Joe Kaiser, ESPN Staff Writer 5y

Fantasy 30: Is a turnaround coming for John Wall and Ricky Rubio?

Fantasy NBA, Fantasy, NBA

From trade rumors in Boston to injury updates on Russell Westbrook, Lauri Markkanen and Draymond Green, there's plenty to stay on top of around the NBA.

Here's a look at the most fantasy-relevant news and notes for all 30 teams around the league this week:

Atlanta Hawks: Trae Young entered the league with the reputation as a scorer and 3-point shooter, but it turns out the No. 5 overall pick in June also can spread it around to his teammates. Young has three games in a row with double-digit assist totals, and his 8.1 per game ranks fifth in all of the NBA. This is made more impressive when you consider that he's also pouring in 19.0 points per game and shooting a respectable 43.6 percent through his first 10 games.

Boston Celtics: Could Terry Rozier's time in Boston soon come to an end? According to a report in The Athletic, at least seven teams have been monitoring Rozier's status and are waiting to see if the Celtics start fielding calls. Rozier will be a restricted free agent this offseason and didn't come to terms on a rookie extension with the Celtics. The Suns may be the most likely destination if Rozier is in fact dealt. Phoenix didn't address the need for a point guard during the offseason and is off to a lousy 2-8 start.

Brooklyn Nets: There have been plenty of times in recent years when Allen Crabbe has made a big fantasy impact as a scorer and 3-point shooter, but this isn't one of those times. The Cal product has averaged a cool 5.6 PPG during the past five games, failing to make more than one 3-pointer in any of those contests. This is kind of a shocker, considering that Crabbe would seem to be a perfect fit on a team like this season's Nets with a perpetual green light to shoot it from downtown, but he's better left on the waiver wire for the time being.

Charlotte Hornets: Tuesday night's season-high 20-point game could turn things around for 14-year veteran Marvin Williams, but before that game against the lowly Hawks, he hadn't looked anything like a top-150 fantasy option this season. Even after the breakout game, Williams is shooting 40.5 percent this season with averages of 7.7 PPG and 4.8 RPG that should keep him on the waiver wire for the time being.

Chicago Bulls: According to the Chicago Sun Times, Lauri Markkanen has ramped up his conditioning and could be closer to returning to the court than previously anticipated. Markkanen is expected to slide into the starting lineup next to early Rookie of the Year candidate Wendell Carter Jr., giving the Bulls two versatile big bodies in their starting five who can both step out and shoot the 3-ball.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Sam Dekker stepped in nicely in the first game Kevin Love missed with a toe injury, but the former Wisconsin star now will join Love on the list of injured Cavs. A left ankle sprain is expected to sideline him two to four weeks, which puts more of a need for Cedi Osman to log extended minutes and likely leads to a bigger role for Larry Nance Jr. as well.

Dallas Mavericks: Wesley Matthews is starting to have a hot hand on a Mavericks team that has star rookie Luka Doncic getting all the attention. Matthews quietly has put together three games of more than 20 points during his past five games and has struck for 10 3-pointers during his past three contests. If you're streaming for 3-pointers, Matthew is available in nearly 92 percent of ESPN leagues and is always a guy who should be near the top of your list.

Denver Nuggets: The amount of talent on the Nuggets creates a challenge on a nightly basis for fantasy managers, and this will only get worse if and when Isaiah Thomas, Will Barton and Michael Porter Jr. return from injury. Another negative component is the slow pace at which the Nuggets play; their 100.9 possessions per game is tied with Brooklyn for 25th in the NBA. That means fewer opportunities to accumulate fantasy stats.

Detroit Pistons: Andre Drummond's 16.3 RPG leads the league by more than a rebound and a half per game, and if the season ended today, it would be a career best for the longtime Pistons center. Quietly, though, Drummond is also doing more as a scorer. His 18.4 PPG is made more impressive when you consider that his previous best is 16.2 PPG, set way back in 2015-16.

