Jeremiah Robinson-Earl Fantasy Stats

New Orleans Pelicans forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is getting converted from a two-way deal to a two-year standard NBA contract according to The Athletic's Shams Charania. The 23-year-old has appeared in 21 games for the Pelicans this year and has operated mostly in a third-string big-man role. He's averaging 3.7 points and 2.3 rebounds across 10.0 minutes per game while shooting 51.7% from the floor and 36.4% from beyond the arc. He's not much of a fantasy asset at the moment, but he could become a streaming option if the Pelicans frontcourt experiences any injury issues down the stretch.

It's funny that every year at the NBA Draft, once the end of the guaranteed money and live appearances arrives at the end of the first round, everybody tunes out and refers to the 60th pick as "Mr. Irrelevant." That's not very accurate though, is it? Speaking historically, the title of "Mr. Irrelevant" could just as easily be applied to each pick in the draft, as organizations differ greatly in their evaluation of talent and their own needs, particularly in a year without the NCAA tournament. The nickname just doesn't reflect how basketball works anymore. Executives strategically stockpile second-round draft picks for the less burdensome financial obligations, and organizations in rebuilding mode get super creative to field a respectable team on a budget. Particularly in the NBA where worldwide talent is plentiful and positional lines continue to fade, the opportunity is everything: in the right situation, the right under-the-radar player can make an immediate, poignant statement. With professional development leagues for 16-18-year-olds, an ever-expanding set of domestic/international opportunities due to the sheer growth of basketball, and widespread NIL rights for college athletes, players of all levels and localities are starting to get their due exposure and now have enough freedom to hone their skills in a place, and at a pace, that fits best with their path to the NBA.   Introduction I am inherently skeptical and distrusting of scouting from the high school level to pre-Draft. That's why in this annual article, I tend to favor overlooked college players (love the mid-majors/non-power conferences) with either well-rounded, polished games or specific statistical specialties. We are going to discuss a handful of 2023 second-round picks and undrafted free agent signees who, given their individual skillsets and circumstances, warrant the attention of Fantasy Basketball Managers as potential high-impact rookies for the 2023-24 campaign who can quietly be acquired on clearance once they start showing signs of emergence. As I will frequently emphasize and reiterate: in 2023, there is very little difference between the vast majority of second-round draft picks and undrafted free agents--it always all comes down to the skillsets they possess, their capacity for growth, and the situations they've landed in. Seasons will be made and broken with early identification of the diamond-in-the-rough rookies. I used to list out the many examples from the past season in this introduction portion, but we are now in a beautiful era where there are just too many to count. There is also very little separating the featured players below and those dubbed "Honorable Mentions"--so put in the work and keep an eye out throughout the regular season for who is receiving and seizing their opportunities.   Isaiah Wong (PG, IND, 55th Overall) March Madness is ruled by savvy, gutsy guard play, and Isaiah Wong was a prime example of this concept over his final two years with the Miami Hurricanes, leading the way to Elite Eight and Final Four appearances from 2022 to 2023 and earning the 2023 ACC Player of the Year honor to cap off his collegiate career. Signing a two-way deal with the Pacers, he still manages to fly under the radar, but even with all of the guards in Indy's backcourt, history tells us that the Pacers organization is a fantastic location for a player like Wong to get his chance. The questions for roles and playing time are mostly with the Indiana frontcourt, but there are so many combinations from PG to SF that Rick Carlisle utilizes. Wong is a bit undersized, but he is also one of the few Pacers guards who won't transition seamlessly between positions, slotting in squarely at the point. He will be competing with the likes of T.J. McConnell and Andrew Nembhard for PT backing up Tyrese Haliburton, and while he is absolutely starting off well behind those two, those minutes are shareable on a Carlisle team, and Wong's skillset both matches with the Indy identity and sets him apart in very practical ways from McConnell and Nembhard. The scorer of 1,866 total points in four college seasons, Wong averaged 16.2 points, 4.3 boards, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 steals in 37 games (33.4 MP) for his senior year, shooting career-highs from three (38.4% on 4.3 attempts per game) and on free throws (84.5%). In terms of more advanced metrics, Wong also finished 2023 with career-high marks for assist rate (17.1%), steal rate (2.4%), true shooting percentage (57.8%), and effective field goal percentage (51.6%), remaining super consistent in his rebounding and totaling 5.1 win shares. Wong is a winning PG, and being coached by Jim Larra aga has a lasting positive effect. His mixture of scoring/evolving shooting touch and solid equilibrium between ball-handling, perimeter defense, and effort on the glass offers what the games of McConnell and Nembhard do not in some key areas while still fitting into the grander Indiana scheme. Maybe I am influenced by my identification of Pacers gems in past years, but until I see otherwise, I remain confident that a player of Wong's proven caliber will get his opportunities to contribute for Indy at different times through the regular season. If that happens and he manages to stick for a period of time, his contributions for Fantasy Basketball could be solid in all but one or two statistical categories.   Keyontae Johnson (SG/SF, OKC, 50th Overall) Most probably remember Keyontae Johnson for his scary medical incident on the court for the Florida Gators back in December 2020, which greatly stunted his burgeoning college career (he only played in five games from 2020 to the end of the 2021-22 season) before he decided to get a fresh start for his final season with the Kansas State Wildcats. The 6'5, 238-lb. wing had already been named First-Team All-SEC the year before collapsing mid-game against Florida State, but under the coaching guise of Jerome Tang and alongside Markquis Nowell in the K-State backcourt, Johnson once again exploded for a phenomenal final college season. In 29.0 average minutes over 108 college games, Johnson at least averaged 6.