Fantasy Basketball

It seems more than appropriate that fantasy basketball players can thank the NBA's Disney-based bubble for the return of their leagues.

But with the Association slimmed down to 22 teams, these fantasy leagues won't be like you remember. Whereas we're used to the marathon treks over an 82-game campaign, these are rapid, eight-game sprints to the finish line.

In other words, you're tightrope-walking without a safety net, and one misstep could be disastrous.

To help you gain maximum impact from your roster, we'll build and break down a mock first round, then make some predictions about two of our favorite fantasy sleepers.

                   

10-Team Mock First Round for NBA's Restart

1. James Harden, Houston Rockets

2. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

3. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

4. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

5. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

6. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

7. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

8. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

9. Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers

10. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

It's tough to tell whether teams will run through the tape during the seeding games since home-court advantage is out of the equation. Saying that, we're working under the assumption that teams with positions to gain in the standings will try to do so.

That gives a bump to the likes of James Harden, Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic, whose teams are all jostling for position in the West's midsection. But no elite player might be more motivated than Damian Lillard, who knows his team has a second lease on life after a disappointing season.

"Anything can happen right now," he told The Athletic's Jason Quick. "We haven't played in four months, and our focus is to get into the playoffs and anything is possible, literally, because of the circumstances we are playing under. ... I want to get it done and win it all."

A fully charged Lillard could be a fantasy juggernaut. Prior to the campaign's suspension, he was sitting on several career highs, including 28.9 points, 7.8 assists and 3.9 three-pointers. If he's going full bore through all eight seeding games, he might be the second-best fantasy hooper around.

While your league might draft differently, we're dropping Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and Giannis Antetokounmpo a pinch for the possibility of strategic resting. They're so productive when they play that they still demand first-round attention, but if they only go six games (maybe one or two of them at less than full speed), they'll have trouble returning top-five value.

                  

Fantasy Sleeper Predictions

Caris LeVert Will Average 25 Points, Five Assists

The Brooklyn Nets have lost so many players in this pandemic that their bubble roster is barely recognizable. Caris LeVert is a notable presence, though, and the man dubbed "Baby Durant" should have complete control of the roster.

The lack of scoring help—the Nets are without Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie and DeAndre Jordan, among others—could hurt the 25-year-old's efficiency, but his counting categories will more than compensate.

While LeVert opened the scrimmage schedule with only 10 points in Brooklyn's 31-point loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, he showed the reach of his green light by getting up 18 shots. Those opportunities went his way more often after that, and he closed out the scrimmages with 50 combined points his last two times inside the lines.

Unless the Nets get overprotective with him—he has a lengthy injury history, but they might want to showcase him ahead of a possible offseason blockbuster—his stat sheet could run wild.

                 

Myles Turner Will Average 18 Points, 10 Rebounds

Defense and floor-spacing have helped Myles Turner establish his NBA niche. With Domantas Sabonis out of the middle (he left the bubble to rehab a foot injury), the Indiana Pacers center has a chance to show what he can bring as a scorer and glass-cleaner.

The 24-year-old already did it during the regular season whenever Sabonis took a breather. Turner averaged 20.4 points and 9.5 rebounds per 36 minutes during the time he played without Sabonis. More recently, Turner made his scrimmage debut in Orlando, Florida (again with no Sabonis) and jammed 15 points, eight boards and two blocks into only 24 minutes.

"I really like what I've seen from him since this restart," Pacers coach Nate McMillan said of Turner. "He's come back and seems to have matured even more since that four-month layoff. He has a great spirit about him."

Turner has shooting range out to the three-point arc and the size and footwork to punish smaller defenders in the post. He should be more of a matchup problem than his career 12.7 points per game say he is, and this is a chance for his fantasy-relevant numbers to better align with his true talent level.

The top stars in the NBA are expected to produce at a high level in Orlando, Florida, no matter what the adjusted in-arena circumstances are. 

James Harden, Giannis Antetokounmpo and others could be in line to be the top fantasy basketball producers at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex, but there are a few others to keep in mind when filling out lineups. 

Philadelphia and New Orleans have more favorable schedules, which could lead to higher numbers for Joel Embiid, Jrue Holiday and others. 

The Los Angeles Lakers sit on the opposite end of the strength-of-schedule spectrum, but that may not deter LeBron James from producing high totals, as he has strong numbers against his set of eight opponents. 

