Who is trending up? Which rotations are changing? And what's the latest with the notable injuries around the NBA?
Here's a look at the most fantasy relevant news and notes for all 30 teams:
Atlanta Hawks: Danilo Gallinari's rise into a prominent role with the Hawks after an early-season ankle injury has been a slow one, and the veteran forward is rostered in only 35.9% of ESPN leagues because of it. In his first eight games with his new team, Gallinari has essentially seen his production cut in half from last season in Oklahoma City, with 15.9 MPG, 9.4 PPG, 2.0 RPG and 1.4 3PG. There is some risk in buying low on Gallo -- what if things don't turn around? --- but when right, he can be a force as a scorer and 3-point shooter. He also is a career 87.3% free throw shooter, who has gone to the line 5.0 times per game during his lengthy career.
Boston Celtics: The Celtics are very short-handed in the backcourt on Wednesday, with Kemba Walker sitting the second of a back-to-back, Payton Pritchard out with an MCL sprain and Marcus Smart also still unavailable. If ever there was a night for a turn-back-the-clock type of performance by Jeff Teague -- once a very serviceable fantasy point guard -- this is the one. And oh yes, the Kings are the worst defensive team in the league, allowing 115.4 points per 100 possessions.
Brooklyn Nets: One of the biggest questions heading into fantasy hoops this season was Kevin Durant, but the question has changed. He already answered the first one -- yes, he looks like the same KD we've come to know over the years. Amazingly so, in fact. Now, the question is whether he can hold up. The Nets are so top heavy and using such a small rotation that coach Steve Nash is relying heavily on Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving to log enormous minutes. It's more extreme than many might even realize. Durant's 36.9 MPG ranks second in the NBA entering Wednesday, trailing only Harden (38.4). And in Durant's past eight games, he's played 39.9 MPG. If you're a fantasy manager with Durant, this is leading to incredible numbers for now, but it's also a concerning trend for someone like the 32-year-old superstar coming off a devastating Achilles injury.
Charlotte Hornets: Terry Rozier (ankle) is questionable for Wednesday's game against Philadelphia, but we were able to learn a lot from the changes that happened to the Hornets' rotation when Rozier missed Monday's game against the Heat. In that game, LaMelo Ball made the first start of his NBA career and played well in 31 minutes, but that was far from the only story. Malik Monk came up big with 36 points and nine 3s in 40 minutes. Monk is available in 92.1% of ESPN leagues and is worth a look if Rozier is unable to go against the 76ers.
Chicago Bulls: Thaddeus Young has sure emerged this season as not only a scorer, rebounder and defender but also a distributor, averaging a career-high 4.4 APG. But another forward is also worthy of attention now that Wendell Carter Jr. is out of the lineup for the next 3-4 weeks: Lauri Markkanen. Coming off a disappointing 2019-20, Markkanen has re-emerged this season with career-high averages in both scoring (20.5 PPG) and 3-point shooting (3.2 3PG, 41.3 3FG%). After pouring in 31 against Portland and 30 against the tough, physical Knicks defense on Monday, it's clear that Markkanen is trending upward.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Fantasy managers with Andre Drummond and Jarrett Allen are paying close attention to Drummond's status, as rumors of a trade or possible buyout of Drummond haven't gone away since the team acquired Allen on Jan. 13. According to Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor, a trade is the more likely possibility. "Even though the league is moving away from traditional bigs, there's still a place for Drummond," Fedor writes. "He will have a market, likely receiving an offer higher than what the organization is willing to give, especially with Allen looking at a lucrative deal as a restricted free agent. While any chatter about a Drummond buyout is nonsensical with the Cavs currently in the Eastern Conference playoff mix, a trade is a distinct possibility before the March 25 deadline. So is Drummond leaving as a free agent following this season -- if the Cavs choose to ride it out and make a postseason push."
Dallas Mavericks: Much has been made about certain players who've made major improvements in a statistical area or two this season, but what about players like Tim Hardaway Jr., who seem to be the exact same player ever year? Seriously, it's challenging to find someone whose numbers are more consistent on a yearly basis than Hardaway, who is at 16.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.9 APG and 3.0 3PG this season. If you're drafting Hardaway next season, these are the numbers to expect.
Denver Nuggets: Gary Harris (left adductor strain) has already been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Lakers, which continues to put Will Barton in a larger role. Barton, as skilled and versatile as he has been over the years, hasn't done a whole lot in recent weeks, but he has averaged 13.5 PPG., 2.0 RPG, 4.0 APG and 3.0 3PG during the last two games.
Detroit Pistons: With 17 points and 14 rebounds in Tuesday's loss to the red-hot Jazz, Mason Plumlee recorded his fourth double-double in his past five games. For a center who also has dished out 3.0 APG and recorded 1.0 SPG in 21 games this season, it's hard to find a more underrated player in fantasy. Plumlee remains available in 31.5% of ESPN leagues.
