The resurgent Golden State Warriors entered the All-Star break having won six of seven games and dealing with a bit of controversy, as longtime stalwart Klay Thompson suddenly moved out of the starting lineup.
Then the determined Thompson made quite the point in his first game off the bench in more than a decade by scoring a season-best 35 points in a win over the Jazz. Coach Steve Kerr says Thompson will continue his reserve status.
Fantasy managers should focus not on Thompson, perhaps a future Hall of Famer but long an underwhelming fantasy option in comparison to investment status, but rather on the inspiring, young fellow who earned his starting spot.
Brandin Podziemski is no ordinary rookie. After all, the feisty, responsible, headband-wearing Santa Clara product who turns 21 this weekend has been the superior fantasy option for a while, and this should only continue.
Podziemski, rostered in barely 21% of ESPN standard leagues (the overrated Thompson is at 80%) scored 25 traditional points and 57 ESPN fantasy points in the noteworthy Valentine's Day conquest of the Clippers, and then contributed 32 fantasy points versus the Jazz. A mature passer, rebounder and defensive presence at 6-foot-4, Podziemski earns his fantasy points in a different way than most.
Oh, the versatile Podziemski can hit a 3-pointer (eight of them the past two games, 38.5% for the season), but he averages 12.8 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 6.7 APG and only 1.2 TPG in nine February contests. That is a cool 36 fantasy points per game and not only considerably better than Thompson, but several options on your own fantasy teams.
To be fair to the situation, there is little indication that Podziemski replacing Thompson in the starting lineup notably alters distribution of minutes. Podziemski has been seeing roughly 30 minutes per night since Thanksgiving. Thompson played 28 minutes against the Jazz. If anything, Thompson's muted fantasy value may rise from this change. He fired off a season-high 22 field goals as a reserve, hitting seven 3-pointers. He'll play. He'll shoot. So will Podziemski, one of the top rookies, and readily available, to watch in fantasy over the next several months.
Everyone knows about Spurs C Victor Wembanyama (47 fantasy points per game) and Thunder C Chet Holmgren (41.6 FPG), and no other rookie is among the full season top 100 in ESPN fantasy scoring per game. There are several first-year players in that range over the past 30 days, however.
Let's examine their progress and others to watch.
Brandon Miller, SG/SF, Charlotte Hornets (73% rostered): Miller, the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft from Alabama, has become a valuable fantasy option in the past couple weeks, averaging 23.5 PPG, 1.5 SPG and 3.4 3PG this month. He doesn't rebound or pass much, but Miller is a scorer and if he continues to score to this level, he will be a top-50 fantasy option from here on out.
Dereck Lively II, C, Dallas Mavericks (17%): Lively has played only one game in tandem with new teammate Daniel Gafford, but he scored 32 fantasy points in only 17 minutes in that one, as he blocked four Spurs shots. The Duke product may see fewer minutes than he did pre-Gafford, but if he is more efficient on the defensive end, fantasy managers should not care.
Amen Thompson, SG, Houston Rockets (22.9%): The Thompson Twins went fourth and fifth in the NBA draft, and most assumed Pistons SF Ausar Thompson would be the brother to watch post-trade deadline. Instead, Amen is the one telling fantasy managers to "Hold Me Now." (Look it up, music in the 80s wasn't so bad!) Amen has made six starts, averaging 12.5 PPG, 12 RPG, 4.2 APG and 1.7 SPG. These are serious numbers. Watch Ausar (42.3% rostered) as well, for his numbers are fantasy worthy when he starts, too.
Keyonte George, PG/SG, Utah Jazz (11.4%): George opened eyes in the team's most recent game pre-break, when he dropped 33 traditional points - including nine 3-pointers - on the Warriors. The Baylor product averages 5.8 APG in his 19 starts, which is promising, but 36% on field goals is not. Kris Dunn is a helpful veteran, but he should not start or play big minutes. George obviously should. When George starts to shoot better, a top-20 fantasy point guard lurks.
Scoot Henderson, PG, Portland Trail Blazers (51.6%): Speaking of point guards, the No. 3 selection in the draft offers a world of statistical upside when he matures. Henderson turned 20 earlier this month, and Blazers coach Chauncey Billups (congrats on the Hall of Fame nomination!) quietly announced the rookie will start from here on out. He better. Henderson is inconsistent and makes poor decisions with his shot and passes, but this is a future superstar when he figures things out. Get him now in dynasty/keeper formats if you reasonably can.
GG Jackson, PF, Memphis Grizzlies (13.5%): It is a lost season in Memphis with so many injuries, but Jackson, a second-round draft pick, continues to surprise, scoring more than 20 traditional points and 33 fantasy points off the bench in three of the past four games. Opportunity is clearly there for the South Carolina product to keep the numbers coming.