Fantasy managers look to McConnell, Watson, Nurkic after first major NBA trade
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The season’s first blockbuster deal—Trae Young moving from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert—has reshaped the fantasy landscape less than a month before the NBA trade deadline. With roster spots opening and rotations shifting, several under-rostered players are suddenly delivering starter-level production.
Point guards
T.J. McConnell, Indiana Pacers (38.6% rostered) — Bennedict Mathurin’s injury has elevated McConnell’s workload. Over his past two outings, the veteran guard is averaging 17.5 points, 7.5 assists and 2.5 steals while maintaining his trademark efficiency off the bench.
Egor Demin, Brooklyn Nets (36.6%) — Since settling into the starting lineup on Dec. 14, Demin has supplied steady mid-teens scoring along with roughly 3–4 rebounds, assists and three-pointers per night across his last 11 games.
Shooting guards
Ayo Dosunmu, Chicago Bulls (23.8%) — With Josh Giddey sidelined, Dosunmu has scored at least 15 points in five straight contests. During that span the reserve guard is putting up 18.4 points, 5.4 assists and 2.8 threes in 26.8 minutes per game.
Cam Spencer, Memphis Grizzlies (26.6%) — Starting for the injured Ja Morant, Spencer has shifted from sniper to facilitator, averaging 11.8 points and 9.2 assists in his last five starts and recording back-to-back double-digit assist performances.
Small forwards
Peyton Watson, Denver Nuggets (43.3%) — Even with Aaron Gordon back, Watson has scored 19-plus in seven consecutive games. Over that stretch he is producing 23.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.6 threes, more than one block and more than one steal per game.
Royce O’Neale, Phoenix Suns (16.4%) — O’Neale is on his first four-game double-digit scoring run since November, averaging 14.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.5 made threes while continuing to start on the wing.
Power forwards
Collin Murray-Boyles, Toronto Raptors (11.9%) — Filling in for the injured Jakob Poeltl, the rookie has twice grabbed 15 rebounds in his last three games. Over his past four, he is near a double-double at 11.3 points and 9.8 boards while adding 2.5 steals and 1.3 blocks.
Zeke Nnaji, Denver Nuggets (1.3%) — Nnaji’s role expanded while Nikola Jokic sat and has remained sizable even after Gordon’s return. He has reached double-figure scoring in four straight, averaging 14.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 each of threes, steals and blocks.
Centers
Jusuf Nurkic, Utah Jazz (33.9%) — Probable to play Monday after a toe issue, Nurkic has appeared in six of Utah’s last 11 games, averaging 18.5 points, 11.2 rebounds and 5.7 assists whenever he is on the floor.
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Charlotte Hornets (15.6%) — Back from a 10-game absence, the rookie center logged 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in 23 bench minutes. Having started 25 of 26 contests before the injury, he is expected to reclaim his starting spot as his minutes ramp up.
With the trade market heating up and injuries continuing to shuffle rotations, these lightly claimed players offer immediate help for fantasy managers looking to stay ahead of the curve.
Source: ESPN