Golden State Warriors: With James Wiseman (sprained wrist) and Kevon Looney (sprained ankle) each set to miss at least the next week, the Warriors are suddenly extremely short-handed at center. Remember, Marquese Chriss is already out for the season. So where will Golden State turn? Coach Steve Kerr addressed that following Tuesday's loss to Boston. "Eric Paschall becomes a bigger part of what we're doing, and so does Juan Toscano-Anderson," he said. "I guess Juan sort of qualifies as a big man, kind of. Eric definitely does. So we'll be short-handed. Draymond Green will play a lot of 5, and Eric will get more minutes -- and we'll see what happens from there."
Houston Rockets: John Wall's game continues to evolve as he gets older and returns to form after missing all of last season and much of the two previous seasons due to injuries. Wall, once among the league leaders in assists with three consecutive years over 10.0 APG, has seen his APG fall in four consecutive seasons and is down to 5.8 APG this season. On the flip side, his 1.8 3PG is on pace to be the highest mark of his career, and is the fourth season in a row that he's seen an increase in 3PG.
Indiana Pacers: Jeremy Lamb remains available in 47.7% of ESPN leagues, and picking him up may not be a bad idea. The veteran swingman has looked good and played well since returning from a torn ACL, averaging 14.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 0.9 SPG and 2.1 3PG in his first eight games back. His role will change if and when Caris LeVert returns to the lineup, but that appears to be a ways off for now. Keep Lamb on your fantasy radar -- at worst, he's a solid streaming option.
LA Clippers: What a return to fantasy relevance it has been for Nicolas Batum this season, and it's great to see after the veteran swingman barely played last season in Charlotte. Batum's 2.5 APG, 2.3 3PG, and 1.2 SPG puts him in that Joe Ingles range as a forward who can handle, shoot and distribute, making him a nice piece of the puzzle in roto and category leagues. As of Wednesday, he is a free agent in 51.9% of ESPN leagues.
Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James is shooting 71.8% from the free throw line this season, which may not sound like much, but it's up from his previous two years of 66.5% and 69.3%. So it's something. What's also something is his 6.0 FTA, which is an impressive number for a 36-year-old who has played as many minutes as King James has over the course of his career in the regular season and playoffs. In fact, James ranks No. 12 in the league with 131 free throw attempts this season.
Memphis Grizzlies: Like T.J. McConnell in Indiana, Tyus Jones can be useful in roto and category leagues due to his ability to dish out assists and rack up steals. The former first-round pick is averaging career highs in both categories this season (5.9 APG, 1.4 SPG), and dished out a career-best 14 assists in 28 minutes off the bench in the blowout win over the Spurs on Monday. Jones enters Wednesday being rostered in only 13.5% of ESPN leagues.
Miami Heat: Jimmy Butler didn't skip a beat after missing three weeks on the court, going for 30 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists in his first game back against Sacramento on Saturday and following it up with 25 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals against Charlotte on Monday. Miami's veteran star has played just eight games this season, but he appears to be full speed ahead at this point. Another encouraging sign: Butler played 35.5 MPG in those first two games backs.
Milwaukee Bucks: The Bucks have three players with a PER over 20.0 this season. Can you name them? Giannis Antetokounmpo? Check. He's at 26.81. Khris Middleton? Check. He's at 22.54. But the third one will surprise you. Hint: It isn't Jrue Holiday (19.11). It's actually Bobby Portis, whose efficiency has jumped out in his sixth NBA season. Portis is shooting a career best 56.0% from the field, leaving his previous high of 48.8% in the dust, and he is shooting a scintillating 46.3% from 3-point land. Add in 11.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG, and he's a nice option right now in points leagues.
Minnesota Timberwolves: James Wiseman and LaMelo Ball, picks No. 2 and 3 in the 2020 NBA draft respectively, have stolen much of the attention away from Anthony Edwards during the first month of the season. But Edwards has moved into Minnesota's starting lineup and is starting to show why the Wolves selected him ahead of talents like huge Wiseman and Ball. A jumbo scorer who is both strong and agile, Edwards can finish through contact at the rim and also possesses good form on his 3-point shot. With added playing time, Edwards deserves plenty of attention from fantasy managers, and he's still a free agent in 43.2% of ESPN leagues. He is certainly worth a flyer.
New Orleans Pelicans: For all the grief Lonzo Ball has taken early this season while also being the center of trade rumors, he is still stuffing the stat sheet well enough to be a force in points leagues where the low shooting percentages don't cost him as much as they do in roto and category leagues. Ball's 12.6 PPG is a career-high, too, but everything could change -- for better or worse -- if the fourth-year point guard is traded before the March 25 deadline.
New York Knicks: For Knicks fans, the transition may not have happened quickly enough, but prized rookie Immanuel Quickley (rostered in 42.7% of ESPN leagues) is now taking on a bigger role at point guard ahead of veteran Elfrid Payton. The strong and rugged Kentucky product looks to be the perfect fit on this Knicks roster, and he has seen his minutes soar in recent weeks -- playing at least 23 minutes in each of his past five games. Quickley has reached 25 points three times during that span and has a chance to be a valuable contributor in terms of points, assists and 3s.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Those fantasy managers who held on to Al Horford through his two-week absence from the lineup were rewarded when the veteran center returned and filled up the stat sheet in his first three games back in the lineup, averaging 16.3 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.0 SPG and 3.7 3PG during that span. Entering Wednesday, Horford is available in 13.8% of ESPN leagues, so take a look at the waiver wire to see if he happens to be there for the taking in your league.
