In some cases, the option that seems most reasonable may not be selected. That’s a great way to sum up how the Orlando Magic accounted for the absence of starting center Wendell Carter Jr. in Saturday’s 120-101 win over the Lakers. Carter was expected to be out for at least three weeks after breaking a finger on his left hand and requiring surgery, and Moritz Wagner was expected to take his place. However, Magic coach Jamal Mosley decided to maintain continuity with the bench unit, leaving Wagner in the role and moving Goga Bitadze to the starting lineup. And, for one night at least, the decision magically worked.
Both players played well, with Vitadze recording 10 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and five blocked shots in 26 minutes. Wagner had 13 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one steal and one 3-point shot in 19 minutes. While the latter did nothing to negatively impact his streaming value while the Magic played without Carter, the former has put himself on the map among fantasy managers, especially those in deeper leagues. Ta. Wagner is 26% registered in the Yahoo League heading into Sunday, while Vitadze’s registration rate is significantly lower at 4%.
It’s not great for Orlando to play three games instead of four in Week 3, but he shouldn’t be playing against Wagner or Vitadze. Both players will obviously play in the rotation, with the Magic playing four games each in Weeks 4 and 5. Let’s take a look at some more quality pickups from Saturday’s schedule. Let’s start with another Magic player whose injury forced him into a more prominent role. .
Anthony Black (3%)
With Markelle Fultz (knee) and Gary Harris (groin) out for Saturday’s game, Black made his first start of his NBA career. He had a solid performance, recording 11 points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal, and two 3-pointers in 30 minutes. While Black proved reliable in the first unit, another benefit of his inclusion in the starting lineup was that it gave Paolo Banchero more opportunities to start the attack (career-high 10 assist). Black still has more value in dynasty leagues than in a redraft, but his medical history makes him one to keep an eye on, especially if Fultz’s knee issues continue.
Dillon Brooks (49%)
Let’s be honest, whether you play fantasy basketball or not, many are waiting for the proverbial roof to cave in after Brooks’ strong start to the season. Otherwise, why would a player who made his mark in the first two weeks of the season still play in more than half of the Yahoo Leagues? He had 26 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 in 38 minutes. He finished Saturday’s rout against the Kings with a steal and two 3-pointers. Brooks is shooting over 60% from the field, but it is highly unlikely that this will continue throughout the season. However, he plays with a high level of confidence while being efficient and putting up numbers.
Malik Monk (46%)
With De’Aaron Fox (ankle) sidelined earlier this week, it didn’t take much effort to conclude that Monk was a better fantasy option than backup point guard Davion Mitchell. Ta. This is how the two games played in Sacramento without their starting point guard, and Monk had 18 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists (!), 1 steal, and 3 3-pointers in the first 26 minutes. . bench. Monk offers top-100 fantasy value, and while he will take a hit if Fox returns, retaining Fox could be justified when the time comes. You can’t say that about Mitchell.
Sadiq Bey (38%)
The Hawks effectively have three starting forwards, and Quin Snyder’s selection on the night will depend on how they’re playing and the matchup. On nights when the Hawks faced bigger players in the Big Four, Jaylen Johnson was the starter, and Bey was in the lineup on other nights. But unlike Johnson and DeAndre Hunter, Bey is still registered in less than 40% of Yahoo leagues. He scored 12 points, five rebounds, two assists, one steal and made two 3-pointers in 26 minutes against the Pelicans on Saturday. It’s not a line that jumps off the page, but another notable player (Brooklyn’s Royce O’Neal) makes the list by making 2 of 15 from the field.
Reggie Jackson (6%)
And since the starting pitchers for the Nuggets and Suns were permanently out or out for an extended period of time due to injury, this time it falls under the injury category. For the reigning champions, Reggie Jackson started in the second half of the win over the Bulls because Jamal Murray was suffering from a strained right hamstring. He played 25 minutes and had 16 points, one rebound, three assists, one block, and three 3-pointers. Murray suffered a quadriceps contusion in the same leg (right) on Saturday and there is a real possibility he will miss stoppage time. But while Jackson could have been the next man up, it was Collin Gillespie (one on the roster) who was on the court with four other Denver starters during the fourth quarter run that broke the game. % or more).
Drew Eubanks (14%)
Eubanks has already garnered attention in deep fantasy leagues, but he could be given a bigger role in the Suns’ rotation Sunday against the Pistons. During the second quarter of Saturday’s loss to Philadelphia, starting center Jusuf Nurkic was elbowed in the jaw by Joel Embiid and remained in the locker room until the beginning of the third quarter for further evaluation. Nuruk eventually returned to action, but it’s fair to wonder if he’ll be okay for the second game of the back-to-back on Sunday afternoon. Even so, how far will the Suns play Nurkic given his medical history? Phoenix doesn’t have to release its first injury report until Sunday morning, so keep an eye on Nurkic (along with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal), as his absence will increase Eubanks’ streaming value.