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NBA Stock Watch: Enes Kanter is rising while Andrew Wiggins is falling

NBA Stock Watch: Enes Kanter is rising while Andrew Wiggins is falling

STOCK UP

Enes Kanter: Over the last five games, he’s averaged 19.8 points, 12.6 rebounds and 0.8 steals while shooting 53.4 percent from the field and 80.8 percent from the line, a span in which he’s been a top-50 fantasy player. The near seven-foot Kanter continues to disappoint as a shot blocker, but he’s flourished since joining Oklahoma City and should only put up bigger numbers with Serge Ibaka undergoing knee surgery. Even when Kevin Durant returns, Kanter is going to be a major part of the Thunder’s offense, and he’s still available in more than 25 percent of Yahoo leagues. Steven Adams also gets a fantasy boost with the Ibaka injury, as he’s now starting and has gotten 14.5 ppg and 9.5 rpg over the past two contests.

Nicolas Batum: Playing through a wrist injury, Batum was one of the more disappointing fantasy players over the first half of the season. But he must be feeling healthier as his shooting slump as come to an end, as Batum has been a top-15 fantasy player over the last month, when he’s shot 49.1 percent from the field (his season FG% still sits at an ugly 40.1, which reveals just how cold he was before the recent hot streak). And while Wesley Matthews’ season-ending Achilles injury seemingly benefitted Arron Afflalo the most, it sure hasn’t hurt Batum’s production either, as he’s averaged 9.2 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.0 3pt since Matthews went down.

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Marcin Gortat: Another player who’s bounced back from a slow first half of the season, Gortat has averaged 14.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 0.7 steals and 1.2 blocks while shooting 64.3 percent from the floor over the past month, a 13-game stretch in which he’s been a top-10 fantasy asset. Over the last two weeks, Gortat is shooting a ridiculous 68.9 percent from the field, as no player has helped in FG% more over that span (the second most impactful has been Tony Parker, who’s seemingly coming out of his own season long slump of late).

Avery Bradley: He’s averaged 15.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.4 3pt over the last five games and has been a top-50 player over the past month. Bradley is a shaky shooter and doesn’t help in dimes at all for a guard, but at least he limits turnovers, which is especially impressive while playing for a Boston team that has the sixth-highest PACE in the NBA. With Isaiah Thomas out at least the next two games, Bradley is a nice short-term add even in shallow formats, and he’s available in more than 35 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Brandan Wright: He had 18 points and 11 boards in 37-plus minutes of playing time during Sunday’s win over the Knicks. If Alex Len’s ankle injury proves serious, Wright would be a must add. He’s been the No. 16 ranked fantasy player on a per-36 minute basis this season.

Kyrie Irving had a pretty good game against the Spurs.

Here’s DeAndre Jordan making his first career three-pointer.

A couple of weeks back I mocked Alexey Shved for whatever this was. But here’s some props to him for this shot.

STOCK DOWN

Andrew Wiggins: He sure looks like a future star and the heavy favorite to win Rookie of the Year (although in reality Nerlens Noel has probably been more valuable), but it’s worth noting Wiggins hasn’t been a top-150 fantasy player over the past month. It’s gotten worse of late, as maybe some fatigue has set in, as Wiggins has been the No. 218 ranked player over the past two weeks, when he’s shot 41.5 percent from the field. There’s plenty of optimism for his future (it sure seems like Minnesota won the Kevin Love trade), but Wiggins is the No. 274 ranked player on a per-36 minute basis this season, so volume has had a lot to do with his production during his rookie campaign. There’s still plenty of room for improvement.

Paul George: If you own a top seed in a H2H league, the idea of stashing George seemingly makes sense. But recent reports suggest he’s nowhere close to returning, and even with the Pacers currently holding the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference (despite a 30-36 record), there’s little reason to push the team’s franchise player. Even if George miraculously returns sooner than expected, it’s not like he’s going to see many minutes (or be close to his past self). He’s not worth owning in any redraft leagues.

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Kemba Walker: He’s likely just shaking off some rust coming off an injury and will rebound soon enough, but Walker has shot an ugly 22.6 percent (7-of-31) from the floor over three games since coming back from a torn meniscus (no player has been a bigger detriment to FG% over the past two weeks). Mo Williams has played well of late, and Walker is still coming off the bench, so he’s a shaky start right now approaching fantasy crunch time.

Nikola Pekovic: He’s been a top-100 player in each of the past three seasons, including top-70 in the last two. But Pekovic is currently No. 142, including being the No. 227 ranked player over the past month, when he’s shot 35.5 percent from the field. It’s been a disastrous season for Pekovic, who may now be shut down with an ankle injury. Go pick up Justin Hamilton.

John Henson: There’s potential here, but Henson has been given only 19.5 mpg over the past month, when he’s shot 52.2 percent from the line. The Bucks have surprised this year and currently own the No. 6 seed, but it’s still discouraging the promising Henson (he’s been a top-70 player this year on a per-36 minute basis) is seeing such limited minutes as a 24-year-old on a .500ish team in the Eastern Conference.

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