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals, but I concede that he is not a do-it-all kind of combo player. The real key is in the 17.4 points per game on 47-116 three-point shooting (40.5%) after making 33 of his final 86 deep balls for the Gators (38.4%). His year-by-year sample sizes make it hard to get a read on his overall body of work and at what level he is entering the NBA ranks, but his year in Manhattan, Kansas lined up very consistently with his best days in Gainesville, finishing up with true shooting and effective field goal rates of 59.3% and 56.8%. His two best offensive win-share campaigns add up to 5.7, and though he never stole or blocked many balls, his 2022-23 defensive win-share and defensive box plus/minus measures of 2.1 and 1.9 indicate that he is a better defender than his stat line suggests. The 2023 AP/NABC Third-Team All-American (plus, Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and First-Team All-Big 12) is now on a two-way deal and will be splitting his time between the Oklahoma City Thunder and G League Blue. Like the Indiana Pacers, OKC has a lot of players on the depth chart that fit the definition of combo guards and G/F wings, but like Indy, the Thunder have proven to be an organization over the past few seasons where you have a great chance at a floor-time opportunity in the case of injury or plain old lineup variation (16 players saw at least 13.0 MP for OKC last year). Behind the starting five, Keyontae will be competing for PT with the likes of Isaiah Joe, Kenrich Williams, Aaron Wiggins, and 29-year-old rookie and former Euro Ball star Vasilije Mici . While his shooting was off and his statistical contributions weren't super well-rounded in the Summer League and in limited Preseason time, Johnson still scored consistently well for the Thunder and rebounded at a solid clip, and so once he gets some burn for the Blue in G League action to evolve his defense to professional play and get in rhythm with his three-point shooting, this is a guy who could very easily make his case for PT alongside the other Thunder reserves. He came to the NBA as a rather polished player with size in excess of Joe and Wiggins, equal potential as a scoring/shooting threat with the rebounding and defensive potential to match Kenrich, and as fun as Mici 's Euro stat line is, the 29-year-old is a giant question mark in his transition to the NBA almost ten years after he was taken in the NBA Draft by the Sixers. Keyontae Johnson is exactly the kind of player that we could see suited up for Oklahoma City sooner rather than later, especially if any of his teammates listed above are moved elsewhere or have injuries to deal with.   Jalen Slawson (SF, SAC, 54th Overall) In 2022-23, the Sacramento Kings ranked 21st in the NBA in team steals (7.0) and second-worst in team blocks (3.4) per game with middle-of-the-pack rebounding in route to tying with Atlanta for a bottom-five season in average points allowed to their opponents (118.1). On the other hand, their 120.7 points per game was tops in the league, and they ended the campaign in the top ten for 3PT% (36.9%) and the top five in average 3PM and assists. After a 2023 NBA Draft that saw Sacramento take and ultimately trade Olivier-Maxence Prosper and Jordan Walsh, the Kings are left with four rookies on the roster--only two of which were 2023 draftees. One is 34th overall pick Colby Jones of Xavier, who also fits the criteria for early success and is listed as an Honorable Mention below. The other is Jalen Slawson. A 6'7, 215-lb. late-second-round forward, Slawson spent all five seasons of his college career with Furman University in the SoCon where he was a two-time First-Team All-SoCon selection, the 2022 SoCon Defensive Player of the Year, and the 2023 SoCon Player of the Year. He also led Furman to the 2023 NCAA Tournament where they scored a First Round upset over #4 seed Virginia and lost in the Round of 32 to eventual NCAA Runner-Up San Diego State. Slawson's game feeds in nicely to the good things that Sacramento already has going and fills in the gaps even better in their lacking departments. With a roster with plenty of SG options and some less-than-certain frontcourt vibes beyond their starters, it is more likely that Slawson could find time as a combo forward as opposed to a G/F role, as he is a bit undersized for PF, though not by much (especially in a small lineup). He will be trying for his share of minutes with Kings reserves Chris Duarte, Sasha Vezenkov (another older rookie at 28 with a fantastic Euro r sum , drafted in 2017), Kessler Edwards, and anyone from Keon Ellis to Trey Lyles. Slawson had to develop his incredibly well-rounded, defensive-minded game over a full small-school career. Over his final two years, he was playing 30+ minutes per contest, and in those final 70 games from 2021-2023, he averaged 15.1 points, 7.2 boards, 3.4 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 1.6 steals with a vastly improved FT stroke at 78.3%. Most importantly: after shooting 70 for 233 on threes through his first four college seasons, he made tremendous strides in 2022-23, hitting 41 of 104 (39.4%) with true shooting & eFG rates of 65.4% and 61.5% to further evidence his progress in offensive efficiency. Throw in the work he did to limit his turnover rate and the OWS/DWS numbers that demonstrate why he accumulated so many SoCon accolades, and this is the type of player that I love to keep both eyes on as the season progresses. The two-way player will have to cut his teeth with the Stockton Kings, but if he continues to improve on his shooting and remains a playmaker on defense, I can definitely see a path to NBA playing time past the rather humdrum slew of Sacramento reserves, as this team is trying to make back-to-back playoff appearances after breaking their NBA-record 16-season playoff drought in 2023. Simply put, Jalen Slawson can do it all, and he's steadily doing it all better. A guy who needed to work all five years at Furman to get to where he is--he knows how to get himself to the next level starting off in Stockton, and if he finds an opening to consistent minutes for a period of time, he can contribute in every statistical category with a true niche in steals/blocks. Think of a slightly smaller, better-shooting Paul Reed, if Reed was ever given a real shot.   Maxwell Lewis (SG/SF, LAL, 40th Overall) Maxwell Lewis is not even on a two-way deal--he is currently on the Los Angeles Lakers roster, and if you have paid any attention to the Lakers over the past few years, they love to make good use of whatever second-rounders and UDFAs they need to in order to properly budget for big-ticket acquisitions and bid for the postseason while injury-riddled stars recover. There are so many examples of LAL rookies and unknown players alike seizing those opportunities and evolving on the job, and Maxwell Lewis is a guy with the game to hang around at the NBA level with plenty of potential for upward development. Lewis was named WCC All-Freshman in 2022 and showed tons of improvement in his second and final season of college basketball with the Pepperdine Waves, averaging 17.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 31.4 minutes per game (up 12 minutes from 2021-22) on his way to garnering Second-Team All-WCC distinction. Even with the uptick in PT, Pepperdine got better last season, and so Lewis was sharing the floor with a much more talented cast. This resulted in Lewis not having to resign himself to as many threes in relation to his time on the floor, and so he actually ended up taking as many threes on average in 31 sophomore games as he did through 21 freshman games, and converted 1.5 makes per game last season as opposed to his figure of 1.6 from 2021-22. This also resulted in the 6'7, 195-lb. wing being able to create a more versatile array of shots in two-point territory, which is where he really took his scoring to new heights. He doubled his amount of two-pointers made per game from his freshman campaign to 4.6 and improved his 2PT% from 47.5% to 52.6%. While his three-point and free throw efficiency took a very minute step back as he was on the floor for 30+ minutes a contest, he still ended up with very respectable marks of 35.4% and 79.1% for his full time at Pepperdine, respectively, and the two-point field goals made the real difference in reaching career-best measures in TS% (0.567) & eFG% (0.525). He also saw improvements in his rebounding and assist rates, and finished with 1.7 OWS and 1.8 OBPM--the only area where his efficiency went down is on defense, where he dipped in steal and block percentage after at least grabbing a steal per game as a freshman in less than twenty average