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NBA Stock Watch: Russell Westbrook is back, while Thad Young is falling
STOCK UP
Russell Westbrook: Not only did he return earlier than expected (he didn’t even miss a month when given a 4-6 week timetable), Westbrook became the first player ever in the shot-clock era to record 32 points and hand out eight assists in fewer than 24 minutes during his first game back, so he sure looks fully healthy. Kevin Durant might also return as soon as Tuesday, so Westbrook won’t be totally dominating all the OKC touches, but he should be a viewed as a top-10 fantasy asset moving forward.
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Marc Gasol: He’s taken his game to another level so far this year, averaging 20.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.2 spg and 1.5 bpg while shooting 50.8 percent from the floor and 84.9 percent from the line, putting himself in the MVP conversation while leading Memphis to an NBA-best 15-2 record. Gasol lost weight during the offseason, and it’s paid big dividends, as his Usage Rate (24.2) and PER (23.64) are both career highs en route to being a top-10 fantasy player this year.
Greivis Vasquez: Over his past three games, Vasquez has averaged 18.0 points, 4.7 assists and 2.7 3pt while shooting 53.9 percent from the field. That type of shooting won’t last for the career owner of a 42.4 FG%, but Vasquez is now starting for Toronto with DeMar DeRozan sidelined for at least the next month and maybe longer. Vasquez has gotten 7.8 assists per-36 minutes during his career, so he needs to be owned in all fantasy leagues.
Markieff Morris: He’s actually shooting a career-low 23.8 percent from downtown this season, including going 0-for-11 over the past five games, but Morris has otherwise taken his game to the next level this season. He’s getting career-highs in FG% (48.7), ppg (14.8), rpg (6.4), apg (2.6), spg (1.5) and bpg (0.9) despite seeing a small dip in Usage Rate compared to last year. It helps that the Suns have a top-five PACE in the NBA. Morris, who could be had in the mid-to-late rounds in most drafts, is currently the No. 33 ranked fantasy player.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: He’s averaged 20.3 points while hitting 11 three-pointers over the past three games. KCP has barely been a top-200 fantasy player this season, but he’s ranked inside the top-85 over the past two weeks, so he’s firmly on the radar. He’s stuck playing for a Detroit team that ranks third to last in Offensive Efficiency, but last year’s top-10 draft pick sure looks to be taking a much bigger role in the Pistons’ offense.
Here’s a nice outlet pass by Kyrie Irving in mid-air, and here’s LeBron James dishing a sick pass to Irving for an easy bucket (it appears the Cavs might be figuring this stuff out).
Here’s a legit Jeremy Lin to Wesley Johnson long distance oop.
Here’s Gerald Green passing to himself off the glass.
STOCK DOWN
Thaddeus Young: He was a top-35 fantasy player in each of the past two seasons, so it’s safe to consider Young a buy-low candidate, especially while playing for an already depleted Minnesota team that just lost Kevin Martin. But it’s hard not to be down on Young right now, as his True Shooting Percentage (49.0) is a career low by a wide margin, as the change in scenery hasn’t exactly benefitted him so far. Young has been the No. 240 ranked fantasy player over the past month.
Kelly Olynyk: After a five-game stretch in which Olynyk averaged 16.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 0.8 blocks and 1.8 3pt while shooting 64.0 percent from the floor, it looked like he was going to be a fantasy breakout in 2014/15. Instead, he’s since averaged 5.7 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 30.0 percent from the field over six games. As a result, he’s been moved to the bench in favor of Tyler Zeller. Olynyk has quickly gone from what looked like a draft day steal to someone likely dropped in most leagues.
Channing Frye: After signing a four-year, $32 million deal during the offseason, Frye got off to a nice start in Orlando despite missing the entire preseason with a knee injury. But he’s slumped badly since, failing to score double-digits in any of his past six games, averaging a paltry 5.2 ppg while shooting 33.3 percent from the floor over that span. His 1.5 tpg are also a career worst. Frye has been the No. 175 ranked fantasy player over the past two weeks, but hopefully this is just a slump in which he can bounce back from.
Mario Chalmers: He averaged 19.1 points, 6.6 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.3 3pt during the seven games in which Dwyane Wade was sidelined, but Chalmers has totaled just 14 points and four assists while shooting 33.3 percent from the field over the two contests since Wade has returned to action. Of course, Wade’s durability remains a concern, and he’s almost certain to miss more games moving forward, but his availability is almost entirely tied to Chalmers’ fantasy value.
Elfrid Payton: A sleeper by many to win Rookie of the Year, Payton has disappointed in a big way, as he’s averaged only 6.6 ppg, and over the past five contests, the point guard has posted a 22:16 AST:TO ratio. He’s also discouragingly shot 38.6 percent from the field and an ugly 49.0 percent from the line. The rookie will improve moving forward, but he’s no longer starting and should be on waiver wires in redraft leagues.
