Commerce deadline week is lastly right here, with groups having till 3 PM Japanese on February 8 to finalize these transactions. Whereas there’s all the time the buyout market to think about after the deadline, this week tends to pressure fantasy managers to make much more changes on the fly than ordinary. Additionally, that is Tremendous Bowl week, which means Week 16 will culminate with a light-weight two-game slate. Let’s take a look at the Week 16 schedule breakdown and a few of its key storylines.
Week 16 Video games Performed
4 Video games: ATL, BKN, CHA, CLE, DAL, GSW, NOR, PHI, SAC, TOR
3 Video games: BOS, CHI, DET, HOU, IND, LAC, LAL, MEM, MIA, MIL, NYK, OKC, ORL, PHO, SAS, WAS
2 Video games: DEN, MIN, POR, UTA
Week 16 Storylines
– Which path will Joel Embiid take along with his restoration?
The reigning MVP injured his left knee throughout Tuesday’s loss to the Warriors, with Jonathan Kuminga touchdown on his leg whereas diving for a unfastened ball. Already coping with soreness in that knee, Embiid is claimed to have suffered a meniscus harm. Whereas The Athletic reported on Saturday that the difficulty is a displaced flap, the 76ers have not provided any particulars relating to the harm or the restoration path that Embiid will take. Reportedly, a call on whether or not to go the remainder/restoration or surgical process route shall be made on Monday.
Both method, Embiid will miss time; it is only a matter of how a lot. Within the fast future, Paul Reed stays the fantasy pickup, with Mo Bamba because the backup heart. Nevertheless, the lingering query is how Embiid’s harm will influence Philadelphia’s strategy to the commerce deadline. One would assume that Daryl Morey and firm shall be very energetic in addressing the lack of Embiid, impacting the fantasy values of the whole rotation for Week 16 and past.
– Now’s an excellent time to hop onto the Ayo Dosunmu bandwagon
One other vital piece of harm information dropped on Saturday, because the Bulls introduced that Zach LaVine will endure season-ending surgical procedure on his proper foot. The commerce rumors surrounding him will stop, as he can not help any hopeful contender this season. However what is going to this information do to the commerce prospects of Alex Caruso or DeMar DeRozan? It may be argued that transferring rotation gamers for extra draft capital would do the Bulls higher than seeking to earn the ninth or tenth seed within the East.
As for the fantasy influence, not a lot modifications. Dosunmu, who just lately moved into the beginning lineup on account of Patrick Williams becoming a member of LaVine on the sideline, is value committing to, though the Bulls solely play three video games throughout Week 16. Williams is unlikely to return earlier than the All-Star break, and the return of Torrey Craig mustn’t negatively influence Dosunmu’s minutes or fantasy outlook. If the Bulls resolve to maneuver different rotation gamers, rookie Julian Phillips is somebody to remember for the post-All-Star break stretch run.
– Thursday’s nine-game slate consists of a number of groups which were the main target of commerce rumors
Commerce deadline day shall be enjoyable for fantasy managers, relying on how fast they’re to their leagues’ waiver wires. Eighteen groups shall be in motion that evening, so some gamers stand to be dominated out on account of pending trades. Among the many groups who shall be taking part in and have gamers who’ve been the topic of commerce rumors are Detroit, LA Lakers, Memphis, Portland, San Antonio, and Utah. Guys like Alec Burks, Jordan Clarkson, and Kelly Olynyk have not been elite fantasy choices, however they’ve all been productive and are able to serving to a playoff-bound staff. The identical might be mentioned for Jerami Grant and Malcolm Brogdon in Portland, and there are additionally gamers like Dejounte Murray or Bruce Brown who’ve come up in commerce hypothesis, however their respective groups (Atlanta and Toronto) do not play on Thursday.
– Timberwolves and Jazz shall be carried out with Week 16 by Thursday
This is not excellent news for fantasy managers who’ve stars on these two groups rostered. Within the case of Minnesota, Week 16 means solely two video games of Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Cities, Rudy Gobert, and Mike Conley. As for Utah, Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton are probably the most notable fantasy choices that may supply diminished worth merely due to a scarcity of video games performed throughout Week 16. One staff to think about within the quest for alternate options is Sacramento. The Kings play 4 video games throughout Week 16, together with a Tremendous Bowl Sunday matchup with the Thunder. Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk are rostered in 61% of Yahoo leagues, whereas Harrison Barnes is available in at 45%, and all three have been top-75 gamers in 9-cat codecs over the previous two weeks, based on Basketball Monster.
– Will some important minutes restrictions be lifted throughout Week 16?
Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) and Cleveland’s duo of Darius Garland (jaw) and Evan Mobley (knee) have just lately returned to sport motion. Nonetheless, every remained on a minutes restrict on the finish of Week 15. Will that change throughout Week 16? Fantasy managers actually hope so, particularly within the case of Haliburton, who has been one of the vital productive gamers in fantasy basketball this season. The excellent news for managers who’ve him rostered is that, whereas Indiana performs three video games throughout Week 16, there aren’t any back-to-backs. As for Cleveland, a four-game week may grow to be three for Garland or Mobley on account of a midweek highway back-to-back on Wednesday and Thursday in opposition to the Wizards and Nets. If the Cavaliers have been to present their stars an evening off, that matchup with Washington is perhaps the one on account of how poorly the Wizards have performed this season.
– Denver and Portland have brutal fantasy schedules
Not solely do the Nuggets and Path Blazers solely play twice throughout Week 16, however the first sport for each groups is not till Thursday. That will not influence a lot for the Nuggets, because the staff would not have any fringe fantasy choices exterior of Peyton Watson or Reggie Jackson, and their worth is dictated by the provision of gamers forward of them within the rotation. Portland’s just a little completely different. Along with the Brogdon commerce chatter, Jabari Walker has struggled just lately however performed properly for many of January. Additionally, Scoot Henderson has kicked issues up a notch relating to his consistency; how a lot will the break day influence him? None of those gamers are must-rosters by any stretch, however the schedule stands to influence their worth in deeper leagues negatively.
Gentle Sport Days
Sunday: 2 Video games
BOS vs. MIA
SAC vs. OKC
Week 16 Again-to-backs
Sunday (Week 15)-Monday: CHA, LAC, TOR
Monday-Tuesday: BKN, DAL
Tuesday-Wednesday: MIA
Wednesday-Thursday: CLE, DET, GSW, SAS
Thursday-Friday: DEN, LAL, MIL
Friday-Saturday: ATL, CHA, HOU, NOR, PHI, TOR, WAS
Saturday-Sunday: OKC
Sunday-Monday: None