                    

NBA Position Rankings

Guard

1. James Harden, Houston

2. Luka Doncic, Dallas

3. Damian Lillard, Portland

4. Jimmy Butler, Miami

5. Devin Booker, Phoenix

6. Kemba Walker, Boston

7. Jrue Holiday, New Orleans

8. Russell Westbrook, Houston

9. Donovan Mitchell, Utah

10. Chris Paul, Oklahoma City

                   

James Harden is still expected to be the most productive player when the season opens up again in Orlando. 

The Houston guard is averaging over 30 points per game for the third consecutive season and should produce similar totals as the Rockets gear up for the postseason. 

The two top fantasy guards could be locked in a duel July 31, when Houston and Dallas face off in their respective openers in Florida. 

Luka Doncic increased his points per game by 7.5 from his rookie to sophomore season and has contributed in most other statistical categories. 

After playing Houston, the Mavericks line up across from Phoenix and Sacramento, which may give the 21-year-old priority over Harden in daily fantasy contests on those days because of his matchups.

Holiday has the potential to vault into the top five fantasy guard contributors due to New Orleans' favorable schedule. The Pelicans have a five-game stretch in which they play Sacramento twice, Memphis, San Antonio and Washington. 

Those games will not only benefit Holiday's potential output but also the Pelicans' playoff chase since they sit 3.5 games back of Memphis for the No. 8 seed. 

                  

Forward

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee

2. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

3. Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers

4. Pascal Siakam, Toronto

5. Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers

6. Jayson Tatum, Boston

7. Brandon Ingram, New Orleans 

8. Tobias Harris, Philadelphia

9. Danilo Gallinari, Oklahoma City

10. DeMar DeRozan, San Antonio

           

The top three forwards on this list have high expectations to produce at least 20 points on a nightly basis. 

Antetokounmpo, Leonard and James rank in the top 11 in points per game, with James being the lowest at No. 11 with 25.7 points per game. 

It may take a game or two for them to reach game fitness and adjust to the on-court settings in Orlando, but once the rust goes away, we could see 30-point performances as each player prepares for a championship run.

After Milwaukee gets through Boston and Houston, it has a weakened Brooklyn side, Miami, Dallas, Toronto, Washington and Memphis on its schedule. 

The six-game stretch could be the best area to take advantage of Antetokounmpo from a fantasy perspective. 

The Clippers' schedule may be viewed as treacherous since they open with the Lakers and then face No. 8 seed contenders New Orleans, Phoenix and Dallas, but they have a 7-2 record against those teams. 

James and the Lakers have the most difficult path of the three to the playoffs. They are scheduled to face the Clippers, Utah, Houston, Indiana and Denver between July 30 and August 13. 

James averaged 23.3 points per game in 14 contests with his eight Orlando opponents before the season was suspended. 

            

Center

1. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

2. Nikola Jokic, Denver

3. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia

4. Nikola Vucevic, Orlando

5. Rudy Gobert. Utah

6. Bam Adebayo, Miami

7. Kristaps Porzingis, Dallas

8. Hassan Whiteside, Portland

9. Myles Turner, Indiana

10. Domantas Sabonis, Indiana

          

While Anthony Davis and Nikola Jokic are expected to have success, all eyes at center should be on Embiid. 

Philadelphia has one of the easiest schedules of the 22 teams in Orlando and the potential to move up the standings from No. 6 to as high as No. 4.

Embiid could also benefit from the position switch of Ben Simmons, who has been practicing as a power forward, per The Athletic's Rich Hofmann.

If Simmons spends more time down low, he may take defenders away from Embiid beneath the basket, or allow the big man to leak out to the three-point line and hit open shots there. 

The Sixers should be able to experiment with that against weaker opposition, like San Antonio, Washington and Orlando, and fine-tune that strategy as much as they can before finishing with Toronto and Houston. 

Of the other centers, Bam Adebayo could demand fantasy attention if he replicates the run of form he had right before the shutdown. 

In his last 11 games, the Miami big man produced eight double-doubles, five 20-plus-point performances and recorded more than seven assists on five occasions. 

              

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from Basketball Reference

The NBA keeps pushing toward the 2019-20 season restart, which means the return of fantasy basketball gets closer by the day.

That makes this a perfect time, then, for a fantasy primer to help you hit the ground sprinting through your league's stretch run.

From scheduling particulars to rankings to waiver-wire targets (available in 50-plus percent of Yahoo leagues, per FantasyPros), we're examining all you need to know for when your fantasy leagues reopen.

                         

Restart Information

Where: Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla.

