output.
• Short Term: Be patient.
• Long Term: Buy still, but low.