minutes, and the defensive metrics are just as critical of Lewis as the offensive metrics are flattering. Look, it can be hard to play your best defense when your team goes 16-47 over two years and the rest of the WCC got much better and closed some of the gap between the pack and Gonzaga. Taking that into consideration along with Lewis's 6'7 height, 7'0 wingspan, and other impressive physical tangibles, I trust his ability to at least develop into an alright to good NBA defender, able to disrupt shots and interfere with passing lanes. You might like to see him get stronger to handle the other 6'7 players the professional ranks have to offer him, but that can come along with him still being 21 (if only he hadn't wasted his time with Chameleon BX and lost out on all of his major scholarship offers--do some research on that story if you have the time). Past the Lakers starting five (when they are healthy and active), the Las Vegas native will have to contend for playing time with Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish, Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and Max Christie on the active roster, while rookies Alex Fudge & D'Moi Hodge are on two-way deals. Every one of those names offers something very different to the Lakers in terms of their size, athleticism, skillset, level of polish, and points in their career. However, there is one thing that almost this entire Lakers starting five and a good chunk of their reserves do offer in common: histories of missing a lot of games. LeBron and AD alone will be absent enough to require Darvin Ham to get consistently creative with this rotation, and while it might not be something that manifests immediately, Maxwell Lewis offers just the right combination of physical gifts, room for growth, and most importantly--microwave scoring to fit just what will be missing under those circumstances. I am quite confident that Maxwell Lewis will get plenty of opportunities throughout the 2023-24 campaign to contribute to a team that will need him to perform. So when the time comes, you can get a real bargain if you are looking for offensive potency.   Trayce Jackson-Davis (PF, GSW, 57th Overall) The narrative has been the same on Trayce Jackson-Davis throughout his entire career starring for the Indiana Hoosiers: "if only this guy could develop his three-pointer," or, "he'll need to be able to shoot threes if he wants to be appealing to NBA teams." Well, four years and 126 collegiate games went by, and that never happened--in fact, TJD attempted only three shots from deep for his career (all in 2021-22) and missed all three. I mean, at PF, he is 6'9, 245-lb....there is no conceivable reason that he should be so incapable of adding that very modern skill to his repertoire. And yet, here he is. He was selected by the Washington Wizards at the end of the 2023 NBA Draft and then acquired via trade (for cash) by Golden State. The courtship didn't stop with a quick look and a two-way bid: Jackson-Davis inked a four-year deal, the first two years guaranteed, with a million-dollar rookie salary and an overall potential contract value of $7.6MM (per Tom Brew of Fastbreak on FanNation). History tells us that the Warriors have had great success with guys like TJD who fill other niche roles outside of the long-tenured offensive staples, especially when they have the chance to develop that talent from within, and youth like Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody have served as increasingly strong evidence that Golden State keeps an eye on their future. This team plays quintessential small ball when it comes to rotation composition, and seriously, Trayce Jackson-Davis doesn't have super stiff competition for minutes at either PF or C: there is Draymond Green, Kevin Looney, Dario Saric, and Usman Garuba, with Kuminga and Andrew Wiggins penciled in at PF on the depth chart. If Steve Kerr opts for the highest volume of scoring possible, he has two small forwards playing power forward and TJD can still get his PT in relief at center--and if he needs any two true frontcourt bodies on the court for any number of reasons, then all the more opportunity for Jackson-Davis to have his number called early, especially with the time that Draymond had to miss in prior seasons. This guy has been Indiana's "Mr. Basketball", a McDonald's All-American, an All-Big Ten selection many times over, 2x Big Ten All-Defensive Team, a 2021 Third-Team All-American, and a consensus 2023 First-Team All-American and winner of the Karl Malone Award for college basketball's best PF. From 2019-2023 in Bloomington, he produced 17.9 points and 9.1 rebounds per game--but in his senior season, he launched well past that; totaling 20.9 points, 10.8 boards, 4.0 assists (up from 1.9 the previous year), and 2.9 blocks in 34.5 MP, shooting 58.1% from the field and a career-best 69.5% from the free throw line. From his junior season onward, he converted 508 of 866 two-point tries (58.7%), and he kept very consistent TS% and eFG% figures in the neighborhood of .600 all four years. Most important for his professional prospects: his defensive metrics (DWS, DBPM, Block Rate) all steadily improved to fantastic levels from 2019 to 2023, his rebounding efficiency grew even more potent over time (culminating in an 18% total rebounding rate last season), and amazingly, his assist rate went up 2.7% each year following his freshman campaign until 2023 when he nearly doubled-up to 24.8% while his turnover rate only increased by 2.6% to a manageable 12.8% considering the large proportion of Indiana's game that went through him (29.5% usage rate) alongside 2023 first-rounder and current LA Laker Jalen Hood-Schifino. We've known for a while that TJD is a defensively astute, double-double machine with no business shooting from outside mid-range. But now you are telling me that he landed in a system that is perfectly alright with his shortcomings now that he has evolved to send your shot back the other direction and smartly handle and distribute the ball? Leave the scoring to everyone else--and if he is ever going to get himself to the point of being able to stretch the floor even a little bit more, this is the place to learn to do that. The comparison might be too obvious, but a Big Ten power forward with offensive limitations but skill/talent/drive for every other statistical category of basketball, drafted in the second round, ending up with the Golden State Warriors? The tutelage of Draymond Green could transform Trayce Jackson-Davis into something else entirely. He has already performed well in his Summer League and Preseason minutes, and the Warriors seem to have plans for him. When he catches on at the NBA level of play, this former All-American Hoosier could turn into the gem of all gems.   Honorable Mentions Jalen Pickett (F, DEN) Leonard Miller (F, MIN) Colby Jones (G, SAC) Hunter Tyson (F, DEN) Jordan Walsh (G/F, SAC) Amari Bailey (G, OKC) Tristan Vukcevic (F/C, WAS) Sidy Cissoko (F, SA) GG Jackson (F, MEM) Mojave King (G, IND) Jordan Miller (G/F, LAC) Emoni Bates (F, CLE) Jalen Wilson (F, BKN) Toumani Camara (F, PHO) Jaylen Clark (G, MIN) Seth Lundy (G, ATL) Mouhamed Gueye (F/C, ATL).  

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (ankle) is available for Monday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans. The 22-year-old has been cleared to play for the first time since December 12th. That being said, it's uncertain how much playing time Robinson-Earl is going to see during his first game back. However, he was producing nearly top-150 value when healthy. His return could cut into the playing time of Jaylin Williams and Dario Saric. Between the three players, Robinson-Earl has the most upside, so fantasy managers should watch out for him.