Golden State Warriors: X-rays were negative on Draymond Green's injured right foot, which cost him the second half of Monday's win over Memphis, but if Green misses time, there's a good chance Alfonzo McKinnie will see a bump in minutes. A defensive force and 3-point presence, McKinnie is one of the best stories of the young season, and he has averaged 28 MPG during his past two games. Jonas Jerebko, Kevon Looney and Jordan Bell could also see more playing time if Green is sidelined.

Houston Rockets: After sitting out the past two games with a hip injury, Eric Gordon could return to the lineup on Thursday against Oklahoma City. He practiced Wednesday and is officially listed as questionable. Gordon was off to a sluggish start to the season even before the injury, making only 32.1 percent of his shots, and he is available in nearly 85 percent of ESPN leagues. You may want to see how he looks before adding him to your roster, but keep in mind Gordon averaged 3.2 3PG or more during each of the past two seasons. Wait too long, and you could miss out.

Indiana Pacers: If you're looking for an efficient big man who can score and rebound, the Pacers have one in Domantas Sabonis, who happens to be available in more than 35 percent of ESPN leagues. Sabonis came off the bench to score 30 points and grab nine rebounds in a win over the Knicks last Wednesday, and he did it while going 12-of-12 from the field and 6-of-7 from the free throw line. For the season, the third-year big man is shooting 68.4 percent from the field, 81.1 percent from the line, and averaging 13.9 PPG and 8.7 RPG.

LA Clippers: Avery Bradley missed Tuesday's game with an ankle sprain and was seen in a walking boot afterward, an indicator that the veteran shooting guard could miss a few more games. Rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander started his first NBA game in Bradley's place and played 25 minutes, but at this stage, he isn't doing enough to warrant fantasy consideration. A nonfactor from 3-point land, Gilgeous-Alexander has mostly been just a secondary scorer and distributor so far this season.

Los Angeles Lakers: JaVale McGee may slow down eventually, but it sure hasn't happened yet. His 34 blocks this season are 10 more than anyone else in the NBA except for Myles Turner (27), and his 14.4 PPG, 7.5 RPG and 61.4 percent shooting are all extremely valuable in roto leagues.

Memphis Grizzlies: When it comes to overlooked fantasy options, Shelvin Mack is probably near the top of the list. The veteran guard is playing a nice role for the Grizzlies this season and has put up at least 14 points and 2 3-pointers during each of his past four games. A groin injury isn't expected to keep him from playing in Wednesday's game against the Nuggets; he is listed as probable for that one.

Miami Heat: Hassan Whiteside (knee) is expected to be back in the lineup Wednesday against the Spurs after missing Monday's game in Detroit. This is big for fantasy managers with Whiteside, as the big man enters Wednesday ranked second in the league in rebounds (14.6 RPG) and third in blocks (2.8 BPG). Bam Adebayo will go back to the bench upon Whiteside's return, and Kelly Olynyk likely won't see as many minutes as the 24 he had against the Pistons.

Milwaukee Bucks: Ersan Ilyasova is available in nearly 98 percent of ESPN leagues, but he continues to carve out an important role on one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference as a scorer, 3-point shooter and rebounder. The veteran is worth considering for your roster during weeks when the Bucks are playing four or more games or whenever you're streaming 3s or rebounds.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Jeff Teague (knee) will miss a fifth straight game Thursday, against the Lakers, keeping the door open for Derrick Rose to continue to be the man at point guard. In the three games since Rose's incredible 50-point performance on Halloween, he has played just one full game, going for 21 points in 35 minutes against the Clippers on Monday.

New Orleans Pelicans: Once regarded as the game's most oft-injured superstar, Anthony Davis has managed to shed most of that label in recent years. Unfortunately, he's already missed three of the Pelicans' 10 games this season due to injury, but when available, there's a key part to Davis' game that shouldn't go overlooked -- his minutes. Davis' 37.6 MPG is tops in the league this season, well ahead of second-place (DeMar DeRozan, 36.9 MPG), and when you combine that with Davis' incredible talent, it's no wonder why I continue to keep him atop my roto rankings.

