Which Fantasy Basketball Options Appear Poised to Play the Rest of the Season
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With less than two months left in the NBA regular season, several notable veterans on lottery-bound teams have already been ruled out, including Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee), Zach LaVine (hand), Kyrie Irving (ACL) and newly traded Washington Wizards big man Anthony Davis. Their absences highlight the importance for fantasy managers of targeting players likely to remain in their respective lineups through the stretch run.
The All-Star break, effectively the two-thirds point of the schedule, sharpens the contrast between contenders still jockeying for postseason seeding and non-contenders prioritizing draft position. Last week, Commissioner Adam Silver fined two clubs for sitting healthy players to improve lottery odds, underscoring the risk attached to veterans on rebuilding rosters and the value of dependable contributors on playoff hopefuls.
Players with strong availability trends
Mikal Bridges, New York Knicks — The league’s current ironman has never missed a game, extending his streak beyond 600 contests. New York remains in a seeding battle, giving the durable wing every reason to stay on the court.
Derrick White, Boston Celtics — White has logged at least 73 appearances in each of his three full seasons with Boston and has suited up for 52 of 54 games this year. With the Celtics chasing the Knicks for Atlantic Division supremacy, his role should remain steady.
Harrison Barnes, San Antonio Spurs — Barnes owns a perfect attendance record over the past three campaigns (82 games each season, including this year’s 54 to date). San Antonio is entrenched in a crowded Western Conference race and leans on Barnes’ consistency.
Nique Clifford, Sacramento Kings — The rookie’s workload has grown since Sacramento shut down LaVine. After averaging 21.3 minutes before the break, Clifford logged 32.7 minutes per game in his final 10 outings ahead of the hiatus and projects to remain heavily involved.
Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets — Aside from a 25-game absence last season, Smith has been reliable. He started 79 and 76 games in his first two years and has opened 52 of 53 contests this season for a Rockets squad squarely in the West playoff mix.
While no player is immune to injury, track records of durability and team context suggest these five could offer fantasy managers a measure of security as championships are decided.
Source: ESPN