Oklahoma City Thunder center Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (ankle) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Heat due to a sprained right ankle that he sustained Monday. Robinson-Earl's role has fluctuated throughout 2022-23, but he has managed to average 8.5 points and five boards in just 21.1 minutes per contest. His absence in the frontcourt paves the way for Aleksej Pokusevski to see an elevated workload, with Mike Muscala also a candidate to garner added looks. Irrespective of who plays the five for Oklahoma City, it will be a difficult matchup with Miami yielding the fewest DFS points per contest to opposing centers this season.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center Jeremiah Robinson-Earl left Monday's game against Dallas early with an apparent right ankle sprain. He was injured in the fourth quarter and exited after scoring six points and grabbing two rebounds in 14 minutes. Robinson-Earl has been one of the main frontcourt contributors for the Thunder this season and he's popped up with some very good performances as of late. We should know more about his injury prior to Wednesday's meeting with Miami. Should Robinson-Earl miss time, Darius Bazley is in line for a nice boost in playing time and Aleksej Pokusevski looks set to benefit as well.

It's funny that every year at the NBA Draft, once the end of the guaranteed money and live appearances arrives at the end of the first round, everybody tunes out and refers to the 60th pick as "Mr. Irrelevant." That's not very accurate though, is it? Speaking historically, the title of "Mr. Irrelevant" could just as easily be applied to each pick in the draft, as organizations differ greatly in their evaluation of talent and their own needs, particularly in a year without the NCAA tournament. The nickname just doesn't reflect how basketball works anymore. Executives strategically stockpile second-round draft picks for the less burdensome financial obligations, and organizations in rebuilding mode get super creative to field a respectable team on a budget. Particularly in the NBA where worldwide talent is plentiful and positional lines continue to fade, opportunity is everything: in the right situation, the right under-the-radar player can make an immediate, poignant statement. With professional development leagues for 16-18-year-olds, an ever-expanding set of domestic/international opportunities due to the sheer growth of basketball, and widespread NIL rights for college athletes, players of all levels and localities are starting to get their due exposure and now have enough freedom to hone their skills in a place, and at a pace, that fits best with their path to the NBA. Plus, I am inherently skeptical and distrusting of scouting from the high school level to pre-Draft. That's why in this annual article, I tend to favor overlooked college players (love the mid-majors/non-power conferences) with either well-rounded, polished games, or specific statistical specialties. We are going to discuss a handful of 2022 second-round picks and undrafted free agent signees who, given their individual skillsets and circumstances, warrant the attention of Fantasy Basketball Managers as potential high-impact rookies for the 2022-23 campaign who can quietly be acquired on clearance once they start showing signs of emergence. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Herbert Jones, Ayo Dosunmu, Kessler Edwards, Brandon Boston Jr., and Aaron Wiggins were just a few of the second-round success stories from last year; while the likes of Duane Washington Jr., Trendon Watford, Austin Reaves, Brandon Williams, Terry Taylor, and Jose Alvarado strongly represented the UDFA class. So, in search of the next class of super slept-on rookie surprises, let's dive right into the deep end of this NBA Draft talent pool, starting first with a hard look at the second-rounders.   Andrew Nembhard (PG/SG, IND, 31st Overall) 6'5, 22-year-old Andrew Nembhard had represented Canada in international 18U competition and racked up a bunch of accolades in four college seasons with Florida and Gonzaga (SEC All-Freshman, WCC Sixth Man of the Year, Second-Team All-WCC, WCC Tournament MOP, and First-Team All-WCC). While sharp at Florida, he had to shoulder a significant portion of the ball-handling & distribution over Tre Mann & Scottie Lewis. Syncing with Gonzaga teammates like Corey Kispert, Jalen Suggs, Joel Ayayi, Drew Timme, and Chet Holmgren provided the freedom he needed to expand and make significant improvements to the lagging areas of his arsenal. While his usage rate and ball-handling responsibilities declined, he produced 10.5 points, 2.9 boards, 5.1 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.3 makes from deep at a 35.8% clip, and a 4.3% increase in free-throw accuracy to 81.3%. Moreover, while his assist rate decreased with his usage, he measured more efficiently in steal rate (2.3%), offensive rebounding (1.2%), turnover avoidance (TOV rate from 20.2% to 14.6% from Florida to Gonzaga), effective field goal rate (54.1%), and true shooting percentage (56.9%). He also posted career-high figures for steal rate (2.7%), defensive win shares (2.2), defensive box plus/minus (3.4), three-point shooting (1.6 makes per game at 38.3% accuracy), and free-throw shooting (87.3%, 9.8% better than his previous season-best) in 32.2 MP in 32 games over his final college season. The Indiana Pacers took Nembhard with the first pick of the 2022 second-round. They also: got Bennedict Mathurin #6 overall, extended Jalen Smith, traded Malcolm Brogdon to Boston; essentially for Aaron Nesmith; Daniel Theis; and a 2023 first-rounder, waived Duane Washington Jr., lost out on Deandre Ayton, and signed Deividas Sirvydis. The frontcourt should be mostly Myles, Oshae, and Jalen, with Isaiah trending upward and Goga/Theis bottom priority. Nembhard, Haliburton, McConnell, Hield, Duarte, Taylor, and Nesmith occupy PG to SF. This Pacers lineup is going to be super small and extremely fluid in position boundaries. I can easily envision rotations of those seven players, with up to four in at once in several combinations. This team could easily rank worst in rebounding by a huge margin this season whether they play small or not; so logic suggests that they should play to their strengths and opt for speed, perimeter defense & shooting, and skilled ball-handling. Nesmith has been a disappointment since going lottery in 2020 from Vanderbilt, failing to transition his much-touted scoring and shooting capabilities, while Taylor's 2022 run came in providing two-point scoring with boards in a desperate stretch that saw Indiana drop 26 of 33 games. Mathurin and Sirvydis are more on the SF side and much less polished products than Day 1 Nembhard. He can break in immediately, either in reserve for the guard pairs or in supplanting Nesmith/Taylor at SG/SF where he will provide greater versatility at both ends of the floor and many more options for Coach Rick Carlisle. I have tremendous confidence in him to succeed as a rookie, but the Pacers franchise took that confidence to a whole new level following the Summer League, signing him to a four-year, $8.6MM deal--the largest ever rookie contract for a second-round pick (according to The Indianapolis Star). There seems to be both a plan and opportunity; so with PT within reach and a wide-open world of rotation possibilities, I expect a successful, well-rounded rookie season from Andrew Nembhard in Indianapolis.   