Orlando Magic: Aaron Gordon going down for the next 4-6 weeks due to a left ankle sprain shakes up the rotation in Orlando, and it could also mean more scoring opportunity for Nikola Vucevic, who is right there with guys like Middleton and Malcolm Brogdon for the most underrated fantasy stars in the game. Vucevic's 15 double-doubles rank fourth in the leagues, and, believe it or not, he leads the league as of Wednesday with 419 field goal attempts. This guy better watch it or he could end up on the New York Jets.
Philadelphia 76ers: It's amazing that at this stage of his career, Dwight Howard can still do what he does when called into extended action on the court. Howard came off the bench and erupted for 11 points, 15 rebounds and 2 blocks in the win over Indiana on Sunday as Joel Embiid (back) sat out. This doesn't mean you should race out and pick up Howard (11.0% rostered in ESPN leagues), but it's worth putting him in the back of your mind for any games that Embiid is out in the future.
Phoenix Suns: Cameron Johnson (rostered in 11.2% of ESPN leagues) isn't putting up huge numbers in his second NBA season, but what the North Carolina product is doing is playing a ton of minutes. Johnson has become an important piece on this fun Suns team, logging at least 30 minutes in each of the past six games, and that makes him worth keeping an eye on in the weeks ahead. A versatile player who can score, rebound and shoot the 3, he has a chance to make a Kyle Kuzma-like impact in fantasy for years to come.
Portland Trail Blazers: It's Year 3 for Gary Trent Jr., the second-round pick back in 2018, and things are trending up for the Duke product. Trent poured in a season-high 26 points in the win over Washington on Tuesday, and he connected on seven 3-pointers for the second time in four games. With CJ McCollum sidelined and Anfernee Simons now nursing a hamstring injury, Trent (a FA in 73.3% of ESPN leagues) could be flirting with 40.0 MPG in the near future in this depleted backcourt.
Sacramento Kings: De'Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton are getting a lot of the attention in Sacramento this season, but a couple veterans have quietly hit their stride for the Kings: Harrison Barnes and Buddy Hield. Barnes continues to be a scorer and rebounder, who can shoot the 3-ball, but his 3.5 APG is well above his previous high of 2.2 APG, and he has at least four assists in six of his past eight games. Hield, who got off to an icy start over the first month of the season, has turned it around and averaged 5.5 3PG in his past four games. He has also matched his career highs in both assists and steals this season with 3.0 APG and 1.1 SPG.
San Antonio Spurs: LaMarcus Aldridge is out for Wednesday's game against the Timberwolves due to hip soreness, making it the fourth game he has missed this season. Jakob Poeltl (on 3.9% of rosters in ESPN leagues) becomes a solid streaming option as Aldridge's likely replacement in the starting lineup. The fifth-year pro has averaged a career high 20.1 MPG this season and could see closer to 30 on Wednesday, which makes him more of a factor as a rebounder and shot-blocker.
Toronto Raptors: Fred VanVleet's out-of-nowhere 54-point game is something NBA fans and fantasy managers will remember for a long time, and it's even more impressive when you consider the list of legends who never scored 54 points in a game:
Dirk Nowitzki 53
Tim Duncan 53
Hakeem Olajuwon 52
Patrick Ewing 51
Chris Webber 51
Vince Carter 51
Clyde Drexler 50
Amare' Stoudemire 50
Paul Pierce 50
Kevin Garnett 47
Charles Barkley 47
Isiah Thomas 47
Scottie Pippen 47
Chris Mullin 47
Julius Erving 45
Dwight Howard 45
Shawn Kemp 42
James Worthy 38
Bill Russell 37
Bill Walton 36
John Stockton 34
Utah Jazz: The Jazz have quickly become one of the best stories in the NBA this season, and the resurgence of veteran point guard Mike Conley after a woeful 2019-20 is a big reason. Conley is putting up numbers as if he's still in the peak of his career, averaging 16.8 PPG, 6.1 APG and 1.5 APG through the team's first 21 games, but his 3-point shooting has reached entirely new heights. The 14-year pro is taking and making more 3s than ever before, and his 2.8 3PG would beat his previous best of 2.5 set with Memphis in 2016-17.
Washington Wizards: A night after posting a triple-double against the Trail Blazers, Russell Westbrook is set to sit out (rest) Wednesday's game against the Heat. Bradley Beal already has the highest usage rate in the league (36.5), and you can count on everything to run through him against Miami. Those playing in daily fantasy leagues, or looking to stream, may also want to consider Ish Smith (available in 94.1% of ESPN leagues), who has at least six assists in four straight games.