When: Starting July 30

Number of Teams: 22

Number of Games: 8 per team

                     

Top 20 Player Rankings

1. James Harden, PG/SG, Houston Rockets

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, SF/PF, Milwaukee Bucks

3. LeBron James, SF/PF, Los Angeles Lakers

4. Anthony Davis, PF/C, Los Angeles Lakers

5. Damian Lillard, PG, Portland Trail Blazers

6. Nikola Jokic, PF/C, Denver Nuggets

7. Joel Embiid, PF/C, Philadelphia 76ers

8. Kawhi Leonard, SG/SF, Los Angeles Clippers

9. Luka Doncic, PG/SG, Dallas Mavericks

10. Devin Booker, PG/SG, Phoenix Suns

11. Jimmy Butler, SG/SF, Miami Heat

12. Jayson Tatum, SF/PF, Boston Celtics

13. Bam Adebayo, PF/C, Miami Heat

14. Rudy Gobert, C, Utah Jazz

15. Jrue Holiday, PG/SG, New Orleans Pelicans

16. Domantas Sabonis, PF/C, Indiana Pacers

17. Paul George, SF/PF, Los Angeles Clippers

18. Pascal Siakam, PF, Toronto Raptors

19. DeMar DeRozan, SG/SF, San Antonio Spurs

20. Donovan Mitchell, PG/SG, Utah Jazz

                 

Waiver-Wire Targets

Zach Collins, PF/C, Portland Trail Blazers (14 Percent Owned)

The 10th overall pick in 2017, Zach Collins could finally be on the verge of his long-awaited breakout.

The 22-year-old seemed to be putting the puzzle pieces together at the start of the season, as he logged 30-plus minutes his first two outings and could've hit the mark again if not for a shoulder injury.

The 6'11" big man had already flashed his versatility with six assists, three triples and two blocks, which highlights how many categories he can hit when healthy.

He hasn't logged a second since that shoulder injury, but he was approaching his return before the season was suspended in mid-March. Now, he's back at full strength and should be on the cusp of major minutes, especially since Trevor Ariza opted out of the restart.

Collins' numbers have been held in check by injuries and a restricted role, but neither should be an issue in Orlando, Florida. That will keep his cost clearance-priced, so you should take advantage while you can.

                

Shabazz Napier, PG, Washington Wizards (14 Percent Owned)

The Wizards have been an extremely offense-focused team all season, which plays right into the strengths of Shabazz Napier.

The veteran arrived in the District at the trade deadline, snagged a starting spot by his eighth game with the Wizards and went into the season's suspension having poured in 48 points on 12-of-26 shooting (7-of-15 from three), 13 assists and seven steals over his final two outings.

His stock was already up, but now it's skyrocketing as the Wizards enter the bubble without Bradley Beal or Davis Bertans. That leaves Washington without its top two players in average field-goal attempts and leaves Napier standing as the team leader in usage rate (20.7).

Napier might feel like he's back at UConn with the workload he's set to receive. That should be good news for savvy fantasy owners, especially those who can afford a hit in field-goal percentage. The 29-year-old attempted at least a dozen shots 10 times this season, scored at least 17 points in seven of those contests and splashed 27 triples along the way.

The Wizards need someone to lead their attack, and unless they're ready to put rookie Rui Hachimura behind the wheel, Napier is the most logical guide.

                  

Rodions Kurucs, SF/PF, Brooklyn Nets (1 Percent Owned)

With seven different players sitting out the restart for various reasons—including Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Spencer Dinwiddie—the Nets are struggling to find familiar faces inside the bubble.

Rodions Kurucs is one, though, and this is the best shot at relevance he's had to date. He was a rotation regular as a rookie in 2018-19 and averaged 8.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.9 three-pointers in just 20.5 minutes per game. He could elevate all of those numbers with the starting power forward spot—and perhaps stretch center role—both seemingly his for the taking.

"Rodi is going to be really big for us because of absences that we have coming into the restart," Nets guard Garrett Temple told reporters. "His ability to offensive rebound, his ability to cause havoc on the defensive end, be a nuisance. And then offensively, knock down open shots and be a great cutter."

Kurucs, 22, probably won't emerge as a star in the Magic Kingdom, but at this juncture of the season, you shouldn't be shopping for stars. You're merely looking for value, and given his place on a depleted Nets roster, he should have plenty to offer.

The top of the fantasy basketball rankings should not change much ahead of the NBA restart in Orlando, Florida later this month. 

A majority of top-tier superstars are in action, with Karl-Anthony Towns, Trae Young and Andre Drummond the exceptions as their teams are not included in the 22-team format. 

Since everyone will be focused on James Harden and others, the best way to capture any fantasy prize this summer is to identify the best sleepers to fill out your lineup.

Zach Collins and Furkan Korkmaz could be two of the best sleepers in Florida due to their expected roles with Portland and Philadelphia, respectively, and the weight of playoff positioning attached to their games.