Jaden Hardy (PG/SG, DAL, 37th Overall) In projecting short-time NBA success, I usually avoid prospects directly from Europe/Africa/etc., the G League, and now Overtime Elite. I'm crossing that threshold for the first time now because several aspects of Jaden Hardy's season with G League Ignite and his new situation with the Dallas Mavericks have caught my attention. This pick definitely surprised some people because of the notion that Hardy will need further development before seeing legitimate NBA minutes for a Mavericks team that seems stockpiled with wings of similar skillsets. That is what intrigues me here: what does Dallas see as different between Hardy and the other Maverick guards? While it likely won't be immediate, those differences and consistent improvement will be what earn Hardy a spot in the rotation by the time the seasonal weather changes from chilly to freezing. The former McDonald's All-American is 6'4, 200-lb., with a 6'9 wingspan. While we don't have official combine numbers for other physical measurements, after viewing assorted G League highlight reels, rest assured that Jaden Hardy is noticeably quick/agile on the floor and appears to jump quite well when he goes up to disrespectfully dunk in the defender's eye. In 12 games for the 2021 G League Ignite, Hardy put up 17.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.3 steals in 32.2 minutes per game. While he also committed 3.5 turnovers in those minutes and shot 26.9% from three in 6.5 attempts per contest, his overall FG accuracy was 35.1% and he shot an impressive 88.2% on free throws. It wasn't a major difference over the short season, but he did end up taking his field goal rate from 31.5% to 38.1% and his three-point rate from 25.9% to 27.5% from November to December of last year. In five Summer League games (147.3 MP), Hardy continued his microwave scoring, putting up 28 with four rebounds, three assists, and a steal. He ended up averaging 15 points, 4.6 boards, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 steals in that time, and the learning curve was apparent in taking care of the ball. Even though his accuracy across the board was slightly down in the limited sample size, it is important to note that he shot six for 17 from deep in the first three contests (35.3%), but was weighed down by a 0-for-6 outing against the Bucks. Of course, it can read like he's still a raw 20-year-old, but it wasn't that long ago that 19 was the age that all of the league's best players were starting ROY campaigns after a single year in college. I wouldn't necessarily call him "raw," because he is a very well-rounded, yet physically gifted player. I would instead say that his ceiling is probably much higher than your average second-rounder, and I question how much more he can develop for the next level by spending another year in the G League. As far as his place with the Mavs, he'll likely have to contend with Tim Hardaway Jr., Frank Ntilikina, Josh Green, and Theo Pinson for reserve minutes. When considering the strengths and limitations of those players, I would say that Hardy already encompasses more of a complete package, especially with his scoring. They're all about the same size, but Hardy has the physical gifts to be a nuisance on perimeter defense (a category in which Dallas did not excel last season), and while he might not currently shoot as well as Hardaway or Green, that at least appears to be the result of very cold moments broken up by stretches of solid accuracy. When he's cold, he has other moves in his repertoire to put points on the board, which is perhaps the direction that the Mavericks wanted to go in making this selection. Maybe I'm way off, but with the current roster makeup and identity, it seems like Dallas would have plenty to gain by utilizing Jaden Hardy sooner rather than later in his rookie season.   EJ Liddell (SF/PF, NOP, 41st Overall)* As a 6'7, 243-lb. forward (mostly PF to this point), Ohio State's EJ Liddell is the classic scenario of a player getting looked over because he doesn't fit the physical mold of his position at the NBA level. But there is looking like your position, and playing like your position (P.J. Tucker and Chuck Hayes earned long NBA careers as 6'6 centers who bumper-carred themselves into the hips of taller players). Last year, Liddell was Big Ten All-Defense, First-Team All-Big Ten (2x), and a Third-Team All-American off of 19.4 points, 2.6 blocks, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 33.2 MP while shooting a ridiculously improved 37.4% from three on 123 total attempts and 76.5% from the line. And guess what? I had already started writing this when he tore his ACL in the Summer League on July 11th. Am I replacing him with another second-rounder? NO. First, upon yet another review of the second round, I am confident that the players listed here originally were the ones with the best routes to short-term results. Guys like Kennedy Chandler, Tyrese Martin, and JD Davison might have their moments, but considering who makes up the Memphis, Atlanta, and Boston backcourts, those chances will be few and far between. Guys like Bryce McGowens and Ryan Rollins are impressive, but they're at the back of long lines of young, rising talent on the Charlotte and Golden State rosters. The best argument I could make for someone would be for Jabari Walker, but there are plenty of like-sized forwards on Portland's roster, and I don't think he has a single quality at the moment that would give him an edge over any of them other than the fickle nature of Justise Winslow. It seems like every second-rounder and UDFA has a fighting chance in Toronto this season, but that might apply more to Ron Harper Jr. rather than a traditional 7'1 center like Christian Koloko. If you're not a point guard in OKC, Chet Holmgren's injury just cleared a mile-wide path to PT based on the Thunder's last few seasons, so Jaylin Williams is now an honorable mention-plus. This would've been a solid year for Yannick Nzosa to make moves on the Wizards roster, but he's still on loan this year to his club in Spain. The rest of the second-rounders just weren't impressive enough in their demonstrated abilities to climb the ladder this year (Max Christie, Moussa Diabate, Caleb Houstan, Trevor Keels, Josh Minott, and the rest of the international prospects) given their spot on the depth chart barring a slew of injuries, which granted, is always possible. We might've lost this opportunity to meaningfully discuss the possibilities for EJ Liddell in-depth, but try to look at it symbolically: every draft probably has an EJ Liddell who has terrorized college offenses for years while steadily improving all weaker aspects of their game, yet still gets disregarded by the masses. I hope Liddell is able to return and forge himself a career because there's a guy like this each season that could end up being the difference in category leagues.   Vince Williams Jr. (SG/SF, MEM, 47th Overall) The Memphis Grizzlies have been the team I root for in the Western Conference since the Conley/Randolph/Gasol era, and after a meteoric year that saw Ja Morant hit mega-superstar status and the pieces clicking, Grind City found a way to trade for first-rounders (the kind of college players I really like) Jake LaRavia and David Roddy, Kennedy Chandler; whose talent makes him a second-round steal for any franchise, drafted Vince Williams Jr. from VCU, and still grabbed one of my favorite UDFAs of the 2022 class. The same thing can happen for each player I just named in the same fashion it did for Desmond Bane, Xavier Tillman, John Konchar, and Brandon Clarke. But I digress, let's talk about Vince Williams Jr.: A 6'6, 210-lb. G/F combo, Williams was a 2x All-A-10 selection in four years for Virginia Commonwealth and managed to improve by leaps and bounds across the board with each season. He averaged just 15.9 minutes per game for his first two years in college, shooting just 12-55 from deep (21.8%). In 2022, he put up 14.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists (to 2.9 turnovers), 1.