Eric Paschall among top fantasy basketball free-agent finds
A willingness to entertain competition for the last few spots on your fantasy hoops roster can prove rewarding. When curating this fluid collective of statistical contributors, it helps to consider your end-of-bench players in direct competition with the talent floating in free agency.
The goal of this weekly series is to identify players available in at least half of ESPN leagues at each position. Some nominations are specialists capable of helping in one or two categories, while others deliver more diverse and important statistical offerings. In the breakdowns below, I’ve ordered players at each position with the priority of acquisition in mind, rather than roster percentage in ESPN leagues.
Point Guard
Shake Milton, Philadelphia 76ers (Rostered in 45.3% of ESPN leagues): During his past six games, all starts, Milton has impressively averaged 20.7 PPG to go with 4.2 APG, 3.7 3PG and two combined blocks and steals. Joel Embiid ranks eighth in the NBA in usage rate while Ben Simmons rates fourth in the league with 92.2 touches per game. With both All-Stars still sidelined by respective injuries, Milton should remain a premier scoring and playmaking force for Philly.
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Shabazz Napier, Washington Wizards (10.3%): While a recent 27-point outburst against Miami is likely an outlier scoring performance for Napier, it’s helpful to consider he’s compiled 25 assists and swiped nine steals during his past five games. Playing 40 minutes against Miami over the weekend is undeniably encouraging for Napier’s value going forward.
Shaquille Harrison, Chicago Bulls (4.7%): An uptick in minutes has Harrison surfacing as a relevant fantasy resource given he’s posted dynamic defensive rates during the past week that includes 2.8 SPG and 1.3 BPG in 28.8 MPG.
Shooting Guard
Kevin Huerter, Atlanta Hawks (39.8%): Turning the playmaking dial up lately has resulted in this savvy shooter averaging seven dimes per game the past week to go with strong shooting and defensive rates. Much like Sacramento’s Bogdanovic, Huerter can offset variant scoring results with quality playmaking rates.
Donte DiVincenzo, Milwaukee Bucks (20.9%): Ranked sixth in the NBA in steal rate and capable of producing strong shooting, rebounding, and assist results when afforded enough minutes, this Villanova product is starting to carve out a productive role from the pine for the Bucks.
Damion Lee, Golden State Warriors (26.4%): The return of Stephen Curry resulted in fantasy managers losing interest in Lee, but he’s proven productive next to Curry and should shine whenever his superstar peer rests (which could be quite often). Just this past week, Lee has produced 17.0 PPG with 7.7 combined assists and rebounds.
Small Forward
Duncan Robinson, Miami Heat (35.8%): Nearly every shot Robinson lofts these days is from beyond the arc, resulting in him making Heat history with the most made 3-pointers in a single season and already accomplishing the largest season-to-season surge in 3-point volume in league history. As one of just six players ever to make at least seven 3-pointers in three straight games, Robinson is enjoying an historic shooting streak.
Tim Hardaway Jr., Dallas Mavericks (45.4%): A high floor as a scorer has THJ in position to help fantasy teams down the stretch thanks to his unique freedom to loft from beyond the arc and create his own shot off the dribble for Dallas.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, Sacramento Kings (41.4%): Some volatile scoring results are countered by consistent 3-point and steal rates for Bogdanovic, who has averaged 2.1 combined steals and blocks to go with a stellar 3.3 3PG during the past week.
Mikal Bridges, Phoenix Suns (24.7%): Finally finding his scoring groove on the wing for Phoenix, Bridges should see plenty of work down the stretch with Kelly Oubre Jr. likely done for the year.
Power Forward
Eric Paschall, Golden State Warriors (47.8%): Doing his best Draymond Green impersonation during the past week, Paschall has averaged an impressive 6.3 dimes during this sample to go with an un-Dray like 20.3 PPG. A fantasy star whenever Green is sidelined and useful even as a complementary option, Paschall is a helpful utility option for the fantasy playoffs.
Thaddeus Young, Chicago Bulls (49.4%): One of the league’s best steal rates is buoyed by steady frontcourt minutes and consistent rebounding opportunities for this savvy veteran.
James Johnson, Minnesota Timberwolves (18.7%): With 2.6 combined steals and blocks per game during the past week and an atypically strong assist rate for a power forward, Johnson has emerged as a helpful fantasy option with Karl-Anthony Towns sidelined.
Trey Lyles, San Antonio Spurs (7.9%): Serving as a floor-spacer for the Spurs, Lyles has averaged 14.5 PPG with some fun steal and block results during the past week.
Center
Daniel Theis, Boston Celtics (49.8%): The huge double-double lines have quieted of late, but we still find Theis playing plenty of minutes and providing fun steal and block rates at this shallow center position.
Aron Baynes, Phoenix Suns (21.9%): Suddenly a fixture in the Suns’ rotation again and fresh from two awesome offensive showings that included a career-best 37 points this past week, Baynes has reemerged as a useful fantasy option.
Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves (15.7%): Proving versatile enough to average 1.3 3PG and 2.3 combined blocks and steals during the past week as a stretch big of sorts for the Wolves, Reid has led the roster in rebounding during this stretch and merits interest for as long as Towns is sidelined.