                

Fantasy Basketball Rankings

1. James Harden, PG/SG, Houston

2. Anthony Davis, PF/C, Los Angeles Lakers

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, SF/PF, Milwaukee

4. LeBron James, SF/PF, Los Angeles Lakers

5. Damian Lillard, PG, Portland

6. Luka Doncic, PG/SG. Dallas

7. Kawhi Leonard, SG/SF, Los Angeles Clippers

8. Nikola Jokic, PF/C, Denver

9. Bradley Beal, SG, Washington

10. Devin Booker, PG, Phoenix

11. Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia

12. Jimmy Butler, SG/SF, Miami

13. Russell Westbrook, PG, Houston

14. Rudy Gobert, C, Utah

15. Kemba Walker, PG, Boston

16. Jrue Holiday, PG, New Orleans

17. Paul George, SF/PF, Los Angeles Clippers

18. Pascal Siakam, PF, Toronto

19. Nikola Vucevic, PF/C, Orlando

20. Donovan Mitchell, PG/SG, Utah

       

Mock Draft

1. James Harden

2. Anthony Davis

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo

4. LeBron James

5. Damian Lillard

6. Luka Doncic

7. Kawhi Leonard

8. Nikola Jokic

9. Bradley Beal 

10. Devin Booker

11. Joel Embiid

12. Jimmy Butler

             

Sleepers to Watch

Zach Collins, PF/C, Portland

The return of Collins to the Portland Trail Blazers lineup has been somewhat overshadowed by Jusuf Nurkic's clean bill of health.

Collins, 22, played in three games in October before he was forced off the hardwood by a dislocated shoulder. With Trevor Ariza opting out of Orlando, he should slide into a starting position next to Nurkic in the frontcourt. 

In his first two seasons, the Gonzaga product was a fixture off the bench for Terry Stotts' team and averaged 6.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game during the 2018-19 campaign. If he combines with Nurkic to provide support for Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, he could come away with decent fantasy numbers. 

Collins is rostered in 25 percent of ESPN leagues and 14 percent of Yahoo competitions, per Fantasy Pros. 

If he plays well at the start of the eight-game slate in Orlando, he could also be viewed as a value pick in daily fantasy lineups since he likely won't cost as much as other frontcourt players. 

                     

Furkan Korkmaz, SG, Philadelphia

Before the NBA season was suspended, Korkmaz went on an incredible scoring run for the Philadelphia 76ers. 

In January and February, the Turkish shooting guard had 13 double-digit performances, including back-to-back 30-point games versus the Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls. 

Korkmaz, 22, could be vital for the Sixers in Florida, especially at the start with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid working into game form after dealing with injuries. 

He and other Sixers players should be ideal for fantasy competitions during the eight seeding games because of the team's easy strength of schedule. After opening with Indiana, Philadelphia plays San Antonio, Washington, Orlando, Portland and Phoenix before closing against Toronto and Houston.

If the Sixers take advantage of those matchups, they could finish as high as the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. 

With so much going in Philadelphia's favor, it makes sense to run with Korkmaz during the restart given his importance to the squad.

                 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from Basketball Reference

Fantasy basketball titles are secured or squandered on the waiver wire.

That's been true as long as fantasy leagues have allowed in-season additions, and it will remain that way whenever the hoops hiatus lifts.

Since we're all jonesing for NBA action, let's look ahead to the league's glorious return and identify which players—available in 50-plus percent of Yahoo leagues, per FantasyPros—you'll want to target when that day comes.

                         

P.J. Washington, F, Charlotte Hornets (49 Percent Owned)

Oftentimes, fantasy owners will hit the waiver wire with a specific stat target in mind. That can lead to the player pool being filtered into specialist suppliers of boards, triples or whatever your roster requires.

It's not a bad way of doing business, but it can let across-the-board contributors like P.J. Washington slip through the cracks.

No single area of his stat line stands out. He might occasionally sniff 20 points or double-digit rebounds, but these outbursts are few and far between. What he'll do, though, is leave his fingerprints on basically all areas of the box score.

He might not carry you in points (12.2) or boards (5.4), but he'll help in both. His 2.1 assists and 1.5 triples are solid for the forward spot, and he'll chip in 1.7 combined steals and blocks. Tack on a sturdy 45.5 field-goal percentage, and you're talking about a player who can strengthen most fantasy rosters.

