Caris Levert
Caris Levert will be a good pickup moving forward. Recently he was inserted into the starting lineup for Issac Okoro. Levert is a dynamic scorer. He can make plays with and without the ball. There are times when Caris doesn’t move enough without the ball. It's an area in his game he will have to improve on moving forward.
Caris gives the Cavaliers another scorer on the floor that can put up numbers at any point in the game. He can be a decent defender. He has the tools to succeed at that end. It's a matter of putting out a consistent effort for him.
Since entering the starting lineup, he’s found ways to impact the game in more than one way. He’s currently averaging 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. His efficiency has been poor, but he will likely shoot higher than 40 % as the season progresses. He will get easier shots in the starting lineup. Teams will not be able to load up against him now that he’s playing with better players. He’s a good pickup. He brings value in several categories.
Kelly Oubre
Kelly Oubre has been playing phenomenal basketball lately. Kelly is now in the starting lineup because of some of the injuries the Charlotte Hornets have had. He’s providing scoring, rebounding, and solid defense. Kelly’s currently averaging 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists. He’s shooting poorly from the field. He's currently shooting 42% from the field. Kelly will likely be between 42-45% this season. He’s a good player to add, considering the value he will bring with points and rebounds. He contributes in more than one category.
His minutes may decrease as the season goes along. When the team is healthy, he likely won't be a starter. He will still be an integral part of the rotation and has earned a spot as a de facto starter in case someone is out dealing with injuries. He’s a solid pickup.
Can Payne
Can Payne has been a revelation for the Phoenix Suns the last few games. He’s been playing a complete game while Chris Paul has been out. Chris Paul will likely still be out the next few games as he battles with a minor injury.
The Suns are proceeding with caution throughout the season with Chris. They have been scaling back his minutes. They are trying to preserve him for the postseason. It will likely be a season-long plan for Paul.
They will rely heavily on Cam Payne while Chris is injured and plays reduced minutes. So far, he has done an adequate job of providing value. Over the last three games, he’s been averaging 20 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.6 assists. He’s played well. Chris Paul will be out for a few more games to start the week. If you're in a week-to-week or daily fantasy league. Cam Payne is a must-add. He's a good gamble to bet on, considering his increase in minutes.
Seth Curry
Seth Curry has missed a good portion of the beginning of the season due to an injury. After returning from his injury, Seth has been playing well. He has quickly shaken off any rust he had due to a lack of a training camp.
Seth is a good addition, while Kyrie is out of the lineup. He may be the only other reliable scorer on the Nets that can score with and without the ball. He’s a good complement alongside Durant because of how dynamic of a player he is.
He can shoot off the dribble, off the catch, and coming off screens. He’s a dynamic shooter. He’s not a player that will give you much outside of scoring. He will still provide a lot of value because he's an efficient shooter that will give you threes. Seth is perfect if your team is lacking shooting. He will answer a lot of issues in that department.
Scottie Barnes
Recently the Toronto Raptors were hit by the injury bug. A number of their players are out dealing with illnesses and injuries. It’s the perfect opportunity for Scottie Barnes to take on more of a role offensively. The shots will be there for him to score more points. He will play point guard while Fred is out. He’s more of a pass-first player than he is a natural scorer.
He’s struggling a little bit now that defenses have been loading up on him. This week he should be better now that he has a better idea of what to expect as a focal point. The good thing about Scottie is he doesn’t allow his offensive struggles to affect his defense.
Even though he hasn’t been playing the best, he's a good pickup, considering the minutes he will play. The Raptors play their guy's heavy minutes. He will have to find a way to produce and play high-level basketball if they want to stay afloat while they deal with injuries. Scottie Barnes is a good pick-up this week and moving forward.