Last week we featured Shelvin Mack, signed off the street and immediately inserted into the Wizards’ laughable starting lineup. Realizing that they could have just as easily gone 4-24 if they just signed five random fans, management is now raiding the D-League to find anyone who has so much as watched an NBA game to fill Wizard uniforms.
This week we meet Garrett Temple, undrafted LSU record-holder for minutes played who has gone on to play in 54 games for six different teams on eight different 10-day contracts in three years. He is also the Wizards new starting guard and played 41 minutes in Saturday’s game against the Bulls. Though his 27% shooting performance leaves something to be desired, his court time, rebounds, size, and athleticism have to make fantasy owners take notice of a starter who spent most of his 2012 playing for the Reno Bighorns and Erie BayHawks.
Garrett Temple (Owned in 3% of Yahoo Leagues): Granted he is getting extended minutes because of Jordan Crawford‘s ankle injury but with 41 minutes in his first start and 35 minutes off the bench in his previous game he is definitely going to keep getting opportunities. Despite his shot not quite being there yet, he got plenty of shot opportunities and finished the game with nine rebounds, five assists, a block, and a steal.
Emeka Okafor (51%): I’ve never been an Okafor fan but you have to take notice when a guy becomes a rebound and block machine. He has put up double-digit rebounds in each of his last four games, double-doubles in three of the four games, and blocked 11 shots over those four contests. He’s playing more minutes and getting more scoring opportunities in return for his newly-found defensive dominance.
Kyle Korver (45%): Now that he’s healthy again he is getting a ton of three point opportunities and has double-digit scoring in six of his last nine games. He’s also been a solid source of 5-7 rebounds most games with the occasional steal and block. He’s a fantasy reserve at best but if you can catch him on a good day he is worth the spot.
Mike Dunleavy (38%): After missing the first two weeks of December with a knee injury, Dunleavy seems back to full health and playing close to 30 minutes per game. Since returning he is averaging 12 PPG with some good assist and block games here and there. If he continues to play around 30 minutes he has value in deeper leagues.
Tristan Thompson (35%): With double-digit scoring in all but one of his last eight games and 12.5 RPG over his last six games, Thompson is becoming a fantasy force. With about a block or two each game, he will still have plenty of value when Anderson Varejao returns.
Hedo Turkoglu (34%): After going down with a broken hand in the Magic’s opening game against the Nuggets, Turkoglu is finally back on the court and nearing a return to his full role. When healthy, expect him to play around 30 minutes with double-digit scoring and 4-5 rebounds and assists per game.
Andre Drummond (29%): The 19-year-old lottery pick continues to improve daily. Over his last five games he is averaging 11 RPG, 10 PPG, 2 BPG and 1 SPG. He is looking like a serious defensive threat who will continue to get more scoring opportunities as his minutes increase into the mid-to-high 20s.
Patrick Patterson (22%): Patterson returned last week after missing seven games with a foot injury. Prior to going down he was starting and playing 27-32 minutes per game while averaging 13.5 PPG, 5 RPG, and 1 BPG.
Richard Hamilton (9%): Hamilton is back in the lineup but he’s not completely back. The foot injury that kept him out the entire month hasn’t healed completely and his minutes aren’t going to be the 30+ we are used to seeing most nights just yet. Once healthy, the 34-year-old still has value having averaged 14 PPG, with a few assists, rebounds, and steals littered throughout before going down.
Andrew Nicholson (3%): The Magic don’t seem to know how to use the rookie game-to-game but he has been put in a starting role (after playing single digit minutes off the bench the previous two games). He had a great start, playing 26 minutes with 22 points and seven rebounds which means he’s definitely earned at least a few more starts.