                  

Damion Lee, G, Golden State Warriors (34 Percent Owned)

With no Stephen Curry for a big chunk of this season and no Klay Thompson for any of it, the Golden State Warriors have been freed to veer into experimentation mode. Namely, they've been allowed to explore the possibility of finding long-term contributors among the remnants of this roster, and Damion Lee has played his way into that conversation.

The 6'5" scoring guard already had his two-way contract converted into a three-year pact. After scuffling just to find a rotation role in the NBA, he's now a full-time starter for the Warriors and one of their key contributors.

"He's had to bounce around and fight for everything," head coach Steve Kerr told reporters. "It's great to see him play so well and really solidify his future."

Prior to the hiatus, Lee was zipping through a heater. Over his last 16 outings, his notable contributions had climbed to 15.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.8 threes. He was making 44.2 percent of his field goals and 87.9 percent of his foul shots. Those are all helpful stats, and they could continue climbing if he finds his footing again.

                  

Jusuf Nurkic, C, Portland Trail Blazers (44 Percent Owned)

Want to get a leg up on your leaguemates? Open another tab, head over to your league page and put in a waiver claim for Jusuf Nurkic right now.

The Blazers big man was days away from returning from a fractured leg before the season was suspended. Some fantasy owners already pounced, but when he's available in more than half of all Yahoo leagues, there's an obvious buying opportunity here.

If Nurkic is fully unleashed—if he was already nearing 100 percent, just imagine how he could feel in a few months—he's a fantasy asset in multiple categories. Last season, he was one of only eight players to average 15 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. The others were all first- and second-round fantasy draft picks.

The Bosnian might give you nothing in threes, but a lot of centers are like that. And most of those non-shooting bigs won't give you a 77.3 free-throw percentage like Nurkic did last season. If you can add him now, you'll be starting him whenever play resumes.

One of the easiest lineup decisions to make in every fantasy league is to ride the hot hand. 

Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Washington fits into that category at the moment, as he has become a steady scorer over the last two weeks. 

An abundance of games in Week 21 makes Washington either an ideal waiver-wire pickup, or a must-start for fantasy basketball owners that have already caught on to the rookie's hot streak. 

While Charlotte will be on the court frequently over the next seven days, the Toronto Raptors have a small schedule. 

Because they will be on the hardwood so little, the Raptors players might not make a fantasy impact this week.

               

Week 21 Lineup Advice

Ride P.J. Washington's Hot Hand

Washington started to hit his stride during a run of Hornets home games. 

The Kentucky product strung together six consecutive double-digit performances, five of which have occurred inside the Spectrum Center. 

The rookie has experienced a gradual point increase through that run, as he put up 12 points in the February 26 win over the New York Knicks and then produced 22 in his last outing versus the Houston Rockets. 

Charlotte has one of the busiest NBA slates over the next week, starting with a road game at the Atlanta Hawks Monday. 

Then the Hornets visit the Miami Heat Wednesday before coming back home to play the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday. The week finishes with a trip back to Florida Sunday to face the Orlando Magic. 

While there could be some concern about a drop off during the quick succession of contests, Washington thrived with one day off in each of his March performances. 

Over the last three games, Washington has knocked down at least three shots from beyond the arc, and he has chipped in at other stat categories.

While the points may be easy to come by, he has had more than six rebounds once and no more than three assists in a single contest during this six-game run, so do not expect massive contributions outside of the scoring column. 

              

Stay Away From Toronto With Limited Schedule

The Raptors have one of the least enviable schedules from a fantasy perspective in the next week. 

On Monday, Toronto has to play the Utah Jazz in the second half of a road back-to-back. It beat the Sacramento Kings by five Sunday. 

Nick Nurse's side has lost at least one leg in three of its four back-to-back road games on consecutive days, with the lone exception being wins over Cleveland and the Detroit Pistons in late January. 

Playing on tired legs at altitude against a Jazz team that has won five in a row does not appear to be a formula that will produce good results Monday. 

Additionally, the Raptors have to face Rudy Gobert, who ranks second in defensive rebounds and fourth in blocks. 

Saturday's home meeting with the Pistons should result in a victory, and if you need a late push in head-to-head matchups, a start for Kyle Lowry and others would work out. 

But between Monday and Saturday, you will not be receiving any contributions from Raptors players, which is why this may be the week to keep them on the bench. 

                   

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from Basketball Reference

The fantasy basketball playoffs are fast approaching.

Is your roster in the best shape possible? If your answer is anything other than an emphatic "Yes!", then it's time to hit the waiver wire for the kind of roster reinforcements who just might tilt the fantasy title in your favor.

Since this league is always fluid with hot streaks and frigid spells, injuries and player returns (Welcome back, Wardell!), there are always buying opportunities if you know where to look. Considering you came to this article, apparently you do.