New York Knicks: Quick -- who is the third-leading scorer on the Knicks? If you said Damyean Dotson, give yourself a prize. Dotson may not be much of a factor on the defensive end as far as fantasy numbers are concerned, but the smooth swingman is worthy of being a streamer, thanks to his scoring (13.2 PPG), rebounding (6.0 RPG) and 3-point prowess (1.9 3PG). If the second-rounder from 2017 isn't on your radar yet, he should be. Statistically, think Maurice Harkless.

Oklahoma City Thunder: X-rays were negative on Russell Westbrook's ankle injury, giving fantasy managers an enormous sigh of relief, but the dynamic superstar has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against Cleveland. The Thunder play Thursday as well, a home game against the Rockets, but this is a sprain that could take a while to recover from. As we stay tuned for further updates, look for Dennis Schroder to step up and be a force as the starting point guard. It's easy to forget that Schroder put up 19.4 PPG, 6.2 APG, 1.1 SPG and 1.1 3PG while with the Hawks last season.

Orlando Magic: We're only 10 or so games into the season, so small sample size is definitely something to consider when weighing early-season stats, but Nikola Vucevic's improved efficiency is encouraging. Always a double-double threat and an improved option from 3-point range, Vucevic has made 54.3 percent of his shots this season. To put that in perspective, he hasn't finished above 50 percent since the 2015-16 season.

Phoenix Suns: When at his best on a rebuilding team like the Suns, TJ Warren has the scoring ability to be a big-time fantasy asset, but another back injury cost him one game and is a legitimate concern going forward. Warren was held scoreless in 13 minutes on Tuesday, which is uncharacteristic for someone who scores as well as he does, but he's worth keeping an eye on in the weeks ahead. Warren has added the 3-pointer to his repertoire and, when at his best, his efficiency and rebounding make him more valuable in roto leagues than he has been in the past.

Portland Trail Blazers: Jusuf Nurkic is off to a solid start this season, but there are a few things to be concerned about. For one, his 24.8 MPG is as low as it has been since joining the Trail Blazers and requires him to be at his best whenever on the court to be fantasy-relevant. Secondly, his impact as a shot-blocker (0.9 BPG) is as minimal as it has been since he joined the league with Denver back in 2014-15.

Sacramento Kings: Bogdan Bogdanovic (knee) could make his season debut as soon as Wednesday against Toronto, which adds another scorer to a Kings team that already ranks fourth in the league with 118.7 PPG. The 26-year-old Bogdanovic averaged 11.8 PPG as a rookie last season, and his presence in the lineup could cut down the scoring of several of the team's top offensive options, including Buddy Hield and De'Aaron Fox, who lead the Kings with 19.7 PPG and 18.6 PPG, respectively.

San Antonio Spurs: Derrick White (plantar fascia) is expected to make his season debut for the Spurs on Wednesday night against the Heat. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters that White will play off the bench in this game, which means at least one more game for Bryn Forbes to fill in as the starting point guard, but as White works his way back into game shape, he is expected to become the starter. Expect Forbes to move to the bench in the near future, joining Patty Mills as the options behind White and DeRozan.

Toronto Raptors: Kyle Lowry continues to lead the NBA in assists, averaging 11.5 per game, and as a result, he is one of the best point guards to have in roto leagues that use double-doubles as a category. He has eight in the Raptors' 11 games thus far, tying him with Philadelphia's Ben Simmons for the most among guards this season. Next on the list? Westbrook with four.

Utah Jazz: At 28, Ricky Rubio is still younger than many realize, but his game currently doesn't fit well for either points or roto leagues. Rubio isn't scoring much (10.4 PPG) and the four- or five-point game is still way too frequent. Meanwhile, his assist and steal numbers, while decent at 7.6 and 1.4, respectively, are well below what they were just a few years ago. This makes him a mediocre option in points leagues. Digging a step deeper, his 32.7 field goal percentage diminishes his value in roto leagues.

Washington Wizards: John Wall's assists are down, and his team is in turmoil, thanks to an abysmal 2-8 start, but don't let that sour you on the star point guard's fantasy value. Wall's 2.5 SPG ranks second in the league, his 21.5 PPG is a number that would be the second best of his career, and his 46.1 percent shooting is extremely valuable in category leagues.

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