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 32.4 MP across 30 games. What's more: he shot 60.5% from two-territory last year, and in total for his junior and senior seasons, he shot 108-272 on threes (39.7%) and 148-184 on free throws (80.4%). He ultimately netted by-far career-high marks for true shooting percentage (62.9%) and effective field goal rate (59.1%) to cap his amateur career. While he didn't see the floor very much and didn't shoot great in seven Summer League games, he still contributed in each statistical category, took care of the ball, and managed to average 1.0 steals in just 20 minutes per game. His ratios show that he was always an efficient player, but he expertly navigated the learning curve that comes with added volume and responsibility and became a true threat from beyond the arc in the process. I tend to value players that showcase vast improvement in their offensive deficiencies, all the while having the athleticism and skill to grab boards, distribute the ball, and make full use of their 7'0 wingspan in recording at least one steal and one block per game like Williams and Liddell. As a result, when the time comes during the NBA regular season for rotation and experimentation, there won't be much downside to testing Williams out for meaningful increments. Not only does Williams have to compete for PT with the sleepily-stacked Grizzly rookie class, but there's newly acquired Danny Green, sophomore Ziaire Williams, and Konchar, all outside of the starting lineup. Everyone on that list also packs their own brand of versatility and specialty. Despite that, there is something about an unheralded recruit who stays at the same mid-major for four years that just screams Memphis Grizzly culture, and so the fit seems fantastic. A role increase might come gradually after making the most of limited, early opportunities, but his honed skills and physical makeup present a more complete package than his teammates on the roster's fringe. Not to mention that if he continues to get better like he constantly did at VCU, he could turn into the sneakiest three-and-D rookie of 2023. Perhaps that's ambitious thinking of me, but Vince Williams Jr. has everything at his disposal to be an asset from day one for Taylor Jenkins and the Grizz.   Isaiah Mobley (PF/C, CLE, 49th Overall) At 6'10, 235-lb., Isaiah Mobley has all of the physical presence and guard-like agility required to be able to join his brother Evan in the Cleveland Cavaliers rotation, and not a particularly stout group of reserve forwards in his way. Mobley's role for the USC Trojans didn't begin to really take off until last season, and while it was only six minutes more per game, the statistical output and responsibility far exceeded that. In 34.1 MP, he averaged 14.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks while shooting a much-improved 68.2% from the free throw line (up from 54.5% the year before) and going 43 for 122 from deep (35.2%) after shooting 17 for 39 (43.6%) in 2020-21. What's more, on those 3.3 assists per game, he produced just 1.9 turnovers, while producing a ratio of 1.6:1.2 the season prior. His effective field goal rate was nearly static for all three years of college basketball, but his true shooting percentage (measuring two-point, three-point, and free throw shooting) went up every year, culminating in a 53.5% measurement. That, along with his 18.8% assist rate and 12.4% turnover rate, is what could help him see the floor early as a professional. His defense is solid; he doesn't have the best vertical leap, but with a 7'3 wingspan, he worked his way to a 3.0 defensive box plus/minus in his career for the Trojans, although it might not always translate to statistical outputs. The defensive effort will help to get him on the floor, but the superior size and aesthetic ball-handling will ultimately keep him there. He didn't shoot well in the Summer League, but he did average 8.8 points, 8.0 boards, 3.0 assists, and 1.0 blocks in 26.2 MP across five contests. The idea of playing Evan Mobley and Isaiah Mobley together in any way has to have the Cavs frothing at the mouth, and while the Cavs have a solid young and dangerous starting lineup with plenty of options at center, and the frontcourt reserves have held up well over the last few years, it shouldn't take many microwave scoring nights for Isaiah to leapfrog the likes of Dean Wade, Lamar Stevens, and Jamorko Pickett in the season's early months. If he capitalizes on the right opportunity, that could leave Isaiah Mobley as a sleeper rookie with the potential to produce in points, rebounds, assists, and threes, in the short term.   Honorable Mentions: Jaylin Williams (OKC), Kennedy Chandler (MEM), Jabari Walker (POR), Christian Koloko (TOR).

It's funny that every year at the NBA Draft, once the end of the guaranteed money and live appearances arrives at the end of the first round, everybody tunes out and refers to the 60th pick as "Mr. Irrelevant." That's not very accurate though, is it? Speaking historically, the title of "Mr. Irrelevant" could just as easily be applied to each pick in the draft, as organizations differ greatly in their evaluation of talent and their own needs, particularly in a year without the NCAA tournament. The nickname just doesn't reflect how basketball works anymore. Executives strategically stockpile second-round draft picks for the less burdensome financial obligations, and organizations in rebuilding mode get super creative to field a respectable team on a budget. Particularly in the NBA where worldwide talent is plentiful and positional lines continue to fade, opportunity is everything: in the right situation, the right under-the-radar player can make an immediate, poignant statement. With professional development leagues for 16-18-year-olds, an ever-expanding set of domestic/international opportunities due to the sheer growth of basketball, and widespread NIL rights for college athletes, players of all levels and localities are starting to get their due exposure and now have enough freedom to hone their skills in a place, and at a pace that fits best with their path to the NBA. Plus, I am inherently skeptical and distrusting of scouting from the high school level to pre-Draft. That's why in this annual article, I tend to favor overlooked college players (love the mid-majors/non-power conferences) with either well-rounded, polished games, or specific statistical specialties. We are going to discuss a handful of 2022 second-round picks and undrafted free agent (UDFA) signees who, given their individual skillsets and circumstances, warrant the attention of Fantasy Basketball Managers as potential high-impact rookies for the 2022-23 campaign who can quietly be acquired on clearance once they start showing signs of emergence. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Herbert Jones, Ayo Dosunmu, Kessler Edwards, Brandon Boston Jr., and Aaron Wiggins were just a few of the second-round success stories from last year, while the likes of Duane Washington Jr., Trendon Watford, Austin Reaves, Brandon Williams, Terry Taylor, and Jose Alvarado strongly represented the UDFA class. So, in search of the next class of super slept-on rookie surprises, let's dive right into the deep end of this NBA Draft talent pool, shifting our focus to the workhorses and specialists of the UDFA class with upward mobility and an eye on a quick promotion.   