Let's get to the top waiver-wire adds after Wednesday.

                        

Seth Curry, PG/SG, Dallas Mavericks

Available in 59 percent of Yahoo leagues (h/t Fantasy Pros), Seth Curry is on a heater that apparently nobody is watching. Please don't make the same mistake.

He may not offer the most diverse set of contributions, but if you're in need of points, triples and/or field-goal percentage, then he's your guy.

Entering Wednesday, the scoring guard was averaging 19.7 points and 3.7 triples while shooting 57.1 percent (not a typo!) over his previous 10 outings. Then he went out and dropped 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting and six more triples on the New Orleans Pelicans.

He's seventh on the Dallas Mavericks in minutes per game, and that number keeps climbing. Given his fiery touch of late, why wouldn't that continue?

                   

Eric Paschall, F, Golden State Warriors

If the rookie wall was going to bother Eric Paschall (40 percent owned), he would have plowed into it by now. Instead, his worst shooting month of the season—by true shooting percentage, at least—was in December, when he converted 46 percent of his field goals and 38.9 percent of his perimeter looks.

He doesn't contribute much from distance (0.6 threes per game), but he's a master at finding his spots inside the arc. His 13.8 points per game are appealing on their own for a waiver-wire addition, but they only grow more glowing when combined with his 49.5 percent field-goal conversion rate.

With Stephen Curry finally back in the fold, Paschall's quantity of shots might take a hit, but the quality should improve immensely. He won't be such a focus on opponents' scouting reports, but he should still be featured by a Golden State team that needs to see how he fits alongside Curry.

Paschall has scored at least 20 points a dozen times; three such games have occurred since Feb. 27. Whether he's starting or serving instant-offense duty off the bench, he should be a solid source of scoring and efficient shooting.

                        

James Johnson, F, Minnesota Timberwolves

What can a change of scenery do for you? For James Johnson (25 percent owned), a deadline deal from the Miami Heat to the Minnesota Timberwolves has turned around his season.

In Miami, he wasn't even guaranteed nightly minutes. In Minnesota, he's seeing 24.4 per night and using them to leave an imprint on almost every category. His Timberwolves averages include 11.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks. Maybe none of those categories hits the highest note, but collectively, they form a pitch-perfect harmony.

He might foul his way into the occasional clunker (3.6 per night with Minnesota), but the reward far outweighs the risk.

It's Week 20 of the 2020 NBA season and officially crunch time for fantasy basketball managers. But before you read ahead, make sure you have a bid on the Philadelphia 76ers' Shake Milton if he isn't already owned in your league.

There are other appealing sleepers for Week 20 and beyond, but the 23-year-old is in a tier of his own and deserves appropriate eagerness.

With the Milton PSA taken care of, read on below for a ranked list of our sleepers for this week (all owned in under 33 percent of Yahoo leagues) and then some analysis of the top three: Milton, Damion Lee and Luke Kennard.

                 

1. PG/SG Shake Milton (Philadelphia 76ers, 32 percent owned)

2. SG Damion Lee (Golden State Warriors, 31 percent owned)

3. SG Luke Kennard (Detroit Pistons, 30 percent owned)

4. PG Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers, 28 percent owned)

5. SF De'Andre Hunter (Atlanta Hawks, 28 percent owned)

6. SF/PF Juancho Hernangomez (Minnesota Timberwolves, 24 percent owned)

                     

Shake Milton, Philadelphia 76ers

As Ben Simmons sits out with a pinched nerve in his lower back, Milton has been on an absolute tear.

In the four games Simmons has missed, Milton has played 33.5 minutes per game and averaged 21.3 points (with 4.3 threes), 3.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists (while also chipping in a solid 0.8 steals and 1.0 blocks).

The SMU product is shooting 64 percent from the field over that same stretch and 80 percent from the free-throw line in the 27 games he's played this season.

This Milton thing is real, and fantasy managers should be racing to pick him up following a 39-point outing (with seven threes) against the typically suffocating Los Angeles Clippers. 

Shake Milton CAREER-HIGH 39 ‼️@SniperShake erupts for 39 PTS, 7 3PM for the @sixers in LA. pic.twitter.com/J0EzZ0uSGi

— NBA (@NBA) March 1, 2020

Simmons' timeline is unclear and Josh Richardson recently went down with a concussion, meaning the guard minutes are wide open for a surprising sniper who gives Philadelphia's offense some much-needed spacing. No matter how you shake it, this is a no-brainer.

