Pickups of the Night: Friday, March 17, 2023
We’re really getting down to it as far as the fantasy season goes, with most leagues wrapping things up in the next two weeks. As such, it’s going to be imperative that you take the time to figure out exactly what your team needs on any given night; you might have to pass up a better player for someone who is going to hit more 3-pointers or grab more steals. You’ll also have to pay careful attention to your schedules. A player with no games on the weekend doesn’t really help you right now, so a move is better spent on a player who’s going to chip in to end the matchup — if you’re in a position to need that help. We’ve got some players who stood out on Friday night, but remember, it all depends on what you’re looking for this time of year.
Standard Leagues
Just a note that Onyeka Okongwu should be rostered already. There are a few guys in that category who are getting dropped by managers who need to stream to stay afloat in playoff matchups, but let their desperation be your gain.
Kevon Looney, C, Golden State Warriors
Tonight: 34 minutes, 18 points (8-of-10 FG, 2-for-4 FT), 16 rebounds, three assists, four blocks
Looney always gets by on his steady trickle of rebounds and blocks on strong marks from the field, but managers who need to make up a bunch of ground in a hurry may not have the patience for that. If you’re someone who can benefit from a reliable back-end presence, Looney is a great fit for any frontcourt. Tonight is a high-water mark for him with Draymond Green (suspension) out, but if you turn the volume down a bit it’s still a reasonable approximation of what he can do.
Herb Jones, F, New Orleans Pelicans
Tonight: 28 minutes, nine points (3-of-4 FG, 3-of-4 FT), one rebound, one assist, four steals
Yeah, Jones won’t always score a lot, but he’s generally going to get you a defensive stat or two. That has more value than you realize, though Jones is definitely more of a build-dependent option in head-to-head formats.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, G, Atlanta Hawks
Tonight: 26 minutes, 14 points (5-of-11 FG), two rebounds, one steal, two blocks, four 3-pointers
Bogdanovic has benefited as the Hawks have trimmed their rotation a bit under Quin Snyder. The fact that he’s still the team’s third-best ball-handler every night limits his ceiling substantially, but Bogdanovic is someone you can stream for points, 3-pointers and maybe a little extra in assists, steals or rebounds if you get him on the right night.
Caris LeVert, G, Cleveland Cavaliers
Tonight: 26 minutes, 15 points (6-of-9 FG, 2-for-2 FT), four rebounds, three assists, four steals, one block, one 3-pointer
The ice here is extremely thin. This is, by far, LeVert’s best stretch of play with both Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell in the lineup. The bottom could drop out at any time but you’re welcome to roll the dice while he’s playing well. This isn’t so much a recommendation as a note that LeVert is playing well enough to justify a risky decision.
Deeper Formats
Trendon Watford, F, Portland Trail Blazers
Tonight: 34 minutes, 10 points (4-of-7 FG), eight rebounds, eight assists, three steals, two 3-pointers
Watford is a safe play for as long as Jerami Grant (quad) is out. It’s pretty simple, though Grant has been listed questionable prior to his two absences and may not be out much longer.
Jae’Sean Tate, F, Houston Rockets
Tonight: 21 minutes, 12 points (4-of-6 FG, 3-of-5 FT), six rebounds, five assists, one block, one 3-pointer
Tate will sometimes struggle to stand out in a deep Rockets rotation, but his chops as a ball-handler will give him a path to minutes, and he’s one of those guys who can wear a few different hats. It leads to multi-cat lines like this, so kick the tires if this floats your boat.
Luke Kennard, G, Memphis Grizzlies
Tonight: 32 minutes, 13 points (4-of-7 FG, 1-for-2 FT), two rebounds, three assists, four steals, four 3-pointers
Kennard is picking up some extra minutes while Ja Morant is away from the team and although this line needs a grain of salt considering it came against the tanking Spurs, it’s a reasonable showcase of what he can be capable of. If you need 3-pointers and assists, don’t sleep on Kennard.
Malaki Branham, G, San Antonio Spurs
Tonight: 39 minutes, 18 points (6-of-16 FG, 2-for-2 FT), six rebounds, two assists, one steal, four 3-pointers
Branham is going to get his opportunities as the Spurs rotate rest days for their older players, and though the inconsistency that comes with an ever-changing rotation might keep him out of the picture for a regular spot in 12-team leagues, his scoring upside is worth the trouble in deeper formats. Just watch out if you do care about FG%.
Taurean Prince, F, Minnesota Timberwolves
Tonight: Not great, but that’s not the point
Prince started the second half for Anthony Edwards, who left this game after only eight minutes of action thanks to a sprained ankle that looked pretty nasty. Consider Prince for 3-and-D numbers even if he didn’t do anything with his chance tonight.
Sandro Mamukelashvili, C, San Antonio Spurs
Tonight: 23 minutes, six points (2-of-6 FG, 2-of-4 FT), 14 rebounds, two assists, one steal
Zach Collins is going to get rested here and there and the Spurs lost Charles Bassey to a bad knee injury, so Mamukelashvili is going to play. He’s not shy to shoot but deep-league managers should get some utility out of his rebounds no matter if those shots are falling.
Paul Reed, C, Philadelphia 76ers
Tonight: 12 minutes, eight points (4-of-8 FG), 10 rebounds, three blocks
This was a 40-point blowout so there’s nothing you should read into too much, but Reed has finally won the backup C gig and would be an automatic play if Joel Embiid ever got hurt.
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