Kenneth Lofton Jr. (F, MEM) Kenneth Lofton Jr. is a "round mound of rebound" type, standing 6'7 and weighing 275-lb. The 2021 C-USA ROY and 2022 C-USA First-Team selection spent only two years in college for Louisiana Tech, but in that time, he demonstrated top-notch grit and appetite, and so he seems like a phenomenal fit for the current identity of the Memphis Grizzlies. He'll have to compete for PT on a two-way deal with the likes of a great cast of Grind City rookies like Jake LaRavia, David Roddy, Vince Williams Jr., and Justin Bean, and that's not even touching last year's rotation. However, he has the specialist skillset to prove himself an asset come early opportunity. Lofton made some big leaps as a Louisiana Tech sophomore. In almost 5.0 more minutes per contest (27.0), he averaged a double-double with 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds and demonstrated surprisingly coordinated skills with 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Importantly, he also went from converting 93 of 156 (59.6%) free throws and zero of zero three-point tries as a freshman to 123 of 183 (67.2%) from the line and hitting four of his 20 attempts from deep. His Summer League play upped his stock as well. In seven games (21.0 MP), he produced 14.9 points, 6.4 boards, and 1.9 assists, and went five of 17 on threes (29.4%) along with 15 of 20 (75%) on free throws. He didn't produce mass defensive statistics as an amateur, but his 2.2 DWS figure was the best on the team, he was second on the team in Defensive Box Plus/Minus (2.1), second in block percentage (3%), and third in steal percentage (2.4%). Memphis might be a young, loaded squad, but Kenneth Lofton Jr. offers very unique contributions, a body type that has proven capable of defending several positions, an ever-expanding offensive repertoire, and an animal-like hunger for eating what comes off of the glass. The Grizz have dealt with injury issues over the past couple of years, and Taylor Jenkins has shown that he won't shy away from getting creative with the rotation. Even with all of the highly-skilled youth that Memphis has to work with, Kenneth Lofton Jr. could quickly cement himself on the NBA floor if given the opportunity with his team in need.   Kofi Cockburn (C, UTA) 2020 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, 2x First-Team All-Big Ten, 2021 Consensus Second-Team All-American, 2022 Consensus First-Team All-American, the winner of 68 regular season college games and a Big Ten regular season championship in three seasons at the University of Illinois (if you count the games where he was suspended for selling apparel & memorabilia--like a champ), and the title of "undrafted" to cap the current list. Kofi Cockburn is just one of those college prospects that everyone seems determined to talk themselves into discarding. There are plenty of typical knocks against the 7'0, 290-lb. Jamaica-native: he's too slow, not efficient enough from the field or line, and not in tune with the style of play in 2022's NBA. To use those criticisms to count Cockburn out is to assume that today's NBA rosters are formed with the goal of fast pace and high-volume three-point shooting when there is a larger umbrella philosophy that is the true driving force: very narrowed-down specialty roles. Importantly, Kofi was also noted during his college years for having great awareness and smart movement on the floor, and for operating very well in the pick and roll. Kofi Cockburn might not be with the Utah Jazz in short order; in fact, all of the players in this discussion could find themselves in a different location for two months before we even hear about it (that's the nature of life as a UDFA). But for the sake of argument, let's say that Cockburn is with the Jazz organization for the 2022-23 regular season in some form or fashion. Who is he competing with to crack the rotation? With Utah's house-cleaning of Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, the current depth chart lists Cody Zeller, Kelly Olynyk, Udoka Azubuike (recovering from ankle & foot surgery), and Auburn rookie Walker Kessler at center with notable power forwards Lauri Markkanen and Jarred Vanderbilt also on the roster. Azubuike has played a total of 252 minutes in 32 NBA games since 2020, and while Zeller, Olynyk, and Kessler each encapsulate a unique brand of basketball, the Jazz could be a team in dire need of Kofi's sturdiness, toughness, and durability before too long. He averaged 20.9 points and 10.6 rebounds in his final season at Illinois. He averaged 1.0+ blocks per game every year, played in sync with NBA-level guards, and while he didn't put the entire offensive package together for any one year, he had two solid years of FT shooting (65.5% & 67.7%) and two solid years from the field (59.3% & 65.4%). His overall Summer League stats are shaky, but he ended on a positive note and averaged seven points and eight boards in 18.1 MP over six games. He may not have the skillset or athleticism to be a star center in today's NBA, but he has everything it takes to be a fantastic role player with double-double upside if he gets a chance for the Jazz as a rookie.   Trevor Hudgins (G, HOU) The Rio Grande Valley Vipers just got themselves an absolute beast; maybe not for too long though, because Trevor Hudgins is tailor-made to be a Houston Rocket in 2022. Per Jon Walker of Northwest Student Media, Hudgins received zero DI offers and landed at Northwest Missouri State (DII) after head coach Ben McCollum noticed him at a Kansas AAU game. It ended up being a jackpot find for Coach McCollum. Hudgins has been dubbed one of the top DII players in history, winning three national titles, two tournament MOP awards, three MIAA Conference POY awards, two First-Team All-American designations, two DII POY awards, and the 2022 Bevo Francis Award for the top small-school college basketball player. In four years and 139 games at NWMS, Hudgins averaged 20.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists (with only 1.8 turnovers), and 1.4 steals in 36.3 minutes per game, hitting 435 career threes at a 46.5% clip and 502 total free throws at an 87.8% clip. He shot 90.1% from the stripe for each of his last two seasons, averaged 23.0 points per game last year, and never shot below 41.5% from three for a season, with two seasons above 50% (his best being 53.3% with 105 makes from deep in 2019-20). He shot with unbelievable accuracy, prolifically scored for four full seasons, played active perimeter defense, took care in distributing the ball, and probably would've ended with four DII championships instead of three if there had been a 2020 postseason. At 6'0, 180-lb., Hudgins is a bit undersized, but he is comparable to former Rocket guard Chris Clemons, except that he is three inches taller and displayed much better shooting accuracy throughout college. Between Kevin Porter, Jalen Green, and TyTy Washington, Houston has young talent at the guard positions (while also breaking in Jabari Smith Jr.). However, the spots of guys like Josh Christopher and Theo Maledon on the depth chart can be taken because of their mediocre shooting, and we've seen how a sharp-shooter like Garrison Matthews can step into success with as many games as Eric Gordon has missed since 2019. When you shoot as well as Trevor Hudgins for as long as he did, I don't care what division of college he played in. In consistently shooting 40%+/88%+ from three and the free throw line, demonstrating basketball IQ on both sides of the floor, and having experience within a winning culture, there is room for you to contribute in today's NBA. If he gets an early opportunity to show why he's possibly the best to ever do it at DII, we could be seeing plenty of Trevor Hudgins as a super-sleeper rookie for the Houston Rockets.   