                

Damion Lee, Golden State Warriors

A couple tiers down, we find Lee. It's not an exciting sleeper, but the Warriors are committed to him having a role on the team, and he's been playing a ton of minutes as of late and finding some useful production.

The 27-year-old has played over 30 minutes in seven of Golden State's last eight games, scored double-digit points in eight straight and multiple threes in five straight. His lines aren't typically eye-popping, but it's good, honest work that gets the box-score filling job done.

To be more specific, Lee has played 32.6 minutes over his last eight games while averaging 16.3 points (with 2.9 threes), 4.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists. Jordan Poole recently hit the injury report, which frees up even more minutes for the wing who has already stepped into the playing (and shooting) opportunity voided by Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III's departures.

You can do a lot worse than Lee steadying your fantasy team's numbers from the bottom of your roster. Plus, there's a strong chance that Stephen Curry's return makes life a lot easier for a Warriors squad that has been decimated by injuries and reliant on inexperience. 

                   

Luke Kennard, Detroit Pistons

Kennard is a trickier option than others here, with a much lower floor given his injury questions juxtaposed against the high ceiling granted by his talent and foreseeable role. If you can afford it, he is a worthwhile stash.

If not, you can prioritize someone like the Minnesota Timberwolves' Juancho Hernangomez or the Cleveland Cavaliers' Darius Garland, whose teams each play four games this week.

The Pistons don't play until Wednesday, so if you don't want to sacrifice early production, you can go after a San Antonio Spurs' rotation player since they play back-to-back on Monday and Tuesday.

As for why Kennard is worth investing in, just look at his regular-season averages in the 2019-20 season: 15.8 points, 4.1 assists and 3.5 rebounds—with season-high ceilings of 30 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. 

There's also the added upside of Derrick Rose's likely vacated minutes, after the veteran guard left Sunday's matchup with an ankle injury. Kennard, who has been Detroit's best playmaker for much of the season, is the team's top candidate to carry the offense once he's back and off of a short-term minutes restriction.

The trade deadline for pro and public fantasy basketball leagues may have passed, but there are still some private leagues that may have different deadlines based on their league configuration.

So for those who have to ride out their rosters to the end, it may be of some value to see if the last-minute moves made are in line with analysts' predictions.

And for those owners who still have an opportunity to make moves, there are some players out there who can help make rosters tough to beat.

Choosing the right players to add and drop could make a huge difference as teams head into the home stretch of the regular season.

           

Add

C Andre Drummond, Cleveland Cavaliers

No matter where Andre Drummond is, he's a walking double-double. Before he was dealt by the Detroit Pistons, he was playing at an All-Star level, averaging 17.8 points, 15.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.7 blocks per game.

Now that he's with the Cleveland Cavaliers, his numbers are significantly down at 12.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 blocks per outing, which may make Drummond owners nervous.

However, it bodes well for owners who either took a risk or are looking to take a risk in their portfolio, because once Drummond gets acclimated to the Cavs' schematics, he should be able to bounce back and put up his customary stat lines.

            

PG Coby White, Chicago Bulls

While Coby White is still just a rookie with the Chicago Bulls, he's been finding his way of late.

In the last three games, he's played otherworldly, averaging 33.6 points per game. Compare that to his usual 12.3 points per outing and that's a significant jump.

Common sense dictates that he'll taper off in the coming weeks, but with the Bulls' struggles, his minutes could continue to increase.

In the month of February, he averaged 30.9 minutes per game, more than a seven-minute leap from January. With more opportunities to play into his potential, he should keep rising as a player.

         

SF/PF Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans

Sure, it may seem odd on the surface to mention Brandon Ingram as an add after he was named to his first All-Star team, but now that Zion Williamson is back, he's taken a back seat for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Ingram's status isn't totally derailing his season, though. For the month of February, he averaged 23.7 points per game, just one point below his season average.

All eyes will continue to be on Williamson as the regular season winds down, but the Pels will need to be cautious with their prized rookie, making Ingram valuable when he has to pick up the slack.

       

Drop

SG JJ Redick, New Orleans Pelicans

Normally, New Orleans Pelicans shooting guard JJ Redick is an automatic bucket from deep.

The 13-year veteran is averaging a respectable 15.2 points and 2.0 assists per game. But in the last three games, he's only averaged 7.0 points per game.

That's abysmal. Sure, there's a trickle-down effect from Williamson's return, but Redick should still be able to be make an impact.

With this trend in mind, though, it would be a good move to cut bait and reel in someone with a better trajectory or drop him if it's not too late.

         

C Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

For the owners who have banked on Karl-Anthony Towns' production this season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, it's probably been a nice ride up until now.

