As week three in the NBA is coming to a close, there are those among the undrafted that are proving themselves to be viable fantasy options. Early in the season is a great time to capitalize on undrafted players as their value is low and their availability is high.
Whether your intention is to keep the player on your roster or to just pick him up till you can offload him at a profit is up to you and your roster makeup. Either way, it makes sense to troll the undrafted waters weekly as there are those who surface as being players on the rise. Pick up and sell off enough of these acquisitions and your roster value will increase to the point where you could add another significant piece.
Here are five players who went largely undrafted in most leagues. Capitalize on their availability now; snap these guys up and reap the short-term fantasy points and get a nice return on your investment.
Jared Sullinger - Boston Celtics
Sullinger was very close to earning the ‘bust’ moniker. He was injured and no one had real expectations of him being able to contribute at the NBA level for the Celtics. Then a funny thing happened as the Celtics gutted their roster and that left Sullinger with a chance to compete for a starting spot.
Sullinger has certainly made the most of the opportunity as he came into the season healthy and he started producing like no one expected. The crowning jewel for Sullinger thus far came last night against the Portland Trailblazers and LaMarcus Aldridge as he posted 26 points on 11-18 from the field, 8 rebounds and 2 assists in 36 minutes. Given this kind of production, I’d think that it is fair to say that the Celtics have found their starting power forward for the short-term anyways.
Danny Green - San Antonio Spurs
The sharp-shooting Green certainly made a name for himself during the Spurs Championship run last season. He has kept his hot-hand into this season as he continues to shoot a solid .500 from everywhere on the floor. As spot up shooters go, Green is a productive one. He benefits greatly from playing in a system that is predicated on ball movement and floor spacing.
As the season wears on expect Green’s minutes to increase slightly as Coach Popovich will want to get Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan some extra rest. As it stands now Green is averaging 8.7 ppg, 1.4 apg and 3.4 rpg on the season thus far which are in line with his career numbers. What does stand out is that in the Spurs ten games, Green has registered a double-double and three games of double-figure scoring. While Green’s minutes are hovering around 25 per night right now, watch for them to increase and with the playing time expect his stat line to look a bit better too.
Jeremy Lin - Houston Rockets
Linsanity certainly cooled considerably last year as the weaknesses in Lin’s game were exposed. This season Lin has rediscovered his groove as a part-time starter and floor leader of the second-unit. With all the offseason acquisitions in Houston, the expectations are sky high for the Rockets this season. Lin’s role with the franchise has changed as new players have been brought into the fold.
It would seem that the lack of a constant spotlight has benefited Lin as he has asserted himself in a huge way of late. With Dwight Howard, James Harden & Co. getting most of the publicity; Lin has gone about his business of improving his game. Thus far this season in the ten games, Lin is averaging 18.4 ppg, 4.7 apg and 2.7 rpg while playing over 33 minutes a night.
Lin’s last three games look like 31 points 5 rebounds, 34 points 12 assists 5 rebounds and a 21 point 3 assist 5 rebound performance. With Howard and Harden getting most of the defensive attention, Lin has been able to attack the basket and make plays around the rim like he once did when he took New York by storm back in the 2011-12 season.
Markieff Morris & Gerald Green - Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns were in desperate need of players to step up and assert themselves. The roster on a whole is thin on established talent and the opportunity for one to step out of the shadows certainly existed. Two players who have fully capitalized on their opportunities are Morris and Green.
Morris is off to a great start as evidenced by his 15.9 ppg and 6.4 rpg in only 28 minutes of game action a night. Last week Morris had four consecutive double-figure point nights and three of those games saw him post over twenty points. Morris also had two consecutive double-double nights as he really hit the boards against the Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs.
Staying in the desert we have Gerald Green who left a disappointing stint with Indiana for a new chance in Phoenix. The change certainly seems to have done some good as Green is posting some of the better numbers of his career right now. Green’s 13.8 ppg, 1.0 apg and 3.1 rpg averages may not be sustainable for long if he can’t retain his spot in the starting five; however, once Green adjusts he should still be a solid fantasy contributor from the bench.
John Henson - Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are intent to bring Henson along slowly, which is nice if one has the luxury, but unfortunately the Bucks are terrible and they will need to push Henson a bit harder than some. The second-year player seems to be able to handle the workload as he has seen his minutes jump to 26 per night and with the playing time Henson is posting 11.7 ppg and 5.6 rpg. Nice thing about the athletic Henson is that he is capable of blocking shots in bunches as evidenced by his 5 blocks against Orlando followed up with another three the next nght against Indiana.
Henson will benefit greatly from Larry Sanders prolonged absence as he will be called upon to play heavier minutes and even be a spot-starter. This is a great time to snag Henson off the waiver wire and hold him for the short-term then cash out.