Scotty Pippen Jr. (G, LAL) Scottie Pippen Jr. was a part of some Jerry Stackhouse Vanderbilt teams that ranged from bad to NIT-worthy over three seasons, having to shoulder most of the load on his way to 2020 SEC All-Freshman honors and then two-straight First-Team All-SEC honors. His dad, as you may have heard, is Scottie Pippen--and much like his dad, he seems focused on escaping a lofty shadow. The Lakers love to make headlines with even their second-round picks and UDFAs (Shareef O'Neal/Mac McClung) and have loved making use of their less expensive under-the-radar rookies in recent years with so much money being spent elsewhere. It's hard to say where his chances will come, but the Los Angeles Lakers have been so volatile the last couple of years that I'm confident in saying his skillset will be called on during his first NBA season. Over his final two seasons at Vandy, Scottie produced 20.6 points, 1.9 steals, and 4.6 assists in 32.6 minutes per game. While his shooting was up and down, he overall shot 34.3% on 411 three-point attempts and 76.3% on 655 free throws taken in 90 career games. With a total assist percentage of 31.9%, Pippen took better care of the ball with each year, reducing his turnover rate from 19.1 to 15.1% from 2019 to 2022. Also, his defense really came along, improving his steal percentage every year (2.1% to 3.4%) and capping his last campaign off with 1.9 defensive win shares and a 2.7 defensive box plus/minus after combining for figures of just 1.1 and -0.1 in each category, respectively, over his first two seasons. In the 2022 Summer League, he demonstrated every skill one would hope he would. In 22.3 MP over eight games, he put up 11.6 points, 3.6 boards, 4.8 assists, and 2.3 steals. He didn't shoot well from the field or from three, but he shot 77.1% on FTs and limited his turnovers to 2.9 a game. If the Lakers call his number, it won't be because they need him to hit microwave threes in reserve, it will be because they need a well-rounded, pesky perimeter defender who has the skill to effectively distribute the ball to the players they are paying to shoot and score in reserve (but if he sees an opportunity to drive and lay it up, he will). Especially if disaster strikes, Scottie Pippen Jr. could get thrown into the mix and be an instant life-saver for those specifically in need of assists and steals, a la T.J. McConnell. He should be a fun two-way contract rookie to follow in 2022-23 whether he's with the South Bay or the Los Angeles Lakers.   Orlando Robinson (C, MIA) As a 2021 Second Team and 2022 First Team All-Mountain West selection at Fresno State, 7'0, 235-lb. Orlando Robinson isn't as decorated as some of the other UDFAs discussed here, but his versatility, size, and landing spot should not be overlooked. He finds himself signed to a Miami Heat squad that boasts Bam Adebayo at PF/C, but other current frontcourt components include Haywood Highsmith (who is largely unproven), Dewayne Dedmon (serviceable to a ceiling as a reserve), and Udonis Haslem (still somehow on the roster). His real competition for PT is thus Omer Yurtseven, who got 12.6 MP in 56 games in 2021-22 and had himself a nice G League season. Robinson had a great career in Fresno, but his final year was an absolute gem. In 36 games, he produced 19.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.2 blocks in 33.2 MP. He also shot 71.6% from the free throw line, 51.7% in the two-point territory, and hit 37 threes out of 105 attempts (35.2%). In terms of metrics, he excelled and improved in his deficient areas. Last year, he notched a 51.9% effective field goal rate, 23% assist rate, 1.9% steal rate, 4.9% block rate, 12.6% turnover rate, 2.9 defensive win shares, and a 2.8 defensive box plus/minus (on his way to All-MWC Defense), all of which were career-best figures. In the 2022 Summer League, he proved himself an asset to the Miami Heat organization. In 22.4 MP across seven games, he averaged 9.1 points, 7.6 boards, 1.0 steals, and 1.1 blocks. He didn't shoot well from the field, but he did at least sink 19 of 24 free throws (79.2%), and he left off with a bang, recording five blocks and 21 rebounds combined over the last two games. The Heat have the roster to once again contend in the Eastern Conference, but frontcourt depth behind Bam is far from their strong suit. Even if they go small at power forward with a combination of Duncan Robinson and Caleb Martin in front of Highsmith, that still leaves many areas of basketball with plenty to be desired. Yurtseven is a little thicker, blocks and rebounds just as well, and shoots from the line and in the two-point range about as well. However, Robinson appears to be pretty far ahead of Yurtseven in three-point shooting; because where Yurtseven is right now at age 24 is where Robinson was last season with the Bulldogs as a 21-year-old. Additionally, Robinson has consistently been able to collect steals and find open teammates while steadily limiting turnovers; and while Yurtseven has the bigger frame at 7'0, Robinson's build and athleticism allow him to effectively play for 30+ minutes per game while Yurtseven tends to max out in the 22-28 MP range. Even if Miami is mostly playing small ball, there are minutes to be gained in Miami's frontcourt, and with the limitations of Highsmith/Dedmon/Haslem and the stylistic differences between Robinson and Yurtseven, there are minutes to be had. Especially in the case of injury to core rotation members, he stands a solid chance of breaking through if given the chance as a rookie, in which case, there isn't much on the floor that he can't do. In a year without many diamond-in-the-rough shot-blockers, I'll be watching Orlando Robinson very closely.   Honorable Mentions: Johnny Juzang, Jeenathan Williams, Buddy Boeheim, Trevion Williams, Tevin Brown, James Akinjo, Michael Devoe, Justin Bean, Fabian White Jr., Jacob Gilyard, Jamaree Bouyea, John Butler, Collin Gillespie (INJ), AJ Green, Gabe Brown, Tommy Kuhse, Julian Champagnie, Keon Ellis, Jeriah Horne, Darius Days, Jordan Hall, Ron Harper Jr., Javon Freeman-Liberty.

Oklahoma City Thunder forwards Aleksej Pokusevski (illness) and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (foot) will both be suiting up for Sunday's game against the Phoenix Suns. As strange as it is, this development has some major fantasy implications, primarily with Poku being made active. Pokusevski saw 29.1 minutes per game in March and averaged 12.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game while attempting 11.0 field goals per game. He's a must-start player as long as you can roll the dice with field goal percentage. He's shooting 40.5% from the field on the year. Jaylen Hoard and Lindy Waters III were both great producers with Poku out on Friday, but they each take a hit with Poku being active. Waters is still a potential start if you're in a pinch, but Hoard should be avoided.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl has landed in the league's health and safety protocols. He'll join Darius Bazley, Tre Mann, Aleksej Pokusevski and Aaron Wiggins in protocols right now. That being said, Derrick Favors, Kenrich Williams and Isaiah Roby should all see more minutes coming their way. The Thunder are shorthanded at the forward spot, but none of them are great fantasy options. All of them could have some deep league appeal, but none are must-have options while Robinson-Earl is sidelined.

Oklahoma City Thunder power forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl had a good game on Monday against Atlanta and came through with his first career double-double. He scored 13 points on 4-for-9 shooting and pulled down 10 rebounds. The 21-year-old hit 2-for-5 from downtown and added one steal, one assist and one block to his line in 32 minutes. The Villanova product has now scored 13 points in back-to-back games while picking up 18 rebounds. Robinson-Earl has rolled with the starters quite often lately and looks ready to burst onto the scene. Hopefully, he can avoid the fate of Moses Brown, who looked like an exciting prospect in Oklahoma City last season but now can't get a game in Dallas.