The two-time All-Star has a fractured left wrist, and at this late point in the season, it would not be a good idea for the Wolves to have him suit up, even if he does recover before the season ends.

It's probably hard to give up on a player who is averaging a career-high 26.5 points per game, but Towns is down for the count this season. 

           

C John Collins, Atlanta Hawks

While John Collins has played well for the Atlanta Hawks, especially during the month of February, it may be time to sell high on the young big man.

With averages of 21.0 points and 10.2 rebounds, owners should only deal Collins for a player of equal output.

There's a realistic chance that Collins' numbers could decline when Clint Capela sees the floor, especially when it comes to rebounds, but there's no guarantee that Capela does return.

If an owner has already managed to get a top-15 player in exchange for Collins, they receive top marks. For the owners who can still make a deal, if it's not for a top-15 player, the smart move would be to hold on to him and hope that if Capela does return, it doesn't take away from Collins' production.

      

Follow Maurice Bobb on Twitter, @ReeseReport

Statistics obtained from ESPN.com

Save for some waiver-wire neglect by your fellow fantasy league managers, there may not be another post-draft avenue to elite talent than the trade market.

If you're planning to travel that road in search of the missing piece of your championship puzzle, the clock is ticking. In Yahoo leagues, the standard trade deadline is set for 11:59 p.m. PT on Wednesday.

The time to trigger that league-winning blockbuster is now, and we have identified three players to target before the deadline passes.

                     

John Collins, Atlanta Hawks

What if we told you that you might be able to snag a 22-year-old, double-double machine at a discount? Never in a million years, right?

Well, John Collins could prove us right—if people are still worried about the reshuffled frontcourt in Atlanta. After the Hawks landed both Clint Capela and Dewayne Dedmon at the real-life trade deadline, some feared Collins couldn't be the same.

"Collins is the biggest [trade deadline] loser," FantasyPros' Michael Waterloo wrote. "He still has fantasy value but gets bumped down a tier or two in overall rankings."

If you can get Collins a tier or two below his normal going rate, then feel free to put us on pause so you can push that transaction through. He has suited up six times since the deadline, averaging 25.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 blocks in 37.2 minutes.

Granted, Capela has yet to play for the Hawks, but he's down for at least two more weeks, and Atlanta should be ultracautious with him.

This team doesn't have a playoff berth to pursue, and with Capela locked up for the long term, he shouldn't sniff the floor until he's clearly 100 percent. Who knows, maybe he'll even prove a nice fit with Collins when he does.

If anyone has questions on Collins, this is the time to try getting him for cheap.

                   

Christian Wood, Detroit Pistons

Christian Wood has scratched and clawed for the respect of Pistons coach Dwane Casey, and while the veteran skipper can be stingy with opportunities, he has extended enough of them for him to engineer his breakout.

An intriguing part-timer in past seasons, the bouncy big man is finally showing what we can do with a regular rotation role. His stat line is littered with career highs (including 11.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 19.3 minutes per game), and those numbers may not even scratch the surface of his stretch-run production.

With Andre Drummond and Markieff Morris both out of the picture, the Pistons have essentially cleared the runway for Wood to take flight.

Entering Sunday's slate, Detroit was five games into the post-Drummond era. Wood's averages for those contests included: 19.6 points on 51.6 percent shooting, 10.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.8 threes and 1.0 blocks.

Still just 24 years old, Wood has a chance to play his way into the Pistons' future plans. They should showcase him to see if he's worth keeping around, and he can be a fantasy asset when he gets consistent floor time.

               

Malik Beasley, Minnesota Timberwolves

Malik Beasley was struggling to maintain a fantasy pulse before the Minnesota Timberwolves snagged him away from the overcrowded Denver Nuggets and plugged him into their own overhauled rotation.

Just like that, the fourth-year swingman has transformed from afterthought to featured contributor.

Entering Sunday, Beasley had nearly doubled his minutes since the trade (33.5, up from 18.2), while his usage rate jumped six points (26.6 percent, up from 20.6). His scoring had almost tripled (23.3, from 7.9), and his three-point tally did more than that (4.5, from 1.4).

Is all of this sustainable? Probably not. The 23-year-old has never produced like this before, and he's seen a usage bump since Karl-Anthony Towns went down.

But remember, Beasley is playing for his next contract, and Minnesota is months away from deciding whether it wants to foot that bill. In other words, he has incentive to play his absolute best, and the team has motivation to extend maximum minutes to see how he handles them.

He should be a much better fantasy player than he was in Denver, and if his fantasy owners haven't paid close enough attention to his post-trade eruption, there is major bargain potential here.